Strategies for Annotating Digital Maps

Abstract

A strategy is described for annotating a digital map. According to one exemplary aspect, the user can link a single uploaded object to multiple locations within a map (or maps) without requiring separate uploading and storing operations such that a single instance of the object is simultaneously linked to each of the multiple locations. Further aspects are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 linking an object to a first location within a map; and   linking the object to a second location within the map, the second location being different from the first location,   wherein a single instance of the object is simultaneously linked to both the first and second locations within the map.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first location comprises a representation of a first geographic location; and   the second location comprises a representation of a second geographic location, different from the first geographic location.   
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the map depicts a spatial organization of features within a physical landscape. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the map depicts a spatial organization of features within a physical setting. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the map depicts an organization of features in a conceptual framework that has no direct physical counterpart. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the object is linked to the first location within the map based on input received through a user interface. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the object is linked to the first location within the map automatically based on data received through an RSS (really simple syndication) feed. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from a group of objects comprising:
 a textual label;   a symbolic label;   a digital picture;   a video file;   an audio file;   a hypertext link;   a text document; and   additional map information.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 linking the object to the first location within the map includes:
 associating the object with the first location; and 
 associating first time data with the object and the first location; 
   linking the object to the second location within the map includes:
 associating the object with the second location; and 
 associating second time data with the object and the second location; and 
   the first time data represents a particular date/time and the second time data represents a different date/time.