Patent Publication Number: US-2010131586-A1

Title: Activity overlaid mapping services

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the invention relate to communication systems. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for activity overlaid mapping services. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Communication systems comprise both wired communication systems and wireless communication systems. Wired communication systems are networks that use wired media for the transmission of data such as, for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and Local Area Networks (LANs). Wireless communication systems are networks that employ a wireless link between a serviced terminal and a network infrastructure, for example, cellular telephone systems, satellite communication systems, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), and Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). Many communications are serviced using a combination of wireless communication systems and wired communication systems to provide various services such as Location-Based Services (LBS) to users. Location-Based Services are enabled via combining satellite communications and communication networks such as mobile networks. Satellite communications are becoming readily available in numerous navigation systems. For example, a navigation system is utilized to assist users of mobile devices in finding their way from one location to another typically via algorithms acting operating on map databases. Map databases are integral to many ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) applications in navigation, traffic forecasting, and route planning. 
     Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and/or system for activity overlaid mapping services, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary communication system operable to provide activity overlaid mapping services, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary mapping service server, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity overlay sharing authentication procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity data collection procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity overlay based metadata generation procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary subscriber device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an activity overlay based metadata acquiring procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for activity overlaid mapping services. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a subscriber device transmits a map request to a mapping service server communicatively coupled to a data communication supporting network. Upon receipt of the map request from the subscriber device, the mapping service server generates and/or creates metadata and/or enhanced maps based on subscriber activity information such as cash value of e-cash transactions and the volume of people that are using e-cash transactions collected from a plurality of subscriber devices associated with the mapping service server. The created metadata and/or enhanced maps are transmitted via the data communication supporting network and received by the subscriber device. The map request comprises subscriber identification information such as an identification code to gain access to the mapping service server. The mapping service server is operable to request sharing of corresponding subscriber activity information such as transaction value on certain items made via the subscriber device. The subscriber device is enabled to determine a level indicating that the user of the subscriber device wants to share with the mapping service server. The subscriber device is enabled to communicate the determined subscriber activity information sharing level with the mapping service server. The mapping service server communicates interactively with associated plurality of subscribers to collecting subscriber activity information. 
     In instances where the subscriber device requests a map from the mapping service server, information specifying geographic locations of interest to the subscriber device is included inside the map request. Upon receipt of the map request, the mapping service server creates or generates metadata and/or enhanced maps related to the geographic locations of interest based on collected subscriber activity information received from the plurality of subscribers associated with the mapping service server. The metadata and/or enhanced maps are created or generated by correlating the collected subscriber activity information of the plurality of subscribers to the geographic locations of interest. The created metadata and/or enhanced maps are delivered to the subscriber device via the data communication supporting network. Upon receiving the metadata and/or enhanced maps, the subscriber device displays or otherwise presents the received metadata and/or enhanced maps to users in a specified format. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary communication system operable to provide activity overlaid mapping services, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the system of  FIG. 1  comprises a data communication infrastructure  110 , a GNSS satellite infrastructure  120 , a plurality of mapping service servers  130 , of which a mapping service server  110   a  and a mapping service server  110   b  are displayed, a plurality of subscribers  140 , of which a GNSS enabled notebook  140   a , a smart phone  140   b , a desktop computer  140   c , and a Global Navigation Satellite Service (GNSS) enabled cell phone  140   d  are displayed. 
     The data communication infrastructure  110  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that enable data communications among various communication devices. The data communication infrastructure  110  comprises a wireless network  110   a  and/or Internet  110   b.  The wireless network  110   a  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are enabled to provide various wireless data services by using a particular technology such as GSM, UMTS, WiFi, WiMAX, or WLAN/LAN. The Internet  110   b  comprises suitable logic, devices and/or code that enable data communication using Internet Protocols (IP). 
     The GNSS infrastructure  120  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that provide navigation information to various GNSS receivers. The GNSS receivers are integrated into subscriber devices or are coupled to the subscriber devices such as the GNSS enabled notebook  140   a  and the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d.    
     The mapping service servers  130  comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are enabled to create metadata based on subscriber activity overlay. The created metadata is superimposed at geographic locations of interest on a map image. The superimposed information relating to the geographic locations of interest on the image represents various mapping services and is delivered to mapping service participants such as the subscribers  140 . The mapping service servers  130  are enabled to gain accesses to subscribers to gather subscriber activity information such as, for example, the value of e-cash transactions and the volume of people using the e-cash. The gathered subscriber activity information provides indications of, for example, the popularity of a certain place and a certain item purchased from that certain place. The mapping service servers  130  are operable to generate activity overlay based metadata by anonymously merging the gathered subscriber activity information into metadata. The mapping service servers  130  are operable to utilize the generated activity overlay based metadata to provide various mapping services such as an anonymous advertisement on an enhanced map that is accessible to various subscribers. The mapping service servers  130  are enabled to deliver overlaid subscriber activity information in the activity overlay based metadata via various ways. For example, the overlaid subscriber activity information in the activity overlay based metadata may be delivered to the subscriber device as image data at corresponding geographic locations. Moreover, the overlaid subscriber activity information in the activity overlay based metadata may be selectively delivered such as, for example, using actual overlaid subscriber activity information or associated icons. In this regard, the mapping service servers  130  is operable to allow the subscriber to brow the associated icons to access details of a particular type of overlaid subscriber activity information in the activity overlay based metadata. The mapping service server  130  is operable to communicate various mapping services such as enhanced maps comprising the overlaid subscriber activity information with the participated subscribers via the data communication infrastructure  110  such as, the wireless network  110   b  and/or the Internet  110   a.    
     The subscribers  140  comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that enable various data communications via the wireless network  110   b  and/or internet  110   a.  The subscribers  140  gain various mapping services by participating in the mapping service servers  130 . The subscribers  140  allow the mapping service servers  130  to share corresponding subscriber activity information to various degrees. For example, a subscriber device is configured to record some or all transactions and share transactions that are associated with some or all items associated with some or all of those transactions. 
     In operation, activity information of the subscribers  140  is gathered by the mapping service server  130  via the wireless network  120   b  and/or the Internet  120   a . The mapping service server  130  is enabled to generate metadata for various mapping services such as enhanced maps based on subscriber activity overlay. The activity overlay based metadata or the enhanced maps are communicated in various ways such as, for example, as an enhanced map image, with a given subscriber such as the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d.  In this regard, the activity overlay based metadata is delivered to the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  via the data communication infrastructure  110 . 
     A given subscriber is authorized by the mapping service servers  130  to gain access to various mapping services provided via the mapping service servers  130 . Meanwhile, the mapping service servers  130  is operable to request participating subscribers such as the subscribers  140  to share corresponding activity information, which is anonymously merged into metadata as, for example, an anonymous advertisement accessible to a plurality of subscribers. The degree or level of the subscriber activity information sharing of a given subscriber is determined by the given subscriber. For example, a subscriber is provided with the capability to share all transaction cash value but not the detailed descriptions of the corresponding merchants. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary mapping service server, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exemplary mapping service server  200  comprising a mapping service processor  202 , an activity overlay search engine  204 , an activity database  206 , a map database  208 , a subscriber database  210 , and a server memory  212 . 
     The mapping service processor  202  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that enable control and/or data processing operations for the mapping service server  200 . The mapping service processor  202  is enabled to gather subscriber activity information and anonymously merge into metadata. The metadata is superimposed to geographic locations of interest of a map image. The mapping service processor  202  is operable to communicate the superimposed information with a given subscribed for a requested mapping service. The mapping service processor  202  manages and control subscriber-server authentication and/or subscriber-server interaction for activity overlay based information sharing. 
     The activity overlay search engine  204  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that overlays subscriber activity information to geographic locations of interest on a map image relating to various mapping service requests. For example, the activity overlay search engine  204  enables identifying facilities relating to activity types such as jewelry repair near the geographic locations of interest. Depending on a requested mapping service from a subscriber such as the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d , the activity overlay search engine  204  is operable to select searching restrictions and generate a list of entries associated with the geographic locations of interest. 
     The searching results provide a listing of things associated the geographic locations of interest. The portion of the activity database  206  is determined based on the selected searching criteria. For example, a person may want to look for a movie theater near their current location and to also find a movie that is drawing lots of viewers. The activity overlay search engine  204  is programmed to select searching restrictions such as, for example, movie theaters, transactions on movies that are on out, and/or the volume of people who are making the transactions. The activity overlay search engine  204  then generates an output comprising a map image showing up with the movie theaters nearby correlated against the selected subscriber activities restrictions such as transactions on movies that are on out. The activity overlay search engine  204  is updated when subscriber activity information is changed and/or a new service request is received. 
     The activity database  206  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that comprise details of subscribers&#39; activity information, for example, e-cash and/or credit card transactions of subscribers, who are the transactions paying, when the transactions are made, and what the merchants are. 
     The map database  208  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that enable storage of map data comprising, for example, coordinate data representative of maps of geographical areas. Some details of facility characteristics, for example, hotels, restaurants, shops or the like, associated with the geographical coordinates of each location are also stored in the map database  208 . The map database  208  is stored in RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage capable of storing data and instructions. 
     The subscriber database  210  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that enable storage of subscriber information pertaining to the mapping service server  130 . The subscriber information comprises the subscriber identifier, user context, subscriber service profiles, subscriber device configuration information, telephone numbers, and associated location area identifier and postcode. The location area identifier may comprise IP address and GNSS address, associated with the subscribers. The subscriber database  210  is stored in RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage capable of storing data and instructions. 
     The server memory  212  comprises suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that enable storage of data and/or other information utilized by the mapping service processor  202 . For example, the server memory  212  is utilized to store processed data generated by the mapping service processor  202 . The server memory  212  stores executable instructions to process gathered subscriber activity information, for example, various algorithms for correlating subscriber activity information against geographic locations of interest. Some software such as Internet reading software is stored in the memory  212  for communicating subscriber activity information via the Internet  120   a . The server memory  212  comprises RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage capable of storing data and instructions. 
     In operation, subscriber activity information such as, for example, transactions made by the subscribers  140  and merchant associated with the transactions is gathered by the mapping service server  200  via the data communication infrastructure  110 . The mapping service processor  202  is enabled to authorize the subscribers  140  to gain access to the mapping service server  200  for sharing associated activity information at various levels or degrees and various mapping services. The subscriber information such as subscriber ID and subscriber device configuration profiles are stored in the subscriber database  210 . The mapping service processor  202  is operable to communicate with the activity overlay searching engine  204  to provide various mapping services requested by the authorized subscribers  140 . A mapping service request to the mapping service server  200  from a given subscriber specifies geographic locations of interest of a map supplied by the map database  208 . The mapping service processor  202  communicates the received mapping service request with the activity overlay searching engine  204 . The activity overlay searching engine  204  is operable to select one or more searching restrictions based on the characteristics of the given mapping service request. Based on the selected searching restrictions, the activity overlay search engine  204  is operable to merge corresponding subscriber activity information from the activity database  206  into metadata to provide subscriber activity information to geographic locations of interest for the given service request. The mapping service processor  202  is enabled to communicate with the given subscriber the metadata on top of the map from in the map database  208 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity overlay sharing authentication procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the exemplary steps start with the step  302 , where a subscriber  320  request access to the mapping service server  330 . The request comprises subscriber information such as the subscriber ID and/or the subscriber address. In step  304 , the mapping service server  330  verifies the received subscriber information via various security checks, for example. In step  306 , the mapping service server  330  determines whether to authenticate or reject the received access request and communicate with the subscriber  320  to request sharing activity information from the subscriber  320 . In step  308 , the subscriber  320  determines an activity sharing level. In step  310 , the subscriber  320  communicates the determined subscriber activity sharing level with the mapping service server  330 . In step  312 , the mapping service server  330  receives the subscriber activity sharing level from the subscriber  320  and stores into the subscriber database  210 . The exemplary steps end with step  314 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity data collection procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the exemplary steps start with the step  402 , where the mapping service server  200  is authorized by, for example, the subscribers  140 , to share associated subscriber activity information at a certain degree. In step  404 , the mapping service server  200  receives subscriber activity information via, for example, the Internet  110   a  and/or some subscriber-server interactive communications. In step  406 , the received subscriber activity information is categorized against activity types. In step  408 , the categorized subscriber activity information is stored in the activity database  206 . The exemplary steps end with step  412 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary activity overlay based metadata generation procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the exemplary steps start with the step  502 , where the activity overlay search engine  204  receives subscriber service request information via the mapping service processor  202 . In step  504 , the activity overlay search engine  204  is enabled to select search restrictions based on the received service request. In step  506 , the activity overlay search engine  204  is operable to filter the activity data stored in the activity database  204  to be used for creating metadata relating to the received service request. In step  508 , activity overlay search engine  204  creates metadata by correlating the filtered subscriber activity data to geographic locations of interest relating to the received service request. In step  510 , the created metadata is communicated on top of a map associated with the geographic locations of interest. The exemplary steps end with step  512 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary subscriber device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a subscriber device  600  comprising an optional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver  602 , a network interface  604 , a processor  606 , a memory  608 , and a user interface  610 . 
     The GNSS receiver  602  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are enabled to receive Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) broadcast signals and convert them to corresponding GNSS baseband signals. The corresponding GNSS baseband signals are then processed by the processor  606  to determine positional information of the subscriber device  600 . The integration of the GNSS receiver  602  to the subscriber device  600  is optional. In the case that the subscriber device  600  comprises the GNSS receiver  602 . The GNSS receiver  602  is operable to provide navigation information for the subscriber device  600  to identify associated geographical location. The GNSS receiver  602  comprises a GPS, GALILEO and/or a GLONASS receiver. 
     The network interface  604  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are enabled to transmit and/or receive radio signals over a network such as the data communication infrastructure  110 . The network is a wired and/or wireless network. In this regard, the communicated radio signals comprise subscriber activity information from the subscriber device  600  to the mapping service servers  130  and/or activity overlay based metadata from the mapping service servers  130  to the subscriber device  600 . 
     The processor  606  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are enabled to process and handle signals received from a supporting communication network and/or satellite signals from the GNSS satellite infrastructure  120 . The processor  606  is enabled to communicate with the mapping service servers  130  for sharing associated subscriber activity information and/or gaining a desired mapping service, which comprises a list of things provided by the mapping service servers  130  by overlaying subscriber activity information to geographic locations of interest indicated by the subscriber device  600 . 
     The user interface  608  comprises suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that are operable to service the subscriber device  600  via entering user inputs and/or presenting acquired mapping services to users. The user interface  608  comprise a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, a screen, a touch screen, a light, a voice recognition system, a camera, and/or any other type of interfaces that is employed in the subscriber device  600 . 
     The memory  610  comprises suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that enable storage of data and/or other information utilized by the processor  606 . The memory  610  is utilized to store information, such as algorithms that are utilized to control various operations of the subscriber device  600 . The memory  610  stores some executable instructions for running various services on the subscriber device  600 . Various subscriber activity data, which are shared with the mapping service servers  130 , are stored in the memory  610 . 
     In operation, the subscriber device  600  gains access to the mapping service servers  130  via subscriber information such as, for example, the subscriber ID and the subscriber context. The processor  606  is enabled to process the activity information of the subscriber device  600  and share with the mapping service servers  130  at a certain degree. The subscriber  600  acquires various activity overlay based mapping services from the mapping service servers  130  via the network interface  604 . The received mapping services are processed at the processor  606  to present to users in user preferred format via the user interface  608 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an activity overlay based metadata acquiring procedure, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The exemplary steps start with the step  702 , where the subscriber  320  gains access to the mapping service server  330 . The subscriber  320  requests a mapping service for geographic locations interested. The geographic locations interested are indicated by full or partial addresses, names, postal code, or longitude and latitude information. In step  704 , upon the receipt of the mapping service request from the subscriber  320 , the mapping service server  330  selects searching restrictions based on the characteristics of the request and generates metadata by overlaying the activity data inside the activity database  206  onto the geographic locations of interest based on the selected searching restrictions. In step  706 , the generated metadata is communicated on top of a map associated with the geographic locations of interest to the subscriber  320 . In step  708 , upon the receipt of the metadata, the subscriber  320  presents the received metadata to users in a preferred format via the user interface  608  and stored in the memory  610 . The exemplary steps end with step  710 . 
     Aspects of a method and system for activity overlaid mapping services are provided. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a subscriber such as the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   b  in the system illustrated in  FIG. 1  transmits a map request to a mapping service server such as the mapping service server  130   a . Upon receipt of the map request from the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d , the mapping service server  130   a  creates or generates metadata and/or enhanced maps based on subscriber activity information such as cash value of e-cash transactions and the volume of people that are using e-cash transactions collected from a plurality of subscribers associated with the mapping service server  130   a.  The created metadata and/or enhanced maps are transmitted via the data communication infrastructure and received by the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  via the network interface  604 . As described in  FIG. 3 , the map request comprises subscriber identification information such as an identification code to gain access to the mapping service server  130   a.    
     The mapping service server  130   a  is operable to request sharing corresponding subscriber activity information such as transaction value on certain items made via the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d.  The GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  is enabled to determine a level that the user of the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  wants to share with the mapping service server  130   a.  The GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  communicates the determined subscriber activity information sharing level with the mapping service server  130   a.  The mapping service server  130   a  communicates interactively with associated plurality of subscribers to collecting subscriber activity information. As described with respect to  FIG. 7 , the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  requests a map from the mapping service server  130   a.  Geographic locations of interest of the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  are included within the map request. Upon the receipt of the map request, the mapping service server  130   a  generates or creates metadata and/or enhanced maps relating to the geographic locations of interest based on collected subscriber activity information of the plurality of subscribers associated with the mapping service server  130   a.  The metadata and/or enhanced maps are created by correlating the collected subscriber activity information of the plurality of subscribers to the geographic locations of interest. The created metadata and/or enhanced maps are delivered to the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  via the data communication infrastructure  110 . Upon receiving the metadata and associated map, the GNSS enabled cell phone  140   d  present corresponding location information to users, via the user interface  608 , in a preferred format. 
     Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine and/or computer readable storage and/or medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for activity overlaid mapping services. 
     Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
     The present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.