Converting a geographic location to a direct marketing area for a query

[direct marketing]

Method and apparatus for converting a geographic location to a direct marketing area for a query

United States Patent 6,970,864

Abstract
A method and system are provided for performing database queries with geographic inputs that are converted to a direct marketing area prior to performing the query. Direct marketing areas define geographic locations as discrete areas of interest that may be more useful than city limits or a specific geographic location (e.g., latitude/longitude). Direct marketing areas are more useful geographic designations for purposes of advertising and marketing. A geographic input, such as a city and state, or a latitude and longitude are converted to a direct marketing area. The direct marketing area is then substituted for the entered geographic parameter (e.g., city and state or latitude and longitude), and the requested database query is performed.