System and method for identifying geographical areas that significantly overlap a map view
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of identifying which of a set of target geographical areas significantly overlap a view port of a map, wherein the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:
- identifying a set of target areas, wherein each target area is associated with a message desired to be served with a view port overlapping the target area;
identifying a view port to be served to a user;
selecting a plurality of points within the view port; and
for each target area, determining whether the target area intersects one or more of the points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for identifying, from a set of geographical areas, a set of target areas that overlap a map view or view port of a map. Target areas are defined as circles having centers and radii, as sets of geographic cells overlaying the areas, or as other polygons of geographic data. Within a view port served or to be served to a user, multiple points are defined and substantially equally spaced within the view port, such that any target area that may significantly overlap the view port (e.g., at least a threshold percentage of the view port) is likely to overlap a minimum number of the points (e.g., one). Some or all target areas are then tested for intersection with some or all of the points, and calculations may be made to determine how much the intersecting areas actually overlap the view port.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of identifying which of a set of target geographical areas significantly overlap a view port of a map, wherein the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:
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identifying a set of target areas, wherein each target area is associated with a message desired to be served with a view port overlapping the target area; identifying a view port to be served to a user; selecting a plurality of points within the view port; and for each target area, determining whether the target area intersects one or more of the points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of identifying which of a set of target geographical areas significantly overlap a view port of a map, the method comprising:
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identifying a set of target areas, wherein each target area is associated with a message desired to be served with a view port overlapping the target area; identifying a view port to be served to a user; selecting a plurality of points within the view port; and for each target area, determining whether the target area intersects one or more of the points.
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16. A computer system for identifying target geographical areas that significantly overlap a view port of a map, the system comprising:
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a first server configured to store information configured to be served with view ports encompassing the target geographical areas; and a second server configured to serve view ports overlapping the target geographical areas; a hierarchical spatial index comprising nodes corresponding to multiple layers of cells of geographical information; and a boundary generator configured to, for each target geographical area; identify a set of the cells of geographical information that encompass the target geographical area; and determine bounds of the target geographical areas using said set of cells. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification