API for Accurate Geographic Location Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Applications face difficulties in communicating and retrieving accurate geographic location data due to the use of heterogeneous data sets, where 'place-centric' applications lack the necessary data to provide optimal user experiences, such as navigation, as they rely on 'lossy' latitude-longitude coordinates rather than specific place identifiers.
Innovation Solution
An application programming interface (API) is implemented on computing devices to identify and prioritize location parameters, generating a query string that includes these parameters to request location data from a geographic data system, ensuring accurate and consistent retrieval of location data associated with a geographic point of interest, such as a restaurant, by leveraging the data from a separate geographic mapping service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If place-centric applications use latitude-longitude coordinates to communicate with mapping applications, then the communication between applications is simplified, but the accuracy and completeness of location data is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that receives location requests with various parameter types (place identifiers, addresses, latitude-longitude coordinates) and transforms them into a unified format. This intermediary layer enables simplified communication while preserving data accuracy by acting as a mediator between place-centric applications and mapping applications, converting lossy coordinate data back into rich place information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters by accepting multiple types of location inputs (place identifiers, addresses, coordinates) and transforming them into a standardized format with enriched information. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain communication simplicity while recovering lost location details through systematic parameter conversion and prioritization.
2Ease of manufacture
If place-centric applications rely on their own heterogeneous data sets, then application development is independent and simple, but the user experience and navigation functionality are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface that works with multiple data formats and sources. The system accepts place identifiers, addresses, and coordinates while maintaining compatibility with both place-centric and mapping application data structures. This universal approach allows independent application development while ensuring reliable navigation functionality through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary system bridges heterogeneous data sets from place-centric applications with the mapping application's location data. This mediator translates between different data formats, enabling independent application development while ensuring reliable navigation by harmonizing disparate data sources into a unified communication framework.
3Measurement precision
If mapping applications use detailed place data, then navigation accuracy is improved, but data heterogeneity and communication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by transforming detailed place data into a standardized format with prioritized parameters. This transformation maintains navigation accuracy by preserving essential location information while reducing data heterogeneity through systematic parameter normalization and format standardization across different data sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different processing rules to different parameter types based on their priority and reliability. High-priority parameters like place identifiers receive detailed processing to ensure navigation accuracy, while lower-priority parameters use simplified handling, thus managing complexity while maintaining precision where most needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and methods for obtaining geographic location data. In one embodiment, an example method includes identifying, by the first software application running on one or more computing devices, one or more location parameters indicative of a geographic point of interest based at least in part on an application programming interface invoked by the first software application. The method includes generating, by the first software application running on the one or more computing devices, a query string including the one or more location parameters. The method includes requesting, by the first software application running on the one or more computing devices, location data associated with the geographic point of interest based at least in part on the query string. The method includes providing for display, on at least one display device, the location data associated with the geographic point of interest.