Geocoding method using multidimensional vector spaces
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating a reliability of using ambiguous input geographic data to generate a geocoded output address match, the method comprising:
- selecting a first plurality of n different types of locate tests to be used to convert the ambiguous input geographic data into the output address match;
retrieving a known certainty value (1−
u) associated with each test in the selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests;
defining a weighting constant (w) for each test in said selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests, the weighting constant within the range of 0.0 to 1.0; and
generating a characteristic vector defining the reliability of the output address match with respect to the ambiguous input geographic data, the characteristic vector defined as the sum of each known certainty value multiplied by its associated weighting constant for the first plurality of n different types of locate tests.
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Abstract
A process for evaluating and geocoding of GIS data elements utilizes a plurality of “locate” tests and a weighting scheme to express the match results as a multidimensional vector. Multiple inputs and data sources, as well as ambiguous and partial input data, are used to generate an output with improved precision by applying a weighting function to each input element and generating a set of test vectors (i.e., the input data element weighted by the known accuracy of the element/source). A sum of a plurality of tests is then generated as the “characteristic vector” of the test set. By using two (or more) different sets of test, two (or more) characteristic vectors are formed. Various well-known algebraic techniques can then be used to evaluate the results of each set of tests and select the “best match” result.
10 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating a reliability of using ambiguous input geographic data to generate a geocoded output address match, the method comprising:
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selecting a first plurality of n different types of locate tests to be used to convert the ambiguous input geographic data into the output address match; retrieving a known certainty value (1−
u) associated with each test in the selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests;defining a weighting constant (w) for each test in said selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests, the weighting constant within the range of 0.0 to 1.0; and generating a characteristic vector defining the reliability of the output address match with respect to the ambiguous input geographic data, the characteristic vector defined as the sum of each known certainty value multiplied by its associated weighting constant for the first plurality of n different types of locate tests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A computer-readable medium having embedded thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method of evaluating a reliability of using ambiguous input geographic data to generate a geocoded output address match, the method comprising:
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selecting a first plurality of n different types of locate tests to be used to convert the ambiguous input geographic data into the output address match; retrieving a known certainty value (1−
u) associated with each test in the selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests;defining a weighting constant (w) for each test in said selected first plurality of n different types of locate tests, the weighting constant within the range of 0.0 to 1.0; and generating a characteristic vector defining the reliability of the output address match with respect to the ambiguous input geographic data, the characteristic vector defined as the sum of each known certainty value multiplied by its associated weighting constant for the first plurality of n different types of locate tests. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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Specification