METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUGGESTIONS DRIVEN BY NEARBY FAVORITES

• US 20140280060A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Graf, Daniel, Campbell, Taj J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• 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

A computer-implemented method and system may promote points of interest (POIs) for display on a digital map at a client computing device based on context information associated with a user. Location data from a client computing device may indicate a geographic location of the computing device. Using the location data, the system may determine a user classification indicating a degree of familiarity with the location indicated by the location data. Promotion data may be determined based on the location data and the user classification. The promotion data may indicate one or more sets of POIs to be promoted. The system may then send the determined promotion data to the client computing device, enabling display on the client computing device of the one or more indicated sets of POIs.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for promoting points of interest (POIs) for display on a digital map at a client computing device based on context information associated with a user, the method comprising:

receiving location data from a client computing device, the location data indicating a geographic location of the computing device;

determining a user classification based on the location data, the user classification indicating a degree of familiarity with the location indicated by the location data;

determining promotion data based on the location data and the user classification, the promotion data indicating one or more sets of POIs to be promoted; and

sending the determined promotion data to the client computing device, wherein the promotion data enables display on the client computing device of the one or more indicated sets of POIs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequently receiving a request for mapping data, wherein the requested mapping data corresponds to a location of a promoted POI; and

sending the requested mapping data to the client computing device in response to the subsequent request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data is determined using global positioning system (GPS) data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user classification is determined using user profile data corresponding to the client computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotion data is determined using the time of day.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computing device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotion data comprises a set of POIs and the set of POIs comprises recommended POIs based on at least location data, user profile data, and user classification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotion data comprises a set of categories of POIs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the categories of POIs are types of POIs.

10. A computer-implemented method for promoting points of interest (POIs) for display on a digital map at a mobile computing device based on context information associated with a user, the method comprising:

sending location data from a mobile computing device, the location data indicating a geographic location of the computing device;

receiving promotion data, indicating one or more sets of POIs to be promoted, based on the location data and user classification, wherein the user classification is based on a degree of familiarity with the location indicated by the location data;

promoting one or more sets of POIs on the mobile computing device;

sending a request for mapping data, wherein the requested mapping data corresponds to a promoted POI;

receiving the requested mapping data on the mobile computing device in response to the subsequent request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a mapping application is initiating by the user prior to sending location data from the mobile computing device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of sending location data from the mobile computing device is performed prior to the user initiating a mapping application.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the location data is determined using global positioning system (GPS) data.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the user classification is determined using user profile data corresponding to the mobile computing device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the promotion data is determined using the time of day.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the promotion data comprises a set of POIs.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of POIs comprises recommended POIs based on at least location data, user profile data, and user classification.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the promotion data comprises a set of categories of POIs.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the categories of POIs are types of POIs.

20. A computer system for promoting points of interest (POIs) for display on a digital map at a client computing device based on context information associated with a user, the system comprising:

a point of interest selection system in communication with a memory storing instructions for execution on a processor of the point of interest selection system, the instructions to;

receive location data from a client computing device, the location data indicating a geographic location of the computing device,

determine a user classification based on the location data, the user classification indicating a degree of familiarity with the location indicated by the location data, and

determine promotion data based on the location data and the user classification, the promotion data indicating one or more sets of POIs to be promoted;

a mapping system in communication with a memory storing instructions for execution on a processor of the mapping system, the instructions to;

send promotion data to the client computing device, wherein the promotion data enables display on the client computing device of the one or more indicated sets of POIs,

subsequently receive a request for mapping data, wherein the requested mapping data corresponds to the location of a promoted POI, and

send the requested mapping data to the client computing device in response to the subsequent request.