Map Tile Versioning and Incremental Rerendering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing map tile systems face significant delays in rendering map tiles from vector data, which can take days or weeks, and lack efficient mechanisms for updating tiles in response to changes in geospatial information.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for updating map tiles by rerendering affected tiles based on updates to geospatial information, using unique version identifiers to manage and distribute the updated tiles, and providing instructions for replacing existing tiles with the rerendered instances, allowing for efficient caching and display of updated map data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If map tiles are rendered from vector data for large or complex maps, then complete and accurate map representation is achieved, but rendering time increases significantly to days or weeks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the map rendering process into two distinct segments: bulk rendering of complete map tiles and incremental rendering of only changed portions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain complete map representation while dramatically reducing update times by processing only necessary portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary bulk rendering of complete map tiles in advance, storing them for later use. When updates occur, only the changed portions need to be re-rendered and merged with the pre-rendered tiles, eliminating the need to re-render entire maps from scratch.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional bulk rendering is used for all map tiles, then consistent map representation is maintained, but update efficiency decreases when only small portions change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between stable unchanged map tile portions and dynamic changed portions. Unchanged tiles maintain their original bulk-rendered quality and consistency, while only local changed portions undergo incremental re-rendering, optimizing both consistency and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete re-rendering of all tiles (excessive action), the system performs partial re-rendering only of changed portions. This partial action maintains map consistency where needed while dramatically improving update efficiency for small changes.
3Ease of operation
If temporary display objects are used to represent updates, then user interaction is improved during editing, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temporary display objects as intermediary elements between the user and the underlying map data during editing operations. These objects facilitate user interaction by visually representing changes without permanently altering the map structure, and are automatically replaced when updates are finalized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages temporary display objects, creating them during editing operations and automatically removing them when updates are applied. This dynamic approach improves user interaction during editing while preventing permanent accumulation of temporary objects that would increase display complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for updating map tiles. The method includes receiving updates to features in geospatial information that describes a map. The map is represented by multiple tiles. The method further includes rerendering at least one tile from the tiles based on the update to generate an individual rerendered instance of the tile. The method further includes storing a tile version identifier and an association between the tile version identifier and the individual rerendered instance of the tile. The method further includes providing the tile version identifier, instructions for using the tile version identifier to send a request for the individual rerendered instance of the tile, instructions for replacing an existing instance of the tile with the individual rerendered instance of the tile, and instructions for ceasing overlaying of a temporary display object on the map.