Vector-based geographic data

• US 6,337,693 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Bux, Osman Hamid, Robinson, Kevin Glen, Roy, Gregory Andrew, Munro, Roderick Gaetan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/411,506
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/433, 345/619, 345/733, 345/734, 345/744
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented geographic information system that enables viewing a map picture that is generated from vector-based data. Map pictures can be generated with vector-based data. Map pictures created with vector-based data can be viewed. Additionally, map pictures are comprised of map objects, such as states and cities. Map objects can be chosen to obtain additional information, for example, a different map picture. Additionally, areas of the map picture can be zoomed in on to view the areas with greater resolution or to obtain additional data about the areas. Furthermore, when a user requests to view a map picture, only the map data required to respond to the user'"'"'s request is downloaded to generate a map picture. As a user makes additional requests for information, additional map data is downloaded and new map pictures generated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented geographic information system comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for accessing a map window file that defines a map picture on a computer, wherein the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector-based map data used to generate the map picture, the vector-based map data is comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects, and each map object defines one or more components of the map picture;

(c) means, performed by the computer, for generating a map picture from the vector-based map data identified by the map definition information; and

(d) means, performed by the computer, for providing the generated map picture for display on a display device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the map definition information identifies one or more map layers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each map layer identifies a grouping of map objects, and the map objects are graphical entities.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the map layer is a static map layer and the vector-based map data is embedded in the map window file.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and a location where the vector-based map data is stored is identified in the map window file.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and the vector-based map data is stored in a spatial data format (SDF) file at one or more servers.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the map window file is stored on a first server, and the vector-based map data that is identified by the map definition information is stored on one or more second servers.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a map viewer for viewing the map picture.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the map viewer further comprises:

means for downloading the map window file from a server,

means for reading the map definition information in the map window file to identify the map layers identifying the vector-based map data needed to generate the map picture;

means for downloading the vector-based map data from a server to generate the map picture when the map definition information identifies the location where the vector-based map data is stored;

means for providing the generated map picture for display on a display device; and

means for downloading additional vector-based map data identified in the map window file from a server as requests for additional information for the map picture are made.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a map author for defining the map picture.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the map author is used to create the map window files that contain the map definition information.

12. A method of operating a computer-implemented geographic information system, comprising the steps of:

(a) accessing a map window file that defines a map picture on a computer, wherein the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector-based map data used to generate the map picture, the vector-based map data is comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects, and each map object defines one or more components of the map picture;

(b) generating a map picture from the vector-based map data identified by the map definition information; and

(c) providing the generated map picture for display on a display device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the map definition information identifies one or more map layers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each map layer identifies a grouping of map objects, and the map objects are graphical entities.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the map layer is a static map layer and the vector-based map data is embedded in the map window file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and a location where the vector-based map data is stored is identified in the map window file.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and the vector-based map data is stored in a spatial data format (SDF) file at one or more servers.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the map window file is stored on a first server, and the vector-based map data that is identified by the map definition information is stored on one or more second servers.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising viewing the map picture using a map viewer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

downloading the map window file from a server,

reading the map definition information in the map window file to identify the map layers identifying the vector-based map data needed to generate the map picture;

downloading the vector-based map data from a server to generate the map picture when the map definition information identifies the location where the vector-based map data is stored;

providing the generated map picture for display on a display device; and

downloading additional vector-based map data identified in the map window file from a server as requests for additional information for the map picture are made.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising defining the map picture using a map author.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the map author is used to create the map window files that contain the map definition information.

31. The article of claim 19, further comprising:

downloading the map window file from a server,

reading the map definition information in the map window file to identify the map layers identifying the vector-based map data needed to generate the map picture;

downloading the vector-based map data from the specified map server to generate the map picture when the map definition information identifies the location of the vector-based map data;

providing the generated map picture for display on a display device; and

downloading additional vector-based map data identified in the map window file from a map server as requests for additional information for the map picture are made.

23. An article of manufacture embodying logic that causes a computer-implemented geographic information system to perform the following steps:

(a) accessing a map window file that defines a map picture on a computer, wherein the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector-based map data used to generate the map picture, the vector-based map data is comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects, and each map object defines one or more components of the map picture;

(b) generating a map picture from the vector-based map data identified by the map definition information; and

(c) providing the generated map picture for display on a display device.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein the map definition information identifies one or more map layers.

25. The article of claim 24, wherein each map layer identifies a grouping of map objects, and the map objects are graphical entities.

26. The article of claim 24, wherein the map layer is a static map layer and the vector-based map data is embedded in the map window file.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and a location where the vector-based map data is stored is identified in the map window file.

28. The article of claim 26, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and the vector-based map data is stored in a spatial data format (SDF) file at one or more servers.

29. The article of claim 24, wherein the map window file is stored on a first server, and the vector-based map data that is identified by the map definition information is stored on one or more second servers.

30. The article of claim 24, further comprising viewing the map picture using a map viewer.

32. The article of claim 24, further comprising defining the map picture using a map author.

33. The article of claim 32, wherein the map author is used to create the map window files that contain the map definition information.

34. A memory for storing a data structure accessed by a computer-implemented geographic information system, the data structure including a map window file that defines a map picture wherein the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector-based map data used to generate the map picture in the computer-implemented geographic information system, the vector-based map data being comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects, and each map object defining one or more components of the map picture, wherein a map picture is generated from the vector-based map data identified by the map definition information, and the generated map picture is provided for display on a display device.

35. The memory of claim 34, wherein the map definition information identifies one or more map layers.

36. The memory of claim 35, wherein each map layer identifies a grouping of map objects, and the map objects are graphical entities.

37. The memory of claim 35, wherein the map layer is a static map layer and the vector-based map data is embedded in the map window file.

38. The memory of claim 37, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and a location where the vector-based map data is stored is identified in the map window file.

39. The memory of claim 35, wherein the map layer is a dynamic map layer and the vector-based map data is stored in a spatial data format (SDF) file at one or more servers.

40. The memory of claim 35, wherein the map window file is stored on a first server, and the vector-based map data that is identified by the map definition information is stored on one or more second servers.