Interactive network directory service with integrated maps and directions

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the user query includes a second business name, and the method further comprises: identifying from the database a second location corresponding to the second business name; and displaying directions from the first location to the second location on the map.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the directions comprise a listing of streets and turns to be made on the streets.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the business information further includes information selectable from coupon information, inventory information, and banner information corresponding to the business names.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the map comprises a graphical file wherein a portion of the graphical file contains encoded text information.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the encoded text information is encoded into one of a group of pixels for graphical information and a group of pixels for non-graphical information.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 wherein at least one bit of a pixel line indicates whether the text information is encoded in a group of black or white pixels or color pixels.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the pixels have certain colors dedicated for providing text information, the colors being chosen such that the displaying of the colors in combination with map does not adversely affect the display on the map.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 further comprising setting search bounds for an area on the map by dragging a rectangle on the map.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the database comprises advertising material which is displayed along with the map.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name comprises a business logo associated with the first business name, the business logo being stored in the database.

Claim 15

A communication system, comprising: a communication network; a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers; a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name; the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name; the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to fax a document to the first business name; and the server system configured to fax the document to the first business name using the first fax number.

Claim 16

A communication system, comprising: a communication network; a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers; a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name; the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name; the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to fax a document to the first business name; and the server system configured to fax the document to the first business name using the first fax number.

Claim 17

A communication system, comprising: a communication network; a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information; a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name; the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name; the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to electronically mail information to the first business name; and the server system configured to electronically mail the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information.

Claim 18

A communication system, comprising: a communication network; a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information; a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name; the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name; the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to electronically mail information to the first business name; and the server system configured to electronically mail the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information.

Claim 19

A computer program product for faxing a document, comprising: code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers; code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name; code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number satisfying the user query; code for displaying a map including the first location; code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name; code for receiving a request to fax the document to the first business name; code for faxing the document to the first business name using the first fax number; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.

Claim 20

A computer program product for faxing a document, comprising: code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers; code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name; code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number satisfying the user query; code for displaying a map including the first location; code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name; code for receiving a request to fax the document to the first business name; code for faxing the document to the first business name using the first fax number; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.

Claim 21

A computer program product for electronically mailing information, comprising: code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information; code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name; code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information satisfying the user query; code for displaying a map including the first location; code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name; code for receiving a request to electronically mail the information to the first business name; code for electronically mailing the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.

Claim 22

A computer program product for electronically mailing information, comprising: code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information; code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name; code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information satisfying the user query; code for displaying a map including the first location; code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name; code for receiving a request to electronically mail the information to the first business name; code for electronically mailing the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.