Patent ID: 8306971

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of generating a map view, comprising: accessing a dataset having multiple records and multiple fields; automatically, without user input, identifying at least one of the multiple fields as a geographical field, wherein the identifying includes taking a sample of values in at least one of the multiple fields and verifying that at least a predefined amount of the sample corresponds to geographical areas; determining a level of the geographical field in a geographical hierarchy; automatically, without user input, associating the geographical field with its corresponding level in the geographical hierarchy; automatically, without user input, associating geographical coordinates with values of the geographical field; and generating a geographical map for the dataset, including generating a first plurality of marks on the geographical map, wherein respective marks in the first plurality of marks are positioned on the geographical map in accordance with the geographical coordinates associated with the values and a level of detail corresponding to the level in the geographical hierarchy of the geographical field, wherein the level of detail is selected by a user.