FR2897458A1 - Geographical location information indexing/searching method for e.g. publishing merchandizing advertisement in city, involves entering information on terminal, and transmitting information to be indexed to server via communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves entering information comprising a geographical location component near a transit facility, on a terminal. The information to be indexed is transmitted to a server via a communication network and is stored in a database by the server. Searching criteria are entered on the terminal, and a request is transmitted to the server via the network. The criteria are compared with the stored information by the server. Comparison result is transmitted to the terminal via the network and is displayed by the terminal.

Description

The present invention relates to an indexing and research method

  information associated with one or more geographic locations in the vicinity of a transit network, based on distances within that same network and distances outside the network.

  It is already possible to calculate the shortest path between two stations of a public transport network. It is also possible to know the shortest path between two locations in the vicinity of a public transport network, taking this network if necessary. Similarly, the search for information in a database can already be done in multiple ways according to different selection criteria set by a user. It is thus possible to record information, to associate it with a set of geographical locations and then to make searches by taking as a criterion the presence of one or more locations in the recorded information. It is also possible to search the recorded information using a geographical proximity criterion between the locations associated with the information and a particular location specified in the search. In the particular case where each location is an entry point of the public transit system, it is possible to take into account the structure of the public transit system to conduct searches with a criterion relating to distance from some network entry points within the same network.

  But this method, which takes into account the structure of the public transport network in the indexing and in the search for information, does not apply to the case where the locations are other than points of entry of the network.

  The present invention proposes to improve this method by making it possible to generalize it to any geographical location in the vicinity of a public transport network. Thus, the invention is a method, on a server connected to a computer network, for indexing and searching for multicriterion information, comprising a component describing a geographical location in the vicinity of a public transport network, in a database.

  This method, on a server connected to a computer network, for indexing and searching for multicriterion information comprising a component describing a location in the vicinity of a public transport network, in a database, can be characterized in that It comprises the following steps: -2- Entering, on a terminal, multicriterion information to be indexed and comprising a geographical location component in the vicinity of a public transport network. Transmission of the information to be indexed by a communication network to a server, and recording, by the server, information in a database. In addition to the information entered, the method also records the explanation of the location component for each piece of information entered on the terminal, according to the following steps: for each location that has been associated with a maximum allowable distance, the method determines the set locations at a distance less than this maximum distance, using public transport, where appropriate, on the basis of an efficient calculation of the minimum path (distance and distance traveled along the route), or on the basis of minimum path records (routes and distances traveled along the paths). Then, the method groups the non-associated locations to a maximum allowable distance with, for each location associated with a maximum allowable distance, all locations located at a distance less than this maximum distance, previously calculated, to form the location component. explicit for information. This explicit location component is then associated with the corresponding information and stored in the database. - Entering the search criteria, on a terminal, including a geographical location criterion in the neighborhood of a public transport network Transmission of the request by the network to the server where the database containing the information is stored . Comparison, performed by the server, between the criteria of the search and each piece of information recorded and sorted. Compared to the search criterion for geographic location, the comparison is made according to the following steps: a. Explanation of the location criterion for the search: concerning the location criterion for the search, for each location which has been associated with a maximum distance allowed, the method determines all the locations located at a distance less than this maximum distance, in using public transport, where appropriate, on the basis of an efficient calculation of the minimum path (path and distance traveled along the path), or on the basis of minimum path records (journeys and distances traveled along the route); journeys). Then, the method groups the non-associated locations to a maximum allowable distance with, for each location associated with a maximum allowable distance, the set of locations located at a distance less than this maximum distance, to form the location component. explicit for research. b. Comparison performed by the server between the locations thus explained: the explicit location for the search is compared to the explicit location for each information. - Transmission of the results by a communication network to the terminal on which the search criteria have been entered. - Display of the results by this terminal.

  In this method, the geographic location component of the information to be indexed is a location, or a location associated with a maximum allowable distance, or a list of locations, or a list of locations each associated with a maximum allowable distance ( `or 'inclusive). In this method, the geographic location criterion for the search relates to a location, or location associated with a maximum allowable distance, or a list of locations, or a list of locations each associated with a maximum allowable distance (`or inclusive). In this method, a location may include an address, an entry point of the public transport network, or geographic, longitude-latitude or GPS coordinates for example. In this method, the distance between two locations means the travel time of the shortest way connecting them by using the public transport network, or the length of this shorter path, or the number of points of entry of the public transport network crossed within this shorter path if it uses the transport network 25 in common. In this method, the step of explaining the location component of the information to be indexed can be done between the capture and the transmission of the data, or between the transmission and the recording of the information in the database, or after this recording. In this method, the comparison between the locations of the search and the locations of the information may consist in that the method retains only the information whose explicit localization component has a part common to a part of the explicit location for the information. or in that when comparing search locations with information locations, the method simply sorts the information based on the distances between the explicit locations of the information and the explicit location for the search. -4-

  Here a station of a public transport network designates any point of entry of this network. We will use both terms indifferently.

  According to particular embodiments: - n information is recorded. Each piece of information has previously been associated with a geographical location component, a set of locations, possibly associated with a maximum allowable distance, in the vicinity of a public transport network. - For a given piece of information and for each geographical location associated with this information, all the locations located at a distance less than the corresponding maximum distance are determined, taking the public transport network if necessary. This set is merged with the non-associated locations at a maximum allowable distance. The resulting set is the explicit location component for the information. This set can be described by a set of locations each associated with a maximum distance. - A user searches our n information. His search includes specific criteria and is associated with a geographical location, a set of locations associated possibly with a maximum allowable distance. For this location, the system determines its explicit location according to the method described in the preceding paragraph. - The information is filtered according to the general criteria of the search and according to the criterion of location for the search. Two approaches are: then possible: • we compare the two components of explicit localization. The method retains only the information corresponding to the general search criteria and whose explicit location component has a part common to a part of the explicit location for the search. The results are then sorted according to the criteria of the search, or according to the distances, or according to another type of sorting. • The information on the general search criteria and the distances between one or more parts of the explicit location for the information and one or more parts of the explicit location for the search are sorted out. -5- The attached drawings illustrate the Invention 1 represents the method of comparison between the information and the search in a favorable case for the specific criterion of location: the explicit location component for the information has a part common to a part of the explicit location for the . research. Thus, if the other components of the information correspond to the other criteria of the research, the information will be retained and will be part of the results of the research.

  The method is particularly intended for the consultation of classified ads on the Internet, each ad having in addition to information specific to it a location component in the vicinity of a public transport network. For example, for a search for real estate, a person X, who works at 10 rue de la Paix, Paris, and who uses public transport, seeks to get closer to his place of work. This person wants to find apartments among those who are less than 35 minutes from 10 rue de la Paix, Paris using public transport. She enters the search criteria specific to her apartment (rent, surface, ...) and indicates as its location the geographical location 10 rue de la Paix, Paris with maximum distance allowed the duration of 35 minutes (the distance used here being the travel time of the shortest way using public transport if necessary). The system will then determine the specific explicit location criterion for the search, namely the meeting of the following sets: • all stations within 35 minutes of 10 rue de la Paix, Paris using public transport. Each station S; thus obtained will be associated with a maximum distance d, defined by 35 minutes minus the time taken to reach S; • all locations within 35 minutes of 10 rue de la Paix, Paris without using public transport, ie the location 10 rue de la Paix, Paris associated with the maximum distance 35 minutes . The meeting of these two sets is the explicit location of the search characterized by a simple set of locations each associated with a maximum distance or zero distance. This location is explicit in the sense that, having already taken into account the public transport to build it. these are no longer to be taken into account to determine the points `within 35 minutes of 10 rue de la Paix, Paris using if appropriate public transport '. Indeed, it is sufficient to refer to the locations included in the perimeter defined by each distance associated with the locations this explicit location. Previously, n real estate ads were entered by advertisers. For each ad, the advertiser has entered the characteristics of his property and his address. For this property, the location will be this address and the maximum allowable distance will be zero because the scope of the advertisement relates only to the location of the property and therefore the location component for this type of information. is limited to a discreet location. The explicit location of each piece of information generated by the system is therefore reduced to a single location. The system will then search among the ads for those that match the criteria imposed by the user and those whose location is included in all locations described by the explicit location for the search, i.e. less than 35 minutes from 10 rue de la Paix, Paris using public transport if necessary. The user then has the opportunity to sort the property found according to their distance from 10 rue de la Paix, Paris or other criteria such as price, surface, etc ... Remarks: Here the component of location explicit for the information was reduced to a single element. Other examples may be found where the explicit location component for search is reduced to a single item and where the explicit location component for the information is not necessarily. There are also other examples where the explicit location components for search and for information may simultaneously have multiple locations in discrete or continuous distribution.

Claims (8)

  1) Method, on a server connected to a computer network, for indexing and searching for multicriterion information comprising a component describing a location in the vicinity of a public transport network, in a database, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: Seizure, on a terminal, multicriteria information to index and having a geographic location component in the vicinity of a public transport network. - Transmission of the information to be indexed by a communication network to a server, and recording by the server, information in a database. In addition to the information entered, the method also records the explanation of the location component for each piece of information entered on the terminal, according to the following steps: for each location that has been associated with a maximum allowable distance, the method determines the set locations at a distance less than this maximum distance, using public transport, where appropriate, on the basis of an efficient calculation of the minimum path (distance and distance traveled along the route), or on the basis of minimum path records (routes and distances traveled along the paths). Then, the method groups the non-associated locations to a maximum allowable distance with, for each location associated with a maximum allowable distance, all locations located at a distance less than this maximum distance, previously calculated, to form the location component. explicit for information. This explicit location component is then associated with the corresponding information and stored in the database. - Entering search criteria, on a terminal, including a geographical location criterion in the vicinity of a public transport network. Transmission of the request by the network to the server where the database containing the information is stored. - Comparison, performed by the server, between the criteria of the search and each information recorded and sorting. Compared to the search criterion for geographic location, the comparison is made according to the following steps: a. Explanation of the location criterion for the search: concerning the location criterion for the search, for each location which has been associated with a maximum allowable distance, the method determines the set of locations located at a distance less than this distance maximum, using public transport where appropriate, on the basis of an efficient calculation of minimum path (path and distance traveled along the path), or on the basis of minimum path records (paths and distances traveled along the routes). Then, the method groups the non-associated locations to a maximum allowable distance with, for each location associated with a maximum allowable distance, the set of locations located at a distance less than this maximum distance, to form the explicit location component for the research. b. Comparison, made by the server, between the locations thus clarified: the explicit location for the search is compared to the explicit location for each information. Transmission of results via a communication network to the terminal on which the search criteria have been entered. - Display of results by this terminal.   2) Method according to claim 1) characterized in that the geographic location component of the information to be indexed is a location, or a location associated with a maximum allowable distance, or a list of locations, or a list of locations each associated with a maximum allowable distance (`or 'inclusive).   3) Method according to claims 1) and 2) characterized in that the geographical location criterion for the search relates to a location, or location associated with a maximum allowable distance, or a list of locations, or a list of locations. locations each associated with a maximum allowable distance (`or 'inclusive).   4) Method according to claims 1) to 3) characterized in that a location can be including an address, an entry point of the public transport network, or geographic coordinates, longitude-latitude or GPS for example.   5) Method according to claims 1) to 4) characterized in that distance between two locations means the travel time of the shortest way connecting them by using if appropriate the public transport network, or the length of this shortest path, or the number of public transit network points of entry within this shorter path if it uses the public transport system.-9-   6) Method according to claims 1) to 5) characterized in that the step of explaining the location component of the information to be indexed can be done between the capture and the transmission of the data, or between the transmission and the recording information in the database, or after this registration.   7) Method according to claims 1) to 6) characterized in that, during the comparison between the locations of the search and the location of the information, the method retains only the information whose explicit location component has a common part to part of the explicit localization for the search.   8) Method according to claims 1) to 6) characterized in that, during the comparison between the locations of the search and the locations of the information, the method sorts the information according to the distances between the explicit locations of the information and the location explicit for research.