Google has filed a patent application for a new feature for Google Maps that should make it easier to travel with others, if it comes to fruition.
We know the hassle of finding our way to a place with our car, but also of designing the right route: either take one or drop off another. Google is working on it, as shown by a recently filed patent application discovered by Igiltato make Google Maps even more useful.
How Google Maps wants to coordinate multi-user navigation
This patent was discovered in Google’s US applications. It aims to coordinate navigation for groups. The idea is that users should be able to create trips with several people. The creator of the itinerary can add other users to a group, in order to go to the same destination from multiple locations.
You can of course decide to go through all the starting points in order to carpool if you are by car for example. Be careful though, this is not a carpooling system like Blablacar: a priori, you will have to know the other users to travel with them.
During the trip, Google Maps can send notifications, share the progress of the trip and even suggest meeting places, to make parking easier. The advantage of this is that if someone comes to pick you up, you will no longer have to ask them every five minutes when they are arriving. By going to Google Maps, you will be able to see it. And this is true even with several participants.
To be warned if traffic is heavy and/or there is an accident on the road. In its patent, Google even adds a voice chat function between participants. In the case where you are traveling in several cars, you will be able to have an idea of the progress of the other car: if it is in front, behind. Enough to adjust your speed or stop at the next motorway service station (to also take a break).
The system described is in a patent application. Google conceptualized this system, but has not implemented it at all. Google Maps may one day test and even deploy this solution, but it may also abandon it. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this functionality will see the light of day.