Geographic feature name search system
AssigneeGeographic Services, Inc.
InventorsAlexandre Taranenko, Inessa Taranenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer-based software tool for performing intelligent searches for geographic names data utilizing a fuzzy-logic search as well as linguistic principles and allowing the user to select various search criteria is disclosed. Geographic feature names can be searched for exact matches, similar geographic names based on misspellings or phonetic similarities, similar geographic names based on language dialects, historic place name variants, features with similar name Romanization, similar names with the type of feature, such as city, river, or mountain included in the name, in reversed or reading order, and similar names with inconsistent Unicode. With the aid of a displayed geographic map, the search can be localized.
Claims22
A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, of searching for geographic information, the method comprising the steps of:
- loading a dictionary of geographic feature names and geographic feature types into a memory communicably connected with the computer, wherein the loading is performed by the computer;
- loading locations associated with the geographic feature names into the memory, wherein the loading is performed by the computer;
- creating phonetic representations of the geographic feature names by normalizing each of the geographic feature names, wherein the creating is performed by the computer;
- storing the normalized geographic feature names in the memory;
- receiving, at the computer, a query for searching for geographic information, the query including a geographic name;
- creating a phonetic representation of the geographic name by normalizing the geographic name included in the query, wherein the creating is performed by the computer;
- searching the memory for a candidate name to be compared with the geographic name included in the query, the candidate name being one of the normalized geographic feature names;
- calculating a value of proximity between the candidate name and the geographic name included in the query, wherein the calculating is performed by the computer;
- and
- if the value of proximity is equal or larger than a predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name.
A system for searching for geographic information, the system comprising:
- a computer;
- and
- a memory communicably connected to the computer, wherein the computer is configured for:
- loading a dictionary of geographic feature names and geographic feature types into the memory;
- loading locations associated with the geographic feature names into the memory;
- creating phonetic representations of the geographic feature names by normalizing each of the geographic feature names;
- storing the normalized geographic feature names in the memory;
- receiving a query for searching for geographic information, the query including a geographic name;
- creating a phonetic representation of the geographic name by normalizing the geographic name included in the query;
- searching the memory for a candidate name to be compared with the geographic name included in the query, the candidate name being one of the normalized geographic feature names;
- calculating a value of proximity between the candidate name and the geographic name included in the query;
- and
- if the value of proximity is equal or larger than a predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.