Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating aggregate data geospatial grid cells for encoding in vector tiles are described. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a subset of finest-resolution geospatial grid cells contained by a vector tile in a set of finest-resolution geospatial grid cells and their associated aggregate data values; selecting a cell resolution level based on a zoom level of the vector tile; generating a new geospatial grid cell at the cell resolution level based on cell IDs of the subset of finest-resolution cells; generating a total aggregate data value for the new cell based on associated aggregate data values of the subset of finest-resolution cells; encoding the new cell and total aggregate data value in the vector tile; and transmitting the encoded vector tile to a client to cause the vector tile and the new cell to be displayed.

Abstract: Computerized systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating virtual map tiles according to an ad hoc specification are described. In one embodiment, a method includes defining, in response to receiving a request through an interface of a map server, virtual map tiles according to an ad hoc specification. The ad hoc specification indicates characteristics of the virtual map tiles including at least a format and map content of the virtual map tiles. The method includes computing the virtual map tiles from at least the map content specified by the ad hoc specification and according to the format indicated by the ad hoc specification. Computing the virtual map tiles includes computing the virtual map tiles in response to receiving the request. The method includes transmitting the virtual map tiles to a client device to cause the viewable region of the electronic map to be displayed on the client device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically updating a map cache are described. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a modification to a spatial database record having a geometry attribute and recording, in a log table, an identifier for the record that was modified. The method includes periodically accessing the log table to identify map tiles that include at least one geometry of records that have been modified and periodically generating the identified map tiles. The generated map tiles are stored in a map cache.

Abstract: Computerized systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating virtual map tiles according to an ad hoc specification are described. In one embodiment, a method includes defining, in response to receiving a request through an interface of a map server, virtual map tiles according to an ad hoc specification. The ad hoc specification indicates characteristics of the virtual map tiles including at least a format and map content of the virtual map tiles. The method includes computing the virtual map tiles from at least the map content specified by the ad hoc specification and according to the format indicated by the ad hoc specification. Computing the virtual map tiles includes computing the virtual map tiles in response to receiving the request. The method includes transmitting the virtual map tiles to a client device to cause the viewable region of the electronic map to be displayed on the client device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically updating a map cache are described. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a modification to a spatial database record having a geometry attribute and recording, in a log table, an identifier for the record that was modified. The method includes periodically accessing the log table to identify map tiles that include at least one geometry of records that have been modified and periodically generating the identified map tiles. The generated map tiles are stored in a map cache.

Abstract: A geographic data relational database and a spatial library of routines that access and analyze spatial data are used to convert an identified location to a set of geographic coordinate pairs. A geocoder engine applies the spatial library routines to the geographic data in the relational database, and based on the identified location and a set of matching rules, produces the set of geographic coordinates. The geographic data may be derived from multiple sources. The rules may specify, for example, that only geographic coordinates corresponding to an exact match of the identified location are to be returned, or that matching of certain attributes may be relaxed. The identified location may be, for example, the intersection of two streets, an address, a postal area code such as a zip code.

Abstract: Business directory services allow definitions of custom category hierarchies and different search methods, such as, for example, search by location, distance from an addressable location, partial or complete business name, and category. A stepwise refinement search interface provides capability for searching within search results using different search methods or categories. Thus, a user does not have to refine and re-enter search criteria in order to get a progressively selective search. This is particularly useful for mobile phone or hand-held device users who would prefer not to have to re-enter the criteria on each search but rather incrementally refine the search criteria.

Abstract: Business directory services allow definitions of custom category hierarchies and different search methods, such as, for example, search by location, distance from an addressable location, partial or complete business name, and category. A stepwise refinement search interface provides capability for searching within search results using different search methods or categories. Thus, a user does not have to refine and re-enter search criteria in order to get a progressively selective search. This is particularly useful for mobile phone or hand-held device users who would prefer not to have to re-enter the criteria on each search but rather incrementally refine the search criteria.