Markup Language Data Structure for Consistent GIS Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geographic information systems (GIS) have limited flexibility and utility, particularly in their search capabilities and data file formats, which restrict their ability to provide consistent visualization across different platforms and render specific styles of data.
Innovation Solution
A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure using markup language elements to describe the display of geographic features, including nested elements for hierarchical relationships and tags for style attributes, enabling flexible and consistent visualization across various clients and platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional GIS data files are used, then data can be stored and retrieved, but the system lacks flexibility in search capabilities and cannot provide consistent visualization across different platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a markup language data file format that serves multiple functions: it stores geographic feature data, defines visualization styles, enables flexible search capabilities, and ensures consistent rendering across different platforms. The standardized format acts as a universal interface that eliminates the need for platform-specific data files while maintaining adaptability for various search and display requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data file structure into distinct markup language elements with hierarchical relationships, where each element represents specific information about geographic features. This segmentation allows the system to process and search for specific types of information independently while maintaining the overall structure, thereby improving search flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional GIS data files are used, then raw data can be provided to mapmakers, but style and rendering information is absent requiring custom maps to be created for each client
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate components (geographic data and style information) into a single integrated markup language data file. By combining feature definitions, visual styles, and rendering instructions into one standardized format, the system eliminates information loss and ensures that all necessary visualization data travels with the geographic features themselves, enabling consistent display across different clients without requiring separate style files or manual customization.
3Ease of operation
If conventional GIS systems are used, then basic data storage is achieved, but user interface functionality and information search capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a markup language data file as an intermediary between the geographic data and the user interface. This intermediary format carries both the geographic feature information and the presentation instructions, allowing the system to maintain a simpler core architecture while providing enhanced user interface capabilities. The markup files act as self-contained packages that bridge the gap between data storage and flexible display requirements without requiring complex system-wide changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. The markup language is used to describe a virtual camera view of a geographic feature. A compressed file format holds multiple files utilized to display a geographic feature in a single file.