Caching for pathfinding computation
First Claim
1. A method for loading data into a processor readable storage medium, comprising the steps of:
- choosing, automatically, a first origin in a processor readable representation of a network;
commencing a pathfinding exploration using a processor, said pathfinding exploration explores from said first origin, said steps of choosing and commencing being performed without a pathfinding computation being requested;
loading sets of data, as needed by said pathfinding exploration, into said processor readable storage medium;
terminating said pathfinding exploration when a predefined condition is met;
receiving a request to compute a path from a new origin and a new destination;
storing an indication of said new origin and an indication of said new destination; and
computing a path from said new origin to said new destination using at least a subset of said loaded data, said step of computing a path being performed after said step of commencing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for computing a path in an electronic map (or other network) starts a pathfinding exploration in the background while the system is waiting for a request to find a path. The system automatically chooses an origin. The system'"'"'s memory can be divided such that a portion of memory acts as a cache. The data for the nodes in the electronic map are loaded into the cache when needed. The system terminates the pathfinding process when a predetermined condition occurs; for example, a predetermined percentage of the cache is filled. When the system terminates the pathfinding process, the system can start a new pathfinding process from a new origin. Thus, when a user requests a path to be found, the pathfinding process begins with data already loaded in the cache.
123 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for loading data into a processor readable storage medium, comprising the steps of:
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choosing, automatically, a first origin in a processor readable representation of a network; commencing a pathfinding exploration using a processor, said pathfinding exploration explores from said first origin, said steps of choosing and commencing being performed without a pathfinding computation being requested; loading sets of data, as needed by said pathfinding exploration, into said processor readable storage medium; terminating said pathfinding exploration when a predefined condition is met; receiving a request to compute a path from a new origin and a new destination; storing an indication of said new origin and an indication of said new destination; and computing a path from said new origin to said new destination using at least a subset of said loaded data, said step of computing a path being performed after said step of commencing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22)
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20. A method for computing a path in an electronic representation of a network, comprising the steps of:
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running a background process for loading network data from a mass storage device into a memory, said background process includes an exploration of said network from a chosen origin and loading data needed by said exploration; terminating said background process when a stopping condition is met or when a pathfinding calculation is requested; storing a first origin and a first destination; and determining a path from said first origin to said first destination, after terminating said background process, using said network data loaded into said memory. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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23. An apparatus for pathfinding, comprising:
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a processor; a memory, in communication with said processor; and a processor readable storage medium;
in communication with said processor and said memory;said processor programmed to perform the method of; choosing, automatically, a first origin in an electronic map; commencing a pathfinding exploration, said pathfinding exploration explores from said first origin, said steps of choosing and commencing being performed without a pathfinding computation being requested; loading sets of data, as needed by said pathfinding exploration, from said processor readable storage medium into a cache portion of said memory; terminating said pathfinding exploration when a predefined condition is met; receiving a request to compute a path from a new origin and a new destination, storing an indication of said new origin and an indication of said new destination, and computing a path from said new origin to said new destination using at least a subset of said data loaded in said cache portion of said memory, said step of computing being performed after said step of terminating. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for loading data for pathfinding, comprising the steps of:
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choosing, automatically, a first origin in an electronic map; commencing a pathfinding exploration using a processor, said pathfinding exploration explores from said first origin, said steps of choosing and commencing being performed without a destination being indicated; loading data, as needed by said pathfinding exploration, into a cache memory; terminating said pathfinding exploration when a predefined condition is met; storing a new origin and a new destination; and computing a path from said new origin to said new destination using at least a subset of said data loaded in said cache memory, said step of computing being performed after said step of commencing.
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28. A processor readable storage medium, said processor readable storage medium having processor readable program code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable program code for programming a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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choosing, automatically, a first origin in an electronic map; commencing a pathfinding exploration using a processor, said pathfinding exploration explores from said first origin, said steps of choosing and commencing being performed without a pathfinding computation being requested; loading data, as needed by said pathfinding exploration, into said processor readable storage medium; terminating said pathfinding exploration when a predefined condition is met; receiving a request to compute a path from a new origin and a new destination storing an indication of said new origin and an indication of said new destination; and computing a path from said new origin to said new destination using at least a subset of said loaded data, said step of computing being performed after said step of commencing. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification