Hybrid Navigation Map Tile Stitching for Partial Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Partial map updates in navigation systems often result in incompatible tile boundaries due to mixed versions of map data, leading to unsatisfactory user experiences when trying to provide routes or display maps, especially when adjacent tiles have not been fully updated.

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying anchor and broken links across tile boundaries, compiling new and old change sets for partially updated tiles, and using previous map data to ensure local connectivity and version indication, allowing for the display of updated map data while maintaining map functionality even when not all tiles are updated simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If map updates are provided tile by tile to reduce update time and bandwidth usage, then update efficiency is improved, but tile boundary compatibility deteriorates due to mixed versions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap update efficiencyVSAvoidtile boundary compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The map is divided into discrete tiles that can be updated independently. Each tile is a self-contained unit with version information, allowing selective updating of individual tiles without requiring complete map updates, thus improving update efficiency while maintaining version tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tile boundary resolution mechanism acts as an intermediary between tiles of different versions. When a boundary is detected between updated and non-updated tiles, the system automatically resolves compatibility issues by adjusting road topology data at the boundary, allowing mixed-version tiles to coexist functional.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the entire map is updated simultaneously to ensure consistency, then tile boundary compatibility is improved, but update time and bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetile boundary compatibilityVSAvoidupdate time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of updating the entire map, the system performs partial updates by identifying and updating only the specific tiles that contain changes. This partial action approach reduces update time and bandwidth consumption while maintaining compatibility through version management and boundary resolution mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The map update process is segmented into individual tile updates rather than a monolithic full-map update. Each tile can be updated independently and asynchronously, allowing the system to progress through updates without waiting for complete map synchronization, thus reducing overall update time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If map data is stored in a tile-based format to enable modular updates, then update flexibility is improved, but complexity of managing mixed versions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate flexibilityVSAvoidversion management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Version information and identification data are embedded in each tile before updates occur. This preliminary tagging allows the system to automatically identify version differences and manage mixed versions without complex real-time analysis, reducing the complexity of version management while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages version complexity by changing the parameter of version identification from a system-wide attribute to a per-tile attribute. Each tile carries its own version parameter, allowing independent tracking and management of versions across different tiles, which simplifies the overall version management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3452784B1Stitching mixed-version map tiles in hybrid navigation for partial map updates
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 HERE GLOBAL BV
  • EP3452784B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3452784B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3452784B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, computer program products, and systems related to partial map updates are provided. An example embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a map update for at least a first tile comprising map update data. The map update comprises updated map data for the first tile and previous map data for the first tile corresponding to one or more changed or new links intersected by a tile boundary between the first tile and a second tile. A map region of interest is determined, wherein the map region of interest comprises at least a portion of the first tile. The previous map data for the one or more changed or new links intersected by the tile boundary is used or displayed when a map update for the second tile has not been received and is not used or displayed when a map update for the second tile has been received.