Route-based activity planner

• US 8,793,065 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Seltzer, Michael Lewis, Black, Neil W., Couckuyt, Jeffrey D., Tashev, Ivan J., Krumm, John C., Panabaker, Ruston
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/033,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,352 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/300, 701/302, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/411, 701/413, 701/414, 701/415, 701/418, 701/423, 701/424, 701/425, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/994, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.2
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments

Abstract

Oftentimes individuals have a number of objectives to complete while traveling in a vehicle. The objectives can be arranged automatically and an associated route can be produced such that the objectives can be completed in an effective manner. Data related to the objectives can be collected such as a traffic pattern on paths near a location the objective is to take place. Locations for the objectives to be completed can be determined automatically as well as provided by user. Analysis of the collected data can take place and based on a result of the analysis, an efficient route is produced.

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part via a processing unit comprising:

receiving at least two objectives;

receiving an allotment for completing the at least two objectives, the allotment comprising at least one of;

a time allotment for completing the at least two objectives, or

a distance allotment for completing the at least two objectives;

determining that a first objective of the at least two objectives cannot be completed within the allotment; and

generating a first route for navigating a user to a second location for completing a second objective of the at least two objectives while not navigating the user to a first location for completing the first objective due to determining that the first objective cannot be completed within the allotment.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising updating the first route to generate a second route in real-time based upon feedback from the user.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising updating the first route to generate a second route in real-time based upon changes in traffic patterns along the first route.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising updating the first route to generate a second route in real-time based upon changes in weather conditions along the first route.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

adding the first objective to a set of secondary objectives to be completed when a second allotment is received.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that the second objective is completed before the time allotment expires; and

generating a second route for navigating the user to a third location for completing a third objective based upon determining that the second objective is completed before the time allotment expires.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

estimating an amount of time the user will spend completing the first objective and the second objective.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying the first objective as an optional objective and the second objective as a mandatory objective.

9. The method of claim 1, the determining comprising:

determining a priority for completing the first objective and the second objective, the second objective having a higher priority than the first objective; and

determining that both the first objective and the second objective cannot be completed within the allotment.

10. The method of claim 9, the priority inferred from one or more past actions of the user.

11. The method of claim 9, the priority not specified by the user.

12. A system comprising:

an analysis component configured to;

receive at least two objectives,

receive an allotment for completing the at least two objectives, the allotment comprising at least one of;

a time allotment for completing the at least two objectives, or

a distance allotment for completing the at least two objectives; and

determine whether both a first objective of the at least two objectives and a second objective of the at least two objectives can be completed within the allotment; and

an assembly component configured to generate a first route for navigating a user to a second location for completing the second objective while not navigating the user to a first location for completing the first objective based upon the analysis component determining that both the first objective and the second objective cannot be completed within the allotment.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising an update component configured to update the first route to generate a second route based upon at least one of changes in traffic patterns along the first route or changes in weather conditions along the first route.

14. The system of claim 12, at least one of the time allotment or the distance allotment taking into consideration at least one of traffic patterns, projected user safety, or weather conditions.

15. The system of claim 12, comprising a transaction component configured to provide an advertisement to the user, the provided advertisement a function of the first route.

16. The system of claim 12, comprising a balance component configured to determine a priority for completing the first objective and the second objective, the assembly component configured to generate the first route based upon a determination that the second objective has a higher priority than the first objective.

17. The system of claim 16, the balance component configured to make inferences about the first objective and the second objective and to determine the priority for completing the first objective and the second objective based upon the inferences.

18. A computer readable storage device, excluding a modulated data signal, comprising computer executable instructions that when executed perform a method, comprising:

receiving at least two objectives;

receiving an allotment for completing the at least two objectives, the allotment comprising at least one of;

a time allotment for completing the at least two objectives, or

a distance allotment for completing the at least two objectives;

determining that a first objective of the at least two objectives cannot be completed within the allotment; and

generating a first route for navigating a user to a second location for completing a second objective of the at least two objectives while not navigating the user to a first location for completing the first objective due to determining that the first objective cannot be completed within the allotment.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 18, the determining comprising:

determining a priority for completing the first objective and the second objective, the second objective having a higher priority than the first objective; and

determining that both the first objective and the second objective cannot be completed within the allotment.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 19, the priority inferred from one or more past actions of the user.