21329results about "Geographical information databases" patented technology

A method comprises the steps of: transmitting a map request from a client computer to a server; receiving in the client computer data representing a map from a map server; receiving, in the client computer, dynamic, location-based data from a content provider separately from the data representing the map; generating within the client computer a rendering of the dynamic, location-based data overlaid on the map; and displaying the rendering on the client computer.

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

A technique, method, apparatus, and system to provide related and integrated social networking, real time geospatial mapping, geo-target location and multiple points of interest, receiving current location of user's electronic or mobile device and multiple points of interest, cloud-type configuration storing and handling user data across multiple enterprises, generating user behavior data and ad links, promotions (“social/geo/promo”) links on a website for any product, good or service, including social/geo/promo data sets for user customized visual displays showing 3D map presentations with correlated or related broad or alternative categories of social/geo/promo links to be displayed with web page content for view by an end user.

A method includes: receiving a query from a user, generating a map in response to the query, identifying items within an area covered by the map, displaying interactive icons on the map at locations corresponding to the locations of the items, displaying a textual list of the items displayed on the map, enabling a user to select at least one item from the textual list for continued display; and displaying the at least one selected item on the map simultaneously while displaying items found by a subsequent query, regardless of whether the at least one selected item satisfies a search criterion used in the subsequent query.

A system and method of interactive and live computerized matching in which a first user is provided with a personal data device including a wireless communication system. A secure network is configured to include a server programmed with a personal characteristic database and a database searching algorithm, and a wireless communication system at a specific geographic location that is capable of communicating with the user's personal data device. The first user is allowed to log on through the wireless communication system to the secure network using his or her personal data device, and communicates to and stores in the database personal data defining his or her characteristics and those for his or her ideal match. Either the secure network automatically identifies the first users precise geographic location, or the user himself otherwise indicates and stores in the database of the network an identifying address that indicates his current specific geographic location. The user then instructs the database searching algorithm to search for and identify other users similarly logged on to the network at the same specific geographic location. The user is able to initiate a search of the database for possible matches within the pool of other users also logged on to the network at the same specific geographic location. The secure network then indicates to the first user the results of the search.

A system for ranking geospatial entities is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises an interface for receiving ranking data about a plurality of geospatial entities and an entity ranking module. The module uses a ranking mechanism to generate place ranks for the geospatial entities based on the ranking data. Ranked entity data generated by the entity ranking module is stored in a database. The entity ranking module may be configured to evaluate a plurality of diverse attributes to determine a total score for a geospatial entity. The entity ranking module may be configured to organize ranked entity data into placemark layers.

An interactive visitor self-registration system for visitors to museums or other public sites using a digital computer or internet appliance device and a touchscreen monitor, which accesses a dedicated website, through a global computer network such as the Internet. It focuses on gathering information regarding residence of visitors as well as the information gathered by a traditional paper guest book. The system is searchable by visitors and by site staff. The information gathered by the system is stored on a dedicated website. A second, administration website, also password protected with an unpublished web address can be used by Site Administrators to customize the looks and options of their specific visitor self-registration system. Additionally, there is a public website which is accessible via the Internet which stores travel information for every signer to the system who logs on with his or her email address. These visitors can track their own travel via a map displayed on the website and be linked to the website for the sites they visit.

Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide more flexibility to the user through the use of multiple views of map information, including a secondary map and a main map. The secondary map can provide the user with either a zoomed out or in relative to the main map, or a different type of map view (e.g., satellite images). The secondary map can be turned on and off by the user. The secondary map may include one or more viewing frames that indicate views (e.g., current and alternate views) of the main map. The user can move the main map, viewing frame, or secondary map to achieve desired map views. During such movement, the relationship between the main and secondary maps can be synchronous, partially synchronous, or serial.

Apparatus and computer-readable media for associating metadata with a geographic location are provided. The apparatus includes logic for detecting that a mobile device is present at a geographic location relevant to a user of the mobile device, logic for retrieving context information associated with the location, logic for selecting a program code module based upon a contextual relevancy of the location, logic for providing the program code module for execution, where the program code module is capable of performing processing specific to at least one aspect of the location, the processing is based upon the context information, and the program code module is further capable of receiving at least one input data item from the mobile device, where the at least one input data item describes an activity of the user at the location, and logic for associating the at least one input data item with the location.

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Systems are arranged to provide a user information which relates to objects of interest. A user may point a hand held device toward an object to address it. The device determines which objects are being addressed by making position and attitude measurements and further a reference and search of a database containing preprogrammed information relating to objects. Information relating to objects determined as objects presently being addressed is thereafter presented at a user interface. Devices of these systems include a point reference, a direction reference, a position determining support, attitude determining support, a computer processor and database, and a user interface. Methods of systems include the steps of addressing an object, determining position and attitude, searching a database, and presenting information to a user.

User interfaces and computer enabled methods for defining, discovering, and viewing map layers are provided. The map layers annotate an existing map by providing additional information that is not present in the existing map. A contribution user interface receives and configures the map layer on a web browser. The contribution user interface allows the map layer to be positioned over a desired location and displayed as a semi-transparent image overlay superimposed over the existing map. The map layer may be enlarged, reduced, and rotated to match the features of the existing map. The map layer is stored for use by other users. The layer may be retrieved by users who search for the desired location or for related or nearby locations. The layer may be displayed as a search result, and may be displayed for viewing by users as a partially-transparent image overlay over the existing map.

The present invention embodiments include a geographic overlay system including an information system, a mapping system interface to communicate with a mapping system and a database system including National Census geographic boundaries and data files. The geographic overlay system utilizes a client/server model that streams geographic data from a server system to dynamically render vector-based map layers inside a client browser. The geographic overlay system employs a Nationwide database of Census geographies that may be rendered as interactive point, line or polygon objects over a National base map provided by the mapping system. A database builder interface enables users to build the database and server pages. The present invention embodiments overlay translucent, interactive dynamically generated vector-based polygonal Census boundary map layers over geographical maps from the mapping system. The overlaying vector map layers perform thematic analysis, enable information retrieval, display mouse-over tool-tips and query a dynamic block-level National spatial-relational database.

Method for transmitting data from infrastructure to vehicles includes arranging a transmitter apart from the vehicles, providing information relating to operation of at least one vehicle or of an occupant of a vehicle to the transmitter, transmitting the information from the transmitter to the at least one vehicle, and receiving the transmitted information at the at least one vehicle. Transmitters may be arranged on a roadway on which the vehicles travel, at a gas station or other vehicle-accessible commercial or public location such as a mall, at the vehicle operator's home and on a road sign, basically anywhere in range of a traveling vehicle. The information to be transmitted to the vehicle may be prioritized and transmitted via the transmitter based on the prioritization.

An interactive map web-based tool is provided which gives the user the ability to customize their use of a map. The present invention includes a customized overlay of point of interest information on an existing map. The information overlay includes icons, drop down lists, information panels, advertising content, pop-up windows and hypertext links which are associated with points of interest, where each point of interest is associated with a class. Drop down lists permit the user to display one or more points of interest by location or class. Visual cues, including color coding, icon shaping and text differentiation for different classes of points of interest allow a user of the map to quickly differentiate area resources. With such an arrangement a traveler can easily select for display only those particular resources that are of interest to the traveler and thereby create a local search experience focused on their specific travel needs.

In one embodiment, a ticket entry system and method include a program management system, a spatial management system, a data management system, and a user interface. The program management system receives contact information and a search criteria for a locate request. The program management system transmits the search criteria to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the search criteria and retrieves map data from the data management system corresponding to the search criteria geocode. The spatial management system transmits the map data to the program management system. The program management system transmits the map data to the user system and, in return, receives an indication of a site location where the operation is to be performed. The program management system transmits the site location indication to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the site location indication and transmits the site location geocode to the program management system. The program management system creates a locate ticket, which comprises the site location geocode and the contact information.

A language expression apparatus and a method based on a context and a intent awareness, are provided. The apparatus and method may recognize a context and an intent of a user and may generate a language expression based on the recognized context and the recognized intent, thereby providing an interpretation/translation service and/or providing an education service for learning a language.

Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided.

A method and system to bookmark a location, blog geo-referential information, and process the geo referential information, having a mobile device and a stationary server. The mobile device is configured to generate a waypoint to geographically identify the location, generate a timestamp, fetch and store data associated with the location, and receive a user-provided description regarding at least one of the location and the data associated with the location. The stationary server is configured to receive geo-referential information from the mobile device, the geo-referential information including the waypoint, timestamp, and at least one of the data and user-provided description. The server includes a database to maintain the geo-referential information in a spatially and temporally organized manner, and a processing arrangement to adaptively process the geo-referential information according to at least one of a characteristic and preference of a user.