ROUTE MONETIZATION

• US 20080091341A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Panabaker, Ruston, Seltzer, Michael, Tashev, Ivan, Krumm, John, Black, Neil, Couckuyt, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A user can be compensated for taking detours from a projected route. Commonly, the reason for the compensation is that the user will be subjected to advertising, the user will pass by an establishment she is likely to visit, or to ease traffic congestion. Analysis of an area takes place and monetization opportunities are determined based upon the results of the analysis. A route between at least about two locations can be altered such that the user is provided a reward, commonly in an optimized manner.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an analysis component that identifies a reward capability of travel between at least two locations; and

a production component that augments a direction set based on at least about one identification of the analysis component.

2. The system of claim 1, the production component augments the direction set for monetary optimization.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a disclosure component that divulges the direction set to a user.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a selection component, the production component augments at least two direction sets and the selection component chooses an augmented route based upon at least one identified reward capability.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that makes at least one inference or at least one determination toward route augmentation or reward capability identification.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a comparison component that balances a reward capability against a non-reward factor, the balance result is used by the production component to augment the direction set.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a calculation component that computes a monetary factor, the monetary factor is used by the production component to augment the direction set.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a participation component that collects user input concerning the direction set, the production component augments the direction set according to the user input.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an evaluation component that appraises route information, identification of monetization capability is a function of route information appraisal.

10. The system of claim 1, the reward capability is a monetization capability, the direction set augmentation subjects a user to an advertisement, the direction set augmentation subjects the user to an establishment the user is relatively likely to visit, the direction set augmentation is based upon a congestion pattern, the analysis component is implemented upon a vehicle, the production component is implemented upon a vehicle, or a combination thereof.

11. A method, comprising:

evaluating at least about one opportunity to provide a reward to a user by having the user travel along at least about one course; and

crafting a route that implements at least about one evaluated opportunity by including at least about one course in the route.

12. The method of claim 11, the user is rewarded with a monetary compensation.

13. The method of claim 11, crafting the route is performed to optimize the reward to the user against inconvenience.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising collecting at least about one opportunity to provide a reward to a user, at least about one collected opportunity is evaluated.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining history of the user, the collected history is used in the evaluation.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising presenting the crafted route to the user.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising replacing an original route with the crafted route based upon a user reaction to the crafted route presentment or appointing the crafted route.

18. A system, comprising:

means for producing at least two equivalent routes; and

means for selecting a route for presentment to a user, selection is based at least in part upon reward opportunity of the route.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a means for operating an auction, entities associate a reward with a route and selection is based upon a route with a highest bidder.

20. The system of claim 18, the reward opportunity is a user taking a route, a user taking a stop at a location along the route, a monetization opportunity, or a combination thereof.