API Prefetching Map Data Cache for Offline Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital map applications on computing devices often fail to display maps when they lose network coverage, as they rely on continuous connectivity to fetch map data, leading to disruptions in navigation and mapping services.
Innovation Solution
An Application Programming Interface (API) for prefetching map data allows software applications to proactively retrieve and store map data for specific geographic areas in a cache, enabling map rendering without internet access by controlling access to the cache and managing data detail levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If map data is fetched on-demand from the map data provider, then data connection is required for map display, but map display fails when network coverage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by prefetching map data for anticipated geographic areas before they are actually needed. The API monitors application state and proactively retrieves map data for areas that will likely be needed next, storing them in the cache before the application requests them. This eliminates the need to fetch data on-demand when network coverage is lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a map data cache as an intermediary layer between the application and the map data provider. This cache stores copies of map data locally on the device, allowing the application to retrieve map data from the cache instead of requiring continuous network connection. The cache acts as a buffer that decouples the application from network dependency.
2Reliability
If map data is prefetched in advance, then map display continues without network coverage, but memory resources are consumed for caching
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by prefetching map data selectively for specific geographic areas that are anticipated to be needed, rather than caching entire map datasets. The API determines which geographic areas to prefetch based on the application's current state and predicted navigation paths, storing only the relevant portions in the cache. This optimizes memory usage by caching only locally relevant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by prefetching only the necessary portions of map data rather than complete datasets. The API retrieves map data for specific geographic areas at specific zoom levels that are predicted to be needed, rather than caching all possible map data. This partial prefetching approach balances cache utilization with memory resource constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications access the map data cache directly, then each application can store and retrieve map data independently, but cache consistency and memory management become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API as an intermediary layer between multiple applications and the shared map data cache. This API provides a standardized interface for applications to request prefetching and retrieval of map data without direct cache access. The API manages cache consistency, handles memory allocation, and coordinates data storage/retrieval operations, simplifying cache management while enabling multiple applications to use the cache efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The API serves multiple functions: it manages the cache for multiple applications, handles prefetching logic, controls memory allocation, and provides data retrieval services. This universal interface consolidates cache management complexity into a single component that serves all applications, rather than requiring each application to implement its own cache management logic.
4Manufacturing precision
If map data is retrieved at higher detail levels, then map image quality improves, but data transmission time and network usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by retrieving map data at different detail levels for different geographic areas. The API determines which areas require high-detail data (such as the current view area) versus lower-detail data (for peripheral or less important areas). This selective detail retrieval optimizes both map image quality and network transmission time by matching data detail to spatial importance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by retrieving map data at higher detail levels only for the specific geographic areas that will be displayed, rather than fetching high-detail data for all areas. The API retrieves data at zoom levels appropriate for the predicted display needs, avoiding unnecessary high-detail data transmission for areas that will not be viewed closely, thus reducing overall data transmission time.
Data Source
AI summary
An API for prefetching map data receives a prefetch request for an indicated geographic area from a software application. In response, the API retrieves map data corresponding to the indicated geographic area from a map data provider and stores the map data in a map data cache without causing a digital map based on the map data to be displayed on the display device. The map data cache is accessible to the software application only via the API. Subsequently to storing the map data in the map data cache, the API receives a request to render the digital map from the software application and, in response to the request to render the map image, renders the map image for display on a display device using the map data stored in the map data cache.