Google Inc.

Damon Stacey

Benjamin Greenwood

A network server receives, from a client device, an indication of a first raster map image that depicts a geographic map of a certain region and a certain zoom level. The network server obtains a second raster map image corresponding to the geographic region and the zoom level and generating a description of a difference in pixels between the indicated first raster map image and the second raster map image. The network server then provides the description of the determined difference in pixels to the client device for generating the second raster map image at the client device.

Rendering map data using descriptions of raster differences

Systems and methods of linking two or more software applications using a multi-platform application programming interface (API) are provided. For instance, a uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with a multi-platform API associated with a mapping software application can be accessed. The multi-platform API can include a common URI syntax for use within a plurality of platforms. The URI can include a query string specifying one or more location parameters in accordance with the common URI syntax. The one or more location parameters can be configured to control an execution of the selected state by the mapping software application. A presence of the mapping application can be detected on the user device. The mapping application can be launched in the selected state based at least in part on the URI. The query string can be parsed to identify the location parameters. One or more actions can be performed based at least in part on the location parameters.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Damon Stacey