Managing differences between geographic database versions

• US 9,347,778 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Joseph B., Mulligan, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US13/949,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• 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: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

A method and system for managing differences between geographic database versions is disclosed. A user registers his version of a geographic database with a map management application and thereafter enters a destination on a graphical user interface. The map management application checks to see if data representing the destination is located in the user'"'"'s version of the geographic database and a more current version of the geographic database. If the data representing the destination is located in the more current version but not the user'"'"'s version of the geographic database, the map management application provides the user with options, including upgrading to a more current version of the geographic database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering an identifier for a navigation application at a map management server;

accessing an installed version, at the map management server, of a geographic database according to the identifier;

accessing a later version, at the map management server, of the geographic database, wherein the later version of the geographic database is different than the installed version of the geographic database;

receiving, at the map management server, a destination location;

querying the installed version of the geographic database for the destination location for a first map result;

querying the later version of the geographic database for the destination location for a second map result;

performing a comparison of the first map result and the second map result; and

generating a map showing one or more differences between the installed version of the geographic database and the later version of the geographic database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a result of the comparison of the first map result and the second map result.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison indicates that the destination location is included in the later version of the geographic database and omitted from the installed version of the geographic database.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

counting a number of times destination locations are omitted from the installed version of the geographic database; and

displaying the number in a message to a user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message includes an offer to purchase the later version of the geographic database.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location included in the installed version of the geographic database and nearby to the second map result from the later version of the geographic database.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the navigation location to a navigation system including the navigation application when the first map result is substantially equivalent to the second map result.

8. A method comprising:

registering an identifier for a navigation application at a map management server;

accessing an installed version, at the map management server, of a geographic database according to the identifier;

accessing a later version, at the map management server, of the geographic database, wherein the later version of the geographic database is different than the installed version of the geographic database;

receiving, at the map management server, a destination location;

querying the installed version of the geographic database for the destination location for a first map result;

querying the later version of the geographic database for the destination location for a second map result; and

performing a comparison of the first map result and the second map result;

providing a plurality of navigation options when the comparison of the first map result and the second map result indicates that the destination location is omitted from the installed version of the navigation database;

wherein the plurality of options includes at least two of a printout of full directions to the destination location, a printout of partial directions to the destination location based on the installed version of the geographic database, a transmission of directions to a mobile device, and a display of longitude and latitude coordinates.

9. An map management server comprising:

a processor configured to register a navigation application of a user at the map management server and receive a destination location entered from a website;

a first database including an installed version of a geographic database, wherein the installed version of the geographic database is installed with the navigation application of the user;

a second database including a later version of the geographic database, wherein the later version of the geographic database is newer than the installed version of the geographic database,

wherein the processor is configured to query the installed version of the geographic database for the destination location for a first map result, query the later version of the geographic database for the destination location for a second map result, and perform a comparison of the first map result and the second map result;

wherein the processor is configured to generate a map showing one or more differences between the installed version of the geographic database and the later version of the geographic database.

10. The map management server of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a display message based on the comparison of the first map result and the second map result, wherein the display message indicates that the destination location is included in the later version of the geographic database and omitted from the installed version of the geographic database.

11. The map management server of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to count a number of times that destination locations are omitted from the installed version of the geographic database and generate an offer message when the number exceeds a threshold.

12. The map management server of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to generate a navigation message when the comparison of the first map result and the second map result indicates that the destination location is omitted form the installed version of the navigation database.

13. The map management server of claim 12, wherein the navigation message includes options for a printout of full directions to the destination location, a printout of partial directions to the destination location based on the installed version of the geographic database, a transmission of directions to a mobile device, or a display of longitude and latitude coordinates.

14. The map management server of claim 12, further comprising:

a communication application configured to transmit the navigation location to the navigation application when the first map result is substantially equivalent to the second map result.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed by a processor, instruct the processor to:

select an installed version of a geographic database installed with a navigation application from a list of compiled databases indexed by user;

select a later version of the geographic database from a map service;

receive, at a map management server, a destination location;

compare, with respect to the destination location, the installed version of the geographic database to the later version of the geographic database; and

generate a message for a user of the navigation application based on the comparison,

wherein the message includes maps showing differences between the installed version of the geographic database and the later version of the geographic database.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the message includes an offer to update the installed version of the geographic database to the later version of the geographic database.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the message includes options for printing directions to the destination location in response to the destination location being omitted from the installed version of the geographic database.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the message indicates that the destination is invalid when the destination location is included in the installed version of the geographic database and omitted in the later version of the geographic database.