System and method for dynamically downloading and displaying map data
First Claim
1. A method of dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device, the method comprising:
- determining, at the wireless communications device, a map data density for an area of interest by;
obtaining one or more map data indexes for map data corresponding to the area of interest, the map data indexes indicating all available map data for the area of interest; and
computing, at the wireless communications device, the map data density for the area of interest based on the one or more map data indexes, the computing determining a total number of elements within the area of interest; and
dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density by;
identifying default layers of map data for a zoom level;
downloading the default layers and at least one additional map layer if the map data density is below a first predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure a number of elements within the map data is above the first predetermined threshold number of elements; and
downloading fewer than all of the default layers if the map data density is above a second predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure the number of elements within the map data to be below the second predetermined threshold number of elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device is achieved by determining a map data density for an area of interest and then dynamically downloading and optionally also dynamically displaying the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density. For areas of interest with low map data density, this technology has the effect of downloading more map data so that the map is displayed with more detail than would conventionally be obtained. Conversely, for areas of interest with excessively high map data density, dynamic downloading and display can reduce the onscreen map density for a less crowded map.
6 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of dynamically downloading map data to a wireless communications device, the method comprising:
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determining, at the wireless communications device, a map data density for an area of interest by; obtaining one or more map data indexes for map data corresponding to the area of interest, the map data indexes indicating all available map data for the area of interest; and computing, at the wireless communications device, the map data density for the area of interest based on the one or more map data indexes, the computing determining a total number of elements within the area of interest; and dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density by; identifying default layers of map data for a zoom level; downloading the default layers and at least one additional map layer if the map data density is below a first predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure a number of elements within the map data is above the first predetermined threshold number of elements; and downloading fewer than all of the default layers if the map data density is above a second predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure the number of elements within the map data to be below the second predetermined threshold number of elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium comprising code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device, is adapted to perform acts of:
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determining, at the wireless communications device, a map data density for an area of interest by obtaining one or more map data indexes for map data corresponding to the area of interest, the map data indexes indicating all available map data for the area of interest; and computing, at the wireless communications device, the map data density for the area of interest based on the one or more map data indexes, the computing determining a total number of elements within the area of interest; and dynamically downloading the map data for the area of interest based on the map data density by; identifying default layers of map data for a zoom level; downloading the default layers and at least one additional map layer if the map data density is below a first predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure a number of elements within the map data is above the first predetermined threshold number of elements; and downloading fewer than all of the default layers if the map data density is above a second predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure the number of elements within the map data to be below the second predetermined threshold number of elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless communications device comprising:
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a radiofrequency transceiver for requesting and receiving map data corresponding to an area of interest wherein the radiofrequency transmitter downloads one or more map data indexes to enable the processor to determine the map data density, the map data indexes indicating all available map data for the area of interest; a processor operatively coupled to memory for determining a map data density based on a total number of map elements listed in the one or more map data indexes for the area of interest and for dynamically downloading map data based on the map data density for the area of interest by identifying default layers of map data for a zoom level, downloading the default layers and at least one additional map layer if the map data density is below a first predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure a number of elements within the map data is above the first predetermined threshold number of elements and downloading fewer than all of the default layers if the map data density is above a second predetermined threshold number of elements to ensure the number of elements within the map data to be below the second predetermined threshold number of elements; and a display for displaying a map based on the map data downloaded for the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification