Path Determination Based on Application Usage

• US 20150072712A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Ronald K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,749,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Techniques of determining a path using anonymous application usage data are described. A path determination system and method can determine a location and geometrical shape of a path based on anonymous application usage data received from one or more devices. The anonymous application usage data can include an identifier or a category of the application program executed by a device, and multiple locations of the device observed while the application program executes on the device. Based on the locations, the system and method can determine a path for associating with the application program. The system and method can use metadata of the application program for identifying the path in response to a query or a request. The system and method can provide the path to a device for display in an information layer on a virtual map.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, anonymous application usage data, the anonymous application usage data indicating that an application program is executed on the mobile device, and that while the application program is being executed, the mobile device has traveled to a plurality of device locations;

determining, based on the anonymous application usage data, that the device locations of the mobile device form a path; and

providing the path for presentation in response to a query related to an attribute of the application program,

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices, and

the application program is associated with metadata indicating the attribute of the application program, the metadata include at least one of a name, a description, an application category.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on map data, that each of the device locations is located on a route on the map; and

designating a first portion of the route where the device locations are located as the path.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on the map data, that each of one or more device locations submitted by another mobile device is located on a second portion of the route that partially overlaps the first portion;

concatenating the first portion and the second portion of the route; and

designating the concatenated portions of the route as the path.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that a number of application programs executing along the path satisfies a use frequency threshold value during a time period;

in response, designating the path as a frequently used path; and

provide the frequently used path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer comprising geographic information related to metadata of the application program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining, based on metadata, that the application program is related to the query;

determining that the path is located proximate to a query location, the query location being a location associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining a most frequently performed activity for the path based on the anonymous application usage data; and

providing the path as a recommendation in response to a search on the activity.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

a non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more computing device to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a mobile device, anonymous application usage data, the anonymous application usage data indicating that an application program is executed on the mobile device, and that while the application program is being executed, the mobile device has traveled to a plurality of device locations;

determining, based on the anonymous application usage data, that the device locations of the mobile device form a path; and

providing the path for presentation in response to a query related to an attribute of the application program.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices, and

the application program is associated with metadata indicating the attribute of the application program, the metadata include at least one of a name, a description, an application category.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on map data, that each of the device locations is located on a route on the map; and

designating a first portion of the route where the device locations are located as the path.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on the map data, that each of one or more device locations submitted by another mobile device is located on a second portion of the route that partially overlaps the first portion;

concatenating the first portion and the second portion of the route; and

designating the concatenated portions of the route as the path.

14. The system of claim 10, the operations comprising:

determining that a number of application programs executing along the path satisfies a use frequency threshold value during a time period;

in response, designating the path as a frequently used path; and

provide the frequently used path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer comprising geographic information related to metadata of the application program.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining, based on metadata, that the application program is related to the query;

determining that the path is located proximate to a query location, the query location being a location associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

18. The system of claim 10, the operations comprising:

determining a most frequently performed activity for the path based on the anonymous application usage data; and

providing the path as a recommendation in response to a search on the activity.

19. A non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause one or more computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, anonymous application usage data, the anonymous application usage data indicating that an application program is executed on the mobile device, and that while the application program is being executed, the mobile device has traveled to a plurality of device locations;

determining, based on the anonymous application usage data, that the device locations of the mobile device form a path; and

providing the path for presentation in response to a query related to an attribute of the application program.

20. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein:

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices, and

the application program is associated with metadata indicating the attribute of the application program, the metadata include at least one of a name, a description, an application category.

21. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on map data, that each of the device locations is located on a route on the map; and

designating a first portion of the route where the device locations are located as the path.

22. The non-transitory storage device of claim 21, wherein determining that device locations of the mobile device form a path comprises:

determining, based on the map data, that each of one or more device locations submitted by another mobile device is located on a second portion of the route that partially overlaps the first portion;

concatenating the first portion and the second portion of the route; and

designating the concatenated portions of the route as the path.

23. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, the operations comprising:

determining that a number of application programs executing along the path satisfies a use frequency threshold value during a time period;

in response, designating the path as a frequently used path; and

provide the frequently used path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation.

24. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer comprising geographic information related to metadata of the application program.

25. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining, based on metadata, that the application program is related to the query;

determining that the path is located proximate to a query location, the query location being a location associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map.

26. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

27. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, the operations comprising:

determining a most frequently performed activity for the path based on the anonymous application usage data; and

providing the path as a recommendation in response to a search on the activity.