Polygon Management System for Geospatial Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geospatial query techniques are inadequate for dynamic addition, modification, or removal of polygon boundaries by non-expert users, leading to the need for specialized administrators, which is costly and inefficient as user counts increase.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow users to define, modify, and manage polygonal geographic areas through user interfaces on electronic devices, enabling multiple users to add, remove, or modify polygons in real-time, and determine geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers by checking if a geographic location lies within a specified polygonal area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized administrators are used to manage polygon boundaries, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables end-users to directly add, remove, and modify polygon boundaries through user-friendly interfaces without requiring specialized administrators. Users can define their own service areas by clicking on map points, and the system automatically processes these changes, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring external management overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated intermediary layer that mediates between user actions and database updates. This intermediary automatically validates and processes polygon modifications, eliminating the need for human administrators while maintaining system reliability through automated conflict resolution and data consistency checks.
2Ease of operation
If more users are allowed to manage polygons, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system empowers regular users to perform administrative tasks independently through simplified interfaces. Users can add, remove, and modify polygons by interacting with visual map displays, eliminating the need for complex administrative procedures while the system automatically manages the increased operational complexity through automated validation and conflict resolution.
3Productivity
If real-time polygon modification is enabled, then productivity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static polygon definitions to dynamic real-time modification capabilities. Users can add, remove, and reshape polygons at any time, and the system automatically updates service area calculations and provider matching in real-time, enabling flexible adaptation to changing business needs without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation and conflict detection automatically when users modify polygons. Before committing changes, the system checks for overlapping service areas and potential conflicts, preparing the data structure in advance to ensure consistency without requiring complex post-modification processing.
4Loss of time
If administrators are eliminated, then loss of time is reduced, but reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating the administrator layer, the system removes the time delay associated with requesting and processing administrative approvals. Users can immediately modify their own polygons, and the automated system handles validation and implementation instantly, reducing time loss while maintaining reliability through automated consistency checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms that immediately validate polygon modifications and notify users of any conflicts or issues. This real-time feedback loop ensures data integrity without human intervention, maintaining reliability while eliminating administrative delays through automated monitoring and error correction.
Data Source
AI summary
Geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers of goods or services is identified. The system allows consumers to find service providers with service areas encompassing their location or merchants within a desired shopping area, and allow consumers to query about consumers within a specified area, for example to identify a potential customer base or consider regional advertising. A digital map interface allows users to enter one or more locations or areas of interest and later performs location or area additions, modifications or removals. The system provides the geospatially matched consumers and vendors with information on how to contact one another, but is kept simple by leaving actual contact between the matched parties to separate outside communication channels independent of the system. Processing requirements are reduced by pre-calculating an inner rectangle for complex polygon geographical areas so that simple point-rectangle calculations can confirm locations within the area as being within the polygon.