Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to methods and system to interactively obtain objective interest
opinion of a user based on geo-mapping utility.
Background of the Invention:
People planning or attending a meeting destination often are faced with challenges such as
not having detailed knowledge of potential meeting destinations. Even if a person having
adequate knowledge of the meeting destination is proposing the meeting destination, not all
people to whom the meeting request may have detailed knowledge of the potential meeting
destination.
In case wherein a large number of participants are being provided multiple options for
meeting destination, it is not easy to keep track of each participant’s opinion or preference for
the meeting destination and take decision on basis of the opinions provided by the
participants. It is also not feasible to dynamically update each participant of the meeting
about the opinion or preference of the other participants. Thus, it can be said that existing
communication methods are not always adequate to address the aforesaid scenario.
Summary of the Invention:
Thus, there is provided an interactive method of obtaining the required information about a
meeting destination without having to switch to a different system. The disclosed method
intelligently manages to provide ease of use to a user for planning events in a multi-user realtime
environment.
Particularly, the present invention provides a method that can be implemented by a social
networking site for planning event, said method comprising the steps of: receiving from a
first user, selection of at least one location on a map; fetching overlay information
corresponding to said at least one location selected by the first user; sending a message to at
least one further user, the message comprising a query seeking opinion about said at least one
location thus selected and the overlay information; receiving response from said at least one
further user; and informing the first user of the response from said at least one further user.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method implemented by an
electronic device participating in a chat session for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving, during a chat session, a request for a map; displaying the map; receiving selection
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of at least one location on the map; and sending, as part of the chat session, a query to at least
one participant of the chat session seeking opinion about said at least one location thus
selected.
In still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method implemented by a server
providing a chat service for planning event, said method comprising: receiving, during a chat
session, a query from a first participant, the query seeking opinion about at least one location
selected on a map by the first participant; fetching overlay information corresponding to said
at least one location selected by the first participant; and sending, during the chat session, the
query thus received to at least one further participant of the chat session along with the
overlay information.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided by a method implemented by an
electronic device participating in a chat session for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving, during a chat session, a message from a first participant of the chat session, the
message containing a query seeking opinion about at least one selected location on a map and
overlay information corresponding to said at least one selected location; displaying a map
containing said at least one selected location along with the overlay information; receiving an
opinion about said at least one selected location; and sending the opinion to the first
participant of the chat session.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular
description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof,
which is illustrated in the appended figures. It is appreciated that these figures depict only
typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its
scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail
with the accompanying figures.
Brief Description of Figures:
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the
accompanying figures in which like characters represent like parts throughout the figures,
wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates flow chart of a method that can be implemented by a social networking
site for planning event in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
4
Figure 2 illustrates flow chart of a method that can be implemented by an electronic device
participating in a chat session for planning event in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates flow chart of a method that can be implemented by a server providing a
chat service for planning event in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates flow chart of a method that can be implemented by an electronic device
participating in a chat session for planning event in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a server providing a social networking site and
implementing the method as illustrated in figure 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device participating in a chat session and
implementing the method as illustrated in figure 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 7 illustrates a block diagram of a server providing a chat service and implementing the
method as illustrated in figure 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device participating in a chat session and
implementing the method as illustrated in figure 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for
simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow
charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve
understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction
of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the
figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that
are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure
the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having
benefit of the description herein.
Detailed Description:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference
will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be
used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of
5
the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated
system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein
being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not
intended to be restrictive thereof.
Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar
language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same
embodiment.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a
non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not
include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such
process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or
components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the
existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other
components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or
additional structures or additional components.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention
belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not
intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the
accompanying figures.
Now referring to figure 1, there is illustrated a method (100) implemented by a social
networking site for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving (101) from a first user, selection of at least one location on a map;
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fetching (102) overlay information corresponding to said at least one location selected by the
first user;
sending (103) a message to at least one further user, the message comprising a query seeking
opinion about said at least one location thus selected and the overlay information;
receiving (104) response from said at least one further user; and
informing (105) the first user of the response from said at least one further user.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the overlay information is based on said at least
one location selected by the first user and details of said at least one further participant
receiving the message.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the overlay information includes routing
information.
In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
receiving (106) a response with regard to the query from a second user, the second participant
being different from the first participant; and
sending (107) an outcome of the response from the second participant to at least one further
user.
Now referring to figure 2, there is illustrated a method (200) implemented by an electronic
device for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving (201), during a chat session, a request for a map;
displaying (202) the map;
receiving (203) selection of at least one location on the map; and
sending (204), as part of the chat session, a query to at least one participant of the chat
session seeking opinion about said at least one location thus selected.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the map is a locally available map or an external
source or combination thereof; and the method further comprises executing a map application
available locally or obtaining the map from the external source or combination thereof.
In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises
determining (205) at least one of:
 geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
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 address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
 name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the query comprises one or more of:
 geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
 address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
 name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
 receiving (206) a search criterion;
 searching (207) for one or more locations meeting the search criterion; and
 displaying (208) said one or more locations meeting the search criterion on the map.
In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
 receiving (206) a search criterion; and
 sending (209) the search criterion to an external source;
 receiving (210) from an external source details of one or more locations meeting the
search criterion; and
 displaying (211) the one or more locations meeting the search criterion.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, receiving (210) details of one or more
locations meeting the search criterion comprises receiving a map identifying said one or more
locations meeting the search criterion.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
 receiving (212) at least one response from said at least one participant of the chat
session with regard to the query; and
 displaying (213) said at least one response from said at least one participant.
In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
invoking (214) a further application in response to displaying said at least one response from
said at least one participant.
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In still another embodiment of the present invention, the further application is selected from
the group comprising of a calendar application; a planner application; a reminder application,
an alarm application, a memo application and a map based chat application.
Now referring to figure 3, there is illustrated a method (300) implemented by a server
providing a chat service for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving (301), during a chat session, a query from a first participant, the query seeking
opinion about at least one location selected on a map by the first participant;
fetching (302) overlay information corresponding to said at least one location selected by the
first participant; and
sending (303), during the chat session, the query thus received to at least one further
participant of the chat session along with the overlay information.
In an embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises: receiving (304) a
request for a map from the first participant and sending (305) the map to the first participant.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
receiving (306) a search criterion from the first participant;
searching (307) for one or more locations meeting the search criterion; and
sending (308) details of one or more locations meeting the search criterion to the first
participant.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, sending (308) comprises sending a map
identifying said one or more locations meeting the search criterion to the first participant.
In a furthermore embodiment of the present invention, the query comprises one or more of:
 geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
 address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
 name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the overlay information is based on said at least
one location selected by the first participant and details of said at least one further participant
receiving the query.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
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receiving (309) at least one response from said at least one further participant of the chat
session with regard to the query; and
sending (310) the response to the first participant.
In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
receiving (311) a response with regard to the query from a second participant of the chat
session, the second participant being different from the first participant; and
sending (312) an outcome of the response from the second participant to at least one further
participant of the chat session.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the session is valid for a predetermined
amount of time period.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises: receiving
(313) an alternative selection from a further participant.
Now referring to figure 4, there is illustrated a method (400) implemented by an electronic
device participating in a chat session for planning event, said method comprising:
receiving (401), during a chat session, a message from a first participant of the chat session,
the message containing a query seeking opinion about at least one selected location on a map
and overlay information corresponding to said at least one selected location;
displaying (402) a map containing said at least one selected location along with the overlay
information;
receiving (403) an opinion about said at least one selected location; and
sending (404) the opinion to the first participant of the chat session.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the map is a locally available map or the map is
available with an external source or combination thereof; and the method further comprises
executing a map application available locally or obtaining the map from the external source
or combination thereof.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the query comprises one or more of:
geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
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In yet another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
receiving (405) a search criterion;
searching (406) for one or more locations meeting the search criterion;
displaying (407) said one or more locations meeting the search criterion on the map;
receiving (408) selection of at least one location on the map; and
sending (409), as part of the chat session, an alternative recommendation to at least one
participant of the chat session.
In still another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises:
receiving (410) a response with regard to the query from a second participant of the chat
session, the second participant being different from the first participant; and
displaying (411) an outcome of the response from the second participant.
In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises: sending (412)
the opinion about said at least one selected location to at least on further participant of the
chat session.
As illustrated in figure 5, there is provided a server device (500) providing a social
networking site and implementing the method as illustrated in figure 1, said server device
comprising:
a receiver unit (501) for receiving from a first user, selection of at least one location on a
map;
a processor (502) for fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one location
selected by the first user;
a message generation unit (503) for generating a message comprising a query seeking opinion
about said at least one location thus selected and the overlay information; and
a transmitter unit (504) for sending the message thus generated to at least one further user;
the receiver unit (501) being further adapted to receive response from said at least one further
user; and
the transmitter unit (504) being further adapted to inform the first user of the response from
said at least one further user.
As illustrated in figure 6, there is provided an electronic device (600) participating in a chat
session and implementing the method as illustrated in figure 2, said electronic device
comprising:
11
a receiver unit (601) for receiving, during a chat session, a request for a map and displaying a
map;
an input unit (602) for receiving selection of at least one location on the map; and
a transmitter unit (603) for sending, as part of the chat session, a query to at least one
participant of the chat session seeking opinion about said at least one location thus selected.
As illustrated in figure 7, there is provided a server device (700) providing a chat service and
implementing the method as illustrated in figure 3, said server device comprising:
a receiver unit (701) for receiving, during a chat session, a query from a first participant, the
query seeking opinion about at least one location selected on a map by the first participant;
a processor (702) for fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one location
selected by the first participant; and
a transmitter unit (703) for sending, during the chat session, the query thus received to at least
one further participant of the chat session along with the overlay information.
As illustrated in figure 8, there is provided an electronic device (800), participating in a chat
session and implementing the method as illustrated in figure 4, said electronic device
comprising:
a receiver unit (801) for receiving, during a chat session, a message from a first participant of
the chat session, the message containing a query seeking opinion about at least one selected
location on a map and overlay information corresponding to said at least one selected
location;
a display device (802) for displaying a map containing said at least one selected location
along with the overlay information;
an input unit (803) for receiving an opinion about said at least one selected location; and
a transmitter unit (804) for sending the opinion thus received about said at least one selected
location to the first participant of the chat session.
The invention is hereinafter described with reference to some of the preferred modes of
implementation. It should however, be understood that the scope of the claims is not intended
to be restricted by the description being provided hereafter and is intended to be restricted by
the claims themselves and their equivalents.
Now referring to figure 9, there is illustrated a procedure that can be adopted at an electronic
device participating in a chat session (900) for planning an event. Assuming that first user
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who is participating in a chat (900) involving a plurality of user wishes to plan an event, the
user activates the map option (901) as provided by the chat (900).
As illustrated in figure 10, a map (1000) is displayed on the electronic device. The first user
can provide search criterion in a search field (1001) and receive suggestions satisfying the
search criterion. The first user can then select at least one location on the map and opt for
circulating (1002) the map with at least one destination thus selected with other users of the
chat. In the illustrated example, the first user selects a first location (1003) and a second
location (1004) and seeks opinion from the remaining users.
In response to the first user circulating the map with other users of the chat, as illustrated in
figure 11, map (1101) showing the location(s) (1102, 1103) selected by the first user,
information pertaining to opinion provided by other users for the selected location(s) and
routing information for reaching the location(s) selected by the first user are displayed on the
electronic devices of a second user. In figure 11, a start location (1104) for second user is
determined and based on the same routing information is provided to the second user. Thus,
based on the start location (1104), first routing information (1105) for reaching the first
location (1102) and second routing information (1106) for reaching the second location
(1103) are displayed to the second user.
It can be furthermore noticed from figure 11 that along with details of the location (1102,
1103), the map also shows the dynamic information derived from the opinions provided by
other users. Assuming that at the time the second user is viewing the map 20 other users had
viewed and provided their opinion, with 10 users opting for attending to the meeting at the
first location (1102) and remaining 10 users opting for attending the meeting at the second
location (1103), the map shows “Total Likes: 10” (1107) for the first location and likewise,
“Total Likes: 10” (1108) for the second location. The map further allows for the second user
to provide his opinion in respect of either of the first or the second locations. The user by way
of a non-limiting example, can select the “tick” option to accept the location or the “cross”
option to refuse the location. The second user is additionally provided the option of adding a
new location (1109) to the map and in which case, all the participants will be displayed the
new location as added by the second user.
Figure 12 shows the map (1201) as displayed to a third user showing the location(s) (1202,
1203) selected by the first user. In figure 12, a start location (1204) for the third user is
13
determined and based on the same routing information is provided to the third user. Now
comparing figure12 with figure 11, it can be noticed that the start location (1204) for the third
user is different from the start location of the second user and hence, the routing information
provided to the third user is different from the routing information provided to the second
user. Particularly, the third user is provided a first routing information (1205) for reaching the
first location (1202) and a second routing information (1206) for reaching the second location
(1203) are displayed to the second user.
Assuming that at the time the third user is viewing the map 26 other users had viewed and
provided their opinion, with 10 users opting for attending to the meeting at the first location
(1202) and 16 users opting for attending the meeting at the second location (1203), the map
shows “Total Likes: 10” (1207) for the first location and “Total Likes: 16” (1208) for the
second location. Similar to what has been illustrated in figure 11, the map illustrated in figure
12 also allows for:
 the third user to provide his opinion in respect of either of the first or the second
locations.
 adding a new location (1209) to the map and in which case, all the participants will be
displayed the new location as added by the third user.
Once all the users to the chat have provided their opinion or after a predetermined amount of
time period, the location which has received the maximum number of likings can be
automatically identified and the method may send notification to one or more users
requesting for a confirmation for attending the meeting, as illustrated in figure 13.
Once a particular user confirms to attend the meeting at the location, as illustrated in figure
14, a calendar application can be automatically invoked and the details can be automatically
populated. In some embodiments, instead of invoking the calendar application any of a
planner application; a reminder application, an alarm application or a memo application can
be automatically invoked and the data populated.
While in figures 9 to 14 the method has been described with reference to a chat, the method
can be also implanted, for example, by a social networking site. Now referring to figure 15,
there is illustrated a bowser depicting a social networking site (1500). A first participant who
is intending to organize a meeting, creates a group (1501) and adds participants (1502) to the
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group. Once the group has been created (or if there already exists a group), the user invokes a
map application (1503) as may be mashed-up with the social networking site (1500).
As illustrated in figure 16, if the first participant already has one or more destinations in his
mind, he selects said one or more destinations on the map (1601). In the illustrated example,
the first participant selects a first location (1602) and a second location (1603) and circulates
(1604) the map asking for opinion from other participants of the group about the selected
locations.
Now referring to figure 17, when a second participant from the group visits the social
networking site, he may be displayed a map (1700) showing the first and the second
destinations (1701, 1702) selected by the first participant. Additionally, based on a
geographical location of the second participant (which can be either based on his home
details, or his current geographical location or his expected geographical location at the time
of the meeting or a geographical locations as he may manually provide), a first routing
information (1703) for reaching the first destination (1701) and a second routing information
(1704) for reaching the second destination (1702) may be displayed on the map. In addition,
if any other participants of the group have provided their opinion, which could be in the form
or accepting to visit a particular destination or refusal to visit a particular destination or
suggestions for alternative destination, the same would be dynamically shown on the map,
thus assisting the second participant in arriving at an opinion. The map further allows for the
second participant to provide, which can then be communication to the first participant and
results of his opinion can be used while presenting the dynamic display to further
participants.
The same procedure can be adopted for every other participant of the group and figure 18
illustrates an outcome of the same with regard to a third participant wherein a map (1800)
showing the first and the second destinations (1801, 1802) selected by the first participant is
displayed. First routing information (1803) for reaching the first destination (1801) and a
second routing information (1804) for reaching the second destination (1802), both of which
are tailor made for the third participant are displayed on the map. In addition, dynamic
information derived from opinions provided by other participants is shown on the map, thus
assisting the second participant in arriving at an opinion.
15
While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on
account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various
working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive
concept as taught herein.
The figures and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a
single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple
functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the
manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be
implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed.
Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the
other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.
Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences
in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at
least as broad as given by the following claims.

WE CLAIMS:-
1. A method comprising:
receiving from a first user, selection of at least one location on a map;
fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one location selected by
the first user;
sending a message to at least one further user, the message comprising a query
seeking opinion about said at least one location thus selected and the overlay
information;
receiving response from said at least one further user; and
informing the first user of the response from said at least one further user.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overlay information is based on said at
least one location selected by the first user and details of said at least one further
participant receiving the message.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overlay information includes routing
information.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a response with regard to the query from a second user, the second
participant being different from the first participant; and
sending an outcome of the response from the second participant to at least one further
user.
5. A method, comprising:
receiving, during a chat session, a request for a map;
displaying the map;
receiving selection of at least one location on the map; and
sending, as part of the chat session, a query to at least one participant of the
chat session seeking opinion about said at least one location thus selected.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map is a locally available map and the
method further comprises executing a map application available locally.
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7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map is available with an external
source and the method further comprises obtaining the map from the external source.
8. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising: determining at least one of:
a. geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
b. address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
c. name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the query comprises one or more of:
a. geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
b. address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
c. name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
10. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:
receiving a search criterion;
searching for one or more locations meeting the search criterion; and
displaying said one or more locations meeting the search criterion on the map.
11. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:
receiving a search criterion; and
transmitting the search criterion to an external source;
receiving from an external source details of one or more locations meeting the
search criterion; and
displaying said one or more locations meeting the search criterion on the map.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein receiving details of one or more
locations meeting the search criterion comprises receiving a map identifying said one
or more locations meeting the search criterion.
13. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:
receiving at least one response from said at least one participant of the chat session
with regard to the query; and
displaying said at least one response from said at least one participant.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising:
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invoking a further application in response to displaying said at least one response
from said at least one participant.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the further application is selected from
the group comprising of a calendar application; a planner application; a reminder
application, an alarm application and a memo application.
16. A method comprising:
receiving, during a chat session, a query from a first participant, the query
seeking opinion about at least one location selected on a map by the first participant;
fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one location
selected by the first participant; and
sending, during the chat session, the query thus received to at least one further
participant of the chat session along with the overlay information.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising: receiving a request for a map
from the first participant and sending the map to the first participant.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising:
receiving a search criterion from the first participant;
searching for one or more locations meeting the search criterion; and
sending details of one or more locations meeting the search criterion to the first
participant.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein sending comprises sending a map
identifying said one or more locations meeting the search criterion to the first
participant.
20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the query comprises one or more of:
a. geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
b. address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
c. name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
21. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the overlay information is based on said
at least one location selected by the first participant and details of said at least one
further participant receiving the query.
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22. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising:
receiving at least one response from said at least one further participant of the chat
session with regard to the query; and
sending the response to the first participant.
23. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
receiving a response with regard to the query from a second participant of the chat
session, the second participant being different from the first participant; and
sending an outcome of the response from the second participant to at least one further
participant of the chat session.
24. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the session is valid for a predetermined
amount of time period.
25. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising: receiving an alternative
selection from a further participant.
26. A method, comprising:
receiving, during a chat session, a message from a first participant of the chat
session, the message containing a query seeking opinion about at least one selected
location on a map and overlay information corresponding to said at least one selected
location;
displaying a map containing said at least one selected location along with the
overlay information;
receiving an opinion about said at least one selected location; and
sending the opinion to the first participant of the chat session.
27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the map is a locally available map and
the method further comprises executing a map application available locally.
28. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the map is available with an external
source and the method further comprises obtaining the map from the external source.
29. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the query comprises one or more of:
a. geographical co-ordinates pertaining to said at least one location thus selected;
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b. address pertaining to said at least one location thus selected; and
c. name pertaining to said at least one location thus selected.
30. The method as claimed in claim 26 further comprising:
receiving a search criterion;
searching for one or more locations meeting the search criterion;
displaying said one or more locations meeting the search criterion on the map;
receiving selection of at least one location on the map;
sending, as part of the chat session, an alternative recommendation to at least
one participant of the chat session.
31. The method as claimed in claim 26 further comprising:
receiving a response with regard to the query from a second participant of the chat
session, the second participant being different from the first participant; and
displaying an outcome of the response from the second participant.
32. The method as claimed in claim 26 further comprising sending the opinion about said
at least one selected location to at least on further participant of the chat session.
33. A device, comprising:
a receiver unit for receiving, during a chat session, a request for a map and
displaying a map;
an input unit for receiving selection of at least one location on the map;
a transmitter unit for sending, as part of the chat session, a query to at least one
participant of the chat session seeking opinion about said at least one location thus
selected.
34. A server device comprising:
a receiver unit for receiving, during a chat session, a query from a first
participant, the query seeking opinion about at least one location selected on a map by
the first participant;
a processor for fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one
location selected by the first participant;
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a transmitter unit for sending, during the chat session, the query thus received
to at least one further participant of the chat session along with the overlay
information.
35. A device, comprising:
a receiver unit for receiving, during a chat session, a message from a first
participant of the chat session, the message containing a query seeking opinion about
at least one selected location on a map and overlay information corresponding to said
at least one selected location;
a display device for displaying a map containing said at least one selected
location along with the overlay information; and
an input unit for receiving an opinion about said at least one selected location;
a transmitter unit for sending the opinion thus received about said at least one
selected location to the first participant of the chat session.
36. A server device comprising:
a receiver unit for receiving from a first user, selection of at least one location on a
map;
a processor for fetching overlay information corresponding to said at least one
location selected by the first user;
a message generation unit for generating a message comprising a query seeking
opinion about said at least one location thus selected and the overlay information;
a transmitter unit for sending the message thus generated to at least one further user;
the receiver unit being further adapted to receive response from said at least one
further user; and
the transmitter unit being further adapted to inform the first user of the response from
said at least one further user.