Google Inc.

James Darpinian

Jennifer Maurer

Daniel Otero

Brian Cornell

Nicholas Lee

A map server generates a set of base map tiles having vector descriptors, each indicating a geometry of a respective map element, in accordance with a non-raster format for rendering a first map image. The map server provides the base map tiles to the client device. Upon receiving an indication that a specific map image for the selected geographic region is to be rendered at the client device, the map server generates a set of difference map tiles that indicate changes to be made to the set of base map tiles and sends the difference map tiles to the client device for use, along with the set of base map tiles, in rendering the requested specific map image. The client device renders the new map view defined by the difference map tiles without needing to again pre-process all of the features or elements defined in the base map tiles.

Efficient composition and rendering of graphical elements

To provide map data for rendering map images corresponding to a selected geographic region at a client device, a map server generates a set of base map tiles having vector descriptors, each of which indicates a geometry of a respective map element, in accordance with a non-raster format for rendering a first map image. The map server, at some point, provides the base map tiles to the client device. Upon receiving an indication that a specific map image for the selected geographic region is to be rendered at the client device, the map server further generates a set of difference map tiles that indicate changes to be made to the set of base map tiles and sends the difference map tiles to the client device for use, along with the set of base map tiles, in rendering the requested specific map image.

Use of map data difference tiles to iteratively provide map data to a client device

Rendering map tiles with style data for zoom levels other than the style data intended for that tile at its nominal zoom level can be used to avoid abrupt changes between map tiles. Particularly when changing zoom levels, use of styles from more than one level may create an uneven look. To address this, either the new data may be displayed with the style for the previous zoom level or the old data may be presented with the style for the new zoom level style until all tiles for the new zoom level are received. At that time, all the map tiles may be displayed using the style for the new zoom level along with the map data intended for that zoom level. Displaying map tiles at a first zoom level using a progression of styles from other zoom levels may also be used when creating a perspective view map.

Seamless vector map tiles across multiple zoom levels

A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, may receive map data associated with a set of zoom levels, where the map data includes style attribute data corresponding to various features of a map surface at corresponding zoom levels. The system may interpolate at least some of the style parameter values from the received map data to provide style parameter values over a range of zoom levels.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

James Darpinian