Method and apparatus for generating customized maps

• US 20070288509A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bastani, Ali, Belanger, David, Parker, Sam, Puthenpura, Sarat, Weiss, Phyllis, Zhao, Wenjie
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/919 Geographic

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for generating a map. The system and method include a database for storing a list of recipients and characteristics associated with each recipient in the list of recipients. The method and system also include a control module for receiving a characteristic associated with at least one recipient in the list of recipients. The method and system also include a rule engine for generating a map based at least in part on the characteristic associated with the at least one recipient using programmable rules.

Claims

1. A method for generating a map comprising:

receiving, from a database, data identifying at least one recipient associated with a predetermined characteristic; and

generating a map based at least in part on said predetermined characteristic of said at least one recipient using at least one programmable rule.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising searching said database for said data identifying at least one recipient associated with a predetermined characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving said predetermined characteristic.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving at least one of location data, revenue, product ownership, customer status, tenure with a particular company, organization, payment status, credit rating, and responses to previously communicated material.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating at least one polygon for use in said map.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said map to said at least one recipient.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a communication regarding said map from said recipient.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a rule used to generate said map.

9. A system configured to generate a map comprising:

a database configured to store a list of recipients and characteristics associated with each recipient in said list of recipients;

a control module configured to receive a characteristic associated with at least one recipient in said list of recipients; and

a rule engine configured to generate a map based at least in part on said characteristic associated with at least one recipient using programmable rules.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a map creation and disbursement rules database in communication with said control module and configured to store data associated with creation of said map.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a mapping attributes database in communication with said control module and configured to store attributes of said map.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said rule engine further comprises a data validation and data processing module configured to at least one of validate and process data associated with said map.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a polygon generation module configured to generate at least one polygon for said map.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said rule engine further comprises a mapping rule engine in communication with said polygon generation module and said data validation and data processing module and configured to generate said map based on said at least one polygon and said data.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said rule engine further comprises a geo-processing module configured to identify each layer of geo elements according to their corresponding geo coordinates.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising a maps database for storing said map generated by said rule engine.

17. The system of claim 9 further comprising a communication module in communication with said rule engine and configured to communicate said map to said at least one recipient.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said communication module further comprises an email rendering engine configured to deliver said map via email and a paper rendering engine configured to deliver said map via paper.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein said characteristic further comprises at least one of location data, revenue, product ownership, customer status, tenure with a particular company, organization, payment status, credit rating, and responses to previously communicated material.

20. A system configured to generate a map comprising:

means for receiving, from a database, data identifying at least one recipient associated with a predetermined characteristic; and

means for generating a map based at least in part on said predetermined characteristic of said at least one recipient using at least one programmable rule.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for searching said database for said data identifying at least one recipient associated with a predetermined characteristic.

22. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for receiving said predetermined characteristic.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for receiving at least one of location data, revenue, product ownership, customer status, tenure with a particular company, organization, payment status, credit rating, and responses to previous material.

24. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for generating at least one polygon for use in said map.

25. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for transmitting said map to said at least one recipient.

26. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for receiving at least one communication regarding said map from said recipient.

27. The system of claim 20 further comprising means for receiving a rule used to generate said map.