SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY DOWNLOADING AND DISPLAYING MAP DATA

• US 20090182500A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: DICKE, Ronald Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,354,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route

Abstract

Dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device is achieved by determining a map data density for an area of interest and then dynamically downloading and optionally also dynamically displaying the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density. For areas of interest with low map data density, this technology has the effect of downloading more map data so that the map is displayed with more detail than would conventionally be obtained. Conversely, for areas of interest with excessively high map data density, dynamic downloading and display can reduce the onscreen map density for a less crowded map.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device, the method comprising steps of:

determining a map data density for an area of interest; and

dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of dynamically displaying a map rendered from the map data downloaded for the area of interest, the map being dynamically displayed based on the map data density.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of determining the map data density comprises steps of:

obtaining one or more map data indexes for map data corresponding to the area of interest; and

computing map data density for the area of interest based on the one or more map data indexes.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of computing map data density comprises steps of:

computing for each map layer a total number or size of map elements from the map index as being generally representative of the map density for the area of interest; and

determining whether the map density is below a predetermined threshold.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a step of selecting which map layers to download based on map data density.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the map data is downloaded for each layer that is selected provided the map data density is below the predetermined threshold.

7. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of computing map data density comprises steps of:

computing for each map layer a total number or size of map elements from the map index as being generally representative of the map density for the area of interest; and

determining whether the map density is above a predetermined threshold.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a step of selecting which map layers to download based on map data density.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the map data is downloaded for each layer that is selected provided the map data density is below the predetermined threshold.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a velocity of the wireless communications device using a GPS receiver whereby the map data is also dynamically downloaded based on the velocity.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a signal strength of a wireless link of the wireless communications device whereby the map data is also dynamically downloaded based on the signal strength.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a remaining battery power of the wireless communications device whereby the map data is also dynamically downloaded based on the remaining battery power.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of dynamically downloading the map data comprises downloading individual map data entries in a layer of map data.

14. A computer program product comprising code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device, is adapted to perform the steps of:

determining a map data density for an area of interest; and

dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density.

15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 14 wherein the code is further adapted to perform the step of dynamically displaying a map rendered from the map data downloaded for the area of interest, the map being rendered dynamically based on the map data density.

16. The computer program product as claimed in claim 14 wherein the code is adapted to perform the steps of:

obtaining one or more map data indexes for map data corresponding to the area of interest; and

computing the map data density for the area of interest based on the one or more map data indexes.

17. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16 wherein the step of computing map data density comprises steps of:

computing for each map layer a total number or size of map elements from the map index as being generally representative of the map density for the area of interest; and

determining whether the map density is below a predetermined threshold.

18. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16 wherein the step of computing map data density comprises steps of:

computing for each map layer a total number or size of map elements from the map index as being generally representative of the map density for the area of interest; and

determining whether the map density is above a predetermined threshold.

19. A wireless communications device comprising:

a radiofrequency transceiver for requesting and receiving map data corresponding to an area of interest;

a processor operatively coupled to memory for determining a map data density based on the map data for the area of interest and for dynamically downloading map data based on the map data density for the area of interest; and

a display for displaying a map based on the map data downloaded for the area of interest.

20. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the processor instructs the display to dynamically display the map based on the map data density.

21. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the radiofrequency transmitter downloads one or more map data indexes to enable the processor to determine the map data density based on map elements listed for each layer of map data available for the area of interest.

22. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the processor instructs the radiofrequency transmitter to download extra layers of map data if the map data density is below a predetermined threshold.

23. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the processor instructs the radiofrequency transmitter to download only the layers of map data where the map data density is below a predetermined threshold.

24. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a GPS receiver for determining a velocity of the wireless communications device, the processor dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based also on the velocity of the device.

25. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the radiofrequency transceiver is further configured to determine a signal strength of a wireless link of the wireless communications device, the processor dynamically downloading the map data based also on the signal strength.

26. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the processor is further configured to determine remaining battery power of a battery powering the wireless communications device, the processor dynamically downloading the map data based also on the remaining battery power.

27. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the radiofrequency transceiver downloads individual map data entries from within a map data layer.