Tile-Based Map Data Synchronization for Mobile Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for communicating dynamic information associated with locations on digital maps, such as changes to speed cameras or traffic lights, are inefficient, particularly in connected mobile navigation devices, as they often require periodic updates or rely on outdated data dissemination strategies.
Innovation Solution
A method and data structure that synchronizes static and dynamic data associated with geographic tiles, allowing mobile devices to request and receive updates based on location, with validity information determining the need for updates, enabling efficient communication of dynamic data with a time-to-refresh of less than one second and static data with a validity period of at least three minutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic pushing of dynamic data is performed from server to device, then data dissemination is achieved, but bandwidth usage increases and data may be outdated by the time of delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device autonomously determines whether to request dynamic data updates by checking its location against selected tiles and comparing timestamps, eliminating the need for server-initiated periodic pushing and reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The server pre-selects tiles based on the device's location and preps dynamic data for these tiles in advance, so that when the device requests updates, the data is already prepared and ready for immediate transfer, reducing latency and improving data freshness
2Reliability
If static data is synchronized frequently to ensure accuracy, then data reliability improves, but communication overhead and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic synchronization for static data with a validity period of at least three minutes, balancing data accuracy requirements with reduced communication frequency, while dynamic data uses a shorter time-to-refresh period of less than one second for critical updates
Solution Approach 2:
The server selectively synchronizes static data only for specific geographic tiles relevant to the device's current location and route, rather than synchronizing all static data globally, reducing communication overhead while maintaining local data accuracy
3Loss of information
If dynamic data updates are distributed to all devices in an area, then information availability improves, but network load and server resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server selects specific geographic tiles for dynamic data distribution based on device location and route information, and only distributes updates for those selected tiles to specific devices, rather than broadcasting to all devices in a region, reducing network traffic while maintaining local information availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system distributes dynamic data updates selectively based on device subscription and location relevance, providing partial updates only for affected tiles rather than complete data sets, reducing network load while ensuring necessary information reaches subscribed devices
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of distributing data from a server having memory storing static data and dynamic data associated with one or more objects within a plurality of tiles, each tile defining a geographic area in digital map data. The method comprising: selecting one or more tiles based on the location of a mobile device; synchronising static data on the mobile device with the static data stored in the memory of the server for one or more objects within the selected one or more tiles; and distributing dynamic data updates to the mobile device associated with at least one object based upon the location of the mobile device.