        var store = function store(hmap){

            var _ = {
                // data is a two dimensional array
                // a datapoint gets saved as data[point-x-value][point-y-value]
                // the value at [point-x-value][point-y-value] is the occurrence of the datapoint
                data: [],
                // tight coupling of the heatmap object
                heatmap: hmap
            };
            // the max occurrence - the heatmaps radial gradient alpha transition is based on it
            this.max = 1;

            this.get = function(key){
                return _[key];
            };
            this.set = function(key, value){
                _[key] = value;
            };
        }