Maps History Analysis for Location-Based Search Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience in accessing relevant geographical information during trips, as existing solutions require manual re-entry of searches and lack comprehensive attraction recommendations, especially for travelers.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that store and analyze a user's maps search history to provide contextually relevant information based on current location, including directions, queries, and click entries, and aggregate location history data to suggest popular attractions within a geographic area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a user manually records and enters information about attractions visited, then information about visits can be obtained, but the comprehensiveness is incomplete as many users are not interested in manually recording information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of visit informationVSAvoiduser effort to record information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs the information recording task without requiring user action. The mobile device's location data is automatically monitored and analyzed to determine which attractions the user has visited, eliminating the need for manual recording while ensuring comprehensive data collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of user recording is replaced with an automated electronic system that uses location data tracking and analysis algorithms to automatically identify and record attraction visits based on the device's geographic position and movement patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If a user repeats their search in the maps application during the actual trip, then relevant location information can be retrieved, but it is cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to relevant location informationVSAvoidtime to repeat search
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes and stores the user's maps search history and location data before the trip occurs. When the user is at a location, the system automatically retrieves relevant information from the pre-stored data without requiring the user to repeat searches, saving time and effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the user's current location and automatically provides relevant information based on real-time location feedback, eliminating the need for the user to manually initiate searches and wait for results

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If tourists survey and select attractions from available options, then they can plan their visit, but it is difficult to survey and select attractions during a particular visit due to the large number of different attractions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattraction selection capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of surveying attractions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of presenting all available attractions globally, the system focuses on providing attraction recommendations localized to the user's current geographic area. This localizes the information to make it manageable and relevant, reducing the complexity of surveying attractions by only showing what is nearby

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and filters the large set of available attractions down to only those that are relevant to the user's current location and context, separating the useful information from the overwhelming总量的 of available options

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2864905B1Providing information about relevant elements from maps history based on location
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP2864905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2864905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2864905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed herein that generally involve storing a historical record of a user's maps searches (a maps history), and providing a user with relevant information about elements in their maps history based on the location of a mobile device associated with the user. Such elements can include generic queries, specific queries, direction queries, click entries, places, and so forth. In some examples, the mobile device's location is provided to a server, which in turn processes the user's maps history to determine which elements from the maps history may be relevant to the mobile device's current location. Elements that are determined to be of possible relevance, and/or information relating thereto, can then be presented to the user, in many instances decreasing the time and effort required for the user to locate map-based information for which they are searching.