Patent ID: 7873697

Claim:
A method for accessing geospatial information in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, the method comprising: receiving a request for a target region of geospatial information at a local peer node connected to the P2P network, the local peer node implemented using a computer system running a peer-to-peer application that allows sharing of geospatial information with a plurality of peer nodes in the P2P network, wherein the request for the target region is associated with a plurality of layers; identifying the plurality of peer nodes in the P2P network having access to geospatial information, wherein the plurality of peer nodes are implemented using a plurality of computer systems running peer-to-peer applications; receiving geospatial information descriptors from the plurality of peer nodes at the local peer node; determining from the geospatial information descriptors that a first region of geospatial information accessible by a first peer node of the plurality of peer nodes at least partially overlaps the target region of geospatial information; obtaining the first region of geospatial information from the first peer node; determining from the geospatial information descriptors that a second region of geospatial information accessible by a second peer node of the plurality of peer nodes at least partially overlaps the target region of geospatial information; obtaining the second region of geospatial information from the second peer node; and combining the first region of geospatial information and the second region of geospatial information to respond to the request for the target region of geospatial information, wherein geospatial information includes one or more of the following geospatial information types: geospatial notes, geospatial features, terrain maps, aerial image, satellite images, nautical charts, street maps, power grid data, transit route maps, and photographs.