Patent Application
20090292464
The invention is generally related to electronic maps, and, specifically to a system and method for attaching geographical markers to real-world objects, electronic objects, people, and any other stationary or moving entity.
The use of digital geographic or map data has become commonplace in modern society. Commonly referred to as “electronic maps” or “digital maps”, the map data is already used in a wide variety of applications. A typical application is within the travel industry, where digital maps are used to research travel destinations, resort facilities, and alternate routes. Internet-based business-to-consumer companies often use digital maps to direct customers to theaters, stores, restaurants, and other commercial businesses. Digital maps are also often used in industrial settings, for example, to calculate routes for delivery drivers, or to provide directions for emergency and medical crews to follow when responding to emergency calls.
Increasingly, digital map providers have switched from a process of merely digitizing paper-based maps, and are now more appropriately seen as gatherers and organizers of an ever greater variety of data, covering topics such as street addresses, transportation networks, water bodies, parklands political districts, census data, demographic information, commercial businesses, and entertainment facilities, for the purpose of supporting the latest applications. At the same time, the variety of uses for this map data has also expanded to include such applications as in-car driving assistance; personal digital assistant (PDA) and cell phone-based navigation; and locally-focused news, media, and yellow-page information services. With this increase in utility it has become evident that many of these software applications need to combine the underlying map data with other sources of location-related information to provide a more useful end-product.
Digital maps have been supplemented by map databases, map documents, and map data in a variety of digital, electronic formats, capable of being updated as desired and able to respond to a selected range and type of operator input and to produce operator-requested output. Many electronic documents and electronic databases in common usage today comprise information related to geographic location(s). Indeed, it is not easy to think of a class of electronic documents or a class of electronic databases that does not at least occasionally incorporate some form of geographically related information. Today, maps have evolved well beyond their centuries-old status as static paper depictions of a non-adjustable data set as recorded at one particular time. Digital maps can allow for regular modification of data points included in the map, in addition to active operator selection of (a) desired geographic features of interest, and (b) how much, and which additional information to present. As new types of information arise, the whole map can be quickly updated to reflect changes or corrections to all or just a small subset of locations.
Some digital maps allow for linking between a text address and its location on the map. This has been generally referred to as “geocoding”. For example, if an operator inputs a street address into an Internet-based map application then the output indicates the location of that particular address on a map that is drawn of the surrounding area, i.e. it is geocoded. Essentially a map of the region encompassing the address of interest is constructed around the selected point. The map may contain overlays of useful information. For example, a street map of San Francisco may be overlaid with a map of the railroad system in San Francisco and that map in turn overlaid by icons representing San Francisco restaurants and parking facilities.
However, these various overlays are still “map-level overlays”, meaning that they are registered one to another on the basis of their coordinates. No interactivity is typically available between different points in the overlay or between a point in one overlay and a point in another overlay. While such a coordinate overlay may result in something that appears to an end-user like a single map, it cannot dynamically function like one fully integrated, intelligent digital map. In a sense, the entities in one layer know nothing about the entities in any other layer and hence cannot support further data processing related to useful linkages between those entities.
Furthermore, in a traditional map, only “real” or physical locations and objects such as cities, parks, and buildings are mapped and displayed. This reduces the flexibility of the map to take account future applications, or to provide support for new types of map items. As new applications are developed, the limitations of current digital map offerings become more apparent. For example, today there is no simple way for users of mobile and web-based applications, that potentially use both digital map data and external location parameters, to control and exchange information about their location. While the market is always growing for wireless location-based applications and services on mainstream mobile devices, there is currently little or no support within the digital maps themselves for such applications.
Described herein is a system and method for attaching geographical markers to a variety of objects, including real-world objects, electronic documents, people, software applications, and other items of information, including stationary and moving entities. In accordance with an embodiment, the system provides an object location identifier (OLI), and can use additional forms of identifiers such as universal location referencing objects (ULRO) for mapping real-world objects, electronic documents, people, software applications, and other items of information. The object location identifier answers the questions of who and where a particular object may be.
In accordance with an embodiment, a mobile object location identifier (MOLI) feature can also be provided as a standardized way for specifying an object location identifier for user with mobile entities, including people, websites, and wireless applications.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a mobile uniform resource locator (MURL) feature can also be provided as a way for sharing and using object location identifier, and particularly for allowing mobile entities to control and share location information using a consumer-friendly URL-like nomenclature. MURL allows for example a user with a cell phone or PDA to share or exchange “who, where, when” location information with another user, or to use their present location information with an application.
Other features and benefits will be evident from the accompanying description.
Described herein is a system and method for attaching geographical markers to a variety of objects, including real-world objects, electronic documents, people, an individual's software applications, and other items of information. One aspect of this attachment is that the object can be scoped to a particular geographic area, frame of reference, or application, which reduces the need for absolute object coordinates. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can use identifiers such as a latitude/longitude (lat/long) information, or a universal location referencing object (ULRO), to create an object location identifier (OLI). The object location identifier can then be used for mapping real-world objects, electronic documents, people, software applications, inventory and transportable goods, and other items of information.
In accordance with an embodiment, a mobile object location identifier (MOLI) feature can also be provided as a standardized way for specifying an object location identifier for use with mobile entities, including people, websites, and wireless applications.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a mobile uniform resource locator (MURL) feature can also be provided as a way for sharing and using object location identifier, and particularly for allowing mobile entities to control and share location information using a consumer-friendly URL-like nomenclature, e.g. “MIKE_SMITH.murl”. The MURL then allows for example a user such as Mike Smith with a cell phone or PDA to share or exchange “who, where, when” his location information with another user, or to use their present location information with an application. When a recipient uses the MIKE_SMITH.murl the system automatically retrieves the appropriate name, current location, and other information for that entity.
In accordance with some embodiments, the object location identifier may refer to a moving object (such as a vehicle), rather than a fixed or stationary object (such as a building). In accordance with some embodiments, the MOLI feature can also be provided as a standardized way for people, goods, websites, wireless applications, and other entities to control, share and exchange location information. Both the MOLI feature and the MURL features address a market need to build interoperability between disparate wireless and web based applications that use both that use both digital map data and external location parameters.
In accordance with an embodiment, MURL can be used by an end-user or application in a manner similar to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used in regular Web usage. As described in further detail below, MURLs can be specified using a tag or markup language. Objects can then be placed within MURL lists or nested structures, similar to regular URL. For example, a particular restaurant may be located in a particular city, which in turn is located in a particular state. A MURL can use scoping to control the MOLI's or geographic tags for each of these entities.
In accordance with some embodiments, the system also provides a method and system for creating objection location identifiers, or universal location referencing objects, for use in electronic documents, electronic databases, and electronic maps (which for convenience are collectively termed “electronic files”). In accordance with other embodiments these techniques can be extended to other objects and items of information, including, for example, parcels for delivery (by regular mail or courier), wordprocessed documents, words and paragraphs in electronic documents, email messages, or a person's current location or whereabouts. Since each of these objects or items of information can have an OLI associated therewith, the OLI acts as a location identifier for that object, telling the user “who” and “where” the object is located. In the context of a mobile or moving object the system can associate a MOLI with that object, telling the user “who” and “where” the moving object is located at any particular point in time. In the particular example of a MURL, the system can then take the location identifier and use it similarly to a URL in a Web page, to identify that object or item of information. In either case, the MOLI or MURL can then be searched, communicated and accessed using other applications that require knowledge of the current location of that object or item of information. This allows for example a user with a cell phone or PDA to share or exchange their location information with another user, or to use their present location information with an application.
The following section defines some of the terms used in the context of this document:
Digital Map Provider—A digital map provider is a commercial, governmental, or other type of entity or company which develops, maintains, and provides a file-of-reference or digital base map, or supplies the data that comprises a file-of-reference or digital base map. Digital map providers can also act as third-party file providers in certain instances. Examples of commercial digital map providers include Tele Atlas, and other mapping companies.
Third-Party—A third-party, third-party data supplied, or third-party data source is a commercial, governmental, or other type of entity, usually separate from the digital map provider, that provides third-party data for use with the file-of-reference or digital base map. If a third-party participates in a joint data-providing operation with the digital map provider, then they may both be considered third-party partners.
File-of-Reference—A file-of-reference is a geospatial database, data structure, document, or digital map used for permanent storage of a document owner's geographic data. A file-of-reference can typically be transformed into other formats that may be more appropriate for certain applications. The term “permanent” as used herein is not intended to imply static, since the data can of course be updated, but instead the term indicates that the data in a file-of-reference is in a more “permanent” storage than the data that is dynamically created in a virtual map in response to a request. In accordance with an embodiment there is only one file-of-reference database. Each other data source or geographic databases are then considered third-party files. However, these are descriptive labels more than anything else, since in other embodiments any of the data files or data sources can act as the file-of-reference, treating the other data files as the third-party files. As used herein, a file-of-reference may sometimes be referred to as a “digital base map”, to illustrate that it is typically provided and marketed by the digital map provider as a digital map.
Third-Party File—A third-party file is also a geospatial database, data structure, document, or digital map used for permanent storage of a document owner's geographic data, the difference being that the data in a third-party file is being supplied by a third-party for use with the file-of-reference. As described above, these titles are intended as descriptive labels more than anything else, since in other embodiments any of the data files or data sources can act as a third-party file, treating the other data file as the file-of-reference.
Virtual Database/Virtual Database System—The virtual database is a means of treating data distributed over multiple databases as if they belonged to a single database. The system that provides a virtual database is then properly referred to as a virtual database system (VDB). The terms “virtual database” and “virtual database system” are somewhat analogous in that they each refer to a system, means, or technique for creating virtual databases or virtual maps, in which objects and features within both a file-of-reference and one or more third-party files, are linked to form a virtual database. In those embodiments that utilize ULROs or similar universal objects, the ULROs may be considered an example of a technology that provides the linkage between a map provider's file-of-reference and the various third-party files. The VDB may then be considered a technology that utilizes such linkage in generating virtual maps.
Virtual Map—A virtual map is an interim database, or in some instances the output of a VDB, and is conceptually the same as the virtual database described above, i.e. it is a means of treating data distributed over multiple map sources as if they belonged to a single map. The term “virtual map” has more real-world connotation that the term “virtual database”, and is essentially a complex digital map. In addition, since the virtual map is created dynamically, at run-time, from a number of otherwise separate sources, it is more flexible, easy-to-update, and thus more useful than a mere compendium of map data.
ULRO—In those embodiments that utilize a universal location record object (ULRO), the ULRO comprises a permanent identification code and sufficient information designed to uniquely identify a particular location within a file-of-reference or third-party file. A location, in turn, can be associated with one or more geographic items. ULROs can be employed to establish traversable links between the file-of-reference and the third-party-files for a broad range of database formats. ULROs can be similarly employed to establish traversable links between two or more third-party files. In some embodiments, the ULRO can refer to the location of either a single map feature, a segment of a map line feature, or a collection of related map features. In some embodiments, the ULRO can encode location information about the object referred to, or it can be simply an assigned number. A map can include a plurality of features which each share the same location, and the same ULRO. Once a ULRO is retired, it cannot be reused. In those embodiments that use ULROs or similar universal objects, the ULROs may be considered an example of a technology that provides the linkage between a map provider's file-of-reference and the various third-party files. The VDB may then be considered a technology that utilizes such linkage in generating virtual maps. Additional information about the use of ULROs is provided in co-pending U.S. patent application “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING UNIVERSAL LOCATION REFERENCING OBJECTS”, application Ser. No. 11/271,436, filed Nov. 10, 2005.
Map—As used herein, the term “map” is a generic term that is used to refer to a geospatial database, digital map, or the map data contained therein.
Map Object—A map object is a map item, or more appropriately a data object instantiated within a geospatial database or map.
Feature/Geographic Feature—A geographic feature, also referred to herein simply as a “feature”, is an idealized map representation of an actual object from the real world, which is useful to that map representation. Features can have a dimension, and most often but not always have geometric representations. Features might not be actually visible in the real world: such as borders or intersections, yet notwithstanding this they can still be represented in a map model. Features have a type and a class, which together allow the system to distinguish one feature from another, while also preserving similarities between features that are alike.
Attribute—Features, plurality of features, and sub-sets of features can have attributes. Attributes are provided in large catalogs, and there can be thousands of different attributes applying to features in a commercial computer map model of the real world. The attribute type is what captures the different attributes from the catalogue. Speed limit, length, direction of traffic flow and restaurant opening hours are but a few examples of such attributes.
Relationship—Relationships comprise two or more features “participating” in some meaningful connection to each other. For example, a road element might split into several road elements at some junction, and hence all of those features are in a “fork” relationship to each other (each feature playing a different role). Relationships are also provided in large catalogs, and, as with attributes, hundreds of such relationships are possible in actual commercial digital map models. Not all relationships are geometric, since many are developed by modeling real-world activities. For example, the restaurant that validates parking for a particular parking garage represents one type of business relationship between two features.
Location—The location is defined as where a feature is in the real world, which is a distinct concept from the feature itself. For example, while a feature may be a particular restaurant, its location can be specified as some latitude, longitude (lat/long) coordinate pair, or coordinates from some similar geodetic referencing system, or as a human readable address, (for example “322 Battery Street in San Francisco”). Locations should not be confused with features, or with the other geographic items associated with the locations.
Point of Interest—A point of interest (POI) is a special type of point feature. In particular, the POI is a feature type that can comprise other, more specific types, such as a restaurant, hotel, or museum.
Geographic Marker—A geographic marker, also referred to as a “geotag” is a location identifier. In accordance with an embodiment, the geographic marker includes lat/long, ULRO or other location information. The geographic marker can be considered a succinct, standardized universal location coding for everywhere on earth, and can be attached to an object. Examples of database-specific navigation features include an objects latitude and longitude (lat/long) information, and advanced featured such as ULRO, an example of which is described in further detail in co-pending U.S. patent application “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING UNIVERSAL LOCATION REFERENCING OBJECTS”, application Ser. No. 11/271,436, filed Nov. 10, 2005.
Object Location Identifier—The Object Location Identifier (OLI) provides information about the identity of an object, and the location of that object. In accordance with an embodiment, the OLI includes an object identifier and a geographic marker or geotag.
Mobile Object Location Identifier—The Mobile Object Location Identifier (MOLI) is similar to the standard OLI described above, but is identified a mobile OLI to indicate that it provides information about the identity of a moving object, and the location of that moving object. In accordance with an embodiment, the MOLI includes an object identifier and a geographic marker or geotag.
MURL—In accordance with a particular embodiment, the MURL is a particular form of addressing a MOLI to provide or extract who/where identification for a mobile or moving object, using a consumer-friendly URL-like nomenclature, e.g. “MIKE_SMITH.murl”. The MURL then allows for example Mike Smith to provide his MURL to another user. When a recipient uses the MIKE_SMITH.murl the system automatically retrieves the appropriate name, current location, and other information for that entity.
In accordance with some embodiments the system can also be used to track documents, such as word processing documents, portions of documents, and email messages. Currently available computer and email systems utilize hard-coded computer features such as the sender's Internet protocol (IP) address to track documents and messages such as email. However, it is not easy to convert an IP address into geographic locations. In some instances lookup tables can be used, but there is no guarantee that they are accurate, or publicly available. There may also be problems due to mistakes in the computer's IP address. Worse yet, a common problem nowadays is the concern for IP masking, which can be used to infiltrate a system's security and hide the original location of a file or message. Additionally, many portable or intermittently connected computers such as laptops have dynamic IP's that are assigned when talking to another computer, but otherwise can change regularly.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a geographic marker or geotag is created. The geographic marker can be considered a succinct, standardized universal location coding for everywhere on earth. The geographic marker can then be attached to one of an electronic object or in some embodiments to a non-electronic object. In according with embodiments that use electronic objects, the electronic object can be located in one of a computer file, a database, an email, a web page, or another type of electronic or computerized document, or portions of that document. The creation of the geographic marker and its subsequent attachment to the electronic object enables spatial connectivity between that object and other objects. The creation of the geographic marker and its subsequent attachment to the electronic object also enables spatial connectivity between the object and one or more maps. In the context of an electronic document or web page, such as a wordprocessed document, or an email, the creation of the geographic marker and its subsequent attachment to the electronic document also enables spatial connectivity between the document and one or more maps.
With the ability to add geographic markers to electronic documents and messages, an element of dynamicity is introduced, together with the capability to quickly respond to changes. The geographic marker can tell the object one or more of its current location and its desired location. According to one set of embodiments, a desired location is derived from the projected or known destination of a vehicle that is carrying the object. Embodiments of the invention thus allow an operator to make an automated query and to obtain a succinct geographic marker for the object, without having to enter commands in English or another language. As the object moves, the underlying lat/long or ULRC information changes, which means the geographic marker or tag also changes. In accordance with an embodiment a MOLI or MURL later can be used to access the geographic marker, and determine the objects current location.
In accordance with an embodiment, markers can be dynamically assigned to both static objects and to moving objects. In this context a static object may, for example, be a company or business location, or a roadway.
By way of example, if the system is used to track (or “ping”) a delivery truck, then two geographic markers are received: the first marker can be the current location, and the second marker can be the ultimate destination. As the location of the delivery truck changes, so does its geographic marker. This allows the pinging of the geographic marker to be used to determine the location of a moving (or indeed stationary) object, at a particular point in time.
In accordance with an embodiment, the system facilitates the association of a location with a geographic marker and an object, be it a computer object, electronic object, cyber object, or a physical object in the real world. This association enables the querying of any object with a geographic marker as to where that object is. It is also possible to query the location of certain services or products under a wide range of user-selected constraints. For example, a user can state on a Web-based search page or application that he/she is interested in getting a haircut in San Francisco, Calif., after delivering a parcel to that town, and can query the location of San Francisco hairdressers. If all local hairdresser web pages are published using a geographic marker, then the most pertinent pages can be quickly and easily located. In accordance with an embodiment the system can automatically exclude geographically irrelevant results, so in this instance the location of the web server itself would be irrelevant.
In accordance with an embodiment, electronic-object and document-based markers can be implemented using latitude and longitude (lat/long, and, where available, azimuth) as the geographic marker. In an alternative embodiment the system uses universal location referencing objects (ULRO). Alternative embodiments can use any other organized mapping between locations and indices or numbers such as zip codes. Techniques such as GPS can be included to better get a “fix” on an item and augment the items geographic location information; while techniques such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can also be included to better identify an item. Particularly, since RFID tags are nowadays relatively inexpensive, they can be added to almost any item, large or small, that warrants tracking. As described below, another alternative set of embodiments uses unique mobile identifiers (MOLI's and MURLs) that are particularly suited for mobile applications and/or for consumer-friendly applications.
In accordance with an embodiment, when the system associates a geographical marker with a physical object, it can be visualized as a geographic beacon on that object. In the above example of the parcel traveling to San Francisco, Calif. on a delivery truck, this can be visualized as a geographic beacon placed on the truck. As the truck moves, the beacon reads the parcel's current location, and gives the updated answer when queried. In one set of embodiments, the beacon is capable of translating between different formats, for example, from ULRO's to lat/long, or between other formats.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, the system can comprise a MOLI or MURL layer that allows for identification, location determination, and tracking of mobile or moving objects.
In accordance with some embodiments, the dynamic information for a particular object may not be immediately available. For example, in the instance described above of a delivery truck, the parcel's current location may not be available. In this case, to know the parcel's destination, the driver of the truck can program the truck's destination into the system. Translation software contained within the beacon can transmit the association of the parcel with the geographic marker for San Francisco, Calif. In accordance with some embodiments, a geographic marker can also be defined for the origin of the truck carrying the parcel. A bracketing technique can then be used to predict where the truck or parcel is at any particular point in time, based on its last known location and time stamps. The system can then estimate the approximate location between the start and end points. This is potentially useful if the one or more of the object and the vehicle are, for example, potentially related to a crime, or used in a lost-and-found application, or if it is desired to track the demographics of vehicles leaving a certain location. In accordance with some embodiments, a tiny marker device may be imbedded in an object of interest, wherein the device comprises a standardized geographic marker for the address of ownership. This facilitates the regaining of lost objects, even if the object is found in a location where a different language is spoken from that spoken in the location where the object was lost.
In accordance with some embodiments, geographic markers can be used to restrict searches for objects that are related to certain locations. Using the geographic markers, a search is limited by the corresponding, geographically relevant restrictions. For example, a web site that describes the state of California for a tourism association can be associated with the ULRO for the state of California. The pages that address Los Angeles will be associated with the ULRO for the city of Los Angeles. Restaurants and hotels will each be associated with a ULRO through their addresses. When a web search is subsequently performed that receives this site or some pages from it as one result, the search focuses on results including an HTML tag storing the appropriate geographic marker or markers. Depending on the specific query and the user's specific needs, the geographic markers of interest may correspond one or more of California, Los Angeles, and a particular restaurant address. In this instance, geographic markers behave like geographic keywords, greatly facilitating searches in which geographic location is a criterion. Typically, geographic markers can help eliminate a high proportion of all candidate search results, allowing a user to focus on truly useful and relevant results. In accordance with an embodiment, a bracketing technique can be used as described above, in which a start point and an end point is determined, together with appropriate time stamps, and geographic markers for each point. The system can then estimate the approximate location between the two points. In accordance with an embodiment, the system uses the who and where information provided by the geographic marker, together with the times stamp information to collect triple data points.
In accordance with some embodiments, markers can be used with electronic mail messages (“email”). According to these embodiments, geographic markers are appended to an email message to represent one or more of the origin of the message, the destination of the message, and intermediate points traversed by the message during its path from origin to destination. According to one set of embodiments, geographic markers are appended to an email message to represent its origin. According to one set of embodiments, geographic markers are appended to an email message to represent its destination. The content of an email message can also be “geotagged” or have geographic markers associated therewith.
In accordance with some embodiments, geographic markers allow widely varying applications to unify object location information based on the fact that everything (and perhaps every person) has a geographic marker. Here, one application is to make all knowledge linkable to geographic searches that don't require heavy automated searching. For example, everybody that publishes a web page wouldn't have to know how to write those markers; they could instead use a software service on the web that would generate markers if they input their address, etc. Programs can translate from systems which humans know, into coordinates to universal system of geographic markers.
In accordance with some embodiments, geographic markers are added to fields pertaining to items in a database. Any field of interest in a database can be associated with a geographic marker. Lookup tables for conversion from one format to another can be implemented rapidly and efficiently. As examples only, possible applications include asset tracking, insurance coverage databases, and inventory. The need for inputting addresses is thereby avoided, potentially saving money and storage space. The data thereby becomes more robust, and easier to correlate.
With geographic markers, searches that will enable disparate knowledge to come together, linked on location, are made possible or are made much more efficient. Palmtop computers, cellular telephones, and personal digital assistants (PDA's), which do not have a lot of power or memory, will benefit from use of geographic markers. Geographic markers facilitate location-based services, according to which a user's location affects results. As one example, when a user enters San Francisco, based on his standard declared interests and also based on the PDA's location, his/her PDA interfaces to advertisements relevant to his location and notifies him/her accordingly.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a mobile uniform resource locator (MURL) feature can also be provided as a standardized way for people, websites, and wireless applications to control, share and exchange location information. As described above, the MURL is a particular form of addressing a MOLI to provide or extract who/where identification for a mobile or moving object using a consumer-friendly URL-like nomenclature, e.g. “MIKE_SMITH.murl”. The MURL then allows for example Mike Smith to provide his MURL to another user. When a recipient uses the MIKE_SMITH.murl the system automatically retrieves the appropriate name, current location, and other information for that entity. The MURL addresses the market need to build interoperability between disparate wireless and web based applications that use both digital map data and external location parameters.
wherein the field definition can be:
In accordance with other embodiments other data formats can be used for the MOLI that comprise different fields. For example, in some embodiments, the MOLI can include a destination field. In accordance with other embodiments, the use of lat/long can be replaced with a ULRC or other location identifier. In accordance with other embodiments, the lat/long information can be supplemented with a height or altitude information.
wherein the field definition can be:
wherein the field definition can be:
In accordance with other embodiment, an OLI or MOLI can have any of a variety of other data formats such as, by way of example:
Other arrangements of fields, or combinations thereof, data arrangements and data formats can be used within the spirit and scope of the invention to best suit the needs of a particular implementation, including any combination of information that can be used to provide “who” and “where” information for the OLI or MOLI.
As described both MOLI and MURL provide a way standardized way for people, websites, and wireless applications to control/share location information. MOLI and MURL address the market need to build interoperability between disparate wireless and web based applications that use both location functionality, and data from a map database, digital map, or file of reference. To date there has been no simple or consistent way for users of mobile and web based applications that use location as a key application feature, to control and exchange information about their location. MOLI is intended to address this in order to give users control over if, how and when their location information is delivered between applications. In addition, MURL provides individual users with an easy-to-use mechanism to manage their personal profile, which is stored on a remote server, thereby enabling the individual user to determine the criteria and conditions under which their location information is sent. MURL also enables the creation and growth of social networking communities, by encouraging users of applications to communicate using location and digital maps as a means to interact between family and friends, and between individuals with similar stored profiles. The MURL protocol and format also enable businesses to make their location readily available to distinct groups of end-users, and to other businesses, opening up opportunities for location based advertising and other new services, with the advantage that the businesses have control over the access rights to their location information, and who can receive it.
Similarly with the geographic tag feature and ULRO described above, OLI, MOLI and MURL can be used in a variety of different implementations, including for example:
Users can be individuals or corporations. Programs can be mobile applications, web sites, Enterprise Resource Planning implementations, or any other digital application or electronic document or information which might include address or location data.
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a program to user—consumer user example:
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a program to user—business user example:
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a user to program—consumer user example:
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a user to program to user—business user example:
The following scenarios illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a program to program—consumer user example:
The following scenarios illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a program to program—business user example:
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a user to user—consumer user example:
The following dialogs illustrate the use of object location identifiers in a user to user—consumer user example:
The present invention may be conveniently implemented using a conventional general purpose or a specialized digital computer or microprocessor programmed according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art.
In some embodiments, the present invention includes a computer program product which is a storage medium (media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be used to program a computer to perform any of the processes of the present invention. The storage medium can include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), or any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalence.
This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent applications “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING UNIVERSAL LOCATION REFERENCING OBJECTS”, application Ser. No. 11/271,436, filed Nov. 10, 2005; and “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL DATABASE ENVIRONMENT AND GENERATING DIGITAL MAP INFORMATION”, application Ser. No. 11/742,937, filed May 1, 2007; each of which applications are herein incorporated by reference.
