Associating Geographic-Related Information with Objects

• US 20080104019A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nath, Suman K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Techniques for associating geographic-related information with objects are described. In one implementation, a search is conducted on a keyword string of one or more keywords descriptive or otherwise representative of a geographically-relevant object. If a location is identified, geographic-related semantic information of the location is associated with the geographically-relevant object. In some cases, multiple possible locations may be identified as a result of searching the keyword string. If multiple locations are identified, a probable location is determined and then geographic-related semantic information of the probable location is associated with the geographically-relevant object described by the keyword string.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a keyword string of one or more keywords, the keyword string being representative of a geographically-relevant object;

searching geographical data to identify at least one location associated with the keyword string; and

associating geographic-related semantic information of the location with the geographically-relevant object.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographically-relevant object is an object selected from a group of objects comprising map objects, image objects, and sensor objects.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographic-related semantic information comprises latitude and longitude.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the associating comprises assigning a tag to the geographically-relevant object.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein multiple possible locations are identified, and the associating comprises determining a probable location from the multiple possible locations, and correlating the geographic-related semantic information of the probable location with the geographically-relevant object.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein multiple possible locations are returned, and the associating comprises determining a probable location as a clustering function of the multiple locations, and correlating the geographic-related semantic information of the probable location with the geographically-relevant object.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing the associated geographic-related semantic information together with the geographically-relevant object.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising presenting a map such that the location with the geographically-relevant object is centered.

9. A computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising:

initiating a search of geographical data to identify at least one possible location associated with a keyword string, the keyword string comprising one or more keywords representative of a geographically-relevant object;

in an event that one particular location is identified, associating geographic-related semantic information of the one particular location with the geographically-relevant object represented by the keyword string; and

in an event that multiple locations are identified, determining a probable location as a function of the multiple locations and associating geographically-related semantic information of the probable location with the geographic-relevant object represented by the keyword string.

10. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the function comprises a clustering function.

11. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the function comprises a clustering function in which the probable location is computed as a center of a set of clustered possible locations after removal of spurious possible locations.

12. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the geographic-related semantic information comprises latitude and longitude.

13. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, further storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising assigning a tag containing the geographic-related semantic information to the geographically-relevant object.

14. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, further storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising storing the associated geographic-related semantic information together with the geographically-relevant object.

15. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, further storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising presenting a map such that the geographically-relevant object is centered.

16. An interface comprising:

an entry area to permit entry of a keyword string of one or more keywords, the keyword string being representative of a geographically-relevant object; and

a module to identify at least one geographical location associated with the keyword string and to associate geographic-related information of the geographical location with the geographically-relevant object represented by the keyword string.

17. An interface as recited in claim 16, wherein the geographic-related information comprises latitude and longitude.

18. An interface as recited in claim 16, wherein the module assigns a tag to the geographically-relevant object, the tag comprising the geographic-related information.

19. An interface as recited in claim 16, wherein the module identifies multiple possible locations, the module further comprising an analysis unit to determine a probable location from the multiple possible locations and associate the geographic-related semantic information of the probable location to the geographically-relevant object.

20. An interface as recited in claim 16, further comprising a mapping module to present a map with the geographically-relevant object at center.