Cartographic Boundary Matching for Document Search
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing map-based searching methods are limited by their reliance on location metadata, which restricts flexibility in defining search areas to circular boundaries and cannot effectively identify information files without associated location metadata, such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that allows users to select a cartographic search boundary on a map, compares it to candidate boundaries derived from stored information files, and displays matching files based on geographical affinity, using metadata or information within the files to determine cartographic candidate boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distance-based filtering is used to identify entities within a radius, then entities can be filtered by location, but the search area is limited to circular boundaries and requires location metadata
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional distance-based filtering (circular radius) to two-dimensional cartographic boundary matching, enabling arbitrary polygonal search areas on maps. This dimensional expansion allows users to define complex geographic regions beyond simple circular boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates cartographic candidate boundaries from diverse information sources including location metadata, document content, and external data sources, making the search system universally applicable to both traditional location-based entities and documents without explicit location data.
2Adaptability or versatility
If location metadata is required for geographic searching, then distance calculation is straightforward, but documents without location metadata cannot be searched
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary extraction of cartographic information from document content and other sources before the search operation, creating pre-computed cartographic candidate boundaries that can be quickly matched during search, eliminating the need for real-time geographic analysis of each document.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cartographic candidate boundaries as an intermediary representation that bridges documents without location metadata and the geographic search query, allowing indirect geographic matching through derived boundary representations.
3Quantity of substance
If cartographic candidate boundaries are derived from file content, then files without location metadata can be included, but the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the boundary derivation process into distinct operations: extracting cartographic information from various sources, processing this information to generate candidate boundaries, and storing these boundaries for efficient search matching. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by breaking down the complex derivation task.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method includes receiving a selection of a cartographic search boundary via a user display interface map, obtaining cartographic candidate boundaries corresponding to stored information files, comparing the cartographic search boundary to the cartographic candidate boundaries, selecting stored information files with cartographic candidate boundaries matching the cartographic search boundary, and displaying representations of selected stored information files.