Spatial data portal

• US 8,452,776 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Original Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Inventors: Evans, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phuong, Dai A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Application Number:
  US10/439,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,666 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 455/416, 455/449, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/556.1, 455/404.1, 455/566, 707/10, 707/101, 707/104.1, 707/3, 701/200, 701/208, 709/204, 709/217, 709/203, 709/219, 709/218
• US Class Current: 707/743
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system and method linking one or more disparate datasets with one or more spatial layers to create linked datasets. One or more data attributes common to the dataset and the spatial layer are identified, and the linkage is defined between the dataset and the spatial layer. The spatial layer and the linked data set then may be queried using a single input query. Features from the spatial layer and features from the linked dataset that match the query are generated for display.

Claims

1. A method for spatially associating disparate data comprising:

selecting a spatial layer from at least one data system, the spatial layer having a plurality of spatial layer data attributes;

selecting a non-spatial layer disparate dataset from the at least one data system, the non-spatial layer disparate dataset having a plurality of dataset data attributes;

selecting a common data attribute that is common to at least one spatial layer data attribute and at least one dataset data attribute of the non-spatial layer disparate dataset;

storing a configuration definition in a memory, the configuration definition defining a linking relationship between the selected spatial layer common data attribute and the selected dataset common data attribute;

processing the configuration definition to spatially link the non-spatial layer disparate dataset and the spatial layer at a spatial processing system executing on at least one processor to create a spatially linked dataset;

spatially accessing the spatially linked dataset using the spatial processing system and, in response thereto, selecting at least a portion of the spatial layer data attributes from the spatial layer and at least another portion of the dataset data attributes from the non-spatial layer disparate dataset; and

using the spatial processing system, generating the selected portion of the spatial layer data attributes and the selected other portion of the dataset data attributes for display.

2. A method for spatially associating disparate data comprising:

selecting at least one spatial layer from at least one data system, the at least one spatial layer having spatial data comprising at least one spatial data attribute;

selecting a plurality of non-spatial layer disparate datasets from the at least one data system, each dataset having feature data comprising at least one feature data attribute;

configuring at least one configuration element to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer at a spatial processing system executing on at least one processor to create spatially linked datasets; and

spatially accessing the spatially linked disparate datasets with a query from the spatial processing system and selecting at least a portion of the spatial data from the at least one spatial layer and at least another portion of the feature data from at least one disparate dataset in response thereto.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein configuring the at least one configuration element to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer to create the spatially linked datasets comprises:

identifying at least one attribute common to the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets; and

defining a linking relationship for the at least one common attribute between the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein configuring the at least one configuration element to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer to create the spatially linked datasets comprises at least one method selected from a group consisting of:

identifying at least one common data attribute in the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets, identifying locations for the common data attribute in the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets, and linking the common data attribute at the locations between the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets; and

identifying at least a first common data attribute and a second common data attribute, wherein the first common data attribute is common to the spatial layer and a first disparate dataset and the second common data attribute is common to the spatial layer and a second disparate dataset, and further comprising;

identifying first locations for the first common data attribute in the spatial layer and the first disparate dataset and linking the first common data attribute at the first locations between the spatial layer and the first disparate dataset; and

identifying second locations for the second data attribute in the spatial layer and the second disparate dataset and linking the second common data attribute at the second locations between the spatial layer and the second disparate dataset.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein accessing the spatially linked disparate datasets with the query comprises:

querying the spatial layer to identify if at least the portion of the spatial data matches the query; and

querying the plurality of spatially linked disparate datasets to identify if at least the other portion of the feature data matches the query.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein spatially accessing the spatially linked disparate datasets with the query comprises performing at least one member of a group consisting of a search and a filter.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating the selected spatial data for a map image for display.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating the selected feature data for display.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating the selected feature data for at least one member of a group consisting of a list of feature data attributes and a feature display frame.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating at least one linked feature reference for display.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein spatially accessing the spatially linked disparate datasets with the query further comprises:

querying a first spatially linked disparate dataset;

identifying at least one first feature data matching the query in at least a second spatially linked disparate dataset; and

generating at least one linked feature reference for the at least one first feature data for display.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

linking at least one document to the at least one spatial data attribute in the spatial layer; and

generating at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating the at least one linked document for display upon selection of the at least one linked document reference.

14. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

generating the selected spatial data to a map image with spatial features;

linking at least one document to the at least one spatial data attribute in the spatial layer; and

generating at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display if at least one spatial feature is selected on the map image.

15. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

linking at least one document to at least one first feature data attribute in at least one disparate dataset; and

generating at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein:

selecting the plurality of disparate datasets each with feature data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of selecting population data for an entity and selecting well data for another entity; and

selecting the at least one spatial layer with spatial data comprises selecting at least one member of a group consisting of spatial attributes for a geographic element and other spatial attributes for another geographic element.

17. A method for spatially associating disparate data comprising:

selecting at least one spatial layer with spatial data comprising at least one spatial attribute from at least one data system;

selecting at least one non-spatial layer disparate dataset with feature data comprising at least one feature data attribute from the at least one data system;

selecting at least one common data attribute common to the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer;

storing a configuration definition in a memory, the configuration definition defining a linking relationship between the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute to create at least one spatially linked dataset;

spatially linking the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute by processing the configuration definition at a spatial processing system executing on at least one processor to create the at least one spatially linked dataset;

accepting a query at the spatial processing system;

initiating a search of the spatially linked dataset for the query at the spatial processing system; and

returning at least one result from the spatial processing system if at least one match is determined for the query, the at least one result comprising at least one member of a group consisting of at least a portion of the spatial data and at least another portion of the feature data.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting at least one other disparate dataset with other feature data from the at least one data system, the other feature data comprising at least one other feature data attribute, the configuration definition further defining another linking relationship between the at least other one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through at least one other common data attribute; and

spatially linking the at least one other disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer at the spatial processing system through at least one other common data attribute by processing the configuration definition.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting at least one other spatial layer with other spatial data comprising at least one other spatial attribute, the configuration definition further defining another linking relationship between the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one other spatial layer through at least one other common data attribute; and

spatially linking the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one other spatial layer at the spatial processing system through at least one other common data attribute by processing the configuration definition.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting at least one other disparate dataset with other feature data from the data system, the other feature data comprising at least one other feature data attribute, the configuration definition further defining another linking relationship between the at least one other disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute; and

spatially linking the at least one other disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer at the spatial processing system through the at least one common data attribute by processing the configuration definition.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

associating at least one document to data for at least one other member of another group consisting of the spatial data and the feature data.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising generating a link for the associated at least one document and generating the at least one document for display upon selection of the link.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein storing the configuration definition in the memory comprises storing a configuration file in the memory.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising rendering the at least one result for display at a user interface.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising querying using at least one other member of another group consisting of a search tool for entering a search parameter for the query and a filter tool for entering a filter parameter for the query.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising accepting entry of the query using a tool input.

27. A system for spatially associating disparate data comprising:

a spatial processing system executable on at least one processor to;

select a spatial layer having a plurality of spatial layer data attributes from at least one data system;

select a non-spatial layer disparate dataset having a plurality of feature data attributes from the at least one data system;

select at least one common data attribute that is common to the spatial layer and the non-spatial layer disparate dataset;

store a configuration definition in a memory, the configuration definition defining a linking relationship for the selected common data attribute between the selected non-spatial layer disparate dataset and the selected spatial layer;

process the configuration definition to spatially link the non-spatial layer disparate dataset and the spatial layer to create a spatially linked dataset;

spatially access the spatially linked dataset and, in response thereto, select at least a portion of the spatial layer data attributes from the spatial layer and at least another portion of the feature data attributes from the non-spatial layer disparate dataset; and

generate the selected portion of the spatial layer data attributes and the selected other portion of the feature data attributes for display.

28. A system for spatially associating disparate data, the system comprising:

at least one data system comprising;

at least one spatial layer with spatial data comprising at least one spatial data attribute; and

a plurality of non-spatial layer disparate datasets each with feature data comprising at least one feature data attribute;

at least one configuration element configured to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer to create spatially linked datasets; and

a spatial processing system executable on at least one processor to spatially access the spatially linked disparate datasets with at least one query and to select at least a portion of the spatial data from the at least one spatial layer and at least another portion of the feature data from at least one disparate dataset in response thereto.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the at least one configuration element is configured to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer to create the spatially linked datasets by identifying at least one attribute common to the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets and defining at least one linkage a linking relationship for the at least one common attribute between the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the configuration element is configured to spatially link the disparate datasets and the at least one spatial layer to create the spatially linked datasets by at least one member selected from a group consisting of:

identifying at least one common data attribute in the spatial layer and the plurality of datasets, identifying locations for the common data attribute in the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets, and linking the common data attribute at the locations between the spatial layer and the plurality of disparate datasets; and

identifying at least a first common data attribute and a second common data attribute, wherein the first common data attribute is common to the spatial layer and a first disparate dataset and the second common data attribute is common to the spatial layer and a second disparate dataset, and further comprising;

identifying first locations for the first common data attribute in the spatial layer and the first disparate dataset and linking the first common data attribute at the first locations between the spatial layer and the first disparate dataset; and

identifying second locations for the second data attribute in the spatial layer and the second disparate dataset and linking the second common data attribute at the second locations between the spatial layer and the second disparate dataset.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the at least one query comprises a first query to the spatial layer to identify if at least the portion of the spatial data matches the first query and at least a second query to the plurality of spatially linked disparate datasets to identify if at least the other portion of the feature data matches the second query.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the at least one query comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a search and a filter.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate the selected spatial data for a map image for display.

34. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate the selected feature data for display.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate the selected feature data for at least one member of a group consisting of a list of feature data attributes and a feature display frame.

36. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate at least one linked feature reference for display.

37. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to query a first spatially linked disparate dataset, to identify at least one first feature data matching the query in at least a second spatially linked disparate dataset, and to generate at least one linked feature reference for the at least one first feature data for display.

38. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to link at least one document to the at least one spatial data attribute in the spatial layer and to generate at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate the at least one linked document for display upon selection of the at least one linked document reference.

40. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to generate the selected spatial data to a map image with spatial features, to link at least one document to the at least one spatial data attribute in the spatial layer, and to generate at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display if at least one spatial feature is selected on the map image.

41. The system of claim 28 wherein the spatial processing system further is configured to link at least one document to at least one first feature data attribute in at least one disparate dataset and to generate at least one linked document reference for the at least one linked document for display.

42. The system of claim 28 wherein:

the feature data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of population data for an entity and well data for another entity; and

the spatial data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of spatial attributes for a geographic element and other spatial attributes for another geographic element.

43. A system for spatially associating disparate data, the system comprising:

at least one data system comprising;

at least one spatial layer with spatial data comprising at least one spatial attribute; and

at least one non-spatial layer disparate dataset with feature data comprising at least one feature data attribute;

wherein at least one common data attribute is common to the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer;

a memory comprising at least one configuration definition defining a linking relationship for the at least one common data attribute between the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute to create at least one spatially linked dataset; and

a spatial processing system executable on at least one processor to spatially link the at least one disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute based on the linking relationship defined by the at least one the configuration definition to create the at least one spatially linked dataset, to accept a query, to initiate a search of the spatially linked dataset for the query, and to return at least one result when at least one match is determined for the query, the at least one result comprising at least one member of a group consisting of at least a portion of the spatial data and at least another portion of the feature data.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the at least one configuration definition defines another linking relationship between at least one other disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through at least one other common data attribute.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the at least one configuration definition defines another linking relationship between the at least one disparate dataset and at least one other spatial layer through at least one other common data attribute.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the at least one configuration definition defines another linking relationship between at least one other disparate dataset and the at least one spatial layer through the at least one common data attribute.

47. The system of claim 43 wherein the spatial processing system is configured to associate at least one document to data for at least one other member of another group consisting of the spatial data and the feature data.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the spatial processing system is configured to generate a link for the associated at least one document and to generate the at least one document for display upon selection of the link.

49. The system of claim 43 wherein the at least one configuration definition comprises a configuration file.

50. The system of claim 43 further comprising a user interface configured to render the at least one result for display.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the user interface comprises at least one other member of another group consisting of a search tool configured to enter a search parameter for the query and a filter tool configured to enter a filter parameter for the query.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the user interface further comprises a tool input configured to accept entry of the query.