Navigation System with Downloadable Map Data
First Claim
1. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a server and a mobile unit located remotely from the server, wherein the navigation system uses geographic data which is organized into groupings based on a plurality of map tiles, wherein each of the map tiles corresponds to a separate one of a plurality of geographic areas into which a geographic region is divided, the method comprising:
- on the mobile unit, continuing to determine a current position of the mobile unit;
accepting from a user of the mobile unit a destination;
transmitting the current position and the destination from the mobile unit to the server;
receiving from the server a set of map tiles and tile exit points associated with a route calculated by the server using the transmitted current position and destination;
on the mobile unit, calculating a first route from a new current position to a first tile exit point using the data corresponding to a first map tile from the set of received map tiles; and
as the mobile unit progresses toward the destination, calculating a subsequent route from a subsequent new current position to a next tile exit point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing geographic data to end users'"'"' mobile units from a remotely located navigation services provider so that navigation functions can be provided locally on the mobile units. While a user is operating a mobile unit to specify a destination for which route information is desired, an initial set of geographic data is downloaded from the remotely located navigation services provider. The initial set of geographic data represents an area located around a current position of the mobile unit when specification of the destination is initiated. Once the destination has been specified, data indicating the destination is used by the remotely located navigation services provider to calculate a route to the destination. The navigation services provider provides data to the mobile unit that identifies one or more intermediate exit points along the route that are located within the initial set of geographic data downloaded to the mobile unit so that the mobile unit can calculate an initial portion of the route to the one or more intermediate exit points. The navigation services provider also determines a list that identifies the remaining groupings of geographic data needed to represent the route. The navigation services provider transmits this list to the mobile unit and then transmits each of the needed groupings of geographic data to the mobile unit. An intermediate exit point is identified for each grouping of data transmitted to the mobile unit. Using the geographic data received from the navigation services provider, the mobile unit provides guidance to the end user for following the route to the destination.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a server and a mobile unit located remotely from the server, wherein the navigation system uses geographic data which is organized into groupings based on a plurality of map tiles, wherein each of the map tiles corresponds to a separate one of a plurality of geographic areas into which a geographic region is divided, the method comprising:
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on the mobile unit, continuing to determine a current position of the mobile unit; accepting from a user of the mobile unit a destination; transmitting the current position and the destination from the mobile unit to the server; receiving from the server a set of map tiles and tile exit points associated with a route calculated by the server using the transmitted current position and destination; on the mobile unit, calculating a first route from a new current position to a first tile exit point using the data corresponding to a first map tile from the set of received map tiles; and as the mobile unit progresses toward the destination, calculating a subsequent route from a subsequent new current position to a next tile exit point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a server and a mobile unit located remotely from the server, the method comprising the steps of:
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on the server, receiving data that indicates the mobile unit'"'"'s current position and a destination; calculating a route from the mobile unit'"'"'s current position to the destination using a first geographic database associated with the server; determining tile exit points along the calculated route using a second geographic database associated with the server, wherein the second geographic database includes geographic data organized by map tiles and wherein a tile exit point for a first map tile is located at a border of the first map tile where the route leaves the first map tile for a second map tile; and transmitting data identifying the tile exit points and map tiles associated with the tile exit points from the server to the mobile unit, thereby allowing the mobile unit to calculate the route from its new current position to the destination using the tile exit points. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A server that provides geographic data to a remote mobile unit, comprising:
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a downloadable geographic data storage that contains data representing geographic features in a geographic region, wherein the downloadable geographic data storage is organized using map tiles that divide the geographic region into a plurality of non-overlapping areas; a route calculation application that uses data in a working geographic database to calculate a route from a mobile unit'"'"'s current location to a specified destination and determines tile exit points along the calculated route; a geographic data providing application that identifies map tiles in the downloadable geographic data storage associated with the tile exit points; and a communications application that receives the mobile unit'"'"'s current location and the specified destination, and transmits data representing the tile exit points to the mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification