SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING AND PROVIDING ROUTES

• US 20120232790A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Goel, Vinay
• Granted Patent: US 8,433,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

In one aspect, a system and method is provided whereby map-related requests from mobile devices are used to store and aggregate routes. The routes are then used to determine optimum directions in response to subsequent requests.

Claims

1. A method of modifying map information, the map information comprising information identifying streets, comprising:

receiving, from each particular client device of a plurality of client devices, change information identifying geographical locations as each particular client device'"'"'s geographical location changes over time;

storing routes traveled by each of the plurality of client devices based on the modifying geographical locations received from each client device;

modifying, by a processor, the map information when a plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the information identifying streets; and

providing one of the stored routes and the modified map information in response to a request for directions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to identify a street corresponding with the geographical locations if the map information does not identify a street at the geographical locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to remove a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the given street.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to change a geographic location of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the geographic location of the given street.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to adjust a one-way or two-way direction of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with a prior one-way or two-way direction of the given street identified in the map information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the map information further includes updating the map information depending on a number of the plurality of the stored routes that do not correspond with the information identifying the streets.

7. A system for modifying map information, the system comprising:

memory storing map information including information identifying streets;

a processor configured to;

access the map information;

receive, from each particular client device of a plurality of client devices, change information identifying geographical locations as each particular client device'"'"'s geographical location changes over time;

store routes traveled by each of the plurality of client devices based on the modifying geographical locations received from each client device;

modify the map information when a plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the information identifying streets; and

provide one of the stored routes and the modified map information in response to a request for directions.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to modify the map information to identify a street corresponding with the geographical locations if the map information does not identify a street at the geographical locations.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to modify the map information to remove a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the given street.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to modify the map information to change a geographic location of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the geographic location of the given street.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to modify the map information in order to adjust a one-way or two-way direction of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with a prior one-way or two-way direction of the given street identified in the map information.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to modify the map information by updating the map information depending on a number of the plurality of the stored routes that do not correspond with the information identifying the streets.

13. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium on which computer readable instructions of a program are stored, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of method of modifying map information, the map information comprising information identifying streets, the method comprising:

receiving, from each particular client device of a plurality of client devices, change information identifying geographical locations as each particular client device'"'"'s geographical location changes over time;

storing routes traveled by each of the plurality of client devices based on the modifying geographical locations received from each client device;

modifying the map information when a plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the information identifying streets; and

providing one of the stored routes and the modified map information in response to a request for directions.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to identify a street corresponding with the geographical locations if the map information does not identify a street at the geographical locations.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to remove a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the given street.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to change a geographic location of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with the geographic location of the given street.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein modifying the map information includes modifying the map information to adjust a one-way or two-way direction of a given street if the plurality of the stored routes do not correspond with a prior one-way or two-way direction of the given street identified in the map information.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein modifying the map information further includes updating the map information depending on a number of the plurality of the stored routes that do not correspond with the information identifying the streets.