Path Queries

Abstract

Data identifying a path between two or more geographic locations is received. Path information is identified along or near the path. A relevance is associated to the path information. A subset of the path information having a highest relevance is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for providing path queries, the method comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving, by way of a processor, data entered through a user interface identifying at least two geographic locations;   displaying on the user interface, by way of the processor, a path between the at least two geographic locations; and   displaying path information along or near the path, the displayed path information comprising path information having a highest relevance based upon user-based popularity data about the path information based on previous accesses of the path information by users.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two geographic locations include a departing location and a destination location. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the user-based popularity data includes a length of time that the users drive before taking breaks during a commute from the departing location to the destination location. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving a user-defined path constraint specifying a commuting preference; and   determining an alternative path satisfying the user-defined path constraint between the geographic locations.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the path information comprises identifying points of interest along or near the path, the points of interest comprising at least one of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and attractions. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving user profile data specifying a profile of a user associated with the path;   determining a relation of the user profile data to the path information;   in response to determining a higher relation of the user profile data to the path information, associating a higher relevance to the path information; and   in response to determining a lower relation of the user profile data to the path information, associating a lower relevance to the path information.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving user profile data specifying a profile of a user associated with the path;   submitting information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path;   upon submitting information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path, receiving bids from one or more of the businesses; and   adjusting the relevance of the path information based on the bids.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the path comprises a fixed path through which a user commutes multiple times at a frequency, and wherein the method further comprises computer-implemented operations for:
 periodically transmitting, at the frequency, a path report containing path report information associated with the fixed path, the path report information comprising at least one of traffic information, shopping, and entertainment, the path report transmitted to at least one of a mobile device, email address, or a vehicle associated with the user.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the path information comprises information on stop points along the path where the users can stop in accordance with the length of the time that the users drive before taking breaks during a commute from the departing location to the destination location. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 receive data entered through a user interface identifying at least two geographic locations;   display on the user interface a path between the at least two geographic locations; and   display path information along or near the path having a highest relevance, the relevance determined based upon user-based popularity data about the path information based on previous accesses of the path information by users.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two geographic locations include a departing location and a destination location. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the user-based popularity data includes a length of time that the users drive before taking breaks during a commute from the departing location to the destination location. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:
 receive a user-defined path constraint specifying a commuting preference; and   determine an alternative path satisfying the user-defined path constraint between the geographic locations.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the path information comprises identifying points of interest along or near the path, the points of interest comprising at least one of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and attractions. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:
 receive user profile data specifying a profile of a user associated with the path;   determine a relation of the user profile data to the path information;   in response to determining a higher relation of the user profile data to the path information, associate a higher relevance to the path information; and   in response to determining a lower relation of the user profile data to the path information, associate a lower relevance to the path information.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:
 receive user profile data specifying a profile of a user associated with the path;   submit information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path;   upon submitting information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path, receive bids from one or more of the businesses; and   adjust the relevance of the path information based on the bids.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the path comprises a fixed path through which a user commutes multiple times at a frequency, and wherein the method further comprises computer-implemented operations for:
 periodically transmitting, at the frequency, a path report containing path report information associated with the fixed path, the path report information comprising at least one of traffic information, shopping, and entertainment, the path report transmitted to at least one of a mobile device, email address, and vehicle associated with the user.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the path information comprises information on stop points along the path where the users can stop in accordance with the length of the time that the users drive before taking breaks during a commute from the departing location to the destination location. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method for providing path queries, the method comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving, by way of a processor, data entered through a user interface that identifies a path between at least two geographic locations including a departing location and a destination location;   displaying on the user interface, by way of the processor, a path between the at least two geographic locations; and   displaying path information along or near the path having a highest relevance based upon user-based popularity data about the path information based on previous accesses of the path information by users, the path information comprising identifying points of interest along or near the path, the points of interest comprising at least one of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and attractions.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , further comprising computer-implemented operations for:
 receiving user profile data specifying a profile of a user associated with the path;   submitting information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path;   upon submitting information regarding the path and the user profile data to businesses near or along the path, receiving bids from one or more of the businesses; and   adjusting the relevance of the path information based on the bids.