Methods and systems for facilitating online collaboration and distribution of geospatial data
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method for facilitating collaborative client interaction with a collaborative project including geospatial data over a network, the method comprising:
- accessing the collaborative project maintained by an infrastructure server, the collaborative project comprising a plurality of views incorporating geospatial data from a plurality of data sources, the collaborative project further comprising reference links to the geospatial data available from the plurality of data sources;
storing, by a collaboration server, a set of data structures for each of the plurality of data sources referenced by the collaborative project and a state of each client accessing the collaboration project, wherein each set of data structures includes a state and a list of changes associated with each of the plurality of data sources and further wherein the state is a periodic compilation of the list of changes associated therewith which is continually updated by the collaboration server responsive to received changes to the geospatial data from the plurality of data sources;
downloading at least one of the plurality of views incorporating geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to a requesting client, the linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links;
receiving by the collaboration server, a polling request from the requesting client to the collaboration server for compiled updates to the downloaded view including updated geospatial data from one or more sets of data structures; and
downloading an updated at least one of the plurality of views incorporating updated geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to the requesting client, the updated linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved methods, systems, and software for facilitating online collaboration and distribution of geospatial data are provided. Geospatial data available over a network can be updated in real-time and provided to one or more clients. User-accessible views of the geospatial data can be dynamically built by the clients and presented to users of the clients. Various methods of online collaboration between users of the clients can also be supported. The geospatial data can be provided in an XML format, thereby providing for efficient communication of data over the network. In various embodiments, the geospatial data can be an annotation prepared by a user of a second client, thereby allowing the user of the second client to collaborate with a user of the first client. Functionality can also be provided for converting geospatial data between flat and spherical formats.
28 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method for facilitating collaborative client interaction with a collaborative project including geospatial data over a network, the method comprising:
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accessing the collaborative project maintained by an infrastructure server, the collaborative project comprising a plurality of views incorporating geospatial data from a plurality of data sources, the collaborative project further comprising reference links to the geospatial data available from the plurality of data sources; storing, by a collaboration server, a set of data structures for each of the plurality of data sources referenced by the collaborative project and a state of each client accessing the collaboration project, wherein each set of data structures includes a state and a list of changes associated with each of the plurality of data sources and further wherein the state is a periodic compilation of the list of changes associated therewith which is continually updated by the collaboration server responsive to received changes to the geospatial data from the plurality of data sources; downloading at least one of the plurality of views incorporating geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to a requesting client, the linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links; receiving by the collaboration server, a polling request from the requesting client to the collaboration server for compiled updates to the downloaded view including updated geospatial data from one or more sets of data structures; and downloading an updated at least one of the plurality of views incorporating updated geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to the requesting client, the updated linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for facilitating collaborative client interaction with a collaborative project including geospatial data over a network, the system comprising:
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an infrastructure server for storing the collaborative project and providing access thereto by one or more clients, the project comprising a plurality of views incorporating geospatial data from a plurality of data sources, the collaborative project further comprising reference links to the geospatial data available from the plurality of data sources; a collaboration server for storing, a set of data structures for each of the plurality of data sources referenced by the collaborative project and a state of each client accessing the collaboration project, wherein each set of data structures includes a state and a list of changes associated with each of the plurality of data sources and further wherein the state is a periodic compilation of the list of changes associated therewith which is continually updated by the collaboration server responsive to received changes to the geospatial data from the plurality of data sources; downloading at least one of the plurality of views incorporating geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to a requesting client, the linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links; receiving a polling request for compiled updates to the downloaded view including updated geospatial data from one or more sets of data structures; and downloading an updated at least one of the plurality of views incorporating updated geospatial data linked to the collaboration project to the requesting client, the updated linked geospatial data being downloaded from each of the plurality of data sources in accordance with the reference links. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification