Device and carrier of map information data

• US 7,269,510 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idevio AB
• Original Assignee: Idevio AB
• Inventors: Persson, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/502,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/387 Organisation of map data, e.g. version management or database structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Device (1) and carrier for providing map information data (3) interactively to a display unit (5). The device (1) comprises a processor (7) and a memory (9) comprising a map information database (11) comprising map information data (3) representing geographical features, the map information data (3) being based on aggregations of at least one of nodes (15), links (17) and rings (19), each one of which corresponding to geographic features. The map information data (3) of a higher resolution level comprises additional map information data, resulting in more detailed map information (3) presented on the display unit (5), compared to the map information data (3) of a lower resolution level. The map information data (3) of a higher resolution level is generated by enhancement of the map information data (3) of a lower resolution level combined with the additional data, the enhancement being based on disaggregation of nodes (15), links (17) and rings (19). The processor (7) is configured for receiving a request for map information data (3); and providing map information data (3). Also, a device for providing map information data to a planning apparatus (33) for planning at least one of locations of society facility and travel routes is disclosed.

Claims

1. Device for providing map information data interactively to a display unit operated by a user;

the device comprising a processor and a memory comprising a multi-resolution map information database;

the multi-resolution map information database comprising map information data representing geographical features, the map information data being based on aggregations of at least one of nodes, links and rings, each one of which corresponding to geographical features, offering a number of resolution levels, where

the map information data of a higher resolution level comprises additional map information data, resulting in more detailed map information presented on the display unit, compared to the map information data of a lower resolution level, and

the map information data of a higher resolution level being generated by enhancement of the map information data of a lower resolution level combined with the additional data, the enhancement being based on disaggregation of at least one of the nodes, links and rings;

the processor being configured for;

receiving from the user a request for map information data;

providing to the display unit, in the case of the request being a first request, map in formation data at a predetermined resolution level and, in the case of the request being subsequent request, map information data at a higher resolution level.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined resolution level corresponds to the lowest resolution level.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for, in the case of the request being another subsequent request, providing map information data at a lower resolution level.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of the request being subsequent request, the difference in resolution level between a presently provided map information data and a previously provided map information data is 1, or greater than 1.

5. Device according to claim 1, further comprising communication means and wherein the memory comprising the multi-resolution map information database is remotely located and accessible using the communication means.

6. Device according to claim 1, further comprising communication means and wherein the multi-resolution map information database is arranged in memories at two locations, in which lower resolution levels are arranged in one memory and higher resolution levels are arranged in the other memory.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is constituted by a computer screen.

8. Device according to claim 1, further comprising communication means between the device and the display unit, and the display unit being constituted by one of a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and a navigator.

9. Device for providing map information data to a planning apparatus for planning at least one of locations of society facility and travel routes;

the device comprising a processor and a memory comprising a multi-resolution map information database;

the map multi-resolution information database comprising map information data representing geographical features, the map information data being based on aggregations of at least one of nodes, links and rings, each one of which corresponding to geographic features, offering a number of resolution levels, where

the map information data of a higher resolution level comprises additional map information data, resulting in more detailed map information, compared to the map information data of a lower resolution level, and

the map information data of a higher resolution level being generated by enhancement of the map information data of a lower resolution level combined with the additional data, the enhancement being based on disaggregation of at least one of the nodes, links and rings;

the processor being configured for;

receiving from the user a request for map information data;

providing to the planning apparatus, in the case of the request being a first request, map information data at a predetermined resolution level and, in the case of the request being a subsequent request, map information data at a higher resolution level.