Method and system for distribution of map content to mobile communication devices

• US 20070233817A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Eric, Boudreau, Jesse, Dicke, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A system and method are set forth for distributing map content from a server to a communication device by transmitting a request from the communication device to the map server for a maplet index of map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining the map data, receiving the request at the map server and in response transmitting the maplet index to the communication device, wherein the maplet index defines content available the maplet without including all of the data points therein.

Claims

1. A method of requesting map data content for a communication device, comprising:

transmitting an index request to a map server for an index of map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining said map data; and

receiving said index, wherein said index defines map data content available within said coordinates.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a data entry request to said map server for specific map data content based on the available map data content defined by said index.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the available map data content is arranged in layers, the method further comprising transmitting an area of interest request to said map server for all map data content available at selected layers of the available map data content and within coordinates defining an area of interest.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said available map data content includes a maplet having at least one layer and at least one data entry per layer, and wherein said area of interest request includes a layer mask for masking unwanted layers of said maplet and an additional mask for masking unwanted data entries of said maplet.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said index request and said data entry request includes a zoom parameter.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said area of interest request includes a zoom parameter.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said index request and said area of interest request are transmitted from said communication device to said map server as a single message.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one data entry per layer includes one of either public data or private data.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communication device is a mobile communication device.

34. The method of claim 3, wherein said index request and said data entry request includes a zoom parameter.

35. The method of claim 4, wherein said index request and said data entry request includes a zoom parameter.

36. The method of claim 4, wherein said area of interest request includes a zoom parameter.

37. A computer readable medium embodying program code executable by a processor of a computing device or system for implementing the method of claim 1.

10. A device for rendering map data, comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver connected to said processor; and

a memory storing a map application executable by said processor for transmitting a request via said transceiver for an index of map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining said map data, and receiving said index via said transceiver, wherein said index defines map data content available within said coordinates.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said map application further comprises at least one of a Map Viewer, a Route Module, and a Locate Module.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said Map Viewer is adapted to receive Latitude and Longitude data as inputs and in response use the Latitude and Longitude data as arguments to render map graphics.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a local cache for storing said map data.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said Locate Module is adapted to convert civic addresses to said Latitude and Longitude coordinates for use by said Map Viewer.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said Route Module is adapted to generate a set of decision points to enable rendering by said Map Viewer of turn-by-turn indications.

16. A structure for map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates, comprising:

an index of data entries available within said coordinates, wherein each data entry indexed is representative of at least one of an artifact and label within said coordinates, and wherein the index includes rendering attributes for each available data entry.

17. The structure of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of data entries each comprising a set of data points for representing the at least one of an artifact and label within said coordinates.

18. The structure of claim 16, wherein said index includes a header for identifying said map data.

19. The structure of claim 17, wherein said set of data points are separated into different parts representing various portions of the artifact.

20. The structure of claim 17, wherein said plurality of data entries are arranged in layers enabling map data from different sources to be meshed for rendering.

21. The structure of claim 16, wherein said rendering attributes include at least one of a zoom index, a shape type, a line type and a color field.

22. A server for distributing map content, comprising:

a location data repository for storing an index of said map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining said map data, wherein said index identifies data entries defining specific content available within said map data and contains attributes for said data entries; and

application means for receiving a request for said map data and in response transmitting at least one of said index and selected ones of said data entries containing at least one of geographical data points and labels within a specific bounding area, thereby enabling rendering of said geographical data points and labels for display.

23. The server of claim 22, wherein said application means is adapted to perform context filtering for selective transmitting of said data entries.

24. The server of claim 22, wherein said data entries are arranged in layers enabling map data from different sources to be meshed for rendering.

25. The server of claim 24, wherein said application means is adapted to mask unwanted layers and unwanted data entries prior to transmitting.

26. The server of claim 22, wherein said application means is adapted to transmit said index and selected ones of said data entries as a single message.

27. The server of claim 22, wherein said data entries include one of either public data or private data.

28. A method of distributing map content, comprising:

generating an index of map data covering a specified area and identified by coordinates for defining said map data, wherein said index identifies data entries defining specific content available within said map data and contains attributes for said data entries; and

generating selected ones of said data entries containing at least one of geographical data points and labels within a specific bounding area, thereby enabling rendering of said geographical data points and labels for display.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising context filtering for selective transmitting of said data entries.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said data entries are arranged in layers enabling map data from different sources to be meshed for rendering.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising masking unwanted layers and unwanted data entries prior to transmitting.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said index and selected ones of said data entries are transmitted as a single message.

33. The server of claim 28, wherein said data entries include one of either public data or private data.

38. A computer readable medium embodying program code executable by a processor of a computing device or system for implementing the method of claim 28.