PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9569080-B2
Application Number: US-201313752734-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Map language switching

Abstract:
In some implementations, a mobile device can display map user interface that includes a language control that a user can select to switch between a default language and a local language. Map information presented on the map user interface can be initially displayed in the default language. The user can select or manipulate the language control to cause the map information to be presented on the local language. The local language can be determined based on the current location of the mobile device. The language control can be displayed when it has been determined that the local language is not the default language. In some implementations, when a map search has been performed using the default language, the search can be automatically performed again in the local language in response to the user switching the map information displayed on the map user interface to the local language.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a map interface on a mobile device, the map interface having a default language; 
 obtaining a current location of the mobile device; 
 obtaining one or more local languages associated with the current location; 
 determining if the one or more local languages associated with the current location correspond to the default language; and 
 based on determining that at least one of the local languages does not correspond to the default language, displaying the map interface including a language control that indicates two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface and that can be manipulated to present information on the map interface concurrently in the two or more languages, wherein an amount of information presented in each of the two or more languages is adjusted based on the manipulation of the language control. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the language control is a graphical object, the method further comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting the language control; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in one of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , where the language control is a slider control indicating the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface, and wherein a user can manipulate the slider control to select from the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting a position of the slider control that corresponds to two languages; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in the two languages associated with the selected position of the slider control. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the language control indicates availability of a first language of the local languages, the method further comprising:
 receiving a first selection of the language control; 
 in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the information on the map interface in the first language; and 
 updating the language control on the map interface to indicate availability of a second language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving a second selection of the language control; and 
 in response to receiving the second selection, displaying the information on the map interface in the second language. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a sub-screen of the map interface; and 
 displaying the sub-screen, where information displayed on the sub-screen is presented in the first language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving search terms in a first language; 
 performing a first search based on the search terms; 
 presenting first search results on the map interface in the first language; 
 receiving a selection of the language control; and 
 in response to the selection, translating the search terms into a second language, performing a second search based on the translated search terms and presenting second search results on the map interface in the second language. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the two or more languages includes the default language and at least one local language, and wherein an amount of information that is presented on the map interface in the default language and an amount of information that is presented in the at least one local language are varied based on a selected position of the language control. 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a map interface on a mobile device, the map interface having a default language; 
 obtaining a current location of the mobile device; 
 obtaining one or more local languages associated with the current location; 
 determining if the one or more local languages associated with the current location correspond to the default language; and 
 based on determining that at least one of the local languages does not correspond to the default language, displaying the map interface including a language control that indicates two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface and that can be manipulated to present information on the map interface concurrently in the two or more languages, wherein an amount of information presented in each of the two or more languages is adjusted based on the manipulation of the language control. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the language control is a graphical object, and wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting the language control; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in one of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , where the language control is a slider control indicating the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface, and wherein a user can manipulate the slider control to select from the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting a position of the slider control that corresponds to two languages; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in the two languages associated with the selected position of the slider control. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the language control indicates availability of a first language of the local languages, and wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a first selection of the language control; 
 in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the information on the map interface in the first language; and 
 updating the language control on the map interface to indicate availability of a second language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a second selection of the language control; and 
 in response to receiving the second selection, displaying the information on the map interface in the second language. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a sub-screen of the map interface; and 
 displaying the sub-screen, where information displayed on the sub-screen is presented in the first language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving search terms in a first language; 
 performing a first search based on the search terms; 
 presenting first search results on the map interface in the first language; 
 receiving a selection of the language control; and 
 in response to the selection, translating the search terms into a second language, performing a second search based on the translated search terms and presenting second search results on the map interface in the second language. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the two or more languages includes the default language and at least one local language, and wherein an amount of information that is presented on the map interface in the default language and an amount of information that is presented in the at least one local language are varied based on a selected position of the language control. 
     
     
       19. A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 a computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a map interface on a mobile device, the map interface having a default language; 
 obtaining a current location of the mobile device; 
 obtaining one or more local languages associated with the current location; 
 determining if the one or more local languages associated with the current location correspond to the default language; and 
 based on determining that at least one of the local languages does not correspond to the default language, displaying the map interface including a language control that indicates two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface and that can be manipulated to present information on the map interface concurrently in the two or more languages, wherein an amount of information presented in each of the two or more languages is adjusted based on the manipulation of the language control. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the language control is a graphical object, and wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting the language control; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in one of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19 , where the language control is a slider control indicating the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface, and wherein a user can manipulate the slider control to select from the two or more languages for presenting information on the map interface. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving a user input selecting a position of the slider control that corresponds to two languages; and 
 based on receiving the user input, updating the map interface to present information in the two languages associated with the selected position of the slider control. 
 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a first selection of the language control; and 
 in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the information on the map interface in a first language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the language control indicates availability of a first language of the local languages, and wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a first selection of the language control; 
 in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the information on the map interface in the first language; and 
 updating the language control on the map interface to indicate availability of a second language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an invocation of a sub-screen of the map interface; and 
 displaying the sub-screen, where information displayed on the sub-screen is presented in the first language of the local languages. 
 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving search terms in a first language; 
 performing a first search based on the search terms; 
 presenting first search results on the map interface in the first language; 
 receiving a selection of the language control; and 
 in response to the selection, translating the search terms into a second language, performing a second search based on the translated search terms and presenting second search results on the map interface in the second language. 
 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the two or more languages includes the default language and at least one local language, and wherein an amount of information that is presented on the map interface in the default language and an amount of information that is presented in the at least one local language are varied based on a selected position of the language control.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure generally relates to displaying information on maps. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern mobile devices often include a map application or function. A user can invoke the map application, specify a location and the map application will display a map of the area surrounding the specified location on a user interface of the mobile device. Generally, the map information displayed on the user interface will present information in a default language that the user understands. However, sometimes the map application will be used in a location (e.g., country) where the language used by people at the location is different than that of the user. If the user needs to share the map information (e.g., an address, location name, etc.) with a person who speaks and reads a different language than the user (e.g., a taxi driver in a foreign country), then the user may be required to navigate through various system settings to change the language presented on the map. Often the steps needed to change the language presented on the map can be confusing and time consuming. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some implementations, a mobile device can display map user interface that includes a language control that a user can select to switch between a default language and a local language. Map information presented on the map interface can be initially displayed in the default language. The user can select or manipulate the language control to cause the map information to be presented in the local language. The local language can be determined based on the current location of the mobile device. The language control can be displayed when the mobile device has determined that the local language is not the default language. In some implementations, when a map search has been performed using the default language, the search can be automatically performed again in the local language in response to the user switching the map information displayed on the map user interface to the local language so that local language search results can be presented on the map interface. 
     Particular implementations provide at least the following advantages: A user can quickly and easily change the language used to present map information on a map display by selecting a language control presented on the map display. The user does not have to navigate through a long list of languages in order to change the displayed language as the language control is automatically configured with the language or languages associated the current location of the mobile device. Map information can be quickly shared between people who speak different languages by selecting a simple language control. 
     Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and potential advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example map graphical user interface for presenting map information in a default language. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example map graphical user interface for presenting map information in a local language. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example map graphical user interface for presenting information about a selected location in a local language. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example map graphical user interface having a language slider control. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example map graphical user interface for changing the function of the slider control. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example map graphical user interface having a map type slider control. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an example process for map language switching. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an example process for generating map search results in a local language. 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an example computing device that can implement the features and processes of  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure describes various Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for implementing various features, processes or workflows. These GUIs can be presented on a variety of electronic devices including but not limited to laptop computers, desktop computers, computer terminals, television systems, tablet computers, e-book readers and smart phones. One or more of these electronic devices can include a touch-sensitive surface. The touch-sensitive surface can process multiple simultaneous points of input, including processing data related to the pressure, degree or position of each point of input. Such processing can facilitate gestures with multiple fingers, including pinching and swiping. 
     When the disclosure refers to “select” or “selecting” user interface elements in a GUI, these terms are understood to include clicking or “hovering” with a mouse or other input device over a user interface element, or touching, tapping or gesturing with one or more fingers or stylus on a user interface element. User interface elements can be virtual buttons, menus, selectors, switches, sliders, scrubbers, knobs, thumbnails, links, icons, radial buttons, checkboxes and any other mechanism for receiving input from, or providing feedback to a user. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  100  for presenting map information in a default language. For example, map GUI  100  can be a GUI of a map application on a mobile device configured to display information for a geographic area corresponding to a user specified geographic location or current location of the mobile device. The information displayed on the map interface can include map search terms (e.g., Park hyatt shanghai), map labels (e.g., street names, hotel names, park names, etc.), map control labels and/or any other text that can be displayed on map GUI  100  or another graphical user interface of the map application, for example. 
     In some implementations, the map application can be configured to display map information in a default language. For example, a user can specify that the default language for the map application is English through a settings interface of the mobile device. When the map application is invoked, information displayed on user interfaces of the map application will be displayed using the default language (e.g., English). Other languages can be specified as the default language. For example, a user who speaks German can specify German as the default language. 
     In some implementations, map GUI  100  can include graphical object  102  for changing the language used to present information on map GUI  100 . For example, graphical object  102  can be a button, switch, toggle or other selectable object that is configured to cause map GUI  100  to present information using a language other than the default language. For example, graphical object  102  can be a semi-transparent control presented on the map display, as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . 
     In some implementations, graphical object  102  can be presented, or not presented (e.g., hidden), based on the location of the mobile device. For example, if English is the default language of the map application and the mobile device is currently located in a predominantly English speaking country (e.g., the United States, the United Kingdom, etc.), then graphical object  102  can be hidden as there is not likely to be a need to display map information in a language other than the default language. However, if English is the default map language and the mobile device is in a country where the primary language is not English or if the country has official languages in addition to English, then the mobile device (or map application), can display graphical object  102 . 
     In some implementations, the mobile device (or map application) can use the current location of the mobile device to determine the primary language for the mobile device&#39;s current location. For example, the mobile device or map application can retrieve language information for a locale (e.g., current location) from online resources. The mobile device can query the online resources using the current location of the mobile device as the query parameter. Alternatively, the mobile device can store a database that associates languages to locations around the world. The mobile device can search the database using the current location of the mobile device as the search parameter. 
     In some implementations, the mobile device can retrieve multiple languages associated with the current location of the mobile device. For example, some locations (e.g., countries) may have more than one dominant or commonly used language. Thus, when the mobile device queries online resources or its local database, the mobile device can receive language information identifying more than one language associated with the current location of the mobile device. For example, if the mobile device is located in Belgium, a language query for Belgium can return three official languages: Dutch, French and German. 
     In some implementations, a user can select graphical object  102  to change the map GUI from the default language to a local language. For example, if the default map language is English and the mobile device is in China, the mobile device can display graphical object  102  and can indicate on (e.g., label) graphical object  102  that Chinese is the local language. When a user selects graphical object  102 , the language displayed on the map GUI can be changed from English to Chinese. 
     In some implementations, if there is more than one common language associated with the current location of the mobile device, graphical object  102  can be configured to present the local languages according to popularity. For example, if the mobile device is in Belgium, graphical object  102  can be configured to present the Dutch language first (e.g., graphical object  102  will be labeled “Dutch”). When the user selects graphical object  102 , the map GUI  100  will display map information in Dutch and configure graphical object  102  to present French next (e.g., graphical object  102  will be labeled 
     “French”). When the use selects graphical object  102  again, the map GUI  100  will display map information in French and configure graphical object  102  to present German when next selected. Once the user cycles through the primary languages for a location in this manner, graphical object  102  will be configured to present the default language when selected thereby allowing the user to view the default language once again. 
     In some implementations, the presentation order of the languages when graphical object  102  is selected can be based on the popularity or usage statistics of the language. For example, in Belgium 59% of people speak Dutch, 31% speak French and a small amount of people speak German. Thus, graphical object  102  can be configured to present Dutch first, French second and German third before allowing the user to select the default (e.g., English) language. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  200  for presenting map information in a local language. For example, if the mobile device is currently in China, graphical object  102  can be configured to present map information in Chinese upon selection of graphical object  102 . Thus, map GUI  200  can be presented in response to a user selecting graphical object  102  of  FIG. 1 . For example, map GUI  200  presents map information using Chinese symbols. For example, upon selection of graphical object  102 , street names, object names, map search terms, user interface controls and other data (e.g., text) presented on map GUI  200  can be converted from the default language (e.g., English) to the local language (e.g., Chinese). 
     In some implementations, when the map display language is changed to a new language, a previously performed map search can be redone in the new language. For example, in response to a user selecting graphical object  102 , the mobile device can translate the map search parameter (e.g., “Park hyatt shanghai”) into the local language (e.g., Chinese). Once the map search parameter is translated, the mobile device can perform the map search using the translated map search parameter to find search results in the local language. The local language search results can then be presented on map GUI  200 . 
     In some implementations, when the map display language is changed, the language of input devices can be changed. For example, if the display language is changed to a local language (e.g., Chinese) in response to a user selecting graphical object  102  of  FIG. 1 , then virtual keyboards, buttons and other input mechanisms can be configured for Chinese input. Thus, if the user or local person who understands the local language wishes to change or input map search parameters in the local language, the virtual keyboard used to input the new search parameters will be automatically configured for the local language. 
     In some implementations, information displayed on sub-screens (e.g., graphical user interfaces) of the map application can be displayed in the local language. For example, the user can select graphical object  202  to display additional information about a selected location, business, attraction, etc. displayed on map GUI  202 . For example, the user can perform a map search by providing the name of a business. The location of the business can be marked by a pin or other graphical object. The user can select the pin to display an overlay  204  identifying the location. The user can select graphical object  202  of the overlay  204  to display a sub-screen that presents additional information about the location marked by the pin. The information presented on the sub-screen can be displayed using the currently selected and/or displayed language (e.g., local language), as illustrated by  FIG. 3 . 
     In some implementations, the user can select graphical object  206  to display map information in the default language. For example, selection of graphical object  206  can cause the map application to present map information in the default language (e.g., English) as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  300  for presenting information about a selected location in a local language. In some implementations, instead of displaying location information on map GUI  300  in the default language for the map application, GUI  300  can present the location information in the local language if the user has selected to display map information in the local language by selecting graphical object  102 . Map GUI  300  can be a sub-screen of the map application that presents additional information about a location. For example, map GUI  300  can present, in the local language, a name  302  associated with the selected location (e.g., “Park Hyatt Shanghai”), a telephone number  304  associated with the location, a web address  306  associated with the location and/or an address  308  associated with the location. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  400  having a language slider control. In some implementations, map GUI  400  can include language slider control  402 . For example, a user can select and drag slider handle  404  to different positions along slider control  402  to cause different languages to be displayed on map GUI  400 . If the user slides slider handle  404  to the far left, English will be displayed on map GUI  400 . If the user slides slider handle  404  to the far right Chinese will be displayed on map GUI  400 . If the user slides slider handle  404  to the middle, a dual language display including both Chinese and English languages will be presented on map GUI  400 . For example, the dual language display can present two lines for each text item on map GUI  400 , where the first line is a first language (e.g., English) and the second line is a second language (e.g., Chinese), as illustrated by overlay  406  and search field  408 . 
     In some implementations, slider control  402  can be dynamically configured based on the local languages. For example, if there is only one local language (e.g., Chinese), then the slider control can be configured to display the default language (e.g., English) and the local language (e.g., Chinese). The user can slide slider handle  404  along slider control  402  to select the local language, default language or dual language display. If there is more than one local language (e.g., like in the Belgium example above), then the slider control  402  can be configured to display each local language. For example, the slider control  402  can be configured with a position along the slider control for each local language and the user can move slider handle  404  along slider control  402  to select which language to display. 
     In some implementations, a user can select graphical object  410  to configure the slider control  402 . For example, slider control  402  can be configured to allow the user to change map languages. Slider control  402  can be configured to allow the user to change map type. A user can select graphical object  410  to display a configuration panel that allows the user to change the function of slider control  402 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  500  for changing the function of the slider control. For example, map GUI  500  can be invoked by selecting graphical object  410  of  FIG. 4 . Map GUI  500  can include graphical objects  502  and  504  for changing the functionality of slider control  402 . For example, if slider control  402  is configured to present different languages, a user can select graphical object  504  (e.g., button) to reconfigure slider control  402  to display map types. If slider control  402  is configured to present map types, then selection of graphical object  502  (e.g., button) will cause slider control to be configured to display languages. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example map graphical user interface  600  having a map type slider control. For example, slider control  602  can be configured to display different map types in response to a user selecting graphical object  504  of  FIG. 5 . For example, the different map types can be standard (e.g., line map), satellite (e.g., satellite image map) and/or hybrid (e.g., line and satellite image map). A user can move slider handle  604  to different positions on slider control  602  to cause different types of maps to be displayed by map GUI  600 . 
     Example Process 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an example process  700  for map language switching. At step  702 , an invocation of a map graphical user interface is received. For example, a user can invoke the map interface by selecting a map application or map function of a mobile device. 
     At step  704 , the location of the mobile device can be determined. For example, the mobile device can have a global navigation satellite system receiver that can receive signals from one or more navigation satellites. The mobile device can then use the received signals to determine the geographic location of the mobile device. Alternatively, the mobile device can use wireless access point and/or cellular transmitter signals to determine the location of the mobile device, according to known techniques. 
     At step  706 , the mobile device can determine one or more local languages for the current location of the mobile device. For example, the mobile device can send the current location of the mobile device to a network (e.g., internet) language service and receive from the language service one or more languages for the current location of the mobile device. Alternatively, the mobile device can store a database containing language information for locations around the world. For example, the mobile device can store a database identifying the primary, most popular, or official languages for each country around the world. If the current location of the mobile device corresponds to a particular country, the languages for the particular country can be retrieved from the database. 
     At step  708 , the mobile device can display the map interface using a default language. For example, the mobile device can be configured to display information on the map interface using a default language. The user of the mobile device can configure the default language of the map interface, for example. When the map interface is displayed, information, controls, buttons, text, etc. displayed on the map interface will initially be displayed using the default language. 
     At step  710 , a language control can be displayed on the map interface when the local language is not the default language. For example, if the default language for the map interface is English but the local languages include a language other than English, then a language control (e.g., toggle, button, slider, etc.) can be displayed on the map interface. In some implementations, the language control can be a semi-transparent control overlaid upon the map information displayed on the map interface. The language control can be configured to allow the user to select and display the default language and/or the local languages for the current location of the mobile device. 
     At step  712 , the user can select or manipulate the language control. For example, if the language control is a button, the user can select the button the change the language of the map interface to one or more of the local languages. Each selection of the language control can cause the map interface to display a different local language or the default language. For example, if there are two local languages, the first selection of the language control can cause the first local language to be presented, the second selection of the language control can cause the second local language to be presented, and the third selection of the language control can cause the default language to be presented. If the language control is a slider control, then manipulation of the slider control can cause different languages to be displayed on the map interface, as described above. 
     At step  714 , the language used to display information on the map interface can be changed to a local language. For example, in response to the selection or manipulation of the language control at step  712 , the map interface can display map information in a local language. For example, map interface controls, input devices (e.g., virtual keyboards), map labels, street names, etc. can be changed from the default language to a local language corresponding to the current location of the mobile device. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an example process  800  for generating map search results in a local language. At step  802 , map search terms can be received in a first language. For example, the map interface can include a search input object that allows the user to input textual search terms. The user can interact with a virtual keyboard to input search terms, for example. The map interface can be presented using a default language and the search terms and virtual keyboard can be input and/or presented using the default language. 
     At step  804 , a map search can be performed based on the search terms in the first language. For example, map information can be searched using the user provided search terms in the first (e.g., default) language. For example, the search terms can be sent to a network (e.g., internet) map service. The map service can return search results to the mobile device for display on the map interface. 
     At step  806 , the search results can be presented on the map display in the first language. For example, if the search terms identify a location, business, attraction, etc. that is found during the map search, then the search results can be presented on the map interface using the first language. For example, the labels, addresses, descriptions or other information displayed on the map that identify the search results can be displayed in the first (e.g., default) language. 
     At step  808 , input can be received from the user to change the map interface to a second language. For example, the map interface can include a language control that allows a user to change the map interface from the default language to a local language, as described above. In response to the user selecting to change the map interface to the second language, the information displayed on the map interface can be displayed in the second language. 
     At step  810 , the search terms in the first language can be translated into a second language. For example, in response to the user selecting to change the language displayed on the map interface to a local language, the mobile device can automatically translate the user provided search terms in the first language to a second (e.g., local) language. For example, the mobile device can use a network service to translate the search terms in the first language to a second language. 
     At step  812 , a map search can be performed based on the search terms in the second language. For example, a map search can be automatically performed based on the translated search terms in the local language. For example, the mobile device can send the translated search terms in the local language to a network (e.g., internet) map service. The map service can return search results to the mobile device for display on the map interface in the local language. 
     At step  814 , the search results in the second language can be presented on the map interface. For example, the results of the map search performed at step  812  can be automatically presented on the map interface in the selected local language. For example, if the search terms identify a location, business, attraction, etc. that is found during the map search, then the search results can be presented on the map interface using the second (e.g., local) language. For example, the labels, addresses, descriptions or other information displayed on the map that identify the search results can be displayed in the second (e.g., local) language. 
     Example System Architecture 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an example computing device  900  that can implement the features and processes of  FIGS. 1-8 . The computing device  900  can include a memory interface  902 , one or more data processors, image processors and/or central processing units  904 , and a peripherals interface  906 . The memory interface  902 , the one or more processors  904  and/or the peripherals interface  906  can be separate components or can be integrated in one or more integrated circuits. The various components in the computing device  900  can be coupled by one or more communication buses or signal lines. 
     Sensors, devices, and subsystems can be coupled to the peripherals interface  906  to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, a motion sensor  910 , a light sensor  912 , and a proximity sensor  914  can be coupled to the peripherals interface  906  to facilitate orientation, lighting, and proximity functions. Other sensors  916  can also be connected to the peripherals interface  906 , such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) (e.g., GPS receiver), a temperature sensor, a biometric sensor, magnetometer or other sensing device, to facilitate related functionalities. 
     A camera subsystem  920  and an optical sensor  922 , e.g., a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor, can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording photographs and video clips. The camera subsystem  920  and the optical sensor  922  can be used to collect images of a user to be used during authentication of a user, e.g., by performing facial recognition analysis. 
     Communication functions can be facilitated through one or more wireless communication subsystems  924 , which can include radio frequency receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared) receivers and transmitters. The specific design and implementation of the communication subsystem  924  can depend on the communication network(s) over which the computing device  900  is intended to operate. For example, the computing device  900  can include communication subsystems  924  designed to operate over a GSM network, a GPRS network, an EDGE network, a Wi-Fi or WiMax network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In particular, the wireless communication subsystems  924  can include hosting protocols such that the device  100  can be configured as a base station for other wireless devices. 
     An audio subsystem  926  can be coupled to a speaker  928  and a microphone  930  to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as speaker recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony functions. The audio subsystem  926  can be configured to facilitate processing voice commands, voiceprinting and voice authentication, for example. 
     The I/O subsystem  940  can include a touch-surface controller  942  and/or other input controller(s)  944 . The touch-surface controller  942  can be coupled to a touch surface  946 . The touch surface  946  and touch-surface controller  942  can, for example, detect contact and movement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with the touch surface  946 . 
     The other input controller(s)  944  can be coupled to other input/control devices  948 , such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. The one or more buttons (not shown) can include an up/down button for volume control of the speaker  928  and/or the microphone  930 . 
     In one implementation, a pressing of the button for a first duration can disengage a lock of the touch surface  946 ; and a pressing of the button for a second duration that is longer than the first duration can turn power to the computing device  900  on or off. Pressing the button for a third duration can activate a voice control, or voice command, module that enables the user to speak commands into the microphone  930  to cause the device to execute the spoken command. The user can customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch surface  946  can, for example, also be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or a keyboard. 
     In some implementations, the computing device  900  can present recorded audio and/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In some implementations, the computing device  900  can include the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod™. The computing device  900  can, therefore, include a 36-pin connector that is compatible with the iPod. Other input/output and control devices can also be used. 
     The memory interface  902  can be coupled to memory  950 . The memory  950  can include high-speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, and/or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). The memory  950  can store an operating system  952 , such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. 
     The operating system  952  can include instructions for handling basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, the operating system  952  can be a kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel). In some implementations, the operating system  952  can include instructions for performing voice authentication. For example, operating system  952  can implement the map language switching features as described with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     The memory  950  can also store communication instructions  954  to facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one or more computers and/or one or more servers. The memory  950  can include graphical user interface instructions  956  to facilitate graphic user interface processing; sensor processing instructions  958  to facilitate sensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions  960  to facilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaging instructions  962  to facilitate electronic-messaging related processes and functions; web browsing instructions  964  to facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions  966  to facilitate media processing-related processes and functions; GNSS/Navigation instructions  968  to facilitate GNSS and navigation-related processes and instructions; and/or camera instructions  970  to facilitate camera-related processes and functions. 
     The memory  950  can store other software instructions  972  to facilitate other processes and functions, such as the map language switching processes and functions as described with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     The memory  950  can also store other software instructions  974 , such as web video instructions to facilitate web video-related processes and functions; and/or web shopping instructions to facilitate web shopping-related processes and functions. In some implementations, the media processing instructions  966  are divided into audio processing instructions and video processing instructions to facilitate audio processing-related processes and functions and video processing-related processes and functions, respectively. 
     Each of the above identified instructions and applications can correspond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functions described above. These instructions need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules. The memory  950  can include additional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, various functions of the computing device  900  can be implemented in hardware and/or in software, including in one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130129
Publication Date: 20170214
Grant Date: 20170214
Priority Date: 20130129
Inventors: LEE SUNGCHANG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G09B29/007", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09B29/007", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/3087", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/4448", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/454", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/9537", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/9537", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/454", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09B29/007", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 50102255