A user uses a portable electronic device to select an image representative of a brand. In response to the user's selection of the image representative of the brand, the device automatically presents the user with an image of a map that indicates a current location of the device and shows one or more images representative of brand purchase sites where the selected brand may be accessed by the user.
1. A method comprising:
(A) displaying, using a device, a first image associated with a first brand;
(B) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
(C) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
(D) identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible; and
(E) providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises displaying a plurality of images associated with a plurality of brands;
wherein (B) comprises receiving, from the user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of a particular one of the plurality of images associated with the first brand; and
wherein (E) comprises providing to the user a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which indicates a first physical location of a first brand purchase site at which the first branded entity may be purchased.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein (E) comprises providing to the user a first map which describes a first geographic area overlapping with the first location of the device and which indicates a plurality of brand access site associated images representing a plurality of brand access sites at which the first branded entity is accessible.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein (E) comprises:
(E) (1) identifying a plurality of brand access sites, each of which is associated with at least the first brand;
(E) (2) identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand; and
(E) (3) providing to the user a first map image which includes, for each brand access site that is a member of the subset, an indication of a brand access site.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein (D) (2) comprises identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand access site and has a location within the first geographic area described by the first map.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein (D) (2) comprises identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset has at least one branded entity of the first brand available for access at about a time step (D) (2) is performed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image comprises a logo associated with the first brand.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the selection by the user comprises an indication of a single action of the user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein (B) comprises receiving from the user an indication of a selection by the user of a plurality of images associated with a plurality of brands; and
wherein (E) comprises providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area overlapping with a location in proximity to the first device location and which includes a first indication of the plurality of brand access sites.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(F) receiving, from the user, input selecting the first brand access site; and
(G) performing a method based on the input.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein (G) comprises dialing a telephone number of the first brand access site.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein (G) comprises presenting to the user a web site associated with the first brand.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein (G) comprises providing directions to the first brand access site.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein (E) further comprises:
(E) (1) providing to the user a plurality of choices representing a plurality of methods;
(E) (2) receiving from the user input selecting one of the plurality of choices; and
wherein (F) comprises performing a method represented by the one of the plurality of choices selected by the user.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein (E) (2) comprises receiving the input provided by the user using a single action.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image comprises a photograph associated with the first brand.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image comprises an illustration associated with the first brand.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a product.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a service.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the service comprises an event.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
(F) receiving, from the user, an indication of a selection by the user of a time period during which the user is interested in using the service; and wherein (D) comprises providing to the user, using the device, a first map which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of a first brand access site at which the service is available during the user-selected time period.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the service comprises a movie showing.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first brand access site comprises a parcel of real property.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first brand access site comprises a geographic location.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first brand access site comprises a retail store.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first brand access site comprises a movie theater.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first map image comprises a two-dimensional graphical map.
28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first map image comprises an interior map.
29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image comprises a logo associated with the first brand.
30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image associated with the first brand comprises a photograph associated with the first brand.
31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image associated with the first brand comprises an illustration associated with the first brand.
32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image associated with the first brand comprises an icon associated with the first brand.
33. The method of claim 1 , wherein (C) comprises identifying the first device location using a Global Positioning System.
34. The method of claim 1 , wherein (C) comprises identifying the first device location using a RFID system.
35. The method of claim 1 , wherein (E) comprises providing to the user a first map image which describes a first geographic area overlapping with the first location of the device.
36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indication of the first brand access site indicates a characteristic associated with the first brand access site.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the characteristic comprises a count of branded entities of the first brand accessible at the first brand access site.
38. The method of claim 36 , wherein the first branded entity comprises an event, and wherein the characteristic comprises a starting time of the first branded entity at the first brand access site.
39. A system comprising:
display means for using a device to display a first image associated with a first brand;
reception means for receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
device location means for identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
first brand access site location means for identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible; and
map image provision means for providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.
40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the display means comprises means for displaying a plurality of images associated with a plurality of brands;
wherein the reception means comprises means for receiving, from the user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of a particular one of the plurality of images associated with the first brand; and
wherein the map image provision means comprises means for providing to the user a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which indicates a first physical location of a first brand purchase site at which the first branded entity may be purchased.
41. The system of claim 39 , wherein the map image provision means comprises:
means for identifying a plurality of brand access sites, each of which is associated with at least the first brand;
means for identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand; and
means for providing to the user a first map image which includes, for each brand access site that is a member of the subset, an indication of a brand access site.
42. The system of claim 41 , wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand access site and has a location within the first geographic area described by the first map.
43. The system of claim 39 , wherein the first image comprises a logo associated with the first brand.
44. The system of claim 39 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a product.
45. The system of claim 39 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a service.
46. A device comprising:
display means for displaying a first image associated with a first brand;
reception means for receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
device location means for identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
map image provision means for providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.
47. The device of claim 46 , wherein the display means comprises means for displaying a plurality of images associated with a plurality of brands;
wherein the reception means comprises means for receiving, from the user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of a particular one of the plurality of images associated with the first brand; and
wherein the map image provision means comprises means for providing to the user a first map which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which indicates a first physical location of a first brand purchase site at which the first branded entity may be purchased.
48. The device of claim 46 , wherein the map image provision means comprises:
means for identifying a plurality of brand access sites, each of which is associated with at least the first brand;
means for identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand; and
means for providing to the user a first map image which includes, for each brand access site that is a member of the subset, an indication of a brand access site.
49. The device of claim 48 , wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand access site and has a location within the first geographic area described by the first map.
50. The device of claim 46 , wherein the first image comprises a logo associated with the first brand.
51. The device of claim 46 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a product.
52. The device of claim 46 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a service.
53. A system comprising:
device location reception means for receiving an indication of a first location of a device;
first brand access site location means for identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having a first brand is accessible; and
map image provision means for providing, to the device, first map rendering data for rendering a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.
54. The system of claim 53 , wherein the map image provision means comprises:
means for identifying a plurality of brand access sites, each of which is associated with at least the first brand;
means for identifying a subset of the plurality of brand access sites, wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand; and
means for providing to the user a first map image which includes, for each brand access site that is a member of the subset, an indication of a brand access site.
55. The system of claim 54 , wherein each member of the subset is associated with the first brand access site and has a location within the first geographic area described by the first map.
56. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first indication comprises a logo associated with the first brand.
57. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a product.
58. The system of claim 53 , wherein the first branded entity comprises a service.
59. A method comprising:
(A) displaying, using a device, a first image associated with a first brand;
(B) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
(C) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
(D) identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible;
(E) providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site;
(F) identifying a second device location independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device; and
(G) in response to identifying the second device location, providing to the user, using the device, a second map which describes a second geographic area overlapping with a location in proximity to the second device location and which includes a second indication of a second brand access site at which the first brand is accessible.
60. A method comprising:
(A) displaying, using a device, a first image associated with a first brand;
(B) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
(C) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
(D) identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible; and
(E) providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site;
wherein (D) further comprises providing within the first map a second indication of a second brand access site at which a second brand, not indicated by the selection by the user, is accessible.
61. A system comprising:
display means for displaying, using a device, a first image associated with a first brand;
reception means for receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
first device location means for identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
first brand access site location means for identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible;
first map image provision means for providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site;
second device location means for identifying a second device location independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device; and
second map image provision means for providing to the user, using the device and in response to identifying the second device location, a second map which describes a second geographic area overlapping with a location in proximity to the second device location and which includes a second indication of a second brand access site at which the first brand is accessible.
62. A system comprising:
display means for displaying, using a device, a first image associated with a first brand;
reception means for receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;
device location means for identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;
first brand access site location means for identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible, and for providing within the first map a second indication of a second brand access site at which a second brand, not indicated by the selection by the user, is accessible; and
map image provision means for providing to the user, using the device, a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site.