Geographic Area Overlap Detection Using Spatial Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mapping software is unable to accurately determine the boundaries of geographical areas, such as cities or metropolitan regions, which hinders the ability to provide targeted advertisements and information relevant to specific map views, as it lacks the capability to decipher coded boundaries like latitude/longitude coordinates.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that identify target geographical areas by defining them as circles or polygons, using a spatial index to determine intersections with a map view port, allowing for the calculation of overlap and selection of relevant advertisements based on threshold percentages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mapping software displays maps covering multiple geographical areas, then the map view can serve a broader user interest, but the software cannot determine which areas overlap the view port, leading to inability to display targeted advertisements
Solution Approach 1:
The geographical area is segmented into discrete geographic cells organized in a hierarchical spatial index structure. Each cell represents a discrete unit that can be independently evaluated for overlap with the map view port, enabling precise measurement of area coverage while maintaining broad view port support
Solution Approach 2:
A spatial index data structure acts as an intermediary between the map view port and the geographical area boundaries. This index pre-organizes geographic cells and their hierarchical relationships, enabling efficient query processing to determine which areas overlap the view port without requiring complex real-time boundary calculations
2Measurement precision
If the software tests all target areas against the view port to determine overlap, then accurate advertisement selection is achieved, but the computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial index is constructed in advance, pre-organizing all geographic cells and their hierarchical relationships before any overlap queries are performed. This preliminary structuring enables rapid evaluation of target area overlaps during runtime without requiring complex real-time computations
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial index structure allows dynamic querying based on the specific map view port being displayed. The system can efficiently adapt to different view ports by traversing the hierarchical index structure, evaluating only the relevant geographic cells that may overlap with the current view port
3Quantity of substance
If all advertisements from overlapping areas are displayed, then comprehensive information is provided, but irrelevant advertisements reduce user experience when overlap is minimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality thresholds for advertisement display based on the local overlap characteristics. Advertisements are prioritized or filtered according to the degree of overlap between the target area and the map view port, ensuring that highly relevant advertisements are prominently displayed while minimizing irrelevant ones
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for identifying, from a set of geographical areas, a set of target areas that overlap a map view or view port of a map. Target areas are defined as circles having centers and radii, as sets of geographic cells overlaying the areas, or as other polygons of geographic data. Within a view port served or to be served to a user, multiple points are defined and substantially equally spaced within the view port, such that any target area that may significantly overlap the view port (e.g., at least a threshold percentage of the view port) is likely to overlap a minimum number of the points (e.g., one). Some or all target areas are then tested for intersection with some or all of the points, and calculations may be made to determine how much the intersecting areas actually overlap the view port.