Geographic data update based on user input

• US 8,849,567 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Manik, Goel, Alok
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US13/485,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 701/450, 707/792, 707918-919, 707/944, 707/705
• US Class Current: 701/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Systems and methods for updating geographic information system are provided. Method includes receiving name and location of point of interest (POI). Method includes comparing name and location of received POI to names and locations of POIs stored in data repository. Method includes determining whether first POI in data repository has name that matches name of received POI, and location that is within predetermined distance of location of received POI. Method includes increasing or maintaining maximum confidence value for first POI if first POI has name that matches name of received POI, and location that is within predetermined distance of location of received POI. Method includes adding name and location of received POI to temporary set of points of interest if it is determined that no POI in data repository has name that matches name of received POI, and location that is within predetermined distance of location of received POI.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating information contained in a geographic information system, the method comprising:

receiving, at one or more processors and from a client computing device, a name of a point of interest and a location associated with the point of interest;

comparing, at the one or more processors, the name and location of the received point of interest to names and locations of a plurality of points of interest stored in a data repository;

determining, at the one or more processors, whether a first point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

increasing a confidence value for the first point of interest or verifying that the confidence value for the first point of interest is at a maximum if the first point of interest has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest; and

adding the name and location of the received point of interest to a temporary set of points of interest, stored in the memory if it is determined that no point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest; and

when it is determined that the first point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

determining whether a second point of interest in the data repository has a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest, but a name that does not match the name of the received point of interest;

determining whether the confidence value associated with the first point of interest exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and

reducing the confidence value of the second point of interest if the confidence value of the first point of interest exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when it is determined that no point of interest in the data repository has both a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest, the method further comprising:

confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location;

removing the name and location of the received point of interest from the temporary set of points of interest; and

adding the name and location of the received point of interest to the data repository.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location comprises receiving a message, from a trusted user, confirming the name of the received point of interest and the location of the received point of interest.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location comprises:

receiving a subsequent input comprising a name that matches the name of the received point of interest and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

increasing the confidence value associated with the received point of interest in the temporary set of points of interest in response to the subsequent input;

determining that the increased confidence value associated with the received point of interest exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and

confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location based on the increased confidence value associated with the received point of interest exceeding the first predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting a trusted user to verify a name and location corresponding to the second point of interest in the data repository when the confidence value of the second point of interest falls below a preset threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location associated with the received point of interest comprises a latitude and longitude.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the name of the point of interest and the location of the point of interest comprises:

receiving a geographic check-in via a client computing device; and

determining the name of the point of interest and the location of the point of interest based on the geographic check-in.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the geographic check-in comprises a photograph.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for updating information contained in a geographic information system, the instructions comprising code for:

receiving, from a client computing device, a geographic check-in;

determining, based on the geographic check-in received from the client computing device, a received name of a point of interest and a received location of the point of interest;

comparing the name and location of the received point of interest to names and locations of a plurality of points of interest stored in a data repository;

determining whether a first point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

increasing a confidence value for the first point of interest or verifying that the confidence value for the first point of interest is at a maximum if the first point of interest has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest; and

upon determining that no point of interest in the data repository has both a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

adding the name and location of the received point of interest to a temporary set of points of interest;

confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location, wherein confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location comprises;

receiving a subsequent input comprising a name that matches the name of the received point of interest and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest,

increasing the confidence value associated with the received point of interest in response to the subsequent input, and

determining that the received point of interest is located at the received location once the confidence value associated with the received point of interest exceeds a first predetermined threshold;

removing the name and location of the received point of interest from the temporary set of points of interest; and

adding the name and location of the received point of interest to the data repository.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein confirming that the received point of interest is located at the received location comprises:

receiving a message, from a trusted user, confirming the name of the received point of interest and the location of the received point of interest.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the location of the received point of interest comprises a latitude and longitude.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the geographic check-in comprises a photograph.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the geographic check-in comprises text.

14. A processing system for updating information contained in a geographic information system, the processing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from a client computing device, a name of a point of interest and a location of the point of interest, wherein the location associated with the point of interest comprises a latitude and a longitude;

compare the name and location of the received point of interest to names and locations of a plurality of points of interest stored in a data repository;

determine whether a first point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

increase a confidence value for the first point of interest or verify that the confidence value for the first point of interest is at a maximum if the first point of interest has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest; and

add the name and location of the received point of interest to a temporary set of points of interest if it is determined that no point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest; and

when it is determined that the first point of interest in the data repository has a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

determine whether a second point of interest in the data repository has a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest, but a name that does not match the name of the received point of interest;

determine whether the confidence value associated with the first point of interest exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and

reduce the confidence value of the second point of interest if the confidence value of the first point of interest exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

15. The processing system of claim 14, wherein a geographic check-in comprises the name of the received point of interest and the location of the received point of interest.

16. The processing system of claim 14, wherein the memory further comprises instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

determine that no point of interest in the data repository has both a name that matches the name of the received point of interest, and a location that is within a predetermined distance of the location of the received point of interest;

confirm that the received point of interest is located at the received location;

remove the name and location of the received point of interest from the temporary set of points of interest; and

add the name and location of the received point of interest to the data repository.

17. The processing system of claim 16, wherein instructions to confirm that the received point of interest is located at the received location comprise instructions to receive a message, from a trusted user, confirming the name of the received point of interest and the location of the received point of interest.