`
`(12) United States Patent
`Sterkel et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`(54) LOCATION-BASED IN-ROUTE
`ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION
`
`7,769,398 B2 * 8/2010 Marston et al. ............... 455,463
`2002fO160773 A1* 10, 2002 Gresham et al. ...
`... 455,431
`2012fO232791 A1* 9, 2012 Sterkeletal. ................. TO1/454
`
`(75) Inventors: Tyler J. Sterkel, San Francisco, CA
`(US); Gregory Dicum, San Francisco,
`CA (US); Tyler J. Freeman, San
`Francisco, CA (US); Michal J.
`Migurski, Oakland, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Window Seat, Inc., San Francisco, CA
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 82 days.
`
`21) Appl. No.: 13/412,006
`(21) Appl. No
`9
`(22) Filed:
`Mar. 5, 2012
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2012/O232782 A1
`Sep. 13, 2012
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/451,097, filed on Mar.
`9, 2011.
`(51) Int. Cl
`coi C 2I/26
`52) U.S. C
`701A109
`(52) USPG
`... T. grgrrr.
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............. iOS,400, 409, 422,425 sis 454, 1;
`705/14.62, 14.63, 14.64; 340/995.12,
`lication file f
`let
`h his995.11
`S
`ee appl1cauon Ille Ior complete searcn n1Story.
`References Cited
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Airshow 4200D, Getting There is Half the Fun, RockwellCollins,
`2010, 8 pages.
`Harris, George J. TGGEEKS, “5 Travel APPS For IPhone to Enjoy
`Your Adventure' Apps For Travel, dated Jun. 30, 2011, 8 pages.
`Georoamer, "Apple Store Summary, ipad.cqualityindex.com/games/
`244748/georoamer, last accessed on Sep. 16, 2013, 3 pages.
`Wikipedia, “Google Earth'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google
`Earth, last accessed on Sep. 14, 2013.
`Wikipedia, “Google Maps'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google
`Mapsi 2011, last accessed on Sep. 14, 2013, 26 pages.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner —Yonel Beaulieu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Hickman Palermo Truong
`Becker Bingham Wong LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Techniques are described herein for generating a moving map
`that includes a graphical representation of a vehicle. Such as
`an airplane, and content relevant to a location of the vehicle as
`the vehicle is in transit. An in-route entertainment server that
`serves the moving map may be onboard the vehicle or off
`board the vehicle. The moving map may display the current
`location of the vehicle displayed by modifying a delayed
`location of the vehicle to account for a speed, a heading, and
`an amount of delay. Content items may be included on the
`moving map if they are within a bounded region around the
`location of the vehicle or in the vehicle. Content items may
`also be included if they are associated with a region that
`overlaps the bounded region. The bounded region changes as
`the vehicle moves in transit.
`
`6.249,913 B1* 6/2001 Galipeau et al. ................ 725/76
`6,477,152 B1 * 1 1/2002 Hiett ............................. 370,316
`
`26 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 001
`
`
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Hear Planet is a Free Talking Tour Guide for Your iphone, (http://
`lifehacker.com/5129490/hearplanet-is-afree-talking-tour-guide-for
`your-iphone), dated 2013, 2 pages.
`Terminal U. “Hidden Journeys: the website that reveals the best views
`under the flightpath', Royal Geographic society's 'Hidden Journeys'
`website is a useful reference point for the curious flyer, www.
`
`terminalu.com/travel-features/hidden-journeys-the-Website-that-re
`veals-the-best-views-under-the-flight-path? 142847, last accessed on
`Sep. 16, 2013, 7 pages.
`Lester, “Explore Audio Augmented Reality with Toozla' Toozla
`Augmented Reality Browser Augmented Planet, dated May 27,
`2012, 6 pages.
`Barry, Keith, “Waze Combines Crowdsourced GPS and Pac-Man'
`Waze Combined Crowdsourced GPS and Pac-Man Autopia Wired.
`com, dated Nov. 16, 2010, 6 pages.
`* cited by examiner
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 002
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 003
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 004
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`§§
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 005
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 006
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 Of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`§§§§§§
`
`§§§§§§§
`
`§§§§§§
`
`3}}}}}{3
`
`8. grow
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 007
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`snau?hinoo
`
`
`
`
`ºn?umoniwaladvwahl norbaadaannoa ahueniganoo maladvwv ao nouvwanao asnwo
`
`
`iwubigaHu aosNouwinasaddaw anuowa?aln? unº uHeriº aH1 do Nouwinasaddasw |
`
`
`
`
`&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
`
`
`
`
`
`| 9'5E
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 008
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 Of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`|
`
`
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 009
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0010
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 Of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0011
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`i. i.
`
`:
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0012
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`.
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0013
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`it.
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0014
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0015
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`i.
`i:
`
`right Stati
`
`expires
`
`&
`
`igi
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0016
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 Of 15
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`
`
`&
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0017
`
`
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`1.
`LOCATION-BASED IN-ROUTE
`ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS: BENEFIT CLAIM
`
`This application claims the benefit of Provisional Applin.
`61/451,097, filed Mar. 9, 2011, the entire contents of which is
`hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein,
`under 35 U.S.C. S 119(e). The applicants hereby rescind any
`disclaimer of claim Scope in the parent application and advise
`the USPTO that the claims in this application may be broader
`than any claim in the parent application.
`This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,931,
`entitled "Onboard Location-Based In-Flight Entertainment
`And Information, filed on Mar. 5, 2012 and issued on Nov.
`26, 2013, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated
`by reference as if fully set forth herein.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2
`The real-time location of an Internet user can be deter
`mined by determining the location of the Internet Protocol
`(IP) address that the user is using to connect to a server. The
`location can be determined on mobile devices (e.g., laptops,
`Smartphones, tablet computers), noting the names (Service
`Set Identifier or SSID) of nearby WiFi hotspots and querying
`those names against a database of known hotspot names and
`locations. On mobile devices equipped with GPS (Global
`Positioning System) capabilities, the location can also be
`determined from the coordinates reported by the device's
`GPS chip. However, these methods of determining location
`might not be available in a moving vehicle Such as a flying
`aircraft.
`The approaches described in this section are approaches
`that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that
`have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless
`otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the
`approaches described in this section qualify as prior art
`merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present disclosure relates to the computer-generated
`presentation, to passengers, of location-based in-flight or in
`route entertainment, advertising, and other information.
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`Airline passengers are often confined to a seat in an air
`plane for a large portion of a flight as they travel from one
`place to another. Passengers of other forms of transportation
`may also be confined to the seat of for example, a train, bus,
`cab, or other vehicle during the trip. This experience tends to
`be boring and frustrating, and passengers, such as airline
`passengers, often attempt to pass the time with entertainment
`such as in-flight entertainment (IFE). IFE generally refers to
`media and/or activities that capture the attention of the pas
`senger, and is included in the broader category of in-route
`entertainment (IRE). IFE and IRE may include newspapers,
`magazines, or other reading material; movies and video
`games; and Internet access provided to passengers during a
`trip. IRE may be provided to train passengers during a train
`ride, to taxi, limo, or bus passengers during a road trip, or to
`boat or cruiseline passengers during a water trip.
`An example of IRE includes infrastructure-based solutions
`45
`that include onboard entertainment systems consisting of
`seatback screens, onboard servers and routers, storage sys
`tems, and the Software to run them. These entertainment
`systems sometimes provide movies for the passenger to view
`or games for the passenger to play. An informational map that
`shows the current location of the vehicle may also be
`included. In addition, shopping catalogues may be provided
`to passengers in the seatback pocket in front of the passenger.
`Satellite-based content, such as radio or television stations,
`may also be available to passengers. Current IRE ecosystems
`might include a blend of legacy infrastructure, overpriced,
`low quality content, and cumbersome systems. The hardware
`and the content are expensive, and there are few ways for
`advertisers to reach passengers.
`Internet access is becoming increasingly available on air
`line flights, and is expected to become more widespread at a
`decreased cost in the coming years. Other modes of transpor
`tation, such as high-speed trains, are also expected to have
`on-board Internet access. However, flight-specific/location
`specific Internet-based in-flight entertainment is not currently
`available. Therefore, in-flight Internet access is currently
`used by passengers in a manner consistent with home use.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram that represents an example com
`puting system on which an embodiment using web-based
`delivery may be implemented.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram that represents a computing
`system on which an embodiment using on-board hardware
`may be implemented.
`FIG.3 represents an example user interface in an embodi
`ment.
`FIG. 4A represents an example user interface with a look
`ahead feature in an embodiment.
`FIG. 4B represents an example user interface with a direc
`tional view feature in an embodiment.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram that represents a computing
`system on which an embodiment may be implemented.
`FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process for causing dis
`play of a moving map with interactive representations of
`content items.
`FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process for an onboard
`server to cause display of a moving map with interactive
`representations of content items.
`FIG. 8 illustrates an example moving map interface with
`Wikipedia and Flickr pins, displayed on an iPhone mobile
`device.
`FIG. 9 illustrates an example moving map interface dis
`played in a Chrome browser, where a title is being displayed
`for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Additional informa
`tion about a pin, Such as the title of the pin, may be displayed
`in response to a user-selection of the pin, or may be displayed
`by default.
`FIG. 10 illustrates an example moving map interface con
`currently displayed with an information bar containing des
`tination content about a destination of a vehicle depicted in
`the moving map interface. In addition to or as an alternative to
`content about the destination, information about regions
`through which the vehicle is passing, information about the
`vehicle itself, elevation information, information about the
`environment in which the vehicle is traveling, trip progress
`information, advertising information, or any other informa
`tion Such as the various types of information mentioned
`herein, may be displayed in the information bar.
`FIG. 11 illustrates an example moving map interface con
`currently displayed with an information bar containing time
`line information about a vehicle depicted in the moving map
`interface. The timeline information may include the elevation
`of the vehicle, the total duration of the trip, an amount of time
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0018
`
`
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`3
`that the vehicle has been in transit since departure from a
`Source, an amount of time that the vehicle is expected to
`remain in transit until reaching a destination, information
`about the Source or destination of the trip, or about regions
`around the vehicle or around the Source or destination, an
`identity of the vehicle or trip, or any other information such as
`the various types of information mentioned herein.
`FIG. 12 illustrates an example moving map interface dis
`played in an Internet Explorer browser, where an option is
`presented to look at the moving map view from an overhead
`or default perspective, from a right window perspective, or
`from a left window perspective.
`FIG. 13 illustrates an example moving map interface where
`a thumbnail is being displayed for a photo content pin. Addi
`tional information about a pin, Such as a thumbnail of a
`picture associated with the pin, may be displayed in response
`to a user-selection of the pin, or may be displayed by default.
`FIG. 14 illustrates an example moving map interface dis
`played in a browser of a portable device such as an iPhone.
`The moving map interface may also be displayed using a
`customized application installed on the portable device. The
`buttons on the phone may be assigned to actions unique to the
`moving map interface. For example, if the back button is
`pressed while the user is viewing content but not the moving
`map interface, the back button may cause the application to
`resume displaying the moving map interface, optionally cen
`tered at the location of the vehicle. If the back button is
`pressed while tooltips or other content are overlaid on the
`moving map interface, the backbutton may cause the overlaid
`content to disappear.
`FIG. 15 illustrates an example moving map interface dis
`played on an iPad touchscreen device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`4
`readable media, or helping or encouraging Such activities by
`others. Benefits may also be realized by performing the steps,
`offering to perform the steps, or helping or encouraging oth
`ers to perform the steps described herein. In one embodiment,
`one or more special-purpose computing devices perform a
`method for determining a vehicle's changing geographic
`location and presenting, on or otherwise concurrently with a
`moving map, content that is relevant to the changing geo
`graphic location. In another embodiment, instructions are
`stored on one or more non-transitory computer-readable stor
`age media, and the instructions, when executed by one or
`more computer processors, cause determining a vehicle's
`changing geographic location and presenting, on a moving
`map, content that is relevant to the changing geographic loca
`tion. In yet another embodiment, one or more computing
`devices are specially configured to determine a vehicle's
`changing geographic location and present, on a moving map.
`content that is relevant to the changing geographic location.
`In one embodiment, a user connects, via a user interface, to
`server moving map engine that is onboard the vehicle, off
`board the vehicle, on the user's device orona different device,
`or a combination thereof, and implemented in hardware logic
`Such as electronic circuitry, Software logic Such as stored
`instructions, or a combination thereof. The user inputs the
`user's trip information into the user interface. The trip infor
`mation may include carrier-identifying information and
`vehicle-identifying information Such as, for example, an air
`line name and a flight number. In the same or a different
`embodiment, the moving map engine may retrieve the user's
`trip information from a travel management system. For
`example, the user may provide, to the moving map engine, the
`user's authentication information for the travel management
`system, and the moving map engine may use the authentica
`tion information to retrieve trip information about a trip on
`which the user is currently traveling.
`In one embodiment, the moving map engine receives user
`travel information that indicates a vehicle or path on which a
`user is traveling. Based at least in part on the user travel
`information, the moving map engine determines a location of
`the vehicle as the vehicle is in transit. The moving map engine
`then determines which digital content items relate to a
`bounded region that includes the location. For example, the
`moving map engine may determine the size of the bounded
`region based on a default Zoom level or a Zoom level set by the
`user. The digital content items relating to the bounded region
`may include those content items that are associated with
`locations that are within the bounded region, and/or those
`content items that are associated with regions that overlap the
`bounded region.
`The moving map engine generates a map view that covers
`the bounded region and may include a graphical representa
`tion of the user's vehicle at the location of the vehicle on the
`map. In one embodiment, the displayed map region is cen
`tered around or otherwise based on the location of the vehicle,
`but the vehicle itself is not depicted on the map view. The
`map view also includes graphical representation(s) of content
`item(s) that relate to the bounded region. The content item(s)
`represented in the view may be a subset of the content item(s)
`that relate to the bounded region covered by the view. The
`moving map engine may update the map view to cover dif
`ferent bounded regions as the vehicle in transit moves from
`one location to another. The moving map engine determines
`different sets of digital content items that describe content
`that relates to the different bounded regions, and the different
`sets of digital content items are presented on the updated map
`views. In one embodiment, the vehicle in transit is displayed
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`In the following description, for the purposes of explana
`tion, numerous specific details are set forthin order to provide
`a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be
`apparent, however, that the present invention may be prac
`ticed without these specific details. In other instances, well
`known structures and devices are shown in block diagram
`form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present
`invention. While the application discusses embodiments
`related to airplane travel for clarity, other embodiments may
`be implemented with any type of travel, commercial or per
`45
`sonal. For example, taxi travel and travel by train may be
`substituted for airplane travel in the examples provided
`herein. In-flight entertainment may also be substituted with
`the broader category of in-route entertainment.
`General Overview
`Passengers of airplanes and other modes of transportation
`Such as bus, car, train, boat, or other passenger vehicle often
`pass time with many forms of in-route entertainment. In an
`embodiment, a computing system identifies a vehicle on
`which a user is traveling, and uses the real-time location of the
`55
`vehicle as the user's real-time geographic location. Geo
`graphically relevant data is then served to the user based on
`the vehicle's location. Alternatively, a user may view data for
`an in-transit vehicle even if the user is not onboard the in
`transit vehicle. In one example, a user onboard a vehicle may
`share a trip with a user offboard the vehicle, and both users
`may follow the vehicle and view geographically relevant data
`around the vehicle as the vehicle is in-transit from the source
`to the destination.
`Benefits of various techniques described herein may be
`realized by making, using, selling, offering for sale, or
`importing special-purpose computing devices or computer
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0019
`
`
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`5
`on the moving map as moving Smoothly between overlapping
`regions that include Some of the same content items and some
`different content items.
`In one embodiment, the server receives a user selection of
`a content items graphical representation, as displayed on a
`moving map interface. For example, the user may select an
`item by touching the item on a touch-screen, or by clicking or
`hovering over the item with a mouse. In response to the user
`selection, the server causes information to be displayed. The
`server logic for causing the information to be retrieved and
`displayed may be included on one machine or more
`machines. A single machine configured to run in a specialized
`environment, Such as a client-side machine configured to be
`connected to server(s) or a server-side machine configured to
`be connected to client(s), may be said to cause a result even if
`the single machine does not carry out every step for achieving
`that result. For example, server logic running on the client
`machine may use an identity of the selected item to query
`another machine that is onboard or offboard the vehicle, and
`utilize the results of the query to display additional informa
`tion. Also, logic running on the other machine may acquire or
`retrieve requested content from storage on the other machine
`or from various network-connected storage locations. The
`retrieved content may then be returned to the client machine,
`for display to the user. The additional information may be
`added to the map view or may be displayed, concurrently or
`non-concurrently with the map view, in a separate window.
`For example, selection of a pin may cause display of the name
`of the pin, a Summary of information described by content
`item(s) represented by the pin, partial content from the con
`tent item(s) represented by the pin, or full content of the
`content item(s) represented by the pin. Selection of the pin
`may also run one or more programs. The additional informa
`tion may also be provided in non-display formats such as
`audio. For example, selection of the pin may trigger playing
`an audio clip related to a location that was marked by the pin.
`In one embodiment, the moving map engine determines
`that a vehicle has moved from one location to another as the
`vehicle is in transit on a trip from a departure or source
`location to an arrival or destination location. In one example,
`to determine a current location of the vehicle in transit, the
`moving map engine receives a delayed location, a heading,
`and/or a speed of the vehicle from a vehicle information
`server, and the moving map engine predicts the current loca
`tion of the vehicle based on the delayed location, the heading,
`the speed, and/or the path of the vehicle. For example, the
`moving map engine may determine or estimate that the
`delayed location is stale by five minutes (i.e., a five minute
`time delay). For example, the information received may be
`timestamped to indicate a delay, or the moving map engine
`may be configured to expect an average or expected delay
`from the vehicle information server. The moving map engine
`may estimate the current position of the vehicle by adding, to
`the current location, a distance based on a multiplicative
`combination of the time delay and the speed of the vehicle. In
`another embodiment, the moving map engine may estimate
`the current position of the vehicle by predicting a progress of
`the vehicle along a trip plan that may be based on the delayed
`position, a predicted or actual heading of the vehicle, and/or
`a predicted or actual speed of the vehicle. If the vehicle was
`last reported to be on Schedule along the predicted path, then
`the moving map engine may predict that the vehicle is still on
`schedule along the predicted path.
`Example forms of content items include, but are not limited
`to: pictures, comments, texts, videos, Songs or sound files,
`Web sites, articles, games, social networking content, and/or
`advertising content. A single moving map view may include
`
`40
`
`45
`
`6
`different forms of content items, and different forms of con
`tent items may enter or leave the view as the vehicle moves
`from location to location. In one embodiment, the content
`items presented on the moving map view are selected from
`user-generated content items. The user-generated content
`items may have been generated by the user viewing the mov
`ing map, by other users of the IRE system, or by members of
`the public or members of other content-sharing sites. For
`example, the content items may have been uploaded to a
`social networking service or authored by friends of the user
`who is viewing the moving map. As another example, the
`content items may have been uploaded to a content sharing
`service or authored by users who have shared content with the
`general public. The user-generated content items may be
`tagged or semantically associated with a location or a region,
`and the location or the region may be used to determine
`whether or not the content items should be displayed on a
`current moving map view or associated content displays.
`In various embodiments, content items may be stored in
`association with locations, regions, destinations, the aircraft,
`or the Surrounding airspace. In one example, content items are
`stored in association with a region as a whole and not any
`particular point within the region. For example, a user adding
`the content item via an interface to a content management
`system may choose among several regions that have already
`been defined, such as state and county regions, or may create
`a new region by drawing a polygon on the map or otherwise
`specifying the points of a polygon. As the plane moves from
`bounded region to bounded region, the moving map engine
`may determine that the bounded region covered by the current
`moving map view overlaps with one of the points and/or
`regions associated with content. In response to determining
`that the current view overlaps with one of the regions associ
`ated with the stored content, the moving map engine may add,
`to the moving map view, the content associated with the
`region. The boundary or partial boundary of the region may
`be displayed on the moving map, a marker may be displayed
`Somewhere within the region, and/or a name or other infor
`mation about the region may be displayed in a sidebar next to,
`above, below, or on top of the map. Bounded regions covered
`by the moving map at different times during a trip and/or
`different bounded regions defined in association with content
`items may overlap with each other.
`In one embodiment, when markers are displayed on the
`moving map, a user may hover over, touch, or otherwise
`select the markers to trigger display, on a client device, of
`additional information on, above, or to the side of the moving
`map. For example, the user may touch (on a touch-screen
`display) or hover over (using a mouse) a marker to trigger the
`client device to display the name and/or a Summary of the
`content item represented by the marker. The user may further
`select the marker, the name, or the Summary information to
`trigger display, by the client device, of the content item. For
`example, when the moving map engine detects that the user
`has touched or clicked on the marker, the moving map engine
`may cause display of a partial or full picture, comment, text,
`Video, Song or sound file, Web site, article, game, Social
`networking content, and/or advertising content. In one
`embodiment, a first touch causes display of name or Summary
`information, and a second touch causes display of the content
`item. By selecting markers presented around the vehicle, and
`reviewing the displayed content, a user may discover infor
`mation about the Surrounding region or other information as
`the user travels through the region to his or her destination.
`In one embodiment, game pieces are displayed around a
`location of the vehicle as the vehicle is intransit. The user may
`receive game credits, points, or power-ups for picking up the
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Niantic's Exhibit No. 1007
`Page 0020
`
`
`
`US 8,762,047 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`7
`game pieces, and the user may be ranked among multiple
`users based on the credits, points, or power-ups. The credits
`may be used by the user to purchase items online, at the
`airport or transit station, or on the vehicle itself. In other
`words, the user may pick up a virtual coin and spend the
`virtual coin to purchase real items from a vendor that honors
`the virtual coins. The tokens may be placed randomly, or the
`tokens may be placed on or near landmarks, stores, golf
`courses, rivers, or cities. The power-ups may be used by the
`user to enhance a character or game environment that is
`managed by the user. For example, the user may pickup a new
`Sword or gun, a new shield or armor, or a power boost for the
`user's virtual character.
`In one embodiment, code sent from the server to the client,
`evaluated by a browser on the client device, triggers display of
`the additional information on the client device. If the client
`device has not pre-loaded the additional information, the
`client device may request the additional information from the
`server before the additional information is displayed.
`Retrieving Vehicle Information from a Vehicle Information
`Server
`In one embodiment, while a vehicle is in transit, a user
`accesses an moving map engine via one or more mobile
`devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, tablets, com
`puters built-in to the vehicle, or any other computing device
`25
`accessible to the user during the trip. For example, the user
`may turn on his or her device and access a Web page after a
`plane has reached 10,000 feet. If Internet access is available
`on the flight, the user may pay for Internet access from Ser
`vices such as Gogo Inflight Internet, or Internet access may be
`free through the airline or plane owner, through a flight res
`ervation or booking service, or as part of another promotional
`service. The user may access the moving map engine without
`Internet access if the user has wired or wireless network
`access, Bluetooth access directly to a moving map engine
`server or intermediate device, or some other connection to the
`moving map engine.
`In one embodiment, the user accesses the moving map
`engine by entering a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in a
`browser, by selecting a link, or by running an application that
`automatically connects to the moving map engine. In one
`embodiment, the address of the moving map engine is a
`network address, and the user's request is directed to a server
`device at the network address by network devices offboard
`the plane. In another embodiment, the address of the moving
`map engine is a local address, and the user's request is
`directed to a server device at the network address by network
`devices onboard the plane. For example, the user's device
`may be connected to a local area network on the plane for
`accessing media and other content that is provided as a ser
`vice by the airline.
`The user's device displays a cached or newly retrieved
`version of the interface to the IRE system. The interface may
`include several options, one of which is to follow the user's
`vehicle on a moving map. In one embodiment, when the user
`selects the option, the user is prompted to insert a vehicle
`passenger-service carrier name, vehicle number, departure
`location, destination location, tail number, license plate, user
`information, or other information that can be used to identify
`the user's vehicle. For example, the departure location and
`destination location can be combined with the current time to
`guess the identity of the user's vehicle. Upon receiving the
`information identifying the vehicle, the moving map engin