Patent ID: 8078641

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of determining and utilizing an average density of a query region of a map, comprising: determining, using a computing device, one or more nodes of a quad tree applied to the map with which the query region intersects; calculating, using the computing device, a cumulative data size of the query region based on a data size of the one or more intersecting nodes; wherein calculating the cumulative data size comprises: adjusting the cumulative data size of the query region by an amount corresponding to a data size of at least one node enclosed by the query region; and adjusting the cumulative data size of the query region by an amount corresponding to a data size of a portion of the one or more intersecting nodes within the query region; determining, using the computing device, the average density of the query region based on a query region area and the cumulative data size; and automatically adjusting at least one of a detail level and a layer visibility of the query region of the map from corresponding to the average density to corresponding to a predetermined density while maintaining a zoom level of the map in order to maintain a quantity of features displayed on the map between a predetermined minimum density threshold and a predetermined maximum density threshold.