Abstract: The inventions relate to the input of data into virtual reality simulation systems and make it possible modeling the behavior of a real object by determining the user's efforts. The system contains tension cables for fixing a body in a stable equilibrium position with the possibility for rotation around at least one axis passing near its center of mass. It contains elements that determine the orientation of the body, as well as the magnitude and direction of the force acting at the body from the tension cables. There can be used one tension cable (suspension), two tension cables (stretching the body in opposite directions) in air or water environments (with buoyancy compensation). In the framework of the method, initial conditions of the environment, vectors of tension forces of the tension cables are determined, the vector of the force applied by the user is calculated, and the calculated force is used to simulate the behavior of the virtual object.

Abstract: A database engine may track granularity levels for accessing a spatial index. Granularity levels of a spatial index may be evaluated to identify those granularity levels that identify data objects in a data set. An indication of the identified granularity levels may be stored as part of metadata for the data set. When a spatial query directed to the data set is received, the spatial index may be accessed at the identified granularity levels indicated in the metadata for the data set as part of processing the spatial query.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a boundary from evaluation records for objects are disclosed. In some embodiments, evaluation records for objects (e.g., appraisal records for real estate properties) are accessed. The evaluation records can be used to identify objects with similar characteristics. By representing objects identified as nodes in a graph, edges between nodes representing the identified objects can be established. A network generated from the nodes and edges can be used to identify a boundary comprising objects having similar characteristics.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, modifying queries based on non-textual content. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from a user device, a query including a plurality of terms; determining active non-textual data displayed in an application environment on the user device; determining, from the non-textual textual data, modification data for the query; generating a set of modified queries based on the query and the modification parameters; scoring the modified queries according to one or more scoring criteria; selecting one of the modified queries based on the scoring; and providing, to the user device, search results responsive to the selected modified query.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geolocation routing and simulation of network conditions are disclosed. A network traffic profile is determined for a client device. A network access server selects an endpoint server based on the location of the selected endpoint server. The network access server routes traffic from the client device to an external server through the selected endpoint server. The network traffic from the client device to the external server appears to originate from a network address of the selected endpoint server. Network conditions for the network traffic are simulated based on the network traffic profile.

Abstract: Near real-time imagery of a given location may be provided to user upon request. Most popularly viewed geographic locations are determined, and a 360 degree image capture device is positioned at one or more of the determined locations. The image capture device may continually provide image information, which is processed, for example, to remove personal information and filter spam. Such image information may then be provided to users upon request. The image capture device continually captures multiple views of the given location, and the requesting user can select which perspective to view.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for prioritizing points of interest for display in a map have been described. In certain aspects a system may include an interface module, a search module, and a priority module. The interface module may be configured to obtain pattern recognition data and location data associated with an image of a geographical area. The search module may be configured to access a set of point of interest listings and determine whether the pattern recognition data and the location data associated with the image correspond with a point of interest listing in the set of point of interest listings. The priority module may be configured to prioritize the point of interest listing for display in a map if a point of interest listing in the set of point of interest listings is determined to correspond.

Abstract: The subject technology discloses configurations for accessing one or more entries of rating information for a place associated with a geographical location; identifying, using one or more criteria, a type of user that authored each of the accessed one or more entries of rating information for the place; for a user viewing the one or more entries of rating information for the place, identifying, using one or more criteria, a type of user that is viewing the accessed one or more entries of rating information for the place; filtering the accessed one or more entries of rating information for the place according to the type of user that authored each of the accessed entries and the type of user that is viewing the accessed entries; and providing for display the filtered one or more entries of rating information for the place.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to geographical image processing of time-dependent imagery. Various assets acquired at different times are stored and processing according to acquisition date in order to generate one or more image tiles for a geographical region of interest. The different image tiles are sorted based on asset acquisition date. Multiple image tiles for the same region of interest may be available. In response to a user request for imagery as of a certain date, one or more image tiles associated with assets from prior to that date are used to generate a time-based geographical image for the user.

Abstract: Category affinity may be used as a consideration in providing search results. A taxonomy of substantive categories is created and/or obtained. A corpus of document is compared with the taxonomy to determine the category(ies) with which the documents affine. A query is also compared with the taxonomy to determine the category(ies) with which the query affines. A document may receive a category score based on how well the document's category(ies) match the query's category(ies). This document score may be combined with other scores, such as a text score, a link score, and a distance score, and/or any other factors, to determine an overall relevance score. The relevance score may then be used to rank and present search results.

Abstract: The following relates to ranking search results consisting of locations or recommending locations to visit based on recorded data representing visits by a plurality of users to the locations represented as search results or recommended locations to visit. The data representing users' visits can be recorded by receiving data anonymously reported by handheld communication devices carried by the plurality of users. A handheld communication device, which is carried by a user, can report to the system the user's present location optionally associated with a time stamp. The handheld communication device can report either a single location coordinate or a collection of coordinates gathered over time.

Abstract: A subscription-based system for providing commerce information for one or more mobile devices for one or more merchants. Some techniques employed feature a subscription-based method for presenting commercial resources to a mobile device. The method involves receiving mobile device user information relating to a geographic location to locate one or more merchants within a subscription-based shopping network, and receiving mobile device user information relating to a merchant type within the subscription-based shopping network. The method also involves receiving, from a database over a communication network, information for one or more merchants associated with the mobile device user information for the geographic location and the merchant type, and presenting the associated merchant information on the mobile device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the processing of data, and more particularly to a method of and system for processing large volumes of Earth observation imagery data. A system for processing a large volume of Earth observation imaging data is described, comprising a computer including a visual display and a user interface, a plurality of servers, an image database storing said Earth observation imaging data as a plurality of separate image data files, and a network for interconnecting the computer, plurality of servers and image database. The plurality of servers is operable to process the separate data files in a distributed manner, at least one of the plurality of servers is operable to process the separate data files in a multiprocessing environment and at least one of the plurality of servers is operable to collate the processed separate data files into a single imaging result.

Abstract: A hybrid context information matching approach may produce a customized product catalogue based on the user's context and the mobile device the user is using. A Knowledge Base (KB) and a KB manager, along with various processes perform specific collaborative tasks in order to achieve the overall goal of producing a customized product catalogue. In addition, the effort builds and/or updates the KB. Various contextual inputs are provided from both the user environment and data repositories. Hybrid matching is performed in order to determine optimal search results based on the contextual input provided.

Abstract: A two-level database structure for use by unlicensed TVBD devices operating in TV white space comprises a central database and local databases. The central database comprises two sub-database: the central licensed database which maintains information about all licensed TV devices and the central unlicensed database which maintains information about unlicensed wireless devices operating in TV spectrum. The local database is created by each TVBD device or TVBD network when it initiates and it stores information related to all transmitters in the local area including location, power transmission levels, operating schedule, sensing results, backup channel information. The local databases communicate with central database to query it about licensed usage of TV spectrum and register with central database.

Abstract: Techniques, a system and an article of manufacture for determining potential enterprise partnerships. A method includes constructing an interaction graph for a set of multiple enterprises based on information pertaining to each of the enterprises and information pertaining to transactions conducted among the enterprises, and determining at least two candidate partnership teams among the set of enterprises based on at least one attribute of the graph, wherein each candidate partnership team comprises two or more of the enterprises.

Abstract: A geographic database is defined using hierarchical data trees and updated by changing selected portions of a data tree. A device defines a binary large object (BLOB) including map data as a first data tree and an update to the map data as a second data tree. The device computes a difference between the first data tree and the second data tree. The difference may include the data and links that are being updated. The device generates an update script including a sequence of edit operations needed to update the map data. The device may communicate the update script to a navigation device, which is configured to execute the update script to perform the update on a local version of the map data.

Abstract: In an implementation, geographic region information is managed through storage, in a database, of respective sets of coordinates of elements and region identifiers of a plurality of geographic regions that are mapped onto the respective sets of coordinates of elements, in which the plurality of geographic regions are expanded to extend into additional elements prior to the storage of the respective sets of coordinates and the region identifiers.

Abstract: A recommender system for recommending items to a user based on geo-Tagged information related to him, in which items associated with a GeoTag are stored in a database. Feedback regarding the various items is obtained from the user and the provided rating of items is propagated to closely located items based on their associated GeoTags. A user-to-user similarity matrix is calculated and a predicted score is assigned for each user and item, using a recommendation server. All the items in the catalog of items are sorted according to their predicted scores as calculated for the user, and all items that have been already rated by the user are filtered out. Then, items from the catalog of items are presented to the user, according to their scores.

Abstract: A system determines documents that are associated with a location, identifies a group of signals associated with each of the documents, and determines authoritativeness of the documents for the location based on the signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving a search query originating from a user device, the search query including a geographic feature name; receiving data identifying one or more candidate point-of-interests, each candidate point-of-interest comprising data that identifies a corresponding candidate geographic entity, each candidate point-of-interest having an initial relevance score; generating one or more biasing boxes, wherein each biasing box defines a geographic region, and each biasing box is defined based on location information associated with the user device or a user using the user device; using the biasing boxes to generate respective adjusted relevance scores for the candidate point-of-interests; selecting a point-of-interest from the one or more candidate point-of-interests according to the respective adjusted relevance scores of the candidate point-of-interests; and using the selected point-of-interest to identify a location r

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking search results. In one aspect, a document provided to a user device is identified. In addition, a geographic location is identified by the content of the document. User queries are received and search results are identified and ranked based, at least in part, on the geographic location.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for providing search results for presentation as a function of the availability of respective providers comprised in the search results. For example, a user may perform a search for local groceries stores and stores within a 5 miles geographic radius of the user may be identified and filtered/distinguished as a function of the availability of respective stores. Such availability may be a function of whether respective stores are open or closed at the time of the search, whether respective stores are expected to be open or closed at an estimated time of arrival (e.g., based upon travel time from the user's location at the time of the search to respective stores), and/or parking considerations (e.g., parking availability, type of parking, and/or parking cost) at respective stores.

Abstract: A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route. Navigation systems can also use the relation to service skyline queries and responsively generate skyline graphs of points of interest.

Abstract: A system for managing risk in employee travel may track a location of users of the travel risk management system during travel. Travel itinerary information for a user may be input into the travel risk management system, including user identification information, travel date information and geographic location information for travel destinations. During the travel period, the system may communicate with a portable computing device to determine the user's actual location, and update the stored travel itinerary information if the user's actual location is different than the user's expected location. The system may transmit a location request message to the user's portable computing device, or a mobile application may cause the portable computing device to transmit the user's location without prompting.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a zone of relevance for locating a wireless end-user and making a user notification decision including: storing information related to the enterprise in an enterprise database; storing information related to the end-user in an end-user database; accessing said enterprise and user end databases to extract enterprise and end-user related information; accessing a geographical database to extract geographic information, based on information obtained from the enterprise database; extracting relevant dynamic inputs from external sources via a predefined application programming interface; determining a value for the user notification based on weighting of said extracted information and historical use information; determining a zone of relevance for the wireless end-user; and notifying a user, wherein notifying the user meets predetermined criteria for the determined value of notification.

Abstract: A proximity alert system includes a non geographically based information set with non-geographical based input characteristics associated with an individual that are from online sources. Further included is a geographically based database with geographically based input that is also associated with the individual that are also from online sources. In addition, a query component based upon a member initiated search for the selected individual includes a geographic tag for each selected individual. Also included are programs having instructions for executing the member initiated search in the non geographical and geographical databases that outputs a search result that matches the member initiated search, plus instructions to map a proximate path as between the member geographic tag and the selected individual geographic tag, wherein operationally the member can view the selected individuals associated information that include geographic mapping between the member and the individual.

Abstract: A method and system for a location based full text search is disclosed. The system generates interwoven bit vectors for documents that are stored in a database. The system may determine a location value based on a portion of a map that a user is viewing. The system may also receive at least one search term inputted by a user. Based on the location value and the search term, the system may generate one or more interwoven bit vectors, which may be used to query an index that identifies responsive documents stored in the database.

Abstract: A location-based sales system includes a non geographically based information set with non-geographical based input characteristics that are from online classifieds for goods and services. Further included is a geographically based database with geographically based input attributes sets, wherein each set is associated with each of the online classifieds, each set includes geographic parameters. In addition, a query component based upon a buyer initiated search for the goods or services includes a geographic tag for the buyer. Also included are programs having instructions for executing the buyer initiated search in the information set and outputting a search result that matches the buyer initiated search, plus instructions to map a proximate path as between the buyer geographic tag and each one of the attribute sets associated with the search result group, wherein operationally the buyer can view goods or services search results that include geographic mapping for each specific search result.

Abstract: The RFID reader reads out an RFID stored in an RFID tag in the vicinity through wireless communication. The clock acquires an RFID readout time. The location sensor acquires an RFID readout location. The memory stores the RFID in association with the readout time and the readout location. The communication I/F acquires RFID-related information from a server asynchronously with readout of the RFID. The processor generates in the memory an RFID aggregate structure, which is a data structure of RFID aggregates constructed by classifying a plurality of RFIDs stored in the memory based on the readout time and the readout location and in which RFID-related information is stored in association with the constructed RFIDs.

Abstract: A database has a plurality of elements, where each element is associated with a location and at least one set of different attribute values, wherein each set includes a timestamp when the attribute values in the set were determined. A determination is made of a reference geographical location, an element having a geographical location within a geographical region including the referenced geographical location, a most recent set of the attribute values for the element having a most recent timestamp, a previous set of attribute values for the determined element comprising the set of attribute values having a previous timestamp prior to the most recent timestamp, and whether a condition with respect to at least one of the most recent set of attribute values and the previous set of attribute values of the determined element is satisfied.

Abstract: Architecture that enables discovery and communications between users that have common interests (e.g., visited the same place). For example, when users arrive at a geographic location (e.g., a business) at various times, the users are registered (automatically or manually) via a location-based service. A user can register at the location so other users may discover the user by association to the same location and according to concurrent (all or a portion of overlap of time) visitation. The registration process creates visit information of a visiting user, and a history component stores the visit information and provides access to the visit information according to user access preferences. The architecture further enables searches to be performed over the visit information by users to find other users who visited the location at the same time, to find potential new friends, and also suggest other users who match the user profile preferences.

Abstract: Architecture that creates a geo-fence based on geo-tagged item (e.g., a photo. The geo-tagged item can be used to share virtual boundaries, such as geo-fences, between users via conventional methods (e.g., email) for sharing digital media. An extraction component that extracts geolocation information (e.g., latitude and longitude coordinates, altitude, bearing, distance, place names, etc.) of a geo-tagged item. The geolocation information can be related to a geographical location at which the item is geo-tagged. A boundary component then creates a virtual boundary (e.g., geo-fence) in association with the geographical location and based on the geolocation information. Thereafter, the virtual boundary is triggered when the user crosses (e.g., engages, intersects) the boundary and the attached action is triggered. The geo-tagged item can be shared with another user, which when is processed, creates a virtual boundary for that other user.

Abstract: A database has a plurality of elements, where each element is associated with a location and at least one set of different attribute values, wherein each set includes a timestamp when the attribute values in the set were determined. A determination is made of a reference geographical location, an element having a geographical location within a geographical region including the referenced geographical location, a most recent set of the attribute values for the element having a most recent timestamp, a previous set of attribute values for the determined element comprising the set of attribute values having a previous timestamp prior to the most recent timestamp, and whether a condition with respect to at least one of the most recent set of attribute values and the previous set of attribute values of the determined element is satisfied.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to geographic visualization of data. In aspects, data is obtained from a data store. Geographical data within the data is identified. The geographical data is provided to a mapping service that returns mapping data that includes locations corresponding to the geographical data. From the mapping data, a map is drawn that shows graphical elements for tuples of the data.

Abstract: Relevant items are selected from personalized items included in a variety of social networking system feeds based on a relevance threshold. Content included in the received items is observed to facilitate grouping the items. Items satisfying a grouping criteria are grouped based on the content of the items. Items are then scored based on relevance factors, such as whether an item is included in the group or an indication of interest level associated with items in a group. Scored items meeting a relevance threshold are selected for display in an aggregated social feed in a content region of a page.

Abstract: Methods, systems and processor-readable media for extracting and classifying location information utilizing social media messages and/or data thereof. The social media messages can be sampled from a social media database and the messages filtered based on a heuristic rule. A geolocation entity from the unstructured social media messages can be extracted utilizing a geolocation entity extracting module. The messages with the geoentities can be uploaded onto a crowd sourcing platform to manually annotate the messages with a label. A text classification model can be built and learned from the label utilizing a machine learning algorithm and the messages can be classified by a location classifier in order to extract the user location. The user location can then be transformed into a geocode so that a spatial search can be enabled and the distance between the locations can be easily calculated.

Abstract: A method of creating geographic zones may include receiving a selection of a first geographic zone located at least partially within a geographic region, storing a tree data structure that represents the first geographic zone, and sending the tree data structure to be stored on one or more asset tracking devices. The tree data structure may include a plurality of nodes organized into parent-child relationships where each of the nodes represents geographic areas. A root node may represent the geographic region, each child node may represent a sub-area of a geographic area represented by the respective parent node, each node may represent a geographic area that at least partially overlaps with the first geographic zone, and each node representing a geographic area that is entirely within the first geographic zone may include an identifier associated with the first geographic zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing extended search are provided. The method includes receiving user-inputted keywords; extending the user-inputted keywords according to geographical information to acquire extended keywords; performing a search by using the extended keywords; and returning search results to the user. With the present technical solutions, privilege control can be effectively performed in a cloud storage system. With the present embodiments, more information may be provided to a user for reference.

Abstract: The invention acquires article data (S1), extracts characteristic words from the acquired article data (S2), specifies a characteristic word which is not stored as a local area word in a database 12b which stores a local area word indicating a local area in association with geography information for specifying the local area, from the extracted characteristic words (S3), acquires a result of searching performed in a search device, according to the specified characteristic word (S4 and S5), specifies a local area related to article data based on the search result and finds geography information (S6), and stores the specified characteristic word in the database 12b as the local area word in association with the specified local area (S7).

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, circuits, systems and corresponding executable code for locating and managing data files/objects such as image files, audio files, etc. According to some embodiments of the present invention, there may be provided a Dynamic Search and Linking Module (DSLM), which DSLM may be functionally associated with an Uploader (an application or module adapted to upload files) of an application or of an operating system. The DSLM may provide an Uploader with search engine querying (e.g. web searching) and search engine result (e.g results of a web search) linking functionality.

Abstract: A map updating system that stores map data and a priority sequence table, acquires first update data and second update data of the map data according to the priority sequence table, and updates the map data based on the first update data and second update data according to the priority sequence table.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computer-implemented GIS and method for collecting data and identifying, registering and tracking agricultural and food-related properties by type and use. Agricultural and food-related properties are identified by cross-referencing the real estate database with various agricultural group databases maintained by one or more agricultural producer groups or organizations. The real estate database and the various agricultural group databases are merged to produce a GIS of agricultural and food-related properties identified by type and use, with accurate location and boundaries and all relevant ownership and contact information.

Abstract: Architecture that identifies and learns repeated user behavior (habits) related to routes of travel and points of interest. Once learned, the habits of an individual can be used to make an algorithm more efficient, and hence, the user experience of an application more effective and enjoyable. The capability to more accurately infer user behavior based on user history can be employed to operate (e.g., power down or place in components standby to conserve power) user device resources in a more efficient manner. It can be identified that a user has deviated from a routine route that has associated points of interest to a new route that has associated new points of interest. Once identified, the original set of points of interest for the routine route is then updated with new points of interest. The identification of fixed routes can be determined dynamically as well as deviation from a fixed route.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, are described for automatically and/or interactively editing image metadata. In one aspect, the methods include the actions of obtaining two from among three items of geo-metadata associated with an image. The three items of geo-metadata include an acquisition geo-location for the image, an acquisition geo-orientation for the image and a geo-location of a subject depicted in the image. The methods further include the actions of representing on a map the two obtained items of geo-metadata associated with the image, and determining candidates for the third item of geo-metadata based on the representations of the two obtained items of geo-metadata. In addition, the methods can also include the actions of determining the third item of geo-metadata associated with the image from among the generated candidates.

Abstract: A method for identifying a candidate part of a map to be updated. The method comprises receiving position data relating to a plurality of reroute points and determining one or more clusters of reroute points based on the position data. The method further comprises determining cluster features, determining a weight for each of the clusters and generating reroute cluster position data which is transmitted in a last step of the method. By determining clusters of reroute points and corresponding weights, a candidate part of a map to be updated may be identified in an efficient way. A corresponding device and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A system for ranking geospatial entities is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises an interface for receiving ranking data about a plurality of geospatial entities and an entity ranking module. The module uses a ranking mechanism to generate place ranks for the geospatial entities based on the ranking data. Ranked entity data generated by the entity ranking module is stored in a database. The entity ranking module may be configured to evaluate a plurality of diverse attributes to determine a total score for a geospatial entity. The entity ranking module may be configured to organize ranked entity data into placemark layers.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide geographic location information is provided. The method comprises receiving a query text string representing a query for a geographic location from a user and obtaining data records that represent a plurality of candidate geographic locations. The method computes a text matching score that indicates how much of the query text string matches a record text string of the candidate geographic location and applies a usage pattern weight to the text matching score to obtain an overall score value for the candidate geographic location. The candidate geographic locations are ranked based on the overall score values.

Abstract: A method of geotagging an audio-recording. The method comprises: determining (220) a location at which the audio-recording was recorded; obtaining (230) an image containing an indication of the location, or a reference to a file containing such an image; and creating (215, 240) a single file (1) containing: the audio-recording (4); and the image (8) or a reference to a separate file that contains the image. The indication of the location comprises at least one of: a map (8a) that includes the location; an aerial or satellite photograph that includes the location; and text (8b) overlaid on the image to specify the location.

Abstract: A semi-automatic map editor may allow a user to add features to a map with a minimum of effort. In one example, a user may add a road to a map by indicating where the endpoints of the road are. A system may then attempt to fill in the path of the road using the user-provided endpoints, an analysis of an aerial or satellite photograph, existing maps that show the road, or any other appropriate information. Using this information, the system may display a proposed path for the road between the endpoints that the user has indicated. The user may then fine tune and/or confirm the proposed path, thereby adding the road to the map. In addition to roads, other feature such as bodies of water, ski trails, etc., may be added in this manner.