Providing commercial enterprise data with map data

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems for downloading map data. A database of layers of map data is maintained. The map data may be representative of at least one map image of a geographic area. Each layer may provide progressively more detailed display information. Map data is downloaded to a client computer, and the may data may be sufficient to allow a user to navigate within a geographic area without requiring new map data to be downloaded.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving, in a computer, a search request that includes one or more selection criteria;   determining, on the computer, one or more locations within a defined geographic area at which a match to at least one of the selection criteria is found; and   transmitting, by the computer, data to a requesting device from which the search request was received, the data identifying the matches to the selection criteria.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising:
 transmitting, by the computer, map data corresponding to the defined geographic area, wherein the one or more locations are identified in the map data. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  further comprising:
 storing, on the computer, a user profile identifying a user of the requesting device who generated the search request; and 
 determining the one or more locations is further responsive to the user profile. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the user profile comprises data provided by the user prior to the search request. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the data includes one or more advertisements for commercial entities at the one or more locations, wherein the advertisements are generated responsive to the user profile. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein the advertisements are displayed in proximity to the one or more locations on a map when the map data is displayed. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein the commercial entities are third parties to an owner of the computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein the advertisements are separate from the map data. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the requesting device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25  further comprising receiving, by the computer, location data from the mobile device identifying a location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26  further comprising transmitting additional map data responsive to the location data from the mobile device, the additional map data providing greater accuracy relative to the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the data transmitted by the computer to the requesting device is independent of a software platform on the requesting device. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 receiving, in a computer, a search request that includes one or more selection criteria, the search request received from a user having a user device;   retrieving, by the computer, user data associated with the user from a user profile stored on the computer;   determining, on the computer, one or more locations within a defined geographic area at which a match to at least one of the selection criteria is found;   determining, responsive to the user data, additional data to be transmitted;   transmitting, by the computer, data to the user device, the data identifying the matches to the selection criteria; and   transmitting, by the computer, the additional data.   
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 29  wherein the additional data comprises one or more advertisements associated with the one or more locations. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 30  further comprising:
 transmitting map data for the defined geographic area including the one or more locations for display on the user device, wherein the one or more advertisements are displayed in proximity to the one or more locations. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 29  further comprising:
 receiving, by the computer, location data from the user device, the location data locating the user device within the defined geographic area. 
 
     
     
         33 . A non-transitory computer accessible storage medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computer system to cause the computer system having a memory and a processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, in a computer, a search request from a user having a user device;   retrieving, by the computer, user data associated with the user from a user profile stored on the computer;   identifying one or more search results responsive to the search request;   identifying additional data to accompany the search results responsive to the user data;   transmitting, by the computer, map data to the user device, wherein the map data includes one or more geographic locations associated with the search results; and   transmitting, by the computer, the additional data.   
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer accessible storage medium as recited in  claim 33  wherein the additional data is displayed near the one or more geographic locations on a map represented by the map data when the map is displayed on the user device. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer accessible storage medium as recited in  claim 33  wherein the additional data comprises an advertisement for a commercial entity located at one of the one or more geographic locations. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer accessible storage medium as recited in  claim 35  wherein the commercial entity has paid a fee to an owner of the computer to target one or more elements of user data that are included in the users profile.