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A database search system that retrieves multimedia information in a flexible, user friendly system. The search system uses a multimedia database consisting of text, picture, audio and animated data. That database is searched through multiple graphical and textual entry paths. Those entry paths include an idea search, a title finder search, a topic tree search, a picture explorer search, a history timeline search, a world atlas search, a researcher's assistant search, and a feature articles search.

Inventors: Michael Reed, Greg Bestick, Carol Greenhalgh, Norman J. Bastin, Ron Carlton, Stanley D. Frank, Dale Good, Neil Holman, Carl Holzman, Ann Jensen, Harold Kester, Dave Maatman, Edwardo Munevar, Derryl Rogers
Original Assignee: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Wayne Amsbury
Attorney: Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP
Current U.S. Classification: 1/1; 345/418; 707/999.003; 707/E17.009; 715/700

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Referenced by

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Claims

1. A computerized map system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

computer software stored on the storage medium and operable to:
cause an image of at least a portion of a map to be displayed on a display screen;
provide a zoom feature wherein portions of the map can be viewed on the display screen in various scales;
provide a pan feature wherein the user may provide input to cause the map image on the display screen to pan in a plurality of directions;
display a plurality of place indicators on the display screen, wherein a specific place indicator indicates the position of a place on the map and indicates that further information about the place is available;
display text information associated with a first one of the plurality of place indicators in response to input from a user indicating selection of the first place indicator;
provide a text browse feature that allows the user to browse a first list of places, select a first place from the first list, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the first place in response to input from the user; and
provide a text search feature that allows the user to enter textual search information to search for a second place, receive a second list of places in response to the search, select a second place from the second list of places, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the second place in response to input from the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the reference coordinates are latitude and longitude coordinates.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause latitude and longitude lines to be displayed on the display screen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause latitude and longitude lines to be displayed on the display screen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause at least one textual article about a place on the map to be retrieved in response to input from the user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to provide input that causes a cursor to move on the display screen; and cause the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the text browse feature displays a list of places that a user may scroll through.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to display place names on the display screen.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether place names are displayed on the display screen.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the place names serve as place indicators.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the text browse feature displays a list of places that a user may scroll through.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to provide input that causes a cursor to move on the display screen; and cause the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the text information may also be retrieved through either the text browse feature or text search feature.

48. The computerized map system of claim 1, further comprising:

an idea entry path for searching textual information stored on the storage medium for terms and phrases that closely resemble a search inquiry;

a title finder entry path for locating titles, wherein the titles are searched using the title finder entry path by moving through an alphabetical list of titles;

a topic tree entry path for dividing certain textual information into topics and sub-topics in order to assist a user in browsing through the textual information;

a picture explorer entry path for locating at least one picture stored on the storage medium and for retrieving textual information related to the at least one picture;
a history timeline entry path for displaying historical events arranged on a timeline in order that a user may access in formation about one of the events;
a feature articles entry path which takes a user directly to at least one article stored in the storage medium; and
a researcher's assistant entry path which contains subject matter categories divided into topics, wherein the topics are further divided into research assignments and wherein the research assignments are ordered by level of difficulty.

49. A method of electronically using a map, comprising:

causing an image of at least a portion of a map to be displayed on an electronic display screen;

providing a zoom feature wherein portions of the map can be viewed on the display screen in various scales;

providing a pan feature wherein the user may provide input to cause the map image on the display screen to pan in a plurality of directions;

displaying a plurality of place indicators on the display screen, wherein a specific place indicator indicates the position of a place on the map and indicates that further information about the place is available;
displaying text information associated with a first one of the plurality of place indicators in response to input from a user indicating selection of the first place indicator;
providing a text browse feature that allows the user to browse a first list of places, select a first place from the first list, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the first place in response to input from the user; and
providing a text search feature that allows the user to enter textual search information to search for a second place, receive a second list of places in response to the search, select a second place from the second list of places, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the second place in response to input from the user.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the reference coordinates are latitude and longitude coordinates.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising causing latitude and longitude lines to be displayed on the display screen.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

55. The method of claim 49, further comprising causing latitude and longitude lines to be displayed on the display screen.

56. The method of claim 49, further comprising causing at least one textual article about a place on the map to be retrieved in response to input from the user.

57. The method of claim 49, further comprising causing a cursor to move on the display screen in response to input from the user; and causing the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

61. The method of claim 57, further comprising selectively controlling whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

64. The method of claim 57, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

65. The method of claim 57, further comprising causing a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

66. The method of claim 57, wherein the text browse feature displays a list of places that a user may scroll through.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising causing a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

71. The method of claim 49, further comprising displaying place names on the display screen.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising selectively controlling whether place names are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the place names serve as place indicators.

74. The method of claim 49, further comprising selectively controlling whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

77. The method of claim 74, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

78. The method of claim 74, further comprising causing a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

81. The method of claim 78, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

82. The method of claim 49, further comprising causing a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

83. The method of claim 49, wherein the text browse feature displays a list of places that a user may scroll through.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

85. The method of claim 83, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

86. The method of claim 83, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

87. The method of claim 83, further comprising causing a cursor to move on the display screen in response to input from the user; and causing the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

89. The method of claim 87, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

90. The method of claim 87, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

91. The method of claim 83, further comprising selectively controlling whether place names are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

93. The method of claim 91, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

94. The method of claim 91, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the second place after the user has selected the second place.

95. The method of claim 49, wherein at least part of the text information may also be retrieved through either the text browse feature or text search feature.

96. A computerized map system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

computer software stored on the storage medium and operable to:
cause an image of at least a portion of a map to be displayed on a display screen;
change the portion of the map displayed on the display screen in response to user input;
display a plurality of place indicators on the display screen, wherein a specific place indicator indicates the position of a place on the map and indicates that further information about the place is available;
display text information associated with a first one of the plurality of place indicators in response to input from a user indicating selection of the first place indicator;
provide a text search feature that allows the user to enter textual search information to search for a first place, receive a first list of places in response to the search, select a first place from the first list of places, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the first place in response to input from the user; and
provide a text browse feature that allows the user to browse a second list of places, select a second place from the second list, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the second place in response to input from the user.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the reference coordinates are latitude and longitude coordinates.

99. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

100. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to provide input that causes a cursor to move on the display screen; and cause the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether place names are displayed on the display screen.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

104. The system of claim 100, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

106. The system of claim 100, wherein the place names serve as place indicators.

107. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to display place names on the display screen.

108. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to allow the user to selectively control whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

110. The system of claim 108, wherein the computer software is further operable to display reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

111. The system of claim 96, wherein the computer software is further operable to cause a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

112. The system of claim 96, wherein at least part of the text information may also be retrieved through the text search feature.

113. A method of electronically using a map, comprising:

causing an image of at least a portion of a map to be displayed on a display screen;

changing the portion of the map displayed on the display screen in response to user input;

displaying a plurality of place indicators on the display screen, wherein a specific place indicator indicates the position of a place on the map and indicates that further information about the place is available;

displaying text information associated with a first one of the plurality of place indicators in response to input from a user indicating selection of the first place indicator;
providing a text search feature that allows the user to enter textual search information to search for a first place, receive a first list of places in response to the search, select a first place from the first list of places, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the first place in response to input from the user; and
providing a text browse feature that allows the user to browse a second list of places, select a second place from the second list, and display an image of a part of the map indicating the location of the second place in response to input from the user.

114. The method of claim 113, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the reference coordinates are latitude and longitude coordinates.

116. The method of claim 113, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

117. The method of claim 113, further comprising causing a cursor to move on the display screen in response to input from the user; and causing the portion of the map displayed on the display screen to be altered in response to the movement of the cursor.

118. The method of claim 117, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

119. The method of claim 117, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

120. The method of claim 117, further comprising selectively controlling whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

121. The method of claim 120, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

122. The method of claim 113, further comprising displaying place names on the display screen.

123. The method of claim 122, further comprising selectively controlling whether place names are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein the place names serve as place indicators.

125. The method of claim 113, further comprising selectively controlling whether the place indicators are displayed on the display screen in response to input from the user.

126. The method of claim 125, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of at least one point on the map displayed on the display screen.

127. The method of claim 125, further comprising displaying reference coordinates on the display screen corresponding to the geographic location of the first place after the user has selected the first place.

128. The method of claim 113, further comprising causing a mileage scale to be displayed on the display screen for the portion of the map that is being displayed.

129. The method of claim 113, wherein at least part of the text information may also be retrieved through the text search feature.

Drawings