CN104537061A

CN104537061A - Method and device for self-defining POI names and inquiring POIs on electronic map

Info

Publication number: CN104537061A
Application number: CN201410836308.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 武许朋
Original assignee: Beijing Qihoo Technology Co Ltd; Qizhi Software Beijing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Qihoo Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-26
Filing date: 2014-12-26
Publication date: 2015-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-26
Also published as: CN104537061B; WO2016101736A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and device for self-defining POI names and inquiring POIs on an electronic map. The method includes the following steps that according to objects selected by a user on the electronic map, map identification data corresponding to the objects are obtained; the self-defined POI names input by the user are received; the self-defined POI names and the corresponding map identification data are stored in an appointed database; in the process of handling electronic map services, related operations conducted by the user on the basis of the self-defined POI names are identified according to corresponding relations in the appointed database. According to the technical scheme, the one-to-one corresponding relations between the self-defined POI names of the user and the electronic map identification data are established, the interactivity, practicality and accuracy of the electronic map are improved, and more convenient, reliable and visual electronic map operation experience is provided for the user.

Description

Method and device for customizing POI name and inquiring POI on electronic map

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of internet, in particular to a method and a device for customizing a POI (point of interest) name on an electronic map and a method and a device for inquiring the customized POI.

Background

The electronic map is a product of the integration of the traditional map with a computer technology, a GIS technology and a network technology, is symbolic representation of geographic information, is the combination of spatial information and thematic information, is a result of technical transformation of the traditional surveying and mapping industry, and is an important channel for providing geographic information public service. The electronic map breaks through the time and space limitations of the traditional paper map, and has richer information content and wider interactive application prospect.

In the design of the existing electronic map, a user often searches for a place through a place name or a place address, and needs to know complete place name or address information, however, most of the place name or address information is not convenient for the user to remember, and the user needs to further manually search and select a correct place after searching every time, which not only wastes time and labor, but also often causes problems of electronic map guiding error, query error and the like caused by unfamiliarity with the place name or address information of the user.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above problems, the present invention has been made to provide a method and apparatus for customizing a name of a point of interest (POI) on an electronic map and a query method and apparatus for the customized POI, which overcome or at least partially solve the above problems.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for customizing a point of interest (POI) name on an electronic map is provided, which comprises the following steps:

according to an object selected by a user on an electronic map, obtaining map identification data corresponding to the object;

receiving a self-defined POI name input by a user;

correspondingly storing the user-defined POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database;

and in the process of processing the electronic map service, identifying relevant operation of the user based on the self-defined POI name according to the corresponding relation in the specified database.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

acquiring a login identification of the user;

correspondingly storing the login identification of the user, the user-defined POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database;

and in the process of processing the electronic map service related to the user, identifying the related operation of the user based on the self-defined POI name according to the corresponding relation containing the login identification of the user in the specified database.

Optionally, the obtaining of the map identification data corresponding to the object is:

acquiring coordinate data of the object on an electronic map;

or,

and acquiring the name and/or address of the object in the electronic map system.

Optionally, in the process of processing the electronic map service, identifying, according to the correspondence in the specified database, a relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name includes:

when a user inputs a query word, judging whether a custom POI name matched with the query word exists in the specified database or not;

if yes, initiating a query request by using map identification data corresponding to the matched custom POI name;

if not, initiating a query request with the query term.

Optionally, the specified database is stored locally at the client.

Optionally, the specified database is stored in a server corresponding to the client;

the method comprises the steps that a client side obtains map identification data corresponding to an object selected by a user on an electronic map, and receives a user-defined POI name input by the user;

and the client correspondingly uploads the custom POI meaning name and the corresponding map identification data to a specified database of the server.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a query method for self-defining POIs, the method including:

receiving a map query instruction initiated by a user;

judging whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name or not, if so, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for query;

and converting actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after query into the custom POI name and displaying the custom POI name to the user.

Optionally, the determining whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name, and if yes, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for querying includes:

judging whether a custom POI name matched with the map query instruction exists in a designated database, if so, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data according to the corresponding relation in the designated database for query; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the defined POI names and the map identification data.

Optionally, the step of converting actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after the query into the custom POI name and displaying the custom POI name to the user includes:

according to the corresponding relation in the designated database, actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after query is converted into the custom POI name and then displayed to the user;

wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the defined POI names and the map identification data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for customizing a name of a point of interest (POI) on an electronic map, the apparatus comprising:

the acquisition unit is suitable for acquiring map identification data corresponding to an object selected by a user on the electronic map; receiving a user-defined POI name input by a user;

a database unit adapted to hold a specified database;

the storage unit is suitable for correspondingly storing the user-defined POI names and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database;

and the service processing unit is suitable for identifying the relevant operation of the user based on the self-defined POI name according to the corresponding relation in the specified database in the process of processing the electronic map service.

Optionally, the obtaining unit is further adapted to obtain a login identifier of the user;

the storage unit is further suitable for correspondingly storing the login identification of the user, the user-defined POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database;

the service processing unit is further adapted to identify, according to the corresponding relationship containing the login identifier of the user in the specified database, a relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name in the process of processing the electronic map service related to the user.

Optionally, the obtaining unit obtains the map identification data corresponding to the object as: acquiring coordinate data of the object on an electronic map; or acquiring the name and/or address of the object in the electronic map system.

Optionally, the service processing unit is adapted to, when a user inputs a query term, first determine whether a custom POI name matching the query term exists in the designated database; if yes, initiating a query request by using map identification data corresponding to the matched custom POI name; if not, initiating a query request with the query term.

Optionally, all units of the apparatus are located at the client.

Optionally, the obtaining unit and the saving unit of the device are located at the client;

the database unit of the device is positioned at a server corresponding to a client;

the service processing unit of the device is positioned at the client side or at the server side, or the service processing unit is composed of a first sub-processing unit positioned at the client side and a second sub-processing unit positioned at the server side.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for querying a custom POI, the apparatus comprising:

the receiving unit is suitable for receiving a map query instruction initiated by a user;

the query unit is suitable for judging whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name or not, and if the map query instruction carries the custom POI name, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for query;

and the display unit is used for converting actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after query into the custom POI name and displaying the custom POI name to the user.

Optionally, the query unit is adapted to determine whether a custom POI name matching the map query instruction exists in a designated database, and if so, convert the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data according to a corresponding relationship in the designated database for querying; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the defined POI names and the map identification data.

Optionally, the display unit is adapted to convert actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the queried map result data into the custom POI name according to the corresponding relationship in the designated database, and display the custom POI name to the user; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the defined POI names and the map identification data.

Therefore, according to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the one-to-one correspondence is established between the user-defined POI name and the electronic map identification data, so that when the user operates on the electronic map, the operation is carried out only on the basis of the user-defined POI name without remembering the original map identification data, the problems of guiding error and the like caused by unfamiliarity with the map identification data are avoided, the interactivity, the practicability and the accuracy of the electronic map are improved, and the user can more conveniently, reliably and visually operate the electronic map.

The foregoing description is only an overview of the technical solutions of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention are described below in order to make the technical means of the present invention more clearly understood and to make the above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more clearly understandable.

Drawings

Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Also, like reference numerals are used to refer to like parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for customizing a point of interest (POI) name on an electronic map, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for querying a custom POI, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for customizing a POI name on an electronic map according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a custom POI querying device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A shows a schematic diagram of an electronic map, according to one embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5B shows a schematic diagram of an electronic map according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for customizing a point of interest POI name on an electronic map according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the method includes:

step S110, obtaining map identification data corresponding to an object selected by a user on an electronic map.

In this step, the user can select an object on the electronic map by selecting a man-machine interaction mode provided by the terminal device where the electronic map is located. For example, a screen touch manner, a mouse click manner, and the like.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the obtaining of the map identification data corresponding to the object in step S110 is: acquiring coordinate data of the object on the electronic map; or acquiring the name and/or address of the object in the electronic map system.

And step S120, receiving the custom POI name input by the user.

In this step, POI is an abbreviation of Point of Interest, which is a Point of Interest of the user. Such as a home, a school, a company, a mall, etc. In a specific implementation, an input box can be popped up for a user to input a customized POI name.

And step S130, correspondingly storing the custom POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database.

The map identification data in this step is geographical data used by the electronic map system itself, or geographical data that can be recognized by the electronic map system.

Step S140, in the process of processing the electronic map service, relevant operations of the user based on the self-defined POI name are identified according to the corresponding relation in the designated database.

It can be seen that the method shown in fig. 1 establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the user-defined POI name of the user and the electronic map identification data, so that when the user operates on the electronic map, the user only needs to operate based on the user-defined POI name without remembering the original map identification data, thereby avoiding the problems of guiding error and the like caused by unfamiliarity with the map identification data, improving the interactivity and the practicability of the electronic map, and providing more convenient, reliable and intuitive electronic map operation experience for the user.

For example, fig. 5A shows a schematic view of an electronic map according to one embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 5B shows a schematic view of an electronic map according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5A, the object selected by the user on the electronic map is the point "a", and the map identification data corresponding to the object is obtained as follows: building No. 5 in Anhuili zone. When the user clicks the point "a", an input box for the user to input the custom POI name pops up, as shown in fig. 5B, the user inputs the custom POI name in the input box: "wife" and the method shown in fig. 1 correspondingly store the custom POI name "wife" and the corresponding map identification data "luihe second zone building No. 5" into the designated database, and during the process of processing the electronic map service, identify the relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name "wife" according to the corresponding relationship between the "wife" and the "luihe second zone building No. 5", and search the subway station near the "luihe second zone building No. 5" according to the corresponding relationship if the user searches the subway station near the "wife".

In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of users share a terminal device, and in order to avoid confusion of the custom POI names of the plurality of users, the method shown in fig. 1 further includes:

step S150, obtaining the login identification of the user.

The login identification of the user in this step may be a user name of the user logging in the electronic map system.

And step S160, correspondingly storing the login identification of the user, the user-defined POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a specified database.

Step S170, in the process of processing the electronic map service related to the user, according to the corresponding relation containing the login identification of the user in the designated database, identifying the related operation of the user based on the self-defined POI name.

According to the scheme, the user-defined POI names of different users are distinguished by using the login identification of the users, so that different corresponding relations are established according to the login identification. For example, a user a and a user B share one terminal device, and in the embodiment shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the user a inputs a custom POI name "wikipedia" at "building 5" in hui area "of the electronic map; and the user B inputs a custom POI name 'grandma' at the '22-th street in the east city area' of the electronic map, and establishes a corresponding relation for the user A in order to distinguish the two: { user A's login identification, Anhuili second zone building No. 5, grandmother }; for the user B, establishing a corresponding relation: { user B's login identification, Dongchong street number 22, grandmother }. And for different users, processing the electronic map service related to the users according to the corresponding relation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the process of processing the electronic map service, in step S140 of the method shown in fig. 1, identifying, according to the correspondence in the designated database, a relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name includes: when a user inputs a query word, judging whether a self-defined POI name matched with the query word exists in a designated database or not; if yes, initiating a query request by using map identification data corresponding to the matched custom POI name; if not, a query request is initiated with the query term. For example, when the user inquires about the gourmet around "grandma home", it is first inquired whether there is a custom POI "grandma home" in the designated data, and if so, it finds out the corresponding map identification data "building No. 5 hui", and inquires about the gourmet around "building No. 5 hui".

In some embodiments of the invention, the specified database may be stored locally at the client such that queries against the specified database are done locally at the user terminal device.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the specified database may be stored in a server corresponding to the client; the method comprises the steps that a client side obtains map identification data corresponding to an object selected by a user on an electronic map, and receives a user-defined POI name input by the user; and the client correspondingly uploads the custom POI meaning name and the corresponding map identification data to a specified database of the server. In this case, a query to a given database requires a query request to be initiated to the server.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a query method for custom POIs according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the method includes:

step S210, receiving a map query instruction initiated by a user.

Step S220, determining whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name, and if yes, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for querying.

And step S230, converting actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after query into the custom POI name and displaying the custom POI name to the user.

As can be seen, in the method shown in fig. 2, the map query instruction carrying the user-defined POI is converted into the map identification data for query according to the corresponding relationship established in the method shown in fig. 1, and then the map identification data in the query result is converted into the user-defined POI name to be displayed to the user, thereby completing the query of the user-defined POI. When a user inquires a user-defined POI on an electronic map, the user can quickly and accurately obtain an inquiry result without remembering original map identification data. The scheme improves the interactivity and the practicability of the electronic map, and provides more convenient, reliable and visual electronic map query experience for users.

For example, case one: based on the embodiment shown in fig. 5A and 5B, before initiating an inquiry, the user a sets a custom POI name "wife" on the electronic map, and when initiating a map inquiry instruction "route from wife to art gallery", the user a judges that the map inquiry instruction carries the custom POI name, converts the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for inquiry, namely, inquires the route from "building in second district 5 to art gallery", converts the actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after inquiry into the custom POI name, and displays the custom POI name to the user.

Case two: the user A does not set a custom POI name 'grandma' on the electronic map before initiating the query, and when the user A initiates a map query instruction 'a route from the grandma to an art gallery', the map query instruction is judged not to carry the custom POI name, so that the user A directly queries the 'route from the grandma (restaurant) to the art gallery', and displays the map result data obtained after the query to the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, step S220 of the method shown in fig. 2 determines whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name, and if yes, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for querying includes: judging whether a custom POI name matched with the map query instruction exists in the designated database, if so, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data according to the corresponding relation in the designated database for query; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the respective defined POI names and the map identification data.

In an embodiment of the present invention, step S230 of the method shown in fig. 2, converting the actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after the query into the custom POI name, and displaying the custom POI name to the user includes: according to the corresponding relation in the designated database, actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the map result data obtained after query is converted into the custom POI name and then displayed to the user; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the respective defined POI names and the map identification data.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for customizing a name of a point of interest POI on an electronic map according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, the apparatus 300 for customizing a name of a point of interest POI on an electronic map includes:

the obtaining unit 310 is adapted to obtain map identification data corresponding to an object selected by a user on an electronic map; and receiving the user-defined POI name input by the user.

A database unit 320 adapted to hold a specified database.

The saving unit 330 is adapted to correspondingly save the custom POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a designated database.

And the service processing unit 340 is adapted to identify relevant operations performed by the user based on the custom POI name according to the corresponding relationship in the designated database in the process of processing the electronic map service.

It can be seen that the device shown in fig. 3 establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the user-defined POI name of the user and the electronic map identification data through the mutual cooperation of the units, so that the user only needs to operate based on the user-defined POI name when operating on the electronic map, and does not need to remember the original map identification data, thereby avoiding the problems of guiding error and the like caused by unfamiliarity with the map identification data, improving the interactivity and practicability of the electronic map, and providing more convenient, reliable and intuitive electronic map operation experience for the user.

For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the storage unit 330 of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 correspondingly stores the custom POI name "grandma" and the corresponding map identification data "luihe second zone 5 building" acquired by the acquisition unit 310 into a designated database, the database unit 320 stores the designated database, and the service processing unit 340 identifies, in the process of processing the electronic map service, the relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name "grandma" according to the correspondence between "grandma" and "luihe second zone 5 building", for example, when the user searches for a subway station near "grandma", that is, searches for a subway station near "luihe second zone 5 building" according to the correspondence.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of users share a terminal device, and in order to avoid confusion of the user-defined POI names of the plurality of users, the obtaining unit 310 of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 is further adapted to obtain the login identifier of the user; the saving unit 330 is further adapted to correspondingly save the login identification of the user, the user-defined POI name and the corresponding map identification data into a designated database; the service processing unit 340 is further adapted to identify, according to the corresponding relationship containing the login identifier of the user in the designated database, a relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name in the process of processing the electronic map service related to the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the obtaining unit 310 of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 obtains the map identification data corresponding to the object as: acquiring coordinate data of an object on an electronic map; or acquiring the name and/or address of the object in the electronic map system.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the service processing unit 340 of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 is adapted to, when a user inputs a query term, first determine whether a custom POI name matching the query term exists in the specified database; if yes, initiating a query request by using map identification data corresponding to the matched custom POI name; if not, initiating a query request with the query term.

In some embodiments of the invention, all of the elements of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are located at the client. In other embodiments of the present invention, the obtaining unit 310 and the saving unit 330 of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 are located at the client; the database unit 320 of the device is located at the server side corresponding to the client side; the service processing unit 340 of the apparatus is located at a client, or at a server, or the service processing unit 340 is composed of a first sub-processing unit located at the client and a second sub-processing unit located at the server.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a query device for customizing POIs according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, the query device 400 for custom POI includes:

the receiving unit 410 is adapted to receive a map query instruction initiated by a user.

The query unit 420 is adapted to determine whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name, and if the custom POI name exists, convert the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for querying.

The display unit 430 converts the actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the queried map result data into the custom POI name and displays the custom POI name to the user.

As can be seen, the apparatus shown in fig. 4 converts the map query instruction carrying the custom POI into map identification data for query according to the corresponding relationship established by the apparatus shown in fig. 3, and then converts the map identification data in the query result into the custom POI name for displaying to the user, thereby completing the query of the custom POI. When a user inquires a user-defined POI on an electronic map, the user can quickly and accurately obtain an inquiry result without remembering original map identification data. The scheme improves the interactivity and the practicability of the electronic map, and provides more convenient, reliable and visual electronic map query experience for users.

The specific implementation of the present solution is the same as the example of the method shown in fig. 2, and is not described herein again.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the query unit 420 of the apparatus shown in fig. 4 is adapted to determine whether a custom POI name matching the map query instruction exists in the designated database, and if so, convert the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data according to a corresponding relationship in the designated database for querying; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the respective defined POI names and the map identification data.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 430 of the apparatus shown in fig. 4 is adapted to convert actual map identification data corresponding to the custom POI name in the queried map result data into the custom POI name according to the corresponding relationship in the designated database, and display the custom POI name to the user; wherein, the designated database stores the corresponding relationship between the respective defined POI names and the map identification data.

In summary, the technical solution provided by the present invention establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the user-defined POI name of the user and the electronic map identification data, converts the map query instruction carrying the user-defined POI into the map identification data for query according to the correspondence, converts the map identification data in the query result into the user-defined POI name and displays the user-defined POI name to the user, thereby completing the query of the user-defined POI. Based on the technical scheme, when the user operates on the electronic map, the user only needs to operate based on the self-defined POI name without remembering the original map identification data, so that the problems of guiding error and the like caused by unfamiliarity with the map identification data are solved, the interactivity, the practicability and the accuracy of the electronic map are improved, and the user experience of the operation of the electronic map is more convenient, reliable and visual.

It should be noted that:

the algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer, virtual machine, or other apparatus. Various general purpose devices may be used with the teachings herein. The required structure for constructing such a device will be apparent from the description above. Moreover, the present invention is not directed to any particular programming language. It is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present invention as described herein, and any descriptions of specific languages are provided above to disclose the best mode of the invention.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. It is understood, however, that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. However, the disclosed method should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that: that the invention as claimed requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the modules in the device in an embodiment may be adaptively changed and disposed in one or more devices different from the embodiment. The modules or units or components of the embodiments may be combined into one module or unit or component, and furthermore they may be divided into a plurality of sub-modules or sub-units or sub-components. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and all of the processes or elements of any method or apparatus so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or processes or elements are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, rather than other features, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments may be used in any combination.

The various component embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, or in software modules running on one or more processors, or in a combination thereof. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP) may be used in practice to implement some or all of the functions of some or all of the components of an apparatus for customizing point-of-interest (POI) names and a query apparatus for customizing POIs on an electronic map according to embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may also be embodied as apparatus or device programs (e.g., computer programs and computer program products) for performing a portion or all of the methods described herein. Such programs implementing the present invention may be stored on computer-readable media or may be in the form of one or more signals. Such a signal may be downloaded from an internet website or provided on a carrier signal or in any other form.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The usage of the words first, second and third, etcetera do not indicate any ordering. These words may be interpreted as names.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a point of interest (POI) name on an electronic map, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

receiving a self-defined POI name input by a user;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

acquiring a login identification of the user;

3. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the obtaining of the map identification data corresponding to the object is:

acquiring coordinate data of the object on an electronic map;

or,

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the identifying, according to the correspondence in the designated database, the relevant operation performed by the user based on the custom POI name in the process of processing the electronic map service comprises:

if not, initiating a query request with the query term.

5. The method of any one of claims 1-4,

the specified database is stored locally at the client.

6. The method of any one of claims 1-5,

the designated database is stored in a server corresponding to the client;

7. A query method for self-defining POI, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

receiving a map query instruction initiated by a user;

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether the map query instruction carries a custom POI name, and if so, converting the custom POI name into corresponding actual map identification data for querying comprises:

9. An apparatus for customizing a name of a point of interest (POI) on an electronic map, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a database unit adapted to hold a specified database;

10. An apparatus for querying custom POI, wherein the apparatus comprises: