Patent ID: 8442963

Claim:
A system for compiling geospatial data for on-line collaboration, comprising: a database configured to maintain categories, each category represented by a separate Web page with one or more waymarks and associated with at least one variable having one or more attributes, which each specify a type of data storable under that variable; a search component configured to perform a search for and to select one of the categories; a waymark component configured to form a new waymark under the selected category, comprising: a geospatial component configured to receive from a user, geospatial data defining a location; a metadata component configured to receive metadata describing a physical object associated with the location and to define one or more of the attributes specifying the type of data in agreement with the metadata; and a compiler configured to compile the geospatial data with the metadata for the new waymark; a publisher component configured to store the new waymark in the database under the selected category, to publish the new waymark on-line and to store an entry by a user with the new waymark, wherein the entry comprises an interaction between the user and the physical object associated with the metadata of the new waymark; a zone of influence component configured to receive zone of influence data from the user comprising further geospatial data defining a logically-enclosed physical space; and a zone of influence storage component configured to store the zone of influence data with the new waymark.