Navigation system and methods for generating enhanced search results

• US 9,043,148 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bourque, Francis, Gupta, Sanjay, Hansen, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Rodney P
• Application Number:
  US12/579,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20100168996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/532
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A navigation system and various methods of using the system are described herein. Search query results are refined by the system and are prioritized based at least in part upon sub-search categories selected during the searching process. Sub-searches can be represented by graphical icons displayed on the user interface.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a graphical user interface configured for receiving input and displaying content;

a database containing travel related data;

a search engine configured to perform a process for providing search query results, the process comprising the steps of;

receiving, via the graphical user interface, an input for a destination location;

initiating a search query based on the destination location,

identifying, from the travel related data in the database, a list of results based upon the search query,

identifying a set of sub-search categories associated with the list of results,

displaying (i) the list of results in the graphical user interface and (ii) a set of sub-search icons corresponding to the set of sub-search categories,

receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of one of the set of sub-search icons,

identifying a refined list of results according to the selection of the one of the set of sub-search icons, and

displaying the refined list of results in the graphical user interface, wherein the set of sub-search icons represent a set of pre-determined categories selected from the group comprising;

fuel filling station, restaurant, parking, arts and entertainment, lodging, religious worship structure, educational structure, medical services business, keywords and meta-categories.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the list of results is prioritized based at least in part upon one or more previous travel and query selections.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the set of pre-determined categories, when selected, narrow the list of results based at least in part upon a desired destination.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the set of sub-search icons graphically respectively represent the pre-determined categories for which they are associated.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation system is a mobile device, wherein a point of interest (POI) is selected from the refined list of results, and wherein a route to the selected POI is generated.

6. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the travel related data includes information selected from the group comprising:

frequency of destination visits, search query time, time-of-day associated with previous search queries, current directional travel, and frequency of the route.

7. For use in conjunction with a navigation system, a method for conveying enhanced search query results comprising the steps of:

initiating a search query, by accessing a database storing geographic related information, based at least in part upon a final destination;

identifying a list of destination results based at least in part upon the search query;

identifying a set of sub-search categories associated with the list of destination results;

displaying, on a navigation systems graphical interface, (i) the list of destination results and (ii) a set of sub-search icons corresponding to the set of sub-search categories;

receiving, via the navigation systems graphical interface, a selection of one of the set of sub-search icons;

identifying a refined list of results according to the selection of one of the set of sub-search icons;

displaying the refined list of results in the navigation systems graphical interface;

receiving a selection of a point of interest (POI) from the refined list of results; and

generating a route to the POI, wherein the set of sub-search categories are selected from the group comprising;

fuel filling station, restaurant, parking, arts and entertainment, lodging, religious worship structure, educational structure, and medical services business.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

prioritizing the list of destination results at least in part upon a frequency of visits associated with the destination results.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

prioritizing the list of destination results at least in part by a distance associated with the final destination.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the geographic related information includes roadway information.

11. A method of conveying search query results comprising the steps of:

initiating a search query based at least in part upon a final destination;

identifying, from a database, a list of intermediary destination results based at least in part upon the search query;

displaying the list of intermediary destination results in a graphical interface;

identifying a set of sub-search categories associated with the list of intermediary destination results;

displaying, in the graphical interface, (i) the list of intermediary destination results and (ii) a set of sub-search icons corresponding to the set of sub-search categories;

receiving, via the graphical interface, a selection of one of the set of sub-search icons;

initiating a sub-search based at least in part upon the selection of the one of the set of sub-search icons to identify a list of destination results; and

displaying the list of destination results in the geographical interface, wherein the set of sub-search categories are selected from the group comprising;

fuel filling station, restaurant, parking, arts and entertainment, lodging, religious worship structure, educational structure, and medical services business.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the graphical interface is a navigation system.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein a further comprising:

selecting the set of sub-search categories before initiating the search query.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the set of sub-search categories correspond to a default set of sub-search categories.