Geocoding using a relational database
First Claim
1. A geocoding system for converting a named location to a set of geographic coordinate pairs, comprising:
- a computing processor having a memory device;
an interface for receiving named location information to be geocoded;
a relational database containing geographic data;
a spatial library of routines that access and analyze spatial data;
a geocoder engine that is configured to access the memory device and, based on execution of code in the memory device, apply at least one of the spatial library of routines to the geographic data in the relational database to calculate a set of geographic coordinates corresponding to the named location information according to a set of matching rules;
the geocoder engine configured to parse the received named location information and apply a corresponding routine in the spatial library of routines depending on at least one attribute type of location data in the received named location information to convert the named location information to the set of geographic coordinate pairs;
wherein the geocoder engine is configured to apply the corresponding routine, which includes performance of queries to the relational database to identify street segment information that corresponds to the named location information; and
wherein the street segment information includes a start node and end node as well as a geometry of a respective street segment, the geocoder engine configured to utilize a building number specified in the named location information to linearly interpolate a position on the geometry of the respective street segment as the set of geographic coordinates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A geographic data relational database and a spatial library of routines that access and analyze spatial data are used to convert an identified location to a set of geographic coordinate pairs. A geocoder engine applies the spatial library routines to the geographic data in the relational database, and based on the identified location and a set of matching rules, produces the set of geographic coordinates. The geographic data may be derived from multiple sources. The rules may specify, for example, that only geographic coordinates corresponding to an exact match of the identified location are to be returned, or that matching of certain attributes may be relaxed. The identified location may be, for example, the intersection of two streets, an address, a postal area code such as a zip code.
65 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A geocoding system for converting a named location to a set of geographic coordinate pairs, comprising:
a computing processor having a memory device; an interface for receiving named location information to be geocoded; a relational database containing geographic data; a spatial library of routines that access and analyze spatial data; a geocoder engine that is configured to access the memory device and, based on execution of code in the memory device, apply at least one of the spatial library of routines to the geographic data in the relational database to calculate a set of geographic coordinates corresponding to the named location information according to a set of matching rules; the geocoder engine configured to parse the received named location information and apply a corresponding routine in the spatial library of routines depending on at least one attribute type of location data in the received named location information to convert the named location information to the set of geographic coordinate pairs; wherein the geocoder engine is configured to apply the corresponding routine, which includes performance of queries to the relational database to identify street segment information that corresponds to the named location information; and wherein the street segment information includes a start node and end node as well as a geometry of a respective street segment, the geocoder engine configured to utilize a building number specified in the named location information to linearly interpolate a position on the geometry of the respective street segment as the set of geographic coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A geocoding method for converting a named location to a set of geographic coordinates, comprising:
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receiving named location information; maintaining a relational database containing geographic data; parsing the named location information to identify attributes of the named location information; depending on at least one attribute type of location data in the named location information, applying a corresponding routine in a spatial library of routines to the geographic data in the relational database to calculate a set of geographic coordinates corresponding to the named location information; and wherein applying the corresponding routine includes performing queries to the relational database to identify street segment information associated with the named location information, the street segment information including a start node and end node as well as a geometry of a respective street segment, the geocoding method further comprising; utilizing a building number specified in the named location information to linearly interpolate a position on the geometry of the respective street segment as the set of geographic coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A geocoding system for converting a named location to a set of geographic coordinates, comprising:
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a computing processor having at least one memory device; a geocoder engine having access to the at least one memory device; means for receiving named location information; means for maintaining a relational database containing geographic data; means for parsing the named location information to identify attributes of the named location information; and means for applying a corresponding routine in a spatial library of routines to the geographic data in the relational database to calculate a set of geographic coordinates corresponding to the named location depending on at least one attribute type of location data in the named location information; wherein means for applying the corresponding routine includes means for performing queries to the relational database to identify street segment information associated with the named location information, the street segment information including a start node and end node as well as a geometry of a respective street segment; and means for utilizing a building number specified in the named location information to linearly interpolate a position on the geometry of the respective street segment as the set of geographic coordinates.
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38. A computer program product for converting a named location to a set of geographic coordinate pairs, the computer program product comprising a tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code thereon, including program code for:
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receiving named location information; maintaining a relational database containing geographic data; parsing the named location information to identify attributes of the named location information; and depending on at least one attribute type of location data in the named location information, applying a corresponding routine in a spatial library of routines to the geographic data in the relational database to calculate a set of geographic coordinates corresponding to the named location; wherein applying the corresponding routine includes performing queries to the relational database to identify street segment information associated with the named location information, the street segment information including a start node and end node as well as a geometry of a respective street segment; and utilizing a building number specified in the named location information to linearly interpolate a position on the geometry of the respective street segment as the set of geographic coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification