Next place prediction in unfamiliar places considering contextual factors

Abstract

This research aims to develop a method for maximizing the accuracy of next place prediction (NPP) in places that are unfamiliar to each mobile phone users. NPP is a problem of predicting the next place of the user given his/her current place and current time. In places that are unfamiliar to the person, it is difficult to predict the next place based on the person's historical location data because there are just a few or no data in such places for each user. Furthermore, it is also difficult to rely on the regularity of human mobility because tourists' mobility is easily affected by many external factors, such as weather. Our research aims to solve the difficulties in NPP in unfamiliar places by focusing on contextual factors such as weather, transportation means, place of residence, and time.