Methods and systems for creating and using a location identification grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021172747-A1
Application number	US-202117180584-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and system for generating a location identification grid and for using a location identification grid. The location identification grid can include a first geographic area that correspond to a pre-existing area. This pre-existing area can correspond to a postal code such as a zip code, a telephone code such as, an area code, or any other desired pre-existing area. The location identification grid can be subdivided into smaller geographic areas to allow more accurate identification of a location. The location identification grid can include a second geographic area. The second geographic area can be a subdivision of the first geographic area. The location identification grid can be used with signals that identify a location within a location identification grid. These signals can include a first component corresponding to the first geographic area and the second component corresponding to one or more second geographic areas.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of directing a person to a location, the method comprising:
receiving, from a mobile device, a request for location information of a destination, the request comprising a location identifier having a first component and a second component, the first component corresponding to a first geographic area and the second component of the identifier corresponding to a second geographic area; querying a database, based on the first component of the location identifier, to determine from a group of first geographic areas a first geographic area including the destination; querying the database, based on the second component of the location identifier, to determine from a group of second geographic areas covering the determined first geographic area a second geographic area including the destination; determining a present location of the mobile device; and causing the mobile device to provide an output indicating a path from the present location of the mobile device to the destination.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second geographic area including the destination has a resolution selected based at least in part on a size of a feature corresponding to the destination.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second geographic area including the destination has a resolution selected based at least in part on an access level corresponding to a user of the mobile device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first geographic areas correspond to pre-existing geographic areas.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas correspond to areas designated by one or several postal codes.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas correspond to areas designated by one or several area codes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second geographic areas correspond to pre-existing geographic areas.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas are defined by a polar coordinate system.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas are defined by a Cartesian grid system.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the path is partially on a road.

11 . A system comprising:
a computer-readable memory storing specific executable instructions; and one or more computer processors in communication with the computer-readable memory, wherein the one or more computer processors are configured to execute the specific executable instructions to at least:
receive, from a mobile device, a request for location information of a destination, the request comprising a location identifier having a first component and a second component, the first component corresponding to a first geographic area and the second component of the identifier corresponding to a second geographic area;
query a database, based on the first component of the location identifier, to determine from a group of first geographic areas a first geographic area including the destination;
query the database, based on the second component of the location identifier, to determine from a group of second geographic areas covering the determined first geographic area a second geographic area including the destination;
determine a present location of the mobile device; and
cause the mobile device to provide an output indicating a path from the present location of the mobile device to the destination.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second geographic area including the destination has a resolution selected based at least in part on a size of a feature corresponding to the destination.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second geographic area including the destination has a resolution selected based at least in part on an access level corresponding to a user of the mobile device.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first geographic areas correspond to pre-existing geographic areas.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas correspond to areas designated by one or several postal codes.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas correspond to areas designated by one or several area codes.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second geographic areas correspond to pre-existing geographic areas.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas are defined by a polar coordinate system.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the pre-existing geographic areas are defined by a Cartesian grid system.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable memory and the one or more computer processors are remote from the mobile device.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Bonnell Clayton C
• Terry Neri G
• Schulz Kurt J

Classifications

• G06Q10/10 Primary

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• G01C21/20

  Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01C21/3667

  Display of a road map (G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635) · CPC title

• G09B29/007

  using computer methods · CPC title

• G01C21/34 Primary

  Route searching; Route guidance · CPC title