AUGMENTATION AND CORRECTION OF LOCATION BASED DATA
THROUGH USER FEEDBACK
BACKGROUND
[0001] Online mapping applications provide regular maps, satellite images, street view
images, and similar location information. Some mapping applications augment the
displayed information with relevant data like business names, addresses, and other details
about specific locations. Such metadata is typically obtained from various sources like
business directories, local government data sources, public web information, individuals or
fleets of vehicles taking still images or video images of streets, and/or allowing business
owners to provide information about their businesses. The information may also include
video or audio clips, trivia, rumors, and comparable items that may be useful for people.
[0002] The accuracy of the augmentation information depends on the accuracy of data
sources, depth and breadth of the data sources, update frequency of the information, and
similar factors. Additionally physical structures (e.g. buildings, streets, etc.) and
occupants of such structures tend to change irregularly. Directories and government
records may contain older and basic information; web data is typically unstructured,
information from business owners may not necessarily be reliable. Thus, gathering the
information and processing it to maintain complete, up-to-date, and accurate augmentation
data for mapping services is a challenging task.
SUMMARY
[0003] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified
form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not
intended to exclusively identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject
matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0004] Embodiments are directed to utilizing user feedback in supplementing and
correcting augmented location information such as augmented maps and/or street view
images. User feedback on missing or incorrect information may be elicited through
"treasure hunt" style augmented reality games, monetary or similar rewards, and
comparable incentives. Various mechanisms such as input from known users, image or
location based confirmation from a submitting user, and similar ones may be employed to
verify the new data before or after it is published.
[0005] These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the
following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be
understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are explanatory and do not restrict aspects as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an example augmented map, where the data may be
supplemented and/or corrected through verified user feedback according to embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an example augmented street view, where the data may be
supplemented and/or corrected through verified user feedback according to embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating gathering and verification of
augmentation information through user feedback;
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system for gathering augmentation
information according to some embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates another block diagram for a system verifying user feedback
data in an augmented mapping application;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a networked environment, where a system according to embodiments
may be implemented;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example computing operating environment,
where embodiments may be implemented; and
[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates a logic flow diagram for a process of augmentation and
correction of location based data through user feedback according to embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] As briefly described above, user feedback such as "crowd sourcing" may be
utilized for supplementing and correcting augmented location information like augmented
maps and/or street view images. User feedback on missing or incorrect information may
be elicited through an inverse "treasure hunt" style augmented reality games, monetary or
similar rewards, and comparable incentives. The sought information is not a known detail
that is hidden for the people to find, but a verification task, where the users need to find
errors in the information given to them. Verification mechanisms like input from
"trusted" users, image or location based confirmation from a submitting user, and similar
ones may be employed to verify the new data before or after it is published. In the
following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations specific embodiments
or examples. These aspects may be combined, other aspects may be utilized, and
structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
disclosure. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0015] While the embodiments will be described in the general context of program
modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating
system on a personal computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that aspects may also
be implemented in combination with other program modules.
[0016] Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data
structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
embodiments may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including
hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable
consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and comparable computing
devices. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments
where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a
communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may
be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
[0017] Embodiments may be implemented as a computer-implemented process
(method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer
program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a
computer storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer
program that comprises instructions for causing a computer or computing system to
perform example process(es). The computer-readable storage medium can for example be
implemented via one or more of a volatile computer memory, a non-volatile memory, a
hard drive, a flash drive, a floppy disk, or a compact disk, and comparable media.
[0018] Throughout this specification, the term "platform" may be a combination of
software and hardware components for managing augmented mapping operations.
Examples of platforms include, but are not limited to, a hosted service executed over a
plurality of servers, an application executed on a single server, and comparable systems.
The term "server" generally refers to a computing device executing one or more software
programs typically in a networked environment. However, a server may also be
implemented as a virtual server (software programs) executed on one or more computing
devices viewed as a server on the network.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an example augmented map, where the data may be
supplemented and/or corrected through verified user feedback according to embodiments.
Augmented reality solutions refer to an overlaying of virtual information on top of the
physical/real environment. Augmented location information applications provide
additional (textual or graphical) data superimposed over maps, satellite images, street view
images, and the like. A street view image may include a panoramic street level view of
the surroundings of a user-defined location. The location may be defined based on user
input or automatic determination of the location based on Global Positioning Service
(GPS) information, cellular tower triangulation, wireless data network node detection,
compass, and acceleration sensors, matching of camera input to known geo-position
photos, and similar methods. The augmented location information may be displayed
through any computing device such as desktop computers, laptop computers, notebooks;
mobile devices such as smart phones, handheld computers, wireless Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), mapping application enabled cellular phones, vehicle mount
computing devices; and similar ones.
[0020] Augmented map 100 in FIG. 1 includes several example implementations of
augmented data. For example, "art museum" 104 and "observation tower" 108 are
displayed as callouts pointing to particular buildings on the map. "Shopping center" 106
and "food court" 112 are displayed in hovering boxes next to the locations they
correspond to. Additionally, another display box 102 provides information associated
with businesses for a particular location on the map 100. Augmented information is not
limited to identifying types of businesses or names of buildings. A wide variety of
information about points of interest in the vicinity may be provided through augmenting
location based data displays such as address details, directions, business details, contact
links, historical information, dynamic data, and comparable ones. Further information may
include even a text list describing the knowledge of users about a place (e.g. a list of
known businesses, house numbers, historic facts, etc.).
[0021] As discussed previously, one of the challenges with augmented location displays
is maintaining synchronization between augmentation data and underlying location data,
especially over time. Structures and other features at a location may change over time.
Occupants of buildings (e.g. businesses) may also change rendering the displayed
information out-of-date. Furthermore, the original data may be obtained from an
erroneous source or miscomputed (matched with a wrong location). Such errors may
erode the reputation of the location based information service and the value it provides to
users, yet they are hard to discover since there is typically no "authoritative source" for
"reality" that can be used to identify errors.
[0022] Location based services use a variety of methods to enhance the quality of their
location data. Some of the data may be obtained from multiple semi-authoritative sources
like business directories or local government databases and merged. However, many of
these sources are chronically out-of-date and due to high error rate even merged data may
be flawed. In addition, basic information (e.g. phone number and address) is typically
retrieved from such sources. Another source of information is public web data like
individual business portals. However, web information is highly unstructured and
typically does not provide full coverage. Some services employ individuals who examine
photos of locations to identify errors or missing information, but this approach is also
expensive and error prone, especially given that the employees examining photos may not
be familiar with the actual locations and their subtleties. Another reason for the cost is the
fact that the vendors, are typically paid by areas that they cover (representing the amount
of work) and not the actual value of the data - the new data that is not known previously -
they can supply. Opening the location based service to business owners or other
individuals who can file errata information (missing or incorrect data) as "unverified user
input", requires initiative by business owners or other stake holders, and is open to
malicious bad information.
[0023] In a system according to embodiments user feedback may be utilized for
supplementing and correcting augmented location information. User feedback on missing
or incorrect information may be incentivized through "inverse treasure hunt" style
augmented reality games, monetary or similar rewards, and comparable incentives.
Treasure hunt style games may encourage individuals and groups to seek erroneous or
missing information on locations by viewing maps and other forms of location based
information on their client devices and check against real locations (e.g. examine street
view of a location while walking at the same location). For successful entries in such
games or for direct feedback, incentives like coupons to local businesses, recognition,
discounts for online purchases, access to various services, and similar inducements may be
provided. To prevent erroneous or malicious entries various verification mechanisms such
as input from known or "trusted" users, authentication of users providing feedback, image
or location based confirmation from a submitting user (e.g. user submits a photo of the
location as proof or GPS reading from the user's mobile device is retrieved along with the
submission), confirmation by other users (again trusted or regular) after display of
provided feedback, delaying the display of received feedback, and similar ones may be
employed. It may also be possible to employ a vendor, who only has to go and confirm
suggested correction. This volume of work may be significantly smaller than a full
recovery of the data of an area.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an example augmented street view, where the data may be
supplemented and/or corrected through verified user feedback according to embodiments.
Mobile device 200 in FIG. 2 displays street view 220 of a street with several buildings and
a side street. Mobile device 200 may include typical components like speaker 216, control
buttons 218 and 214 for navigating through the street view 220 (or a map view).
[0025] Street view 220 includes a building with textual augmentation 222 "shoe store",
another building augmented with a stylized business logo 224 "Joe's Eatery", a third
building with textual augmentation 226 "financial services", side street 230 "15th street",
a fourth building with textual augmentation 228 "law firm", and a fifth building with
textual augmentation 232 "clock store". Of course, other forms and types of
augmentations may be used according to embodiments. For example, textual
augmentations may include additional information. Graphical augmentations (icons,
shapes, embedded audio/video, etc.) may also be used in conjunction with the displayed
street view. As discussed above, street view 220 may not include some information
associated with the building or other structures of the displayed location. Furthermore,
some of the information may be incorrect or out-of-date. A mapping service according to
embodiments may utilize feedback from a wide range of users to supplement missing
information and correct erroneous data.
[0026] Elicitation of information from such wide spectra of users is also termed "crowd
sourcing." One approach according to embodiments may be built around a form of crowd
sourcing through an augmented reality treasure hunt style game, but with a twist. Rather
than searching for specific treasures, the players may search for errors and missing
information. Players can walk around their neighborhoods and point a mobile device
camera at all directions. When they do that, the latest virtual information may be
displayed as augmented reality on their device. Players can then visually identify errors
and report them (e.g. by clicking on a button, recording a snapshot of the location, or
manually providing correct / missing information). The information may be uploaded to
game servers and processed to produce more accurate and up-to-date information.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating gathering and verification of
augmentation information through user feedback. Diagram 300 of FIG. 3 displays a street
view similar to that of FIG. 2. In an example scenario, the annotation for building 334,
"music store", and side street 340, "16th street" are incorrect. Building 338 does not have
an annotation, and there is an empty space 342, where a building should exist in the street
view of diagram 300. Buildings 336 and 344 are augmented correctly. In the first step of
a process according to embodiments, input regarding missing or incorrect information
(348) is received from users 346, who may walk around the location with their handheld
devices viewing the augmented reality view of the location and checking it against the real
scene.
[0028] By marrying augmented reality and incentivization, crowd sourcing can be
integrated into an already popular augmented reality solution (i.e. location based services)
in an unobtrusive way. Assuming the augmented reality presents users with relevant data;
users can identify irregularities such as information being presented at the wrong location,
information being incorrect, or information for a point of interest missing. In those cases,
the user may be enabled to quickly enter the correct information using mobile device
sensors (e.g. camera, GPS, compass) or type it in, and send the information to the location
based service.
[0029] The combined solution is akin to a treasure hunt for negative goods (errors or
missing information). The user's motivation for entering the correct information may be
an augmented reality reward. User's may be further motivated to engage for various
reasons like volunteering for a good cause (e.g. a civic duty like increasing awareness of a
city or neighborhood online), getting monetary compensation, or having a business interest
in the results (e.g. a business owner wishing to correct a bad phone number that appears in
his/her business listing).
[0030] As an augmented reality solution / game, users may play it and enjoy it on a
normal basis even if they find little missing or erroneous information to correct. This
enables finding errors even in a highly accurate system, where negative finds are few and
far in between. According to some embodiments, general information or guidance may be
given to the user (e.g. "you are getting closer" or "the treasure is North of you", etc.) and
used to encourage the user to capture specific areas of interest where the service has less
data (or that a large number of corrections were recently found, and may signal a major
change).
[0031] The second step in the process is verification of the received supplemental /
corrected information (350). The verification may be performed by the service through
automated procedures such as receiving a snapshot of the location with the correct or
missing information from the submitting user, determining the user's location based on
GPS information, authenticating the user as part of a trusted users group (e.g. users who
have submitted reliable information in the past), and similar approaches. The verification
may also be performed based on input from other users. For example, the service may
delay publishing the update and wait to collect similar reports made by multiple
independent users. During the delays, other users may be motivated to report the error or
missing information, because they do not know if / when someone else already reported it.
Once a predefined number of independent users report consistent data, the data may be
marked as validated. If the system provides monetary incentives, they may be distributed
after verification to the first user reporting the new information or first few users.
Verification may also be performed by an automated system or paid testers, as the volume
of correction may be smaller than the full data.
[0032] According to further embodiments, submitted information may be weighted
based on number of reporting users, submitting user's trust level (based on past
submissions) or indicate on the displayed map as not having been verified. Diagram 310
of FIG. 3 illustrates a corrected and completed version of the street view of diagram 300.
The annotation of building 356 has been corrected as "shoe store" and side street 362 is
correctly named. Building 358 is correctly identified as "financial service", and the empty
space has been correctly filled with building 360 "clock store".
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system for gathering augmentation
information according to some embodiments. As shown in diagram 400, the augmentation
and correction may begin with a user detecting new or incorrect information (472). This
may be accomplished through a treasure hunt style game or at user's own initiative. The
user may then submit the new or correct data (474) by providing textual input or capturing
a snapshot of the location. In the latter case, an automatic text recovery algorithm may be
used to identify a business name or similar information. Alternatively, the address
location may be verified by crawling the business web site. Additional verification may
be performed by matching image features and structures using images from multiple users.
Following the data verification (476), the submission may be added to a geographic data
store 478 and published (immediately or after a delay) as an augmented display of the
user's surroundings (480).
[0034] As mentioned previously, rewards (monetary or otherwise) may incentivize users
to submit frequently and/or with high accuracy. Rewards may include coupons, discounts,
access, privileges, recognition, cash, points in a point-based reward system, revenue
sharing on advertising or services that originate from or at the new data, or comparable
ones. While users may be more incentivized by rapid rewarding, without verification the
system may be open to abuses. Thus, a compromise solution may be implemented such as
issuing an immediate non-monetary reward (e.g. credit), which is subject to verification.
Also, employing fast verification methods may increase interest in the system by users.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates another block diagram for a system verifying user feedback
data in an augmented mapping application. According to diagram 500, user submitted
new or correct data 582 may be subjected to verification procedures such as user
submitting an image of the location 584, user's location being independently confirmed
588, or user being part of a trusted group 586. Following this round of verification (590),
the new or corrected data may be displayed (592). Verification based on other users'
feedback 594 may be performed in addition to the first round of verification or in place of
it after the data is displayed. If the originally submitted data is found to be incorrect, it
may be corrected at optional step 596, and the user submitting the correct data may be
rewarded (598).
[0036] The different processes discussed in FIG. 1 through 5 such as submission of new
or correct information, incentivizing users, and verification techniques may be performed
at distinct hardware modules, software modules, or combinations of hardware and
software. Furthermore, such modules may perform two or more of the processes in an
integrated manner. While examples have been provided with specific examples for
location based services providing augmented maps, satellite images, street views, etc.,
embodiments are not limited to location based data. Indeed, missing or incorrect
information completion through user feedback may be implemented in other data systems
providing collected data to users. For example, online information services providing a
variety of information to web users, real time traffic information providers, and similar
ones may implement a system using the principles described herein.
[0037] FIG. 6 is an example networked environment, where embodiments may be
implemented. A platform for providing supplementation and correction for augmentation
data associated with a mapping application may be implemented via software executed
over one or more servers 614 such as a hosted service. The platform may communicate
with client applications on individual mobile devices such as a smart phone 6 11, cellular
phone 612, desktop computer 613, or similar devices ('client devices') through network(s)
610.
[0038] Client applications executed on any of the client devices 6 11-613 may interact
with a hosted service providing mapping services from the servers 614, or on individual
server 616. The hosted service may provide augmented maps, satellite images, and/or
street views. The hosted service may implement user feedback mechanisms such as
reward based input, crowd sourcing, and similar ones to elicit supplemental and corrective
information for stored data. Furthermore, the hosted service may also implement various
verification mechanisms such as those described above. Relevant data such as street view
images and supplemental textual data may be stored and/or retrieved at/from data store(s)
619 directly or through database server 618.
[0039] Network(s) 610 may comprise any topology of servers, clients, Internet service
providers, and communication media. A system according to embodiments may have a
static or dynamic topology. Network(s) 610 may include secure networks such as an
enterprise network, an unsecure network such as a wireless open network, or the Internet.
Network(s) 610 may also include (especially between the servers and the mobile devices)
cellular networks. Furthermore, network(s) 610 may include short range wireless
networks such as Bluetooth or similar ones. Network(s) 610 provide communication
between the nodes described herein. By way of example, and not limitation, network(s)
610 may include wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0040] Many other configurations of computing devices, applications, data sources, and
data distribution systems may be employed to implement a platform providing augmented
mapping services with user feedback based correction. Furthermore, the networked
environments discussed in FIG. 6 are for illustration purposes only. Embodiments are not
limited to the example applications, modules, or processes.
[0041] FIG. 7 and the associated discussion are intended to provide a brief, general
description of a suitable computing environment in which embodiments may be
implemented. With reference to FIG. 7, a block diagram of an example computing
operating environment for an application according to embodiments is illustrated, such as
computing device 700. In a basic configuration, computing device 700 may be a server
capable of providing augmented mapping services according to embodiments and include
at least one processing unit 702 and system memory 704. Computing device 700 may also
include a plurality of processing units that cooperate in executing programs. Depending
on the exact configuration and type of computing device, the system memory 704 may be
volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some
combination of the two. System memory 704 typically includes an operating system 705
suitable for controlling the operation of the platform, such as the WINDOWS MOBILE®
operating systems from MICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond, Washington or
similar ones. The system memory 704 may also include one or more software applications
such as program modules 706, augmented mapping application 722, and verification
module 724.
[0042] Augmented mapping application 722 may provide maps, satellite images, street
view images, and similar ones augmenting them with contextual information. The
augmentation data may be partially received and/or corrected through user feedback.
Verification module 724 may implement various confirmation mechanisms such as
confirming submitting user's location, receiving an image of the location from the user,
authenticating the user, and comparable methods. This basic configuration is illustrated in
FIG. 7 by those components within dashed line 708.
[0043] Computing device 700 may have additional features or functionality. For
example, the computing device 700 may also include additional data storage devices
(removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or
tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 7 by removable storage 709 and nonremovable
storage 710. Computer readable storage media may include volatile and
nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or
technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data
structures, program modules, or other data. System memory 704, removable storage 709
and non-removable storage 710 are all examples of computer readable storage media.
Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM,
flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or
other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage
devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and
which can be accessed by computing device 700. Any such computer readable storage
media may be part of computing device 700. Computing device 700 may also have input
device(s) 712 such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, and
comparable input devices. Output device(s) 714 such as a display, speakers, printer, and
other types of output devices may also be included. These devices are well known in the
art and need not be discussed at length here.
[0044] Computing device 700 may also contain communication connections 716 that
allow the device to communicate with other devices 718, such as over a wired or wireless
network in a distributed computing environment, a satellite link, a cellular link, a short
range network, and comparable mechanisms. Other devices 718 may include computer
device(s) that execute communication applications, other servers, and comparable devices.
Communication connection(s) 716 is one example of communication media.
Communication media can include therein computer readable instructions, data structures,
program modules, or other data. By way of example, and not limitation, communication
media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and
wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0045] Example embodiments also include methods. These methods can be
implemented in any number of ways, including the structures described in this document.
One such way is by machine operations, of devices of the type described in this document.
[0046] Another optional way is for one or more of the individual operations of the
methods to be performed in conjunction with one or more human operators performing
some. These human operators need not be collocated with each other, but each can be
only with a machine that performs a portion of the program.
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates a logic flow diagram for process 800 of augmentation and
correction of location based data through user feedback according to embodiments.
Process 800 may be implemented as part of a mapping application executed by a server.
[0048] Process 800 begins with operation 810, where augmented location data is
displayed to user. The location data may include a map of the location, a satellite image of
the location, a street view of the location, audio description and comparable ones. The
location to be displayed may be determined based on user input or automatic computation
such as based on a GPS system. At operation 820, user feedback associated with one or
more features of the displayed location may be received. The feedback may include
supplemental information such as a business name or detail information about a business
that was not available to the mapping application. The feedback may also include
correction to erroneous information. To incentivize feedback, augmented reality based
treasure hunt style games or direct / indirect reward mechanisms may be employed.
[0049] At operation 830, the received feedback may be verified. The verification may
take several forms. For example, only authenticated and/or trusted users may be allowed
to provide feedback or feedback may be weighted based on a trust level of the providing
user. Other mechanisms may include confirming a location of the user (e.g. via GPS),
receiving an image of the location from the user, and the like. Some feedback
mechanisms such as enabling other users to confirm or correct the received feedback may
be implemented after operation 840, where the supplemented and/or corrected augmented
location data is displayed.
[0050] At operation 850, the submitting or correcting user (depending on whether the
initial submission was correct) may be rewarded as discussed previously. The reward
mechanism may be configured to incentivize higher number and more accurate feedback
and corrections. In case of corrections after display of original submitted feedback, the
displayed augmented location data may be revised with the corrections and re-displayed.
[0051] The operations included in process 800 are for illustration purposes. Providing
augmentation and correction of location based data through user feedback may be
implemented by similar processes with fewer or additional steps, as well as in different
order of operations using the principles described herein.
[0052] The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the
manufacture and use of the composition of the embodiments. Although the subject matter
has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it
is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not
necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific
features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the
claims and embodiments.
CLAIMS
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method executed at least in part in a computing device for supplementing and
correcting augmented location based data, the method comprising:
displaying augmented location based data;
receiving user feedback associated with at least one of missing information
and incorrect information in augmentation data;
verifying the user feedback;
revising the augmented location based data;
displaying the revised augmented location based data; and
rewarding a user submitting the feedback.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving feedback from other users after displaying the revised augmented
location based data;
correcting the revised augmented location based data; and
displaying the corrected augmented location based data.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reward is a non-monetary reward subject to
verification.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
if a user feedback is corrected by another user, rescinding the reward to the
original user submitting the feedback; and
rewarding the other user correcting the feedback.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
incentivizing users to submit feedback by at least one from a set of: a
"treasure hunt" style augmented reality game, advertising civic duty,
advertising business interests, and rewards for direct submissions.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the rewards include at least one from a set of:
coupons, discounts, access to services, privileges, cash, and points in a point-based
reward system.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the user feedback comprises at least one
from a set of: authenticating a submitting user, confirming the submitting user as
part of a group of "trusted users", confirming the submitting user's location at
submission time, and receiving an image of a location from the submitting user.
The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises verifying the user
feedback based on one of: employing text recovery on the image received from the
user and crawling a website associated with a business captured in the user
submitted image.
A system for supplementing and correcting augmented location information, the
system comprising:
a first server configured to host a location service providing augmented
location information comprising at least one from a set of a map, a
satellite image, and a panoramic street view image for a selected
location;
a second server configured to host a data collection service, the data
collection service adapted to:
incentivize users to submit feedback associated with the displayed
augmented location information by at least one from a set of: a
"treasure hunt" style augmented reality game, advertising civic
duty, advertising business interests, and rewards for direct
submissions;
verify user feedback based on at least one from a set of:
authentication of a submitting user, confirmation of the
submitting user as part of a group of "trusted users",
confirmation of the submitting user's location at submission
time, feedback from other users, and receipt of an image of a
location from the submitting user;
revise the augmented location information; and
display the revised augmented location information.
The system of claim 9, wherein the data collection service is further adapted to
incentivize the user by a "treasure hunt" style augmented reality game and
encourage users to submit feedback associated with an area of interest by
providing guidance.
The system of claim 9, wherein users submitting feedback are provided with a non
monetary reward subject to verification of the feedback.
The system of claim 9, wherein the selected location is determined based on at
least one from a set of: a user input through a client device, a Global Positioning
Service (GPS) based input, a cellular tower triangulation based input, and a
wireless data network location associated with a user.
A computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon for
supplementing and correcting augmented location information, the instructions
comprising:
incentivizing users to submit feedback associated with the displayed
augmented location information by at least one from a set of: a
"treasure hunt" style augmented reality game, advertising civic duty,
advertising business interests, and rewards for direct submissions;
verifying user feedback based on at least one from a set of: authentication
of a submitting user, confirmation of the submitting user as part of a
group of "trusted users", confirmation of the submitting user's location
at submission time, and receipt of an image of a location from the
submitting user;
revising the augmented location information ;
displaying the revised augmented location information;
if corrective feedback is received from other users associated with the
revision, verifying the corrective feedback;
correcting the revised augmented location information; and
displaying the corrected augmented location information.
The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further
comprise:
rewarding a first user submitting the feedback with a non-monetary reward;
if corrective feedback is received and verified, rescinding the non-monetary
reward and rewarding another user submitting the corrective feedback;
else
converting the non-monetary reward for the first user to a monetary reward.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein user feedback is enabled by
displaying the augmented location information on a mobile device with an option
to submit the feedback, the option to submit the feedback comprising at least one
from a set of: textual input, a camera based input, a compass based input, a touch
based input, and a Global Positioning Service (GPS) based input.