Method, network server and computer program for determining advertisement information relating to map information

Abstract

The invention relates to a solution in which advertisement icons displayed together with map information relate to the displayed map information. In one embodiment of the invention, some or all of the advertisement icons are from service providers situated within the geographical area displayed by the map information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a network server from a user device, a map information request;   determining, at the network server, based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria, a first set of advertisements relating to the map information request;   sending a first map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device;   receiving a transition request relative to the sent first map information content, wherein the transition request requests moving the sent first map information content to a request direction and a zoom level staying the same as the sent first map information content;   determining, at the network server, based on another criterion selected from the plurality of criteria, a second set of advertisements in response to the transition request; and   sending a second map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device,   wherein the first and second sets of advertisements include at least one advertisement associated with a provider of a location outside of the map information content, the method further comprising causing, at least in part, sending an indicator indicating a direction, relative to the first and second map information content, of the location of the provider outside the map information content.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the steps of determining the first and second sets of advertisements are each based on at least one of the following plurality of criteria:
 a service provider of an advertisement is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisements relating to the map information request are to be sent to the web browser;   proximity of a service provider of an advertisement outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending comprises sending the first map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the first map information content is surrounded by the second set of advertisements. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending comprises sending the second map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the map information request is surrounded by the first set of advertisements. 
     
     
         5 . A network server comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from a user device, a map information request; 
 determine, based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria, a first set of advertisements relating to the map information request; 
 send a first map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device; 
 receive a transition request relative to the sent first map information content, wherein the transition request requests moving the sent first map information content to a request direction and a zoom level staying the same as the sent first map information content; 
 determine based on another criterion selected from the plurality of criteria a second set of advertisements in response to the transition request; and 
 send a second map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device, 
   wherein the first and second sets of advertisements include at least one advertisement associated with a provider of a location outside of the map information content, the method further comprising causing, at least in part, sending an indicator indicating a direction, relative to the first and second map information content, of the location of the provider outside the map information content.   
     
     
         6 . The network server according to  claim 5 , wherein the computer program code is configured to cause the apparatus to determine each of the first and second sets of advertisements based on at least one of the following plurality of criteria:
 a service provider of an advertisement is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisements relating to the map information request are to be sent to the web browser;   proximity of a service provider of an advertisement outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         7 . The network server according to  claim 5 , wherein the map application is configured to send the first map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the first map information content is surrounded by the second set of advertisements. 
     
     
         8 . The network server according to  claim 5 , wherein the map application is configured to send the second map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the map information request is surrounded by the first set of advertisements. 
     
     
         9 . The network server according to  claim 5 , wherein the computer program code comprises:
 a map application module configured to run a map application;   and wherein the at least one memory further comprises:   map information storage configured to store the first and second map information content; and   advertisement storage configured to store the first and second sets of advertisements.   
     
     
         10 . A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising code adapted to perform the following steps when executed in a data processing device:
 receiving, from a user device, a map information request;   determining, based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria, a first set of advertisements relating to the map information request;   sending a first map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device;   receiving a transition request relative to the sent first map information content, wherein the transition request requests moving the sent first map information content to a request direction and a zoom level staying the same as the sent first map information content;   determining, based on another criterion selected from the plurality of criteria, a second set of advertisements in response to the transition request; and   sending a second map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device,   wherein the first and second sets of advertisements include at least one advertisement associated with a provider of a location outside of the map information content, the method further comprising causing, at least in part, sending an indicator indicating a direction, relative to the first and second map information content, of the location of the provider outside the map information content.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product according to  claim 10 , wherein the steps of determining the first and second sets of advertisements are each based on at least one of the following plurality of criteria:
 a service provider of an advertisement is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisements relating to the map information request are to be sent to the web browser;   proximity of a service provider of an advertisement outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of the first map information content and the second set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the first map information content is surrounded by the second set of advertisements. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of sending comprises sending the second map information content and the determined first set of advertisements to the user device in a form that the map information request is surrounded by the first set of advertisements.