Generating routes using events

Abstract

A map application is provided that receives calendars from one or more sources. Each calendar may include events, and each event may be associated with a location and a time period. The events may be a temporary event that may impact traffic around the location of the event for the time period associated with the event. When a request for a route for a future trip is received by the map application, the map application may generate a route in response to the request. The map application may determine if any of the events associated with a calendar impact the route. An event may impact the route if the route passes near the location associated with the event during the time period associated with the event. If the route is impacted by an event, an alternative route is generated or a new time is recommended for the future trip.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for receiving events, and for generating a route in response to a request based on a time period associated with each event and a time associated with the request, the system comprising:
 at least one computing device; and   a map engine adapted to:   receive the request, wherein the request is associated with a location, an arrival time, and a departure time;   determine a plurality of entities that are responsive to the request based on a location associated with each entity and the location associated with the request;   receive a plurality of events, wherein each event is associated with a time period, and each event is associated with a location; for each entity of the plurality of entities,   determine one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   provide information about the plurality of entities and the determined one or more events.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the entities comprise one or more of restaurants, accommodations, or tourist attractions. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each event is associated with a radius, and the map engine adapted to determine one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request, and
 wherein the map engine is further adapted to, for each of the plurality of events, determine whether the location associated with the entity is within a circle with the radius associated with the event and a center at the location associated with the event on a map.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each event is associated with one or more roads of a plurality of roads and the location associated with each entity is an address, and the map engine adapted to determine one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request, and
 wherein the map engine is further adapted to, for each of the plurality of events, determine whether the address associated with the entity is located on a road that is associated with the event.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the map engine is further adapted to recommend one or more of an alternative arrival time for the request based on the determined one or more events. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each event comprises one or more of festivals, sporting events, graduations, and parades. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the map engine is further adapted to recommend an alternative departure time for the request based on the determined one or more events. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the request is associated with an origin location, a destination location and wherein the map engine is further adapted to determine a first route between the origin location and the destination location based on the map and to display the alternative departure time with the generated first route. 
     
     
         9 . A method for receiving events, and for generating a route in response to a request based on a time period associated with each event and a time associated with the request, the method comprising:
 receiving the request, wherein the request is associated with a location, an arrival time, and a departure time;   determining a plurality of entities that are responsive to the request based on a location associated with each entity and the location associated with the request;   receiving a plurality of events, wherein each event is associated with a time period, and each event is associated with a location; for each entity of the plurality of entities,   determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   providing information about the plurality of entities and the determined one or more events.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the entities comprise one or more of restaurants, accommodations, or tourist attractions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each event is associated with a radius, and the method further comprising:
 determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   determining , for each of the plurality of events, whether the location associated with the entity is within a circle with the radius associated with the event and a center at the location associated with the event on a map.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each event is associated with one or more roads of a plurality of roads and the location associated with each entity is an address, and the method further comprising:
 determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   determining, for each of the plurality of events, whether the address associated with the entity is located on a road that is associated with the event.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprising recommending one or more of an alternative arrival time for the request based on the determined one or more events. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each event comprises one or more of festivals, sporting events, graduations, and parades. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising recommending an alternative departure time for the request based on the determined one or more events. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the request is associated with an origin location, a destination location and wherein the method further comprising:
 determining a first route between the origin location and the destination location based on the map and to display the alternative departure time with the generated first route.   
     
     
         17 . A physical article of manufacture including one or more tangible computer-readable storage media, encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:
 receiving the request, wherein the request is associated with a location, an arrival time, and a departure time;   determining a plurality of entities that are responsive to the request based on a location associated with each entity and the location associated with the request, wherein the entities comprise one or more of restaurants, accommodations, or tourist attractions;   receiving a plurality of events, wherein each event is associated with a time period, and each event is associated with a location; for each entity of the plurality of entities,   determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   providing information about the plurality of entities and the determined one or more events.   
     
     
         18 . The physical article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein each event is associated with a radius and wherein the computer process further comprising:
 determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   determining , for each of the plurality of events, whether the location associated with the entity is within a circle with the radius associated with the event and a center at the location associated with the event on a map.   
     
     
         19 . The physical article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein each event is associated with one or more roads of a plurality of roads and the location associated with each entity is an address, and wherein the computer process further comprising:
 determining one or more events of the plurality of events that impacts the entity based on the location associated with the entity, the locations associated with the plurality of events, the time periods associated with the plurality of events, and the arrival time and the departure time associated with the request; and   determining, for each of the plurality of events, whether the address associated with the entity is located on a road that is associated with the event.   
     
     
         20 . The physical article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the computer process further comprising recommending an alternative departure time for the request based on the determined one or more events.