Method and System for Providing Travel Direction Annotations Over a Network

Abstract

A method and system is provided for providing and storing annotations that pertain to travel directions to a particular destination, the annotations generally including ratings of the accuracy of the directions and errors observed in the directions by prior users. Annotations submitted by users are stored in a central repository, for access by those who subsequently become interested in the directions or the particular destination. A useful embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for providing travel directions over a selected network, wherein a request for directions regarding a specified destination is sent from a requester to a Directions Provider. The Provider retrieves the requested directions and furnishes them to the requester. The method further includes generating annotations associated with the furnished directions in accordance with a set of rules resulting from one or more decisions made by the requester, and sending the annotations to the requester. The requester then selectively provides annotations regarding the furnished directions to a central repository.

1 . A method for providing travel directions over a selected network, said method comprising the steps of:
 sending a request for directions regarding a specified destination from a requester to a Directions Provider;   retrieving said requested directions and furnishing them to said requestor;   generating annotations associated with said furnished directions in accordance with a set of rules, and sending said generated annotations to said requestor; and   selectively sending annotations provided by said requester in regard to said furnished directions to a central repository.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said set of rules result from at least one decision made by said requester.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester are added to annotations previously contained in said repository, said previously contained annotations being used to generate said annotations sent to said requester.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester include one or more corrections to said furnished directions.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester include a numerical rating of the accuracy of said furnished directions.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said requester is able to dynamically access direction corrections and ratings contained in said repository.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said set of rules includes a rule to selectively restrict access in said repository to said annotations provided by said requester.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rules comprise a set of default rules provided by said Directions provider, following a decision by said requester not to select any rules.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a profile of preferences of said requester is established by said Directions Provider, for use in connection with furnishing directions to said requester.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said profile preferences include trusted submitters, types of directions, a listing of specific websites that provide directions, and a listing of services for use in accessing and inputting annotations.   
     
     
         11 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for providing travel directions over a selected network, said computer program product comprising:
 first instructions for sending a request for directions regarding a specified destination from a requester to a Directions Provider;   second instructions for retrieving said requested directions and furnishing them to said requestor;   third instructions for generating annotations associated with said furnished directions in accordance with a set of rules resulting from one or more decisions made by said requestor, and sending said generated annotations to said requestor; and   fourth instructions for selectively sending annotations provided by said requester in regard to said furnished directions to a central repository.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester are added to annotations previously contained in said repository, said previously contained annotations being used to generate said annotations sent to said requester.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester selectively include one or more corrections to said furnished directions, and a numerical rating of the accuracy of said furnished directions.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said set of rules includes a rule to selectively restrict access in said repository to said annotations provided by said requester.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a profile of preferences for said requester is established by said Directions Provider, for use in connection with furnishing directions to said requester.   
     
     
         16 . A system for providing travel directions over a selected network, said system comprising the steps of:
 means for sending a request for directions regarding a specified destination from a requester to a Directions Provider;   means for retrieving said requested directions and furnishing them to said requester;   means for generating annotations associated with said furnished directions in accordance with a set of rules resulting from one or more decisions made by said requester, and sending said generated annotations to said requester; and   means for selectively sending annotations provided by said requester in regard to said furnished directions to a central repository.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester are added to annotations previously contained in said repository, said previously contained annotations being used to generate said annotations sent to said requester.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said annotations provided by said requester selectively include one or more corrections to said furnished directions, and a numerical rating of the accuracy of said furnished directions.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said set of rules includes a rule to selectively restrict access in said repository to said annotations provided by said requester.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a profile of preferences for said requester is stored in a database established by said Directions Provider, for use in connection with furnishing directions to said requester.