| Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinatesRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, NavigationThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080046169. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present application is a divisional of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/631,611, filed Jul. 31, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0002] The present invention relates to the encoding of a geographic location in an address line associated with a web page. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of encoding latitude and longitude coordinates in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with a web page. [0003] Certain web sites, such as those that involve serving up maps of arbitrary locations, require an encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates. There are at least two ways to accomplish the encoding. One is to provide the coordinates in a URL that is utilized to access a web page that is specifically related to the coordinates. The other way is to include the coordinates in a server-side persistent state, relying on a "session" with the user. The former approach has advantages over the latter, in that it requires significantly less infrastructure on the server side, and provides additional conveniences to users such as the ability to bookmark map pages. However, URLs are subject to significant length constraints, particularly in association with mobile devices. It is advantageous for URLs to be as short as possible, and preferably be human-typeable. [0004] A point on the earth's surface is commonly represented by a pair of floating-point numbers, namely, numerical representations of latitude and longitude. A common representation of such numerical values in computer applications is in decimal degrees. A 1-degree arc of the earth's surface is roughly 110,000 meters long. This means that each latitude and longitude coordinate value must extend to five decimal places in order to yield roughly a 1-meter accuracy of representation. Thus, a typical text representation of latitude/longitude coordinates in the context of a computer application (i.e., encoded within a URL) might look something like: [0005] 122.12926,47.64932 [0006] In this representation, longitude and latitude are listed with a separator character (,) between them. The representation requires 19 characters to indicate the longitude/latitude position. Because it is desirable to keep URLs as short as possible, it would be beneficial to represent the same type of position information, to approximately the same accuracy, using a smaller number of characters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method for encoding latitude/longitude coordinates within a URL in a relatively compact form. The method includes converting latitude and longitude coordinates from floating-point numbers to non-negative integers. A set of base-N string representations are generated for the integers. (N represents the number of characters in an implementation-defined character set being utilized). The latitude string and longitude string are then concatenated to yield a single output string. The output string is utilized as a geographic indicator within a URL. To decode an output string to its corresponding latitude/longitude coordinates, the steps are inverted and performed in reverse order. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an environment within which embodiments of the present invention can be implemented. [0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computing device. [0010] FIG. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of one embodiment of a mobile device. [0011] FIG. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of another embodiment of a mobile device. [0012] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for generating a representation of latitude/longitude coordinates in a relatively compact fashion. [0013] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for decoding a consolidated representation to its original latitude/longitude coordinates. [0014] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for establishing a consolidation scheme and consolidating latitude/longitude coordinates. [0015] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method utilized to convert integers to base-N notation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS [0016] I. Overview [0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical environment 10 within which embodiments of the present invention can be implemented. Environment 10 includes a mobile device 12 and a computing device 14. Computing device 14 includes application programs 28, a corresponding memory 32, and communication link 38. Mobile device 12 includes application programs 16, a corresponding memory 20 and communication link 26. Mobile device 12 also includes memory 58, microprocessor 56, operating system 64, input/output (I/O) components 60, and communication drivers 66. Components of mobile device 12 are illustratively coupled for communication with one another over a suitable buss 62. It will be appreciated that both mobile device 12 and computing device 14 include a number of other non-illustrated components. [0018] Referring to mobile device 12, memory 58 is preferably implemented as non-volatile electronic memory such as random access memory (RAM) with a battery back-up module (not shown) such that information stored in memory 58 is not lost when the general power to mobile device 12 is shut down. A portion of memory 58 is illustratively allocated as addressable memory for program execution, while another portion of memory 58 is optionally used for storage, such as to simulate storage on a disc drive. Memory 58 can include operating system 64, as well as one or more application programs 16 and corresponding memory structure 20. Application programs 16 can illustratively include GPS programs that are capable of identifying a location of mobile device 12 with latitude/longitude coordinates. [0019] During operation, operating system 64 is illustratively executed by processor 56 from memory 58. The operating system 64 implements features that can be utilized by application programs 16 through a set of exposed application programming interfaces and methods. It will be appreciated that either or both of devices 12 and 14 could actually incorporate multiple application programs each with a corresponding memory, rather than the illustrated single collection of application programs with a single corresponding memory. [0020] I/O components 60, in one embodiment, are provided to facilitate input and output operations in association with a user of mobile device 12. I/O components 60 for various embodiments of mobile device 12 can include input components such as buttons and touch sensors, as well as output components such as a display, a speaker, and/or a printer port. Other I/O components are conceivable and within the scope of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: System and method for determining an aircraft center of gravity Next Patent Application: Providing navigation directions Industry Class: Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Compact text encoding of latitude/longitude coordinates patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.13989 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
