Abstract: A system and method of parsing natural language descriptions of features to determine an approximate location. An embodiment includes splitting the natural language descriptions into components, geocoding each component, and returning the geocode with the highest confidence level. The geocode references a specific location, and this information may be determined by content from a variety of sources. The system may use an assortment of techniques for determining highest confidence level.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting confidence scores of image labels for images. In one aspect, a method includes accessing images stored in an image data store, the images being associated with respective sets of labels, the labels describing content depicted in the image and having a respective confidence score that is a measure of confidence that the label accurately describes the content depicted in the image; selecting a first image from the images and determining for each of the other images and independent of the labels, a proximity score that is a measure of a relatedness of the other image to the first image; and adjusting the set of labels associated with the first image based on the respective proximity scores of the other images and the confidence scores of the labels of the other images.

Abstract: Systems, methods, media, and means for hiding network topology are provided. In some embodiments, methods for hiding network topology are provided, the methods including: receiving a message including topology information from a sender; removing at least part of the topology information; associating the removed topology information with an identifier; saving the topology information; sending the message to a receiver; receiving a response from the receiver; retrieving the removed topology information based on the identifier; inserting the removed topology information into the response; and sending the response to the sender.

Abstract: In an information providing system, a virtual three-dimensional space is established by an information management server. A user of a mobile communication terminal moves in the virtual space, and browses, posts, and searches message information items by manipulating an avatar. The information management server manages the message information items and responds to searches requested from mobile communication terminals. The information management server specifies an area where the number of message information items relevant to a search word specified by a user of a mobile communication terminal is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. The information management server outputs a guide information item for indicating a direction or route toward the specified area from the position of an avatar. Based on the guide information item, the mobile communication terminal displays an image of an arrow pointing a direction or route toward the specified area as a target area.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating an ordered list of geographical locations having similarities in preselected categories relative to a first geographical location.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for facilitating object search in a virtual world environment where each object is defined by a plurality of attributes and the search is performed on any attributes of the object however is not limited to a 3-D search. The co-ordinate location of each object in the virtual world is also provided in the search result and the range within which to perform the search may also be specified. Optionally, the user has the ability to teleport/transport to the location of the object using the search result.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for facilitating object search in a virtual world environment where each object is defined by a plurality of attributes and the search is performed on any attributes of the object however is not limited to a 3-D search. The co-ordinate location of each object in the virtual world is also provided in the search result and the range within which to perform the search may also be specified. Optionally, the user has the ability to teleport/transport to the location of the object using the search result.

Abstract: A method of generating an elevation database for selected geographic regions, the method comprising: receiving a location database, a rule database, and an input elevation database, each location in the location database being located within a selected geographic region; constructing, for each location in the location database and using rules from the rule database, a bounding region enclosing a continuous geographic region; applying elevation data from the input elevation database to each bounding region; and compressing the elevation data in each bounding region to provide compressed elevation data; wherein, upon decompressing the compressed elevation data, each point in each bounding region represents a level of elevation at that point in the associated selected geographic region.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a catchment area for a search result. In one aspect, a method includes receiving search log data specifying a resource that was referenced by search results that were presented to users, query locations for the resource, and whether the users interacted with the search results. A catchment area is determined for the resource based on the search log data, where the catchment area specifies a geographic region for which the resource is a candidate resource. In turn, the resource is indexed according to its catchment area. The catchment area is used in response to receiving a search query that is associated with a particular query location to select candidate search results that reference resources having catchment areas that include the particular query location. Final search results are selected from the candidate search results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a location of a mobile device, and automatically identifying a point-of-interest (POI) located within a predetermined distance of the location. The method also includes providing, on a user interface of the mobile device, a rating control for allowing the user to rate the identified POI, and receiving the rating for the identified POI from the user, using the rating control.

Abstract: A search apparatus may include the following elements. A provisional search condition inputting unit inputs character string information as a provisional search condition. A character string/position correspondence information holding unit holds character string/position correspondence information including a correspondence between character string information and position information. A position information obtaining unit obtains position information corresponding to the character string information input as the provisional search condition from the character string/position correspondence information. A search object information storage unit stores search object information with additional information including at least position information.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus includes: a communication unit to receive transmitted information containing first location information associated with a first communication apparatus; a registering unit to extract, from the transmitted information, one or more keywords and the first location information, and to register the first location information and the one or more keywords in a keyword database; a request interface to receive a request for information from a second communication apparatus and a second location information associated with the second communication apparatus; an extractor to reference the keyword database and to extract one or more keywords based on the second location information; and a search requesting unit to output a search request containing the one or more keywords extracted by the extractor, wherein the search request is output to another computer that executes a search to provide information to the second communication apparatus.

Abstract: A system and methods for third-party access to a network-based system for providing location-based upcoming event information are described. The location-based upcoming event information may be accessed from the network-based system by a server-side web application implemented by a third party. The server-side web application may be configured to communicate with the network-based system that provides online marketplace and ticket fulfillment services and to generate a query based upon the location of a user and other event criteria. The server-side web application may communicate the query to the network-based system and, in response, receive location-based upcoming event information which may be displayed to a user as a list and/or information on a map. The location-based upcoming event information may comprise an aggregate of ticket inventory available from multiple online marketplaces providing the user with multiple purchasing options. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing location data for automatic categorization of financial transactions utilizes data indicating a user's location at various times, and mapping databases, including mapping and/or merchant websites, to determine a likely merchant payee associated with a financial transaction and the products sold by that merchant payee. This data is then used to determine, at least in part, a financial category to be assigned to the financial transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a location of a mobile device, and automatically identifying a point-of-interest (POI) located within a predetermined distance of the location. The method also includes providing, on a user interface of the mobile device, a rating control for allowing the user to rate the identified POI, and receiving the rating for the identified POI from the user, using the rating control.

Abstract: A method essentially comprising a step of storing each plot mesh. Each plot mesh receiving plots sent thereto by detector means and retaining in memory at least the altitude of the highest plot and the number of plots neighboring said highest plot in said mesh. The altitude and the number of plots neighboring are updated each time a new plot is sent to the plot mesh. A step of rejecting plot meshes is presenting a number of neighboring plots that is less than a predetermined rejection threshold value. The rejection threshold value is a function of the position of the mesh relative to the detector means. A step is preparing the local terrain elevation database from the plot meshes (M(i,j)) that are not rejected.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for accessing database attributes stored in a first database are disclosed. The database attributes may be stored in a proprietary manner. The invention includes a data access layer having a second database, which maps visible attributes to the database attributes. The second database includes one or more artificial attributes, stored in meta data. The invention also includes an attribute pre-processing module for scanning a user request to see if the request includes the artificial attribute. The attribute pre-processing module creates an artificial attribute post processor, which can build a real attribute from a combination of the artificial attribute received from the attribute pre-processing module and a visible attribute received from the first database via the data access layer.

Abstract: An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor network managing apparatus and a method thereof. The sensor network managing apparatus according to the present invention receives a query that includes a spatial join predicate for searching for target sensor nodes and a comparison predicate that is different for each sensor network, and generates query execution order information for searching for the target sensor nodes based on the spatial join predicate and the comparison predicate, wherein the spatial join predicate is related to a spatial location between sensor nodes respectively included in different sensor networks, and the comparison predicate are related to sensing values of sensor nodes of the sensor networks. In addition, the sensor node managing apparatus executes queries for the spatial join predicate and the comparison predicate on the plurality of sensor nodes on the basis of determined query execution order, and then extracts target sensor nodes as the query results.

Abstract: A server stores files and manages the synchronization of those files across client devices in accordance with user preferences that may be embodied in change management rules. A first version of a file has been designated to be synchronized across at least a first client and a second client. The first client accesses the first version of the file and creates a first modified version of the file, and the second client accesses the first version of the file and creates a second modified version of the file. When the first and second clients attempt to re-synchronize their respective modified versions of the file, the server determines a preferred version from among the available modified versions of the file according to change management rules. Then, the preferred version is stored by the server and is subsequently served for synchronization across the client devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods identify a current location of a user based on a known location of an electronic device including kiosk, beacon, or location-aware camera when the user interacts with the electronic device. The systems and methods automatically create a user status data file based on the known location. The user status data file contains data identifying that the user is currently at the known location and other data captured about the event or venue at that location. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a personal storage account which can then be used to post to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting confidence scores of image labels for images. In one aspect, a method includes accessing images stored in an image data store, the images being associated with respective sets of labels, the labels describing content depicted in the image and having a respective confidence score that is a measure of confidence that the label accurately describes the content depicted in the image; selecting a first image from the images and determining for each of the other images and independent of the labels, a proximity score that is a measure of a relatedness of the other image to the first image; and adjusting the set of labels associated with the first image based on the respective proximity scores of the other images and the confidence scores of the labels of the other images.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting search information based on search parameters including a specified search region. Input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map are received. The input parameters include a height parameter and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria. A search based on the criteria is caused, at least in part, according to the specified search region to output a search result. Presentation of the search result is caused, at least in part, within the search region.

Abstract: A mobile terminal device capable of coupling to the Internet and a home network, includes: accompanying information storing means operable to store an image obtained by photographing and accompanying information pertaining to the image and the photographing; search request means operable to request a search server on the Internet to execute a search with the accompanying information as a keyword; search result storing means operable to temporarily store search result obtained from the search server; image composition means operable to create a composite image by combining the search result with the image obtained by the photographing; and transmission means operable to transmit the composite image to a specified output device on the home network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for editing and displaying cartographic data are described. Cartographic source data is retrieved from a first record set and displayed in a display device. Based on a selection by a user of a feature in the display device, source data corresponding to the selected feature is selected. Based on a modification of the selected feature by the user in the display device, cartographic edit data is created. The cartographic edit data is associated with the cartographic source data for the feature and the associated cartographic edit data is stored within a second record set that is editable by the user. An output record set is created for display on the display device, at least in part, from the associated cartographic edit data for the feature.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).

Abstract: A method and system for generating playlists for content items is provided. Generating a playlist involves monitoring user interaction with one or more content items as user-content interactions, determining a context associated with one or more user-content interactions, and generating a playlist of the content items based on the user-content interactions and the associated context.

Abstract: A database of the location based relationships of points of interest within an environment is automatically generated using a digital representation of the environment that includes the points of interest at different locations within the environment. The locations of the points of interest in the environment are identified and the location based relationships between the points of interest are determined. The points of interest are labeled with the determined relationships and the points of interest and labeled relationships are stored. For example, a graph structure may be produced where each node is a point of interest and the edges between nodes is labeled with the determined relationships.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and program for processing temporal data. A spatial query is received specifying a mapping function that identifies a set of temporal values for one or more objects. Geographic positions are automatically extracted from each set of temporal values for each of the one or more objects. Point objects are generated from the geographic positions. One or more spatial objects are generated from the point objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods maintain at least one point of interest data file within a computer-readable storage medium and automatically identify a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from the user. The systems and methods automatically compare the current user location with the point of interest data file to identify whether the user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within the point of interest data file. If the user is within the second predetermined distance of a point of interest, the systems and methods automatically create a user status data file. The user status data comprises data identifying that the user is currently at the point of interest.

Abstract: An information management method includes: when management subject information corresponds to the second location and another pieces of management subject information having the same contents as the management subject information is made correspond to the second location, deleting the said another management subject information except for the management subject information previously associated with the second location. Also, the method includes: changing the corresponding destination of the management subject information to a first location from the second location. And the method includes: when the management subject information is associated with plural pieces of restoration information, changing another corresponding destination from the second location to a location designated among plural first locations respectively shown by plural pieces of restoration information.

Abstract: Systems and methods identify a current location of a user based on a known location of an electronic device including kiosk, beacon, or location-aware camera when the user interacts with the electronic device. The systems and methods automatically create a user status data file based on the known location. The user status data file contains data identifying that the user is currently at the known location and other data captured about the event or venue at that location. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a personal storage account which can then be used to post to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

Abstract: A method for representing linear features in a location content management system is disclosed. A linear feature is represented using a sequence of routing points that define a unique path when routed on a map through those points. A routing point consists of latitude, longitude, and optional stack position. Stack position defines an upper or lower level of a double-decker bridge or road. The data representing the linear feature is stored outside of a geographic database.

Abstract: Simulating a large number of users is described. A method may include receiving a test script including a plurality of commands and invoking a script interpreter. An application thread may be launched to execute the test script. A protocol engine may be invoked for each of the commands in the test script such that each protocol engine has an associated command. Each protocol engine may execute its associated command. A system on which the method may be executed may include one or more chassis or computing devices having one or more network cards. The chassis and/or computing devices may be connected to one or more networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow the delivery of location based services within a communication network. The location information can be retrieved using information from the mobile node when the mobile node registers in the network. The location information can then be cached or stored in one or more places in the communication network and correlated with the mobile node's addressing information. If a request for location based services is received without location based information, the gateway can use location based information regarding the mobile node to provide location based services. The gateway can enable non IMS mobile nodes to obtain IMS location based services or incompatible mobile nodes to obtain location based services.

Abstract: A method and system for generating playlists for content items is provided. Generating a playlist involves monitoring user interaction with one or more content items as user-content interactions, determining a context associated with one or more user-content interactions, and generating a playlist of the content items based on the user-content interactions and the associated context.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a natural language query system and method for processing and analyzing multimodally-originated queries, including voice and proximity-based queries. The natural language query system includes a Web-enabled device including a speech input module for receiving a voice-based query in natural language form from a user and a location/proximity module for receiving location/proximity information from a location/proximity device. The query system also includes a speech conversion module for converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form and a natural language processing module for converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form. The query system further includes a semantic engine module for converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query and a database-look-up module for using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database.

Abstract: A system whereby a potential advertiser can see a motorist's view of an outdoor ad space without the need to actually drive past the outdoor ad space. A video image is recorded of the outdoor ad space from a vehicle driving past the outdoor ad space using a video recorder. A database is populated with images of each outdoor ad space. An advertiser queries the database using some identifier in order to retrieve the image and once retrieved, view the image.

Abstract: A reporting program and system for updating a master copy of a geographic database is disclosed. According to the method and system, reports are obtained that relate to data contained in a geographic database. Satellite images of the geographic locations represented by the data in the reports are obtained. The satellite images are analyzed to confirm a need to make changes to the master copy of the geographic database based on the reports. After confirming the need to make the changes, the master copy of the geographic database is updated.

Abstract: A method is provided for categorizing businesses, organizations and individuals in order to facilitate geographically-based searching over the Internet. The method includes entering in a database the names of businesses, organizations and/or individuals, for each name entry registering a geographical location identifier, the geographical location identifier indicating the precise geographical location at which the corresponding business, organization or individual is located, for each name entry registering further information such as contact details and a description of the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual, and for at least some of the name entries adding credential information in respect of the business, organization or individual, or the goods or services offered by the business, organization or individual.

Abstract: A method for establishing a spatial street address data set including: First, in no particular order: (1) providing street address data; (2) providing postal data; (3) providing community translation data; and (4) providing a spatial layer base map. Second, establishing a first data base containing once-translated address entries, each relating to a selected community entry from the street address data or a selected community entry from the community translation data. Third, establishing a second data base containing twice-translated address entries, each relating to a selected street name entry from the postal data or a selected street name entry from the street address data. Fourth, treating the second data base with a geocoder routine to create geocoded address entries in a geocoded data set. Fifth, situating the geocoded data set in a spatial layer. Sixth, orienting the spatial layer with known loci in the spatial layer base map.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the processing of the same pieces of information, e.g., messages, by multiple consumers, in a prescribed order, without causing the degradation of any consumer's performance because of other consumers' access to the same information. A single information queue contains pieces of information to be accessed by multiple consumers. Each piece of information is stored in the information queue along with an information identifier that uniquely identifies the piece of information. A separate table is used to keep track of and identify the pieces of information in the information queue that have been accessed by respective consumers. This separate table is decoupled from the information queue, and, thus, each consumer's access of a piece of queued information does not impact any other consumer's access of the same piece of information.

Abstract: A method for performing a location search includes receiving a location search query, determining key words corresponding to the location search query, identifying one or more documents that correspond to the key words in the location search query, and providing to a client system information identifying at least one location corresponding to the one or more documents.

Abstract: A technique for facilitating identification of a matching search term in one or more images includes selecting at least a portion of an image and creating search enriched metadata for a document that includes the image. The search enriched metadata includes a text portion that provides one or more search terms that are associated with the selected portion of the image and a location portion that provides a location of the selected portion of the image.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product are provided that inform users of changes in geographically bound rules. This is performed by receiving, via a GPS device, a first geographic location. Identifying, based on the received first geographic location, a first geographic region, and retrieving a first set of geographically bound rules that correspond to the identified geographic region. After a period of time, a second geographic location is received and a second geographic region is identified based on the second geographic location. If the first geographic region is different than the second geographic region, then the system retrieves a second set of geographically bound rules corresponding to the identified geographic region. The first set of geographically bound rules is compared to the second set of geographically bound rules, resulting in one or more different geographically bound rules. The users are then informed of the different geographically bound rules.

Abstract: Cartographic data is represented using polynomial splines. To improve representation accuracy and reduce storage requirements, a database storing data points (shape points and nodes) is converted into a database of spline control points. The spline control points are computed by fitting a polynomial spline to the geographic features using a least squares approximation. The control points associated with each geographic feature are stored in a computer-usable database. The geographic features can be displayed by computing the spline functions using the stored control points.

Abstract: A method for performing a location search includes receiving a location search query, identifying one or more geographical features that satisfy the location search query, ranking the identified geographical features in accordance with a score that is based, at least in part, on proximity of the geographical features to a geographical viewport region of a client system, to produce a set of ranked geographical features, and providing results, in accordance with the ranked documents, that identify at least one geographic feature corresponding to the at least one of the ranked geographical features.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying pages that can be authoritatively, to some confidence level or another, associated with a geographic location, and are provided for grouping documents such that authoritative location associations can be propagated from pages with higher location confidence to pages with lower location confidence. Pages might be identified with authoritative indicators, groups of pages identified including at least one addressed page and at least one unaddressed page, wherein an addressed page is a page having a higher confidence level than an unaddressed page, and at least one processing step performed that is location specific. The confidence level assigned to a page as part of the process represents the confidence that the page is associated with an identifiable geographic location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an optimized terrain database identify several regions, including test regions that are established from the identified regions. A first set of terrain data is received for a first test region. The first set of terrain data is compared to a second set of terrain data to determine a set of quality attributes. The quality attributes are used to determine a safety margin for the first test region. The safety margin is applied to other regions having the same or similar characteristics to the first test region. Safety margins are either generated for or applied to all other regions. All regions are then compiled into an area-wide terrain database, up to and including a worldwide database.