Systems and methods for generating electronic map displays with points-of-interest information based on reference locations

1. A computer-implemented method for generating an electronic map display, the method comprising:

receiving route information associated with a route having an origination point and a destination point;

determining a location of a reference point along the route;

assigning a spatial identifier to the reference point;

determining a significance level of the spatial identifier;

defining a search area associated with the spatial identifier based on the significance level;

searching for points of interest (POIs) in the search area;

comparing a density of the POIs in the search area with a predetermined density threshold;

readjusting a size of the search area when the density of the POIs is lower than the predetermined threshold and conducting another search for the POIs in the search area;

ranking, using a processor, the POIs based on distances of POIs from the location of the reference point; and

providing POI information for an electronic map display, wherein the POI information is associated with one or more POIs and selected based on the ranking of the POIs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the POI information includes latitude and longitude information for one or more POIs.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference point is different from the origination point and the destination point.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference point corresponds to at least one of a rest area located along the route or an exit of a roadway included in the route.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving instructions from a user identifying a location included in the route, wherein the reference point corresponds to the identified location.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating distances of the POIs from the reference point; and

identifying a first POI determined to be at a first distance from the reference point and identifying a second POI determined to be at a second distance from the reference point, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first POI is ranked higher than the second POI.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving search criteria from a user identifying a type of POI, wherein searching for POIs in the search area includes searching for POIs of the type identified by the search criteria.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the POIs are ranked based on types of the POIs.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving POI information from a POI database; and

searching for the POIs in the search area based on the retrieved POI information.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving advertisement information corresponding to the first POI; and

incorporating the advertisement information with the POI information in the electronic map display.

12. A system for generating an electronic map display, the system comprising:

an input device for receiving input from a user;

a display device for displaying the electronic map display;

a processor configured to:

receive route information associated with a route having an origination point and a destination point;

determine a location of a reference point along the route;

assign a spatial identifier to the reference point;

determine a significance level of the spatial identifier;

define a search area associated with the spatial identifier based on the significance level;

search for points of interest (POIs) in the search area;

compare a density of the POIs in the search area with a predetermined density threshold;

readjust a size of the search area when the density of the POIs is lower than the predetermined threshold and conduct another search for the POIs in the search area;

rank the POIs based on distances of POIs from the location of the reference point; and

provide POI information for an electronic map display, wherein the POI information is associated with one or more POIs and selected based on the ranking of the POIs.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the POI information includes latitude and longitude information for one or more POIs.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the reference point is different from the origination point and the destination point.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the reference point corresponds to at least one of a rest area located along the route or an exit of a roadway included in the route.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive instructions from a user identifying a location included in the route, and the reference point corresponds to the identified location.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate distances of the POIs from the reference point; and

identify a first POI determined to be at a first distance from the reference point and identifying a second POI determined to be at a second distance from the reference point, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for generating an electronic map display, the method comprising:

receiving route information associated with a route having an origination point and a destination point;

determining a location of a reference point along the route;

assigning a spatial identifier to the reference point;

determining a significance level of the spatial identifier;

defining a search area associated with the spatial identifier based on the significance level;

searching for points of interest (POIs) in the search area;

comparing a density of the POIs in the search area with a predetermined density threshold;

readjusting a size of the search area when the density of the POIs is lower than the predetermined threshold and conducting another search for the POIs in the search area;

ranking the POIs based on distances of POIs from the location of the reference point; and

providing POI information for an electronic map display, wherein the POI information is associated with one or more POIs and selected based on the ranking of the POIs.