PanoMap Sues Apple, Google over StreetView-type Map Display Patent

PanoMap, based in Florida, filed a patent infringement case against Apple and Google last week.  It's really about the display of data, not the capture and thus the allegations are against big users of these types of display.

The patent, US No. 6,563,529, was filed back in 1999 and issued in 2003. There are a total of 28 claims in the patent, but the broadest of them essentially cover a mapping system that displays a wide map view in combination with a more detailed view of location specifics. The claims also require synchronization of the two views. 

New Geo APIs - 2/28/12

Bing Maps Geocode Dataflow API: The Geocode Dataflow API is a component of the Bing Spatial Data Services. The API is used to geocode and reverse-geocode large sets of spatial data. Additional functionality includes creating a job to geocode and reverse-geocode the data, upload data and get the status of a geocode job. The API uses RESTful calls and responses are formatted in XML, JSON, TXT and CSV.

Geo3DModelService API: The Geo3DModelService API, available via SOAP or REST protocols, is a program for generating cross-sectional models of subterranean conditions using geologic data. Users can create models of vertical or horizontal cross-sections with an accompanying key to make the generated map's meaning explicit.

Make The Change API: The service provides access to Canadian community data by mapping postal coded to electoral district identifier, which is the key to mapping districts, or "ridings," and giving access to demographic data. Initially limited to data about federal parliamentary districts in Canada, plans include access to value-added local data to support effective activism in elections.

 

EyeEm API: EyeEm is a photo-sharing and discovery app that allows users to connect through their photos. EyeEm categorizes photos by subject and location, and take the data from a user's own photos to recommend albums of similar photos of friends and like-minded people.

GSMA OneAPI Location API: The GSMA is an association of mobile operators worldwide. Representing more than 800 mobile operators in more than 220 countries, the GSMA supports the standardizing, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.

The GSMA OneAPI is a set of APIs that expose network capabilities over HTTP. The OneAPI location interface allows a Web application to query the location of one or more mobile devices that are connected to a mobile operator network. It uses both REST and SOAP protocola with responses in XML and JSON.

Locaid API: Locaid is the world's largest location-enabling mobile transaction platform. Locaid specializes in location-enabled business applications, services and systems and integrating location feeds into back office systems and databases.

The Locaid API allows developers to integrate location services for uses such as validating legitimate credit card purchases and detecting fraud, automating timesheets for offsite employees, alerting workers to day jobs or tracking assets. The API uses SOAP protocol and responses are formatted in XML.

OpenHazards GetEarthquakeProbability API: The service gathers data from multiple sensor networks and public reports to generate forecasts of earthquake and seismic hazards. It does not aim to predict specific events but rather to generate probabilistic forecasts of risk based on event probability and likely damage, should those events occur. Its goal is to aid in preparation for natural catastrophes that can be anticipated.

API methods support submission of a location for which to generate a forecast along with a radius around that point, a timeframe, and a magnitude threshold. The service returns a forecast of the hazard that an earthquake above the stated threshold will occur within the radius around the stated location within the timeframe specified.

OpenPaths API: OpenPaths is an application that allows users to manage their personal location information. Users can track where they have been, visualize their locations, and share their data on the OpenPaths website.

The OpenPaths API allows developers to access and integrate the functionality and data of OpenPaths with other applications and to create new applications. API methods include posting and retrieving user data.

Pulsepoint API: The service creates a registry of people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) who are willing to assist victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) near their locations. Members of the registry create entries indicating their willingness to respond and provide contact information. The service accepts notification from a participating agency of a cardiac emergency and contacts registry members near the location.

API methods support creation and tracking of incidents, including notifying agency, time, location, and type of incident. Methods also support designation of medical status of the victim and call status from the responding agency.

SideBuy API: Sidebuy is a daily deal and coupons aggregator that collects all deals from group buying websites and local stores and categorizes them.

Sidebuy API allows you to use Sidebuy's databases in order to display local deals, online deals, travel deals and coupons in your application or website. Deals can be filtered using their categories, prices, savings, locations, keywords and more.

The API uses REST protocol and responses are formatted in XML and JSON. This API is not branded and there is no daily limit for API calls.

Tax Data Service API: The service provides sales and use tax rates by location within the United States and Canada. A list of taxing jurisdictions with authority in a location may also be generated.

World Bank Climate API: The World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal offers information, reports, and data about climate and climate change.

The World Bank Climate API allows developers to access and integrate the data from the Climate Change Knowledge Portal with other applications and to create new applications. Some example API methods include searching and returning climate data points, such as average temperatures and rainfalls and changes in averages and by countries.

API methods accept submission of a five-digit U.S. ZIP code or an abbreviation specifying a Canadian province, then return current sales and use tax rates. If the submitted ZIP code or province matches multiple city/county combinations, multiple sets of data cover each of the taxing jurisdictions.

- Programmable Web

Honolulu Mayor Cites Open Data and Hacking State of the City and other Government GIS News

Here are the geo "money quotes" from Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle's 2012 State of the City Address:

CAN-DO.Honolulu.gov was created last year to provide access to government data in a searchable, downloadable, useable format – all without cost to the public.

A new part of the website provides applications, or ‘apps’, developed by both private citizens and city employees. So far twelve apps have been released this last year.

Recent City Camp and the Hackathon brainstorming sessions focused on advancing innovation and transparency in our government.  Two new apps will be released by the end of April that will show people where the nearest bus stop is located and when to expect the next bus.

The city has been working to make more of its massive datasets freely available, and a ‘GIS Guide for Honolulu Hackers’ was published just in time for the Hackathon.

Together, these events have laid the groundwork for Honolulu’s participation in Code-for-America 2012.  I want to thank the three fellows attending today for their commitment to building a smart city that engages its citizens.

The end result is to make Honolulu more open, participatory and efficient.

- Hawaii Reporter

Chelmsford, MA is looking to add land into its conservation area.

“In three instances when we did a search of the property, we discovered that an abutter was using a portion of the land for things like a driveway, shed or cleared land,” [consesrvationcommission chairman Dave] McLachlan said. “As a Commission we did not want to take control of any parcel where there was an encroachment and then have to engage in a discussion with the abutter to remove the encroachment.”

 

The town engineer will visit each site to confirm the violations, which were first spotted using the town’s GIS mapping system.

- Wicked Local

“Think of a layer as a layer cake. You can put one layer on top of the other. It is almost like Google where you can add on business data and all types of information. In our case it is parcel, zoning, and land use,” said Dom Elefante, NJMC Geographic Information Systems Administrator.

He's speaking about additional layers added to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) GIS - which serves 14 communities.

- Hudson Reporter

Gartner Adds Companies with Location Intelligence Capabilities to BI Magic Quadrant

Gartner, the market research firm, released its report (registration may be required to download) on companies reviewed for its "magic quadrant," a chart showing the leading players in business intelligence software solutions. Making the grade were companies with location intelligent functionality. Most companies in the report use location as an adjunct to their reporting capabilities while only one, Alteryx, truly relies on its geospatial roots to leverage location-based data in a more significant way. Others, however, use maps for primarily visualization rather than analytics. Here is a synopsis of each with both Gartner's analysis and my take on where they fit in the quadrant.

Continue reading...

Pinwheel offers Virtual Notes on the Landscape and other LBS News

Flickr and Hunch co-founder, Caterina Fake, has launched a new online venture called Pinwheel where users can leave virtual notes pinned on a map. This location-based startup idea is still currently in invite-only private beta mode, but has already generated a lot of buzz online. 

The potential difference between this and all the others just like it? Big name behind it.

- PSFK

Geoloqi, a powerful platform for next-generation location based services, officially launches today along with its language agnostic SDK for iOS and Android, and proprietary API. Geoloqi offers a complete stack of geolocation tools, including geo-fencing, messaging, security and analytics, that empowers the enterprise, government and developers to unlock the full potential of real-time location-based services and easily layer geolocation onto any device or application.

- press release

SpatialMatch.com, an overlay technology that can be embedded on an agent's website or perhaps on an entire multiple listing service, enables buyers to pursue properties using any number of lifestyle criteria. That's over and above the usual number of bedrooms and bathrooms and price, the benchmarks on which most people base their searches. ...

At CheckYourLandlord.com, potential renters can guard against dealing with shaky "accidental" landlords who turn to renting because they can't sell their underwater properties. Even though the owners are collecting rent, they sometimes can't keep up with their house payments and lose their properties to foreclosure.

For free, a renter can limit his or her risk by using the website to search databases to determine whether any notices of default have been filed against the property. Of course, there's no guarantee that the landlord won't run into financial difficulty after the place is rented. But at least you'll be warned before you sign a lease if he's already in trouble.

For $28 you can learn if the landlord owns the property, has filed for bankruptcy or other off-putting circumstances.

- LA Times

A recent ruling on GPS tracking has prompted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to turn off about 3,000 tracking devices, says FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann. The Supreme Court ruling on US v. Jones, which found that placing a GPS tracker without a warrant constituted an illegal search, has apparently caused a "sea change" in the Bureau, leading it to draft broader guidelines for both GPS device use and related questions regarding the right to privacy.

- The Verge