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:
 sending a map information request from a user device to a network server;   receiving, at the user device from the network server, a first map information content corresponding to the map information request, and a first set of advertisement icons relating to the first map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria;   displaying, at the user device, the first map information content, and the first set of advertisement icons;   sending a transition request relative to the first map information content to the network server, wherein the transition request requests movement of the first map information content in a requested direction and at a zoom level staying the same as the first map information content;   receiving, at the user device from the network server, a second map information content corresponding to the transition request, and a second set of advertisement icons relating to the second map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from the plurality of criteria; and   displaying, at the user device, the second map information content, and the second set of advertisement icons;   
       wherein at least one of the first and second sets of advertisement icons include at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content, displayed along a side of the corresponding map information content in combination with an indication of the direction of the location of that provider relative to the corresponding map information content. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a user input selecting one of the first or second sets of advertisement icons when displayed, providing a predetermined response action at the user device relating to the provider associated with the selected advertisement icon.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined response action comprises placing a call to the provider. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined response action comprises displaying additional information regarding the provider. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of criteria comprise:
 whether a provider corresponding to an advertisement icon is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisement icons relating to the map information request are to be sent to the user device;   proximity of a location of a provider outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content comprises a plurality of advertisement icons surrounding the corresponding map information content. 
     
     
         7 . A computer, adapted to:
 send a map information request from the computer to a network server;   receive, from the network server, a first map information content corresponding to the map information request, and a first set of advertisement icons relating to the first map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria;   display the first map information content, and the first set of advertisement icons;   send a transition request relative to the first map information content to the network server, wherein the transition request requests movement of the first map information content in a requested direction and at a zoom level staying the same as the first map information content;   receive, from the network server, a second map information content corresponding to the transition request, and a second set of advertisement icons relating to the second map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from the plurality of criteria; and   display the second map information content and the second set of advertisement icons;   
       wherein at least one of the first and second sets of advertisement icons include at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content, displayed along a side of the corresponding map information content in combination with an indication of the direction of the location of that provider relative to the corresponding map information content. 
     
     
         8 . The computer of  claim 7 , further adapted to:
 responsive to a user input selecting one of the first or second sets of advertisement icons when displayed, provide a predetermined response action relating to the provider associated with the selected advertisement icon.   
     
     
         9 . The computer of  claim 8 , wherein the computer is a mobile device;
 and wherein the predetermined response action comprises placing a call to the provider.   
     
     
         10 . The computer of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined response action comprises displaying additional information regarding the provider. 
     
     
         11 . The computer of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of criteria comprise:
 whether a provider corresponding to an advertisement icon is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisement icons relating to the map information request are to be sent to the computer;   proximity of a location of a provider outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         12 . The computer of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content comprises a plurality of advertisement icons surrounding the corresponding map information content. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause a computer to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 sending a map information request to a network server;   receiving, from the network server, a first map information content corresponding to the map information request, and a first set of advertisement icons relating to the first map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from a plurality of criteria;   displaying the first map information content and the first set of advertisement icons;   sending a transition request relative to the first map information content to the network server, wherein the transition request requests movement of the first map information content in a requested direction and at a zoom level staying the same as the first map information content;   receiving, from the network server, a second map information content corresponding to the transition request, and a second set of advertisement icons relating to the second map information content and based on at least one criterion selected from the plurality of criteria; and   displaying the second map information content, and the second set of advertisement icons;   
       wherein at least one of the first and second sets of advertisement icons include at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content, displayed along a side of the corresponding map information content in combination with an indication of the direction of the location of that provider relative to the corresponding map information content. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 responsive to a user input selecting one of the first or second sets of advertisement icons when displayed, providing a predetermined response action relating to the provider associated with the selected advertisement icon.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer is a mobile device;
 and wherein the predetermined response action comprises placing a call to the provider.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined response action comprises displaying additional information regarding the provider. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of criteria comprise:
 whether a provider corresponding to an advertisement icon is situated within a geographical area determined by the map information request;   a priority list determining which advertisement icons relating to the map information request are to be sent to the user device;   proximity of a location of a provider outside the map information request; and   a requested service or product category.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one advertisement icon associated with a provider at a location outside of the corresponding map information content comprises a plurality of advertisement icons surrounding the corresponding map information content.