Abstract: A method of displaying navigational instructions when a navigation application is running in a background mode of an electronic device is provided. The method displays a non-navigation application in the foreground on a display screen of the electronic device. The method displays a navigation bar without a navigation instruction when the device is not near a navigation point. The method displays the navigation bar with a navigation instruction when the device is near a navigation point. In some embodiments, the method receives a command to switch from running the navigation application in the foreground to running another screen view in the foreground. The method then runs the other screen view in the foreground while displaying a navigation status display on an electronic display of the device.

Abstract: A method of providing navigation on an electronic device when the display screen is locked. The method receives a verbal request to start navigation while the display is locked. The method identifies a route from a current location to a destination based on the received verbal request. While the display screen is locked, the method provides navigational directions on the electronic device from the current location of the electronic device to the destination. Some embodiments provide a method for processing a verbal search request. The method receives a navigation-related verbal search request and prepares a sequential list of the search results based on the received request. The method then provides audible information to present a search result from the sequential list. The method presents the search results in a batch form until the user selects a search result, the user terminates the search, or the search items are exhausted.

Abstract: An integrated map and navigation program is described. The program provides a first operational mode for browsing and searching a map. The program provides a second operational mode for providing a navigation presentation that provides a set of navigation directions along a navigated route by reference to the map.

Abstract: A mapping application that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information about a location is described. The GUI includes a first display area for displaying different types of media for a selected location on a map. The GUI includes a second display area for displaying different types of information of the selected location. The GUI includes a set of selectable user interface (UI) items, each of which for causing the second display area to display a particular type of information when selected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a map tool on a mobile device for implementing cartographically aware gestures directed to a map view of a map region. The map tool may base a cartographically aware gesture on an actual gesture input directed to a map view and based on map data for the map region that may include metadata corresponding to elements within the map region. The map tool may then determine, based on one or more elements of the map data, a modification to be applied to an implementation to the gesture. Given the modification to the gesture implementation, the map tool may then render, based on performing the modification to the gesture, an updated map view instead of an updated map view based solely on the user gesture.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a navigation application. The navigation application includes an interface for receiving data describing junctures along a route from a first location on a map to a second location on the map. The data for each juncture includes a set of angles at which roads leave the juncture. The navigation application includes a juncture decoder for synthesizing, from the juncture data, instruction elements for each juncture that describe different aspects of a maneuver to be performed at the juncture. The navigation application includes an instruction generator for generating at least two different instruction sets for a maneuver by combining one or more of the instruction elements for the juncture at which the maneuver is to be performed. The navigation application includes an instruction retriever for selecting one of the different instruction sets for the maneuver according to a context in which the instruction set will be displayed.

Abstract: A context-aware voice guidance method is provided that interacts with other voice services of a user device. The voice guidance does not provide audible guidance while the user is making a verbal request to any of the voice-activated services. Instead, the voice guidance transcribes its output on the screen while the verbal requests from the user are received. In some embodiments, the voice guidance only provides a short warning sound to get the user's attention while the user is speaking on a phone call or another voice-activated service is providing audible response to the user's inquires. The voice guidance in some embodiments distinguishes between music that can be ducked and spoken words, for example from an audiobook, that the user wants to pause instead of being skipped. The voice guidance ducks music but pauses spoken words of an audio book in order to provide voice guidance to the user.

Abstract: For a device that runs a mapping application, a method of displaying search completions in a display area of the mapping application that includes a search field for receiving inputs is described. The method identifies a set of search completions that include any recent search completions used to search locations on a map. Upon receiving a non-text input through the search field when the search field is empty, the method displays the set of search completions in the display area.

Abstract: A mapping program for execution by at least one processing unit of a device is described. The device includes a touch-sensitive screen and a touch input interface. The program renders and displays a presentation of a map from a particular view of the map. The program generates an instruction to rotate the displayed map in response to a multi-touch input from the multi-touch input interface. In order to generate a rotating presentation of the map, the program changes the particular view while receiving the multi-touch input and for a duration of time after the multi-touch input has terminated in order to provide a degree of inertia motion for the rotating presentation of the map.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying a portion of a map on a mobile device of a user while the user is traveling along a route. The mobile device can use a selected route and a current location of the device to load map tiles for parts of the map that are upcoming along the route. In this manner, the user can have quick access to the portions of the map that the user likely will want to view. For example, the map tiles can be loaded for the next 50 Km, and then when the stored tiles reaches only 25 Km ahead, another 25 Km of tiles can be retrieved. The amount of tiles loaded (e.g., minimum and maximum amounts) can vary based on a variety of factors, such as network state, distance traveled along the route, and whether the mobile device is charging.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application that provides routing information to third-party applications on a device. The mapping application receives route data that includes first and second locations. Based on the route data, the mapping application provides a set of routing applications that provide navigation information. The mapping application receives a selection of a routing application in the set of routing applications. The mapping application passes the route data to the selected routing application in order for the routing application to provide navigation information.

Abstract: A device that includes at least one processing unit and stores a multi-mode mapping program for execution by the at least one processing unit is described. The program includes a user interface (UI). The UI includes a display area for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) presentation of a map or a three-dimensional (3D) presentation of the map. The UI includes a selectable 3D control for directing the program to transition between the 2D and 3D presentations.

Abstract: A context-aware voice guidance method is provided that interacts with other voice services of a user device. The voice guidance does not provide audible guidance while the user is making a verbal request to any of the voice-activated services. Instead, the voice guidance transcribes its output on the screen while the verbal requests from the user are received. In some embodiments, the voice guidance only provides a short warning sound to get the user's attention while the user is speaking on a phone call or another voice-activated service is providing audible response to the user's inquires. The voice guidance in some embodiments distinguishes between music that can be ducked and spoken words, for example from an audiobook, that the user wants to pause instead of being skipped. The voice guidance ducks music but pauses spoken words of an audio book in order to provide voice guidance to the user.

Abstract: For a mapping application, a method for reporting a problem related to a map displayed by the mapping application is described. The method identifies a mode in which the mapping application is operating. The method identifies a set of types of problems to report based on the identified mode. The method displays, in a display area of the mapping application, a graphical user interface (GUI) page that includes a set of selectable user interface (UI) items that represent the identified set of types of problems.

Abstract: For a device running a mapping application that includes a display area for displaying a map and a set of graphical user interface (GUI) items, a method for providing routes is described. The method computes a route between a starting location and a destination location. The route includes a sequence of maneuvering instructions for guiding a user through the route. The method provides a movable GUI item for showing each maneuvering instruction in the sequence in order to allow a user to navigate the route by moving the GUI items in and out of the display area.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate intuitive comparison and selection of calculated navigation routes are disclosed. An electronic device for navigation includes a touch-sensitive screen and a processing module for displaying a map, calculating a number or navigation routes simultaneously on the touch-sensitive screen, and receiving a selection of a route. Callouts, or markers for presenting key information about each route, are also displayed discretely on the map. Navigation tiles including key route information and route pictorials can also be created and displayed for each calculated route.

Abstract: This is directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for printing maps and directions. In response to receiving an instruction to print directions, a device can define a layout optimized to show the route to travel, along with distinct steps that correspond to the route. The layout can include a map overview showing the entire route, with callouts identifying each step on the route. The layout can also include listings of individual steps, where each listing includes a reference number referring back to a callout and a description of the step. Each listings can also include a map tile showing a detailed view of the step corresponding to the listing. The map overview and the listings can be disposed, for example, in different columns of a landscape view.