Systems and methods for generating electronic map displays with points-of-interest based on density thresholds

1. A computer-implemented method for adjusting search areas, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:

determining a route distance based on information for a route;

comparing the route distance with a distance threshold;

defining a search area when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the search area including boundaries;

calculating a points of interest (POI) density of the search area;

determining if the POI density is greater than a first density threshold and less than a second density threshold;

increasing the boundaries of the search area when it is determined that the POI density is less than the first density threshold; and

decreasing the boundaries of the search area when it is determined that the POI density is greater than the second density threshold.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a location of a sample point within the search area; and

calculating the POI density based on the sample point.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying POIs within the increased or decreased boundaries of the search area; and

providing POI information for an electronic map, the POI information being associated with one or more POIs of the identified POIs.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the POI information includes latitude and longitude information for the one or more identified POIs.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

dividing the route into a plurality of segments when the route distance is greater than or equal to the distance threshold;

defining a segment search area for one of the segments;

determining a location of a sample point within the segment search area;

calculating a segment POI density of the segment search area;

comparing the segment POI density with the first density threshold and the second density threshold;

adjusting the boundaries of the segment search area based on a result of the comparison;

searching for POIs in the adjusted segment search area; and

updating the POI information based on the search for POIs in the adjusted segment area.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving search criteria from a user identifying a type of POI; and

searching for the POIs based on the type of POI identified by the search criteria.

7. A system for adjusting search areas, the system comprising:

an input device for receiving input specifying information for a route;

a processor configured to:

determine a route distance based on the information for the route;

compare the route distance with a distance threshold;

definite a search area when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the search area including boundaries;

calculate a points of interest (POI) density of the search area;

determine if the POI density is greater than a first density threshold and less than a second density threshold;

increase the boundaries of the search area when it is determined that the POI density is less than the first density threshold; and

decrease the boundaries of the search area when it is determined that the POI density is greater than the second density threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a location of a sample point within the search area; and

calculate the POI density based on the sample point.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify POIs within the increased or decreased boundaries of the search area; and

provide POI information for an electronic map, the POI information being associated with one or more POIs of the identified POIs.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the POI information includes latitude and longitude information for the one or more identified POIs.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

divide the route into a plurality of segments when the route distance is greater than or equal to the distance threshold;

define a segment search area for one of the segments;

determine a location of a sample point within the segment search area;

calculate a segment POI density of the segment search area;

compare the segment POI density with the first density threshold and the second density threshold;

adjust the boundaries of the segment search area based on a result of the comparison;

search for POIs in the adjusted segment search area; and

update the POI information based on the search for POIs in the adjusted segment area.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive search criteria from a user identifying a type of POI; and

search for the POIs based on the type of POI identified by the search criteria.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer processor, causes the computer processor to:

determine a route distance based on information for a route;

compare the route distance with a distance threshold;

define a search area when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the search area including boundaries;

calculate a points of interest (POI) density of the search area;

determine if the POI density is greater than a first density threshold and less than a second density threshold;

increase the boundaries of the search area when it is determined that the POI density is less than the first density threshold; and

decrease the boundaries of the search area when it is determined the POI density is greater than the second density threshold.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the program further causes the computer processor to:

determine a location of a sample point within the search area; and

calculate the POI density based on the sample point.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the program further causes the computer processor to:

identify POIs within the increased or decreased boundaries of the search area; and

provide POI information for an electronic map, the POI information being associated with one or more POIs of the identified POIs.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the POI information includes latitude and longitude information for the one or more identified POIs.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the program further causes the computer processor to:

divide the route into a plurality of segments when the route distance is greater than or equal to the distance threshold;

define a segment search area for one of the segments;

determine a location of a sample point within the segment search area;

calculate a segment POI density of the segment search area;

compare the segment POI density with the first density threshold and the second density threshold;

adjust the boundaries of the segment search area based on a result of the comparison;

search for POIs in the adjusted segment search area; and

update the POI information based on the search for POIs in the adjusted segment area.

18. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

incorporating segment POI information with the POI information for the electronic map display.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

incorporate segment POI information with the POI information for the electronic map display.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the program further causes the computer processor to:

incorporate segment POI information with the POI information for the electronic map display.