System and method of overlaying and integrating data with geographic mapping applications
First Claim
1. A system for integrating information with a geographic map comprising:
- a server computer system including;
a database system configured to;
store coordinate and attribute information associated with map objects for a geographic map provided by a mapping system from among a plurality of different mapping systems;
wherein said coordinate information associates said map objects and attribute information with corresponding areas of geographic maps from said different mapping systems;
wherein a geometry of at least one map object includes a polygon that encompasses a plurality of map objects in a corresponding area on said geographic map; and
wherein said associated attribute information for said polygon includes aggregated information indicating attributes of said corresponding area on said geographic map and based on said attribute information of said plurality of map objects encompassed by said polygon; and
an information system to access said database system and retrieve said coordinate and attribute information of map objects in accordance with information requests; and
at least one client computer system in communication with said server computer system via a network and including;
a mapping system interface to communicate with said mapping system over said network and facilitate retrieval and manipulation of said geographic map; and
a user interface configured to;
transmit said information requests to said information system in response to user actions;
display said geographic map from said mapping system;
dynamically render one or more vector-based map layers for said geographic map, wherein said map layers include said map objects and corresponding attribute information and are dynamically rendered based on geometrical formulas and said retrieved coordinate information for said map objects from said information system, and wherein said map layers are compatible with geographic maps from said different mapping systems;
overlay said map layers on said geographic map to provide on said displayed geographic map said map objects and corresponding attribute information received from said information system in response to said information requests, wherein each map object of said map layers overlays and corresponds to an area on said geographic map, and wherein at least one overlaid map object and corresponding attribute information include said polygon with said aggregated information for said corresponding area on said geographic map; and
enable said user to define a new map object and indicate a corresponding area on said geographic map.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention embodiments include a geographic overlay system including an information system, a mapping system interface to communicate with a mapping system and a database system including National Census geographic boundaries and data files. The geographic overlay system utilizes a client/server model that streams geographic data from a server system to dynamically render vector-based map layers inside a client browser. The geographic overlay system employs a Nationwide database of Census geographies that may be rendered as interactive point, line or polygon objects over a National base map provided by the mapping system. A database builder interface enables users to build the database and server pages. The present invention embodiments overlay translucent, interactive dynamically generated vector-based polygonal Census boundary map layers over geographical maps from the mapping system. The overlaying vector map layers perform thematic analysis, enable information retrieval, display mouse-over tool-tips and query a dynamic block-level National spatial-relational database.
183 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for integrating information with a geographic map comprising:
-
a server computer system including; a database system configured to; store coordinate and attribute information associated with map objects for a geographic map provided by a mapping system from among a plurality of different mapping systems; wherein said coordinate information associates said map objects and attribute information with corresponding areas of geographic maps from said different mapping systems; wherein a geometry of at least one map object includes a polygon that encompasses a plurality of map objects in a corresponding area on said geographic map; and wherein said associated attribute information for said polygon includes aggregated information indicating attributes of said corresponding area on said geographic map and based on said attribute information of said plurality of map objects encompassed by said polygon; and an information system to access said database system and retrieve said coordinate and attribute information of map objects in accordance with information requests; and at least one client computer system in communication with said server computer system via a network and including; a mapping system interface to communicate with said mapping system over said network and facilitate retrieval and manipulation of said geographic map; and a user interface configured to; transmit said information requests to said information system in response to user actions; display said geographic map from said mapping system; dynamically render one or more vector-based map layers for said geographic map, wherein said map layers include said map objects and corresponding attribute information and are dynamically rendered based on geometrical formulas and said retrieved coordinate information for said map objects from said information system, and wherein said map layers are compatible with geographic maps from said different mapping systems; overlay said map layers on said geographic map to provide on said displayed geographic map said map objects and corresponding attribute information received from said information system in response to said information requests, wherein each map object of said map layers overlays and corresponds to an area on said geographic map, and wherein at least one overlaid map object and corresponding attribute information include said polygon with said aggregated information for said corresponding area on said geographic map; and enable said user to define a new map object and indicate a corresponding area on said geographic map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer-implemented method of integrating information with a geographic map from a mapping system comprising:
-
(a) storing in a database system coordinate and attribute information associated with map objects for a geographic map provided by a mapping system from among a plurality of different mapping systems; wherein said coordinate information associates said map objects and attribute information with corresponding areas of geographic maps from said different mapping systems; wherein a geometry of at least one map object includes a polygon that encompasses a plurality of map objects in a corresponding area on said geographic map; and wherein said associated attribute information for said polygon includes aggregated information indicating attributes of said corresponding area on said geographic map and based on said attribute information of said plurality of map objects encompassed by said polygon; (b) communicating with said mapping system over a network from a client computer system and facilitating retrieval and manipulation of said geographic map; (c) transmitting information requests from said client computer system to a server computer system to access said database system in response to user actions pertaining to said geographic map; (d) accessing said database system from said server computer system and retrieving said coordinate and attribute information of map objects in accordance with said information requests; (e) displaying said geographic map from said mapping system on said client computer system; (f) dynamically rendering one or more vector-based map layers for said geographic map, wherein said map layers include said map objects and corresponding attribute information and are dynamically rendered within said client computer system based on geometrical formulas and said retrieved coordinate information for said map objects from said database system, and wherein said map layers are compatible with geographic maps from said different mapping systems; (g) overlaying said map layers on said geographic map to provide on said displayed geographic map said map objects and corresponding attribute information received from said database system in response to said information requests, wherein each map object of said map layers overlays and corresponds to an area on said geographic map, and wherein at least one overlaid map object and corresponding attribute information include said polygon with said aggregated information for said corresponding area on said geographic map; and (h) enabling said user to define a new map object and indicate a corresponding area on said geographic map. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification