Google is developing new features for its Maps to facilitate group travel, enabling users from various locations to reach a shared destination within a specified timeframe. According to a patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (via @xleaks7), this upcoming functionality aims to coordinate multiple users travelling to the same destination from different starting points using the navigation service.
The important aspects of this new feature update include the ability to send notifications, exchange car whereabouts and recommend best meeting points when routes converge. Also, the new feature ensures that all the vehicles are synchronised and reduces the chances of getting lost.
Furthermore, the system would communicate the most recent traffic and road conditions based on the leading vehicle's route, keeping everyone updated.
The new feature is supposed to have access to users' calendar schedules and messages to determine their travel plans. In case many users are spotted it is said to coordinate their travel plans by sending them invitations to join the multi-car navigation and offering instructions to the same destination within similar time frames. Additionally, the users might also make specific requests for multi-car navigation while planning their trips.
The new feature will work in smartphones and devices connected to a vehicle's infotainment system via USB or Bluetooth. However, the tech giant has still not announced when they will be rolling out the new multi-car navigation feature.
We have seen several updates coming to its Maps. Recently, Google updated its AI-powered digital assistant Gemini to let users start automatic Google Maps navigation.
According to a previous report by 9To5Google, the feature can be used by simply asking the AI-powered digital assistant to start navigation to a location and use prompts such as “Navigate to [place]” or “Take me to [x]” commands.
After receiving the commands from the user, Gemini will provide a brief overview of the route and the estimated time to reach the destination. Google Maps is a commonly used navigation tool around the world.
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