Abstract: A computing device includes a display, a logic machine, and a storage machine holding instructions executable to display a map via the display, and associate a note with location data defining a geographic location. The note is associated with an annotation displayable on the map. The annotation is associated with a location parameter defining a map location at which the annotation is displayed on the map corresponding to the geographic location associated with the note. The annotation is associated with a zoom parameter defining one or more Map zoom levels at which the annotation is displayed on the map. The annotation is associated with a context parameter defining one or more computing device contexts with which the annotation is displayed on the map. A notification corresponding to the note is presented based on the computing device being located within a threshold distance of the geographic location.

Abstract: Identifications of areas of interest are received from trusted sources such as contacts in a social networking application. The areas of interest can include geographic boundaries that identify regions such as blocks or portions of streets. The areas of interest can be associated with constraints such as modes of transportation (e.g., car, bicycle, walk, etc.) or times (e.g., 9 am-5 pm, at night, in the morning, etc.), and can be positive or negative (e.g., go here or don't go here). When generating a route for a user, the map application considers the areas of interest based on the constraints associated with the areas of interest and other information such as what mode of transportation that the user is using and when the user is planning on traveling the route.

Abstract: Techniques are shown for changing input assignments of an input device controls for a first application while leaving assignments unchanged for other applications. When a first application is active, a first input action is registered from activation of an input control selected for mode control. In response, when an input mode of the first application corresponds to standard device mapping inputs, the input mode is changed to an input mode corresponding to an alternate device mapping inputs assigned to a subset of input controls. When the first application is in alternate device mapping mode, input control activations are registered according to the alternate device mapping actions. When a second application is active, input control activations are registered according to the standard input mapping actions.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is generally directed to multiscreen environments. In one example of the technology, a registry is maintained. The registry includes a plurality of context schemas. Each context schema in the plurality of context schemas includes a context schema input and a context schema output. Context data is received from a first application. The context data includes at least one of a context schema input that is associated with view augmentation in a multiscreen environment or a context schema output that is associated with view augmentation in a multiscreen environment. It is determined whether the context data is valid based, at least in part, on the registry. In response to determining that the context data is valid, the context data is forwarded to at least a second application. The second application is separate from the first application.

Abstract: Methods and devices for verifying whether to send a message may include delaying, at an operating system executing on the computer device, sending of a message to at least one recipient based at least upon an associated delay period for the message. The methods and devices may include verifying a completion of the delay period and determining whether at least one override condition exists. The methods and devices may include altering a sending of the message when the at least one override condition occurred.

Abstract: A navigation device may include one or more input devices, a processor, and one or more output devices. A navigation device may read stored map information and stored route deviation information including one or more deviation segments having a divergence location, a deviation path, a reconvergence location, and deviation segment data. The processor of the navigation device may then generate a route and route data. Upon determining that each of the one or more deviation segments intersects the route and a predetermined subset of the deviation segment data matches a corresponding subset of the route data, the navigation device may generate a personalized route by replacing a route portion between a first intersection point and a last intersection point with a corresponding deviation portion for each intersecting deviation segment. The one or more output devices may then output the route and the one or more personalized routes.

Abstract: Natural language directions are received and a set of maneuver/context pairs are generated based upon the natural language directions. The set of maneuver/context pairs are provided to a routing engine to obtain route information based upon the set of maneuver/context pairs. The route information is provided to an output system for surfacing to a user.

Abstract: Natural language directions are received and a set of maneuver/context pairs are generated based upon the natural language directions. The set of maneuver/context pairs are provided to a routing engine to obtain route information based upon the set of maneuver/context pairs. The route information is provided to an output system for surfacing to a user.

Abstract: A map application generates a map context that includes information such as the current location and route of a user of a device, and a recent search history. The map context is provided to one or more background applications of the device, which use the map context to determine any content items that may be relevant to the user of the device. The determined content items are provided to the map application, and are presented to the user in the map application. In another implementation, applications running on the device save metadata related to the content items that were provided to the user by the applications. Later, when a user opens the map application, the map application selects content items based on the saved metadata and a map context, and presents the selected content items to the user in the map application.

Abstract: Techniques are shown for changing input assignments of an input device controls for a first application while leaving assignments unchanged for other applications. When a first application is active, a first input action is registered from activation of an input control selected for mode control. In response, when an input mode of the first application corresponds to standard device mapping inputs, the input mode is changed to an input mode corresponding to an alternate device mapping inputs assigned to a subset of input controls. When the first application is in alternate device mapping mode, input control activations are registered according to the alternate device mapping actions. When a second application is active, input control activations are registered according to the standard input mapping actions.

Abstract: A server system comprising a processor configured to manage an extensible taxonomy of impression tags for categorizing the plurality of locations, monitor content sources for visitor impressions of the plurality of locations and extract a plurality of impression tag inputs from the visitor impressions, each impression tag input including an identified impression tag, a visited location of the plurality of locations, and visited location context data including a visited time interval of the plurality of time intervals, for each impression tag input, aggregate that impression tag input into aggregated impression tag input data in a location profile of the plurality of location profiles that is associated with the visited location of that impression tag input, and for each location profile, select one or more categorizing impression tags from the extensible taxonomy of impression tags based on at least the aggregated impression tag input data of that location profile.

Abstract: Techniques enable selection of traffic cameras for display to a user, where the techniques involve determining a primary route and an alternate route, determining a first intersection between the primary route and the alternate route, and obtaining camera metadata identifying multiple cameras, where the camera metadata defines aspects such as positioning data, direction, status data, and image data for individual traffic cameras. The techniques also involve determining a priority score for individual cameras using the camera metadata, where the priority score is based, at least in part, on proximity to the first intersection between the primary route and the alternate route. The techniques then involve selecting at least one traffic camera based on the priority score of the camera and communicating image data of the camera for display on a display device.

Abstract: A user interface is provided that allows a user to customize features, and attributes of features, of a map displayed by a map application. The features may include roads, buildings, parks, bodies of water, specific types of businesses (e.g., restaurants, drug stores, hospitals, banks), etc. The attributes of a feature may include colors, graphics, and fonts that are used to display the associated feature on the map. The user interface allows the user to customize the attributes and features, and to save the customized attributes and features as a theme. The theme can then be enabled or disabled by the user for a map, and can be distributed or shared by the user through a theme marketplace. The theme marketplace may allow users to browse available themes which may be made available for free or for purchase.

Abstract: Events associated with a user are determined. The events may be activities that were provided by the user with start and end times such as appointments. Tasks associated with the user are determined. The tasks may be similar to events, but may not have start and end times. Monitored user behavior is used to estimate how long each task will take to complete. Events or tasks not associated with the user, but that may be of interest to the user, are determined. Location information about the events and tasks is received, and traffic and map information is used to estimate travel time between the locations. The tasks and the events are ranked using user interest data. An itinerary is generated using a subset of the ranked events and/or tasks that considers travel time between the locations as well as the ranking.

Abstract: A user provides a request for a ride sharing service that includes an origin location and a destination location. It is determined whether the origin location is associated with a condition that may lead to a high cost or a high wait for the ride. These conditions may include traffic or events that are near the origin location, or conditions such as surge pricing. In response to determining the condition, alternative locations are selected. These alternative locations may be locations that are generally on the way to the destination location, but that are not associated with the condition. A walking speed of the user is used with fare and time information from the ride sharing service about the locations to select a location that optimizes cost or waiting time for the user. The location may be recommended to the user, and a vehicle may be dispatched to the location.

Abstract: Identifications of areas of interest are received from trusted sources such as contacts in a social networking application. The areas of interest can include geographic boundaries that identify regions such as blocks or portions of streets. The areas of interest can be associated with constraints such as modes of transportation (e.g., car, bicycle, walk, etc.) or times (e.g., 9 am-5 pm, at night, in the morning, etc.), and can be positive or negative (e.g., go here or don't go here). When generating a route for a user, the map application considers the areas of interest based on the constraints associated with the areas of interest and other information such as what mode of transportation that the user is using and when the user is planning on traveling the route.

Abstract: A navigation device is provided that includes one or more input devices configured to receive starting and ending locations for route navigation, and a processor configured to retrieve user route preferences. The user route preferences may indicate one or more preferred route characteristics. The processor further may be configured to receive a request for a route from a starting location to an ending location via the one or more input devices, to read stored map information including a plurality of route segments. Each route segment may include route segment data indicating one or more route characteristics of that route segment. The processor may further be configured to generate a personalized route that includes at least one route segment having route segment data indicating at least one of the one or more preferred route characteristics of the user, and to display the personalized route to the user.

Abstract: Natural language directions are received and a set of maneuver/context pairs are generated based upon the natural language directions. The set of maneuver/context pairs are provided to a routing engine to obtain route information based upon the set of maneuver/context pairs. The route information is provided to an output system for surfacing to a user.

Abstract: A navigation device may include one or more input devices, a processor, and one or more output devices. A navigation device may read stored map information and stored route deviation information including one or more deviation segments having a divergence location, a deviation path, a reconvergence location, and deviation segment data. The processor of the navigation device may then generate a route and route data. Upon determining that each of the one or more deviation segments intersects the route and a predetermined subset of the deviation segment data matches a corresponding subset of the route data, the navigation device may generate a personalized route by replacing a route portion between a first intersection point and a last intersection point with a corresponding deviation portion for each intersecting deviation segment. The one or more output devices may then output the route and the one or more personalized routes.

Abstract: A computing device includes a display, a logic machine, and a storage machine holding instructions executable to display a map via the display, and associate a note with location data defining a geographic location. The note is associated with an annotation displayable on the map. The annotation is associated with a location parameter defining a map location at which the annotation is displayed on the map corresponding to the geographic location associated with the note. The annotation is associated with a zoom parameter defining one or more neap zoom levels at which the annotation is displayed on the map. The annotation is associated with a context parameter defining one or more computing device contexts with which the annotation is displayed on the map. A notification corresponding to the note is presented based on the computing device being located within a threshold distance of the geographic location.