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A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device includes storing map data on a server, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference. Upon receiving at the server a request from the client device to p

A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device includes storing map data on a server, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference. Upon receiving at the server a request from the client device to provide a map of an area along a route on which a user of the client device is to travel, a heading of travel of the user on the route is determined, and the vector coordinates are transformed on the server into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading of the user. A portion of the map data corresponding to the area along the route and including the transformed vector coordinates is downloaded to the client device from the server. An image of the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference is rendered on the client device, based on the downloaded map data.

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1. A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:storing map data on a server, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference; receiving at the server a request from the client

1. A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:storing map data on a server, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference; receiving at the server a request from the client device to provide a map of an area along a route on which a user of the client device is to travel; determining a heading of travel of the user on the route; transforming the vector coordinates on the server into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading of the user; downloading to the client device from the server a portion of the map data corresponding to the area along the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates; and rendering on the client device, based on the downloaded map data, an image of the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the portion of the map data comprises defining a bounding box corresponding to the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference, and using the bounding box to crop the map data that are to be downloaded to the client device.3. The method according to claim 2, wherein defining the bounding box in the rotated frame of reference comprises defining a first bounding box, and wherein transforming the vector coordinates comprises defining a second bounding box that contains the first bounding box in the first frame of reference, and rotating the vector coordinates of the objects in the second bounding box before cropping the map data in the rotated frame of reference.4. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the portion of the map data comprises downloading the templates and the map data over a wireless link.5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.6. The method according to claim 4, and comprising downloading an applet from the server to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the map data and rendering the image.7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the objects defined by the map data comprise roads, and wherein the method comprises:finding approximate position coordinates of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device; receiving and correcting the approximate position coordinates in the client device, using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map; and displaying a navigation aid on the image of the area of the map based on the determined location. 8. A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:storing map data on a server, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map; determining a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle; defining a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment; downloading the vector information in the map segments from the server to the client device; and rendering on the client device a succession of images of the map segments as the user travels along the route. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein downloading the vector information comprises downloading the map segments one after another in sequence as the user travels along the route.10. The method according to claim 9, wherein defining the corridor map comprises defining the map segments so that the map segments downloaded in the sequence comprise approximately equal amounts of the data.11. The method according to claim 8, wherein defining the corridor map comprises cropping each of the map segments so as to include within the map segment the features in the map that fall within a predetermined distance of each of the route segments.12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the features included within the map segment comprise crossroads that intersect the route, and wherein rendering the succession of the images comprises, at the client device, detecting a deviation of the user from the route, and responsively to the deviation, displaying a return path to the route on one of the crossroads.13. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining the route comprises:receiving an input at the client device, the input comprising a string of characters entered by the user; conveying the string from the client device to the server; finding one or more destination names in a database accessed by the server, responsively to an approximate match between the string and the destination names; and returning the one or more destination names to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the destination names as the destination. 14. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining the route comprises:receiving an input at the client device indicating a type of point of interest sought by a user of the client device; conveying the indicated type of the point of interest from the client device to the server; identifying names of one or more points of interest of the indicated type in a database accessed by the server; and returning the names of the one or more points of interest to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the points of interest as the destination. 15. The method according to claim 8, wherein downloading the vector information comprises downloading the vector information over a wireless link.16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.17. The method according to claim 15, and comprising downloading an applet from the server to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the vector information and rendering the images.18. The method according to claim 8, and comprising determining a location of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device, and wherein rendering the succession of the images comprises indicating a location of the user on the map segments.19. The method according to claim 18, and comprising, responsively to the location of the user, instructing the user to perform specified maneuvers along the route.20. The method according to claim 19, wherein instructing the user comprises at least one of providing verbal directions to the user and displaying maneuver maps on the client device.21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and wherein downloading the vector information comprises:determining a heading of travel of the user on at least one of the route segments based on the location of the user; transforming on the server the vector coordinates of the features in at least one of the map segments that contains the at least one of the route segments into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading; and downloading to the client device from the server the vector information comprising the transformed vector coordinates of the features in the at least one of the map segments, so that the client device renders an image of the at least one of the map segments in the rotated frame of reference. 22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the features delineated by the map data comprise roads, which comprise the route segments, and wherein determining the location comprises receiving approximate position coordinates from the location providing device, and correcting the approximate position coordinates in the client device using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine the location of the user on one of the roads in one of the map segments.23. The method according to claim 18, and comprising:receiving at the server, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route; submitting a request from the client device to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the user, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user; and determining at the server, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, wherein defining the corridor map comprises modifying the corridor map in response to the modified route. 24. Apparatus for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the apparatus comprising:a memory; and a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference, the server being further adapted to receive a request from the client device to provide a map of an area along a route on which a user of the client device is to travel, to determine a heading of travel of the user on the route, to transform the vector coordinates into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and to download to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to the area along the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates, so as to cause the client device to render, based on the downloaded map data, an image of the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference. 25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the server is adapted to define a bounding box corresponding to the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference, and to use the bounding box to crop the map data that are to be downloaded to the client device.26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the server is adapted to define the bounding box in the rotated frame of reference as a first bounding box, to define a second bounding box that contains the first bounding box in the first frame of reference, and to rotate the vector coordinates of the objects in the second bounding box before cropping the map data in the rotated frame of reference.27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the server is adapted to download the templates and the map data to the client device over a wireless link.28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the server is adapted to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the map data and rendering the image.30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the objects defined by the map data comprise roads, and wherein the applet causes the client device to find approximate position coordinates of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device, to correct the approximate position coordinates in the client device, using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map, and to display a navigation aid on the image of the area of the map based on the determined location.31. Apparatus for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the apparatus comprising:a memory; and a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map, the server being further adapted to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle, and to define a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as a user of the client device travels along the route. 32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to download the map segments one after another in sequence as the user travels along the route.33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the server is adapted to define the map segments so that the map segments downloaded in the sequence comprise approximately equal amounts of the data.34. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to crop each of the map segments so as to include within the map segment the features in the map that fall within a predetermined distance of each of the route segments.35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the features included within the map segment comprise crossroads that intersect the route, and wherein the server is adapted to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to detect a deviation of the user from the route, and responsively to the deviation, to display a return path to the route on one of the crossroads.36. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to receive an input from the client device comprising a string of characters entered by the user, and to find one or more destination names stored in the memory, responsively to an approximate match between the string and the destination names, and to return the one or more destination names to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the destination names as the destination.37. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to receive an input from the client device indicating a type of point of interest sought by a user of the client device, and to identify names of one or more points of interest of the indicated type stored in the memory, and to return the names of the one or more points of interest to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the points of interest as the destination.38. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to download the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the server is adapted to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the vector information and rendering the images.41. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the server is adapted to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to determine a location of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device, and to indicate a location of the user on the map segments.42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the program causes the client device to instruct the user, responsively to the location of the vehicle, to perform specified maneuvers along the route.43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the program causes the client device to perform at least one of providing verbal directions to the user and displaying maneuver maps on the client device.44. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and the server is adapted to determine a heading of travel of the user on at least one of the route segments based on the location of the user, to transform the vector coordinates of the features in at least one of the map segments that contains the at least one of the route segments into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and to download to the client device the vector information comprising the transformed vector coordinates of the features in the at least one of the map segments, so that the client device renders an image of the at least one of the map segments in the rotated frame of reference.45. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the features delineated by the map data comprise roads, which comprise the route segments, and wherein the location providing device provides approximate position coordinates, and wherein the program causes the client device to correct the approximate position coordinates using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine the location of the user on one of the roads in one of the map segments.46. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the server is adapted to receive, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route, and to determine, based on the dynamic information, a modified route to the destination in response to a request from the client device for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the vehicle, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user, the server being further adapted to modify the corridor map in response to the modified route.47. A computer software product for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data in a memory, the map data defining objects appearing in the map and comprising vector coordinates of the objects in a predetermined frame of reference,the instructions further causing the computer, upon receiving a request from the client device to provide a map of an area along a route on which a user of the client device is to travel, to perform the steps of determining a heading of travel of the user on the route, transforming the vector coordinates into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and downloading to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to the area along the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates, so as to cause the client device to render, based on the downloaded map data, an image of the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference. 48. The product according to claim 47, wherein the instructions cause the computer to define a bounding box corresponding to the area of the map in the rotated frame of reference, and to use the bounding box to crop the map data that are to be downloaded to the client device.49. The product according to claim 48, wherein the instructions cause the computer to define the bounding box in the rotated frame of reference as a first bounding box, to define a second bounding box that contains the first bounding box in the first frame of reference, and to rotate the vector coordinates of the objects in the second bounding box before cropping the map data in the rotated frame of reference.50. The product according to claim 47, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the templates and the map data to the client device over a wireless link.51. The product according to claim 50, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the computer over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.52. The product according to claim 50, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the map data and rendering the image.53. The product according to claim 52, wherein the objects defined by the map data comprise roads, and wherein the applet causes the client device to find approximate position coordinates of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device, to correct the approximate position coordinates in the client device, using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map, and to display a navigation aid on the image of the area of the map based on the determined location.54. A computer software product for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data in a memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map, and to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle, and to define a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as a user of the client device travels along the route.55. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the map segments one after another in sequence as the user travels along the route.56. The product according to claim 55, wherein the instructions cause the computer to define the map segments so that the map segments downloaded in the sequence comprise approximately equal amounts of the data.57. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to crop each of the map segments so as to include within the map segment the features in the map that fall within a predetermined distance of each of the route segments.58. The product according to claim 57, wherein the features included within the map segment comprise crossroads that intersect the route, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to detect a deviation of the user from the route, and responsively to the deviation, to display a return path to the route on one of the crossroads.59. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to receive an input from the client device comprising a string of characters entered by the user, and to find one or more destination names stored in the memory, responsively to an approximate match between the string and the destination names, and to return the one or more destination names to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the destination names as the destination.60. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to receive an input from the client device indicating a type of point of interest sought by the user, and to identify names of one or more points of interest of the indicated type stored in the memory, and to return the names of the one or more points of interest to the client device, so as to enable the user to select one of the points of interest as the destination.61. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.62. The product according to claim 61, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the computer over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.63. The product according to claim 61, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the vector information and rendering the images.64. The product according to claim 54, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download a program to the client device, which causes the client device to determine a location of the user using a location providing device associated with the client device, and to indicate a location of the vehicle on the map segments.65. The product according to claim 64, wherein the program causes the client device to instruct the user, responsively to the location of the user, to perform specified maneuvers along the route.66. The product according to claim 65, wherein the program causes the client device to perform at least one of providing verbal directions to the user and displaying maneuver maps on the client device.67. The product according to claim 64, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and the instructions cause the computer to determine a heading of travel of the user on at least one of the route segments based on the location of the user, to transform the vector coordinates of the features in at least one of the map segments that contains the at least one of the route segments into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and to download to the client device the vector information comprising the transformed vector coordinates of the features in the at least one of the map segments, so that the client device renders an image of the at least one of the map segments in the rotated frame of reference.68. The product according to claim 64, wherein the features delineated by the map data comprise roads, which comprise the route segments, and wherein the location providing device provides approximate position coordinates, and wherein the program causes the client device to correct the approximate position coordinates using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine the location of the user on one of the roads in one of the map segments.69. The product according to claim 64, wherein the instructions cause the computer to receive, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route, and to determine, based on the dynamic information, a modified route to the destination in response to a request from the client device for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location of the user, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user, the instructions further causing the computer to modify the corridor map in response to the modified route.70. A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:storing map data on a server, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map; determining a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments; defining a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and comprising crossroads that intersect the respective route segment; downloading the vector information in the map segments from the server to the client device; rendering on the client device a succession of images of the map segments as the user travels along the route; and detecting a deviation of the user from the route, and responsively to the deviation, displaying a return path to the route on one of the crossroads. 71. Apparatus for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the apparatus comprising:a memory; and a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map, the server being further adapted to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to define a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and comprising crossroads that intersect the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as a user of the client device travels along the route, and upon detecting a deviation of the user from the route, to display a return path to the route on one of the crossroads. 72. A computer software product for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data in a memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating features in the map, and to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to define a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and comprising crossroads that intersect the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as a user of the client device travels along the route, and upon detecting a deviation of the user from the route, to display a return path to the route on one of the crossroads.