System and method for providing traversable connectivity between map files

Abstract

A method and system for creating and/or using a universal location referencing object (ULRO) with electronic files including electronic maps. ULROs establish traversable links between a file-of-reference and third-party-files. In accordance with an embodiment, the ULRO comprises a universal location referencing code uniquely corresponding to the location, together with several optional components, including: a set of name information; a super-set of coordinates; a file-of-reference pointer field comprising a file-of-reference pointer; a third-party-file pointer field comprising one or more third-party-file pointers; a file-of-reference back-pointer field comprising a file-of-reference back-pointer; a third-party-file back-pointer field comprising one or more third-party-file back-pointers; and a metadata field. ULROs allow recognition of equivalence of features in different maps, and facilitate dynamic combination or linking of multiple maps into one virtual map, with traversable connectivity for a wide variety of map formats.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A system for providing traversable connectivity between a plurality of maps, said maps comprising information on geographic items associated with a location in the real world, said system comprising:
 a data object;   a logic that in response to a user request
 accesses a file-of-reference comprising information about geographic items associated with a location; and 
 assigns the data object to the geographic item, 
   wherein the data object is used to provide traversable connectivity to both a third-party file comprising other information about the geographic items and the file-of-reference.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the user request is received from an operator. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the user request is received automatically from another system without the input of an operator. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the data object is created only at the time of receiving the request. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the logic further determines which of a plurality of data objects in the system are associated with the same particular location. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system further comprises an application programming interface that allows software developers to create relationships between the file-of-reference and one or more third-party file. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system is incorporated into a cell phone or PDA-based navigation system. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system is used to provide a driving/traffic conditions update to an end user, operator, or system. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the associating is performed by establishing a traversable link between the file-of-reference and a third-party file for the particular location. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the file-of-reference and the third-party-file are one or more of a map, document, or database that contains geographic information for multiple locations. 
   
   
       31 . A method for providing traversable connectivity between a plurality of maps, said maps comprising information on geographic items associated with a location in the real world, said method comprising:
 in response to a user request, accessing a file-of-reference comprising information about geographic items associated with a location; and   assigning a data object to the geographic item, wherein the data object is then used to provide traversable connectivity to both a third-party file comprising other information about the geographic items and the file-of-reference.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the user request is received from an operator. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the user request is received automatically from another system without the input of an operator. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the data object is created only at the time of receiving the request. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the logic further determines which of a plurality of data objects in the system are associated with the same particular location. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the system further comprises an application programming interface that allows software developers to create relationships between the file-of-reference and one or more third-party file. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the system is incorporated into a cell phone or PDA-based navigation system. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the system is used to provide a driving/traffic conditions update to an end user, operator, or system. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the associating is performed by establishing a traversable link between the file-of-reference and a third-party file for the particular location. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the file-of-reference and the third-party-file are one or more of a map, document, or database that contains geographic information for multiple locations.