Interactive Electronically Presented Map

Abstract

The present invention provides computerized systems and methods for providing electronically presented interactive area representation, such as a map, and information associated therewith. A user can select text, imagery, or other information presented on the map and associated with one or more items or locations, causing presentation of information relating to the associated one or more items or locations, such as appropriate contact information or a hyperlink to an appropriate Web site. Additionally or alternatively, a user can input or select, based on a query or otherwise, information relating to one or more items or locations associated with text, imagery, or other information presented on the map, causing presentation of an indication of one or more locations of the associated text, imagery, or other information on the map. A magnifier feature allowing internal navigation within the map can be provided. Additionally, animated images can appear to move over the map.

1 . A system for providing a user-interactive electronic area representation, comprising:
 at least one database storing at least one area representation of an area and related information;   at least one computer and a computer readable storage medium or media including computer code that causes the at least one computer to cause a display device to display thereon:   a first display comprising a stored area representation, user selectable stored information relating to the one or more items at different locations on the area representation for different items and outside of the area representation user selectable stored additional information related to the one or more items;   in response to user input selecting information related to the one or more items displayed on the first display, a second display comprising a stored area representation and stored information related to the selected information; and   in response to user input selecting additional information displayed on the first display, a third display comprising a stored area representation and stored information related to the selected additional information.   
     
     
         2 . A method of providing a user-interactive electronic area representation, comprising:
 at least one computer causing a display device to display a first display comprising an area representation, user selectable information relating to the one or more items at different locations on the area representation for different items and outside of the area representation user selectable additional information related to the one or more items;   in response to user input selecting information related to the one or more items displayed on the first display, the at least one computer causing the display device to display a second display comprising an area representation and information related to the selected information; and   in response to user input selecting additional information displayed on the first display, the at least one computer causing the display device to display a third display comprising an area representation and information related to the selected additional information.   
     
     
         3 . A computer readable medium or media including computer code that causes at least one computer to perform a method of providing a user-interactive electronic area representation on a display device, the method comprising:
 at least one computer causing a display device to display a first display comprising an area representation, user selectable information relating to the one or more items at different locations on the area representation for different items and outside of the area representation user selectable additional information related to the one or more items;   in response to user input selecting information related to the one or more items displayed on the first display, the at least one computer causing the display device to display a second display comprising an area representation and information related to the selected information; and   in response to user input selecting additional information displayed on the first display, the at least one computer causing the display device to display a third display comprising an area representation and information related to the selected additional information.   
     
     
         4 . The system, method or computer readable medium or media of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , respectively, wherein information displayed in response to user selection comprises an indication of information displayed in the first display. 
     
     
         5 . A method for providing an animated electronic map on a display device under control of at least one computer, comprising:
 the at least one computer causing the display device to display thereon a map with a portion thereof displayed highlighted;   the at least one computer causing the display device to display thereon an image moving with respect to the map being displayed including through the highlighted portion and through the magnified representation of the highlighted portion, the image being represented magnified in the magnified portion as compared to the image moved with respect to the map being displayed, and the image being simultaneously displayed in the magnified representation of the highlighted portion of the map being displayed and in the map being displayed when the image is displayed in the highlighted portion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising the at least one computer in response to input thereto from a pointing device causing the display device to display thereon another highlighted portion that is different from of the highlighted portion and another magnified representation corresponding to the other highlighted portion.