Efficient composition and rendering of graphical elements
First Claim
1. A method for implementation in a computing device for generating map images, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a communications network, a plurality of base map tiles associated with a first map image for a selected geographic region, each base map tile including one or more vector descriptors that indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format;
preprocessing, using a processor, the vector descriptors in each base map tile to create a first set of rendering instructions for rendering the first map image as defined by the plurality of base map tiles;
receiving, via the communication network, a set of difference map tiles for rendering a second map image for the selected geographic region, each of the set of difference map tiles including one or more indications of a modification of a vector descriptor to be applied to one of the plurality of base map tiles;
preprocessing, using a processor, the one or more indications of the modifications of the vector descriptors to create a second set of rendering instructions for rendering the second map image;
rendering, using a processor, the second map image by implementing the first set of rendering instructions and the second set of rendering instructions; and
displaying the rendered second map image via a user interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A map server generates a set of base map tiles having vector descriptors, each indicating a geometry of a respective map element, in accordance with a non-raster format for rendering a first map image. The map server provides the base map tiles to the client device. Upon receiving an indication that a specific map image for the selected geographic region is to be rendered at the client device, the map server generates a set of difference map tiles that indicate changes to be made to the set of base map tiles and sends the difference map tiles to the client device for use, along with the set of base map tiles, in rendering the requested specific map image. The client device renders the new map view defined by the difference map tiles without needing to again pre-process all of the features or elements defined in the base map tiles.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for implementation in a computing device for generating map images, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a communications network, a plurality of base map tiles associated with a first map image for a selected geographic region, each base map tile including one or more vector descriptors that indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format; preprocessing, using a processor, the vector descriptors in each base map tile to create a first set of rendering instructions for rendering the first map image as defined by the plurality of base map tiles; receiving, via the communication network, a set of difference map tiles for rendering a second map image for the selected geographic region, each of the set of difference map tiles including one or more indications of a modification of a vector descriptor to be applied to one of the plurality of base map tiles; preprocessing, using a processor, the one or more indications of the modifications of the vector descriptors to create a second set of rendering instructions for rendering the second map image; rendering, using a processor, the second map image by implementing the first set of rendering instructions and the second set of rendering instructions; and displaying the rendered second map image via a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for implementation in a computing device for generating map images, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a communications network, a plurality of base map tiles associated with a first map image for a selected geographic region, each base map tile including one or more vector descriptors that indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format; preprocessing, using a processor, the vector descriptors in each base map tile to create a first set of rendering instructions for rendering the first map image as defined by the plurality of base map tiles, wherein the first set of rendering instructions uses a style attribute look up table to define style parameters to use in rendering map elements within the first map image; receiving, via the communication network, a set of difference map tiles for rendering a second map image for the selected geographic region, each of the set of difference map tiles including one or more indications of a modification of a vector descriptor to be applied in one of the plurality of base map tiles and wherein at least one of the difference map tiles includes an indication that a map element defined by one of the plurality of vector descriptors in the plurality of base map tiles is not to be shown in the second map image; modifying, using a processor, one or more of the style parameters used by the first set of rendering instructions to cause the first set of rendering instructions to render the map element that is not to be shown in the second map image in a manner that makes the map element not to be shown in the second map image substantially invisible in the second map image; rendering, using a processor, the second map image by implementing the first set of rendering instructions with the modified one or more of the style parameters; and displaying the rendered second map image via a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A display device comprising:
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a communications network interface; a user display device; and processing hardware including one or more processors coupled to the communications network interface and to the user display device, configured to receive, via the communications network interface, data in the form of a plurality of base map tiles associated with a first map image for a selected geographic region, each base map tile including one or more vector descriptors that indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format, preprocess the vector descriptors in each base map tile to create a first set of rendering instructions for rendering the first map image as defined by the plurality of base map tiles; receive via the communications network interface, a set of difference map tiles for rendering a second map image for the selected geographic region, each of the set of difference map tiles including one or more indications of a modification of a vector descriptor to be applied to one of the plurality of base map tiles; preprocess the one or more indications of the modifications of the vector descriptors to create a second set of rendering instructions for rendering the second map image; and render the second map image by implementing the first set of rendering instructions and the second set of rendering instructions; and display the rendered second map image via the user display device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A user device comprising:
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a communications network interface; a user display device; and processing hardware, including one or more processors, coupled to the communications network interface and to the user display device, the processing hardware configured to; receive via the communications network interface a plurality of base map tiles associated with a first map image for a selected geographic region, each base map tile including one or more vector descriptors that indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format; preprocess the vector descriptors in each base map tile to create a first set of rendering instructions for rendering the first map image as defined by the plurality of base map tiles, wherein the first set of rendering instructions uses a set of style attribute variables to define style parameters to use in rendering map elements within the first map image; receive via the communications network interface a set of difference map tiles for rendering a second map image for the selected geographic region, each of the set of difference map tiles including one or more indications of a modification of a vector descriptor to be applied in one of the plurality of base map tiles and wherein at least one of the difference map tiles includes an indication that a map element defined by one of the plurality of vector descriptors in the plurality of base map tiles is not to be shown in the second map image; modify one or more of the set of style attribute variables used by the first set of rendering instructions to cause the first set of rendering instructions to render the map element that is not to be shown in the second map image in a manner that makes the map element not to be shown in the second map image substantially invisible in the second map image; render the second map image by implementing the first set of rendering instructions with the modified one or more of the set of style attribute variables; and display the rendered second map image via the user display device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification