Inventors:
W. Lincoln Bouve - Milton MA 02186
William T. Semple - Arlington VA 22201
Steven W. Oxman - Riva MD 21140
International Classification:
G06F 1730
US Classification:
7071041, 707 10, 707 4, 701208, 701213
Abstract:
A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e. g. , businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago OHara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the users position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein.