Computer implemented methods and system for providing a plurality of options with respect to a stopping point

• US 7,729,947 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moon, Hannah Y., Philbin, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, William J.
• Application Number:
  US11/087,337
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 26- 27, 705 5- 6, 701200-202, 701208-209
• US Class Current: 705/26.9
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

A route may be created and provided to a client. A stopping point along the route is received, and a search is performed for at least one point of interest according to the stopping point. Further, a route is created and provided to a client, and at least one stopping point associated with the route is identified based on at least one of a distance along the route, an indication of a place on a map, a category search, and a key word search.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

providing a graphical user interface to a computing device via a network;

receiving a start point data and an end point data from the computing device via the network;

creating a route based on both the start point and end point data received from the computing device;

providing the route to the computing device via the network;

receiving a stopping point;

providing a plurality of options with respect to the stopping point, the plurality of options including options to add the stopping point to the route, search for a point of interest according to the stopping point, and save the stopping point without adding the stopping point to the route;

receiving a selection of at least one of the options;

updating the route according to the selected option;

providing an interface to receive another stopping point, and presenting the plurality of options when another stopping point is received; and

providing the updated route to the computing device via the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching for points of interest associated with at least one of a business and a person within a pre-determined proximity to the stopping point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching for points of interest that are within a first predetermined distance from a set of points on the route that are a second predetermined distance from the stopping point.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding the stopping point to the route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stopping point is at least one of a street address, a point that is a specified distance from the beginning of the route or the end of the route, a specified point on a map, a point associated with an entity identified by a category search, and a point associated with an entity identified by a key word search.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one point of interest is within a predetermined distance from the stopping point.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one point of interest is a point on the route.

8. A computer implemented method, comprising:

providing a graphical user interface to a computing device via a network;

receiving a start point data and an end point data from the computing device via the network;

creating a route based on both the start point and end point data received from the computing device;

providing the route to the computing device via the network;

identifying at least one stopping point associated with the route, wherein the stopping point is based on at least one of a distance along the route, an indication of a place on a map, a category search, and a key word search;

providing a plurality of options with respect to the at least one stopping point, the plurality of options including options to add the stopping point to the route, search for a point of interest according to the stopping point, and save the stopping point without adding the stopping point to the route;

receiving a selection of at least one of the options;

updating the route according to the selected option;

providing an interface to receive another stopping point, and presenting the plurality of options when another stopping point is received; and

providing the updated route to the computing device via the network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of adding the at least one stopping point to the route.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of searching for at least one point of interest associated with the stopping point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one point of interest is associated with at least one of a business and a person.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one point of interest is within a first predetermined distance from a set of points on the route that are a second predetermined distance from the stopping point.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one point of interest is a point on the route.

14. A system, comprising:

at least one database comprising map data and data related to locations of a plurality of entities;

a client computing device; and

a server in selective communication with the at least one database and the client, wherein the server is configured to

create a route based on input received from the client and information in the at least one database,

identify a first stopping point associated with the route, wherein the first stopping point is based on at least one of a distance along the route, an indication of a place on a map, a category search for an entity, and a key word search for an entity,

present a set of options with respect to the first stopping point, the set of options including options to add the stopping point to the route, search for a point of interest according to the stopping point, and save the stopping point without adding the stopping point to the route,

receive a selection of at least one of the options with respect to the first stopping point,

identify a second stopping point associated with the route,

provide the set of options with respect to the second stopping point,

receive an option selection with respect to the second stopping point,

update the route according to the selected options with respect to the first and the second stopping points, and

provide the updated route to the computing device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the entities is a business and the category search is a search for a business or the keyword search is a search for a business.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is further configured to identify points of interest along the route based on at least one stopping point.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one point of interest is associated with at least one of a business and a person.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one point of interest is within a first predetermined distance from a set of points on the route that are a second predetermined distance from the stopping point.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one point of interest is a point on the route.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is further configured to add at least one of the first and second stopping points to the route.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one database is a first database comprising the map database and a second database comprising the data related to the locations of a plurality of entities.