Template-based map distribution system

• US 20040027258A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telmap Limited (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Nissim, Oren, Pechatnikov, Michael, Fagin, Alexander, Kupferman, Michael Menachem, Yadan, Omry, Eckstein, Ilya
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route

Abstract

A method for displaying a map includes storing map data on a server including a plurality of layers, which include vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category, and a set of templates, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated. At least a subset of the templates is downloaded to a client device from the server, as is the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map. Based on the downloaded vector information, an image of the selected area of the map is rendered on the client device in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a map on a client device having a given display capability, the method comprising:

storing map data on a server, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category;

defining a set of templates on the server responsively to the display capability of the client device, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated;

downloading to the client device from the server at least a subset of the templates;

downloading to the client device from the server the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map; and

rendering on the client device, based on the downloaded vector information, an image of the selected area of the map in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visual characteristic comprises at least one of a fill color, a border color and a line width to be used in rendering one or more of the features on the client device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visual characteristic comprises an indication of a Z-order to be applied to the features in rendering the image on the client device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the templates indicate whether a text string is to be associated with one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the templates indicate an image to be used in representing one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein defining the set of templates comprises associating a plurality of different templates with each one of the layers, each of the different templates indicating different visual characteristics to be applied to the features in the layer.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein associating the plurality of different templates comprises defining different, respective sets of templates for different client devices having different, respective display capabilities.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein associating the plurality of different templates comprises defining different, respective sets of templates for different ambient light conditions under which the image on the client device is to be viewed.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sets of templates comprise a first set of templates for daytime viewing of the image and a second set of templates for nighttime viewing of the image.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein associating the plurality of different templates comprises defining multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered, and defining different, respective sets of templates for the different zoom levels.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the templates specify, for each of the layers, whether or not the features in the layer are to be displayed in images of the map that are rendered at the different zoom levels.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein downloading the vector information comprises selecting a zoom level for the image, and omitting from the downloaded vector information, responsively to the templates for the selected zoom level, the features that are not to be displayed in the image rendered on the client device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading at least the subset of the templates comprises saving the templates in a memory of the client device, for use in rendering images of multiple areas of the map.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein downloading at least the subset of the templates comprises comparing the templates on the server to the templates in the memory of the client device, and downloading to the client device only elements of the templates on the server that are absent from the templates in the memory of the client device.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a first layer delineating cities, at least a second layer delineating streets and at least a third layer delineating points of interest.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a fourth layer comprising dynamic information, which may change in the course of an interaction between the server and the client device, and wherein downloading the vector information comprises modifying the vector information downloaded to the client in response to a change in the dynamic information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of layers comprises locations of house numbers on the streets.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vector information specifies respective shapes and coordinates of the features in the map.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the features delineated by at least one of the layers comprise multiple types of features, and wherein defining the set of templates comprises specifying different, respective visual characteristics for the different types of the features in the at least one of the layers.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein defining the set of templates comprises defining multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered, and wherein specifying the different, respective visual characteristics comprises defining different, respective sets of templates for the different zoom levels that specify the respective visual characteristics for each of the different types of the features at each of the zoom levels.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading at least the subset of the templates and the vector information comprises downloading the templates and the vector information over a wireless link.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

23. The method according to claim 21, and comprising downloading an applet from the server to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the templates and the vector information and rendering the image.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and wherein downloading the vector information comprises:

determining a heading of travel along a route in the selected area of the map;

transforming the vector coordinates on the server into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading; and

downloading to the client device from the server a portion of the map data corresponding to a vicinity of the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates,

wherein rendering the image comprises rendering the image of the map on the client device in the rotated frame of reference.

25. The method according to claim 1, and comprising determining a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle,

wherein downloading the vector information comprises defining a corridor map on the server, the corridor map comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment, and downloading the vector information in the map segments from the server to the client device, and

wherein rendering the image comprises rendering on the client device a succession of images of the map segments as the client device travels along the route.

26. A method for displaying a map on a client device, the method comprising:

storing map data on a server, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category;

defining a set of templates on the server, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated;

downloading to the client device from the server at least a first subset of the templates, and saving the downloaded templates in the first subset in a memory of the client device;

receiving a request from the client device to view a selected area of the map;

determining a second subset of the templates on the server that is required to view the selected area of the map on the client device;

comparing the templates in the second subset to the templates saved in the memory of the client device, and downloading to the client device from the server only elements of the second subset that are absent from the templates in the memory of the client device;

downloading to the client device from the server the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to the selected area of the map; and

rendering on the client device, based on the downloaded vector information, an image of the selected area of the map in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein downloading at least the first subset of the templates comprises downloading the first subset of the templates for use in rendering images of a first area of the map, which is different from the selected area of the map.

28. Apparatus for displaying a map on a client device having a given display capability, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category, and which is further adapted to store a set of templates, which are defined on the server responsively to the display capability of the client device, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated,

the server being further adapted to download to the client device at least a subset of the templates and the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, so as to cause the client device to render an image of the selected area of the map, based on the downloaded vector information, in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the visual characteristic comprises at least one of a fill color, a border color and a line width to be used in rendering one or more of the features on the client device.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the visual characteristic comprises an indication of a Z-order to be applied to the features in rendering the image on the client device.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the templates indicate whether a text string is to be associated with one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

32. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the templates indicate an image to be used in representing one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

33. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the server is adapted to associate a plurality of different templates with each one of the layers, each of the different templates indicating different visual characteristics to be applied to the features in the layer.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises different, respective sets of templates for different client devices having different, respective display capabilities.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises different, respective sets of templates for different ambient light conditions under which the image on the client device is to be viewed.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the sets of templates comprise a first set of templates for daytime viewing of the image and a second set of templates for nighttime viewing of the image.

37. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises multiple different sets of templates, which are respectively defined for multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the templates specify, for each of the layers, whether or not the features in the layer are to be displayed in images of the map that are rendered at the different zoom levels.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the server is adapted to select a zoom level for the image, and to omit from the downloaded vector information, responsively to the templates for the selected zoom level, the features that are not to be displayed in the image rendered on the client device.

40. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein at least some of the templates are saved locally on the client device, for use in rendering images of multiple areas of the map.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the server is adapted to compare the templates in the memory to the templates saved locally on the client device, and to download to the client device only elements of the templates in the memory that are absent from the templates saved locally on the client device.

42. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a first layer delineating cities, at least a second layer delineating streets and at least a third layer delineating points of interest.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a fourth layer comprising dynamic information, which may change in the course of an interaction between the server and the client device, and wherein the server is adapted to modify the vector information downloaded to the client in response to a change in the dynamic information.

44. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the plurality of layers comprises locations of house numbers on the streets.

45. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the vector information specifies respective shapes and coordinates of the features in the map.

46. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the features delineated by at least one of the layers comprise multiple types of features, and wherein the templates specify different, respective visual characteristics for the different types of the features in the at least one of the layers.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the server is adapted to define multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered, and to define different, respective sets of templates for the different zoom levels that specify the respective visual characteristics for each of the different types of the features at each of the zoom levels.

48. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the server is adapted to download the templates and the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.

49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the server over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

50. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the server is adapted to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the templates and the vector information and rendering the image.

51. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and wherein the server is adapted to determine a heading of travel along a route in the selected area of the map, to transform the vector coordinates into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and to download to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a vicinity of the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates, causing the client device to render the image of the map in the rotated frame of reference.

52. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the server is adapted to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle, and

wherein the server is further adapted to define a corridor map, comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as the client device travels along the route.

53. Apparatus for displaying a map on a client device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category, and to store a set of templates, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated,

the server being further adapted to download to the client device at least a first subset of the templates, causing the client device to store the downloaded templates in the first subset in a memory of the client device, and upon receiving a request from the client device to view a selected area of the map, to determine a second subset of the templates on the server that is required to view the selected area of the map on the client device,

the server being still further adapted, based on a comparison of the templates in the second subset to the templates saved in the memory of the client device, to download to the client device only elements of the second subset that are absent from the templates in the memory of the client device, and to download to the client device the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to the selected area of the map, so as to cause the client device, based on the downloaded vector information, to render an image of the selected area of the map in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

54. The apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the first subset of the templates is downloaded to the client device for use in rendering images of a first area of the map, which is different from the selected area of the map.

55. A computer software product for displaying a map on a client device having a given display capability, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data stored in a memory, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category, and to access a set of templates, which are defined responsively to the display capability of the client device, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated,

the instructions further causing the computer to download to the client device at least a subset of the templates and the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, so as to cause the client device to render an image of the selected area of the map, based on the downloaded vector information, in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

56. The product according to claim 55, wherein the visual characteristic comprises at least one of a fill color, a border color and a line width to be used in rendering one or more of the features on the client device.

57. The product according to claim 55, wherein the visual characteristic comprises an indication of a Z-order to be applied to the features in rendering the image on the client device.

58. The product according to claim 55, wherein the templates indicate whether a text string is to be associated with one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

59. The product according to claim 55, wherein the templates indicate an image to be used in representing one or more of the features in the image rendered on the client device.

60. The product according to claim 55, wherein the instructions cause the computer to associate a plurality of different templates with each one of the layers, each of the different templates indicating different visual characteristics to be applied to the features in the layer.

61. The product according to claim 60, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises different, respective sets of templates for different client devices having different, respective display capabilities.

62. The product according to claim 60, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises different, respective sets of templates for different ambient light conditions under which the image on the client device is to be viewed.

63. The product according to claim 62, wherein the sets of templates comprise a first set of templates for daytime viewing of the image and a second set of templates for nighttime viewing of the image.

64. The product according to claim 60, wherein the plurality of different templates comprises multiple different sets of templates, which are respectively defined for multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered.

65. The product according to claim 64, wherein the templates specify, for each of the layers, whether or not the features in the layer are to be displayed in images of the map that are rendered at the different zoom levels.

66. The product according to claim 65, wherein the instructions cause the computer to select a zoom level for the image, and to omit from the downloaded vector information, responsively to the templates for the selected zoom level, the features that are not to be displayed in the image rendered on the client device.

67. The product according to claim 65, wherein at least some of the templates are saved locally on the client device, for use in rendering images of multiple areas of the map.

68. The product according to claim 67, wherein the instructions cause the computer to compare the templates in the memory to the templates saved locally on the client device, and to download to the client device only elements of the templates in the memory that are absent from the templates saved locally on the client device.

69. The product according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a first layer delineating cities, at least a second layer delineating streets and at least a third layer delineating points of interest.

70. The product according to claim 69, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least a fourth layer comprising dynamic information, which may change in the course of an interaction between the computer and the client device, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to modify the vector information downloaded to the client in response to a change in the dynamic information.

71. The product according to claim 69, wherein the plurality of layers comprises locations of house numbers on the streets.

72. The product according to claim 55, wherein the vector information specifies respective shapes and coordinates of the features in the map.

73. The product according to claim 55, wherein the features delineated by at least one of the layers comprise multiple types of features, and wherein the templates specify different, respective visual characteristics for the different types of the features in the at least one of the layers.

74. The product according to claim 73, wherein the instructions cause the computer to define multiple different zoom levels at which the image may be rendered, and to define different, respective sets of templates for the different zoom levels that specify the respective visual characteristics for each of the different types of the features at each of the zoom levels.

75. The product according to claim 55, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download the templates and the vector information to the client device over a wireless link.

76. The product according to claim 75, wherein the client device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), which communicates with the computer over a cellular telephone network that comprises the wireless link.

77. The product according to claim 75, wherein the instructions cause the computer to download an applet to the client device over the wireless link, for use by the client device in receiving the templates and the vector information and rendering the image.

78. The product according to claim 55, wherein the vector information comprises vector coordinates of the features in the map in a predetermined frame of reference, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to determine a heading of travel along a route in the selected area of the map, to transform the vector coordinates into a rotated frame of reference, which is approximately aligned with the heading, and to download to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a vicinity of the route and comprising the transformed vector coordinates, causing the client device to render the image of the map in the rotated frame of reference.

79. The product according to claim 55, wherein the instructions cause the computer to determine a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, each route segment having a respective length and heading angle, and

wherein the instructions further cause the computer to define a corridor map, comprising a plurality of map segments, each map segment containing a respective route segment and having a respective zoom level and orientation determined by the length and heading angle of the respective route segment, and to download the vector information in the map segments to the client device, so as to cause the client device to render a succession of images of the map segments as the client device travels along the route.

80. A computer software product for displaying a map on a client device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to access map data stored in a server memory, the map data comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising vector information delineating features in the map belonging to a respective feature category, and to access a set of templates in the server memory, each such template being associated with a respective one of the layers and indicating a visual characteristic of the features in the layer with which the template is associated,

the instructions further causing the computer to download to the client device at least a first subset of the templates, causing the client device to store the downloaded templates in the first subset in a memory of the client device, and upon receiving a request from the client device to view a selected area of the map, to determine a second subset of the templates in the server memory that is required to view the selected area of the map on the client device,

the instructions still further causing the computer, based on a comparison of the templates in the second subset to the templates saved in the memory of the client device, to download to the client device only elements of the second subset that are absent from the templates in the memory of the client device, and to download to the client device the vector information in a portion of one or more of the layers of the map data corresponding to the selected area of the map, so as to cause the client device, based on the downloaded vector information, to render an image of the selected area of the map in accordance with the visual characteristic indicated by the downloaded templates.

81. The product according to claim 80, wherein the first subset of the templates is downloaded to the client device for use in rendering images of a first area of the map, which is different from the selected area of the map.