Hybrid graphics for interactive reporting

1. A system, comprising:

a computer comprising a memory, the memory storing instructions for maintaining (a) a first data object for storing a first set of feature data in a first format, the feature data including a plurality of features and the first format including human-readable data, and (b) a second data object for storing a first set of image data in a second format, the second format including computer-readable and not human-readable data, wherein, for each feature in the feature data, the feature data includes an identification of at least one point where the feature is to be overlaid on the image data, said instructions further including instructions to:

include, in a graphical user interface, a display based on at least some of the first set of feature data overlaid on at least some of the first set of image data according at least in part to the identification of the at least one point where each feature is to be overlaid on the image data;

send at least one query;

receive, in response to the at least one query, a second set of data that includes one and only one of (a) a second set of feature data in the first format and not image data in the second format or (b) a second set of image data in the second format and not feature data in the first format, whereby the second set of data includes data for replacing one and only one of (a) at least a portion of the first set of feature data and not any of the first set of image data or (b) at least a portion of the first set of image data and not any of the first set of feature data; and

modify the display based on at least some of the second set of data without modifying any portion of the display based on data not replaced in the second set of data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first format is a vector format and the second format is a bitmap format, the vector format providing for vector data to draw a geometric object and at least one of an event model, a style rule, and a data attribute.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the bitmap format is one of JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

4. The system of claim 1 , the computer further configured to:

refresh the first data object if the second set of data includes the feature data; and

refresh the second data object if the second set of data includes the image data.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a server, said server configured to:

obtain at least one of the feature data and the image data upon receiving the at least one query; and

send the image data and the feature data to the computer.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database for providing at least some of the feature data.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database for providing at least some of the image data.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first database for providing at least some of the feature data and a second database for providing at least some of the image data.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feature data includes at least one of a style rule, an event rule, and a report datum.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image data comprises a representation of at least one of a geographic map and a two-dimensional coordinate system.

11. The system of claim 1 , the computer further comprising a network connection, wherein at least one of the feature data and the image data are received via a network.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a first set of feature data, including human-readable data, from a remote device, the feature data including a plurality of features, wherein, for each feature in the feature data, the feature data includes an identification of a point or points where the feature is to be overlaid on the image data, said instructions further including instructions;

receiving a first set of image data, including data that is computer-readable but not human-readable, from the remote device;

including, in a graphical user interface, a display based on at least some of the first set of feature data overlaid on at least some of the first set of image data according at least in part to the identification of the point or points where each feature is to be overlaid on the image data;

sending a request to the remote device to update one, and not both, of the image data and the feature data;

receiving, responsive to the request, an updated set of data that includes one and only one of (a) a second set of feature data in the first format and not image data in the second format or (b) a second set of image data in the second format and not feature data in the first format, whereby one of the first set of feature data and the first set of image data is updated in response to the request and one of the first set of feature data and the first set of image data is not updated in response to the request; and

modifying the display based on at least some of the updated set of data without modifying any portion of the display based on data not replaced in the second set of data.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feature data is in a vector format and the image data is in a bitmap format, the vector format providing for vector data to draw a geometric object and at least one of an event model a style rule, and a data attribute.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bitmap format is one of JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vector format is according to extensible markup language (XML).

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

sending a second request;

receiving one of a second set of feature data and a second set of image data in response to the second request; and

updating the display with the second set of feature data or the second set of image data in the second format.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feature data includes at least one of a style rule, an event rule, and a report datum.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the image data comprises a representation of at least one of a geographic map and a two-dimensional coordinate system.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one query includes a first sub-query for the feature data and a second sub-query for the image data.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feature data includes at least one feature having an identifier identifying the feature and feature attributes associated with the feature that include report data.

21. The method of claim 20 , the feature also including at least one of styles associated with the feature and events associated with the feature.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first set of image data is provided in a single image file.

23. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-readable code comprising instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a first set of feature data, including human-readable data, from a remote device, the feature data including a plurality of features, wherein, for each feature in the feature data, the feature data includes an identification of a point or points where the feature is to be overlaid on the image data, said instructions further including instructions;

including, in a graphical user interface, a display based on at least some of the first set of feature data overlaid on at least some of the first set of image data according at least in part to the identification of the point or points where each feature is to be overlaid on the image data;

sending a request to the remote device to update one, and not both, of the image data and the feature data;

receiving, responsive to the request, an updated set of data that includes one and only one of (a) a second set of feature data in the first format and not image data in the second format or (b) a second set of image data in the second format and not feature data in the first format, whereby one of the first set of feature data and the first set of image data is updated in response to the request and one of the first set of feature data and the first set of image data is not updated in response to the request; and

modifying the display based on at least some of the updated set of data without modifying any portion of the display based on data not replaced in the second set of data.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the feature data is in a vector format and the image data is in a bitmap format, the vector format providing for vector data to draw a geometric object and at least one of an event model, a style rule, and a data attribute.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the bitmap format is one of JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the feature data includes at least one of a style rule, an event rule, and a report datum.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the image data comprises a representation of at least one of a geographic map, and a two-dimensional coordinate system.