Systems and methods for generating user specified information from a map

• US 7,916,142 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEO-Softworks, LLC
• Original Assignee: GEO-Softworks, LLC
• Inventors: Carroll, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous; Wesner
• Application Number:
  US12/490,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 34099514-99519, 340/995.23, 340/995.24, 701 25- 26, 701/201, 701/206, 701208-209, 701210-214, 705 1454- 1455, 705/14.57, 705/14.63, 705/14.67, 707705-706, 707/754, 707/758, 707769-770, 707/805, 707/812
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

An embodiment relates generally to a method of generating user-specified information. The method includes receiving a plurality of points selected on a map to form a first continuous line having one or more vertices. The method also includes generating a closed polygon having a plurality of edges, where at least one edge forms a second continuous line substantially parallel to and spaced apart at a distance from the first continuous line. The method also includes determining a plurality of coordinate pairs each associated with a point on the plurality of edges of the closed polygon and retrieving user specified information for an area enclosed by the plurality of coordinate pairs.

Claims

1. A method of generating user-specified information, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of points selected on a map, the plurality of points forming a first continuous line having one or more vertices;

generating a closed polygon having a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge forms a second continuous line substantially parallel to and spaced apart at a distance from the first continuous line, the distance being greater than zero;

determining a plurality of coordinate pairs, each coordinate pair associated with a point on the plurality of edges of the closed polygon; and

retrieving, by a processor, user specified information for an area enclosed by the plurality of coordinate pairs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a plurality of points selected on a map further comprises:

receiving a starting point and a destination point;

determining a driving route from the starting point to the destination point; and

selecting the plurality of points based on the driving route, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a point from the driving route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a plurality of points selected on a map further comprises:

receiving a selection of a natural boundary, wherein the natural boundary is a shoreline, a borderline, a mountain range, or an elevation contour; and

selecting the plurality of points based on the natural boundary, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a point from the natural boundary.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a generalized polygon based on the plurality of coordinate pairs.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising forming a query based on the generalized polygon.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a data set based on the query; and

filtering the data set against the plurality of coordinate pairs to form a second data set.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining an elevation data of the map;

receiving an elevation filter value; and

filtering the second data set against the elevation data based on the elevation filter value to form a filtered data set.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing one of a count of records in the filtered data set and a listing of records in the filtered data set in response to a user request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising instantiating a data structure to store the plurality of coordinate pairs.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a current line formed by each point and a previous point intersects with a previously created line.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising notifying a user of an invalid polygon in response to an intersection of the current line with the previously created line.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a current point of the plurality of points completes the closed polygon.

13. An apparatus comprising means to implement the method of claim 1.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

15. A system for generating user specified information from a map, the system comprising:

a map database;

a second database; and

a selector tool configured to interface with the map database and the second database, wherein the selector tool further comprises;

a user interface (“

UI”

) module configured to interface with the map database, accept a plurality of points on a selected map from the map database that form a continuous line having one or more vertices, and generate a closed polygon having a plurality of edges, wherein at least one edge forms a second continuous line substantially parallel to and spaced apart at a distance from the first continuous line, the distance being greater than zero;

a geometry engine configured to generate a query based on the closed polygon; and

a database interface configured to interface with the second database and to forward the query to the second database.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the UI module is further configured to receive a starting point and a destination point, determine a driving route from the starting point to the destination point, and select the plurality of points based on the driving route, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a point from the driving route.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the UI module is further configured to receive a selection of a natural boundary and select the plurality of points based on the natural boundary, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a point from the natural boundary and wherein the natural boundary is a shoreline, a borderline, a mountain range, or an elevation contour.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the geometry engine is configured to determine a generalized polygon based on the closed polygon.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the geometry engine is further configured to form a query based on the generalized polygon.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the geometry engine is further configured to issue the query to the database interface for the second database, receive a data set based on the query from the second database, and filter the received data set against the pairs to form a requested data set.