Dynamic Map Label Prioritization for Wireless Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communications devices face inefficiencies in downloading and displaying map labels due to limited bandwidth and processing capabilities, particularly when displaying maps on small screens at higher zoom levels, where not all labels can be displayed or downloaded quickly enough as the device moves.

Innovation Solution

A method for dynamically downloading map labels based on a label prioritization scheme that considers the user's current location and movement, optimizing the amount of label data downloaded to conserve bandwidth and processing resources, using a Maplet data structure and index to determine the required label data size and prioritize downloads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all map labels are downloaded to ensure complete navigation information, then the completeness of navigation information is improved, but the bandwidth consumption and download time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of navigation informationVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential navigation labels needed for the user's current context and location from the complete map data set. By identifying and downloading only the critical subset of labels rather than all available labels, the system reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining the completeness of necessary navigation information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different download strategies to different regions of the map based on their importance to navigation. Labels in the user's current area and along the planned route are downloaded in full, while labels in distant or less important areas are either not downloaded or downloaded at lower detail levels, optimizing bandwidth usage according to local needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If all map labels are downloaded to provide complete navigation information, then the completeness of navigation information is improved, but the download time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of navigation informationVSAvoiddownload time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential navigation labels needed for the user's current context and location from the complete map data set. By identifying and downloading only the critical subset of labels rather than all available labels, the system reduces download time while maintaining the completeness of necessary navigation information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the user's location, destination, and planned route before initiating label downloads. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-identify which labels are essential, enabling selective downloading that reduces download time while ensuring all necessary navigation information is obtained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If label prioritization is implemented to reduce download data, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but the complexity of the download system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoiddownload system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces prioritization parameters (such as label importance levels, relevance to current location, and proximity to user) to categorize and selectively download labels. By changing the download approach from uniform to parameter-based selection, the system reduces bandwidth consumption while managing complexity through structured parameter evaluation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2078929B1Dynamic prioritization of label downloads
Publication Date: 2013.10.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2078929B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2078929B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2078929B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Map labels are dynamically downloaded to a wireless communication device for efficiently labelling a map displayed on the device. A method of dynamically downloading map labels to a wireless communications device includes steps of determining a size of label data for an area of interest and dynamically downloading the label data for the area of interest based on the size of the label data. Optionally, map labels can be dynamically downloaded based on a label prioritization scheme that takes into account the current position of the device. Optionally, the size of the label data can be determined from a map data index.