Patent · US Expired

Geographical comparison system and method

US7127068B2 · kind B2 · utility

56Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 2001
Grant dateOct 24, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 15, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2242/30
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods to create venue tokens that provide generalized geographic information while preserving location specific data. In one embodiment, a Universal Location Descriptor (ULD) translator converts location data into a geocode that in one embodiment is a binary code. Location information can include a street address, zip code, directional information, destination, velocity information, latitude and/or longitude, etc. The geocode can then be encrypted to generate a token. Relative geographic similarities can be identified by comparing geographic information from the tokens, thereby allowing similarly situated individuals and/or organizations, service providers, etc., to be identified without disclosing specific location identities of those parties seeking such privacy. The comparison of token geographic information can provide a probabilistic output that, in one embodiment, can be customized using an application-dependent threshold, to generate only those outputs satisfying a specified probability measure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.