System and method of generating route-based ad networks

1. A computer-implemented method in a mobile device, comprising:

automatically and periodically capturing location data indicating a current position of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user;

recording a log of the location data captured over a period of time;

analyzing the log of the location data to identify:

(i) a route traveled by the user, and

(ii) a plurality of points of interest (POIs) visited by the user;

generating a user preference score for each POI visited by the user, the user preference score being based at least on:

(i) a number of visits by the user to each POI, and

(ii) a distance traveled by the user to visit each POI, wherein a greater distance traveled by the user to visit a POI corresponds to a higher user preference score for the POI;

identifying, using a user preference score database, other similar users by determining (i) which other users have visited one or more of the plurality of POIs visited by the user and/or (ii) which other users have similar user preference scores for one or more of the plurality of POIs visited by the user;

predicting a user preference score for each POI not visited by the user, the predicted user preference score being based at least on one or more other user preference scores generated for the POI not visited by the user, the one or more other user preference scores associated with the other similar users; and

recommending a POI for the user based at least on the predicted user preference score of the POI.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a greater number of visits by the user to a POI corresponds to a higher user preference score for the POI.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the distance traveled by the user to visit the POI is a distance between the POI and a previous POI visited by the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein predicting a user preference score for each POI not visited by the user further comprises predicting a lower user preference score for a POI not visited by the user when the POI is proximate to the route traveled by the user and similar to one or more POIs visited by the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein recommending the POI for the user is further based on a proximity of the POI to the route traveled by the user of the mobile device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein recommending the POI for the user is further based on a proximity of the POI to an updated current position of the mobile device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising recording an indication when, after recommending a POI for the user, the user subsequently visits the POI.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

a processor configured to interface with the memory, and configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:

automatically and periodically capture location data indicating a current position of the electronic device, the electronic device being associated with a user;

record a log of the location data captured over a period of time;

analyze the log of the location data to identify:

(i) a route traveled by the user, and

(ii) a plurality of points of interest (POIs) visited by the user;

generate a user preference score for each POI visited by the user, the user preference score being based at least on:

(i) a number of visits by the user to each POI, and

(ii) a distance traveled by the user to visit each POI, wherein a greater distance traveled by the user to visit a POI corresponds to a higher user preference score for the POI;

identifying, using a user preference score database, other similar users by determining (i) which other users have visited one or more of the plurality of POIs visited by the user and/or (ii) which other users have similar user preference scores for one or more of the plurality of POIs visited by the user;

predict a user preference score for each POI not visited by the user, the predicted user preference score being based at least on one or more other user preference scores generated for the POI not visited by the user, the one or more other user preference scores associated with the other similar users; and

recommend a POI for the user based at least on the predicted user preference score of the POI.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein a greater number of visits by the user to a POI corresponds to a higher user preference score for the POI.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the distance traveled by the user to visit the POI is a distance between the POI and a previous POI visited by the user.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable instructions causing the processor to predict a user preference score for each POI not visited by the user further include instructions causing the processor to predict a lower user preference score for a POI not visited by the user when the POI is proximate to the route traveled by the user and similar to one or more POIs visited by the user.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable instructions causing the processor to recommend the POI for the user further include instructions causing the processor to recommend the POI for the user based on a proximity of the POI to the route traveled by the user of the mobile device.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable instructions causing the processor to recommend the POI for the user further include instructions causing the processor to recommend the POI for the user based on a proximity of the POI to an updated current position of the mobile device.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions causing the processor to record an indication when, after recommending a POI for the user, the user subsequently visits the POI.