Modifying map configurations based on established location points

• US 9,791,291 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Yamashita, Yuhki, Hilhorst, Didier Patrick, Jow, Bryant, Ng, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Testardi, David
• Application Number:
  US15/395,885
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• 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: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method of generating map content includes receiving a service request including at least a start location from a computing device of a user, and selecting a service provider to provide the service request. The method further includes transmitting a confirmation to the computing device indicating that the selected service provider is traveling to the start location, and enabling map content to be displayed on a user interface of a service application on the computing device, the map content indicating at least the start location, and a dynamic location of the selected service provider while the selected service provider is traveling to the start location. The method also includes enabling dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface based on the dynamic location of the selected service provider and at least one of the start location or a current location of the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating map content, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:

receiving, over one or more networks, data corresponding to a service request including at least a start location from a computing device of a user;

selecting a service provider to service the service request;

transmitting a confirmation to the computing device indicating that the selected service provider is traveling to the start location;

generating map content to be displayed on a user interface of a service application on the computing device, the map content indicating a plurality of the start location, a current location of the user, a destination of the user, or a dynamic location of the selected service provider while the selected service provider is traveling to the start location or the destination;

causing dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface based on the dynamic location of the selected service provider and at least one of the start location or the current location of the user; and

generating a toggle feature to be displayed on the user interface, the toggle feature being selectable to enable the user to switch between a plurality of map configurations for the map content, each of the map configurations being based on a plurality of toggle points comprising a plurality of (i) the current location of the user, (ii) the dynamic location of the selected service provider, or (iii) the start location, wherein the plurality of toggle points defines a dynamic zoom level of the map content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of map configurations comprises an en route configuration, and wherein the plurality of toggle points for the en route configuration comprise the dynamic location of the selected service provider and the current location of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein causing dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface includes causing a zoom level of the map content to be updated for the en route configuration as the service provider travels to the start location.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of map configurations comprises a walk configuration, and wherein the plurality of toggle points for the walk configuration comprise the current location of the user and the start location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the current location of the user comprises a dynamic location as the user proceeds to the start location, and wherein causing dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface includes causing a zoom level of the map content to be updated for the walk configuration as the user proceeds to the start location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein respective user inputs on the toggle feature cause the map content to toggle between the en route configuration and the walk configuration.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing, on the user interface in the walk configuration, an estimated walk time to the start location for the user.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing, on the user interface in the en route configuration, an estimated arrival time to the start location for the service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises one of a smartphone or a tablet computing device of the user.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive, over one or more networks, a service request including at least a start location from a computing device of a user;

select a service provider to service the service request;

transmit a confirmation to the computing device indicating that the selected service provider is traveling to the start location;

generate map content to be displayed on a user interface of a service application on the computing device, the map content indicating a plurality of the start location, a current location of the user, a destination of the user, or a dynamic location of the selected service provider while the selected service provider is traveling to the start location or the destination;

cause dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface based on the dynamic location of the selected service provider and at least one of the start location or the current location of the user; and

generate a toggle feature on the user interface to enable the user to switch between a plurality of map configurations for the map content, each of the map configurations being based on a plurality of toggle points comprising a plurality of (i) the current location of the user, (ii) the dynamic location of the selected service provider, or (iii) the start location, wherein the plurality of toggle points defines a dynamic zoom level of the map content.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of map configurations comprises an en route configuration, and wherein the plurality of toggle points for the en route configuration comprise the dynamic location of the selected service provider and the current location of the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the executed instructions cause the one or more processors to cause dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface by causing a zoom level of the map content to be updated for the en route configuration as the service provider proceeds to the start location.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of map configurations comprises a walk configuration, and wherein the plurality of toggle points for the walk configuration comprise the current location of the user and the start location.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the current location of the user comprises a dynamic location as the user proceeds to the start location, and wherein the executed instructions cause the one or more processors to cause dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface by causing a zoom level of the map content to be updated for the walk configuration as the user proceeds to the start location.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein respective user inputs on the toggle feature cause the map content to toggle between the en route configuration and the walk configuration.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

provide, on the user interface in the walk configuration, an estimated walk time to the start location for the user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

provide, on the user interface in the en route configuration, an estimated arrival time to the start location for the service provider.

18. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, over one or more networks, a service request including at least a start location from a computing device of a user;

select a service provider to service the service request;

transmit a confirmation to the computing device of the user indicating that the selected service provider is traveling to the start location;

generate map content to be displayed on a user interface of a service application on the computing device of the user, the map content indicating a plurality of the start location, a current location of the user, a destination of the user, or a dynamic location of the selected service provider while the selected service provider is traveling to the start location or the destination;

cause dynamic zooming of the map content on the user interface based on the dynamic location of the selected service provider and at least one of the start location or the current location of the user; and

generate a toggle feature on the user interface to enable the user to switch between a plurality of map configurations for the map content, each of the map configurations being based on a plurality of toggle points comprising a plurality of (i) the current location of the user, (ii) the dynamic location of the selected service provider, or (iii) the start location, wherein the plurality of toggle points defines a dynamic zoom level of the map content.