Patent Document ID: 8015196
Application ID: 12155920

Base Claim:
1. A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, of searching for geographic information, the method comprising the steps of: loading a dictionary of geographic feature names and geographic feature types into a memory communicably connected with the computer, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; loading locations associated with the geographic feature names into the memory, wherein the loading is performed by the computer; creating phonetic representations of the geographic feature names by normalizing each of the geographic feature names, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; storing the normalized geographic feature names in the memory; receiving, at the computer, a query for searching for geographic information, the query including a geographic name; creating a phonetic representation of the geographic name by normalizing the geographic name included in the query, wherein the creating is performed by the computer; searching the memory for a candidate name to be compared with the geographic name included in the query, the candidate name being one of the normalized geographic feature names; calculating a value of proximity between the candidate name and the geographic name included in the query, wherein the calculating is performed by the computer; and if the value of proximity is equal or larger than a predetermined value, outputting a geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name and a location associated with the geographic feature name corresponding to the candidate name.

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Claim 8:
8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: obtaining a geographic coordinate of the candidate name; and determining a smallest longitude, largest longitude, a smallest latitude, and a largest latitude, wherein an area of the map is defined by the smallest longitude, the largest longitude, the smallest latitude, and the largest latitude and the area includes a location corresponding to the candidate name.