Navigation system with downloaded map data
First Claim
1. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a mobile unit and a server located remotely from the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit obtains geographic data by requesting the geographic data from the remotely located server, the method comprising the steps of:
- prior to transmitting data that indicates a destination to the server, downloading an initial set of geographic data from the server to the mobile unit, wherein the initial set of geographic data represents an area located around a current position of the mobile unit while a user is operating the mobile unit to specify the destination;
transmitting the data that indicates the destination to the server;
if the destination is not located within the area represented by the initial set of geographic data,receiving data from the server in the mobile unit that indicates an intermediate location located within the area represented by the initial set of geographic data, wherein the intermediate location is located along a route to the destination calculated by the server;
on the mobile unit, calculating a route to travel to the intermediate location; and
downloading additional geographic data from the server, wherein the additional geographic data represents an area from the intermediate location to the destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing geographic data to mobile units from a remotely located navigation-services provider. When a mobile unit requests route information, the navigation-services provider transmits an initial set of geographic data representing an area around a current position of the mobile unit. The navigation-services provider calculates a route to the destination and then identifies an intermediate exit point along the route that is located within the initial set of data. The mobile unit calculates an initial portion of the route to the intermediate exit point. The navigation-services provider determines a list of geographic-data groups needed to represent the remainder of the route and transmits this list to the mobile unit. Each geographic-data group is transmitted to the mobile unit along with an intermediate exit point. Using the received data, the mobile unit provides route guidance to a local end user.
82 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a mobile unit and a server located remotely from the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit obtains geographic data by requesting the geographic data from the remotely located server, the method comprising the steps of:
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prior to transmitting data that indicates a destination to the server, downloading an initial set of geographic data from the server to the mobile unit, wherein the initial set of geographic data represents an area located around a current position of the mobile unit while a user is operating the mobile unit to specify the destination; transmitting the data that indicates the destination to the server; if the destination is not located within the area represented by the initial set of geographic data, receiving data from the server in the mobile unit that indicates an intermediate location located within the area represented by the initial set of geographic data, wherein the intermediate location is located along a route to the destination calculated by the server; on the mobile unit, calculating a route to travel to the intermediate location; and downloading additional geographic data from the server, wherein the additional geographic data represents an area from the intermediate location to the destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes mobile units and a server located remotely from the mobile units, wherein the mobile units obtain geographic data by requesting the geographic data from the remotely located server, the method comprising the steps of:
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on the server, upon receiving a first type of request from a mobile unit that indicates that the mobile unit will send a second type of request that identifies a destination, transmitting an initial set of map data to the mobile unit, wherein the initial set of map data represents geographic features located around a current position of the mobile unit; and on the server, upon receiving the second type of request from a mobile unit that identifies an origin, the destination, and an area for which data had previously been obtained, calculating a route from the origin to the destination, identifying an intermediate exit point located in the area for which data had previously been obtained wherein the exit point is located along the route, transmitting data to the mobile unit that indicates the exit point, and transmitting map data covering a remaining portion of the route to the destination from the area for which data had previously been obtained. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operation for a navigation system that includes a mobile unit and a server located remotely from the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit obtains geographic data by requesting the geographic data from the remotely located server, wherein the geographic data 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 an indication of an intent to request a route to a destination; taking into account the current position and the indication of an intent, transmitting from the remotely located server to the mobile unit the geographic data that corresponds to a first set of map tiles, wherein the first set of map tiles corresponds to those map tiles immediately around the current position of the mobile unit; after transmitting the first set of map tiles, accepting from the user an indication of the destination; on the remotely located server, calculating a route to the destination; transmitting from the server to the mobile unit data indicating a first intermediate point along the route, wherein the first intermediate point is located within one of the first set of map tiles; on the mobile unit, calculating a route from a new current position to the first intermediate point using the data corresponding to the first set of map tiles that had been transmitted from the remotely located server, wherein the route calculated on the mobile unit does not include the destination; as the mobile unit progresses toward the destination, transmitting from the remotely located server to the mobile unit additional geographic data that corresponds to one or more additional map tiles, wherein the one or more additional map tiles correspond to a subsequent portion of the route beyond that portion located within the first set of map tiles, transmitting from the server to the mobile unit data indicating a subsequent intermediate point along the route, wherein the subsequent intermediate point is located within the one or more additional map tiles; and on the mobile unit, calculating a route from a subsequent new current position to the subsequent intermediate point using the data corresponding to the one or more additional map tiles that had been transmitted from the remotely located server.
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16. A method of operation for a mobile unit in a navigation system, the mobile unit communicating with a server located remotely from the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit obtains geographic data by requesting the geographic data from the remotely located server, the method comprising:
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selecting a feature from a user interface of the mobile unit, wherein the selection indicates a desire to specify a destination; prior to specifying the destination, receiving from the server an initial portion of map data, the initial portion not including the destination; receiving from the server data representing an exit point, the exit point in the initial portion of map data; calculating a route to the exit point; receiving from the server a final portion of map data after specifying the destination, the final portion comprising the destination; and calculating a route to the destination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification