SOLUTION FOR HIGHLY CUSTOMIZED INTERACTIVE MOBILE MAPS

• US 20150262399A1
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Urban Engines, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Popescu, Catalin
• Granted Patent: US 9,672,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A map customization module builds a customized map for a user based on the user'"'"'s interest and historical activities. A database stores processed map data including layer data, element data and/or tile data related to maps. The map customization module obtains the necessary processed map data from the database and combines the map data with the user'"'"'s interests to generate a customized map. The map customization module recognizes the user'"'"'s interests based on explicit user input and/or implicit user input.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing tile data, the method comprising:

collecting, using one or more processors, map data describing a map from a variety of resources;

separating, using the one or more processors, the map data into multiple sets of layer data describing multiple layers of the map;

dividing, using the one or more processors, each set of layer data into multiple sets of element data describing individual elements in each layer of the map;

dividing, using the one or more processors, each set of layer data into multiple sets of tile data, each set of tile data describing a tile of the each layer of the map, each tile including one or more segments of the individual elements; and

providing, using the one or more processors, the tile data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a contour of one individual element based on the element data; and

triangulating the contour of the individual element using a triangulation algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the tile data is responsive to a query for the tile data from a client device.

4. A computer-implemented method for rendering a customized map to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, a user input requesting the customized map from the user;

determining, using the one or more processors, user interest associated with the customized map based on the user input;

querying, using the one or more processors, for data to build the customized map based on the user interest;

receiving, using the one or more processors, the queried data;

building, using the one or more processors, the customized map using the queried data; and

rendering, using the one or more processors, the customized map to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the user input is in response to a user activity associated with an element of the customized map.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the customized map includes visualization of one or more tiles of a certain layer of the map.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving user information related to the customized map, wherein determining the user interest is also based on the user information.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving context information related to the customized map, wherein determining the user interest is also based on the context information.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein rendering the customized map comprises providing a transparent view of the customized map overlaid on a view captured by a camera.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions for rendering a customized map to a user, the instructions when executed by a processor configured to cause the processor to:

receive a user input requesting the customized map from the user;

determine user interest associated with the customized map based on the user input;

query for data to build the customized map based on the user interest;

receive the queried data;

build the customized map using the queried data; and

render the customized map to the user.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein receiving the user input is in response to a user activity associated with an element of the customized map.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the customized map includes visualization of one or more tiles of a certain layer of the map.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to retrieve user information related to the customized map, wherein determining the user interest is also based on the user information.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to retrieve context information related to the customized map, wherein determining the user interest is also based on the context information.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein rendering the customized map comprises providing a transparent view of the customized map overlaid on a view captured by a camera.

16. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a map customization module executing on the processor and configured to;

receive a user input requesting the customized map from the user;

determine user interest associated with the customized map based on the user input;

query for data to build the customized map based on the user interest;

receive the queried data;

build the customized map using the queried data; and

render the customized map to the user.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein receiving the user input is in response to a user activity associated with an element of the customized map.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the customized map includes visualization of one or more tiles of a certain layer of the map.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the map customization module is further configured to retrieve user information related to the customized map, wherein determining the user interest is also based on the user information.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein rendering the customized map comprises providing a transparent view of the customized map overlaid on a view captured by a camera.