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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 graphical user interface for a computer includes a dial control. The control can be implemented, for example, as a touch-based, pointer-based, pen-based and/or keyboard-based mechanism. The dial control is intended for manipulating a large range of values, such as a menu of items from which a user makes a selection, or a range of continuous or discrete values. A dial control can replace other control types such as a slider, drop down menu or text field. The graphical elements of the dial control include one or more displayed rings and a handle for each ring. Inside the ring, or in another area adjacent the ring, a value can be displayed. The ring can be manipulated by the user to change the value selected by the dial control. In the case of multiple rings, each ring can be manipulated independently.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer includes a dial control. The control can be implemented, for example, as a touch-based, pointer-based, pen-based and/or keyboard-based mechanism. The dial control is intended for manipulating a large range of values, such as a menu of items from which a user makes a selection, or a range of continuous or discrete values. A dial control can replace other control types such as a slider, drop down menu or text field. The graphical elements of the dial control include one or more displayed rings and a handle for each ring. Inside the ring, or in another area adjacent the ring, a value can be displayed. The ring can be manipulated by the user to change the value selected by the dial control. In the case of multiple rings, each ring can be manipulated independently.