1. A method for operating a map server comprising a processor, a cache memory and a network interface, the method comprising: receiving a map request from a map client, wherein the map request includes map properties comprising coordinates, symbology style, language, projection, and scale, and wherein the map request is in a first map request format; converting the first map request format into a second map request format, the second map request format including the map properties; generating a map signature using a hash function, the map signature based on the map properties identified in the second map request format; associating the map signature with the map request; accessing the cache memory; determining if the cache memory includes the map signature; and if the cache memory includes the map signature, then retrieving a map associated with the map signature from the cache memory.