McLean, Virginia - October 11, 2011 - Geographic Services, Inc. a leading provider of geospatial, linguistics and socio-cultural data solutions, today announced that it was granted a new patent by the United States patent and Trademark Office: U.S. Patent # 8,015,196, GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE NAME SEARCH SYSTEM.

This patent, describes a method for performing intelligent searches for geographic names and other data utilizing a combined fuzzy-logic/phonetic search as well as linguistic principles and allowing the user to select various search criteria is disclosed.

This is GSI's first issued patented on phonetic normalization. It allows normalization of words and phrases for search and discovery in foreign languages. In short, phonetic normalization is the breaking down of words or phrases into phonetic parts to allow searches against lists of words or phrases that have similar phonetic structures. It allows a "fuzzy" search that bypasses spelling inconsistencies. It is especially useful for languages with non-Roman alphabets where transliteration into Roman script introduces spelling ambiguity. The patent is incorporated into GSI's DataFlex tool.

"This patented technology will simplify search and discovery for names both English and non-English text eliminating the need for spelling accuracy or language expertise," said Keyvan Rafei, GSI's President & CEO.



About Geographic Services, Inc.

Founded in 2002, GSI is a leading supplier of linguistic and culturally based GIS analysis. We provide geodatabase development, feature extraction, socio-cultural data, geographic names and other geo-linguistic analysis. We offer innovative solutions for the military, defense intelligence community and commercial entities with customized data products and software such as our Patented geodatabase search engine, "DataFlex".