AUGMENTATION OF PLACE RANKING USING 3D MODEL ACTIVITY IN AN AREA

• US 20120166431A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Brewington, Brian Edmond, Guggemos, James Anthony, Hawkins, Dale, Stout, Bryce, Brown, Brian Gammon
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate generally to ranking geographic locations based on perceived user interest. More specifically, a database of three-dimensional models of buildings or other architectural features may be used to determine the level of user interest in a particular location and accordingly rank, for example, geographic locations or web or map search results with local intent. For example, various signals such as the number of models created by users for a particular location, the number of clicks or requests for the models of the particular location, the number of POIs contained within or associated with the models associated with the particular geographic location, number of categories associated with a model associated with the geographic location, number of embedded views or views of the models associated with the particular location on other web sites, and the age of the models associated with the particular geographic location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing a list of geographic locations;

accessing a database of 3D models of objects, a plurality of the 3D models each being associated with a respective geographic location of the list of geographic locations;

a processor determining a user interest value for each particular geographic location of the list of geographic locations based on whether the particular geographic location includes the respective geographic location of a given one of the plurality of 3D models, wherein each user interest value is indicative of user interest in the particular geographic location; and

ordering, by the processor, the list of geographic locations based on the determined values to produce an ordered list of geographic locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interest value for the particular geographic location is based on a number of 3D models associated with respective geographic locations included in the particular geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user requests for one or more 3D models associated with respective geographic locations included in the particular geographic location for a period of time, wherein each user interest value is based on a number of user requests received during the period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of 3D models is associated with one or more points of interest, and each user interest value is based on a number of the points of interest associated with the 3D models associated with a respective geographic location that is included in the particular geographic location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of 3D models is associated with one or more user designated categories of objects, and each user interest value is based on a number of the categories associated with the 3D models associated with a respective geographic location that is included in the particular geographic location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning a plurality of web sites to identify views of the 3D model associated with the respective geographic location included in the particular geographic location; and

wherein the user interest value for the particular geographic location is based on the number of identified views.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each particular 3D model of the plurality of 3D models is associated with a time value defining the age of the particular 3D model, and each user interest value is based on the time value associated with the 3D models associated with a respective geographic location that is included in the particular geographic location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search query from a client device;

identifying a list of search results based on the ordered list of geographic locations; and

transmitting the search results to be displayed on a display of the client device based on the ordered list of geographic locations.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each particular geographic location of the list of geographic locations, determining a weighted sum based on the determined value associated with the particular geographic location, and wherein ordering the list of geographic locations is further based on the weighted sums.

10. A computer comprising:

memory storing a list of geographic locations and a database of 3D models of objects, a plurality of the 3D models each being associated with a respective geographic location of the list of geographic locations;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor operable to;

determine a user interest value for each particular geographic location of the list of geographic locations based on whether the particular geographic location includes the respective geographic location of a given one of the plurality of 3D models, wherein each user interest value is indicative of user interest in the particular geographic location; and

order the list of geographic locations based on the determined values to produce an ordered list of geographic locations.

11. The computer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to determine the user interest value for the particular geographic location based on a number of 3D models associated with a respective geographic location included in the particular geographic location.

12. The computer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive user requests for one or more 3D models associated with respective geographic locations included in the particular geographic location for a period of time;

and determine each user interest value based on a number of user requests received during the period of time.

13. The computer of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of 3D models is associated with one or more points of interest, and the processor is further operable to determine each user interest value based on a number of the points of interest associated with the 3D models which are associated with a respective geographic location that is included in the particular geographic location.

14. The computer of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of 3D models is associated with one or more user designated categories of objects, and the processor is further operable to determine each user interest value based on a number of the categories associated with the 3D models which are associated with a respective geographic location that is included in the particular geographic location.

15. The computer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to:

scan a plurality of web sites to identify views of the 3D model associated with a respective geographic location included in each particular geographic location; and

wherein the processor is further operable to determine each user interest value for each particular geographic location based on the number of identified views.

16. The computer of claim 10, wherein each particular 3D model of the plurality of 3D models is associated with a time value defining the age of the particular 3D model, and the processor is further operable to determine each user interest value based on the time value associated with the 3D models associated with a respective geographic location that is included in each particular geographic location.

17. The computer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive a search query from a client device;

identify a list of search results based on the ordered list of geographic locations; and

transmit the search results to be displayed on a display of the client device based on the ordered list of geographic locations.

18. The computer of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to, for each particular geographic location of the list of geographic locations, determine a weighted sum based on the determined value associated with the particular geographic location, and wherein ordering the list of geographic locations is further based on the weighted sums.