How to Map Physical Locations to Human-Friendly Web Addresses
A system that assigns easy-to-read web domain names to specific geographic areas on a map, making it easier to search, own, and trade location-based digital data.
Original patent title: “System and method for location domain name service”
A system that assigns easy-to-read web domain names to specific geographic areas on a map, making it easier to search, own, and trade location-based digital data. Granted to Unl Network BV in 2025 with 23 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system creates a bridge between complex geographic coordinates and simple web addresses. It takes groups of pixels on a map—represented by technical 'geohashes'—and assigns them a human-readable domain name, like 'park.city'. It uses a hierarchical structure where sub-domains represent smaller areas within a larger location cluster. The system also includes a compression method to store these large lists of geographic data efficiently and uses blockchain technology to ensure that each domain name is unique and can be legally owned or traded.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover traditional GPS navigation systems that do not use a domain-name-based hierarchy.
- Does not cover raw geohashing techniques that lack the specific hierarchical domain-name mapping described.
- Does not cover general-purpose blockchain smart contracts that are not specifically tied to location-based domain mapping.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system treats geographic space like a website URL structure, allowing developers to use familiar DNS-style logic to query and manage physical locations, while using blockchain to solve the 'who owns this square of land' problem.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Digital real estate platforms
Location-based augmented reality games
Decentralized mapping services
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As digital maps become more interactive and tied to virtual economies, finding a way to 'own' or easily reference a piece of the real world is becoming a business priority. This patent provides a framework for creating a decentralized registry for physical space, which is essential for companies building location-based augmented reality or digital real estate platforms.
Filed
February 14, 2023
Granted
May 13, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology is being explored by companies in the Web3 and geospatial data sectors, particularly those focused on decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and digital twins. Unl Network BV, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing these location-based naming services.
Market impact
This patent seeks to standardize how we reference physical locations in digital systems, potentially creating a new market for 'location assets.' By linking real-world coordinates to blockchain-verified domains, it enables a new category of location-based commerce and digital property rights that were previously difficult to manage at scale.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system creates a bridge between complex geographic coordinates and simple web addresses. It takes groups of pixels on a map—represented by technical 'geohashes'—and assigns them a human-readable domain name, like 'park.city'. It uses a hierarchical structure where sub-domains represent smaller areas within a larger location cluster. The system also includes a compression method to store these large lists of geographic data efficiently and uses blockchain technology to ensure that each domain name is unique and can be legally owned or traded.
The clever bit
The system treats geographic space like a website URL structure, allowing developers to use familiar DNS-style logic to query and manage physical locations, while using blockchain to solve the 'who owns this square of land' problem.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover traditional GPS navigation systems that do not use a domain-name-based hierarchy.
- Does not cover raw geohashing techniques that lack the specific hierarchical domain-name mapping described.
- Does not cover general-purpose blockchain smart contracts that are not specifically tied to location-based domain mapping.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$37K – $120K
Midpoint $75K · 16.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Heijden, X. V. D., Ozel, B., & Turan, E. (2025). How to Map Physical Locations to Human-Friendly Web Addresses (U.S. Patent No. 12,299,012). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12299012/superdraco-engines
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12299012"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Software & Internet
US 4405829 · 1983 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
US 6285999 · 2001 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How Websites Get Ranked by Importance
US 5960411 · 1999 · Amazon com Inc
How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases
US 7669123 · 2010 · Facebook Inc
Displaying Friends' Activities in a Social Network Feed
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Map Physical Locations to Human-Friendly Web Addresses cover?
A system that assigns easy-to-read web domain names to specific geographic areas on a map, making it easier to search, own, and trade location-based digital data.
Who owns patent US 12299012?
Unl Network BV owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 13, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
As digital maps become more interactive and tied to virtual economies, finding a way to 'own' or easily reference a piece of the real world is becoming a business priority. This patent provides a framework for creating a decentralized registry for physical space, which is essential for companies building location-based augmented reality or digital real estate platforms.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover traditional GPS navigation systems that do not use a domain-name-based hierarchy.
Patent monitoring