System and method for real-time map-based lost and found

• US 9,342,532 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Nicoara, Angela, Piratla, Nischal
• Primary Examiner(s): TAN, ALVIN H
• Application Number:
  US12/556,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A system and method for lost and found includes enabling information about found objects to be stored in real time. The method further includes enabling adjustment of a field of view of an interactive map. The method further includes receiving a search input for search of a lost object. The method further includes performing a search for the lost object based on at least the stored information about the found objects, the search input, and the field of view of the interactive map. The method further includes enabling results of the search to be overlaid on the interactive map.

Claims

1. A manufacture including a tangible, non-transitory processor-readable medium having processor-executable code for matching users with lost and found objects stored thereon, the processor-executable code comprising processor-executable instructions for:

storing information about objects in records, the records designating whether the objects were lost or found, locations at which the objects were lost or found, and, for each record designating an object as found, contact information for contacting the finder;

displaying an interactive map, the interactive map having an area that allows a user to indicate whether to search for objects designated as lost, found or both;

adjusting a field of view of the interactive map based on adjustment input from the user;

receiving a search input for search of an object and a user indication to search for objects designated as found;

performing a search for the object, the search being performed based on records designating objects as found, the search input, and the field of view of the interactive map;

generating an overlay on the interactive map of objects that correspond to results of the performed search based on the information regarding the locations at which the corresponding objects were found;

receiving a selection of an object from the results of the performed search by the user;

providing the record of the selected object to the user, wherein the record includes a description of the selected object; and

providing contact information for the finder of the selected object to the user.

2. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the interactive map and the objects that correspond to the results of the performed search are displayed at a client device.

3. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein adjustment input received from the user includes at least one of:

changing a center point of the field of view of the interactive map;

zooming in; and

zooming out.

4. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein information for a record designating an object as found is provided by the finder through a web-based interface or a mobile device;

and

wherein determining the location at which the object was found includes at least one of;

receiving the location at which the object was found from the finder;

deriving the location at which the object was found from the location of the mobile device.

5. A method for matching users with lost and found objects, comprising:

storing information about objects in records in a database, the records designating whether the objects were lost or found, locations at which the objects were lost or found, and, for each record designating an object as found, contact information for contacting the finder;

displaying an interactive map, the interactive map having an area that allows a user of a client device to indicate whether to search for objects designated as lost, found or both;

adjusting a field of view of the interactive map based on adjustment input from the user of the client device;

receiving a search input for search of an object from the user of the client device and a user indication to search for objects designated as found;

performing a search for the object, the search being performed based on records designating objects as found, the search input, and the field of view of the interactive map;

generating an overlay on the interactive map of objects that correspond to results of the performed search based on the information regarding the locations at which the corresponding objects were found;

receiving a selection of an object from the results of the performed search by the user;

providing the record of the selected object to the user, wherein the record includes a description of the selected object; and

providing contact information for the finder of the selected object to the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the overlay is displayed on the client device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein adjustment input received from the user of the client device includes at least one of:

changing a center point of the field of view of the interactive map;

zooming in; and

zooming out.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein information for a record designating an object as found is provided by the finder through a web-based interface or a mobile device;

and

wherein determining the location at which the found object was found includes at least one of;

receiving the location at which the object was found from the finder;

deriving the location at which the object was found from the location of the mobile device.

9. A server device for matching users with lost and found objects, comprising:

a non-transitory memory that is arranged store processor-executable code; and

a processor that is arranged to execute the processor-executable code to enable actions, comprising;

storing information about objects in records, the records designating whether the objects were lost or found, locations at which the objects were lost or found, and, for each record designating an object as found, contact information for contacting the finder;

displaying an interactive map, the interactive map having an area that allows a user to indicate whether to search for objects designated as lost, found or both;

adjusting a field of view of the interactive map based on adjustment input from the user;

receiving a search input for search of an object and a user indication to search for objects designated as found;

performing a search for the object, the search being performed based on records designating objects as found, the search input, and the field of view of the interactive map;

generating an overlay on the interactive map of objects that correspond to results of the performed search based on the information regarding the locations at which the corresponding objects were found;

receiving a selection of an object from the results of the performed search by the user;

providing the record of the selected object to the user, wherein the record includes a description of the selected object; and

providing contact information for the finder of the selected object to the user.