Virtual location markers for mobile mapping
Described is a technology by which a virtual location marker (e.g., virtual pushpin or similar placeholder) is determined from the results of a query, in which the virtual location marker corresponds to a first coordinate set (e.g., a latitude, longitude and/or altitude of a business location) to represent a point on a map. Various static and dynamic data may be used to select a result deemed most desirable from among multiple query results. The virtual location marker may be output, e.g., plotted on a map and/or used to provide audio directions. Upon detecting a state change, such as a change in current location, and/or a change in direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination, the virtual location marker may be automatically re-determined, including changing the virtual location marker to correspond to a second, different coordinate set now deemed most desirable in view of the state change.
1 . At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:
determining a virtual location marker corresponding to a first coordinate set that represents a point other than a current location;
detecting a state change; and
re-determining the virtual location marker in response to detecting the state change, including changing the virtual location marker to correspond to a second coordinate set that is different from the first coordinate set.
2 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting a representation of the virtual location marker based on the first coordinate set, and in response to the state change, changing to output the representation based on the second coordinate set.
3 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting a representation of the virtual location marker based on the first coordinate set, and in response to the state change, changing at least one appearance characteristic of the representation.
4 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting audio corresponding to at least part of a first set of directions based on the virtual location marker, and in response to the state change, changing to output audio corresponding to at least part of a second set of directions based on the second coordinate set.
5 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in current location.
6 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in state corresponding to a change to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination.
7 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining the virtual location marker comprises evaluating data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing traffic data, route data, point of interest data, price data or ratings data.
8 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining the virtual location marker comprises evaluating user data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing user preference data, user task data, user contacts data, user historical data, and user calendar data.
9 . In a computing environment having a mapping mechanism, a system comprising:
a data store set containing at least one data store;
a query input mechanism;
a preference mechanism coupled to obtain a query from the query input mechanism, coupled to a source of dynamic data, and coupled to access other dynamic and/or static data from the data store set, the preference mechanism configured to compute a virtual location marker corresponding to a first coordinate set in response to the query based on the dynamic data or data from the data store set, or based on both, and to re-compute the virtual location marker corresponding to a second coordinate set based on the dynamic data or data from the data store set, or based on both; and
an output mechanism coupled to the mapping mechanism and the preference mechanism to output information corresponding to the virtual location marker with respect to mapping data.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the output mechanism outputs a visible representation of the virtual location marker, or outputs audio based on the virtual location marker, or outputs both a visible representation of the virtual location marker and audio based on the virtual location marker.
11 . The system of claim 9 wherein the preference mechanism re-computes the virtual location marker based upon a state change in the dynamic data, or based upon data from the data store set, or based upon both a state change in the dynamic data and upon data from the data store set.
12 . The system of claim 11 the dynamic data corresponds to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination.
13 . The system of claim 9 wherein the data store set contains data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing user data Internet data, traffic data, route data, point of interest data, price data, business-provided data, or ratings data.
14 . The system of claim 9 wherein at least part of the data store set is maintained in a local cache, and wherein at least part of the local cache may be refreshed via a connection to a network.
15 . The system of claim 9 wherein the query input mechanism comprises a user input mechanism, or a query-generation mechanism, or both a user input mechanism and a query-generation mechanism.
16 . In a computing environment having a computer network, a method comprising:
processing a query directed towards identifying a location other than a current location;
computing a virtual location marker from results of the query to determine a first location corresponding to a first coordinate set;
outputting information corresponding to the location marker; and
detecting a state change, and in response, re-computing the location marker at a second location corresponding to a second coordinate set, and outputting information corresponding to the re-computed location marker.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in the current location.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in state corresponding to a change to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location an end destination, traffic conditions, price data, and user input data.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises determining whether changed state data is sufficiently changed to be deemed the state change for re-computing the location marker.
20 . The method of claim 16 wherein outputting the information corresponding to the location marker and re-computed location marker comprises outputting a visible representation of each virtual location marker, or outputting audio based on each virtual location marker, or outputting both a visible representation of each virtual location marker and audio based on each virtual location marker.