Route-based modifications to a map

• US 9,008,966 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Zyskowski, Jamie, Jones, Jonah, Shawcroft, Scott, Gonterman, Christopher, Teitlebaum, David, Chawathe, Yatin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/527,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 701/533, 701/400, 701408-411, 701/413, 701/418, 701/425, 701/426, 701/429, 701/438, 701/440, 701/445, 701/447, 340/995.16, 340/995.17, 340/995.23, 340/995.25, 340/995.12, 340/995.19, 340/995.24
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a pathfinder module configured to determine a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map. The pathfinder module is further configured to generate one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route. The system also includes a restyling module configured to apply the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map. The one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map.

Claims

1. A system for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map, the system comprising:

a pathfinder module, implemented using one or more processors, configured to;

determine a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map and generate one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route, and

determine an alternate route from the beginning point to the destination point and generate one or more alternate modifications to the map based on the alternate route, wherein the one or more primary modifications or the one or more alternate modifications display information relevant to a user or exclude information not relevant to the user from the map; and

a restyling module, implemented using the one or more processors, configured to;

apply the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map,

apply the alternate route and the one or more alternate modifications to the map, wherein the one or more alternate modifications include at least one of i) adding a third object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map and ii) excluding a fourth object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map,

wherein the first object includes a restyling of a landmark, wherein the restyling module is configured to apply the one or more primary modifications, the one or more alternate modifications, the primary route, and the alternate route at the same time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the restyling module is configured to apply the one or more primary modifications to the map when the primary route is applied to the map.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first object further includes at least one of a street name, a point of interest, a distance to the destination point, an estimated time of arrival at the destination point, a traffic hazard indicator, and a traffic indicator.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the point of interest is user-specific.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the landmark comprises at least one of an artificial structure and a natural structure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the restyling of the landmark comprises at least one of a coloring and a shading of the landmark.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second object includes at least one of a street name and a point of interest.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pathfinder module is configured to generate the one or more primary modifications based on at least one of a mode of transportation from the beginning point to the destination point, a zoom level of the map, a type of destination at the destination point, and the user of the map.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pathfinder module is further configured to determine the alternate route from the beginning point to the destination point, and to generate one or more alternate modifications to the map based on the alternate route.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein restyling module is configured to apply the primary route and the alternate route in a different styling from one another.

11. A computer-implemented method for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map, the method comprising:

determining, using one or more processors, a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map;

generating, using the one or more processors, one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route;

applying, using the one or more processors, the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map;

determining, using the one or more processors, an alternate route from the beginning point to the destination point;

generating, using the one or more processors, one or more alternate modifications to the map based on the alternate route; and

applying the alternate route and the one or more alternate modifications to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications or the one or more alternate modifications display information relevant to a user or exclude information not relevant to the user from the map, wherein the one or more alternate modifications include at least one of i) adding a third object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map and ii) excluding a fourth object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications, the one or more alternate modifications, the primary route, and the alternate route are applied at the same time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more primary modifications are generated based on at least one of a mode of transportation from the beginning point to the destination point, a zoom level of the map, a type of destination at the destination point, and a user of the map.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first object includes a restyling of a landmark, the restyling of the landmark comprising at least one of a coloring and a shading of the landmark.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

determining, using the one or more processors, a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map;

generating, using the one or more processors, one or more primary modifications to the map based on at least one of the primary route, a mode of transportation from the beginning point to the destination point, a zoom level of the map, a type of destination at the destination point, and a user of the map;

applying, using the one or more processors, the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map;

determining, using the one or more processors, an alternate route from the beginning point to the destination point;

generating, using the one or more processors, one or more alternate modifications to the map based on the alternate route; and

applying, using the one or more processors, the alternate route and the one or more alternate modifications to the map, wherein the one or more primary modifications or the one or more alternate modifications display information relevant to a user or exclude information not relevant to the user from the map, wherein the one or more alternate modifications include at least one of i) adding a third object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map and ii) excluding a fourth object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the alternate route is not applied to the map,

wherein the one or more primary modifications, the one or more alternate modifications, the primary route, and the alternate route are applied at the same time.