Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jeffrey Darren Couckuyt

John Charles Krumm

Ivan Jelev Tashev

Ruston Panabaker

Neil Warren Black

Michael Lewis Seltzer

Joseph Schwartz

Eyal Ofek

Matthew Cheung

Sergey Y Galuzo

Gur Kimchi

Markus Jansen

Eric J Horvitz

Brian C Beckman

Jin Li

Xin Wu

Gregory P Baribault

Shai Herzog

Amos Dylan Vance

Duncan Murray Lawler

Steve Lombardi

Anne H Loomis

Alan Paulin

Tanya L Swartz

Zhenyu Qian

Yue Zhuge

Wayne Liu

Yue Xu

Steven L Soden

Thomas A Bailey

Rick D Welsh

Michael Lews Seltzer

Retrieving data records from a database is provided. A query is received by a database access API requesting a number of data records stored in the database. A parallel batch processor is created for data transmittal, and the parallel batch processor is returned to a client program. A next data record responsive to the query is requested, and the next data record is removed from a list of records. The next data record is then provided from the parallel batch processor to the client program.

Streaming records from parallel batched database access

Performing a distributed database transaction using parallel writes to a distributed append-only database system is provided. A central database and a plurality of distributed databases, also known as 'shards', may be used. A request made to implement a distributed transaction, requiring updates to one or more shards, results in a monotonically increasing identification (ID) number being assigned to a change set. The request and change set may be registered at the central database. Once the change set is completely written to all of the appropriate shards, the change set is marked as completed in the central database. After write completion, a change set ID boundary at the central database is advanced to indicate the current fully changed status of the distributed database.

Read-write protocol for append-only distributed databases

Improving the efficiency of distributed database systems in providing geographically related information is provided by generating a data object identifier (ID) in association with geographical data. A geographical data object is received for storage in the distributed database system. A grid ID is generated based on spatial information contained in the geographical data object, a shardlet ID is generated indicating a shardlet location in a given shard on which the geographical data object is stored, and a sequence ID is generated indicating data placement within the shardlet location. The data object ID is assigned to the geographical data object, the data object ID comprising the grid ID, the shardlet ID, and the sequence ID.

Partitioning of geographic data

Navigation instructions using low-bandwidth signaling are supported in an alternative user interface that may be utilized as either a full replacement or as an enhancement to conventional visual/audio navigation interfaces. In one illustrative example, the alternative interface makes use of the more constrained, but generally broadly available low-bandwidth signaling capability of mobile devices to encode navigation instructions in the form of varying patterns of tactile vibrations that may be imparted from the device to a user as haptic feedback. The user can sense the vibrations and readily translate them into the navigation instructions without needing any kind of special decoding equipment or using any special techniques. The vibrations may be encoded using easy to remember patterns so that a full and rich navigation feature set may be accessed with minimal training on the user's part.

Navigation instructions using low-bandwidth signaling

Providing directions from point A to point B may be treated as an information retrieval problem. In one example, actual routes that are traveled by people are received, and are stored in a database. When a person requests directions from point A to point B, a system searches the database to determine whether a route from A to B exists. If the route does exist, then the route may be provided as directions in response to the request. If no such route exists, then the system looks in the database for routes that have some amount of overlap with each other, and attempts to construct a route from A to B by joining known routes that overlap with each other. Rules may govern the degree of overlap that routes are to have before they can be joined.

Providing routes through information collection and retrieval

A user can be compensated for taking detours from a projected route. Commonly, the reason for the compensation is that the user will be subjected to advertising, the user will pass by an establishment she is likely to visit, or to ease traffic congestion. Analysis of an area takes place and monetization opportunities are determined based upon the results of the analysis. A route between at least about two locations can be altered such that the user is provided a reward, commonly in an optimized manner.

Route monetization

Oftentimes individuals have a number of objectives to complete while traveling in a vehicle. The objectives can be arranged automatically and an associated route can be produced such that the objectives can be completed in an effective manner. Data related to the objectives can be collected such as a traffic pattern on paths near a location the objective is to take place. Locations for the objectives to be completed can be determined automatically as well as provided by user. Analysis of the collected data can take place and based on a result of the analysis, an efficient route is produced.

Route-based activity planner

The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance. The final instruction sets for navigating to the destination are presented along with a map that identified the departure points.

Multiple directions to a destination without providing a specific origin

When users travel to an intended destination, a plurality of information can be beneficial to assist their travel. If a person is traveling to a crowded event, then information can be provided such that congested traffic areas can be provided. There can be financial opportunities available in relation to providing information concerning an intended destination. An advertiser can pay money to have information played about the advertiser when it relates to the intended destination. Furthermore, a user can pay money for detailed data concerning an intended location, such as where cheapest parking is located.

Additional content based on intended travel destination

A route can be generated through utilization of a conventional manner, such as a portable electronic device accessing a database with roads, traffic information, weather data, and the like. As a user approaches a private area, the route can be augmented with travel information concerning the private area. Artificial intelligence techniques can be used to determine if a route should be augmented, to infer what augmentations to make, etc.

Federated route production

A computer system and media for delivering routing information are provided. The computer system includes a routing engine, a database, and routing network that are employed to respond to routing requests and user modifications of routing information received in response to the routing requests. The routing engine receives the routing requests and generates routing information that illustrates a route and metadata for directions that guides a user when navigating the route. A user that is dissatisfied with the routing information may use route modification tools to alter the route in a manner that is consistent with the user's understanding of alternate routes that may supplement the routing information provided by the routing engine. The computer system receives the user modifications, stores the user modifications, and updates the routing network to learn the alternate route provided in the user modifications.

Route modifications

As a pedestrian travels, various difficulties can be encountered, such as traveling through an unsafe neighborhood or being in an open area that is subject to harsh temperatures. A route can be developed for a person taking into account factors that specifically affect a pedestrian. Moreover, the route can alter as a situation of a user changes; for instance, if a user wants to add a stop along a route.

Pedestrian route production

A user can intend to travel between different locations and employ different traveling manners to reach an intended travel destination. At different points, different devices can be employed for disclosing a route. For instance, as a user walks, a route can be integrated into a personal electronic device, such as a cellular telephone. An evaluation can take place that due to specific route details, for example detailed text, a particular device would be superior for presentment over another.

Route transfer between devices

A geographic navigation system for segmenting a received set of instructions (or directions) that guide a user over a geographic route from a starting location to an ending location, and then abbreviating a subset of the instructions related to the inexact or familiar regions into a more concise and relevant form, yet retain all the information for guiding the user on the trip. Route segmentation occurs before instruction abbreviation by segmenting the route into multiple logical components in which abbreviation can be applied. After the need for instruction abbreviation is recognized and the route is segmented, techniques and designs are employed to generate understandable strings that describe the abbreviated directions as well as controls that allow optimization of the user experience.

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey Darren Couckuyt