Path determination based on application usage

• US 9,749,803 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Ronald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zewari, Sayed T
• Application Number:
  US14/023,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 4554563, 4554142, 4554561, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Techniques of determining a path using anonymous application usage data are described. A path determination system and method can determine a location and geometrical shape of a path based on anonymous application usage data received from one or more devices. The anonymous application usage data can include an identifier or a category of the application program executed by a device, and multiple locations of the device observed while the application program executes on the device. Based on the locations, the system and method can determine a path for associating with the application program. The system and method can use metadata of the application program for identifying the path in response to a query or a request. The system and method can provide the path to a device for display in an information layer on a virtual map.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of mobile devices, a plurality of device locations;

correlating the device locations with application usage on the mobile devices;

determining a path defined by the device locations;

determining that the application usage and the correlated locations indicate that a first activity and a second activity are performed on the path;

determining, based on the application usage, that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path;

associating the first activity with the path;

receiving a query directed at the first activity; and

providing the path for presentation in response to the query,

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application usage includes a frequency an application program is executed at the device locations;

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices; and

the application program is associated with metadata, the metadata includes at least one of a name, a description, an application category, the name, description or application category corresponding to the first activity or the second activity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the first activity with the path comprises:

determining, based on the application usage, that the application program is associated with the first activity;

determining, based on the application usage, that, during a first time period, the application program is launched more often than another application program that is associated with the second activity; and

associating the path with the first activity for the first time period.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, based on the application usage, that the other application program is launched more often than the first application program during the second time period; and

associating the path with the second application program for the second time period.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing the path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation, the request being specified in the query.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer being associated with time periods.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining a time period associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map, wherein determining that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path is based on the time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application usage includes at least one of a name or type of an application program,

the activity includes at least one of hiking or biking, and

the method comprises indicating that the path is suitable for the first activity at given time, and suitable for the second activity at other time.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

a non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more computing device to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a plurality of mobile devices, a plurality of device locations;

correlating the device locations with application usage on the mobile devices;

determining a path defined by the device locations;

determining that the application usage and the correlated locations indicate that a first activity and a second activity are performed on the path;

determining, based on the application usage, that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path;

associating the first activity with the path;

receiving a query directed at the first activity; and

providing the path for presentation in response to the query.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the application usage includes a frequency an application program is executed at the device locations;

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices; and

the application program is associated with metadata, the metadata includes at least one of a name, a description, an application category, each of the name, description or application category corresponding to the first activity or the second activity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein associating the first activity with the path comprises:

determining, based on the application usage, that the application program is associated with the first activity;

determining, based on the application usage, that, during a first time period, the application program is launched more often than another application program that is associated with the second activity; and

associating the path with the first activity for the first time period.

13. The system of claim 12, the operations further comprising:

determining, based on the application usage, that the other application program is launched more often than the first application program during the second time period; and

associating the path with the second application program for the second time period.

14. The system of claim 10, the operations comprising:

providing the path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation, the request being specified in the query.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer being associated with time periods.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining a time period associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map, wherein determining that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path is based on the time period.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the application usage includes at least one of a name or type of an application program, and

the operations comprise indicating that the path is suitable for the first activity at given time, and suitable for the second activity at other time.

19. A non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause one or more computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, a plurality of device locations;

correlating the device locations with application usage on the mobile device;

determining a path defined by the device locations;

determining that the application usage and the correlated locations indicate that a first activity and a second activity are performed on the path;

determining, based on the application usage, that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path;

associating the first activity with the path;

receiving a query directed at the first activity; and

providing the path for presentation in response to the query.

20. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein:

the application usage includes a frequency an application program is executed at the device locations;

the application program is a program submitted to an application store by an application provider for distribution to one or more mobile devices; and

the application program is associated with metadata, the metadata includes at least one of a name, a description, an application category, each of the name, description or application category corresponding to the first activity or the second activity.

21. The non-transitory storage device of claim 20, wherein associating the first activity with the path comprises:

determining, based on application usage, that the application program is associated with the first activity;

determining, based on the application usage, that, during a first time period, the application program is launched more often than another application program that is associated with the second activity; and

associating the path with the first activity for the first time period.

22. The non-transitory storage device of claim 21, the operations further comprising:

determining, based on the application usage, that the other application program is launched more often than the first application program during the second time period; and

associating the path with the second application program for the second time period.

23. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, the operations comprising:

providing the path for presentation in response to a request for path recommendation, the request being specified in the query.

24. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises providing the path for display in an information layer of a map, the information layer being associated with time periods.

25. The non-transitory storage device of claim 24, wherein providing the path for presentation comprises:

determining a time period associated with the query; and

providing the path for display overlaying on a map, wherein determining that the first activity is performed on the path more often than the second activity is performed on the path is based on the time period.

26. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein the path includes a plurality segments, each segment having a different use frequency designation, at least one segments of the path is a two-dimensional area.

27. The non-transitory storage device of claim 19, wherein:

the application usage includes at least one of a name or type of an application program, and

the operations comprise indicating that the path is suitable for the first activity at given time, and suitable for the second activity at other time.

28. A method comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of mobile devices, a plurality of device locations;

correlating the device locations with application usage on the mobile devices;

determining a path defined by the device locations;

determining a type of movement;

based on the type of movement, determining an activity that has been performed on the path;

associating the activity with the path;

receiving a query directed at the activity; and

providing the path for presentation in response to the query,

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.