Message, Map and Go

This map app has 2 primary modes of operation.

1. Basic address or point of interest search from a manually entered address and:

2. Address search from a received Text (SMS) message.

In either case a marker is placed on the map and if touched will allow the user to then open Google maps in "drive to" mode - useful if location services is turned on.

Map marking from a received text message operates in two modes being:

Simple: In this mode any text received with the string "Address?" at the start and then a following address will result in a Geocode lookup of the address and if successful will mark the point on the map eg:

Address? 9 wood st mangawhai.

Complex: In this mode the received text message is required to be formatted as follows:

(XXXXX...) ZZZ-YYY Address to be searched for eg:

(MANG801) AMB-HAZ 9 wood st mangawhai.

In this mode the message trigger string that is set under the configuration menu is tested against the received string, ie it may be set to "MANG80" and if this is received then the address is looked up. The following field describes a type code which can be anything that applies to the application involved. There are also cross street details that can be in the received text and also processed but the format of those is not covered here however where cross street data is present and able to be looked up, a circle will be placed on the incident location a vectors drawn to the cross streets if available. Cross street operation is based on received text messages conforming to NZ Fire and Emergency incident notification format.

It is also possible to set a couple of other parameters in the configuration menu such as your base address. This is required as part of initial setup and serves to test Geocode is working correctly. In addition to this a confirmation cell number and message should be configured. These allow the recipient of the text message to facilitate the sending of a reply message to a preconfigured cell number. A response message can also be configured but altered prior to message sending if required. This action is initiated by doing a long press on the map and could be used to notify a dispatcher that the message is being actioned or to advise an automated system of the same.

It is envisaged that this app might be used to send address details to individuals who can then confirm they are responding and then use the map to determine the location relative to their position and if necessary invoke the Google Maps drive to function to find the best route there if necessary.

Two Geocode search APIs are used to give the best possibility of the Longitude and Latitude of the address being found. Google is searched first and if that fails then a Bing search is done. If both fail then the user is advised.

The post code of the address searched is also looked up and if visible when the marker is clicked. This code can be useful with other navigational devices (Tom Tom) as part of looking up an address when the City is not known.

If location services are on then tapping on the last address will toggle to the current users location with the map centering around that point. Touching the map or the current location text will result in a toggle back to the searched address location.