[citation][nom]jamie_1318[/nom]This is hardly patent trolling at all. Compared to patenting a gesture, patenting software that automatically creates pedestrian routes by combining local data sources almost looks commendable. Especially considering that automobile route planning using software is already patented.Although a patent shouldn't be the method of competition with an obvious idea like this. What they should really do is make better software and databases than everyone else in order to beat out the competition.[/citation]
I disagree. A specific algorithm is worthy of a patent, not the general concept the algorithm is supposed to be used for.
If I develop a new type of car engine I can patent that specific type of car engine, but I shouldn't be able to patent the concept of a car engine.
This kind of patent trolling is outlawed in most countries, as it should be, unfortunately the United States is not one of those countries.