BOUNDARY DELINEATION SYSTEM

• US 20100123718A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: He, Kan
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Methods and systems for boundary delineation are described. In one embodiment, a living unit identifier may be translated into a translated geographic location point. The living unit identifier may be within a distribution area. A closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point may be delineated. An additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point may be delineated. The geographic location point may be associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area. The closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure may be merged to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

translating a living unit identifier into a translated geographic location point, the living unit identifier being within a distribution area;

delineating a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point;

delineating an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point, the geographic location point associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area; and

merging the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the translating of the living unit identifiers further comprises:

accessing a mailing address of a user from a subscriber database; and

converting the mailing address to the living unit identifier.

3. The computer-implemented of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering a boundary map; and

adding the distribution area figure to the boundary map.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

delineating a plurality of distribution area boundaries on the boundary map,

wherein the distribution area figure is within a particular distribution area boundary of the plurality of distribution area boundaries.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

merging the distribution area figure of the distribution area and an additional distribution area figure of an additional distribution area to create a coverage area figure.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein land-line telephone service for a plurality of living unit identifiers within the distribution area is served by a same cross-box, the plurality of living unit identifiers including the living unit identifier and the additional living unit identifier.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the living unit identifier includes a living unit address.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the living unit identifier includes a living unit address and an associated telephone number.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the closed plane living unit-based figure is a living unit-based polygon, the additional closed plane living unit-based figure is an additional living unit-based polygon, and the distribution area figure is a distribution area polygon.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the living unit-based polygon and the additional living unit-based polygon are Thiessen polygons.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the distribution area is a land-line telephone distribution area.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a living unit identifier to a geographic convertor, the living unit identifier being within a distribution area;

receiving a translated geographic location point from the geographic convertor in response to the providing of the living unit identifier;

delineating a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point;

delineating an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point, the geographic location point associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area; and

merging the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

rendering a boundary map; and

adding the distribution area figure to the boundary map.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

delineating a plurality of distribution area boundaries on the boundary map,

wherein the distribution area figure is within a particular distribution area boundary of the plurality of distribution area boundaries.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein land-line telephone service for the living unit identifier and the additional living unit identifier are within the distribution area served by a same cross-box.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

merging the distribution area figure of the distribution area and an additional distribution area figure of an additional distribution area to create a coverage area figure.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the closed plane living unit-based figure is a living unit-based polygon, the additional closed plane living unit-based figure is an additional living unit-based polygon, and the distribution area figure is a distribution area polygon.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the living unit-based polygon and the additional living unit-based polygon are Thiessen polygons.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the distribution area is a land-line telephone distribution area.

20. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

translate a living unit identifier into a translated geographic location point, the living unit identifier being within a distribution area;

delineate a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point;

delineate an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point, the geographic location point associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area; and

merge the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein land-line telephone service for a plurality of living unit identifiers within the distribution area is served by a same cross-box, the plurality of living unit identifiers including the living unit identifier and the additional living unit identifier.

22. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

provide a living unit identifier to a geographic convertor, the living unit identifier being within a distribution area;

receive a translated geographic location point from the geographic convertor in response to the providing of the living unit identifier;

delineate a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point;

delineate an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point, the geographic location point associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area; and

merging the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein land-line telephone service for a plurality of living unit identifiers within the distribution area is served by a same cross-box, the plurality of living unit identifiers including the living unit identifier and the additional living unit identifier.

24. A system comprising:

a graphic convertor communication module to provide a living unit identifier to a geographic convertor and receive a translated geographic location point from the geographic convertor in response to the providing of the living unit identifier, the living unit identifier being within a distribution area;

a figure delineation module to delineate a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point received by the graphic converter communication module and delineate an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point, the geographic location point associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area; and

a merger module to merge the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure delineated by the figure delineation module to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the land-line telephone service for a plurality of living unit identifiers within the distribution area is served by a same cross-box, the plurality of living unit identifiers including the living unit identifier and the additional living unit identifier.

26. A computer-implemented method comprising:

rendering a boundary map on a display device; and

adding a distribution area figure of a distribution area to the boundary map, the distribution area figure being a result of merging a closed plane living unit-based figure and an additional closed plane living unit-based figure.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising:

delineating a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point;

delineating an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds an additional geographic location point;

merging the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create the distribution area figure; and

wherein the adding of the distribution area figure is based on the merging of the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising:

delineating a plurality of distribution area boundaries on the boundary map,

wherein the distribution area figure is within a particular distribution area boundary of the plurality of distribution area boundaries.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising:

merging the distribution area figure of the distribution area and an additional distribution area figure of an additional distribution area to create a coverage area figure.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein the closed plane living unit-based figure is a living unit-based polygon, the additional closed plane living unit-based figure is an additional living unit-based polygon, and the distribution area figure is a distribution area polygon.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein the living unit-based polygon and the additional living unit-based polygon are Thiessen polygons.

32. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

render a boundary map on a display device; and

add a distribution area figure of a distribution area to the boundary map, the distribution area figure being a result of merging a closed plane living unit-based figure and an additional closed plane living unit-based figure.

33. The machine-readable medium of claim 32 further comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:

delineate a closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point;

delineate an additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds an additional geographic location point;

merge the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure to create the distribution area figure; and

wherein addition of the distribution area figure is based on the merge of the closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure.