Location encoder
First Claim
1. A method of forming a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the method comprising,relating the geographic information to the coordinate system, providing a hierarchical segmentation scheme to create subdivisions based on the geographic information, assigning a binary code to the subdivisions, determining a level of the hierarchical scheme to provide a desired precision for the binary representation, forming the binary representation based on the assigned binary codes and the desired precision.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to convert geographic information to a binary representation, or bingeo. The geographic information can be converted to a bingeo for a selected reference or coordinate system, and with respect to a reference within the selected coordinate system. The coordinate system location to bingeo conversion can be hierarchical or iterative and can include segmenting the coordinate system or segments thereof. The iterative algorithm can include identifying a segment including the specified location, and segmenting the identified segment. During an iteration, segments can be assigned a binary code that can be incorporated into the bingeo. Successive segmentation iterations can be performed to provide increased precision. In one embodiment, a precision of 0.16 inches squared can be attained. Two bingeos can be compared, in the simplest form, using a bitwise logical XOR.
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Citations
93 Claims
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1. A method of forming a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the method comprising,
relating the geographic information to the coordinate system, providing a hierarchical segmentation scheme to create subdivisions based on the geographic information, assigning a binary code to the subdivisions, determining a level of the hierarchical scheme to provide a desired precision for the binary representation, forming the binary representation based on the assigned binary codes and the desired precision.
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15. A method of forming a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the method comprising,
relating the geographic information to the coordinate system, iteratively creating subdivisions from at least one of the coordinate system or a subdivision of the coordinate system, assigning a binary code to the created subdivisions, and, forming the binary representation based on the binary code of the identified created subdivision.
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33. A method for comparing a first location and a second location, comprising,
using an iterative process to obtain a binary representation of the first location, using the iterative process to obtain a binary representation of the second location, performing a binary computation utilizing the first location binary representation and the second location binary representation to obtain a binary result, and computing a distance measure from the binary result.
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42. A system for comparing at least two locations, comprising,
an interface to receive geographical information based on at least one of the at least two locations, a processor having instructions to convert the geographical information to a binary representation using a hierarchical segmentation scheme, where levels of the hierarchical scheme are associated with a precision for thc binary representation, a database that includes binary representations of at least another of the at least two locations, a comparator to perform a binary computation between binary representations.
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50. A system for forming a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the system comprising,
means for providing the geographic information, means for implementing a hierarchical segmentation scheme to create subdivisions based on the geographic information, means for determining a level of the hierarchial scheme to provide a desired precision for the binary representation means for assigning a binary code to the subdivisions, and, means for forming the binary representation based on the assigned binary codes and the desired precision.
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53. A computer product for brining a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and having instructions for causing a processor to,
relate the geographic information to thc coordinate system, provide a hierarchical segmentation scheme to create subdivisions based on the geographic information, determine a level of the hierarchical scheme to provide a desired precision, assign a binary code to the subdivisions, and, form thc binary representation based on the assigned binary codes and the desired precision.
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67. A computer product for forming a binary representation of geographic information based on a coordinate system, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and having instructions for causing a processor to,
relate the geographic information to the coordinate system, iteratively create subdivisions from at least one of the coordinate system or a subdivision of the coordinate system, assign a binary code to the created subdivisions, and, form the binary representation based on the binary code of the identified created subdivision.
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85. A computer product for comparing a first location and a second location, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and having instructions for causing a processor to,
use an iterative process to obtain a binary representation of the first location, use the iterative process to obtain a binary representation of the second location, perform a binary computation utilizing the first location binary representation and the second location binary representation to obtain a binary result, and compute a distance measure from the binary result.
Specification