Local Search and Mapping for Mobile Devices

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving on a mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location, providing one or more search results in response to the search query, the search results each being associated with a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of the computing device icons corresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key on the computing device.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A mobile computing device comprising:
 a wireless communication interface;   a display screen; and   a processor programmed to perform operations, the operations comprising
 receiving a search query; 
 transmitting information characterizing the received search query to a search engine; 
 receiving, in response to the transmission of the information characterizing the received search query, a collection of search results responsive to the received search query, a first of the search results including information characterizing a phone number of the first of the search results; 
 causing to be displayed, on the display screen, a graphical user interface that identifies at least some of the search results in the collection; 
 receiving a selection of the first of the displayed search results; and 
 dialing, in response to the selection of the first of the search results, the phone number of the first of the search results characterized in the collection of responsive search results. 
   
     
     
         21 . The mobile computing device of  claim 20 , wherein displaying the graphical user interface comprises displaying representative icons at or near a respective location of each of the at least some of the search results on a geographic map. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile computing device of  claim 21 , where each of the representative icons includes a label that corresponds to a label on an input element on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile computing device of  claim 20 , wherein receiving the selection of the first of the displayed search results comprises:
 receiving a first user interaction selecting the first of the displayed search results from amongst others of the collection of the search results responsive to the received search query; and   receiving a second user interaction selecting the dialing of the phone number of the first of the search results.   
     
     
         24 . The mobile computing device of  claim 23 , wherein the dialing of the phone number is selected from amongst a set of actions relating to the first of the displayed search results. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile computing device of  claim 24 , wherein the set of actions includes generation of directions to a location the first of the displayed search results. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile computing device of  claim 24 , wherein the set of actions includes displaying a move map dialog display configured for selection of a new location on which to center a map. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile computing device of  claim 24 , wherein the set of actions includes a zoom to a location on a map. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile computing device of  claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise causing to be displayed, on the display screen, a graphical icon selectable to trigger dialing of the phone number of the first of the search results. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the search query is received from an individual interacting with the mobile computing device; and   the selection of the first of the displayed search results is received receiving from the individual.   
     
     
         30 . A mobile computing device comprising:
 a wireless communication interface;   a display screen; and   a processor programmed to perform operations, the operations comprising
 receiving a search query; 
 transmitting information characterizing the received search query to a search engine; 
 receiving, in response to the transmission of the information characterizing the received search query, a collection of search results responsive to the received search query, a first of the search results including information characterizing a location of the first of the search results; 
 causing to be displayed, on the display screen, a graphical user interface that identifies at least some of the search results in the collection; 
 receiving a selection of the first of the displayed search results; and 
 generating, in response to the selection of the first of the search results, directions to the location the first of the displayed search results characterized in the collection of responsive search results. 
   
     
     
         31 . The mobile computing device of  claim 30 , wherein displaying the graphical user interface comprises displaying representative icons at or near a respective location of each of the at least some of the search results on a geographic map. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile computing device of  claim 31 , where each of the representative icons includes a label that corresponds to a label on an input element on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile computing device of  claim 30 , wherein receiving the selection of the first of the displayed search results comprises:
 receiving a first user interaction selecting the first of the displayed search results from amongst others of the collection of the search results responsive to the received search query; and   receiving a second user interaction selecting the dialing of the phone number of the first of the search results.   
     
     
         34 . The mobile computing device of  claim 33 , wherein the dialing of the phone number is selected from amongst a set of actions relating to the first of the displayed search results. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile computing device of  claim 34 , wherein the set of actions includes dialing a phone number of the first of the search results. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile computing device of  claim 35 , wherein the set of actions includes displaying a move map dialog display configured for selection of a new location on which to center a map. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the set of actions includes a zoom to a location on a map. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile computing device of  claim 30 , wherein the operations further comprise causing to be displayed, on the display screen, a graphical icon selectable to trigger dialing of the phone number of the first of the search results. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile computing device of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the search query is received from an individual interacting with the mobile computing device; and   the selection of the first of the displayed search results is received receiving from the individual.