초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of viewing map data in a computer-implemented geographic information system, comprising the steps of:retrieving a map window file from a data storage device coupled to a computer, the map window file containing map definition information that identifies vector-ba

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of viewing map data in a computer-implemented geographic information system, comprising the steps of:retrieving a map window file from a data storage device coupled to a computer, the map window file containing map definition information that identifies vector-based map data used to generate a map picture, the vector-based map data being comprised of primitives that define map objects, each map object defining one or more components of the map picture;generating an initial map picture Faith vector-based map data identified by the map definition information;displaying the generated initial map picture on a display device coupled to a computer;receiving a request for additional information for the displayed initial map picture;determining a location of the vector-based map data required to satisfy the received request by obtaining map definition information from the map window file;retrieving the additional vector-based map data from a data storage device on a computer;generating a new map picture based on the retrieved vector-based map data; anddisplaying the generated new map picture on the display device coupled to a computer.