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Method for identifying the geographic region of a geographic area which contains a geographic zone

  • US 5,978,747 A
  • Filed: 04/20/1998
  • Issued: 11/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a coordinate system having a plurality of points, each point defined by an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate, a method for identifying which of a plurality of non-overlapping regions of an area contains a zone, the zone being defined by a plurality of zone boundary points, comprising the steps of:

  • A. selecting one of the plurality of zone boundary points as a selected zone boundary point;

    B. selecting one of the plurality of regions as a selected region, the selected region being defined by a plurality of region boundary points;

    C. determining whether the selected zone boundary point is located within the selected region by;

    (1) determining whether a straight line drawn through the selected zone boundary point intersects the selected region at a first boundary point and a second boundary point;

    (2) if the straight line intersects the selected region at the first boundary point and the second boundary point, then determining whether the selected zone boundary point is located between the first boundary point and the second boundary point; and

    (3) if the selected zone boundary point is located between the first boundary point and the second boundary point, then determining that the selected zone boundary point is located within the selected region; and

    D. repeating step C with another one of the plurality of zone boundary points as the selected zone boundary point.

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