Method and apparatus for representing multidimensional data

For a computer system that represents spatial objects by using spatial data tuples, a method of storing spatial data tuples defined in a multidimensional coordinate system, the method comprising:

• a) defining a plurality of regions in the multidimensional coordinate system;
• and
• b) creating a plurality of hierarchical data structures for a plurality of said regions, wherein each hierarchical data structure corresponds to a particular region and stores the spatial data tuples of the spatial objects within said particular region, wherein each spatial data tuple includes a plurality of spatial attributes that are defined in the multidimensional coordinate system wherein the spatial objects are geometric objects.

A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein for enabling a computer to store spatial data tuples defined in a multidimensional coordinate system, wherein the spatial data tuples are the computer decipherable representation of spatial objects, said set of instructions including:

• a) a first set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to define a plurality of regions in the multidimensional coordinate system;
• and
• b) a second set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to create a plurality of hierarchical data structures for a plurality of said regions, wherein each hierarchical data structure corresponds to a particular region and stores the spatial data tuples of the spatial objects within said particular region, wherein each spatial data tuple includes a plurality of spatial attributes that are defined in the multidimensional coordinate system wherein the spatial objects are geometric objects.

A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein for enabling a computer to store multidimensional data tuples defined in a multidimensional data space, said set of instructions including:

• a) a first set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to define a plurality of data regions in the multidimensional data space;
• and
• b) a second set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to create a plurality of hierarchical data structures for a plurality of said data regions, wherein each hierarchical data structure corresponds to a particular data region and stores the multidimensional data tuples that are within said particular data region, wherein each multidimensional data tuple includes a plurality of values, said values specified along a plurality of dimensions wherein the multidimensional data tuples are spatial data that represent spatial data objects.

An apparatus for storing multidimensional data tuples defined in a multidimensional data space, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a means for defining a plurality of data regions in the multidimensional data space;
• and
• b) a means for creating a plurality of hierarchical data structures for a plurality of said data regions, wherein each hierarchical data structure corresponds to a particular data region and stores the multidimensional data tuples that are within said particular data region, wherein each multidimensional data tuple includes a plurality of values, said values specified along a plurality of dimensions wherein the multidimensional data tuples are spatial data that represent spatial data objects.

An apparatus for storing spatial data tuples defined in a multidimensional coordinate system, wherein the spatial data tuples are the computer decipherable representation of spatial objects, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a means for defining a plurality of regions in the multidimensional coordinate system;
• and
• b) a means for creating a plurality of hierarchical data structures for a plurality of said regions, wherein each hierarchical data structure corresponds to a particular region and stores the spatial data tuples of the spatial objects within said particular region, wherein each spatial data tuple includes a plurality of spatial attributes that are defined in the multidimensional coordinate system wherein the spatial objects are geometric objects.