System and method for improved mapping and routing

Abstract

A system and method for improved mapping and routing. A request for the determination of a route is received over a network. The request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and at least one objective. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network which relating to the requesting user and the request objectives are retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. At least one entity which satisfies at least one request objective and which has a physical location known to the network is selected using the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data. At least one physical route is mapped between a starting location and the selected entity and is displayed on a display medium. Sponsored and recommended content available to the network which relates to the requesting user, and at least one objective can additionally be displayed on the display medium.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, over a network, a request for a determination of a route, such that the request comprises an identification of a requesting user and an objective;   retrieving data available to the network relating to the requesting user and data available to the network relating to the objective by using a plurality of data sources,
 wherein at least a subset of the plurality of data sources comprises a plurality of sensors accessible to the network that transmit data, and 
 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a spatial reference point; 
   selecting, via the network, a plurality of entities which satisfy the objective, such that each entity of the plurality of entities is selected using the retrieved data for the user and the objective, and each respective entity has a physical location known to the network, said selection using the retrieved data for the user and the objective occurs prior to mapping the route; and   mapping, based on said selection, a plurality of physical routes between a starting location and each entity of the plurality of entities.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising the plurality of data sources using a global index of data available to the network. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising relating entities known to the network with one another using a global graph comprised with the global index. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising determining, via the network, a respective personalized distance for each route of the plurality of physical routes using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and the objective. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising displaying, on a display medium, each route of the plurality of physical routes and a representation of the respective personalized distance relating to each route of the plurality of physical routes, said representation of the respective personalized distance comprising an indicator associated with a value of the respective personalized distance. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  comprising the additional step of:
 selecting, via the network, one of the plurality of physical routes that has a most favorable personalized distance, wherein only the selected route is displayed on the display medium. 
 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the receiving, retrieving, selecting, mapping, and displaying steps are repeated on occurrence of a trigger condition. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the trigger condition is selected from a group of the list: a time, a date, the passage of a fixed time interval, and a calendar event. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the trigger condition is selected from the list: proximity of the requesting user to a location, proximity of the requesting user to an object, proximity of the requesting user to an event, and proximity of the requesting user to a person. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the trigger condition is specified by the request for the determination of a route. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the objective comprises a social objective. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the objective comprises a topical objective. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the starting location is the current location of the requesting user. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the request for a determination of a route specifies the starting location. 
     
     
         69 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for a method comprising the steps:
 receiving, over a network, a request for a determination of a route, such that the request comprises an identification of a requesting user and an objective;   retrieving data available to the network relating to the requesting user and data available to the network relating to the objective by using a plurality of data sources,
 wherein at least a subset of the plurality of data sources comprises a plurality of sensors accessible to the network that transmit data, and 
 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a spatial reference point; 
   selecting, via the network, a plurality of entities which satisfy the objective, such that each entity of the plurality of entities is selected using the retrieved data for the user and the objective, and each respective entity has a physical location known to the network, said selection using the retrieved data for the user and the objective occurs prior to mapping the route; and   mapping, based on said selection, a plurality of physical routes between a starting location and each entity of the plurality of entities.   
     
     
         70 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 69 , wherein the plurality of data sources uses a global index of data available to the network. 
     
     
         71 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 70 , wherein the global index comprises a global graph that relates entities known to the network with one another. 
     
     
         72 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 69  comprising the additional step of: determining, via the network, a respective personalized distance for each route of the plurality of physical routes using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and the objective. 
     
     
         73 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 72  comprising the additional step of: displaying, on a display medium, each route of the plurality of physical routes and a representation of the respective personalized distance relating to each route of the plurality of physical routes, said representation of the respective personalized distance comprising an indicator associated with a value of the respective personalized distance. 
     
     
         74 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising:   logic executed by the processor for receiving, over a network, a request for a determination of a route, such that the request comprises an identification of a requesting user and an objective;   logic executed by the processor for retrieving data available to the network relating to the requesting user and data available to the network relating to the objective by using a plurality of data sources,
 wherein at least a subset of the plurality of data sources comprises a plurality of sensors accessible to the network that transmit data, and 
 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a spatial reference point; 
   logic executed by the processor for selecting, via the network, a plurality of entities which satisfy the objective, such that each entity of the plurality of entities is selected using the retrieved data for the user and the objective, and each respective entity has a physical location known to the network, said selection using the retrieved data for the user and the objective occurs prior to mapping the route; and   logic executed by the processor for mapping, based on said selection, a plurality of physical routes between a starting location and each entity of the plurality of entities.