Map-based guide system and method

• US 8,635,014 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Location Based Services, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/998,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/400, 701/117, 455/456, 455/456.1, 342/36
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

Provided is a computer system and methods for a map-based guide. A method includes but is not limited to receiving a request for the map-based guide; determining a location associated with the request; preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive and/or a goodwill factor; and transmitting the map-based guide.

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable media bearing one or more instructions for:

transmitting a transmission from a display device, the transmission including at least;

a starting point;

a destination;

a request for a route from the starting point to the destination; and

an identifier associated with the display device, the identifier enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether the request is entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination and, if the request is not entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination, the identifier enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location would not be included in the direct route from the starting point to the destination; and

receiving the determined route from the starting point to the destination.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route comprises:

enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one advertiser, including at least guiding past at least one location of at least one advertiser that is neither the starting point nor the destination.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether the request is entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination comprises:

enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether a source of the request associated with the display device has provided at least some compensation for receiving a route.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route comprises:

enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one advertiser that has provided compensation for providing the route past the at least one location, wherein the at least one location does not include the starting point and wherein the at least one location does not include the destination.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route comprises:

enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route in accordance with a profit motive of one or more advertisers providing compensation for determining the indirect route, the profit motive including at least a revenue-generating goal, wherein the route includes at least guiding past one or more commercial establishments associated with the one or more advertisers as a function of meeting the revenue-generated goal.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route comprises:

enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route in accordance with a goodwill factor associated with the route, the goodwill factor including at least directing the route past one or more locations determined according to a predetermined number of visitors for the one or more locations.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting with a server, the server determining the route from the starting point to the destination according to the server-based decision-making process.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting the transmission from a display device to a server over a wireless network.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the identifier enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether the request is entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination and, if the request is not entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination, the identifier enabling the server-based decision-making process to determine an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location would not be the starting point or the destination comprises:

determining a route independent of traffic conditions along the determined route.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein instructions for transmitting a transmission from a display device comprises:

transmitting the identifier to enable determining whether the identifier is located on a data store on a server, the server determining the route from the starting point to the destination according to the server-based decision-making process by matching the identifier to an entry on the data store to determine a number of advertiser locations to include with the route.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether the request is entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination comprises:

determining that a requestor of the route, the requestor associated with the display device, has provided remuneration for the route.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein determining that a requestor of the route, the requestor associated with the display device, has provided remuneration for the route comprises:

searching a data store to determine whether the requestor has provided at least some remuneration for the route.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein searching a data store to determine whether the requestor has provided at least some remuneration for the route comprises:

comparing the source of the request to a list of sources that have provided remuneration for the map-based guide.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein searching a data store to determine whether the requestor has provided at least some remuneration for the route comprises:

comparing the source of the request to a list of sources that have performed volunteer hours for a charitable organization as remuneration for the map-based guide.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein enabling a server-based decision-making process to determine whether the request is entitled to a direct route from the starting point to the destination comprises:

determining a route from the starting point to the destination including at least guiding past at least a first location that is not the starting point or the destination based upon a determination that the display device is entitled to the route for which compensation is provided by advertisers associated with the at least a first location.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a requestor for a route from a starting point to a destination; and

determining, using one or more processing devices, whether the requestor is entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination and, if the requestor is not entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination, determining an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location would not be included in the direct route from the starting point to the destination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining, using one or more processing devices, whether the requestor is entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination and, if the requestor is not entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination, determining an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location would not be included in the direct route from the starting point to the destination comprises:

determining a level of remuneration offered by the requestor for providing the requested direct route to the requestor; and

determining one or more levels of compensation offered by the at least one entity for providing the indirect route to the requestor, the determining one or more levels of compensation offered by the at least one entity responsive to the level of remuneration offered by the requestor for providing the requested route to the requestor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining the direct route from the starting point to the destination if the level of remuneration offered by the requestor is sufficient for providing the requested route to the requestor and providing the direct route to the requestor; and

determining the indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route if the level of remuneration offered by the requestor is not sufficient for providing the requested route to the requestor and providing the indirect route instead of the direct route to the requestor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route if the level of remuneration offered by the requestor is not sufficient for providing the requested route to the requestor and providing the indirect route instead of the direct route to the requestor comprises:

determining the indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location is neither the starting point nor the destination.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein determining, using one or more processing devices, whether the requestor is entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination comprises:

determining whether the requestor has volunteered for a charitable organization and, if the requestor has volunteered for a charitable organization, determining whether the requestor has performed volunteer hours entitling the requestor to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination.

21. A system for responding to requests for a route from a starting location to a destination, comprising:

circuitry for receiving a request from a requestor for a route from a starting point to a destination; and

circuitry for determining whether the requestor is entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination and, if the requestor is not entitled to receive a direct route from the starting point to the destination, determining an indirect route from the starting point to the destination that guides the requestor past at least one location of at least one entity providing compensation for determining the indirect route, wherein the at least one location would not be included in the direct route from the starting point to the destination.