Method of providing geographic information for a navigation system

1. A method of providing geographic information for display on a computing device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of first map images, each of said first map images depicts a map of a portion of a geographic region, wherein said first map images when displayed together illustrate a first map of said geographic region at a first scale;

providing a plurality of zoom-in map images for each of said first map images, wherein said zoom-in map images when displayed together provide a zoom-in map of said portion of said geographic region depicted by said first map image, said zoom-in map having a larger scale than said first scale, wherein each of the plurality of zoom-in map images is associated with a window identification value that identifies an arrangement of the plurality of zoom-in map images;

selecting, using a click wheel user interface, one of said zoom-in map images to identify a search area for obtaining restaurant information, wherein said search area is defined by said boundaries of said selected zoom-in map image, wherein said boundaries of said selected zoom-in map image are not administrative boundaries;

after selecting the one of the zoom-in map images, providing information regarding a plurality of restaurants located in the search area corresponding to said portion of said geographic region represented by said selected zoom-in map image, wherein said information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: street address, business hours, telephone number, menu, images of restaurant, number of seats, parking availability, average price, cuisine type, meals served, payment method, drive-through available, reservations suggested, number of seats, handicap accessibility, promotional materials and outdoor seating.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying each said first map images in one of a plurality of windows on a display to provide said first map of said geographic region.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting one of first map images; and

displaying said plurality of zoom-in map images corresponding to said selected first map image to illustrate said zoom-in map.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first map of said geographic region including a route highlight from an origin to a destination.

5. A method of providing geographic information for display on a computing device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of first map images, each of said first map images depicts a map of a portion of a geographic region, wherein said first map images when displayed together illustrate a first map of said geographic region at a first scale;

providing a predetermined number of first zoom-in map images for each of said first map images, wherein said first zoom-in map images when displayed together provide a zoom-in map of said portion of said geographic region depicted by said first map image, said zoom-in map having a larger scale than said first scale, wherein each of the first zoom-in map images is associated with a window identification value that identifies an arrangement of the plurality of zoom-in map images;

providing a second-zoom-in map image for each of the predetermined number of zoom-in map images;

selecting one of said second-zoom-in map images to identify a search area for obtaining point of interest information, wherein said search area is defined by said boundaries of said selected second-zoom-in map image, wherein said boundaries of said selected second-zoom-in map image are not administrative boundaries; and

after selecting the one of the zoom-in map images, providing information regarding a plurality of points of interest located in the search area corresponding to said portion of said geographic region represented by said selected zoom-in map image.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one of said second-zoom-in map images is selected via a click wheel user interface of the computing device.

7. A method of providing geographic information for display on a computing device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of first map images, each of said first map images depicts a map of a portion of a geographic region, wherein said first map images when displayed together illustrate a first map of said geographic region at a first scale;

providing a predetermined number of first zoom-in map images for each of said first map images, wherein said first zoom-in map images when displayed together provide a zoom-in map of said portion of said geographic region depicted by said first map image, said zoom-in map having a larger scale than said first scale;

providing a second-zoom-in map image for each of the predetermined number of zoom-in map images;

selecting, via a click wheel user interface of the computing device, one of said second-zoom-in map images to identify a search area for obtaining point of interest information, wherein said search area is defined by said boundaries of said selected second-zoom-in map image, wherein said boundaries of said selected second-zoom-in map image are not administrative boundaries; and

after selecting the one of the zoom-in map images, providing information regarding a plurality of points of interest located in the search area corresponding to said portion of said geographic region represented by said selected zoom-in map image.