Application programming interface for prefetching map data
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon that implement an application programming interface (API) for prefetching map data on a computing device having a processor and a display device, wherein the computing device is configured to communicate with a map data provider via a communication network, and wherein the API, when invoked in a software application executed on the processor, is configured to:
- receive a prefetch request for an indicated geographic area from the software application;
in response to the prefetch request;
(i) retrieve map data corresponding to the indicated geographic area from the map data provider, and (ii) store the map data in a map data cache without causing a digital map based on the map data to be displayed on the display device, wherein the map data cache is accessible to the software application only via the API;
subsequently to storing the map data in the map data cache, receive a request to render the digital map from the software application; and
in response to the request to render the digital map, render the digital map using the map data stored in the map data cache, wherein the digital map is displayed on the display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An API for prefetching map data receives a prefetch request for an indicated geographic area from a software application. In response, the API retrieves map data corresponding to the indicated geographic area from a map data provider and stores the map data in a map data cache without causing a digital map based on the map data to be displayed on the display device. The map data cache is accessible to the software application only via the API. Subsequently to storing the map data in the map data cache, the API receives a request to render the digital map from the software application and, in response to the request to render the map image, renders the map image for display on a display device using the map data stored in the map data cache.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon that implement an application programming interface (API) for prefetching map data on a computing device having a processor and a display device, wherein the computing device is configured to communicate with a map data provider via a communication network, and wherein the API, when invoked in a software application executed on the processor, is configured to:
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receive a prefetch request for an indicated geographic area from the software application; in response to the prefetch request;
(i) retrieve map data corresponding to the indicated geographic area from the map data provider, and (ii) store the map data in a map data cache without causing a digital map based on the map data to be displayed on the display device, wherein the map data cache is accessible to the software application only via the API;subsequently to storing the map data in the map data cache, receive a request to render the digital map from the software application; and in response to the request to render the digital map, render the digital map using the map data stored in the map data cache, wherein the digital map is displayed on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for prefetching map data in computing device including a memory, a processor, and a display device, the method comprising:
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allocating a portion of the memory for use as a map data cache, wherein the map data cache stores map data received from a map data provider via a communication network, including preventing software applications being executed by the processor from accessing the map data cache; and providing an application programming interface (API) for use by the software applications, including; in response to the API being invoked for prefetching map data, (i) retrieving map data for an indicated geographic area and (ii) storing the map data in the map data cache, wherein a digital map based on the map data is not displayed on the display device in response to the API being invoked for prefetching the map data, and in response to the API being subsequently invoked for displaying the prefetched map data, (i) retrieving the map data from the map data cache and (ii) generating a digital map using the map data for display on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A mobile device configured to communicate via a wireless communication link, the mobile device comprising:
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a processor; a display device; a network interface communicatively coupled to the wireless communication link; a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; a map data cache disposed in the memory, wherein the map data cache is not accessible to software applications executing on the mobile device via read or write operations; instructions stored in the memory that implement an application programming interface (API) for prefetching map data, wherein the API, when invoked by a software application executing on the mobile device, is configured to; in response to receiving a prefetch request indicating a geographic area from a software application executing on the mobile device, (i) retrieve map data for the indicated geographic area via the network interface and (ii) store the map data in the map data cache, wherein a digital map based on the map data is not displayed on the display device in response to receiving the prefetch request, and in response to subsequently receiving a request to render the digital map from the software application, cause the digital map to be displayed on the display device using the map data stored in the map data cache. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification