Microsoft’s ‘avoid ghetto’ GPS Patent – Possibly Landing Windows Phone
February 9, 2012 1 CommentWith all the craziness surrounding CES last month, this story must of fallen through the cracks. Recently Microsoft was granted a patent that is designed to make its maps more pedestrian-friendly. The exact abstract for the filing is:
“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. ”
Somehow, this patent has immediately been dubbed the “avoid ghetto” feature.
JimBobThe Boss/Flickr
The patents use will allow Microsoft to add a feature to it’s maps to help users stay clear of areas with a high number of crimes. The feature looks like it might come into play as a added feature to the maps on Windows Phone and/or Bing maps in general. The GPS patent also suggests and public transportation database which will hold information regarding locations, timetables and targeted advertisements depending on where a pedestrian is headed.
“The disclosed innovation produces routes that are intended to be taken by a pedestrian. A gather component obtains information related to intended pedestrian travel and a generation component produces a route based upon at least part of the obtained information. Commonly, the pedestrian route is produced based off security information, weather information, terrain information, or a combination thereof. Various features can integrate with route presentment, such as integrating an advertisement targeted to a pedestrian with a direction set. ”
Is there a demand for such a feature? Let us know…
Source: USPTO, ZDnet
Image Source: CC JimBobThe Boss/Flickr
