Hierarchical Map Unit Storage for Navigation Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation devices store and process excessive detailed geographic information, leading to unnecessary data handling and processing, as they read and utilize all map units for route calculation, even when only a subset is necessary for navigation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hierarchically structured storage medium where map units are organized by order, with identifiers in a structure file indicating the type of geographic data, allowing for selective loading of only necessary data units for navigation, reducing data processing and storage requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all map units are read and processed for route calculation, then complete geographic information is available, but data processing time and storage requirements increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments geographic data into hierarchical map units (first-order, second-order, third-order, etc.), where each order represents a different level of detail. This segmentation allows the navigation device to selectively load only the necessary level of detail required for the current navigation task, rather than processing all available data. The hierarchical structure enables efficient data retrieval by matching the complexity of the navigation requirement with the appropriate map unit order.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by associating different levels of geographic data detail with specific geographic regions through the hierarchical map unit structure. Each map unit order contains geographic information appropriate for its specific region and navigation context. This allows the system to provide high-detail data where needed (e.g., current location area) and lower-detail data for other regions, optimizing both information completeness and processing efficiency.
2Reliability
If detailed geographic information is stored in all map units, then comprehensive navigation data is available, but storage medium size and data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides geographic data into hierarchical segments (map units of different orders), where each segment contains a specific level of detail. First-order map units contain the most detailed information, while higher-order units contain progressively less detailed information. This segmentation allows the storage medium to efficiently organize data by detail level, enabling selective loading based on navigation requirements and reducing the total amount of data that must be stored and transmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension (order levels) to the traditional flat map unit structure. By organizing data in multiple hierarchical levels (first-order, second-order, third-order, etc.), the system adds a dimension of data abstraction. This hierarchical dimensioning allows efficient storage and selective retrieval of data at appropriate detail levels, reducing storage requirements while maintaining data reliability for navigation purposes.
3Productivity
If map units are divided into smaller units to reduce data amount, then processing efficiency improves, but the complexity of data management and selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments map units into a hierarchical structure with clear ordering (first-order, second-order, etc.), where each level represents a specific granularity of geographic detail. This systematic segmentation provides a regular, predictable data organization pattern that simplifies management compared to arbitrary division. The hierarchical order makes it straightforward to select appropriate data levels based on navigation requirements without complex decision logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the hierarchical order level as a key parameter for data management and selection. By changing the order parameter (selecting first-order, second-order, or higher-order map units), the system can efficiently control the amount and detail of data processed. This parameter-based approach simplifies data management compared to complex content analysis, as the order level directly correlates with data detail and processing requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a storage medium on which geographical data (20, B, P, U) for a geographical area are stored in combined form as map units (17), to a corresponding method for generating a map from the geographical data (20, B, P, U), and to a corresponding navigation apparatus. In order to reduce the volume of data to be processed, the map units are hierarchically structured, wherein map units of an n-th order respectively correspond to a geographical partial area, where n is a natural number, and wherein map units of an (n+1)-th order respectively correspond to a geographical subarea of one of the partial areas.