Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in one or more electronic devices to generate an encoded routeability graph description corresponding to a diagram of a structure. The methods and apparatuses may, for example, implement a reduction process to reduce a number of grid points within an encoded routeability graph description, or which may be otherwise used to generate an encoded routeability graph description.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently storing, retrieving, and updating binary large objects (BLOBs) in embedded systems is disclosed. The metadata of the BLOBs is stored in relational tables, while the BLOBs are stored in a flat file. Querying the metadata of the BLOBs (i.e. the starting points of the BLOBs and their length) is performed based on SQL. The corresponding BLOBs are then accessed using file operation commands. To further simplify the querying and storage of BLOBs, virtual tables are created. By using these virtual tables, a user can access a BLOB as if it was stored in a physical table.

Abstract: A method of constructing a plurality of downloadable files from an application file and a plurality of transcripts. The application file stores data blocks and implements an application. Each of the transcripts stores at least one order in which at least a portion of the data blocks of the application file were accessed by the application when executed previously. The transcripts are combined into a combined transcript storing at least one combined order comprising a combined portion of the data blocks. The data blocks of the combined portion are arranged in a data structure having an origin. A first set of data blocks within a predetermined distance from the origin is stored in at least one initial execution file. A second set of data blocks outside the predetermined distance from the origin is stored in downloadable sequence files.

Abstract: User-submitted content (e.g., stories) may be associated with descriptive metadata (intersection metadata), such as a timeframe, location, tags, and so on. The user-submitted content may be browsed and/or searched using the descriptive metadata. Intersection criteria comprising a prevailing timeframe, a location, and/or other metadata criteria may be used to identify an intersection space comprising one or more stories. The stories may be ordered according to relative importance, which may be determined (at least in part) by comparing story metadata to the intersection criteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to automatic logging of people's lives by combining a geo-location tracking system, a data storage service and sharing services. In particular, a method and a system for location reporting using geo-location tracking devices, such as mobile communication devices, social networks and data storage and manipulation services. The data points collected from geo-location tracking receivers are then associated with information collected from various external information sources provided by the user and presented as points, milestones, or periods along the user's path, past, present and future.

Abstract: A search operation can implement a two step approach to provide geographically restricted and verified information to a user. First, high relevance search results are obtained by searching only in a specifically defined region. Second, the quality of the search results can be improved by performing contact address correlation. If the search server finds a reliable reference address in the search results these search results can be presented to the user after removing-search results not correlating well with legitimate and registered addresses. Therefore, the region-restricted presents only presents legitimate web pages or search results to a user. Thus, the region-restricted search operation improves quality and may minimize search time and reduce a huge volume of non-valued Internet traffic, which is likely to impair the overall performance and experience on the Internet.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology that facilitates efficient automated mining of topic-related aspects of user-generated content based on automated analysis of the user-generated content. Locations are automatically learned based on dividing documents into document segments, and decomposing the segments into local topics and global topics. Techniques are described that facilitate automatically extracting snippets. These techniques include, for example, computer annotating travelogues with learned tags and images, performing topic learning to obtain an interest model, performing location matching based on the interest model, calculating geographic and semantic relevance scores, ranking snippets based on the geographic and semantic relevance scores, and searching snippets with a “location+context term” query.

Abstract: A method to analyze a population may include accessing data representing a population of individuals, wherein each individual in the population is associated with a plurality of properties having values; constructing and displaying a property stack including: at least one property row, wherein each property row includes a series of value bars corresponding to one of the plurality of properties and wherein a value bar represents a value of the property associated with an individual in the population; and wherein a value column includes a plurality of value bars associated with an individual and wherein the value bars are aligned in a column; sorting the series of value bars within the at least one property row; receiving user input specification for a manipulation of a portion of the property stack; and in response to the user input, updating the property stack.

Abstract: A system is described for processing data of at least one location aware devices for obtaining geo-information. The system comprises an input means for obtaining vector-based data from at least one location aware devices, a data processor for inserting information from the vector-based data into a raster-based data structure so as to derive geo-information based on the raster-based data structure. A corresponding method as well as corresponding computer program products also are described.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for providing geographic information systems (GIS) data is provided. The steps, functions, and instructions provided include receiving GIS data from a plurality of websites, populating a searchable database with the GIS data, and generating a search-specific electronic summary of GIS data. A method and system for networking users of a GIS data management system is also provided. The steps and functions provided by this method and system include populating a searchable database with GIS data received from a plurality of websites and providing a networking interface interoperable with the database such that users of the GIS data management system are networked according to GIS data queries.

Abstract: Map updating systems, methods, and programs that store map information, including one or more pieces of difference update information, obtain the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information to a new piece of map information, update the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information, and obtain total update information used for updating an entirety of the map information to a new piece of map information. The systems, methods, and programs perform a total update on the map information based on the total update information, update the map information on which the total update has been performed based on the one or more pieces of difference update information, and delete the one or more pieces of difference update information from the memory after the map information is updated by the re-updating means.

Abstract: Map updating systems, methods, and programs that store map information, including one or more pieces of difference update information, obtain the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information, and update the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information. The systems, methods, and programs obtain total update information used for updating an entirety of the memory to a new piece of map information, update the map information based on the total update information, compare a version of the total update information used in the total update with each of versions of the one or more pieces of difference update information stored in the memory, extract any of the one or more pieces of difference update information judged to be newer and update the map information based on the difference update information.

Abstract: A user interface for an information presentation system that displays information of interest to the user identified by the information presentation system based on selecting tasks that may be relevant to the user given the user's current context. The user interface displays options for the user to select from among relevant tasks and/or goals of completing the task. For each selected task and goal, the system may generate one or more sets of items that are relevant to completing the task. The user interface may present the user with the option to select from among the sets of items or to navigate among the sets of items. The user interface may be an easy-to-use interface on a portable computing device to support shopping applications.

Abstract: A central node/database receives from each mth one of a plurality of M user devices at least one of geographic location information of the mth user device and type information of the mth user device. The node/database registers the M user devices to different groups according to at least one of location criteria based on the received geographic location information and type criteria based on the received type information. Then the node/database sends to each mth one of the plurality of M user devices a set of parameters that define a periodic time window that is specific to the group to which the mth user device is registered. The time window restricts times at which the mth user device can access a data source of spectrum use information. Balancing the number of user devices among the groups, spreads database accesses in time and overloads are less frequent and less severe.

Abstract: A location based service and method configured to provide a mechanism for information to a subscribing user. The method is implemented on a computing infrastructure and includes querying one or more databases for matching information of a third party that is associated with one or more mobile devices that pass within a predefined location at one or more predefined intervals. The method further includes providing location information to a subscribing user of the one or more mobile devices that have the matching information and pass within the predefined location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying electronic content based on browsing history and positional or geographic information. In one implementation, popular web pages are identified that have been recently accessed by users within a geographic region associated with a client device. According to a method, a geo-spatial identifier of a geographic region associated with a client device is obtained, and data records associated with the geo-spatial identifier are retrieved from a database. Popular web sites or pages are identified from the data records, based on a number of requests for the web pages, and a number of users that requested the web pages in the geographic region.

Abstract: An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for a vehicle is disclosed. An electronic control unit (ECU) is programmed to reduce vehicle lateral skidding by reducing differences between an intended vehicle yaw rate and an actual vehicle yaw rate by applying modifications to operation of the vehicle brakes and/or throttle. The ESC system receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a steering wheel position sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor. The ECS system also receives input that indicates at least a property of the road upon which the vehicle is located, wherein the road upon which the vehicle is located is determined from a positioning system that uses a map database and the property is determined from the map database. The ESC system incorporates the road property information in determining when and/or how to modify operation of the vehicle to reduce vehicle skidding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, accessing a search query and a document identified in response to the search query; extracting a first geographical location from the search query or from information associated with a user issuing the search query or a device used by the user to issue the search query; determining a first minimum bounding region enclosing the first geographical location; computing a threshold for the first geographical location; extracting one or more second geographical locations from the document; for one of the second geographical locations, determining a second minimum bounding region enclosing the one second geographical location; computing a distance between the first minimum bounding region and the second minimum bounding region; and if the distance is greater than the threshold, then discarding the document by not including the document in a search result identified in response to the search query.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and using open sky data is described. A vehicle equipped with a range-finding device travels on a road network in a geographic region. The range-finding device transmits a pulse at a given position and obtains range data associated with the position. The system uses the range data to generate data representing visibility of open sky at the given position and at other positions along the road network. For example, the system may determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at positions that did not encounter a physical object and then use the determined transmission angles to generate data representing visibility of open sky at these positions. The system then stores the data representing the visibility of open sky. The system then associates the data representing the visibility of open sky with data representing physical features.

Abstract: A system for management of multimedia content having a processor and memory configured to execute software instructions for implementing a content management component operative to upload the multimedia content and to create at least one compilation from the multimedia content, a market management component operative to assign market-specific data to the compilation, and a store builder resource component operative to generate one or more online stores for promotion of the compilation having the assigned market-specific data.

Abstract: A social networking system facilitates a user's creation of a group of other users from among the user's connections in the user's social network. The created groups may be used, for example, to publish information to certain user-defined groups or to define privacy settings or other access rights to the user's content according to such user-defined groups. When a user adds connections to a group, the social networking system determines suggested connections that have not been added to the group, based on a similarity of the suggested connections with one or more of the connections who have been added to the group. These suggested connections are then presented to the user to facilitate the creation of the group. Both positive and negative feedback may be used to generate a useful set of suggestions, which may be updated as the user further defines the group.

Abstract: The subject matter discloses a computerized system comprising an input module configured to obtain a media item and a Geographic Location Data Record (GLDR), the media item is associated with the GLDR, a media item repository configured to store the media item, a meta-data determinator configured to determine a meta-data associated with the media item, said meta-data is based on the GLDR; and a display module for displaying the media item stored in said media item repository, the media item is displayed in accordance with the GLDR and the meta-data determined by said meta-data determinator.

Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and methods for obtaining, enhancing, or using data for or with a geographic database, such as a navigation database, are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving input to enable a probe sensor that is associated with a device used by a being with a physical disability. Geographic data is collected via the probe sensor when the device is in use by the being with the physical disability. The collected geographic data is provided to a data collection facility to develop data corresponding to a geographic and/or navigation database.

Abstract: Video systems are widely used in the field of surveillance of buildings, traffic, private homes, supermarkets and the like. For some applications it is useful to save the video information for a later access or analysis. As the saved data volume increases with the number of video cameras of a video system and the recorded time there is a need for video databases, which allow a fast searching for relevant video information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating and using personalized location information tags (geotags). Personalized geotags take the place of generic location information such as latitude/longitude coordinates or granular city/state information. Such geotags may be published to present to selected people, e.g., family and friends, a user's current location. Thus, the user's location may be shown as “Home” or “Gym,” providing user-specific information without having to list a street address or latitude/longitude coordinates. Personalized geotags may be inferred based upon historical location information of the user. Geotags may also be inferred based upon geotag selections from other users in a network. A matching engine may select an appropriate geotag given the current location of a user device or based upon historical location information associated with the user.

Abstract: A geospatial decision management system (GDMS) can save the overall state of a user's experience at one point in time within a GDMS session so that the user can restore the overall state at a later time, such as by restoring a geospatial browser view (e.g., camera settings for rending the map on the display screen, layer state information, map location) and restoring the states of one or more instances of geospatially-referenced tools that were active at the time of the state save. Upon restore, the browser and tools are initialized with their saved states so that the user is presented with the same functionality, data, and browser view that were displayed and accessible at the time of the state save. Saved states are transportable and can also be sequenced and animated to allow presentation of a slide show of individual GDMS views.

Abstract: Architecture that automatically detects historical search contexts as well as behaviors related to a search query. Machine learning and hand-authored rules are employed to automatically identify search contexts. Historical information likely to be useful in the current context is surfaced. When a user enters a search query or executes another search behavior, past behaviors are exposed which are contextually related to the current behavior. The architecture also provides automatic discovery of historical contexts, features related to the contexts, and training or authoring of a system for classifying behavior into contexts, using some combination of the machine learning and/or hand-authored rules. A runtime system classifies the current user behavior into a context and surfaces contextual information to the user.

Abstract: A method for classifying digital media files includes obtaining geographical information from geographical identification metadata associated with one or more digital media files stored in a memory of a mobile terminal, and assigning a respective ranking to the one or more digital media files within one or more media classification categories based on the obtained geographical information. A summary view of the one or more ranked digital media files is displayed, the summary view including two axes, each axis corresponding to at least one of the one or more media classification categories. A travel profile for a user of the mobile terminal, including the user's travel preferences as determined by the respective ranking of at least one ranked digital media file in one or more of the media classification categories, is generated, and relevant travel information is presented to the user. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes the steps of accessing, using one or more processors, data relating to visitors who have visited one or more websites, determining, using one or more processors, geographic areas corresponding to locations of the visitors, receiving, using one or more processors, one or more signals indicating a first request to provide at least a portion of data to be provided on a webpage, determining, using one or more processors, a geographic area from where the request originates; generating, using one or more processors, a subset of the data that pertains to the requested data based on: relevancy of the requested data to the geographic area from where the request originates, and relevancy of the requested data to the visitors that are located in or near the geographic area from where the request originates; and providing, using one or more processors, the subset of the data; and providing, using one or more processors, data that indicates whether or not the visitors found each item

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 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: 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 set of sensors can capture raw data that geospatially corresponds to a real world volumetric space. The raw data can include point cloud data encoded in a light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) information format, imagery and video data, and elevation data encoded in a digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) format. The real-world volumetric space can be segmented into a set of volumetric units, wherein datum of the raw data is indexed against the volumetric units. Each of the volumetric units of the real-world volumetric space can be mapped to a voxel in a storage volumetric space of a voxel database. The raw data can then be stored and fused in the voxel database such that each voxel in the voxel database represents a combination of volumetrically stored data for all source products that includes providing point cloud data, imagery data, and elevation data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for, and method of, calculating parameters used to determine whether records and entity representations should be linked. The system and method use a symmetric and reflexive function to allow for linking records and entity representations whose field values differ. The system and method apply iterative techniques such that parameters from each linking iteration are used in the next linking iteration. The system and method need no human interaction in order to calibrate and utilize record matching formulas used for the linking decisions. These techniques may be used for geographic location proximity matching.

Abstract: Map data is disclosed. The map data includes a multilink information list, a road name information list and an offset information list. The multilink information list has fixed-length multilink information elements each indicting a number of links contained in a corresponding multilink. The road name information list has road name information elements each indicating a road name of corresponding multilink information element. The road name information elements are arranged in the road name information list in an order in which the corresponding multilink information elements are arranged in the multilink information list. The offset information list has fixed-length offset information elements each indicating location of a corresponding road name information element in the road name information list. The offset information elements are arranged in the offset information list in an order in which the corresponding multilink information elements are arranged in the multilink information list.

Abstract: A system for archiving composite files including metadata and payload data in a file system. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a database for storing, in particular exclusively, a first group of metadata of the archived composite files, corresponding to search criteria usable in a query; at least one information layer in the file system for storing a second group of metadata of the archived composite files in storage files, the second group in particular including the metadata of the first group and/or all metadata; and the archived composite files stored in the file system.

Abstract: In a data visualization system, a method of creating a visual representation of data points from metric data and determining the positioning of data groups associated with the metric data in the visual representation, the method including the steps of: a data retrieval module retrieving the metric data from a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system, a data grouping module arranging the metric data into a plurality of data groups, a statistical distance determination module determining a minimal statistical distance between data groups positioned next to each other in the visual representation using a hierarchical force based algorithm, and a data visualization module visually arranging the data groups in a hierarchical manner based on the determined statistical distance to create the visual representation.

Abstract: The present technology is related to identifying, from within a corpus of documents, a subject (e.g., person, location, date, etc.) that is relevant to a topic and that is usable to enhance a topic-describing document. Documents within the corpus of documents share a link structure, such that some documents include hyperlinks that enable navigation to the topic-describing document, and the topic-describing document includes hyperlinks that enable navigation to other documents. Text of documents within the corpus is parsed to identify the subject, and a context of the subject suggests a degree of relevance of the subject to the topic. An enhancement type of the subject is determined, and a version of the topic-describing document is enhanced to include a presentation of the subject.

Abstract: Computer-readable media and a computing device are described for providing geotemporal search and a search interface therefor. A search interface having a location portion and a timeline portion is provided. A geographic area is selected in the location portion by adjusting the visible area of a map. A temporal window is selected in the timeline portion by adjusting sliders along a timeline to a desired start and end time. The start and end times can be in the past, present, or future. A geotemporal search is executed based on the selected geographic area and temporal window to identify search results having associated metadata indicating a relationship to the selected geographic area and temporal window. One or more search terms are optionally provided to further refine the geotemporal search.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for determining compliance with a listing of persons banned from conducting financial transactions. Words appearing in a listing of a banned person and a financial transaction may be compared with defined words appearing in a database. Common words appearing in both the listing of the banned person and the database, and the transaction record and the database, may be identified, thereby identifying a first and second set of common defined words. The listing of the banned person is linked with countries based on the first set of common defined words and/or phrases and the transaction record is linked with countries based on the second set of common defined words and/or phrases. The countries may then be compared. Based on the outcome, the financial transaction may be permitted or suspended.

Abstract: A method, database, memory computer readable medium and navigation device are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes projecting a plurality of known address points onto an address segment vector of a source map database, to create projection points; interpolating locations for addresses of the address points, to create corresponding interpolation points; and segmenting the address segment vector into a plurality of address sub-segment vectors, upon a distance between a projection point and a corresponding interpolation point exceeding a threshold distance.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for geocoding data for use by a mapping utility. A method may include accessing a data record from a data set. The data record may include proprietary data and address data associated with the proprietary data. The method may additionally include formatting a request for geocoding information corresponding to the address data. The request may include the address data, but not the proprietary data. The method may also include directing transmission of the request to a geocoding service. The method may further include receiving geocoding information corresponding to the address data in response to the request. The method may additionally include generating a geocoded data record including the geocoding information and at least a portion of the proprietary data. The method may also include adding the geocoded data record to a file formatted to be compatible with the mapping utility.

Abstract: A field boundary may be provided. First, a plurality of location data points may be received. Next, it may be determined whether each of the plurality of location data points is associated with at least one work area. Then a boundary line of the at least one work area may be identified from at least a subset of the plurality of location data points.

Abstract: A device and method for calculating information regarding a route to a destination. The device may include a computer-readable memory element on which is stored a plurality of templates comprising historical speed values for a quantity of time segments and a map database including data for a plurality of road segments associated with template codes identifying one or more of the templates. The device may also include a processing device for accessing the map database to determine a historical speed value for one or more selected road segments. The historical speed value may be used for calculating an estimated amount of time to complete a selected route, a route to the destination that takes the least amount of time, and/or a predicted time of arrival at the destination.

Abstract: A method includes defining a plurality of crop field boundaries such that an area of land falls within each of the plurality of field boundaries. The method further includes maintaining the plurality of crop field boundaries within the crop recordkeeping system, using a first of the crop field boundaries in performing a first function of the crop recordkeeping system executing on a computer, and using a second of the crop field boundaries in performing a second function of the crop recordkeeping system executing on the computer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for optimizing data transfer time in a graphics processor unit. The methods and systems involve receiving a user request to perform online analytical processing computation, the user request comprising axes dimensions and filter dimensions associated with a visualization for an online analytical computation cube, identifying one or more slices of the online analytical processing cube based on the user request, transferring the one or more identified slices to a second memory, performing the online analytical processing computation for the one or more identified slices at the graphics processor unit and retrieving a result of the online analytical processing computation from the second memory.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating visual representations of data. The method aggregates data from multiple data sources, where the data sources are organized in multiple data formats. The data is converted to a predetermined format and stored in a centralized database. The data is analyzed by associating data elements and analysis outputs with geographical factors. The method generates visual representations of the analyzed data based on one or more parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for allocating a current measurement value for a geographical position to a map object of a geographical map, wherein the current measurement value originates from a series of adjacent measurement values for adjacent geographical positions, having a processor for determining a first probability measure indicating whether the current measurement value can be allocated to a first map object to which at least one adjacent measurement value of the series has already been allocated previously, and for determining a second probability measure indicating whether the current measurement value can be allocated to a second map object having an intersection with the first map object, if the first probability measure indicates that an allocation of the current measurement value to the first map object is unlikely.

Abstract: A method determines core geographical information in a document by computing a score for each geographical name found in the document. The computation of the score uses the appearance frequency of the respective geographical name and positional weights assigned to various types of appearance positions of the geographical name in the document. The system determines the core geographical information in the document based on the scores of the geographical names found in the document. The method may further compute aggregated scores of geographical regions related to the geographical names and determine the core geographical information using both the aggregated scores of geographical regions and the scores of individual geographical names to increase accuracy.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided for processing a query for points of interest (POIs) using a hierarchical grid structure representing a geographic area. The method includes receiving a query for POIs; defining a query footprint for the query based on a location corresponding to the query, wherein the query footprint comprises query spatial identifiers for a plurality of levels of the hierarchical grid structure; matching the query spatial identifiers with one or more POI spatial identifiers organized into a plurality of indexes, wherein each one of the plurality of indexes comprises an index of the POI spatial identifiers for one of the plurality of levels; and providing an output specifying one or more POIs corresponding to the matched POI spatial identifiers.