Geographic location referencing system and method

• US 6,356,834 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WGRS Licensing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Go2 Systems Inc (xAd, Inc)
• Inventors: Dana, Peter H., Hancock, S. Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/839,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/201, 701/211, 701/300, 701/208, 701/200, 340/988, 342/357.08, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 342/357.06, 709/203, 707/102, 707/104
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus for defining grid and proprietary addresses of selected locations within a geographical area is described, characterized in that the grid addresses are defined in relation to a grid and can be easily converted to global coordinates defined in relation to a known global referencing system, and the proprietary addresses are unique to the geographical area.

Claims

1. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location by converting the positional information into a hierarchical address, the hierarchical address includes a specific locational address appended to general position information, the general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each of the grids corresponding to a geographical area and having a plurality of cells and sub-cells corresponding to smaller geographical areas within the grid

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific locational address includes a plurality of hierarchical codes representative of a specific cell, sub-cell, and any further levels of cell subdivision.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the grids corresponds to a geographical area and has:

a plurality of cells;

a reference location;

global coordinates of said reference location; and

at least one parameter defining cell size and orientation.

4. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including geodetic latitude and longitude coordinates;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

5. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) mapping system;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

6. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Military Grid Reference System (MGRS);

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

7. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a World Geographic Reference System (GEOREF);

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

8. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Maidenhead mapping system;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

9. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Trimple Grid mapping system;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

10. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Trimble Atlas mapping system;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

11. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location, the positional information including coordinates from a Thomas Brothers Detail mapping system;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

12. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location automatically;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the positional information is obtained automatically by a GPS system.

14. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location, wherein the proprietary name is an abbreviated version of a name;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

15. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location, wherein the proprietary name represents, at least in part, a company'"'"'s name and a unique identifier for one of many establishments of the company;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

16. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location, wherein the proprietary name represents, at least in part, an individual person'"'"'s name;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

17. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location, wherein the proprietary name is the specific locational address part of a hierarchical grid address, the hierarchical grid address includes a specific locational address appended to general position information, the general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each of the grids corresponding to a geographical area and having a plurality of cells and sub-cells corresponding to smaller geographical areas within the grid;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the general position information includes top, second, and third level hierarchical codes for identifying countries, states/provinces, and cities.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the general position information includes a country code as a top level hierarchical code.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the general position information includes a state/province code as a second level hierarchical code.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the general position information includes a city code as a third level hierarchical code.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

25. A method of creating a proprietary address, comprising:

obtaining a proprietary name for a geographic location;

obtaining positional information about the geographic location by converting the positional information into a hierarchical address, the hierarchical address includes a specific locational address appended to general position information;

verifying that the name is unique for a geographic region;

storing the proprietary name and associated positional information if the name is unique for the geographical region.

26. The method of claims 25, wherein the general position information includes top, second, and third level hierarchical codes for identifying countries, states/provinces, and cities.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the general position information includes a country code as a top level hierarchical code.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the general position information includes a state/province code as a second level hierarchical code.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the general position information includes a city code as a third level hierarchical code.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the geographic location is an individual person'"'"'s house.

34. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein said positional information includes a hierarchical address having a specific locational address appended to general position information, the general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each of the grids corresponding to a geographical area and having a plurality of cells and sub-cells corresponding to smaller geographical areas within the grid;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the specific locational address includes a plurality of hierarchical codes representative of a specific cell, sub-cell, and any further levels of cell subdivision.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein each of the grids corresponds to a geographical area and has:

a plurality of cells;

a reference location;

global coordinates of said reference location; and

at least one parameter defining cell size and orientation.

37. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes geodetic latitude and longitude coordinates;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

38. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) mapping system;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

39. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Military Grid Reference System (MGRS);

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

40. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a World Geographic Reference System (GEOREF);

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

41. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Maidenhead mapping system;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

42. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Trimple Grid mapping system;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

43. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Trimble Atlas mapping system;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

44. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the positional information includes coordinates from a Thomas Brothers Detail mapping system;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

45. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the proprietary name is the specific locational address part of a hierarchical grid address, the hierarchical grid address includes a specific locational address appended to general position information, the general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each of the grids corresponding to a geographical area and having a plurality of cells and sub-cells corresponding to smaller geographical areas within the grid;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein each of the grids corresponds to a geographical area and has:

a plurality of cells;

a reference location;

global coordinates of said reference location; and

at least one parameter defining cell size and orientation.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the general position information includes top, second, and third level hierarchical codes for identifying countries, states/provinces, and cities.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the general position information includes a country code as a top level hierarchical code.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the general position information includes a state/province code as a second level hierarchical code.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the general position information includes a city code as a third level hierarchical code.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

54. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the proprietary name is an abbreviated version of a name;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

55. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the proprietary name represents, at least in part, a company'"'"'s name and a unique identifier for one of many establishments of the company;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

56. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the proprietary name represents, at least in part, an individual person'"'"'s name;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

57. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein said positional information includes a hierarchical address having a specific locational address appended to general position information;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.

58. The method of claims 57, wherein the general position information includes top, second, and third level hierarchical codes for identifying countries, states/provinces, and cities.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the general position information includes a country code as a top level hierarchical code.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the general position information includes a state/province code as a second level hierarchical code.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the general position information includes a city code as a third level hierarchical code.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

65. A method of disseminating location information from a central repository via the internet to assist users of locational systems in navigation, comprising:

providing a central repository with stored information for at least one geographic region, the stored information including positional information for geographic locations associated with respective proprietary names, wherein the geographic location is an individual person'"'"'s house;

disseminating location information for a proprietary name from the central repository to a user via the internet to use in association with said locational system to assist in navigation.