(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0077100 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 19, 2009
`Hancock et al.
`
`US 20090077 1 00Al
`
`(54) UNIFIED GEOGRAHIC DATABASE AND
`METHODS OF CREATING, MAINTAINING
`AND USING THE SAME
`
`236, Which is a continuation of application No. 08/701,
`586, ?led on Aug. 22, 1996, noW Pat. No. 5,839,088.
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(76) Inventors:
`
`S. Lee Hancock, Newport Beach,
`CA (US); Jordan Hastings, Santa
`Barbara, CA (US); Scott D.
`Morrision, Mission Viejo, CA (US)
`
`(51) Int- Cl
`(2006-01)
`G06F 17/30
`(52) US. Cl. .......... .. 707/10; 707/102; 707/1; 707/l04.l;
`707/El7.044; 707/El7.0l8; 707/El7.032
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Vista IP Law Group LLP
`2040 MAIN STREET, 9TH FLOOR
`IRVINE, CA 92614 (US)
`
`(21) App1_ NO_;
`
`12/192,012
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug 14 2008
`’
`
`A Universal Geographic Database (“UGD”) is provided that
`includes areal-time, automatedregistry/clearinghouse for the
`publication and retrieval of real-World locations and location
`related information for businesses and other entities. By this
`registry, entities may publish their location and location-re
`lated information in a single place, and information services
`and their users can refer to this single place, via telecommu
`nications devices, to obtain static, real-time location and loca
`tion-based information about the registered locations. Each
`.
`.
`UGD record is keyed by a proprietary location address (PLA)
`Related U's' Apphcatlon Data
`based 0n the World Geographic Referencing System
`(63) Continuation of application No. 11/156,875, ?led on
`(WGRS)~ PLAS may be used as key reference and addressing
`Jun. 17, 2005, Which is a continuation of application
`terms, e.g., imbedded in digital documents, Websites, GPS
`No, 10/701,961, ?led on Nov, 5, 2003, new aban-
`doned, which is a continuation of application Nd devices, or other information services to provide links to
`09/707,213, ?led on Nov 3, 2000, now abandoned,
`maps, directions, and information in the registry related to
`which is a continuation-impart of application Nd
`such locations. PLAs may also provide a concise, user
`09/257,462, ?led on Feb, 25, 1999, new PatNd 6,202,
`friendly notation for location naming and designating real
`023, which is a continuation-impart0fapp1icati0nN0_
`World locations and on all types of location-sensitive elec
`09/188,153, ?led on Nov. 4, 1998, noW Pat. No. 6,047,
`IrOnie devices
`
`3000
`
`3004
`
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`3014
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`
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`
`3094
`
`1
`
`WVR 2008
`Volkswagen v. WVR
`IPR2015-01941
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 1 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 2 of 33
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 8 of 33
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 9 of 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 10 0f 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 11 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 12 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
`13
`
`13
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 13 0f 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`US._CA.YSM.HFOM.TT9W31.S6.37N44.84_HALF OOME ‘
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`
`Fig. 100
`
`14
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 14 0f 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 15 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 16 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 17 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 18 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 19 0f 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 20 of 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 21 of 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`1600
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`Delermlne Cunenl Localion
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`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 22 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`Location Information:
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 23 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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` 1802
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 24 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 25 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`2002
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`
`Patent Appllcatlon Publlcatlon Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 26 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 27 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`2802
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 28 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 29 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`3050
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`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 30 of 33
`
`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`Yes
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 19, 2009 Sheet 31 of 33
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`US 2009/0077100 A1
`
`Mar. 19, 2009
`
`UNIFIED GEOGRAHIC DATABASE AND
`METHODS OF CREATING, MAINTAINING
`AND USING THE SAME
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending
`application Ser. No. 11/156,875, filed Jun. 17, 2005, which is
`a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/701,961, filed Nov.
`5, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation of applica-
`tion Ser. No. 09/707,213, filed Nov. 3, 2000, now abandoned,
`which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
`09/257,462, filed Feb. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,023,
`which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
`09/188,153, filed Nov. 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,236,
`which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/701,586,
`filed Aug. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,088. The above
`referenced patents and patent applications are incorporated
`herein by reference as if set forth in full.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a Unified Geo-
`graphic Database (“UGD”), and methods of creating, acquir-
`ing, managing, maintaining, using and distributing location-
`based information through both centralized and distributed
`databases referred to as a Location Name Servers. The Loca-
`
`tion Name Servers are accessible through a variety of devices
`and computer systems, including the Internet, communica-
`tions networks and gateways and other telecommunications
`channels.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0003] Countless sources of information exist to assist
`people who need information concerning the location and
`practices of real-world businesses and other private and pub-
`lic entities. This information is very actively used by people
`engaged in the business process: finding locations, obtaining
`maps and directions, hours of operation, inventory, prices,
`etc., generally to assist in shopping and purchasing decisions.
`Notwithstanding the power of the Internet as a means of
`gathering and disseminating information, there is currently
`no universal “clearinghouse” method or system of acquiring
`and distributing location-based basic, enhanced and/or real-
`time information about the millions of real-world businesses
`and other addresses in the world. Rather, the location-related
`information is currently stored in literally millions of data-
`bases throughout the world, including personal and corporate
`rolodexes, accounting master files, and especially telephone-
`directory databases. These disparate sources are continually
`in flux, but on different schedules, and often materially inac-
`curate in one way or another. No single source exists to
`provide or link to correct, up-to-date information regarding
`all businesses and other entities. Further,
`it is impossible
`currently to synthesize the many sources of information on a
`timely basis, and also to distribute it to the myriad systems
`where it is needed and used.
`
`area. Nevertheless, it is clearly not the LEC’s primary busi-
`ness to create and distribute address and location information.
`
`In addition, many businesses now use competitive local
`exchange carriers (a “CLEC”), so there is not one clear source
`for local business telephone listings. Some individuals, and a
`few businesses, are foregoing wireline telephone service
`entirely, which means that the addresses may never be cap-
`tured in the LEC or CLEC system. Furthermore, LECs and
`CLECs typically only obtain basic information such as name,
`street address and telephone number. These street addresses
`may or may not be geocoded (through various geocoding
`engines, with uneven results), so that their actual position in
`space, and on maps is unreliable. Enhanced information is
`typically obtained by Yellow Page providers, but this infor-
`mation rarely makes it into any type of universal, location-
`based database designed to provide immediate access to all
`users of Internet-enabled devices and services. Finally, the
`LEC and CLEC information is not updated quickly or, with
`changes in carriers, even regularly: Yellow-Page books are
`typically printed annually, and, thus, provide an incredibly
`inefiicient method of address and location handling that ulti-
`mately takes little advantage of the power of the Internet.
`[0005] Accordingly, large amounts of resources, including
`time, personnel and money, are currently being wasted on (1)
`multiple solicitations of the same information from the same
`businesses and (2) storage and distribution of that informa-
`tion. Users, too, waste time conducting multiple searches for
`the same information, seeking confirmation of information
`from more than one source as an estimate of its accuracy, i.e.,
`to avoid driving some distance to a store which no longer
`exists or which no longer carries a desired product.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0006] Accordingly, an aspect of the invention involves a
`Unified Geographic Database (“UGD”). The UGD is a data-
`base registry for the locations and location-related informa-
`tion of real-world businesses and other entities, analogous to
`the registry of domain names for Internet and web sites. Via
`this registry, businesses and other entities can immediately
`post their location-related information to make it available to
`potential users; and users can simultaneously query this reg-
`istry to obtain accurate, complete and timely location-based
`information about these businesses and other entities, via
`Internet-connected electronic devices or services. Each
`
`record of the UGD includes a unique, user-friendly, domain-
`name like hierarchical geographical referencing address
`(based on the World Geographic Referencing System
`(WGRS)) that can serve as a discrete identifier, the business or
`other entity name, its street address, and basic contact infor-
`mation (e.g., telephone number, facsimile number, e-mail
`address, intemet website address, wireless website address).
`Other, more detailed but fairly static yet customized informa-
`tion (e.g., store hours, credit cards accepted, major brands
`carried, hours of operation, specific parking alternatives, etc.)
`may also be available in the record. Ultimately, extremely
`customized, real-time information (e.g., inventory availabil-
`ity in particular models, sizes or colors; the availability of
`unique, short-term geographically restricted specials, dis-
`counts, coupons and other promotions, etc.) can be linked to
`the discrete identifier and distributed directly to end-users or
`through third-parties seeking to distribute such location-
`based information. The unique, user-friendly geographical
`referencing address is as important to real-world businesses
`from the local telephone exchange carrier (“LEC”). Histori-
`cally there has only been one LEC for any given region or 351s their domain name because this unique address drives
`
`[0004] The largest single source oflocation-based informa-
`tion regarding businesses is that of Yellow Page publishers.
`Still,Yellow Pages publishers, whether via physical books or
`the Internet, do not possess listings of all locations, e.g. city
`parks. In practice, the majority of location-based information
`on business and individual address information is