Providing aggregated starting point information

• US 8,583,684 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirmse, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, NICHOLAS E
• Application Number:
  US13/223,917
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 707/770, 707/918, 707/919, 701/32.4
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for providing aggregated starting point information. One example method includes identifying a location associated with an entity, identifying, from navigation information query logs, starting points for navigation information that includes an ending point in a predefined vicinity of the location associated with the entity, aggregating information associated with the starting points, and providing aggregated starting point information to the entity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, with one or more computing devices, a request for aggregated starting point information, the request identifying a location associated with an entity;

accessing, with the one or more computing devices, navigation information query logs comprising navigation information requested by one or more users,

identifying, with the one or more computing devices, a plurality of navigation requests associated with an ending point in a predefined vicinity of the location associated with the entity from the navigation query logs;

identifying, with the one or more computing devices, starting points associated with the plurality of navigation requests associated with an ending point in a predefined vicinity of the location;

aggregating, with the one or more computing devices, information associated with the starting points by one or more regions; and

providing aggregated starting point information to the entity;

wherein the plurality of navigation requests are identified from the navigation query logs by accessing navigation information previously provided to one or more users and stored in the navigation query log, and analyzing the navigation information previously provided to one or more users to identify at least one navigation request having an ending point within the predefined vicinity of the location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the entity is a business.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location associated with the entity is an address.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein starting points are identified for navigation information that includes an ending point at the address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined vicinity of the location associated with the entity includes a predefined area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving one or more demographic parameter selections from the entity and wherein aggregating information includes filtering the information to include starting points associated with individuals having demographic attributes matching the one or more demographic parameter selections.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein aggregating information includes determining a proportion of the starting points grouped in each region.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving from the entity information associated with a budget for providing content to users and wherein providing the aggregated starting point information includes providing a recommendation that the budget be divided among each region relative to the proportion of starting points grouped in each region.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying demographic information associated with each region and wherein the aggregated starting point information includes the demographic information.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving from the entity information associated with an advertising budget and wherein providing the aggregated starting point information includes providing a recommendation that a portion of the advertising budget be spent for a particular region based at least in part on a proportion of the starting points grouped in the region and based at least in part on demographic attributes of individuals within the region.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the entity is a content sponsor and wherein providing aggregated starting point information includes providing a user interface to the content sponsor that includes a listing of top regions where customers come from when visiting the location associated with the entity.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a recommendation to the content sponsor regarding spending with respect to a campaign of the content sponsor.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for aggregated starting point information, the request identifying a location associated with an entity;

accessing navigation information query logs comprising navigation information request by one or more users,

identifying, from the navigation query logs, a plurality of navigation requests associated with an ending point in a predefined vicinity of the location associated with the entity;

identifying starting points associated with the plurality of navigation requests;

aggregating information associated with the starting point by one or more regions; and

providing aggregated starting point information to the entity;

wherein the plurality of navigation requests are identified from the navigation query logs by accessing navigation information previously provided to one or more users and stored in the navigation query log, and analyzing the navigation information previously provided to one or more users to identify at least one navigation request having an ending point within the predefined vicinity of the location.

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein the predefined vicinity of the location associated with the entity includes a predefined area.

15. The medium of claim 13 wherein aggregating information includes determining proportion of the starting points grouped in each region.

16. The medium of claim 13 wherein the entity is a content sponsor and wherein providing aggregated starting point information includes providing a user interface to the content sponsor that includes a listing of top regions where customers come from when visiting the location associated with the entity.