Standardization of addresses and location information

• US 9,842,120 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Siris, Marc David, Schenken, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gortayo, Dangelino
• Application Number:
  US14/180,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 707724, 707722, 707736, 707743, 707758, 701408, 701520
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• 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: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2468 Fuzzy queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for standardizing addresses and providing information associated with geographic areas/points of interest. For example, location data can be collected for serviceable points. From the collected location data, addresses can be standardized, location-based searches can be performed, correct locations of serviceable points can be confirmed, and geographic representations can be generated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, via one or more processors, a plurality of records corresponding to a serviceable point associated with a physical address, wherein the plurality of records comprise (a) a first record comprising (i) first location data comprising first geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a first format, and (b) a second record comprising (i) second location data comprising second geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a second format that is different from the first format, and wherein the first geo-coordinates are different from the second geo-coordinates;

determining, via the one or more processors, reference location data for the serviceable point based at least in part on (a) the first location data from the first record, and (b) the second location data from the second record, wherein determining the reference location data comprises determining an average of the first geo-coordinates and the second geo-coordinates;

assigning, via the one or more processors, the reference location data as a location-based key to (a) the first record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the first format and (b) the second record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the second format; and

responsive to receiving the reference location data, identifying the first record for the serviceable point and the second record based at least in part on the reference location data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising representing the physical address for the serviceable point using the reference location data and at least a portion of the address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference location data comprises a longitude and latitude.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the reference location data in association with each of the plurality of records.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data for each of the plurality of records was collected during a pickup, a delivery, or both at the serviceable point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of records is identified by being within a zone of confidence for the serviceable point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of records is identified based at least in part on address similarities for the serviceable point.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

identify a plurality of records corresponding to a serviceable point associated with a physical address, wherein the plurality of records comprise (a) a first record comprising (i) first location data comprising first geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a first format, and (b) a second record comprising (i) second location data comprising second geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a second format that is different from the first format, and wherein the first geo-coordinates are different from the second geo-coordinates;

determine reference location data for the serviceable point based at least in part on (a) the first location data from the first record, and (b) the second location data from the second record, wherein determine the reference location data comprises determining an average of the first geo-coordinates and the second geo-coordinates;

assign the reference location data as a location-based key to (a) the first record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the first format and (b) the second record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the second format; and

responsive to receiving the reference location data, identify the first record for the serviceable point and the second record based at least in part on the reference location data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to represent the physical address for the serviceable point using the reference location data and at least a portion of the address.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reference location data comprises a longitude and latitude.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to store the reference location data in association with each of the plurality of records.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the location data for each of the plurality of records was collected during a pickup, a delivery, or both at the serviceable point.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of records is identified by being within a zone of confidence for the serviceable point.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of records is identified based at least in part on address similarities for the serviceable point.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to identify a plurality of records corresponding to a serviceable point associated with a physical address, wherein the plurality of records comprise (a) a first record comprising (i) first location data comprising first geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a first format, and (b) a second record comprising (i) second location data comprising second geo-coordinates collected during a visit to the serviceable point, and (ii) the physical address associated with the serviceable point in a second format that is different from the first format, and wherein the first geo-coordinates are different from the second geo-coordinates;

an executable portion configured to determine reference location data for the serviceable point based at least in part on (a) the first location data from the first record, and (b) the second location data from the second record, wherein determine the reference location data comprises determining an average of the first geo-coordinates and the second geo-coordinates;

an executable portion configured to assign the reference location data as a location-based key to (a) the first record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the first format and (b) the second record comprising the physical address associated with the serviceable point in the second format; and

an executable portion configured to, responsive to receiving the reference location data, identify the first record for the serviceable point and the second record based at least in part on the reference location data.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising an executable portion configured to represent the physical address for the serviceable point using the reference location data and at least a portion of the address.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the reference location data comprises a longitude and latitude.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising an executable portion configured to store the reference location data in association with each of the plurality of records.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the location data for each of the plurality of records was collected during a pickup, a delivery, or both at the serviceable point.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the plurality of records is identified by being within a zone of confidence for the serviceable point.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the plurality of records is identified based at least in part on address similarities for the serviceable point.