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 computer file system includes a storage manager configured to allocate data storage space for a plurality of computer files having different filetypes. A location and context application programming interface (API) of the computer file system associates location and context metadata with any of the plurality of computer files regardless of filetype. The location and context metadata includes one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations associated with the computer file, each of the one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations having a shared predefined format assigned by the location and context API. The location and context metadata also includes, for each of the one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations associated with the computer file, a location context describing a relationship between the filetype-agnostic geographic location and the computer file.

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: 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 first user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system may invite a second user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system to participate in a shared travel experience where the second user follows the first user. While on the shared trip, the first user is provided the location of the second user along with a route to a selected destination. The second user is provided the location of the first user, along with the route to the selected destination. The first user is able to identify points of interest on the route, which are then presented to the second user. A network is established that allows the first and second user to have a two-way conversation, and to synchronize the music that is listened to by the first user and the second user to simulate the experience of being together in the same vehicle.

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: A computer file system includes a storage manager configured to allocate data storage space for a plurality of computer files having different filetypes. A location and context application programming interface (API) of the computer file system associates location and context metadata with any of the plurality of computer files regardless of filetype. The location and context metadata includes one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations associated with the computer file, each of the one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations having a shared predefined format assigned by the location and context API. The location and context metadata also includes, for each of the one or more filetype-agnostic geographic locations associated with the computer file, a location context describing a relationship between the filetype-agnostic geographic location and the computer file.

Abstract: A user of a mapping application can use a user interface to draw a line between an origin address and a destination address on a map. The mapping application uses a zoom level associated with the map to determine if the user intended that the route consist mostly of highways or mostly of local roads. Segments of the line are replaced by similar road sections selected from the map based on the determined zoom level. The line replaced by the selected road sections is presented to the user as a route between the origin address and the destination address.

Abstract: A first user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system may invite a second user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system to participate in a shared travel experience where the second user follows the first user. While on the shared trip, the first user is provided the location of the second user along with a route to a selected destination. The second user is provided the location of the first user, along with the route to the selected destination. The first user is able to identify points of interest on the route, which are then presented to the second user. A network is established that allows the first and second user to have a two-way conversation, and to synchronize the music that is listened to by the first user and the second user to simulate the experience of being together in the same vehicle.

Abstract: A computing device and method for use in enabling contextual ink annotation in a mapping interface are disclosed. In one aspect, the computing method may include receiving a map view request to render a map view of map data based upon a current map rendering context, determining that a previously created virtual ink annotation is associated with a location within the map view, the virtual ink annotation having a previous map rendering context captured at a time of creation of the virtual ink annotation, and comparing the current map rendering context to the previous map rendering context associated with the virtual ink annotation. The method may further include, based on a result of the comparison, controlling display of the virtual ink annotation in a rendered map view.

Abstract: A first user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system may invite a second user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system to participate in a shared travel experience where the second user follows the first user. While on the shared trip, the first user is provided the location of the second user along with a route to a selected destination. The second user is provided the location of the first user, along with the route to the selected destination. The first user is able to identify points of interest on the route, which are then presented to the second user. A network is established that allows the first and second user to have a two-way conversation, and to synchronize the music that is listened to by the first user and the second user to simulate the experience of being together in the same vehicle.

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 first user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system may invite a second user of a smart phone or vehicle navigation system to participate in a shared travel experience where the second user follows the first user. While on the shared trip, the first user is provided the location of the second user along with a route to a selected destination. The second user is provided the location of the first user, along with the route to the selected destination. The first user is able to identify points of interest on the route, which are then presented to the second user. A network is established that allows the first and second user to have a two-way conversation, and to synchronize the music that is listened to by the first user and the second user to simulate the experience of being together in the same vehicle.

Abstract: A user of a mapping application can use a user interface to draw a line between an origin address and a destination address on a map. The mapping application uses a zoom level associated with the map to determine if the user intended that the route consist mostly of highways or mostly of local roads. Segments of the line are replaced by similar road sections selected from the map based on the determined zoom level. The line replaced by the selected road sections is presented to the user as a route between the origin address and the destination address.

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 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: Examples are provided that relate to inking inputs made to a map displayed on a computing device. One example provides, on a computing device, a method comprising displaying a map on a display device operatively coupled to the computing device, receiving user input of one or more inking inputs on the displayed map and displaying an annotation for each inking input received, determining a map location of each of the one or more inking inputs, determining an intended meaning of each of the one or more inking inputs based upon one or more features of the inking inputs, and performing an action on the computing device based at least on the map location and the intended meaning determined for each of the one or more inking inputs.

Abstract: A computing device and method for use in enabling contextual ink annotation in a mapping interface are disclosed. In one aspect, the computing method may include receiving a map view request to render a map view of map data based upon a current map rendering context, determining that a previously created virtual ink annotation is associated with a location within the map view, the virtual ink annotation having a previous map rendering context captured at a time of creation of the virtual ink annotation, and comparing the current map rendering context to the previous map rendering context associated with the virtual ink annotation. The method may further include, based on a result of the comparison, controlling display of the virtual ink annotation in a rendered map view.