Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Joseph Schwartz

Steve Lombardi

Gur Kimchi

Alexander G Gounares

Stephen L Lawler

Ashok Kuppusamy

Raymond Edward Endres

Amit Dekate

Jeffrey Darren Couckuyt

Sergey Y Galuzo

Eric J Horvitz

Eyal Ofek

Jin Li

Xin Wu

Alan Paulin

Tanya L Swartz

Zhenyu Qian

Yue Zhuge

Yue Xu

Amit M Dekate

Stephen J Lombardi

Leonard Smith

Retrieving data records from a database is provided. A query is received by a database access API requesting a number of data records stored in the database. A parallel batch processor is created for data transmittal, and the parallel batch processor is returned to a client program. A next data record responsive to the query is requested, and the next data record is removed from a list of records. The next data record is then provided from the parallel batch processor to the client program.

Streaming records from parallel batched database access

Performing a distributed database transaction using parallel writes to a distributed append-only database system is provided. A central database and a plurality of distributed databases, also known as 'shards', may be used. A request made to implement a distributed transaction, requiring updates to one or more shards, results in a monotonically increasing identification (ID) number being assigned to a change set. The request and change set may be registered at the central database. Once the change set is completely written to all of the appropriate shards, the change set is marked as completed in the central database. After write completion, a change set ID boundary at the central database is advanced to indicate the current fully changed status of the distributed database.

Read-write protocol for append-only distributed databases

Improving the efficiency of distributed database systems in providing geographically related information is provided by generating a data object identifier (ID) in association with geographical data. A geographical data object is received for storage in the distributed database system. A grid ID is generated based on spatial information contained in the geographical data object, a shardlet ID is generated indicating a shardlet location in a given shard on which the geographical data object is stored, and a sequence ID is generated indicating data placement within the shardlet location. The data object ID is assigned to the geographical data object, the data object ID comprising the grid ID, the shardlet ID, and the sequence ID.

Partitioning of geographic data

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user's mapped location and/or a user preference.

Obtaining and displaying virtual earth images

Virtual earth mapping

Driving directions can be helpful if in addition to spatial information, landmark information is provided. Landmarks assist in adding context to directions as well as allowing for a greater likelihood of success of an operator following directions. There can be employment of physical identification of landmarks as well as processing regarding the utility of a landmark in regards to driving directions. Driving directions can be highly useful if integrated landmarks relate to knowledge possessed by an operator of a vehicle. Landmark based driving direction can be integrated with advertisements that relate to the directions.

Landmark-based routing

Real-time virtual earth driving information

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Joseph Schwartz