System and method of providing turn-by-turn directions to non-specific destinations

• US 8,428,866 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayes, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US12/834,307
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/206, 701/400
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for providing turn by turn directions based on imprecise destination information. In one embodiment, a user may request turn by turn directions based on a first location, such as an address, and a destination area, defined by the name of a geographic area, such as a city or state. A plurality of access locations may be identified based on the geographic area. These access locations may be displayed to the user so that the user may select a particular destination. The selected location may then be used, along with the first location, to provide a set of turn by turn directions to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing turn by turn directions, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a destination area;

identifying a plurality of choke points associated with the destination area, wherein each of the plurality of choke points is in proximity to the destination area, and wherein each of the plurality of choke points provides access to the destination area;

selecting, based on the destination area, one or more of the plurality of choke points;

providing for display, the one or more of the selected choke points;

receiving an indication of a user-selection of one of the one or more of the selected choke points; and

providing a set of turn by turn directions to the user-selected choke point associated with the destination area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein further

the indication of the destination area is received from a client computing device, and

wherein the turn by turn directions are provided for the client computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a start location, wherein the selecting the one or more of the plurality of choke points is based on a distance between the start location and each of the plurality of choke points.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the start location is a current location of the client computing device, and wherein the turn by turn directions to the user-selected choke point are provided based on the current location of the client computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a start location, wherein the indication of the start location and the indication of the destination area are received from a client computing device, and wherein the start location and the destination area are stored in a memory.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a start location, wherein the start location is an address, and wherein the destination area is the name of a city.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the plurality of selected choke points are provided for display on a map, wherein the map is configured to receive a user-selection of one of the one or more of the selected choke points.

8. A computer-implemented method for providing turn by turn directions, the method comprising:

receiving, an indication of a destination area;

identifying a start location;

identifying a plurality of destination zones associated with the destination area, wherein each of the plurality of destination zones comprises a physical portion of the destination area;

storing the plurality of destination zones in a memory;

providing for display, the stored plurality of destination zones;

receiving an indication of a user-selection of one of the plurality of destination zones;

identifying, based on the start location and the indication of the user-selected destination zone, a choke point, which is in proximity to the user-selected destination zone, and provides access to the user-selected destination zone; and

providing for display, based on the start location and the indication of the user-selected destination zone, a set of turn by turn directions to the identified choke point.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein

the indication of the destination area is received from a client computing device and

wherein the turn by turn directions are provided for the client computing device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the identifying the choke point is based on a distance between the start location and the user-selected destination zone.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the start location is a current location of the client computing device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the start location and the destination area are stored in a memory upon input into the client computing device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of choke points are stored in a memory.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of destination zones are provided for display on a map, wherein the map is configured to receive a user-selection of one of the plurality of destination zones.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing turn by turn directions, the method comprising:

sending to a server, an indication of a destination area,

wherein the server is configured to determine, based on the destination area and the start location, a plurality of choke points, wherein each of the plurality of choke points is in proximity to the destination area, and wherein each of the plurality of choke points provides access to the destination area;

displaying, the plurality of choke points received from the server;

sending an indication of a user-selection of one of the displayed plurality of choke points; and

displaying a set of turn by turn directions, received from the server, to the user-selected choke point.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15,

wherein the indication of the destination area is sent to the server via a network interface of a client computing device, and

wherein the turn by turn directions are received from the server via the network interface of the client computing device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising identifying a start location, wherein the server is further configured to select the plurality of choke points based on an estimated travel time between the start location and each of the plurality of choke points.

18. A computer-implemented method for providing turn by turn directions, the method comprising:

sending to a server, an indication of a start location and a destination area,

wherein the server is configured to determine, based on the start location and the destination area, a plurality of destination zones, wherein each of the plurality of destination zones comprises a physical portion of the destination area;

displaying the plurality of destination zones received from the server;

sending to the server, an indication of a user-selection of one of the displayed plurality of destination zones, wherein the server is further configured to identify, based on the start location and the user-selected destination zone, a choke point which is in proximity to the user-selected destination zone, and provides access to the user-selected destination zone; and

displaying a set of turn by turn directions to the choke point, wherein the turn by turn directions are received from the server.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the choke point is selected based on an estimated travel time between the start location and the choke point.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the destination area is a name of a city, and wherein the start location is an address.