Method and system for addressing locations based upon latitude and longitude positions

A method and system for locating an address of a space based upon latitude and longitude coordinates. The latitude and longitude positioning system includes a global positioning satellite for measuring the latitude and longitude coordinates of the space to be addressed and a device for generating a unique variable string based upon the measured latitude and longitude coordinates. The variable string is stored in a storage device and a device for selectively disseminating the variable string is provided for informing persons desirous of learning the location of the space of the variable address string. The variable string may be represented as a numerical string. A keypad is also provided connected to the generating device for inputting data related to special features related to the location of the space such as a height of the space and floor on which the space is located within a structure. The dissemination device includes a modem for connection with a telephone line for transmitting the address string to a party on an opposite end of a telephone communication channel established on the telephone line, a send button for initiating transmission of the variable string across the telephone line and an emergency button for initiating a telephone call by the modem to an emergency services station for transmission of the variable string across the telephone line to the emergency services station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates generally to address location systems and,
 more specifically, to a system for addressing locations based upon
 latitude and longitude coordinate measurements generated by a precise
 positioning system, e.g. Global Positioning Satellite (G.P.S.), D.G.P.S.,
 other satellite based positioning systems or other means. The measurements
 are recorded by a precise positioning system unit and disseminated as a
 unique destination address for that location. The destination address is
 then identified as the permanently unique location address for all
 inquiries, mailpieces and deliveries for this location in place of the
 current address system which includes building number, street name, city,
 state and zip code.
 This unique permanent address defining the latitude and longitude
 coordinates of the location allows for mailpiece delivery without
 confusion regardless of national borders or municipal renumbering and
 renaming of streets. Furthermore, this permanent address system simplifies
 the destination address to a substantially numerical string lending itself
 to being easily entered and identified in computerized address databases
 while promoting an international standard addressing system.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Numerous other addressing and delivery systems are provided in the prior
 art. Typical of these are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,761; 5,420,403; 5,612,889
 and 5,828,322. While these addressing and delivery systems may be suitable
 for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not bc as
 suitable for die purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter
 described.
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,761
 Inventor: Grant M. Cate et al.
 Issued: Jul. 4, 1989
 A system for locating possible address information contained in a window
 area of a mail item is provided. This system includes a source of
 illumination and detectors for sensing the reflectivity of the mail item.
 Circuitry is provided for measuring the reflectivity from the mail item.
 Circuitry is also provided for determining the presence of a window on the
 mail item and the coordinates of the detected window. Additional circuitry
 is provided for selecting address information contained within a window
 location by the window detect circuitry.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,403
 Inventor: David R. Allum et al.
 Issued: May 30, 1995
 Mail can be sorted automatically to a point of delivery level by deriving
 from the address including postal code on a piece of mail a suffix which
 together with the postal code forms routing data which uniquely identifies
 the final delivery address. This is achieved automatically by the Post
 office sorting facility by means of an optical character reader which
 reads the addresses on mail items and a computer arranged to generate a
 suffix based on the address read. The routing data is printed as a bar
 code on the mail item and this allows the complete sortation to be
 effected automatically. Also contemplated is a progressive encoding system
 which can be applied as bar codes by customers as desirable to mail
 pieces. The basic data is the routing data set to which can be added a
 shipment number which allows automatic revenue accounting control and a
 piece number which allows automatic track and trace. Finally, the customer
 may also progressively encode return mail envelopes with the shipment
 number followed by a product code and a user defined field which permits
 automatic specialized handling of the return mail item.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,889
 Inventor: Leon A. Pintsov et al.
 Issued: Mar. 18, 1997
 A mailing list is created including destination addresses for mailpieces to
 be submitted to a carrier service for delivery. A unique mailpiece
 identifier associated with mailpieces on the mailing list is generated by
 the carrier or other trusted third party. The unique mailpiece identifier
 is printed on the mailpiece with which it is associated. The mailpieces
 with the printed unique identifier are submitted to the carrier service.
 The carrier service obtains the printed unique identifier from the
 mailpiece. The obtained unique identifier from each said mailpiece is
 utilized to verify that data associated with the mailpiece has been
 processed by the carrier or trusted third party. When the unique number
 has been obtained from the mailpieces, the carrier service, if desirable,
 may note this fact in the carrier records to prevent reuse of the unique
 identifier. The carrier service as part of issuing the unique
 identification may: charge the mailer's account of other fund depository
 for the carrier service charges associated with the mailpiece; and/or,
 assign a destination delivery code; and/or, provide address hygiene for
 the mailpiece; and/or change of address processing. When the unique
 identifier is obtained from the mailpiece, a delivery point destination
 code may be printed on the mailpiece, based on the corrected address. As
 an alternative, the destination delivery code may be provided to the
 mailer with the unique mailpiece identifier to be printed on the mailpiece
 by the mailer. Various cryptographic techniques may be employed to
 authenticate the mailer and the carrier service and to protect the
 transmitted information between the parties. The payment for the carrier
 service can he implemented prior in time to the entry of the mailpieces to
 the carrier service mailstream. Unauthorized mailpieces may be sorted
 early in the carrier service processing procedure.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,322
 Inventor: Hans Joachim Eberhard
 Issued: Oct. 27, 1998
 Printed matter is distributed between a source location and a plurality of
 geographically separate target locations by providing at each of the
 target locations a location transmitter capable of emitting a unique
 identifying code and packing at the source location individual orders of
 the printed matter for the target locations into respective containers and
 providing each of the containers with a container transmitter capable of
 generating a unique identifying code. The packed containers for a
 plurality of the target locations are loaded onto a truck and the codes of
 the containers being loaded are recorded in a respective portable device
 on each trunk along with the respective target locations. The device
 continuously electronically determines the position of the truck and
 guides the loaded truck along a route past the respective plurality of
 target locations in accordance with the electronically determined truck
 position, typically by providing optical or audible instructions for the
 driver. When the truck reaches each target location the respective
 target-location transmitter is read and an acoustic or optical output is
 generated by the device indicating which of the containers is to be
 unloaded thereat. Then at each target location any container whose code is
 associated with the respective target location is unloaded.
 It is therefore desirable to provide a latitude and longitude positioning
 system for addressing locations wherein the latitudinal and longitudinal
 coordinates of the location provide a simplified destination address
 formed of a substantially numerical string thereby lending itself to
 computerized address databases. It is further desirable to provide a
 latitude and longitude positioning system for addressing locations which
 will promote an international standard addressing system. It is even
 further desirable to provide a latitude and longitude positioning system
 for addressing locations able to eliminate the necessity to change an
 address due to the renaming of streets such as for commemorating a
 historical or noteworthy event or person. It is yet further desirable to
 provide a latitude and longitude positioning system for addressing
 locations able to minimize the database storage space required to store
 potentially long street names, city names and multi-line addresses as
 numerous computer databases allocate only 120 characters of storage to
 accommodate address data. It is still further desirable to provide a
 latitude and longitude positioning system for addressing locations which
 eliminates the dependence on potentially long street names, city names and
 multi-line addresses. It is yet further desirable to provide a latitude
 and longitude positioning system for addressing locations which eliminates
 the dependence of the present address systems on frequently reused street
 names which often leads to confusion in locating a destination, addressing
 mailpieces and delivery of mailpieces. It is even further desirable to
 provide a latitude and longitude positioning system for addressing
 locations which eliminates potentially long street names, city names and
 multi-line addresses able to provide a uniform system for international
 mail thereby unifying the system in which addressing schemes differ
 significantly from one country to the next, each country having its own
 unique addressing schemes, such as street name, street number, province,
 state, town, and postal code which also changes with the dissolution of
 countries and the creation of new ones.
 While present location addressing systems may function well on the local
 level, they are inadequate for the global economy and place unnecessary
 strain on computerized databases. It is therefore felt that a need exists
 for a national as well as international system for addressing locations
 which eliminates a dependence on geopolitical boundaries.
 SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
 The present invention relates generally to location address systems and,
 more specifically, to a system for addressing locations using latitudinal
 and longitudinal coordinate measurements generated by a a precise
 positioning system unit. The measurements are recorded by the user and
 disseminated as a unique destination address for that location. The
 destination address is then identified as the permanently unique location
 address for all inquiries, mailpieces and deliveries for this location in
 place of the current addressing system which includes building number,
 street name, city, state and zip code.
 A primary object of the present invention is to provide a latitude and
 longitude positioning system that will overcome the shortcomings of prior
 art devices.
 A further object of the present invention is to provide a latitude and
 longitude positioning system able to generate a permanently unique address
 based upon the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of a location.
 Another object of the present invention is to provide a latitude and
 longitude positioning system able to be used by existing automated
 delivery and sorting technologies for determining the location of a
 structure.
 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a latitude and
 longitude positioning system able to be used in conjunction with a unique
 return address to generate a standardized tracking number that can be used
 by all shipping providers.
 Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a latitude
 and longitude positioning system able to provide a location of a structure
 regardless of geographic boundaries.
 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a latitude and
 longitude positioning system able to be used to query a vendor database as
 to the status and location of a purchased or shipped product.
 A still further object of the present invention is to provide a latitude
 and longitude positioning system able to be used to contact emergency
 personnel and lead the emergency personnel to the location from which the
 contact was originated.
 Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description
 proceeds.
 A method and system for locating an address of a space based upon latitude
 and longitude coordinates is described by the present invention. The
 latitude and longitude positioning system includes a global positioning
 satellite for measuring the latitude and longitude coordinates of the
 space to be addressed and a device for generating a unique variable string
 based upon the measured latitude and longitude coordinates. The variable
 string is stored in a storage device and a device for selectively
 disseminating the variable string is provided for informing persons
 desirous of learning the location of the space of the variable address
 string. The variable string may be represented as a numerical string. A
 keypad is also provided connected to the generating device for inputting
 data related to special features related to the location of the space such
 as a height of the space and floor on which the space is located within a
 structure. The dissemination device includes a modem for connection with a
 telephone line for transmitting the address string to a party on an
 opposite end of a telephone communication channel established on the
 telephone line, a send button for initiating transmission of the variable
 string across the telephone line and an emergency button for initiating a
 telephone call by the modem to an emergency services station for
 transmission of the variable string across the telephone line to the
 emergency services station.
 The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by
 providing a latitude and longitude positioning system using latitudinal
 and longitudinal coordinate measurements from a precise positioning
 system. The coordinates from the precise positioning system are stored
 thereby and disseminated as the unique destination address for the
 location. The destination address is then applied to all mailings as the
 return address and supplied as the permanently unique location address for
 all mailpieces for this user.
 Further, this permanently unique address comprising the latitude and
 longitude positioning coordinates of the location provides means for
 mailpiece delivery regardless of international borders or municipal
 renumbering and renaming of streets, as well as, simplifying the location
 address of a structure to a substantially numerical string able to be
 efficiently utilized by computerized address databases and promote an
 international standard addressing system.
 The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the
 description to follow. In the description reference is made to the
 accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by
 way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be
 practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to
 enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be
 understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural
 changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In
 the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or
 similar parts throughout the several views.
 The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
 limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by
 the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
 Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
 characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the
 Figures illustrate the latitude and longitude positioning system of the
 present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the
 following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
 10 latitude and longitude positioning system of the present invention
 12 structure of which address is to be determined
 14 latitude and longitude positioning system unit
 16 antenna of precise positioning system satellite unit
 18 satellites forming the precise positioning system
 20 precise positioning system
 22 latitude and longitude positioning coordinate device
 24 destination address register
 26 keypad of precise positioning system unit
 28 telephone
 30 modem within destination address register
 32 emergency button on destination address register
 34 address send key
 36 seller location
 38 computer database of seller
 40 delivery carrier location
 42 shipping database of seller
 44 scanner of delivery carrier for input of destination address
 46 computer database of delivery carrier
 48 modem of seller
 50 modem of delivery carrier
 52 line indicating inquiry by buyer to seller
 54 line indicating inquiry by buyer to delivery carrier
 56 telephone line
 58 central emergency/9-1-1 station
 60 signal transmitted to central emergency/9-1-1 station
 62 emergency vehicle
 64 signal transmitted by central emergency/9-1-1 station to emergency
 vehicle
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
 characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1
 through 3 illustrate the latitude and longitude positioning system of the
 present invention indicated generally by the numeral 10.
 The latitude and longitude positioning system 10 is used to determine the
 latitude and longitude positioning coordinates of a location and provide a
 unique numerical address for identifying a structure 12 at the location.
 This system 10 is designed to simplify and replace the currently used
 systems for identifying the location of structures 12, i.e. using building
 number, street name, city, state and country, with an easily remembered
 universally accepted numerical string similar to a telephone number. The
 system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 which shows the obtaining of an address
 for a structure 12 at a particular location using the latitude and
 longitude positioning system 10 of the present invention.
 Positioned within the structure 12 at a particular location is a latitude
 and longitude positioning system unit 14. An antenna 16 of the latitude
 and longitude positioning system unit 14 is used to establish a
 communication channel with satellites 18 of a system of precise
 positioning system 20 orbiting the earth. The satellites 18 are used to
 determine latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates for the location of the
 structure 12 and identify the determined coordinates by a unique numerical
 string value. In communication with the satellites 18, a latitude and
 longitude coordinate determining device 22 receives signals representative
 of the latitude and longitude of the latitude and longitude positioning
 system unit 14 via the antenna 16. The latitude and longitude coordinate
 determining device 22 generates a numerical string unique to the location
 of the latitude and longitude positioning system unit 14 based upon the
 latitude and longitude coordinate values received from the satellites 18.
 The numerical string would identify the structure as a telephone number
 identifies the telephone line to the structure and is stored in a
 destination address register 24. A user of the latitude and longitude
 positioning system 10 is able to retrieve the destination address from the
 destination address register 24. The address is then disseminated to the
 public thereby alerting anyone as to the location of the structure 12
 thereby allowing for delivery of mailpieces and providing a destination
 address for visitors to the structure 12. The destination address register
 24 may include a display for displaying the destination address and thus
 provide a visual indication of the address to the user.
 A keypad 26 is provided on the latitude and longitude positioning system
 unit 14 for inserting certain parameters to the latitude and longitude
 coordinate determining device 22 which may affect the determination of an
 address for a particular location, e.g. an apartment in an apartment
 building. As large apartment and office buildings are constantly being
 constructed, apartment and office spaces positioned on top of each other
 are positioned at the same latitude and longitude. Thus, by entering the
 floor or height of the space at which the latitude and longitude
 positioning system unit 14 is positioned, the height of the apartment will
 be considered when determining the address and spaces positioned on top of
 each other may be distinguished from one another, Preferably, the latitude
 and longitude positioning system unit 14 will add a three digit extension
 on the end of the numerical string address to identify the floor number or
 height of the space identified by the address. For example, the three
 digits at the end of the numerical address string may be 000 to identify a
 single level structure, 007 to identify a space on the seventh floor of an
 apartment building or 018 to identify an office on the eighteenth floor of
 an office building. Alternatively, any other type of identification code
 may be added to the destination address in order to distinguish spaces
 along the same line of a building from one another.
 The destination address register 24 is connected to a telephone 28 and
 includes a modem 30, an emergency button 32 and a send button 34. The
 modem 30 connects to the telephone 28 for placing telephone calls through
 the destination address register 24 thereby allowing the destination
 address to be transmitted through conventional telephone lines to a
 receiving party. The emergency button 32 is provided for activating the
 modem 30 to place a telephone call through the telephone 28 to emergency
 personnel as is illustrated in FIG. 3.
 Activation of the emergency button 32 causes the modem to place the
 telephone in an off-hook state and dial 9-1-1. Upon connection with a
 9-1-1 operator, the destination address register 24 will identify itself
 and transmit the destination address so that emergency personnel can be
 dispatched to the location. The destination address register 24 will
 transmit at least one of an audible and data signal including the
 destination address. The address send key 34 is also provided on the
 destination address register 24 for transmitting the destination address
 over an open telephone communication channel upon activation thereof.
 For buildings in which it is in the interest of national security to
 maintain the latitude and longitude coordinates as secret, a special
 numerical string unrelated to the latitude and longitude coordinates will
 be provided as an address. Such buildings would include the White House,
 the Pentagon, the C.I.A. building, the Capitol, etc. . . . Providing the
 latitude and longitude coordinates for such structures as information to
 the general public would compromise national security. Thus, these
 buildings must be identified by special numerical strings which are
 unrelated to their global position.
 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing use of the latitude and longitude
 positioning system 10 to order goods over the telephone. The buyer at the
 structure 12 to which the ordered goods will be shipped has a unique
 location address which has been stored in the destination address register
 24. When the buyer 12 wishes to purchase goods from a seller 36, the
 latitude and longitude positioning system unit 14 will provide the
 destination address of the location 12 to which the goods are to be
 shipped to the seller 36 upon activation of the send button. The seller 36
 inputs the destination address to a computer database 38 and provides the
 destination address to a delivery carrier 40 for delivery via a shipping
 database. The shipping database 42 is connected to the computer database
 38. The delivery carrier 40 has a scanner 44 for use in inputting the
 destination address to a computer database 46 in which it is stored. The
 computer database 46 of the delivery service 40 communicates with the
 computer database 38 to provide the seller 36 with the destination address
 to which the goods are to be shipped. The destination address will act as
 a shipping tracking number. The computer database 38 of the seller 36 is
 provided with a modem 48 and the computer database 46 of the delivery
 carrier 40 is provided with a modem 50 for connection to conventional
 telephone lines. Through the modem 48 the buyer 12 may confirm receipt of
 the order for goods and track the delivery of the goods by contacting the
 computer database 38 of the seller 36 through conventional telephone lines
 as indicated by the line labeled with the numeral 52. Through the modem 50
 the buyer 12 may confirm receipt of the order for goods and track the
 delivery of the goods by contacting the computer database 46 of the
 delivery service 40 through conventional telephone lines as indicated by
 the line labeled with the numeral 54.
 Use of the latitude and longitude positioning system unit 14 to contact
 emergency personnel is illustrated in FIG. 3. This figure illustrates the
 latitude and longitude positioning system unit 14 and the destination
 address register 24 connected to a conventional telephone line 56. The
 destination address register 24 includes the modem 30 for establishing the
 connection with the telephone line 56. The emergency button 32 and send
 button 34 are connected to the modem 30. When the emergency button 32 is
 activated, the modem 30 will place the telephone line 56 in an off-hook
 state and dial 9-1-1 to contact emergency personnel. The telephone call
 placed by the modem 30 will establish a connection with a local emergency
 services (9-1-1) station 58. Upon establishing a connection with the
 emergency services station 58, the emergency button 32 will cause the
 modem 30 to transmit the location address stored therein to the emergency
 services station 58 as either an audible or data signal as indicated by
 the arrow labeled with the numeral 60. Upon receipt of the location
 address signal 60, an operator at the emergency services station 58 will
 transmit a signal indicated by the arrow labeled with the numeral 62 to an
 emergency vehicle 64 such as the police car. The operator will transmit
 the location address of the emergency and any additional information that
 they may have regarding the emergency. The location address may be
 transmitted as a data signal which will be displayed on an on-board
 computer. The data signal can also be transmitted to extend within a
 certain radius from the location of the emergency and thus be received by
 the emergency vehicles closest to the location address.
 The operation of the latitude and longitude positioning system 10 will now
 be described with reference to the figures. In operation, the latitude and
 longitude positioning system unit 14 of the latitude and longitude
 positioning system 10 is positioned in a structure which is desirous of
 establishing a location address. The latitude and longitude positioning
 system unit 14 is turned on and into an operational mode and connected to
 a live telephone line in the structure. At this time the user will input
 any necessary information relating to the position of the latitude and
 longitude positioning system unit 14 such as if the latitude and longitude
 positioning system unit 14 is identifying a room located above the first
 floor of the structure and the floor being identified using the keypad 26.
 The latitude and longitude positioning system unit 14 will now establish
 contact with precise positioning system satellites 18 orbiting the earth
 to obtain latitude and longitude coordinates of the latitude and longitude
 positioning system unit 14 and thus the structure being located. The
 latitude and longitude coordinates are provided to the latitudinal and
 longitudinal coordinate device 22 wherein a numerical string based upon
 the latitude and longitude coordinates and the data input using the keypad
 26 is generated to identify the location address of the structure. The
 numerical string is stored within the destination address register where
 it is available to the user.
 The modem 30 destination address register is connected to a live telephone
 line within the structure and is able to transmit the numerical string to
 a party at an opposing end of the telephone communication channel. A send
 button 34 on the destination address register 24 initiates transmission of
 the numerical string. The send button is preferably used when purchasing
 goods over the telephone and upon establishment of a communication with a
 computer. Pressing the send button will produce at least one of an audible
 or data signal to be transmitted to the party at the opposite end of the
 communication and thus a delivery address for ordered goods can be
 provided to the seller. The seller can then provide this delivery address
 if transmitted in data form to a delivery carrier whereby it can be
 directly entered into its computer database and also used as a tracking
 number.
 An emergency button 32 is also provided on the destination address register
 24. Activation of the emergency button 32 initiates placement of a
 telephone call by the modem 30 to an emergency services (9-1-1) station
 and transmission of the destination address from which the call is placed.
 The emergency services station is then able to alert an emergency unit as
 to the placement of the call and provide the location address, i.e. the
 numerical string, so that the emergency unit may investigate the
 emergency.
 From the above description it can be seen that the latitude and longitude
 positioning system of the present invention is able to overcome the
 shortcomings of prior art devices by providing a latitude and longitude
 positioning system which is able to generate a permanently unique address
 based upon the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of a location, can
 be used by existing automated delivery and sorting technologies for
 determining the location of a structure and be used in conjunction with a
 unique return address to generate a standardized tracking number that can
 be used by all shipping providers. The latitude and longitude positioning
 system able to provide a location of a structure regardless of geographic
 boundaries and be used to query a vendor database as to the status and
 location of a purchased or shipped product. The latitude and longitude
 positioning system is also able to be used to contact emergency personnel
 and lead the emergency personnel to the location from which the contact
 was originated. Furthermore, the latitude and longitude positioning system
 of the present invention is simple and easy to use and economical in cost
 to manufacture.
 It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
 more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods
 differing from the type described above.
 While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and
 described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to
 be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various
 omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and
 details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by
 those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of
 the present invention.
 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
 the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
 readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
 from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
 characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.