Vector-based geographic data

A computer-implemented geographic information system comprising:

• a computer having a memory;
• a map window file stored in the memory, wherein:
• (a) the map window file describes a map picture and contains information required to generate and display the map picture;
• (b) the map window file contains map definition information that comprises:
• (i) a map window information stream that comprises information that describes a map window;
• (ii) a map layer storage comprising information about a map layer;
• (iii) a reports storage comprising a definition of a report that can be generated;
• (iv) a zoom goto storage providing one or more categories of areas to which a user can zoom;
• and
• (v) a pop-up menu stream comprising a definition of a pop-up menu that can be displayed over the map picture.

A method of representing a map in a computer-implemented geographic information method comprising:

• (a) creating a map window file, wherein:
• (i) the map window file defines a map picture;
• (ii) the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector based map data to be used to generate the map picture;
• (iii) the vector-based map data is comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects;
• and
• (iv) each map object defines one or more components of the map picture;
• (b) storing the map window file.

A method for representing a map in a geographic information system comprising:

• (a) creating a map window file, wherein:
• (i) the map window file describes a map picture and contains information required to generate and display the map picture;
• (ii) the map window file contains map definition information that comprises:
• (1) a map window information stream that comprises information that describes a map window;
• (2) a map layer storage comprising information about a map layer;
• (3) a reports storage comprising a definition of a report that can be generated;
• (4) a zoom goto storage providing one or more categories of areas to which a user can zoom;
• and
• (5) a pop-up menu stream comprising a definition of a pop-up menu that can be displayed over the map picture;
• (b) storing the map window file.

An article of manufacture embodying logic that causes a computer-implemented geographic information article of manufacture to define a map picture, wherein the logic comprises:

• (a) creating a map window file stored in the memory, wherein:
• (i) the map window file defines a map picture;
• (ii) the map window file contains map definition information that identifies a location of vector based map data to be used to generate the map picture;
• (iii) the vector-based map data is comprised of primitives that define one or more map objects;
• and
• (iv) each map object defines one or more components of the map picture;
• (b) storing the map window file.

An article of manufacture embodying logic that causes a computer-implemented geographic information article of manufacture to define a map picture, wherein the logic comprises:

• (a) creating a map window file, wherein:
• (i) the map window file describes a map picture and contains information required to generate and display the map picture;
• (ii) the map window file contains map definition information that comprises:
• (1) a map window information stream that comprises information that describes a map window;
• (2) a map layer storage comprising information about a map layer;
• (3) a reports storage comprising a definition of a report that can be generated;
• (4) a zoom goto storage providing one or more categories of areas to which a user can zoom;
• and
• (5) a pop-up menu stream comprising a definition of a pop-up menu that can be displayed over the map picture;
• and
• (b) storing the map window file.