Pre-fetching navigation maps

• US 20090063042A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Wayfinder Systems AB (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Santesson, Martin, Ingvarsson, Per Ola
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A method for providing map tiles associated to a route is described. Generally, a route comprising a number of route segments is received. Then, a respective route segment attribute for each of the route segments is determined. Next, associated map tiles for each of the route segments are determined, using said route segment attributes, and finally an indication of the determined map tiles are transmitted to a map tile fetcher.

Claims

1. A method for determining map tiles associated to a route, said method comprising

receiving said route, wherein said route comprises a number of route segments,

determining a respective route segment attribute for each of said route segments,

determining associated map tiles for each of said route segments, wherein said associated map tiles depend on said route segment attributes associated to said route segments, and

transmitting an indication of said determined associated map tiles to a map tile fetcher.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each map tile is identified by a longitude value, a latitude value and a detail level value.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a detail level.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a speed limit.

5. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a road classification.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said map tiles are determined by using interpolation of simulated GPS positions.

7. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein said map tiles are determined by using linear interpolation.

28. A computer program product comprising software instructions that, when executed in an apparatus, such as a mobile terminal, performs the method according to any of the claims 1 to 7.

8. A method for presenting a route via a graphical user interface, said method comprising

receiving a user input, wherein said user input comprises a start position and an end position,

determining a route based upon said user input utilizing a route determinator, wherein said route comprises a number of route segments,

determining map tiles associated to said route utilizing a map tile determinator, wherein said map tile determinator is configured to determine map tiles corresponding to said route utilizing route segment attributes associated to said number of route segments,

transmitting an indication of said determined associated map tiles from said map tile determinator to a map tile fetcher,

fetching said determined associated map tiles from at least one memory using said map tile fetcher, and

presenting said route via said graphical user interface using said fetched map tiles.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of fetching map tiles from at least one memory comprises

determining a first set of said associated map tiles, wherein said first set of associated map tiles are present in an internal memory, such as a cache memory, and a second set of said associated map tiles, wherein said second set of associated map tiles are present on a secondary memory, such as an external memory, and

fetching said determined first set of said associated map tiles from said internal memory and said determined second set of said associated map tiles from said secondary memory.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising

storing said fetched second set of said associated map tiles in said internal memory.

11. The method according to any of the claims 8 to 10, wherein said route determinator is placed on a remote server.

12. The method according to any of the claims 9 to 11, wherein said secondary memory is placed on a remote server.

29. A computer program product comprising software instructions that, when executed in an apparatus, such as a mobile terminal, performs the method according to any of the claims 8 to 12.

13. A map tile determinator configured to determine map tiles associated to a route, wherein said route comprises route segments, said map tile determinator comprises

a receiver configured to receive said route,

a route segment attribute determinator configured to determine a respective route segment attribute for each of said route segments,

a determinator configured to determine associated map tiles for each of said route segments, wherein said associated map tiles depend on said route segment attributes associated to said route segments, and

a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of said determined associated map tiles to a map tile fetcher.

14. The map tile determinator according to claim 13, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a detail level.

15. The map tile determinator according to any of the claims 13 to 14, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a speed limit.

16. The map tile determinator according to any of the claims 13 to 14, wherein each route segment attribute is associated to a road classification.

17. The map tile determinator according to any of the claims 13 to 16, wherein said map tiles are determined by using interpolation of simulated GPS positions.

18. The map tile determinator according to any of the claims 13 to 16, wherein said map tiles are determined by using linear interpolation.

19. A device for presenting a route via a graphical user interface, said device comprising

a receiver configured to receive a user input, wherein said user input comprises a start position and an end position,

a transmitter configured to transmit said user input to a route determinator configured to determine a route based upon said user input, wherein said route comprises a number of route segments,

a receiver configured to receive said determined route from said route determinator,

a map tile determinator configured to determine map tiles associated to said route, wherein said map tile determinator is configured to determine map tiles associated to said route segments utilizing route segment attributes associated to said route segments,

a map tile fetcher configured to fetch said determined associated map tiles from at least one memory, and

a GUI handler configured to present said route using said map tiles.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said map tile fetcher is configured to determine a first set of said associated map tiles, wherein said first set of associated map tiles are present in an internal memory, such as a cache memory, and a second set of said associated map tiles, wherein said second set of associated map tiles are present on a secondary memory, such as an external memory, and to fetch said determined first set of said associated map tiles from said internal memory and said determined second set of said associated map tiles from said secondary memory.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said map tile fetcher is further configured to store said fetched second set of said associated map tiles in said internal memory.

22. The device according to any of the claims 19 to 21, wherein said route determinator is placed on a remote server.

23. The device according to any of the claims 19 to 22, wherein said map tile determinator is comprised within said device.

24. The device according to any of the claims 19 to 23, wherein said device is a mobile terminal.

25. The device according to any of the claims 20 to 24, wherein said secondary memory is placed on a remote server.

26. A navigation system comprising

a communications network,

a device according to any one of the claims 19 to 25 connected to said communications network, and

a route determinator connected to said communications network.

27. The navigation system according to claim 26, further comprising

a memory connected to said communications network.