Geographic identification system

Abstract

Geographic identification systems and methods of displaying geographic locations on maps and providing related location based services in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a GEOID server configured to communicate with a database containing GEOIDs, where each GEOID comprises a label and geographic information. In addition, the GEOID server is configured to communicate with a mapping server via a network, the GEOID server is configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices via the network, the GEOID server is configured to store GEOIDs in the database in response to information received from user devices via the network, the GEOID server is configured to retrieve geographic information in response to GEOID labels received from user devices via the Internet, and the GEOID server is configured to cause the display of a map provided by a mapping server on a user device, where the map indicates at least one location associated with the geographic information retrieved by the GEOID server in response to the GEOID label received from the user device.

1 . A geographic identification system, comprising:
 a GEOID server configured to communicate with a database containing GEOIDs, where each GEOID comprises a label and geographic information;   wherein the GEOID server is configured to communicate with a mapping server via a network;   wherein the GEOID server is configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices via the network;   wherein the GEOID server is configured to store GEOIDs in the database in response to information received from user devices via the network;   wherein the GEOID server is configured to retrieve geographic information in response to GEOID labels received from user devices via the Internet; and   wherein the GEOID server is configured to cause the display of a map provided by a mapping server on a user device, where the map indicates at least one location associated with the geographic information retrieved by the GEOID server in response to the GEOID label received from the user device.   
     
     
         2 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is a static geographic location. 
     
     
         3 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the static geographic information is expressed as a latitude and longitude on the surface of the Earth. 
     
     
         4 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the static geographic information is expressed as a street address comprising a street address and a postal code. 
     
     
         5 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is a plurality of static geographic locations. 
     
     
         6 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is a route. 
     
     
         7 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is information identifying a mobile asset. 
     
     
         8 . The geographic identification system of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile asset is a mobile phone handset. 
     
     
         9 . The geographic identification system of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile asset is a parcel. 
     
     
         10 . The geographic identification system of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile asset is a vehicle including an automatic vehicle location system. 
     
     
         11 . The geographic identification system of  claim 7 , wherein the GEOID server is configured to use the retrieved geographic information to obtain a location update for the mobile asset. 
     
     
         12 . The geographic identification system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile asset includes a client application configured to determine the current location of the mobile asset and to communicate the current location of the mobile asset to the GEOID server. 
     
     
         13 . The geographic identification system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the GEOID server is configured to communicate with a tracking server via the network;   wherein the GEOID server is configured to obtain a location update for the mobile asset from the tracking server using the retrieved geographic information.   
     
     
         14 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is information identifying a plurality of mobile assets. 
     
     
         15 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic information of at least one GEOID is references another GEOID. 
     
     
         16 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the GEOID server is configured to verify that the user device from which a GEOID label is received has permission to access the geographic information associated with the GEOID label. 
     
     
         17 . The geographic identification system of  claim 16 , wherein the GEOID server is configured to compare a PIN code received from the user device to a PIN code associated with the GEOID in the database. 
     
     
         18 . The geographic identification system of  claim 16 , wherein the GEOID server is configured to determine whether the user device from which the GEOID label is received is associated with a user that has been assigned permission to access the geographic information associated with the GEOID by the user that created the GEOID. 
     
     
         19 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein each GEOID is unique and labels only one set of geographic information. 
     
     
         20 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the GEOID is uniquely assigned within different geographies. 
     
     
         21 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the GEOID expires after a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         22 . The geographic identification system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one GEOID comprises at least one set of non-geographic information in addition to the geographic information. 
     
     
         23 . A method of associating a label with geographic information, comprising:
 receiving a label for association with a piece of geographic information;   determining that the label is available for use;   receiving at least one piece of geographic information for association with the label, where the piece of geographic information is longer than the label; and   storing the label and the at least one piece of geographic information in a database for retrieval using the label.