System and method for locating points of interest

• US 6,473,692 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Procepts Llc
• Original Assignee: Go2 Systems Inc (xAd, Inc)
• Inventors: Hancock, S. Lee, Dana, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/012,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus for defining grid and proprietary addresses of selected locations within a geographical area is described, characterized in that the grid addresses are defined in relation to a grid and can be easily converted to global coordinates defined in relation to a known global referencing system, and the proprietary addresses are unique to the geographical area.

Claims

1. A locational information system capable of being used to locate a location, said locational information system comprising:

a repository capable of storing said location;

a receiver capable of receiving a request including a locational address from a user, wherein a search of said repository indicates that said locational address is within said location; and

a transmitter capable of transmitting said location to emergency personnel;

wherein said locational address is defined based on a latitude/longitude.

2. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said request is received via the Internet.

3. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a PLA.

4. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a ULA.

5. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a street address.

6. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said latitude/longitude is derived from a GPS system.

7. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said user transmits said request using a portable device.

8. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said user transmits said request using a phone.

9. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said user transmits said request using a pager.

10. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said locational address is manually inputted by said user.

11. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said locational address is a positional information.

12. The locational information system of claim 1, wherein said locational address is coordinates of said user'"'"'s location.

14. A method of providing locational information services capable of being used to locate a location, said method comprising:

storing said location in a repository;

receiving a request including a locational address from a user;

searching said repository based on said locational address;

determining that said locational address is within said location; and

transmitting said location to emergency personnel;

wherein said locational address is defined based on a latitude/longitude.

13. The locational information system of claim 19, wherein said location is a physical structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said request is received via the Internet.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a PLA.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a ULA.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a street address.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said latitude/longitude is derived from a GPS system.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said user transmits said request using a portable device.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said user transmits said request using a phone.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein said user transmits said request using a pager.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein said locational address is manually inputted by said user.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein said locational address is a positional information.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said locational address is coordinates of said user'"'"'s location.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein said location is a physical structure.

27. A locational information system capable of being used to provide a location, said locational information system comprising:

a repository capable of receiving and storing said location;

a receiver capable of receiving a request including a locational address, wherein a search of said repository acquires said location; and

a transmitter capable of transmitting said location to a user;

wherein said locational address is defined based on a latitude/longitude.

28. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said repository is accessible via the Internet.

29. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said repository is accessible by a portable device.

30. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said location is a structure.

31. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said location is an area.

32. The locational information system of claim 31, wherein said area is defined based on a county and a city.

33. The locational information system of claim 31, wherein said area is defined based on a PLA.

34. The locational information system of claim 31, wherein said area is defined based on a ULA.

35. The locational information system of claim 31, wherein said area is defined based on a zip code.

36. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said request is received via the Internet.

37. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a PLA.

38. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a ULA.

39. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said receiver converts said latitude/longitude to a street address.

40. The locational information system of claim 27, wherein said latitude/longitude is derived from a GPS system.

41. A method of providing a location, said method comprising:

storing said location in a repository;

receiving a request including a locational address;

searching said repository based on said locational address;

acquiring said location; and

transmitting said location to a user;

wherein said locational address is defined based on a latitude/longitude.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said repository is accessible via the Internet.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said repository is accessible by a portable device.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein said location is a structure.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein said location is an area.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said area is defined based on a county and a city.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said area is defined based on a PLA.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said area is defined based on a ULA.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein said area is defined based on a zip code.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein said request is received via the Internet.

51. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a PLA.

52. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a ULA.

53. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

converting said latitude/longitude to a street address.

54. The method of claim 41, wherein said latitude/longitude is derived from a GPS system.