Patent ID: 7769778

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for validating a character string representing a street name comprising: identifying a set of street name character strings corresponding to the streets in a defined geographic focal locale; organizing the set of street name character strings into a fast search table, wherein organizing comprises placing the set of street name character strings in alphabetic order; receiving an input address string containing an input street name character string field and an input building number string field, wherein the input address string represents a location within the defined geographic focal locale; determining a degree of similarity between the input street name character string field and the street name character strings in the fast search table; detecting in the fast search table a plurality of street name character strings having a degree of similarity to the input street name character string field that exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein detecting comprises performing a binary search on the fast search table; accessing a single address record corresponding to each of the plurality of street name character strings from a plurality of address records in a comprehensive address data set, wherein each of the single address record includes a number range; identifying a matching street name character string among the plurality of street name character strings, wherein the number range associated with the matching street name character string encompasses the input building number string field; and outputting an indication that the input address string is valid.