Personalization of map content via an application programming interface

Abstract

A mapping API provides a digital map via a user interface of a computing device. When invoked by a software application, the mapping API is configured to receive an identifier of a user operating the software application, provide a first interactive digital map including a representation of a certain geographic area for display by the software application, where the first interactive digital map is personalizable via the software application, receive personalization content from the user via the software application, and cause a second digital map including a representation of the geographic area, when provided to the same user, to be modified in view of the personalization content, where the first digital map and the second digital map are created independently.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented in a user device, the method comprising:
 providing, via a web browser, a first interactive digital map as part of a first web page content received from a first content provider;   receiving, via the web browser, a personalization content related to the first interactive digital map and associated with an authenticated user;   providing, via the web browser to the authenticated user, a second interactive digital map as a part of a second web page content received from a second content provider operating independently of the first content provider;   displaying the personalization content with the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving first map content for generating the first interactive digital map and second map content for generating the second interactive digital map from an online map service operating independently of the first content provider and the second content provider.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 providing the personalization content to the online map service; and   receiving the personalization content from the online map service, along with the second map content.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving authentication information for the authenticated user prior to providing the first interactive digital map; and   receiving the authentication information for the authenticated user prior to providing the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the personalization content includes:
 displaying, over the second interactive digital map, an overlay created by the authenticated user, the overlay including at least one of a shape, a polyline, or a symbol.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the personalization content includes:
 applying a styling preference of the authenticated user to change a visual display of certain map elements in the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the personalization content includes:
 placing a marker on the second interactive digital map, at a location specified by the authenticated user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the personalization content includes:
 modifying the second interactive digital map in view of a rating assigned by the authenticated user to a geographic entity depicted in the first interactive digital map.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the first interactive digital map, a marker to indicate a location of the first provider.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing of the first interactive digital map includes:
 providing the first interactive digital map at a zoom level specified by the first web page content.   
     
     
         11 . A user device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the user device:   provide, via a web browser, a first interactive digital map as part of a first web page content received from a first content provider,   receive, via the web browser, a personalization content related to the first interactive digital map and associated with an authenticated user,   provide, via the web browser to the authenticated user, a second interactive digital map as a part of a second web page content received from a second content provider operating independently of the first content provider, and   display the personalization content with the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         12 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 receive first map content for generating the first interactive digital map and second map content for generating the second interactive digital map from an online map service operating independently of the first content provider and the second content provider.   
     
     
         13 . The user device of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 provide the personalization content to the online map service; and   receive the personalization content from the online map service, along with the second map content.   
     
     
         14 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 receive authentication information for the authenticated user prior to providing the first interactive digital map; and   receive the authentication information for the authenticated user prior to providing the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         15 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 display, over the second interactive digital map, an overlay created by the authenticated user, the overlay including at least one of a shape, a polyline, or a symbol.   
     
     
         16 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 apply a styling preference of the authenticated user to change a visual display of certain map elements in the second interactive digital map.   
     
     
         17 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 place a marker on the second interactive digital map, at a location specified by the authenticated user.   
     
     
         18 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 modify the second interactive digital map in view of a rating assigned by the authenticated user to a geographic entity depicted in the first interactive digital map.   
     
     
         19 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 display, on the first interactive digital map, a marker to indicate a location of the first provider.   
     
     
         20 . The user device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the user device to:
 provide the first interactive digital map at a zoom level specified by the first web page content.