Apple Wants You To Follow Their Directions, Patent Filing Reveals Proprietary GPS Software

A new patent filing discovered by AppleInsider suggests that Apple is working on their own proprietary GPS software that would be able to accurately calculate road trip times and routes based on data collected from other users, data which would be uploaded to a centralized server. The patent, which was originally filed in 2008, reveals a system that would be able to take into account speed, time of day, location, driving patterns, seasons, route types and features, traffic information, road conditions, and location data to accurately estimate driving times and choose the best routes.  The system would even be able to take other factors into consideration, like stoplights and railroad crossings.

"These features provide customized travel time estimates that take into account a user's driving habits, the characteristics of the vehicle being navigated, road conditions, seasonal conditions, traffic congestion and other factors," the patent application reads, "which cannot be accounted for by conventional statistical calculations based on data samples obtained from a test vehicle or device traveling the route."

It's unclear whether this system would be employed by Apple to work with or compete against other GPS software. As you may or may not know, the App Store already contains quite a few navigation and turn-by-turn apps.  We even have an Applist dedicated to such software.  The widely known GPS device maker TomTom is also going to be getting in on the action later this year, so this is definitely going to be a highly competitive market, even without Apple. It is worth noting, however, that Apple patent filings usually reveal ideas that rarely come to fruition. Hmm, so what would be an appropriate app to giveaway in this post?  How about DrinkTracker Breathalyzer?  To win a download code for DrinkTracker Breathalyzer, simply leave a relevant comment about this post or about DrinkTracker Breathalyzer itself. The winner will be chosen randomly at the end of the day today (end of the day means 11:59 PM ET). Download codes are only redeemable through US iTunes accounts. Please remember to include a valid email address so we can contact the winner.

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