SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO SELECT LOCATIONS OF INTEREST

• US 20140172576A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spears, Joseph, Carlson, Mark, Stan, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US14/106,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.63
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle

Abstract

Identifying locations that are proximate to a particular route is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from the user'"'"'s route. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the user'"'"'s route. The user does not have to deviate far from their current route to visit the associated locations and may be motivated to capitalize on the location based services.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing apparatus, a route selected for traversal by a user;

selecting, by the computing apparatus, for location identification, an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route;

obtaining, by the computing apparatus, locations that are at least partially located within the selected area along the selected route;

determining, by the computing apparatus, respective distances of the locations from the selected route;

selecting, by the computing apparatus, a predetermined number of the locations that are closest to the selected route as candidate locations of interest to the user;

associating, by the computing apparatus, location based services with at least a subset of the candidate locations;

transmitting, by the computing apparatus, information regarding the location based services and the subset of candidate locations to the user in real time.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprises:

determining, by the computing apparatus, route vertices of the selected route;

identifying, by the computing apparatus, respective areas around each of the route vertices within respective radii; and

selecting, by the computing apparatus, the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed by the respective areas.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein each of the respective radii comprises a respective maximum weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, identifying respective areas further comprising:

selecting, by the computing apparatus, the respective maximum weighted radius from a plurality of weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprises:

comparing, by the computing apparatus, length of the route segments with the predetermined threshold.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprises:

determining, by the computing apparatus, mid-points of route segments connecting the route vertices;

determining, by the computing apparatus, respective areas around each of the mid-points that are within respective radii of the mid-points; and

selecting, by the computing apparatus, the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed from the circular areas.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

compensating, by the computing apparatus, for asymmetric coverage of the identified area on either side of the selected route when an angle at one or more of the route vertices is an oblique angle.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein identifying respective circular areas further comprises:

computing, by the computing apparatus, at least one weighted radius for each of the route vertices.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 6, identifying respective areas further comprising:

selecting, by the computing apparatus, a maximum weighted radius for the identification of respective circular area for each of the route vertices.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein location based services are associated with the subset of the candidate locations based on profile specific information of the user.

11. A computing apparatus having at least one microprocessor and memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one microprocessor to perform operations, the computing apparatus comprising:

a route information receiver that receives information indicative of a route selected for traversal by a user;

a route analyzer that analyzes the selected route and identifies one or more locations in an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route;

a location of interest predictor that selects a subset of locations that are likely to be of interest to the user, the subset of locations are selected from the identified locations within the predetermined threshold distance along the selected route;

a location information transmitter that transmits information regarding the subset of locations to a requestor.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the route analyzer comprises instructions configured to instruct the microprocessor to:

determine route vertices of the selected route;

identify respective areas around each of the route vertices within respective radii; and

select the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed by the circular areas.

13. The computing apparatus of claim 12 wherein the respective radii are respective maximum weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

14. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the route analyzer comprises instructions configured to instruct the microprocessor to:

determine mid-points of route segments connecting the route vertices;

determine respective areas around each of the mid-points that are within respective radii of the mid-points; and

select the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed from the circular areas.

15. The computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the respective radii are respective maximum weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

16. The computing apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a data store that comprises user specific profile information used for the selection of the subset of locations.

17. A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a computing apparatus to at least:

receive, by the computing apparatus, a route selected for traversal by a user;

select, by the computing apparatus, for location identification, an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route;

obtain, by the computing apparatus, locations that are at least partially located within the selected area along the selected route;

determine, by the computing apparatus, respective distances of the locations from the selected route;

select, by the computing apparatus, a predetermined number of the locations that are closest to the selected route as candidate locations of interest to the user;

associate, by the computing apparatus, location based services with at least a subset of the candidate locations;

transmit, by the computing apparatus, information regarding the location based services and the subset of candidate locations to the user in real time.

18. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein instructions for selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprise instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

determine, by the computing apparatus, route vertices of the selected route;

identify, by the computing apparatus, respective areas around each of the route vertices within respective radii; and

select, by the computing apparatus, the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed by the circular areas.

19. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein each of the respective radii comprises a respective maximum weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

20. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 19, instructions for identifying respective areas further comprise instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

select, by the computing apparatus, the respective maximum weighted radius a plurality of weighted radius associated with each of the route vertices.

21. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein instructions for selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprise instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

compare, by the computing apparatus, length of the route segments with the predetermined threshold.

22. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein instructions for selecting an area within a predetermined threshold distance along the selected route further comprise instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

determine, by the computing apparatus, mid-points of route segments connecting the route vertices;

determine, by the computing apparatus, respective areas around each of the mid-points that are within respective radii of the mid-points; and

select, by the computing apparatus, the area along the selected route that is enclosed by an outline formed from the circular areas.

23. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

compensate, by the computing apparatus, for asymmetric coverage of the identified area on either side of the selected route when an angle at one or more of the route vertices is an oblique angle.

24. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

compute, by the computing apparatus, at least one weighted radius for each of the route vertices.

25. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that cause the computing apparatus to:

select, by the computing apparatus, a maximum weighted radius for the identification of respective circular area for each of the route vertices.