Methods and apparatus for performing enhanced queries for items such as maps and geospatial data
AssigneeGoldstream Publishing Inc.
InventorSean Simmons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for cataloguing items such as maps and geospatial data sets store in a database information defining a geospatial region corresponding to each item and a size characteristic of the geospatial area. The database may be queried to identify items of interest by intersecting a search seed comprising one or more geospatial points lines or areas with the areas corresponding to the items. A result set containing items produced by a query may be ordered at least in part according to the size characteristics. In some embodiments the size characteristics comprise square roots of the areas of the geospatial regions.
Claims21
A method for providing a result set to a user, the result set comprising a plurality of database records, the records of the result set identifying a corresponding plurality of items, the plurality of items comprising one or both of maps and geospatial datasets, each of the plurality of items corresponding to a geospatial region represented by the item and comprising geospatial information relating to the geospatial region represented by the item, the database record for each of the plurality of items comprising information regarding the geospatial region represented by the item, the method comprising, in a programmed computer:
- obtaining the result set;
- by the computer, obtaining sizes of the geospatial regions represented by each of the plurality of items using the information in the database records regarding the geospatial regions represented by the plurality of items;
- by the computer, obtaining a zoom level controllable by the user;
- determining by the computer an order for the plurality of items in the result set based at least in part on the sizes of the geospatial regions represented by the plurality of items and on a size associated with the zoom level such that records in the result set corresponding to items of the plurality of items for which the sizes of the associated geospatial regions more closely match the size associated with the zoom level are ordered before records for which the sizes of the associated geospatial regions less closely match the size associated with the zoom level;
- and
- displaying the result set to the user on a display with the items ordered in the determined order.
Apparatus for providing a result set to a user, the result set comprising records identifying a plurality of items, the items comprising maps, geospatial datasets or both maps and geospatial datasets, each of the plurality of items corresponding to a geospatial region represented by the item and comprising geospatial information relating to the geospatial region represented by the item, the records for each of the plurality of items comprising information regarding the geospatial region represented by the item, the apparatus comprising:
- a user interface operable by a user to specify a zoom level;
- a ranking facility configured to generate an order for the plurality of records of a result set using the information from the records regarding the geospatial regions represented by the plurality of items, the order based at least in part on sizes of the geospatial regions associated with the plurality of items of the result set and on a size associated with the zoom level such that records in the result set corresponding to items of the plurality of items for which the sizes of the associated geospatial regions more closely match the size associated with the zoom level are ordered before records for which the sizes of the associated geospatial regions less closely match the size associated with the zoom level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.