Map viewing, publishing, and provisioning system

• US 20050114354A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Syncline Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Syncline Incorporated
• Inventors: Lieberman, Joshua, Singh, Raj R., Hocherman, Adam B.
• Application Number:
  US11/025,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Map information is stored centrally and used to provide web-based map viewing, publishing, and provisioning services.

Claims

1. A method comprising

at a web server, providing web-based map viewing, publishing, and provisioning services, and

centrally storing map information for use in providing the services.

2. The method of claim 1 also including

receiving from an application server or a mapping server requests associated with the viewing, provisioning, or publishing of maps, and

providing a bridging function that includes reformatting the requests into non-proprietary standardized formats.

3. The method of claim 1 also including

storing the map information in a database,

abstracting the map information to generate metadata that represents the information, and

enabling a mapping application to access the metadata.

4. The method of claim 1 also including

receiving requests that relate to viewing, publishing, or provisioning web-based maps, and

serving the requests at least in part by accessing remote application service provider functions.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the functions include locating addresses or finding shortest paths.

6. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user to upload map data from a client through the Internet to the server for use in executing the publishing and provisioning services.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the uploaded map data is automatically integrated with the stored map information for access by remote viewers.

8. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a web-client to define and build maps and spatial graphics by interaction with the server.

9. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling users to categorize how web-based maps and map layers will appear based on style definitions.

10. The method of claim 1 also including

enforcing levels of security to control access by users to the viewing, publishing, and provisioning services.

11. The method of claim 1 also including

managing access by users to the viewing, publishing, and provisioning services by grouping the users according to their rights to use the respective services.

12. The method of claim 6 also including

guiding the user interactively to define the data sets, select the data files to upload, and initiate the upload.

13. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to preview a map over-the-web prior to provisioning the map.

14. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to publish a map by a single mouse click to initiate publishing at the server.

15. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to define an initial map extent using a web-based interface.

16. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to define visual attributes of a layer.

17. The method of claim 16 also including

providing the user a palette of selections for a layer element property.

18. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to define theming of map and spatial information using a web-based interface.

19. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to incorporate image data into maps using a web-based interface.

20. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user to print electronic maps using a web-based interface.

21. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to define and include map accessory information.

22. The method of claim 1 also including

enabling a user at a client to control the layout of a map and accessory information using an interface layout panel that enables dragging and positioning of components.