System and method for dynamically integrating sources location-related information

• US 20080228392A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tele Atlas North America (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Tele Atlas North America (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Gil
• Application Number:
  US11/927,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system for creating and/or using a universal location referencing object (ULRO) with electronic files including electronic maps. ULROs establish traversable links between a file-of-reference and third-party-files. In accordance with an embodiment, the ULRO comprises a universal location referencing code uniquely corresponding to the location, together with several optional components, including: a set of name information; a super-set of coordinates; a file-of-reference pointer field comprising a file-of-reference pointer; a third-party-file pointer field comprising one or more third-party-file pointers; a file-of-reference back-pointer field comprising a file-of-reference back-pointer; a third-party-file back-pointer field comprising one or more third-party-file back-pointers; and a metadata field. ULROs allow recognition of equivalence of features in different maps, and facilitate dynamic combination or linking of multiple maps into one virtual map, with traversable connectivity for a wide variety of map formats.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system to provide a dynamically integrated electronic map of a location comprising:

a file-of-reference that comprises first information corresponding to a location;

a data object that comprises a unique identification code for the location; and

a logic that, in response to receiving a request,

utilizes the data object to associate the first information with a second information relating to the location, wherein the second information is contained within a third-party file, to create an associated information, and

integrates the associated information into one of an electronic map, database, or document.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the request is received from an operator.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the request is received automatically from another system without the input of an operator.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the data object is created only at the time of receiving the request.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the logic further determines which of a plurality of data objects in the system are associated with the same particular location.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the system further comprises an application programming interface that allows software developers to create relationships between the file-of-reference and one or more third-party file.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is incorporated into a cell phone or PDA-based navigation system.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is used to provide a driving/traffic conditions update to an end user, operator, or system.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the associating is performed by establishing a traversable link between the file-of-reference and a third-party file for the particular location.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the file-of-reference and the third-party-file are one or more of a map, document, or database that contains geographic information for multiple locations.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein either one of the first information or the second information is a real-time traffic data.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein either one of the first information or the second information is a weather prediction data.

33. A method to provide a dynamically integrated electronic database for a location comprising the steps of:

accessing a file-of-reference that comprises first information corresponding to a location;

accessing a data object that comprises a unique identification code for the location; and

in response to receiving a request,

utilizing the data object to associate the first information with a second information relating to the location, wherein the second information is contained within a third-party file, to create an associated information, and

integrating the associated information into one of an electronic map, database, or document.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the request is received from an operator.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the request is received automatically from another system without the input of an operator.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the data object is created only at the time of receiving the request.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the logic further determines which of a plurality of data objects in the system are associated with the same particular location.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the system further comprises an application programming interface that allows software developers to create relationships between the file-of-reference and one or more third-party file.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the system is incorporated into a cell phone or PDA-based navigation system.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the system is used to provide a driving/traffic conditions update to an end user, operator, or system.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the associating is performed by establishing a traversable link between the file-of-reference and a third-party file for the particular location.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the file-of-reference and the third-party-file are one or more of a map, document, or database that contains geographic information for multiple locations.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the file-of-reference and the third-party-file are one or more of a map, document, or database that contains geographic information for multiple locations.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein either one of the first information or the second information is a real-time traffic data.

45. A system of generating an electronic map, document, or database, comprising information about a location gathered from disparate sources, comprising:

a file-of-reference comprising first information associated with a location;

a third party file comprising second information associated with the location;

an object comprising identification information that is unique to the location;

a logic that uses the object to associate the first information with the second information; and

a logic that generates an electronic map, document, or database comprising both the first information and the second information.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the logic generates an electronic map comprising both the first information and the second information.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the logic generates a document comprising both the first information and the second information.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the logic generates a database comprising both the first information and the second information.

49. A method of generating an electronic map comprising information about a location gathered from disparate sources, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a file-of-reference comprising first information associated with a location;

obtaining a third party file comprising second information associated with the location;

creating an object comprising identification information that is unique to the location;

utilizing the object to associate the first information with the second information; and

generating an electronic map, document, or database comprising both the first information and the second information.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of generating generates an electronic map comprising both the first information and the second information.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the step of generating generates a document comprising both the first information and the second information.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the step of generating generates a database comprising both the first information and the second information.