SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING DIGITAL MAP INFORMATION USING DISPLAYABLE MAP INFORMATION AS AN INTERMEDIARY
First Claim
1. A system for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary, comprising:
- a set of map data that corresponds to a digital map, and having a first map format associated therewith;
a first map legend that is associated with the first map format and that links displayable map item types in the first map format to a universal display format;
a second map legend that is associated with a second map format and that links displayable map item types in the second map format to a universal display format;
a legend index that links map item types defined by the first map legend with map item types defined by the second map legend;
a display device including a graphical window that can be optionally used to display the digital map in a universal display format; and
a user interface that allows an operator to retrieve and display a digital map having the first map format into the system, and specify the second map format as an output format for some or all of the map data, wherein the system interprets the digital map displayed on the display device in the universal display format, uses the first map legend to select all or a portion of the map as currently displayed on the display device, and uses the second map legend to output that portion of the map in the second map format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary. An embodiment of the present invention is generally related to systems for accessing, displaying, editing and using digital maps. The system can receive data into the viewer application in a first map format and then provide or output that data in a second map format. Different map formats can be interpreted and/or optionally displayed in a universal display format. Depending on the particular embodiment the universal display format can include item coordinates, or higher level descriptions of geometry and topology in the map. In accordance with an embodiment, a map format legend associated with a particular map format can then be used to interpret the universal display format, and output the data into that map format. A plurality of different map legends can be used to allow different map formats to be output. In this manner the system allows for easy and universal converting of map formats.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary, comprising:
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a set of map data that corresponds to a digital map, and having a first map format associated therewith; a first map legend that is associated with the first map format and that links displayable map item types in the first map format to a universal display format; a second map legend that is associated with a second map format and that links displayable map item types in the second map format to a universal display format; a legend index that links map item types defined by the first map legend with map item types defined by the second map legend; a display device including a graphical window that can be optionally used to display the digital map in a universal display format; and a user interface that allows an operator to retrieve and display a digital map having the first map format into the system, and specify the second map format as an output format for some or all of the map data, wherein the system interprets the digital map displayed on the display device in the universal display format, uses the first map legend to select all or a portion of the map as currently displayed on the display device, and uses the second map legend to output that portion of the map in the second map format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of map format and data conversion using displayable map information as an intermediary, comprising the steps of:
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providing a set of map data that corresponds to a digital map, and having a first map format associated therewith; providing a first map legend that is associated with the first map format and that links displayable map item types in the first map format to a universal display format; providing a second map legend that is associated with a second map format and that links displayable map item types in the second map format to a universal display format; providing a legend index that links map item types defined by the first map legend with map item types defined by the second map legend; optionally displaying on a display device including a graphical window the digital map in a universal display format; allowing an operator to retrieve and display a digital map having the first map format into the system, and specify the second map format as an output format for some or all of the map data; and interpreting the digital map displayed on the display device in the universal display format, using the first map legend to select all or a portion of the map as currently displayed on the display device, and using the second map legend to output that portion of the map in the second map format. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification