The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999

Filed:

Aug. 01, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:

Stephen C Robinson, Olathe, KS (US);

Darin J Beesley, Kansas City, MO (US);

Thomas H Walters, Gardner, KS (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F / ; G06F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
707101 ; 707102 ; 707104 ; 711170 ; 701200 ; 701208 ;
Abstract

The storage space required for representing geographic features is reduced by determining an optimum number of bits that can be used to store coordinate data along each separate axis. Any coordinate change that cannot directly fit within the optimum bit size is subjected to an escape sequence made up of one or more special values and a normal value that fits in the optimum bit size. The special values are obtained by a predetermined calculation for each bit size. If all changes for one axis are in the same direction and special values are not needed, a global sign can be used to further enhance use of the available space on the storage medium.


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