Computer-implemented system and method for managing categories of waymarks

• US 8,688,693 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Irish, Jeremy A., Boots, Sean E., Alvord, Elias C.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Baoquoc N
• Assistant Examiner(s): LODHI, ANDALIB FT
• Application Number:
  US13/752,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/724, 707/737, 707/803
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for managing categories of waymarks is provided. Waymark records are each associated with a category and maintained on a database. Each waymark record includes metadata associated with at least one variable and one or more attributes specifying a type of the metadata for each variable. Access to the database is provided. A user having access to the database is identified based on a list of authorized users. A request from the user to present one such category and the associated waymark records is received. At least one waymark record from the requested category is processed. Input metadata is received from the user consistent with the variables and the attributes for that waymark record. At least a portion of the metadata is replaced with the input metadata.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for managing a category, comprising:

a database maintaining waymark records that are each associated with a category, each waymark record comprising metadata associated with at least one variable and one or more attributes specifying a type of the metadata for each variable;

an authorization module to provide access to the database, comprising;

an identification module to identify a user having access to the database based on a list of authorized users; and

a request receipt module to receive a request from the user to present one such category and the associated waymark records; and

a processor to process at least one waymark record from the requested category, comprising;

an input receipt module to receive input metadata from the user user;

a consistency module to evaluate the received input metadata for consistency with the variables and the attributes for that waymark record;

a correction module to notify the user that the received input metadata for the waymark record is inconsistent with the variables and the attributes for the waymark record;

a corrected input receipt module to receive from the user a further input metadata which is corrected by the user to conform to the variables and the attributes for the waymark record; and

an input metadata replacement module to replace at least a portion of the metadata with the input metadata.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a role module to associate the user with a role comprising one or more of a creator, owner, and user participant;

an identifier receipt module to receive an identifier from the user based on the user'"'"'s role; and

an access grant module to grant the access to the database based on the identifier.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input metadata comprises at least one of text, images, and sound.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a map module to display the processed waymark record on a map.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a posting module to post the waymark record at a time comprising prior to and after replacing the portion of the metadata with the input metadata.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a deletion module to delete at least a portion of the metadata associated with the waymark record; and

a supplement module to supplement additional input metadata to the waymark record.

7. A computer-implemented method for managing a category, comprising steps of:

maintaining a database comprising waymark records that are each associated with a category, each waymark record comprising metadata associated with at least one variable and one or more attributes specifying a type of the metadata for each variable;

providing access to the database, comprising;

identifying a user having access to the database based on a list of authorized users; and

receiving a request from the user to present one such category and the associated waymark records; and

processing at least one waymark record from the requested category, comprising;

receiving input metadata from the user;

evaluating the received input metadata for consistency with the variables and the attributes for that waymark record;

notifying the user that the received input metadata for the waymark record is inconsistent with the variables and the attributes for the waymark record;

receiving from the user a further input metadata which is corrected by the user to conform to the variables and the attributes for the waymark record; and

replacing at least a portion of the metadata with the input metada,

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably programmed computer.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

associating the user with a role comprising one or more of a creator, owner, and user participant;

receiving an identifier from the user based on the user'"'"'s role; and

granting the access to the database based on the identifier.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the input metadata comprises at least one of text, images, and sound.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the processed waymark record on a map.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

posting the waymark record at a time comprising prior to and after replacing the portion of the metadata with the input metadata.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of:

deleting at least a portion of the metadata associated with the waymark record; and

supplementing additional input metadata to the waymark record.

13. A computer-implemented method for managing a category, comprising steps of:

maintaining a database comprising waymarks associated with categories, each waymark comprising a location and metadata associated with at least one variable describing the location and one or more attributes specifying a type of the metadata for each variable;

receiving a request from a user to present one such category and the associated waymarks;

editing at least one waymark from the presented category, comprising;

receiving input metadata from the user;

evaluating the received input metadata for consistency with the variables and the attributes for that waymark record;

notifying the user that the received input metadata for the waymark record is inconsistent with the variables and the attributes for the waymark record;

receiving from the user a further input metadata which is corrected by the user to conform to the variables and the attributes for the waymark record; and

replacing at least a portion of the metadata for the at least one waymark with the input metadata; and

publishing the edited waymark,

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably programmed computer.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the input metadata comprises at least one of text, images, and sound.