US5893113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Update transactions and method and programming for use thereof for incrementally updating a geographic database
Assignee: PHILIPS MEDIA SERVICES BV
•
Filing: 1996-04-25
•
Granted: 1999-04-06
•
Expires: 2016-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of providing incremental updates for a geographical data set for use in navigation systems. The system and method include organizing updates of geographical data set into a series of transactions. Each of the transactions includes a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies the transaction, and n steps to be applied to the geographical data set to complete the transaction. All the steps of the transaction are required to be successfully applied in order for the transaction to be completed, otherwise, the entire transaction is not applied.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy McGrath
- 👤 John Jasper
- 👤 James Herbst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/38; G01C21/3863; G01C21/387; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/912; Y10S707/918; Y10S707/919; Y10S707/92; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 81
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of updating a geographical data set for use in navigation systems, comprising: providing a series of transactions; wherein each transaction of said series is comprised of: a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies said transaction; and n steps to be applied to a plurality of objects in said geographical data set to complete said transaction; and applying said series of transactions to said plurality of objects in said geographical data set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of updating a geographical data set for use in navigation systems, comprising: providing a series of transactions; wherein each transaction of said series is comprised of: a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies said transaction; and n steps to be applied to a plurality of objects in said geographical data set to complete said transaction; and applying said series of transactions to said plurality of objects in said geographical data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: executing said n steps for each of said series of transactions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: not applying said transaction if any of said n steps is not successfully applied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: attempting to apply a first of said n steps; and if said first of said n steps is successfully applied, attempting to apply and applying each subsequent step, if any, of said n steps until all of said n steps are applied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising: if any of said steps cannot be successfully applied, reestablishing the data set as it was prior to attempting to apply any of said n steps of said transaction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of: attempting to apply each of said n steps, and if a step of said transaction cannot be successfully applied, restoring the data set to its condition prior to application of said transaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps alters an object, and wherein said one step further comprises: providing a reference to said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said reference is an explicit reference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said reference is a descriptive reference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said reference uniquely identifies said object to be altered.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said one of said n steps provides a description of an existing state of said object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said one of said n steps further comprises: providing a description of a state to which said object is to be altered.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said n steps includes a reference that uniquely identifies an object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said references include explicit references.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said references include descriptive references.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said references include both explicit references and descriptive references.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said n steps comprises: providing a description of an existing state of an object to be altered.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said n steps comprises: providing a description of a state to which an object is to be altered.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps alters a characteristic of an object, and wherein the method further comprises: providing a reference to the object to which said characteristic being altered is associated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said reference is an explicit reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said reference is a descriptive reference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said reference uniquely identifies said characteristic to be altered.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said one of n steps comprises: providing a description of an existing state of the characteristic to be altered.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said one of said n steps comprises: providing a description of a state to which said characteristic is to be altered.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps alters a characteristic of a particular type associated with an object, wherein only one instance of said type of characteristic is associated with said object, and wherein the method further comprises: providing a reference to the object to which said characteristic being altered is associated; and identifying the characteristic type to be altered.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 1 wherein multiple instances of a single type of characteristic are associated with an object and further wherein one of said n steps alters one instance of said characteristics of said single type associated with the object, wherein said one instance has a value, and wherein the method further comprises: providing a reference to the object to which said characteristic being altered is associated; identifying the characteristic type to be altered; and identifying the value of said characteristic to be altered.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transaction further comprises: an indication when the transaction was originally published.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transaction further comprises: an indication when the transaction is to take effect.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transaction further comprises: an identification of a data set to which said transaction is to be applied.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transaction further comprises an identification of n.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises adding new data to the data set.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises removing existing data from the data set.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises changing an existing state of data values to different data values.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises adding a new object to the data set.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises deleting an object from the data set.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an object comprises one of: a geographical node, a geographical edge, a geographical face, a geographical point feature, a geographical line feature, a geographical area feature, a geographical relationship, a source document, and a geographical name.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises adding a new characteristic to the data set.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises deleting an existing characteristic from the data set.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises changing an existing characteristic to a different characteristic.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a characteristic comprises one of: an X, Y, and Z value, a set of nodes that make up an edge, a set of edges that make up a face, a geometric composition, an attribute, text of a name, and descriptive information for source material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises splitting a line feature.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises merging a line feature.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises splitting an edge.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one of said n steps comprises merging an edge.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said geographical data set is in an interchange format.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said interchange format is GDF.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said geographical data set is in an application format.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said transactions further comprises a dependency indication identifying required prior transactions, if any, and further comprising the step of: refraining from applying the transaction if any prior transaction in said dependency indication is missing.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said navigation systems are installed in vehicles and wherein the method further comprises: providing copies of said series of transactions for said vehicles.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of organizing geographical data for navigation application programs, said method comprising: associating geographical data representing geographical objects with geographical data representing characteristics that describe the geographical objects; identifying a first plurality of said geographical objects with explicit object references; and identifying a second plurality of geographical objects with descriptive object references, wherein each of said descriptive object references includes the geographical data in at least one characteristic associated with said geographical object.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of organizing geographical data for navigation application programs, said method comprising: associating geographical data representing geographical objects with geographical data representing characteristics that describe the geographical objects; identifying a first plurality of said geographical objects with explicit object references; and identifying a second plurality of geographical objects with descriptive object references, wherein each of said descriptive object references includes the geographical data in at least one characteristic associated with said geographical object.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said explicit references and descriptive references uniquely identify all of said geographical objects.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for updating a geographical data set, wherein said geographical date set includes data elements corresponding to geographical locations, comprising: storing values corresponding to geographic data in a first type of database element; using said values in said first type of database element to identify a second type of database element wherein said second type of database element is associated with said first type of database element; and updating the values in the second type of database element.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for updating a geographical data set, wherein said geographical date set includes data elements corresponding to geographical locations, comprising: storing values corresponding to geographic data in a first type of database element; using said values in said first type of database element to identify a second type of database element wherein said second type of database element is associated with said first type of database element; and updating the values in the second type of database element.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
89 words
An update transaction for an existing geographical data set used in computer-based navigation systems, said update transaction and said existing geographical data set embodied in computer-readable media, wherein said existing geographical data set comprises geographical objects and characteristics that describe said geographical objects, said update transaction comprising: transaction control data to correctly alter the existing geographic data set from one valid state to another; and n steps to be executed to complete said transaction, wherein said n steps identify a plurality of geographical objects and attributes to be updated.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
89 words
An update transaction for an existing geographical data set used in computer-based navigation systems, said update transaction and said existing geographical data set embodied in computer-readable media, wherein said existing geographical data set comprises geographical objects and characteristics that describe said geographical objects, said update transaction comprising: transaction control data to correctly alter the existing geographic data set from one valid state to another; and n steps to be executed to complete said transaction, wherein said n steps identify a plurality of geographical objects and attributes to be updated.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of updating an existing geographical data set comprised of: providing a geographical data set comprised of geographical objects and characteristics that describe said geographical objects; and providing a series of update transactions, each of said update transactions defined as in claim 53.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said transaction control data further comprises: a dependency indication identifying required prior transactions, if any.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said update transaction further comprises: a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies said transaction.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said transaction control data identifies a set of transactions which must have been successfully applied prior to said update transaction.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said transaction control data identifies the existing geographic data set to be updated.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said transaction control data identifies when said update transaction was originally published.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 53 wherein said transaction control data identifies when said ordered set of alterations are to be effective.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for processing an update of an existing navigation dataset that has become outdated comprising: acquiring an update transaction, wherein said update transaction comprises an ordered set of alterations to be made to the navigation dataset and control data to correctly alter the dataset from one valid state to another valid state, wherein said control data includes dependency data indicating prior update transactions, if any, which are required to have been applied to the existing navigation dataset, wherein said prior update transactions do not necessarily include all prior update transactions; and executing an update program that uses the update transaction and said control data and applies the update transaction to the existing navigation dataset.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for processing an update of an existing navigation dataset that has become outdated comprising: acquiring an update transaction, wherein said update transaction comprises an ordered set of alterations to be made to the navigation dataset and control data to correctly alter the dataset from one valid state to another valid state, wherein said control data includes dependency data indicating prior update transactions, if any, which are required to have been applied to the existing navigation dataset, wherein said prior update transactions do not necessarily include all prior update transactions; and executing an update program that uses the update transaction and said control data and applies the update transaction to the existing navigation dataset.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer program for updating an existing navigation dataset from a first valid state to a second valid state using an update transaction, said computer program comprising: programming code that confirms that the update transaction corresponds to the existing navigation dataset; programming code that checks that the required prior transactions have been applied to the existing navigation dataset; and programming code that applies a set of alterations included in the update transaction to the existing navigation dataset to update said existing navigation dataset from said first valid state to said second valid state.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer program for updating an existing navigation dataset from a first valid state to a second valid state using an update transaction, said computer program comprising: programming code that confirms that the update transaction corresponds to the existing navigation dataset; programming code that checks that the required prior transactions have been applied to the existing navigation dataset; and programming code that applies a set of alterations included in the update transaction to the existing navigation dataset to update said existing navigation dataset from said first valid state to said second valid state.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program of claim 62 further comprising: programming code that restores the existing navigation dataset to said first valid state if any one alteration of said set of alterations state cannot be successfully applied thereto.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for updating a plurality of existing navigation datasets comprising: developing an update transaction for an existing navigation dataset, wherein the update transaction comprises an ordered set of alterations to be made to a plurality of objects in the dataset and control data to correctly alter the existing dataset from one valid state to another valid state; and publishing the update transaction to a navigation data set to a plurality of entities wherein each of said plurality of entities has a copy of the existing navigation data set.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for updating a plurality of existing navigation datasets comprising: developing an update transaction for an existing navigation dataset, wherein the update transaction comprises an ordered set of alterations to be made to a plurality of objects in the dataset and control data to correctly alter the existing dataset from one valid state to another valid state; and publishing the update transaction to a navigation data set to a plurality of entities wherein each of said plurality of entities has a copy of the existing navigation data set.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the alterations comprise a set of steps.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the set of steps includes adding new data to the dataset.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the set of steps includes removing existing data from the dataset.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the set of steps includes changing the state of known data values in the existing dataset to have different data values.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the update transaction further comprises a transaction identification.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 69 wherein the transaction identification uniquely identifies the transaction.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the control data identifies a set of transactions which must have been successfully applied prior to said update transaction.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the control data identities the dataset to be updated.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the control data includes a time stamp identifying when said update transaction was originally published.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 64 wherein the control data includes an effective data identifying when said ordered set of alterations are to be effective.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4939663A
Cited
US5119301A
Cited
US5136473A
Cited
US5307278A
Cited
US5235701A
Cited
US5524202A
Cited
US5504900A
Cited
US5684989A
Cited
US5363473A
Cited
US5475837A
Cited
DE4141597A1
Cited
US5374933A
Cited
JPH06266997A
Cited
US5548637A
Cited
JPH0792906A
Cited
US5596500A
Cited
US5614895A
Cited
US5568396A
Cited
US5646844A
Cited
US5559707A
Cited
US5528518A
Cited
US5614845A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-05 | 2002-10-05 | 2003-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-05 | 2006-10-05 | 2007-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-05 | 2010-10-05 | 2011-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |