Dynamically Configured Rendering of Digital Maps

• US 20080147824A1
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hendrey, Geoffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Digital map rendering using dynamically updatable map configuration files is enabled. A map designer creates a map configuration file that specifies customizable attributes of a rendered map and stores the configuration file in a data store, either on the same local network as the map server that will be rendering the map, or at a remote location. The map configuration file can be included on a web page, wiki page, blog, etc. When a client requests a rendered map from the map server, the request specifies the location of the map configuration file to be used in the rendering. The map server retrieves the map configuration file and renders the map in accordance with the settings in the configuration file. The map server returns the rendered map to the client. In such a manner, the developer can modify the map configuration file and immediately effect subsequently rendered maps.

Claims

1. A method for providing a digital map, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a map, the request including a location of map configuration data;

retrieving from the included location the configuration data;

rendering a map in accordance with the received request and using the configuration data; and

returning the rendered map.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of the configuration data is specified by a URL.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the URL identifies a web page, and the web page includes the configuration data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of the configuration data is specified by a network address.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

caching the retrieved configuration data;

responsive to receiving an instruction to discard cached configuration data, discarding the cached configuration data.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising instructing a plurality of map servers to discard the cached configuration data responsive to receiving the instruction.

7. A system for providing a digital map, the system comprising:

a map server, adapted to receive a request for a map, the request including a location of map configuration data, the map server further adapted to retrieve the map configuration data from the location specified in the request, to render a digital map according to the configuration data, and to return the rendered map.

8. A method for providing a digital map, the method comprising:

providing a map configuration data file to a data store, the data file specifying customizable attributes of a digital map;

requesting a digital map from a map server, the request including a reference to the provided data file stored in the data store; and

receiving a rendered map from the map server, the rendered map having the customizable attributes specified in the data file.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing a modified map configuration data file to the data store, the modified data file replacing the map configuration data file;

requesting a second digital map from the map server, the request including a reference to the modified data file; and

receiving a second rendered map from the map server, the second rendered map rendered according to the modified data file.

10. The method of 9 wherein the request further includes an instruction to the map server to retrieve the modified data file from the data store.

11. A method for providing dynamic map configuration files to a map rendering server, the method comprising:

establishing a connection to a map configuration file host, the host having a graphical user interface;

providing a plurality of map configuration attributes to the host via the graphical user interface; and

storing the configuration file at a location identifiable by a resource identifier.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising instructing a map server to render a map using the configuration file.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein instructing the map server to render the map using the configuration file includes specifying the location of the configuration file.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of configuration attributes includes label placement.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of configuration attributes includes fonts to be used in rendering a map.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of configuration attributes includes opacity levels to be used in rendering a map.