Advanced map information delivery, processing and updating

• US 8,731,823 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark, DiMeo, David M., Scalf, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/959,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments include update determination programmed logic circuitry operable to determine that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating. The illustrative embodiments further include update qualification programmed logic circuitry operable to qualify the permissibility of an update. Also included in the illustrative embodiments is update provision programmed logic circuitry operable to, contingent on the qualifying, provide an updated version of the map data tile. The update determination, update qualification and update provision programmed logic circuitry are operable to repeat the determining, qualifying and providing for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle'"'"'s current location along the route.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive map data tiles, corresponding to predefined geographic map data areas, relating to a programmed route;

store received map data tiles locally, in accordance with a storage rule;

update a map data tile usage flag when vehicle GPS coordinates correspond to coordinates within the map data tile'"'"'s predefined area; and

request updates of map data for tiles whose usage flag indicates frequent usage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage flag includes a date of last use.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used within a previous date range.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, if a storage limit is reached, the processor is configured to give storage preference to data tiles having been more recently used.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage flag includes a total number of uses.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used more than a predetermined number of times.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, if a storage limit is reached, the processor is configured to give storage preference to data tiles having been used the greatest number of times.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving map data tiles relating to a programmed route, the map data tiles corresponding to predefined areas of geographic map data;

storing a plurality of the received map data tiles locally, in accordance with a storage rule;

updating, via a vehicle computing system, a usage flag related to a map data tile when a vehicle is traveling at GPS coordinates corresponding to coordinates within the map data tile'"'"'s predefined area; and

requesting updates of map data for tiles whose usage flag indicates frequent usage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the usage flag includes a date of last use.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used within a previous date range.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if a storage limit is reached, giving storage preference to data tiles having been more recently used.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the usage flag includes a total number of uses.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used more than a predetermined number of times.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, if a storage limit is reached, giving storage preference to data tiles having been used the greatest number of times.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving map data tiles relating to a programmed route, the map data tiles corresponding to predefined areas of geographic map data;

storing a plurality of the received map data tiles locally, in accordance with a storage rule;

updating, via a vehicle computing system, a usage flag related to a map data tile when a vehicle is traveling at GPS coordinates corresponding to coordinates within the map data tile'"'"'s predefined area; and

requesting updates of map data for tiles whose usage flag indicates frequent usage.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the usage flag includes a date of last use.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used within a previous date range.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, the method further comprising, if a storage limit is reached, giving storage preference to data tiles having been more recently used.

19. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the usage flag includes a total number of uses.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the storage rule includes instructions to store data tiles having been used more than a predetermined number of times.

21. The storage medium of claim 20, the method further comprising, if a storage limit is reached, giving storage preference to data tiles having been used the greatest number of times.