Fast local recommender queries via modified spatial data structure querying

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for providing recommendations of leisure activities to a user, the method comprising:

• receiving an activity type and a nearness metric;
• identifying a cell stored in a spatial database based on location information associated with a computing device of the user, wherein the spatial database stores leisure activities corresponding to geographically segmented cells;
• wherein the spatial database stores a number of cells, and the number of cells in the spatial database depends on the density of leisure activities in a given geographic area and the type of leisure activity;
• determining a set of nearby cells based on the identified cell and a bound corresponding to the nearness metric;
• retrieving leisure activities that match the activity type and are associated with the nearby cells;
• and
• returning the set-of-retrieved leisure activities to the user.

A system for providing recommendations of leisure activities to a user, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• a receiving mechanism configured to receive an activity type and a nearness metric;
• an identification mechanism configured to identify a cell stored in a spatial database based on location information associated with a computing device of the user, wherein the spatial database stores leisure activities corresponding to geographically segmented cells;
• wherein the spatial database stores a number of cells, and the number of cells in the spatial database depends on the density of leisure activities in a given geographic area and the type of leisure activity;
• a determination mechanism configured to determine a set of nearby cells based on the identified cell and a bound corresponding to the nearness metric;
• a retrieval mechanism configured to retrieve leisure activities that match the activity type and are associated with the nearby cells;
• and
• an output mechanism configured to return the retrieved leisure activities.