Data processing system using geographical locations

摘要

A data processing system (1,2) stores coordinate data defining a plurality of unique regions (17), for example defined by a cell of a geodesic grid (13) applied to the surface of the earth (12). Each region can be allocated to an owner and there is stored a unique identifier for that region, a hierarchical descriptor for that region, data identifying the owner, and a network address which identifies an owner domain in respect of that region. An owner of a region may sub-allocate sub-regions (18) or objects of an allocated region and there is stored in respect of any sub-region or object that has been sub-allocated by an owner, an identifier and a hierarchical descriptor for that sub-region or object. The data processing system can resolve a descriptor based DNS query specifying a region, or a sub-region, or object of such a region, so as to return data comprising the network address for the owner domain allocated to that region.

主权项

1. A data processing method carried out on a data processing system, the system comprising a processor and a data storage device which stores coordinate data defining a plurality of unique geographical regions, each region being a cell of a geodesic grid applied to the surface of the earth;
wherein each region can be allocated to an owner and the method comprises allocating regions to respective owners and in respect of each allocated region, using the data storage device is configured to store, in respect of an that allocated region, a unique identifier for that region and a hierarchical descriptor for that region, data identifying the owner, and a network address which identifies an owner domain in respect of that region; the method comprises sub-allocation by an owner of an allocated region of at least one of: (i) a sub-region of the allocated region; (ii) an object within the allocated region; (ii) a sub-object of an object within the allocated region; (iv) an object within a sub-region of the allocated region; and (v) a sub-object of an object within a sub-region of the allocated region; wherein regions and sub regions are defined using a grid of top level parent triangles each having a unique identifier, each top level parent triangle being repeatedly sub-divisible into four lower level triangles in a cascading parent/child relationship, wherein each lower level triangle has a unique identifier comprising the unique identifier of its parent triangle and an identifier to distinguish it from the other three children of that parent triangle; the method comprises storing in the data storage, in respect of any sub-allocated sub-region, object or sub-object, an identifier and a hierarchical descriptor for that sub-region, object or sub-object; and wherein the method comprises resolving a descriptor based DNS query specifying a region, so as to return data comprising the network address for the owner domain allocated to that region.