# US 9,909,886 B2 · Systems and methods for providing mapping services including route break point recommendations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,909,886 B2 - Document ID: US9909886B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/054,656 - Filed: 2016-02-26 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2018-03-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-13 - Assignees: MapQuest, Inc. - Applicants: MapQuest, Inc. - Inventors: G. Duane Gearhart; Scott W. Steinke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9909886B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/3407: {specially adapted for specific applications} - G01C 21/20: Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) - G01C 21/343: {Calculating itineraries (travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047)} - G01C 21/362: {received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application} - G01C 21/3682: {output of POI information on a road map (G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence)} - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract Computer implemented methods are disclosed for providing geographical information to a user. One method may include receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter and calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data. The method may also include identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user and identifying a range extending around each intermediate break point location, and potential break points. A step may also be executed in which a density or type of points of interest within each potential break point may be evaluated by the electronic device and a recommended for a break point made. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for providing to a user geographical mapping information relating to a trip from a start location to a destination location, the method including: receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter; calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data and the break point parameter; identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user; identifying an area, extending along the one or more routes, around each intermediate break point location and including one or more potential highway exit points; evaluating, for each intermediate break point location, a plurality of points of interest associated with each potential highway exit point within the area of the intermediate break point location; determining, for each intermediate break point location, a recommended highway exit point from among each of the one or more potential highway exit points within the area of the intermediate break point location, based on the evaluation of the plurality of points of interest; and displaying, on the user's electronic device, one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, the routes being divided into a plurality of segments according to the one or more recommended highway exit points. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the break point parameter received from the user includes one or more of: a maximum preferred driving leg time, a maximum preferred driving leg distance, a vehicle fuel range, and a vehicle battery range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the break point parameter is received periodically throughout the trip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating comprises accessing mapping data related to each of the one or more routes from at least one database. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating comprises determining total travel time and total travel distance of the one or more routes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying one or more intermediate break point locations further comprises determining a total number of break points. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the area extending around each intermediate break point location is defined by a physical distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the area extending around each intermediate break point location is defined by a travel time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a location of the user. ### Claim 10 A system for providing to a user geographical mapping information relating to a trip from a start location to a destination location, the system including: a data storage device storing instructions for causing computer servers or mobile devices to provide to the user the geographical mapping information relating to the trip from the start location to the destination; and a processing device configured to execute the instructions to perform a method of: receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter; calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data and the break point parameter; identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user; identifying an area extending along the one or more routes, around each intermediate break point location and including one or more potential highway exit points; evaluating, for each intermediate break point location, a plurality of points of interest associated with each potential highway exit point within the area of the intermediate break point location; determining, for each intermediate break point location, a recommended highway exit point from among each of the one or more potential highway exit points within the area of the intermediate break point location, based on the evaluation of the plurality of points of interest; and displaying, on the user's electronic device, one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, the routes being divided into a plurality of segments according to the one or more recommended highway exit points. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the break point parameter includes one or more of: a maximum preferred driving leg time, a maximum preferred driving leg distance, a fuel range, and a battery range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the break point parameter is received periodically throughout the trip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the step of calculating comprises accessing mapping data related to each of the one or more routes from at least one database. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the step of calculating comprises determining total travel time and total travel distance of the one or more routes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the step of identifying one or more intermediate break point locations further comprises determining a total number of break points. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the area extending around each intermediate break point location is defined by a physical distance. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the area extending around each intermediate break point location is defined by a travel time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising a step of determining a location of the user. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method to provide geographical mapping information to a user relating to a trip from a start location to a destination location, the method including: receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter; calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data and the break point parameter; identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user; identifying an area extending along the one or more routes, around each intermediate break point location and including one or more potential highway exit points; evaluating, for each intermediate break point location, a plurality of points of interest associated with each potential highway exit point within the area of the intermediate break point location; determining, for each intermediate break point location, a recommended highway exit point from among each of the one or more potential highway exit points within the area of the intermediate break point location, based on the evaluation of the plurality of points of interest; and displaying, on the user's electronic device, one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, the routes being divided into a plurality of segments according to the one or more recommended highway exit points.