Process and system for the annotation of machine-generated directions with easily recognized landmarks and other relevant information

A method for generating directions for a travel route, the method comprising:

• obtaining a geographic location of a selected area along the travel route;
• identifying one or more landmarks corresponding to the geographic location of the selected area;
• randomly selecting at least one of the one or more landmarks;
• and
• generating the directions that incorporate an identification of the at least one of the one or more landmarks.

A method for generating directions for a travel route, the method comprising:

• obtaining a geographic location of a selected area along the travel route;
• identifying at least one zone proximate to the selected area, the size of the zone being configurable as a function of at least an attribute of the travel route in the selected area, wherein the size of the zone is defined by a radius determined by an expansion factor;
• identifying one or more landmarks within the zone;
• deciding upon at least one of the one or more landmarks in the directions;
• and
• generating the directions that incorporate an identification of the at least one of the one or more landmarks.

A method for generating driving directions for a route from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:

• maintaining a database, the database comprising entities that are referenced by geocoded locations;
• identifying one or more entities from the database within a configurable radius of a geocoded location of the traveler along the route, the geocoded locations of the one or more entities being defined by different zones, each zone having a size which is a function of at least an attribute of the entity defined by the zone;
• and
• generating the driving directions that incorporate an identification of at least one of the one or more entities.

A method for generating driving directions for a route from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining coordinates proximate to a portion of the route corresponding to an appropriate location to confirm that a traveler is proceeding along the prescribed route;
• b) identifying one or more establishments within a definable zone about the coordinates;
• c) deciding upon at least one of the one or more establishments within the coordinate zone to include in the driving directions;
• and
• d) generating driving directions that incorporate an identification of the at least one of the one or more establishments within the coordinate zone in the instructions regarding traversal of the route.

A method for generating driving directions for a route from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining coordinates proximate to a portion of the route corresponding to an appropriate location to confirm that a traveler is proceeding along the route;
• maintaining a database of establishments, the database including a plurality of records indicating establishments that have entered into a financial relationship with a directions provider to promote the establishments through the provision of driving directions;
• identifying one or more establishments from the database within a definable zone about the coordinates;
• deciding upon at least one of the one or more establishments within the definable zone to include in the driving directions;
• and
• generating the driving directions that incorporate an identification of the at least one of the one or more establishments within the definable zone.

A method for generating driving directions for a route from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:

• obtaining coordinates proximate to a portion of the route corresponding to an appropriate location to confirm that a traveler is proceeding along the route;
• maintaining a database of location-specific information objects, the database comprising data regarding the geocoded position of said information objects, said information objects being assigned respective expiration times after which said information objects become ineffective;
• identifying one or more said information objects from the database within a definable zone about the coordinates;
• deciding upon at least one of the one or more said information objects within the definable zone to include in the driving directions;
• and
• generating driving directions that incorporate an identification of the at least one of the one or more said information objects within the definable zone.