Visualization of paths using GPS data

• US 8,694,240 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lookingbill, Andrew, Kadous, Mohammed Waleed
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/898,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/22, 701/24, 701/31.4, 701/301, 701/414, 701/420, 701/425, 701/426, 701/400, 701/409, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A map editing system for visually indicating the location of GPS devices on a map and identifying paths from the map. GPS data is received from a plurality of GPS devices. The data is filtered based parameters including the speed of the GPS devices. The filtered GPS data is displayed on a map using representations that visually indicate the location of the GPS devices that the data was received from. The representations can then be used for identifying and creating new paths on the map.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for visualizing GPS data on a map, comprising:

receiving GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

determining travel speeds of the plurality of GPS devices from the GPS samples;

filtering the GPS samples based on the travel speeds of the GPS devices; and

generating for display on the map, a plurality of representations for the filtered samples, each representation visually indicating the location of a GPS device that provided a filtered sample.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises comparing the travel speeds of the GPS samples to one or more threshold speeds.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises:

establishing a filtering rule for a mode of transportation, the filtering rule comprising a lower threshold speed and an upper threshold speed; and

applying the filtering rule to the GPS samples.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein a mode of transportation comprises at least one of:

walking, biking, and driving.

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

generating for display, a plurality of candidates based on densities of the filtered samples, wherein a candidate corresponds to an area in the map.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein generating a plurality of candidates comprises comparing the filtered sample densities to a threshold.

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

receiving, from a user viewing the plurality of candidates, a selection of a candidate; and

outputting for display on the map, a visual indication of the selected candidate on the map.

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

receiving, from a user viewing the map, an indication of a path location in the map; and

creating a new path based on the received indication.

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

automatically creating a path based on the locations of the filtered samples.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for visualizing GPS data on a map, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

determining travel speeds of the plurality of GPS devices from the GPS samples;

filtering the GPS samples based on the travel speeds of the GPS devices; and

generating for display on the map, a plurality of representations for the filtered samples, each representation visually indicating the location of a GPS device that provided a filtered sample.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises comparing the travel speeds of the GPS samples to one or more threshold speeds.

12. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises:

establishing a filtering rule for a mode of transportation, the filtering rule comprising a lower threshold speed and an upper threshold speed; and

applying the filtering rule to the GPS samples.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein a mode of transportation comprises at least one of:

walking, biking, and driving.

14. The storage medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising additional instructions for:

generating for display, a plurality of candidates based on densities of the filtered samples, wherein a candidate corresponds to an area in the map.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein generating a plurality of candidates comprises comparing the filtered sample densities to a threshold.

16. The storage medium of claim 14, the instructions further comprising additional instructions for:

receiving, from a user viewing the plurality of candidates, a selection of a candidate; and

outputting for display on the map, a visual indication of the selected candidate on the map.

17. The storage medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising additional instructions for:

receiving, from a user viewing the map, an indication of a path location in the map; and

creating a new path based on the received indication.

18. The storage medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising additional instructions for:

automatically creating a path based on the locations of the filtered samples.

19. A system for visualizing GPS data on a map, comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer program executable by the computer processor and performing actions comprising;

receiving GPS samples from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS sample comprising a location of a GPS device from which the GPS sample is received;

determining travel speeds of the plurality of GPS devices from the GPS samples;

filtering the GPS samples based on the travel speeds of the GPS devices, the GPS samples filtered into filtered samples corresponding to a mode of transportation; and

generating for display on a map, a plurality of representations for the filtered samples, the plurality of representations corresponding to a path location of a path corresponding to the mode of transportation, each representation visually indicating the location of a GPS device that provided a filtered sample.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises comparing the travel speeds of the GPS samples to one or more threshold speeds corresponding to the mode of transportation.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein filtering the GPS samples comprises:

establishing a filtering rule for the mode of transportation, the filtering rule comprising a lower threshold speed and an upper threshold speed; and

applying the filtering rule to the GPS samples.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a mode of transportation comprises at least one of:

walking, biking, and driving.

23. The system of claim 19, the actions further comprising:

generating for display, a plurality of candidates based on densities of the filtered samples, wherein a candidate corresponds to an area in the map.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein generating a plurality of candidates comprises comparing the filtered sample densities to a threshold.

25. The system of claim 23, the actions further comprising:

receiving, from a user viewing the plurality of candidates, a selection of a candidate; and

outputting for display on the map, a visual indication of the selected candidate on the map.

26. The system of claim 19, the actions further comprising:

receiving, from a user viewing the map, an indication of the path location in the map for the path corresponding to the mode of transportation; and

creating the path corresponding to the mode of transportation based on the received indication.

27. The system of claim 19, the actions further comprising:

automatically creating the path corresponding to the mode of transportation based on the locations of the filtered samples.