Map-based guide system and method

1 . A method for adjusting a map-based guide, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the map-based guide;

determining a location associated with the request;

preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor; and

transmitting the map-based guide.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the route according to an advertiser method if a source of the request is identified in a data store.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the determining the route according to an advertiser method if a source of the request is identified in a data store includes:

associating an identifier with a status hierarchy, the status hierarchy providing a number of advertiser locations by which the route is directed.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording the request and the map-based guide transmitted to a source of the request.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the recording the request and the map-based guide transmitted to a source of the request includes:

altering a data store to indicate the request; and

associating one or more locations on the route with the source of the request.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting the map-based guide includes:

bundling one or more advertising locations in the map-based guide.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving a request for the map-based guide includes:

receiving an identifier associated with a destination in a predefined area and a location parameter identifying a starting location, the request being for a map-based guide from the starting location to the destination.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving a request for the map-based guide includes:

receiving a transmission from a mobile device wirelessly transmitting the request to a server.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the determining a location associated with the request includes:

receiving an identifier representing one or more of a final destination, a starting location and/or an intermediary destination.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the determining a location associated with the request includes:

matching the locations associated with the request with a data store entry in a data store, the data store entry identifying whether a source of the request is entitled to a supported map-based guide.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the matching the locations associated with the request with a data store entry in a data store, the data store entry identifying whether a source of the request is entitled to a supported map-based guide includes:

comparing the source to a list of sources that have provided remuneration for the map-based guide.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving a request for the map-based guide includes:

receiving the request via one or more of a wireless connection and/or a wired connection, the wireless connection including one or more of a wireless LAN (WLAN), an IEEE 802.11, a Bluetooth, and/or a satellite connection.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor includes:

providing a supported map-based guide if the data store is independent of a data store entry associated with the source.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor includes:

preparing a route in accordance with the profit motive, the profit motive including a revenue-generating goal known to a server preparing the route, the route including one or more commercial establishments as a function of meeting the revenue-generating goal.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor includes:

preparing a route in accordance with the goodwill factor, the goodwill factor including directing the route past one or more server-directed locations, the server-directed locations determined according to a predetermined number of visitors for the one or more server-directed locations.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor includes:

guiding past one or more locations associated with compensation for providing the route past the location.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor includes:

guiding based on a server-directed decision-making process.

18 . A method for preparing a map-based guide, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the map-based guide from a source, the map-based guide providing a route through a predefined area;

determining a location associated with the request;

determining a level associated with remuneration if the source has provided remuneration, the route through the predefined area being a function of the level associated with the remuneration; and

transmitting the map-based guide.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the determining a level associated with the remuneration if the source has provided remuneration, the route through the predefined area being a function of the level associated with the remuneration includes:

providing a source-centric route through the predefined area by adjusting an influence of the at least one of the profit motive and/or goodwill if the level indicates a higher level of remuneration from the source.

20 . A method for a display device to receive a map-based guide through a predefined area, the method comprising:

transmitting a request for the map-based guide of the predefined area, the request including an identifier associated with the display device; and

receiving the map-based guide of the predefined area, the map-based guide including a route through the predefined area based on the identifier, the identifier enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine the routing.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:

displaying the map-based guide on the display device, the map-based guide providing the route to a destination included in the request.

22 . The method of claim 20 wherein the receiving the map-based guide of the predefined area, the map-based guide including a route through the predefined area based on the identifier, the identifier enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine the routing includes:

receiving one or more advertisements with the map-based guide, the advertisements associated with one or more locations on the route through the predefined area.

23 . The method of claim 20 wherein the receiving the map-based guide of the predefined area, the map-based guide including a route through the predefined area based on the identifier, the identifier enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine the routing includes:

connecting with a server, the server determining the route through the predefined area according to the server-based decision-making process.

24 . The method of claim 20 wherein the transmitting a request for the map-based guide of the predefined area, the request including an identifier associated with the display device includes:

wirelessly transmitting the request to a server over a wireless network.

25 . The method of claim 24 wherein the wirelessly transmitting the request to a server over a wireless network includes:

transmitting via one of a wireless LAN (WLAN), an IEEE 802 type wireless network, a Bluetooth type wireless network, and/or a satellite network.

26 . The method of claim 20 wherein the transmitting a request for the map-based guide of the predefined area, the request including an identifier associated with the display device includes:

transmitting the identifier to enable determining whether the identifier is located on a data store on a server, the server determining the route through the predefined area according to the server-based decision-making process by matching the identifier to an entry on the data store to determine a number of advertiser locations to include with the route.

27 . A computer program product comprising:

a signal bearing medium bearing

one or more instructions for receiving a request for the map-based guide,

one or more instructions for determining a location associated with the request,

one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor, and

one or more instructions for transmitting the map-based guide.

28 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a recordable medium.

29 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises:

a transmission medium.

30 . The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

one or more instructions for recording the request and the map-based guide transmitted to a source of the request.

31 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for transmitting the map-based guide includes one or more instructions for bundling one or more advertising locations in the map-based guide.

32 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving a request for the map-based guide include:

one or more instructions for receiving an identifier associated with a destination in a predefined area and a location parameter identifying a starting location, the request being for a map-based guide from the starting location to the destination.

33 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving a request for the map-based guide include:

one or more instructions for receiving a transmission from a mobile device wirelessly transmitting the request to a server.

34 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for transmitting the map-based guide includes:

one or more instructions for matching the locations associated with the request with a data store entry in a data store, the data store entry identifying whether a source of the request is entitled to a supported map-based guide.

35 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving a request for the map-based guide include:

one or more instructions for guiding past one or more locations associated with compensation for providing the route past the location.

36 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor include:

one or more instructions for providing a supported map-based guide if the data store is independent of a data store entry associated with the source of the request.

37 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor include:

one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the profit motive, the profit motive including a revenue-generating goal known to a server preparing the route, the route including one or more commercial establishments as a function of meeting the revenue-generating goal.

38 . The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive or a goodwill factor include:

one or more instructions for preparing a route in accordance with the goodwill factor, the goodwill factor including directing the route past one or more server-directed locations, the server-directed locations determined according to a predetermined number of visitors for the one or more server-directed locations.

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51 . A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a receiver coupled to the processor; and

a map-based guide module coupled to the receiver and the memory, the map-based guide module including

a data store configurable to hold data related to routes through a predefined area, and

a route determination module coupled to the data store, the route determination module configurable to determine a route through the predefined area based on an identifier received by the receiver, the identifier determinative of a number and type of locations to include with a route to include in a map-based guide through the predefined area.

52 . The computer system of claim 51 further comprising:

a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter configurable to transmit the map-based guide to a display device, the display device configurable to transmit a request for the map-based guide including the route, the route being through the predefined area.

53 . The computer system of claim 51 wherein the route determination module has logic for guiding past one or more locations associated with compensation for providing the route past the location.