Map tile optimization based on tile connectivity

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving navigational information associated with a vehicle, the navigational information including at least an indicator of a location of the vehicle;
• determining a plurality of target navigational map segments to retrieve from a map database, the map database including a plurality of stored navigational map segments each corresponding to a real-world area, wherein the determination of the plurality of target navigational map segments is based on the indicator of vehicle location and based on map segment connectivity information associated with the plurality of stored navigational map segments, wherein determining the plurality of target navigational map segments to retrieve comprises excluding one or more navigational map segments adjacent to a current navigational map segment in which the vehicle is located if the map segment connectivity information indicates that the vehicle cannot directly navigate from the current navigational map segment to the one or more navigational map segments adjacent to the current map segment;
• initiating downloading of the plurality of target navigational map segments from the map database;
• and
• causing the vehicle to navigate along at least one target trajectory included in one or more of the plurality of target navigational map segments downloaded from the map database;
• wherein the plurality of target navigational map segments to retrieve from the map database are updated periodically before all of the determined plurality of target navigational map segments have been retrieved from the map database.

A method for navigating a host vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving navigational information associated with the vehicle, the navigational information including at least an indicator of a location of the vehicle;
• determining a plurality of target navigational map segments to retrieve from a map database, the map database including a plurality of stored navigational map segments each corresponding to a real-world area, wherein the determination of the plurality of target navigational map segments is based on:
• the indicator of vehicle location;
• map segment connectivity information associated with the plurality of stored navigational map segments;
• and
• at least one of an indicator of a speed of the vehicle or an indicator of a direction of travel of the vehicle;
• initiating downloading of the plurality of target navigational map segments from the map database;
• and
• causing the vehicle to navigate along at least one target trajectory included in one or more of the plurality of target navigational map segments downloaded from the map database;
• wherein the plurality of target navigational map segments to retrieve from the map database are updated periodically before all of the determined plurality of target navigational map segments have been retrieved from the map database.