Method for rapid determination of an assigned region associated with a location on the earth
First Claim
1. A method for generating a database having a plurality of hierarchical records for correlating a present location of a subscriber unit on the Earth with a location area controlled by a communication service provider, said location area denoting a functionally uniform operable region for said communication service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) partitioning the Earth into a plurality of equally spaced areas;
(b) for each of said plurality of equally spaced areas, overlaying service area boundary data denoting service areas controlled by said communication service provider within said each of said plurality of equally spaced areas;
(c) when one of said plurality of equally spaced areas contains any of said service area boundary data, further partitioning said one of said plurality of equally spaced areas into additional ones of said plurality of equally spaced areas;
(d) when said plurality of equally spaced areas do not contain said service area boundary data, recording said location area assigned to said one of said plurality of equally spaced areas; and
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for each of said plurality of equally spaced areas.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A global communication system must comply with service restrictions when operating across political and other restrictive boundaries. The location of a subscriber unit must be correlated to a service area region for identifying and extending appropriate restrictions and services. The Earth is partitioned into equally spaced areas (125, 130) with entries stored in database records. Service area boundary data (205) overlays the equally spaced areas (125, 130) to assign each equally spaced area to a location area enabling efficient use of the communication system. Equally spaced areas (125, 130) are iteratively subdivided to form a hierarchical database (350) when service area boundary data (205) bisects an equally spaced area (125, 130).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for generating a database having a plurality of hierarchical records for correlating a present location of a subscriber unit on the Earth with a location area controlled by a communication service provider, said location area denoting a functionally uniform operable region for said communication service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) partitioning the Earth into a plurality of equally spaced areas; (b) for each of said plurality of equally spaced areas, overlaying service area boundary data denoting service areas controlled by said communication service provider within said each of said plurality of equally spaced areas; (c) when one of said plurality of equally spaced areas contains any of said service area boundary data, further partitioning said one of said plurality of equally spaced areas into additional ones of said plurality of equally spaced areas; (d) when said plurality of equally spaced areas do not contain said service area boundary data, recording said location area assigned to said one of said plurality of equally spaced areas; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for each of said plurality of equally spaced areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for searching a database for correlating a present location of a subscriber unit on the Earth with a location area corresponding to said present location and controlled by a communication service provider, said location area denoting a functionally uniform operable region for said communication service provider, said database having a plurality of hierarchical records representing a plurality of equally spaced areas partitioned on the Earth, said plurality of equally spaced areas being overlayed with service area boundary data and controlled by a communication service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving said present location of said subscriber unit; (b) computing which of said plurality of equally spaced areas partitioned on the Earth include said present location; (c) indexing in response to said computing step one of said plurality of hierarchical records that include said present location; (d) when said one of said plurality of hierarchical records denotes more than one location area, incrementing resolution of said plurality of hierarchical records to a more detailed level; (e) until said one of said plurality of hierarchical records denotes a single location area, repeating steps (b-d); and (f) retrieving said location area corresponding to said present location of said subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for generating a database for correlating a present location of a subscriber unit on the Earth with a service area controlled by a communication service provider, said service area defining a region having uniform operating privileges for said subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) searching a location area database having a plurality of hierarchical records wherein some of said plurality of hierarchical records have service area boundary data, said location area database having said plurality of hierarchical records representing a plurality of equally spaced areas partitioned on the Earth, said plurality of equally spaced areas being overlayed with said service area boundary data; and (b) for each of said plurality of hierarchical records having said service area boundary data, duplicating said plurality of hierarchical record into said database. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for determining a service area for a subscriber unit by correlating a present location of said subscriber unit on the Earth with said service area controlled by a communication service provider, said service area defining a region having uniform operating privileges for said subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a present location probability region about said present location, said present location defining an origin for said present location probability region; (b) searching a service area database for records encompassed by said present location probability region, said service area database having a plurality of records with each having service area boundary data, said plurality of records being derived from a plurality of hierarchical records representing a plurality of equally spaced areas partitioned on the Earth, said plurality of equally spaced areas being overlayed with said service area boundary data; and (c) resolving said service area corresponding with said present location of said subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification