(1) A set of data that has a corresponding relationship to another set of data.
(2) A list of data or objects as they are currently stored in memory or disk.
(3) To assign a path or drive letter to a disk drive. See
drive mapping.
(4) To transfer a set of objects from one place to another. For example, program modules on disk are mapped into memory. A graphic image in memory is mapped onto the video screen.
(5) To translate, or convert, from one format to another. For example, an address is mapped to another address. A logical database structure is mapped to the physical database.
(6) To relate one set of objects with another. For example, a vendor's protocol stack is mapped to the OSI model. An alias is mapped to the true name of the object. See
alias.
(7) (MAP) (
Manufacturing
Automation
Protocol) A communications protocol introduced by General Motors in 1982. MAP provides common standards for interconnecting computers and programmable machine tools used in factory automation. At the lowest physical level, it uses the IEEE 802.4 token bus protocol.
MAP is often used in conjunction with
TOP, an office protocol developed by Boeing Computer Services. TOP is used in the front office and MAP is used on the factory floor.