[Linux-aus] Microsoft files new patent (another episode in your favourite "stupid patent" series)

[Arjen Lentz <arjen@mysql.com>]

Stupid patents series 23524 ...

Abstract
Methods are disclosed for encoding latitude/longitude coordinates within 
a URL in a relatively compact form. The method includes converting 
latitude and longitude coordinates from floating-point numbers to 
non-negative integers. A set of base-N string representations are 
generated for the integers (N represents the number of characters in an 
implementation-defined character set being utilized). The latitude 
string and longitude string are then concatenated to yield a single 
output string. The output string is utilized as a geographic indicator 
with a URL.

For the full US patent application text see:

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220050023524%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20050023524&RS=DN/20050023524

Or: http://tinyurl.com/3rz8t



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Arjen Lentz, Community Relations Manager
MySQL AB, www.mysql.com

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