Offline map download

• US 10,555,120 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2019
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kernan, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Mapa, Michael Y
• Application Number:
  US16/370,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20190230469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4143, 455418-420, 4554561-457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A system discloses analyzing global positioning system (GPS) parameters of a mobile device to determine if the mobile device is outside a predetermined range and if it is determined that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, communicating a notification to the mobile device to download maps on the mobile device using an alternate communication channel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

memory;

one or more processor units;

a plurality of offline maps stored in the memory, each of the plurality of maps related to a geographic location;

a GPS parameter processing module stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the GPS parameter processing module configured to analyze GPS parameters received from a mobile device to determine a location of the mobile device; and

a map download module stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the map download module configured to send a notification to the mobile device to download one or more of the plurality of offline maps in response to determining that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, wherein the notification is activated in response to determining that the mobile device is able to communicate using an alternative communication method;

wherein the map download module further configured to download the one or more of the plurality of offline maps, wherein the downloaded one or more of the plurality of offline maps are populated with additional information based on past requests for maps by other users at a location of a user of the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the map download module further configured to select the other users based on their preferences.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the map download module is further configured to determine the geographic location of the mobile device upon determining that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is a range within which the mobile device is able to access telecommunications services from a service provider without incurring roaming charges.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the map download module is further configured to determine the geographic location of the mobile device upon determining that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range and send a notification to download one or more offline maps related to the geographic location of the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the map download module is further configured to select the one or more of the plurality of maps based on the geographic location of the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the map download module is further configured to populate the one or more of the plurality of maps based on the one or more preferences of the user of the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the map download module is further configured to determine a communication channel available to the mobile device that does not incur any roaming charges and to send the maps to the mobile device via the communication channel.

8. A method, comprising:

pinging a graphical positioning system (GPS) module of a mobile device at a predetermined frequency to receive GPS parameters of the mobile device;

determining when the mobile device has access to alternative communication method; and

in response to determining, based on an analysis of the GPS parameters of the mobile device, that the mobile device is outside a predetermined range and that the mobile device has access to alternative communication method, wherein the predetermined range is a range within which the mobile device is able to access telecommunications services from a service provider without incurring roaming charges, presenting a notification to download offline maps on the mobile device, wherein the offline maps are populated with additional information based on past requests for maps by other users at a location of a user of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to determining that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, determining the geographic location of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting a notification to the mobile device further comprising:

in response to determining that the mobile device is capable of communicating using WiFi, presenting the notification to the mobile device to download the maps on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined range is a home range for the user of the mobile device where no roaming charges are applicable.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined range is based on a subscription plan of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification further comprises a request to identify types of maps to download on the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving an input from the user of the mobile device including the types of maps to download on the mobile device and in response to the input, downloading the types of maps to the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to determining that the mobile device is outside the predetermined range, communicating with the mobile device to determine a data download speed available to the mobile device;

selecting maps based on the available download speed; and

pushing the selected maps to the mobile device.

16. A physical article of manufacture including one or more tangible computer-readable storage media, encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:

determining, using graphical positioning system (GPS) parameters of a mobile device, whether the mobile device is outside its home range, wherein the home range is a geographic range within which the mobile device is able to access telecommunications services from a service provider without incurring roaming charges;

determining when the mobile device is able to communicate using an alternative communication method; and

in response to determining that the mobile device is outside its home range and that it is able to communicate using an alternative communication method, communicating a request to a mapping server for one or more offline maps, wherein the requested one or more offline maps are populated with additional information based on past requests for maps by other users at a location of a user of the mobile device.

17. The physical article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the computer process further comprising determining availability of a communication channel for the mobile device, where the communication channel allows downloading data without incurring data charges for the mobile device.

18. The physical article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the computer process further comprising communicating the maps to the mobile device using the communication channel.

19. The physical article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein selecting or more maps further comprises selecting one or more maps based on past mapping application usage by the mobile device.