US Patent 7574428 Geometry-based search engine for navigation systems

A computer-implemented method for determining a requested map location includes providing a database holding a plurality of map objects having respective descriptors and loci. A search query including one or more query terms that describe the requested map location is accepted. One or more matched map objects are identified in the database such that the respective descriptors of the matched map objects each match at least one of the query terms. The respective loci of the matched map objects are processed to determine the requested map location.