Methods for Identifying Routes

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method for identifying routes includes initiating a display of a map representing a geographic area, initiating a display of a first graphical element that represents a location of a route with potential interest, receiving an indication that the user has selected the first graphical element, and in response to the indication, initiating a display of a second graphical element that provides additional information about the route.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of identifying a route to be traversed by a user, comprising:
 initiating a display of a map representing a geographic area;   initiating a display of a first graphical element representing a location of a route of potential interest to the user in the geographic area;   receiving an indication that the user has selected the first graphical element;   in response to the indication that the user has selected the first graphical element, initiating the display of a second graphical element that provides additional information about the route of potential interest;   receiving an indication that the user has selected the second graphical element; and   in response to the indication that the user has selected the second graphical element, identifying the route of potential interest as the route to be traversed by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of a desirable attribute of the route to be traversed by a user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the attribute comprises location information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the attribute comprises route character information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein route character information comprises one of a distance of the route and an elevation characterization of the route. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving data relating to the route of potential interest from a route database.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating a display of a third graphical element representing a different location of a different route in the geographic area.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first graphical element further represents that a plurality of other routes are located in the same location as the route of potential interest. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication that the user selected the first graphical element comprises an indication that the user selected the first graphical element using a graphical display cursor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication that the user selected the first graphical element comprises an indication that the user selected the first graphical element by placing a selecting item over the first graphical clement. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing the additional information about the route of potential interest comprises providing the additional information in a new portion of the display. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the new portion of the display is a new window. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the additional information about the route of potential interest comprises providing a visual depiction of the path of the route of potential interest. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the geographic area is a first geographic area, and wherein the visual depiction of the path of the route of potential interest comprises a map representing a second geographic area. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the additional information about the route of potential interest comprises providing one of a route distance and a route elevation profile. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the additional information about the route of potential interest comprises providing one of a rating of the route and a review of the route. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the route of potential interest as the route to be traversed by the user comprises storing the route in a training journal database associated with the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of initiating the display of the map, initiating the display of the first graphical element, and initiating the display of the second graphical element are carried out by a portable fitness device of the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of receiving the indication that the user has selected the first graphical element, receiving the indication that the user has selected the second graphical element, and identifying the route of potential interest as the route to be traversed by the user are carried out by a server computer system. 
     
     
         20 . A method of identifying a route to be traversed by a user, comprising:
 initiating a display of a map representing a geographic area;   initiating a display of a plurality of graphical elements each representing a location of plurality of routes of potential interest to the user at each location, wherein all of the locations are in the geographic area;   receiving an indication that the user has selected one of the plurality of graphical elements representing a location of plurality of routes of potential interest to the user at that location;   in response to the indication that the user has selected one of the plurality of graphical elements, initiating the display of another graphical element that provides additional information about each of the plurality of routes of potential interest to the user at that location; and   receiving an indication that the user has selected one of the plurality of routes of potential interest to the user at that location to be the route to be traversed by a user.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indication that the user selected one of the plurality of graphical elements comprises an indication that the user selected one of the plurality of graphical elements using a graphical display cursor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the indication that the user selected one of the plurality of graphical elements comprises an indication that the user selected one of the plurality of graphical elements by placing a selecting item over one of the plurality of graphical elements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein providing the additional info nation about each of the plurality of routes of potential interest to the user at that location comprises providing visual depictions of the paths of each of the routes of potential interest at that location. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the steps of initiating the display of the map, initiating the display of the plurality of graphical elements, and initiating the display of the another graphical element are carried out by a portable fitness device of the user. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the steps of receiving the indication that the user has selected one of the plurality of graphical elements and receiving the indication that the user has selected one of the plurality of routes of potential interest to the user are carried out by a server computer system. 
     
     
         26 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, is capable of causing the computer system to:
 initiate a display of a map representing a geographic area;   initiate a display of a map representing a geographic area;   initiate a display of a first graphical element representing a location of a route of potential interest to the user in the geographic area;   receive an indication that the user has selected the first graphical element;   in response to the indication that the user has selected the first graphical element, initiate the display of a second graphical element that provides additional information about the route of potential interest;   receive an indication that the user has selected the second graphical element; and   in response to the indication that the user has selected the second graphical element, identify the route of potential interest as the route to be traversed by the user.