function parseRoute() {
      // Match a route
      var params, match;
      angular.forEach(routes, function(route, path) {
        if (!match && (params = switchRouteMatcher($location.path(), route))) {
          match = inherit(route, {
            params: angular.extend({}, $location.search(), params),
            pathParams: params});
          match.$$route = route;
        }
      });
      // No route matched; fallback to "otherwise" route
      return match || routes[null] && inherit(routes[null], {params: {}, pathParams:{}});
    }
@returns {Object} the current active route, by matching it against the URL