Abstract: Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are 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: Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of associating tags with online content may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a tag request from a user to associate a tag with a content object, classifying the tag as a controlled tag, accessing an access control list associated with the controlled tag, determining whether the user is permitted access to the controlled tag based on the access control list, associating the tag with the content object when the access control list permits access to the controlled tag, identifying a moderator for a tag group associated with the controlled tag and providing a moderator feed to the moderator of the content object associated with the controlled tag for approval or rejection of the controlled tag.

Abstract: Feature selection is provided for geometry data in an image-based based location determination. For example, one or more computing devices may receive information collected for a particular area. The one or more computing devices may identify one or more features and associated location from the received information. Given ones of the identified one or more features are selected based on a characteristic of a user. The selected ones of the one or more features and the associated locations are used to generate a set of geometry data for the particular area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to displaying and navigating within photo placemarks in a geographic information system. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method displays a photographic image within geographic information in a geographic information system. The photographic image is displayed at a location within the geographic information when the photographic image is located within a field of view of a virtual camera of the geographic information system. In response to a computer input event, the photographic image is displayed in greater detail.

Abstract: A geographic information system allows users to access a map database and to contribute map data to the database. Proposed edits to the map are queued for review by a reviewer users. Reviewing users can subscribe to review edits in regions and/or to types of map features. Reviewers can share their subscriptions with other reviewers. In the moderation queue, the proposed edits are ranked and those edits proposed by users who also review are optionally ranked higher and thus reviewed sooner than edits proposed by users who do not review or review less. The history of reviewers is analyzed to identify those with expertise in a particular region and/or type of map feature. One embodiment of the system includes a database containing geographic data, an inference module, a spam prevention module, a reviewing module and a publishing module.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that identifies dynamic objects within a set of photographic images. The objects may be identified as dynamic based on depth data associated with the images. The depth data may also be used to determine the potential states of the dynamic objects within the set of images. A three-dimensional model be created in which the dynamic objects are displayed in accordance with one of the potential states.

Abstract: Data-driven guarded evaluation of conditional-data associated with data objects is used to control activation and processing of the data objects in an interactive geographic information system. Methods of evaluating conditional-data to control activation of the data objects are disclosed herein. Data structures to specify conditional data are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to using a primary and secondary authentication to provide a user with access to protected information or features. To do so, a computing device may generate depth data based on a plurality of images of a user. The computing device may then compare the generated depth data to pre-stored depth data that was generated based on a pre-stored plurality of images. If authentication is successful, the user may be granted access to features of the computing device. If authentication is unsuccessful, then a secondary authentication may be performed. The secondary authentication may compare facial features of a captured image of the user to facial features of a pre-stored image of the user. If authentication is successful, then the primary authentication may be performed again. This second time, the user may be granted access if authentication is successful, or denied access if authentication is unsuccessful.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining the location of a device based on image of objects captured by the device. In one aspect, an interior space includes a plurality of objects having discernable visual characteristics disposed throughout the space. The device captures an image containing one or more of the objects and identifies the portions of the image associated with the objects based on the visual characteristics. The visual appearance of the objects may also be used to determine the distance of the object to other objects or relative to a reference point. Based on the foregoing and the size and shape of the image portion occupied by the object, such as the height of an edge or its surface area, relative to another object or a reference, the device may calculate its location.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining the location of a device based on image of objects captured by the device. In one aspect, an interior space includes a plurality of objects having discernable visual characteristics disposed throughout the space. The device captures an image containing one or more of the objects and identifies the portions of the image associated with the objects based on the visual characteristics. The visual appearance of the objects may also be used to determine the distance of the object to other objects or relative to a reference point. Based on the foregoing and the size and shape of the image portion occupied by the object, such as the height of an edge or its surface area, relative to another object or a reference, the device may calculate its location.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of associating tags with online content may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a tag request from a user to associate a tag with a content object, classifying the tag as a controlled tag, accessing an access control list associated with the controlled tag, determining whether the user is permitted access to the controlled tag based on the access control list, associating the tag with the content object when the access control list permits access to the controlled tag, identifying a moderator for a tag group associated with the controlled tag and providing a moderator feed to the moderator of the content object associated with the controlled tag for approval or rejection of the controlled tag.

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: Embodiments of the present invention relate to displaying and navigating within photo placemarks in a geographic information system. In an embodiment, a method registers a photographic image in a geographic information system. A location of the photographic image within geographic information of the geographic information system is determined based on the geographic information and a metadata of the photographic image. The location of the photographic image is stored.

Abstract: Feature selection is provided for geometry data in an image-based based location determination. For example, one or more computing devices may receive information collected for a particular area. The one or more computing devices may identify one or more features and associated location from the received information. Given ones of the identified one or more features are selected based on a characteristic of a user. The selected ones of the one or more features and the associated locations are used to generate a set of geometry data for the particular area.

Abstract: Image based location determination is provided. For example, one or more computing devices receive an image of a location. The image is processed to identify one or more features in the image. The one or more computing devices may access pre-stored geometry data that identifies a plurality of features and associated locations. A matching location is determined by comparing the identified one or more features to the pre-stored geometry data.

Abstract: Feature selection is provided for geometry data in an image-based based location determination. For example, one or more computing devices, may receive information collected at a particular area. The one or more computing devices may identify one or more features and associated locations from the received information. The identified one or more features may be ranked according to relative uniqueness among the identified one or more features. A set of geometry data for locating a mobile device at the particular area is generated based on selected ones of the ranked features and the associated locations.

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 method of providing geo-coded information to a user of a graphical computing device is disclosed. The method includes receiving information identifying a view to be displayed on the graphical computing device, querying a geo-coded database containing information associated with publicly supplied models located in a geography, for one or more models located in the view, and transmitting information identifying the one or more models located in the view.