Communications server apparatus and methods of operation thereof

A method, performed in a communications server apparatus for generating navigable map data, the method comprising, under control of a processor of the server apparatus:

• receiving a plurality of noisy geolocation transmissions from communications devices of a plurality of users;
• generating a series of journey trace data sets, each journey trace data set comprising data representing a user journey, each journey trace data set being derived using the plurality of noisy geolocation transmissions from at least a first communications device of at least a first user undertaking the user journey;
• aggregating the series of journey trace data sets to generate route image data comprising data representing a network of navigable routes;
• generating, from the route image data, the navigable map data, the navigable map data comprising data representing a series of geolocations corresponding to the network of navigable routes, wherein generating one or more of the journey trace data sets comprises:
• forming a first group of geolocation transmissions from journey traces having a common starting location and a common destination location;
• if accuracy values for geolocation transmissions within the first group are above a threshold, determining a weighted shortest path from the common starting location to the common destination location,
• and if the accuracy values for geolocation transmissions within the first group are below the threshold, generating a density-based extracted trace from the common starting location to the common destination location;
• and
• defining the journey trace data set using the relevant one of the weighted shortest path and the density-based extracted trace;
• and
• transmitting the navigable map data comprising data representing the series of geolocations corresponding to the network of navigable routes to at least a first user device for use in navigation.

A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by a processor of a communications server apparatus, cause the processor to perform a method for generating navigable map data, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of noisy geolocations transmissions from communications devices of a plurality of users;
• generating a series of journey trace data sets, each journey trace data set comprising data representing a user journey, each journey trace data set being derived using the plurality of noisy geolocation transmissions from at least a first communications device of at least a first user undertaking the user journey;
• aggregating the series of journey trace data sets to generate route image data comprising data representing a network of navigable routes;
• generating, from the route image data, the navigable map data, the navigable map data comprising data representing a series of geolocations corresponding to the network of navigable routes, wherein generating one or more of the journey trace data sets comprises:
• forming a first group of geolocation transmissions from journey traces having a common starting location and a common destination location;
• if accuracy values for geolocation transmissions within the first group are above a threshold, determining a weighted shortest path from the common starting location to the common destination location,
• and if the accuracy values for geolocation transmissions within the first group are below the threshold, generating a density-based extracted trace from the common starting location to the common destination location;
• and
• defining the journey trace data set using the relevant one of the weighted shortest path and the density-based extracted trace;
• and
• transmitting the navigable map data comprising data representing the series of geolocations corresponding to the network of navigable routes to at least a first user device for use in navigation.