Web imaging serving technology

摘要

Disclosed is a method for displaying sections of large images such as maps. A grid is placed over an image database that references the various files contained in the database. When an area is identified for a query, the cells of the grid refer only to those files to be searched that pertain directly to the query. Further, the grid reference system also allows panning and zooming of the image to be dynamic and virtually instantaneous without limitation to the bandwidth of an Internet connection.