House Number Normalization for MSAG Address Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency call systems, particularly VoIP-based systems, face challenges in accurately routing calls to the correct Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) due to complexities in determining the location of mobile devices and inefficiencies in matching civic/postal addresses with Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) records, especially with house numbers containing alphanumeric characters in random order.
Innovation Solution
A method of normalizing house numbers by converting non-alphanumeric characters to spaces, removing leading/trailing spaces, and padding digits to a fixed length for lexicographical comparison, allowing for a simple match between input civic/postal addresses and MSAG address ranges stored in a data table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional address matching methods are used for MSAG addresses, then the system can handle simple numeric house numbers, but it fails to accurately match addresses with alphanumeric house numbers in random order
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms house numbers by changing their parameter representation: converting alphanumeric characters to a standardized format, removing non-numeric characters, and normalizing the sequence. This allows the matching system to handle diverse input formats (alphanumeric, random order) while maintaining accurate comparison against MSAG records through standardized numeric representation.
2Productivity
If the system stores and compares house numbers in their original format, then it preserves all address information, but it increases the complexity of matching algorithms and reduces processing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary normalization to house numbers before they are stored in the MSAG database. By pre-converting alphanumeric characters to standardized formats and establishing consistent sequencing rules during data entry, the system eliminates the need for complex matching algorithms during emergency calls. The pre-processed numeric representation enables fast, simple comparison operations.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses complex normalization processes for house numbers, then it achieves high matching accuracy, but it increases processing time during emergency calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the complex normalization process in advance during MSAG database population, not during emergency call processing. House numbers are converted to standardized numeric formats, non-numeric characters are removed, and sequencing is established beforehand. During actual emergency calls, the system only performs simple numeric comparison operations, ensuring rapid processing without sacrificing matching accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique and apparatus to allow a determination of an MSAG-valid address by use of normalized house numbers included in address entries in an MSAG Address data store, to facilitate the simple match of an input civic/postal address against entries in a MSAG data store based on the use of a normalization of the house numbers. The house number normalization allows for an easy lexicographical determination as to whether or not the input civic/postal house number falls with the range of house numbers in the MSAG data store. The inventive process and apparatus pre-stores normalized house number fields in an MSAG address data store, and then normalizes house numbers in a civic/postal address associated with an emergency call. The normalized numbers in the input civic/postal address associated with the emergency call are then lexicographically matched with normalized entries in an MSAG address data store.