Regional map zoom tables

• US 8,363,068 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ito, Keith, Miller, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDowell, Jr., Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US13/551,312
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 701/455
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method for providing map data to a client device includes receiving, at a server from the client device over a network, a request for parameters related to map data for a region of interest, where each region of interest is a separate geographic area. The method also includes providing, for use by the client device, a local zoom table indicating each zoom level for which new map data is available and usable by the client to determine whether or not to request new map data in response to a zoom command. Providing the local zoom table includes generating the local zoom table by analyzing tile data from multiple zoom levels to determine a progression order of map tile zooms to be requested by the client.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing map data to a client device comprising:

receiving, at a server from the client device over a network, a request for parameters related to map data for a region of interest, where each region of interest is a separate geographic area; and

providing, for use by the client device, a local zoom table indicating each zoom level for which new map data is available and usable by the client to determine whether or not to request new map data in response to a zoom command, wherein providing the local zoom table comprises generating the local zoom table by analyzing tile data from multiple zoom levels to determine a progression order of map tile zooms to be requested by the client.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the progression order specifies zoom levels in the region of interest for which new label data is available.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the progression order specifies skipping zoom levels in the region of interest for which no additional label data is available.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the progression order specifies zoom levels in the region of interest for which new map vector data is available.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the progression order specifies skipping zoom levels in the region of interest for which no additional map vector data is available.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating the local zoom table by:

comparing the availability of map data by zoom level for the region of interest to a default zoom table; and

modifying the default zoom table.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the local zoom table includes zoom level information for at least one of map feature data or map label data components of the map data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for parameters includes receiving an indication of presence or version of an existing local zoom table at the client device, and wherein providing the local zoom table for the region of interest is in response to determining that the existing local zoom table at the client device is not present or at an obsolete version.

9. A computer-implemented method for providing map data to a client device comprising:

receiving, at a server from the client device over a network, a request for parameters related to map data for a region of interest, where each region of interest is a separate geographic area;

providing, for use by the client device, a local zoom table indicating each zoom level for which new map data is available and usable by the client to determine whether or not to request new map data in response to a zoom command;

generating a separate local zoom table for each map application type supported at the client device; and

wherein providing a local zoom table to the client device includes sending each separate local zoom table for its respective application type.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing the local zoom table includes causing a map application at the client device to offer only zoom levels for which there is new data to display.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing the local zoom table includes generating zoom level information for at least one of map feature data or map label data components of the map data for the region of interest.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein receiving the request for parameters includes receiving an indication of a presence of an existing zoom table or a version of an existing local zoom table at the client device, and wherein providing the local zoom table is in response to determining that the existing local zoom table at the client device is not present or at an obsolete version.

13. A computer-implemented method for providing map data to a client device comprising:

receiving, at a server from the client device over a network, a request for parameters related to map data for a region of interest, where each region of interest is a separate geographic area; and

providing, for use by the client device, a local zoom table indicating each zoom level for which new map data is available and usable by the client to determine whether or not to request new map data in response to a zoom command, wherein providing the local zoom table includes;

generating the local zoom table by analyzing tile data from multiple zoom levels to determine a progression order of map tile zooms to be requested by the client;

providing a local zoom table having a first set of values if the request for map data indicates a first software application to use the map data at the client device; and

providing a local zoom table having a second set of values if the request for map data indicates a second application to use the map data at the client device, wherein each of the first application and the second application is selected from a group including (i) a driving directions application for displaying turn-by-turn driving directions and (ii) a terrain map viewing application for interactively viewing a terrain map.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the progression order specifies zoom levels in the region of interest for which new label data is available.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the progression order specifies skipping zoom levels in the region of interest for which no additional label data is available.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the progression order specifies zoom levels in the region of interest for which new map vector data is available.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the progression order specifies skipping zoom levels in the region of interest for which no additional map vector data is available.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein generating the local zoom table comprises:

comparing the availability of map data by zoom level for the region of interest to a default zoom table; and

modifying the default zoom table.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein generating the local zoom table includes generating zoom level information for at least one of map feature data or map label data components of the map data for the region of interest.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein receiving the request for parameters includes receiving an indication of presence or version of an existing local zoom table at the client device, and wherein providing the local zoom table for the region of interest is in response to determining that the existing local zoom table at the client device is not present or at an obsolete version.