Vehicle Map Data Caching With Spatial Index Query

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods require full map data to be preloaded in vehicle terminals, leading to excessive consumption of system memory resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where an in-vehicle device requests and caches high-precision map data matching the current vehicle position from a cloud database, constructs a spatial index locally, and queries map data based on application queries using the spatial index, reducing the need for full map data storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full map data is preloaded in vehicle terminals, then map data query can be performed locally, but system memory resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap data query availabilityVSAvoidsystem memory resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the full map data into multiple tiles based on geographic regions. Instead of loading the entire map into memory, only the tiles corresponding to the current vehicle position and surrounding areas are loaded and cached locally. This allows local query capability while significantly reducing memory consumption compared to loading complete map data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by caching map data selectively based on spatial proximity to the current vehicle position. Map tiles closer to the current position are cached with higher priority and retained longer, while distant tiles are loaded on-demand. This ensures that frequently accessed local map data is available quickly while minimizing overall memory usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If map data is cached locally based on current position, then storage resources are saved, but query efficiency may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage resourcesVSAvoidquery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and establishing spatial indexes on map tiles before they are cached locally. When map data is retrieved from the cloud and cached, the spatial index is built in advance, enabling efficient querying without requiring full map data to be stored. This preliminary indexing maintains query efficiency while saving storage resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial index as an intermediary structure between the cached map tiles and the query operations. The spatial index acts as a mediator that enables efficient retrieval and querying of map data stored in compressed tile format, bridging the gap between reduced storage requirements and maintained query performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If spatial index is constructed locally, then map data query speed is improved, but local processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap data query speedVSAvoidlocal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by constructing spatial indexes only on the map tiles that are cached locally, rather than on the entire map dataset. This partial indexing approach provides sufficient query speed improvement for local operations while avoiding the excessive complexity that would result from indexing all possible map data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3926489B1Map data query method and apparatus, computer device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP3926489B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3926489B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3926489B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A map data query method, comprising: acquiring the current location of a vehicle; requesting map data matching the current location from a cloud database; locally caching the requested map data; on the basis of road features in the map data, locally constructing a spatial index of the map data; and, when acquiring a query request sent by the application layer, by means of the spatial index, locally querying the map data targeted by the query request.