Transit-coordinated local search

• US 20070225903A1
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Liebling, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

Various embodiments can provide helpful information to a user who is looking for a particular point of interest. In at least some embodiments, first and second searches are conducted. The first search uses a local search provider and produces results which describe one or more points of interest relative to a location, such as a user'"'"'s current location. Each point of interest can be associated with a destination location to which the user would like to travel. The second search uses a so-called transit route provider and utilizes the results of the first search to plan a transit route between the location and one or more of the respective destination locations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a first search to be conducted, using a local search provider, the results of which describe one or more points of interest relative to a current location, individual points of interest being associated with respective destination locations; and

causing a second search to be conducted, utilizing a transit route provider, that utilizes the results of the first search to plan a transit route between the current location and one or more of the respective destination locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said local search provider or said transit route provider is remote from a computing device that causes said searches to be conducted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said acts is performed, at least in part, over the Internet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said causing of the second search is performed by providing, via the Internet, the results of the first search to said transit route provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sorting transit routes in accordance with at least one pre-determined criterion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sorting is based, at least in part, on real time information that is received and which pertains to the transit routes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one criterion pertains to the time to-travel from the current location to a destination location using a transit route.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one criterion pertains to the distance from the current location to a destination location.

9. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of claim 1.

10. A computing device embodying the computer-readable media of claim 9.

11. A method comprising:

causing, via the Internet, a first search to be conducted the results of which describe one or more points of interest relative to a current location, individual points of interest being associated with respective destination locations;

causing, via the Internet, a second search to be conducted that utilizes the results of the first search to plan a transit route between the current location and one or more of the respective destination locations, wherein the transit route utilizes a mode of conveyance that is not under the control of a user disposed at the current location; and

sorting transit routes in accordance with pre-determined criteria.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sorting is based, at least in part, on real time information that is received and pertains to the routes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said sorting uses at least one criterion that pertains to the time to travel from the current location to a destination 8 location using a transit route.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said sorting uses at least one criterion that pertains to the distance from the current location to a destination location.

15. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of claim 11.

16. A computing device embodying the computer-readable media of claim 15.

17. A system comprising:

one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to;

conduct a first search, via the Internet, using a first search provider that is remote from the computing device;

conduct a second search, via the Internet, using a second different search provider that is remote from the computing device, wherein the second search utilizes results from the first search to plan a transit route between a current location and one or more respective destination locations, wherein the transit route utilizes a public transit mode of conveyance that is not under the control of a user disposed at the current location; and

sort one or more transit routes in accordance with pre-determined criteria.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said sorting is based, at least in part, on real time information that is received and which pertains to the transit routes.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein one criterion pertains to the time to travel from the current location to a destination location using a transit route.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein one criterion pertains to the distance from the current location to a destination location.