System and Method for Merging Internet Protocol Address to Location Data from Multiple Sources

• US 20090037602A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yue, Li, Pai, Ramesh, Patel, Devesh, Riise, Soren
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/69 using geographic information, e.g. room number
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Systems and methods for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol (IP address) are disclosed. Generally, an IP address to location module determines whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of IP address to location data sets. The IP address to location module then stores an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of IP address to location data sets.

Claims

1. A method for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address (IP address), the method comprising:

determining whether a first geographic location associated with a first IP address in a first IP address to location data set is the same as a second geographic location associated with the first IP address in a second IP address to location data set; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same comprises:

determining whether a first accuracy score associated with the first geographic location and the first IP address is greater than a second accuracy score associated with the second geographic location the first IP address; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score comprises:

determining the first and second accuracy scores are substantially equal;

identifying an association of a third geographic location and a second IP address in the third IP address to location data set, wherein the second IP address is adjacent to the first IP address; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based on at least the first, second, and third geographic locations.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score comprises:

determining the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

expanding at least one of the first IP address to location data set and the second IP address to location data set.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

normalizing the first and second accuracy scores.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

grouping adjacent IP addresses associated with common geographic locations in the third IP address to location data set into logical groups.

8. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address (IP address), the set of instructions to direct a processor to perform acts of:

determining whether a first geographic location associated with a first IP address in a first IP address to location data set is the same as a second geographic location association with the first IP address in a second P address to location data set; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same comprises:

determining whether a first accuracy score associated with the first geographic location and the first IP address is greater than a second accuracy score associated with the second geographic location the first IP address; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score comprises:

determining the first and second accuracy scores are substantially equal;

identifying an association of a third geographic location and a second IP address in the third IP address to location data set, wherein the second IP address is adjacent to the first IP address; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based on at least the first, second, and third geographic locations.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score comprises:

determining the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set.

12. A system for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address (IP address), the system comprising:

an IP address to location module operative to;

determine whether a first geographic location associated with a first IP address in a first IP address to location data set is the same as a second geographic location association with the first IP address in a second IP address to location data set; and

store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein to store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in a third IP to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same, the IP address to location module is further operative to:

determine whether a first accuracy score associated with the first geographic location and the first IP address is greater than a second accuracy score associated with the second geographic location the first IP address; and

store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein to store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score, the IP address to location module is further operative to:

determine the first and second accuracy scores are substantially the same;

identify an association of a third geographic location and a second IP address in the third IP address to location data set, wherein the second IP address is adjacent to the first IP address; and

store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based on at least the first, second, and third geographic locations.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein to store an association between a geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set based at least on whether the first and second geographic locations are the same and whether the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score, the IP address to location module is further operative to:

determining the first accuracy score is greater than the second accuracy score; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the first IP address in the third IP address to location data set.

16. A method for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address (IP address), the method comprising:

determining whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets comprises:

determining a first geographic location is associated with the IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the IP address in the master IP address to location data set.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets comprises:

determining a geographic location is not associated with the IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets;

determining an association between a first geographic location and the IP address in a first IP address to location data set of the at least three IP address to location data sets is associated with an accuracy score that is greater than a predetermined threshold than an accuracy score of any other association between a geographic location and the IP address in the other IP address to location data sets of the at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the IP address in the master IP address to location data set.

19. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for associating a geographic location with an Internet protocol address (IP address), the set of instructions to direct a process or perform acts of:

determining whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with an IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets comprises:

determining a first geographic location is associated with the IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the IP address in the master IP address to location data set.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein storing an association between a geographic location and the IP address in a master IP address to location data set based on whether a geographic location is associated with a common IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets comprises:

determining a geographic location is not associated with the IP address in a majority of at least three IP address to location data sets;

determining an association between a first geographic location and the IP address in a first IP address to location data set of the at least three IP address to location data sets is associated with an accuracy score that is greater than a predetermined threshold than an accuracy score of any other association between a geographic location and the IP address in the other IP address to location data sets of the at least three IP address to location data sets; and

storing an association between the first geographic location and the IP address in the master IP address to location data set.

22-24. -24. (canceled)