Patent ID: 7274378

Claim:
A map generation system for creating a printed map, the system comprising: a computer readable memory; a map database that stores map data; a selection routine that, when executed on a processor, enables a user at a user interface to specify a selected map area to be displayed in a printed map which is to be printed using a particular level of geographic detail; a first routine stored on the computer readable memory that, when executed on a processor, accesses the map database to obtain map data pertaining to the selected map area; a second routine stored on the computer readable memory that, when executed on a processor, displays on the user interface a map depicting the selected map area using a first level of geographic detail; and a third routine stored on the computer readable memory that, when executed on a processor, displays on the user interface a portion of the selected map area using a second level of geographic detail without altering the selected map area, the second level of geographic detail including more geographic detail than included in the first level of geographic detail, the second level of geographic detail including the same level of geographic detail as the particular level of geographic detail.