Methods and systems for updating a land use and land cover map using postal records

• US 6,571,242 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hao, Jianxiu, Cheng, Beato T., Heckman, Norman Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmoudi, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US09/624,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 707/6, 707/104.1, 707/5, 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/201, 701/201, 382/318, 382/113, 342/357.13, 379/113, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented to classify a region on a map, or to update a preexisting classification of the region. The method utilizes postal records, associated with geographic positions, and corresponding land classifications to classify the region or to update the preexisting classification.

Claims

1. A method for updating land use and land cover data that provide a land classification of a region on a map, the method comprising:

a) obtaining a postal record, associated with the region, and a corresponding land classification;

b) obtaining a first bitmap that associates the region with the land classification;

c) constructing a second bitmap that associates the region with the corresponding land classification;

d) overlaying the second bitmap on the first bitmap to update the data; and

e) updating the data by replacing the land classification of the region on the map with the corresponding land classification.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein, in the step of obtaining a postal record, the postal record includes a ZIP+4 code.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein, in the step of obtaining a postal record, the corresponding classification includes at least one of a residential classification, commercial classification, and highrise classification.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the data includes dilating the data.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the data includes filtering the data.

6. A method as in claim 1, further including utilizing data that provides a location of a highway in the region for indicating a position of the highway on the map.

7. A system for updating land use and land cover data that provide a land classification of a region on a map, the system comprising:

a) a database having a postal record, associated with the region, and a corresponding land classification; and

b) a processor, coupled to the database, for updating the data by replacing the land classification of the region on the map with the corresponding land classification; and

wherein a first bitmap that associates the region with the land classification is obtained, a second bitmap that associates the region with the corresponding land classification is constructed, and the second bitmap is overlayed on the first bitmap to update the data.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the postal record includes a ZIP+4 code.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the corresponding classification includes at least one of a residential classification, a commercial classification, and a highrise classification.