METHOD OF EMBEDDING MAP FEATURE DATA INTO A RASTER GRAPHICS FILE

• US 20120278505A1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Hardt, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,036,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/387 Organisation of map data, e.g. version management or database structures
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

A method for providing map data composed of providing geospatial map data pre-rendered into a plurality of raster graphic files, where each of the raster graphic files comprising a plurality of image pixels each having pixel data information Additional map data is embedded into at least one of the raster graphic files by altering the pixel data information The additional map data is then delivered simultaneously with the raster graphics files

Claims

1. A method for providing digital geospatial information comprising the steps of:

providing geospatial map data pre-rendered into a plurality of raster graphic files, each of said raster graphic files comprising a plurality of image pixels each comprised of a pixel data packet;

embedding non-visual map data into at least one of said raster graphic files by altering said pixel data packet information within said plurality of image pixels;

wherein said non-visual map data is delivered to a portable navigation device simultaneously with said raster graphic files.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said embedding non-visual map data comprises varying color data within said pixel data packet.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said embedding non-visual map data comprises including an additional data channel within said pixel data packet.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-visual map data comprises customized map display information.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said non-visual map data comprises image element identification information.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said image element identification information comprises a flag value indicating a particular pixel represents part of a road segment.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said image element identification information comprises an indication that a particular pixel represents an intersection.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said additional map information comprises information necessary to snap a device location to a road for turn-by-turn directions.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

parsing said pixel data packet from said plurality of image pixels; and

modifying one of said raster graphic files using said pixel data packet information to generate a custom image file.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

parsing said pixel data packet from said plurality of image pixels; and

utilizing said pixel data packet information for turn-by-turn directions.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pixel data packet is parsed using graphics acceleration hardware.

12. A system for streaming digital geospatial information over an internet connection comprising:

geospatial map data rendered into a plurality of raster graphic files, each of said raster graphic files comprising a plurality of image pixels each having pixel data packet;

non-visual map data;

a processor configured to embed said non-visual map data into at least one of said raster graphic files by altering said pixel data packet information within said plurality of image pixels, said processor configured to stream said plurality of raster graphics files to an end user; and

a decoding engine configured to modify said plurality of raster graphics files using said non-visual map data.

13. A system as described in claim 12, wherein said non-visual map data comprises device display information.

14. A system as described in claim 12, wherein said non-visual map data comprises information required for turn-by-turn directions.

15. A system as described in claim 12, wherein said non-visual map data is embedded in said raster graphics files by way of varying color data within said pixel data packets.

16. A system as described in claim 12, wherein said non-visual map data is embedded in said raster graphics files by way of including an additional data channel within said pixel data packet.