INTENSITY-BASED MAPS

• US 20080318597A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Curtis G., Yee, Dawson, Allard, James E., Roup, Oliver R., Sloo, David H., Holmdahl, Todd E., Baker, Nicholas R., Berns, Adam T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The claimed subject matter relates to a first architecture that can create an intensity map based upon intensity scores, and to a second architecture that can provide intensity scores and can request and receive the intensity map. Intensity scores can relate to an approval or a level of satisfaction of a current location of a user and can be conveniently provided, in some cases with a single keystroke (e.g., 0-9 from a conventional cell phone keypad) by, say, mobile device users. Numerous intensity scores can be received and aggregated to produce an intensity map of a given area or region. Portions of the intensity map can be provided to requesting devices, potentially filtered based upon a variety of criteria. As a result, the intensity map can provide in substantially real-time a visual indication of locations or entities that might be interesting to explore.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system that creates an intensity map, comprising:

an evaluation component that receives an intensity score from a mobile device;

a tracking component that determines a location of the mobile device; and

a mapping component that applies the intensity score to an intensity map at coordinates associated with the location.

2. The system of claim 1, the tracking component employs at least one of a Global Positioning System (GPS) or a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) to determine the location of the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, the tracking component provides a Location-Based Service (LBS) to the mobile device in exchange for the intensity score.

4. The system of claim 1, the mapping component associates the location with an entity.

5. The system of claim 4, the evaluation component interprets the intensity score based upon a type of the entity.

6. The system of claim 4, the evaluation component interprets the intensity score based upon at least one of a time in which the intensity score was received, a time in which the mobile device remains at the location, or a transaction associated with the entity.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filtering component that filters the intensity map based upon a type of entity.

8. The system of claim 1, the intensity map is a global map.

9. The system of claim 1, the mapping component provides a subset of the intensity map to a requesting device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an association component that manages associations between the mobile device and the requesting device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a filtering component filters the intensity map based upon the associations.

12. The system of claim 10, the association component employs a friend list to manage the associations.

13. The system of claim 10, the association component employs a second degree friend list to manage the associations.

14. A computer-implemented system that receives an intensity map, comprising:

a preference component that aggregates user preferences; and

a solicitation component that transmits to a remote system a request for an intensity map, the request is based upon the user preferences.

15. The system of claim 14, the user preferences indicate a type of entity.

16. The system of claim 14, the user preferences relate to a friend list.

17. The system of claim 14, the solicitation component transmits to the remote system an intensity score, the intensity score is based upon an assessment of a local environment.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a location component that receives a LBS from the remote system in return for the intensity score.

19. A computer-implemented method for generating an intensity map, comprising:

receiving an intensity score from a mobile device;

determining a location of the mobile device;

mapping the location to coordinates of an intensity map; and

applying the intensity score to the coordinates of the intensity map.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising at least one of the following acts:

determining an entity associated with the location;

filtering the intensity map based upon a type of entity;

filtering the intensity map based upon a friend list;

providing a LBS as an incentive for receiving the intensity score;

or

transmitting a subset of the intensity map to a requesting device.