Map-centric service for social events

• US 8,467,955 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jiang, Ning, Frachon, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Application Number:
  US11/980,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• 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 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3874 Structures specially adapted for data searching and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area

Abstract

A map-centric service for creating, finding, and organizing social events is described. Social events may include gatherings, goods or services for sale or other types of events about which a group of people may wish to share information. The service provides a graphical indication of the location of a plurality of social events superimposed on a map, providing a geographic context to social events. The geographic context may be augmented with text graphical indications or information in other forms, further identifying characteristics of the social event. Information about social events may be made accessible to multiple users through a web service. A user may search for social events by specifying desired characteristics of the social event. The service can also generate an optimal route for user selected events.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device from a user, at least one desired characteristic of a social event, wherein the user is a member of one or more social networks;

sending, by the computing device to a server, a search request based on the at least one desired characteristic, wherein the server facilitates organizing social events among members of the one or more social networks and manages the distribution of invitations to the social events among the members of the one or more social networks;

receiving, by the computing device from the server, data relating to a plurality of social events to which the user has been invited by other members of the one or more social networks, the data comprising an event location, an event time, and an event description for each of the plurality of social events, wherein at least one characteristic of each of the plurality of social events matches the at least one desired characteristic received from the user;

rendering, by the computing device on a display, a graphical map overlaid with a graphical indication of each event location of each of the plurality of social events to which the user has been invited;

receiving, at the graphical map rendered on the display, user input selecting one or more social events that the user intends to attend;

adding, by the computing device, the one or more social events that the user intends to attend to a calendar of the user; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of one or more routes between a location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one desired characteristic received from the user comprises a user specified date range.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by the computing device on the display, a listing of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend in chronological order according to the event time of each of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of a suggested departure time for a social event that the user intends to attend.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one desired characteristic received from the user comprises a type of social event.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the computing device, a conflict between two or more of the social events that the user intends to attend.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating, by the computing device, travel times between the location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an estimated travel time to a social event that the user intends to attend.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the computing device, a conflict between one or more of the social events that the user intends to attend and a calendar event stored in the calendar of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an event description of a social event that the user intends to attend.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, at least one icon representing a type of social event.

11. A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by the computing device from a user, at least one desired characteristic of a social event, wherein the user is a member of one or more social networks;

sending, by the computing device to a server, a search request based on the at least one desired characteristic, wherein the server facilitates organizing social events among members of the one or more social networks and manages the distribution of invitations to the social events among the members of the one or more social networks;

receiving, by the computing device from the server, data relating to a plurality of social events to which the user has been invited by other members of the one or more social networks, the data comprising an event location, an event time, and an event description for each of the plurality of social events, wherein at least one characteristic of each of the plurality of social events matches the at least one desired characteristic received from the user;

rendering, by the computing device on a display, a graphical map overlaid with a graphical indication of each event location of each of the plurality of social events to which the user has been invited;

receiving, at the graphical map rendered on the display, user input selecting one or more social events that the user intends to attend;

adding, by the computing device, the one or more social events that the user intends to attend to a calendar of the user; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of one or more routes between a location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the at least one desired characteristic received from the user comprises one or more of a user specified date range and a type of social event.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, the method further comprising:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of a suggested departure time for a social event that the user intends to attend.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, the method further comprising:

estimating, by the computing device, travel times between the location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an estimated travel time to a social event that the user intends to attend.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, the method further comprising:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an event description of a social event that the user intends to attend.

16. A computing device comprising:

a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions for;

receiving, by the computing device from a user, at least one desired characteristic of a social event, wherein the user is a member of one or more social networks;

sending, by the computing device to a server, a search request based on the at least one desired characteristic, wherein the server facilitates organizing social events among members of the one or more social networks and manages the distribution of invitations to the social events among the members of the one or more social networks;

receiving, by the computing device from the server, data relating to a plurality of social events to which the user has been invited by other members of the one or more social networks, the data comprising an event location, an event time, and an event description for each of the plurality of social events, wherein at least one characteristic of each of the plurality of social events matches the at least one desired characteristic received from the user;

rendering, by the computing device on a display, a graphical map overlaid with a graphical indication of each event location of each of the plurality of social events to which the user has been invited;

receiving, at the graphical map rendered on the display, user input selecting one or more social events that the user intends to attend;

adding, by the computing device, the one or more social events that the user intends to attend to a calendar of the user; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of one or more routes between a location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the at least one desired characteristic received from the user comprises one or more of a user specified date range and a type of social event.

18. The computing device of claim 16, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of a suggested departure time for a social event that the user intends to attend.

19. The computing device of claim 16, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

estimating, by the computing device, travel times between the location of the user and each of the event locations of the one or more social events that the user intends to attend; and

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an estimated travel time to a social event that the user intends to attend.

20. The computing device of claim 16, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

rendering, by the computing device within the graphical map, a graphical indication of an event description of a social event that the user intends to attend.