Map Data Stream Processing for Asynchronous Layer Integrity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing map data modification techniques require synchronized modifications across different layers, leading to potential inconsistencies and reduced flexibility, which can affect the integrity and safety of navigation and autonomous driving systems.

Innovation Solution

A stream processing method with integrity verification is employed to handle asynchronous modifications across map layers, ensuring consistency by detecting and correcting referential, logical, and syntactical inconsistencies, allowing independent updates without temporal alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synchronized modifications across different map layers are required, then map data consistency is maintained, but flexibility and update speed are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap data consistencyVSAvoidflexibility in map layer updates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments map data into multiple independent layers (e.g., road geometry layer, traffic information layer, point of interest layer) that can be modified asynchronously. Each layer can be updated independently without requiring synchronization with other layers, enabling flexible and rapid updates while maintaining overall system consistency through the processing system's coordination mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a processing system as an intermediary between map layer providers and consumers. This intermediary receives modification requests for different map layers, processes them independently, and coordinates the integration of changes. The processing system acts as a mediator that ensures consistency across layers without requiring the layers themselves to be synchronized, thus maintaining both flexibility and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If asynchronous modifications are allowed across map layers, then flexibility and update speed are improved, but risk of inconsistencies increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap layer update speedVSAvoidmap data integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processing system continuously monitors modifications to different map layers and verifies their consistency. When inconsistencies are detected (such as referential, logical, or syntactical errors), the system generates feedback to the map layer providers to correct the issues. This feedback loop enables asynchronous updates to proceed rapidly while maintaining data integrity through continuous verification and correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary integrity verification of map layer modifications before they are fully integrated into the system. The processing system checks for referential, logical, and syntactical inconsistencies in advance, and only allows modifications that pass verification to be incorporated. This preliminary action prevents inconsistent data from entering the system, enabling fast asynchronous updates while protecting data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If strict synchronization is enforced between parent and child map layers, then referential integrity is maintained, but system complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereferential integrityVSAvoidsynchronization coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a processing system as an intermediary to manage referential integrity between parent and child map layers. Instead of requiring direct synchronization coordination between layers, the processing system receives modification requests, verifies referential integrity independently, and coordinates the integration of changes. This intermediary approach maintains referential integrity while significantly reducing the complexity of synchronization coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables map layer modifications to be processed in a self-service manner where each layer's modifications are independently verified for referential integrity by the processing system. The system automatically checks whether modifications to child layers properly reference objects in parent layers and vice versa, without requiring complex manual coordination. This self-service approach maintains referential integrity while minimizing processing overhead and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4575397B1Method of modifying map data, and machine-readable instruction code
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT
  • EP4575397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4575397B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4575397B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

To modify map data, a processing system (20) obtains several streams (50, 60) and performs a stream processing (32) which comprises an integrity verification (33).