Local POI Data Caching for GPS Receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Travelers using GPS receivers often lack access to up-to-date and time-sensitive point of interest (POI) data for local geographic areas, as existing programmed information may be outdated or invalid, failing to include new or temporary locations such as recently closed businesses or events.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a geographic location device receives local POI data via supported protocols, caches it with existing data, determines and removes expired time-sensitive information, and displays the current POI data for user utilization, enabling real-time updates and ad hoc transmission without requiring two-way communication links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS receivers use programmed POI information from main databases, then the system structure is simple and reliable, but the POI information is outdated and does not include local time-sensitive data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces local servers as intermediary devices that broadcast POI data to GPS receivers. These servers act as mediators between the centralized databases and the GPS receivers, enabling real-time local information updates without requiring complex two-way communication links. The servers receive data from various sources and redistribute it to nearby receivers, solving the contradiction by adding an intermediate layer that provides both reliability and up-to-date information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming GPS receivers with base POI data and pre-configuring local servers with broadcasting capabilities. When a receiver enters a local area, the server proactively broadcasts updated POI information without requiring the receiver to actively query or search for updates. This preliminary setup enables automatic information delivery, maintaining reliability while providing current local data.
2Reliability
If the system implements real-time POI data updates and local server broadcasting, then POI information is up-to-date and accurate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the POI data management system into distinct functional components: centralized databases, local servers, and GPS receivers. Each component has a specific role - databases store master data, servers handle local distribution and filtering, and receivers process information locally. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by distributing functions rather than centralizing all processing, making the system more manageable while achieving real-time updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where GPS receivers automatically detect when they enter local coverage areas and begin receiving POI broadcasts without user intervention. The receivers autonomously manage their own data updates, filtering and processing information based on their current location and needs. This automatic operation eliminates the need for complex user-side processing while maintaining data currency.
3Reliability
If the system uses two-way communication links for POI data transmission, then data transmission is reliable and controlled, but the infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic broadcasting instead of continuous two-way communication. Local servers periodically transmit POI data updates to GPS receivers within their coverage area at predetermined intervals or when data changes occur. This periodic action maintains transmission reliability by ensuring updates are delivered at regular intervals while significantly reducing infrastructure complexity compared to continuous controlled communication links.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for receiving local point of interest data is presented. The local point of interest data for a local geographic area is received by a geographic location device via a supported protocol. The local point of interest data includes information regarding one or more local points of interest in the local geographic area. The received local point of interest data is cached with existing point of interest data and maps within a cache in the geographic location device. Then, it is determined whether any time-sensitive point of interest data in the cache has expired. In response to determining that time-sensitive point of interest data in the cache has expired, the expired time-sensitive point of interest data is removed from the cache to form current local point of interest data for the local geographic area. Then, the current local point of interest data is displayed in a display device.