Refining location estimates and reverse geocoding based on a user profile

a user profile and location estimation technology, applied in the field of location-based services and applications for mobile and desktop users, can solve the problems of ip geocoding being even more unreliable, affecting the accuracy of location estimates,

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-11-11
GOOGLE LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, existing location technologies have limited accuracies.
IP geocoding may be even more unreliable, with errors of hundreds of miles possible.
Even GPS, which may be accurate to 10-20 feet or better, may be unusable in indoor environments such as shopping plazas, office building, subways and the like.

Method used

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  • Refining location estimates and reverse geocoding based on a user profile
  • Refining location estimates and reverse geocoding based on a user profile
  • Refining location estimates and reverse geocoding based on a user profile

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0022]The aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated when considered with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying figures. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Furthermore, the following description does not limit the present invention; rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents.

[0023]In accordance with aspects of the present invention, location information is coupled / linked to a precise street address or other specific location. As will be explained in more detail below, geographical information may be extracted from a number of sources associated with a user. These include the user's web browser's history, search history, address book, etc. Such information may be used in a number of ways to enhance location accuracy.

[0024]Systems and methods are used to create a time sensitive heat map of physical locations of...

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PUM

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Abstract

The present invention pertains to enhancement or refinement of estimated locations based upon user-specific information. Upon user authorization, geographical information is extracted from a number of user-related sources, including the web browser history, search history, maps history, address book, e-mail archives and calendar entries. Such information is used to build a spatial index of specific physical locations for a geocoded result set. From this, heat maps identifying particular locations from the user-related sources are created for different periods of time. The heat maps may be used to refine an initial location estimate of the user. This may be done by determining whether one or more positions in a given heat map provide a more accurate position of the user than the initial estimate. If so, a best position is selected. This can be used to provide enhanced driving directions to the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to location-based services and applications for mobile and desktop users. More particularly, the present invention relates to refining locations or positions in view of user-specific information.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Location-based services and applications are becoming more and more popular as the number and types of portable electronic devices increases. Devices such as mobile telephones, PDAs and laptop / palmtop computers may be used indoors and outdoors in one location or while on the go. The approximate location of the user's device or a place of interest may be found with a number of different technologies. One such technology is satellite-based location using the Global Positioning System (“GPS”). Another location technology employs triangulation among multiple cell towers to estimate the device's position. A further location technology is IP geocoding. In...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F17/30H04W4/02H04W4/029
CPCG06Q30/02H04W4/02H04L67/18H04W4/18H04L67/306H04W4/028G01C21/3682G01S5/021H04W4/029G06F16/23G06F16/29G06F16/955G06F16/2228G06F16/9537H04L67/52G01S5/0244
Inventor LAMBERT, CHRISCHU, MICHAELSETH, ROHAN
Owner GOOGLE LLC
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