IDENTIFYING A RESULT RESPONSIVE TO LOCATION DATA FOR MULTIPLE USERS

• US 20070233658A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coughlin, Stephen J., Meisels, Adrienne C.
• Application Number:
  US11/534,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233658A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

According to one general aspect, a method for searching includes receiving, at a host from a client device, a search query that enables access to location data associated with multiple users. Receiving the search query includes receiving a travel objective and receiving an indication of a particular place. The method also includes accessing the location data associated with the multiple users and referencing the travel objective that relates to the location data associated with the multiple users. The method also includes identifying a result associated with the particular place, and enabling the client device to access the result. The result is responsive to the search query and the travel objective

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a host from a client device, a search query that enables access to location data associated with multiple users, wherein receiving the search query includes;

receiving a travel objective, and

receiving an indication of a particular place;

accessing the location data associated with the multiple users;

referencing the travel objective that relates to the location data associated with the multiple users;

identifying a result associated with the particular place, wherein the result is responsive to the search query and the travel objective; and

enabling the client device to access the result.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein referencing the travel objective includes determining that differences in a travel commitment for the multiple users at multiple locations should be minimized.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the travel commitment includes travel time or a travel distance.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the search query includes:

receiving a first location related to a first of the multiple users, wherein the first location includes a present location of the client device; and

receiving a second location related to a second of the multiple users, wherein the second location includes a location for a device other than the client device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the result includes:

accessing current road conditions information; and

identifying the result based on the current road conditions information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a first set of directions to a result location to a first user at the client device; and

sending a second set of directions to the result location to a second user at a device other than the client device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the directions includes turn-by-turn voice guided navigations, text directions, mapping directions, walking directions, or public transportation directions.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein sending the first set of directions includes:

accessing a first location related to the first user; and

generating the directions to the result location from the first location.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein sending the second set of directions includes:

accessing a second location related to the second user; and

generating the directions to the result location from the second location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the search query includes:

receiving a first location related to a first user;

receiving a second location related to a second user; and

receiving the travel objective for minimizing differences in a travel commitment for the first user and the second user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving the search query includes

receiving an instruction specifying a modality of travel of the first user and the second user;

and

providing directions to a result location for the first user and the second user based on the modality of travel of the first user and the second user.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the client device to access the result includes:

displaying one or more results to a first user at the client device, wherein the one or more results are responsive to the search query and the travel objective;

receiving, from the first user, an instruction to provide the first user and a second user with directions to the one or more results; and

providing the directions to the one or more results according to the instruction.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an instruction at the host specifying a type of directions that should be provided to a result location for a first user and a second user.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein referencing the travel objective includes minimizing the travel commitment associated with each of the multiple users at multiple locations and minimizing the differences in the travel commitment associated with each of the multiple users at the multiple locations.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the travel commitment includes travel time or a travel distance.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a host from a client device, a search query that enables access to location data associated with each of multiple users, wherein receiving the search query includes;

receiving a travel objective, and

receiving an indication of a particular place;

accessing the location data associated with each of the multiple users;

referencing the travel objective that relates to the location data associated with each of the multiple users;

identifying at least one result associated with the particular place, wherein the at least one result is responsive to the search query and the travel objective;

displaying the at least one result to a user of the client device;

enabling the user to select the at least one result; and

providing directions to the at least one result upon the user selecting the at least one result.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the search query includes:

receiving a first location related to a first of the multiple users; and

receiving an instruction to obtain a second location related to a second of the multiple users.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein receiving the instruction to obtain the second location includes instructing the host to contact a server to obtain the second location.