Dynamic navigation system

A method for navigation using a mobile client device, comprising:

• storing map data on a server, the map data delineating features in a map;
• determining on the server, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments;
• downloading the route from the server to the mobile client device;
• finding location coordinates of the client device using a location providing device associated with the client device while a user of the client device travels along the route;
• receiving at the server, while the user travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route;
• submitting a request from the client device to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location coordinates, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user;
• determining at the server, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination;
• and
• downloading the modified route to the client device.

A method for displaying a map on a mobile client device, the method comprising:

• storing map data on a server, the map data delineating features in the map;
• downloading from the server to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, causing the client device to render and display an image of the selected area of the map;
• finding location coordinates of the client device using a location providing device associated with the client device while a user of the client device travels within the selected area;
• receiving at the server, while the user travels within the selected area, dynamic information with regard to the area;
• downloading the dynamic information to the client device, responsively to the location coordinates of the client device;
• and
• displaying the dynamic information on the image of the selected area of the map displayed by the client device, without requiring the client device to render the image again.

Apparatus for navigation, comprising:

• a mobile client device;
• a location providing device, associated with the client device;
• a memory;
• and
• a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data comprising vector information delineating roads in a map, and to download to the client device a portion of the vector information corresponding to an area in which a user of the client device is traveling,
• wherein the client device is adapted to find approximate position coordinates of the user using the location providing device, and to correct the approximate position coordinates using the downloaded vector information, so as to determine a location of the user on one of the roads in the map and to provide a navigation aid to the user based on the determined location.

Apparatus for navigation, comprising:

• a mobile client device;
• a location providing device, which is associated with the client device and is adapted to find location coordinates of the client device;
• a memory;
• and
• a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data in the memory, the map data delineating features in a map, and which is adapted to determine, based on the map data, a route from a starting point to a destination within an area of the map, the route comprising a sequence of route segments, and to download the route to the client device, and which is adapted to receive, while a user of the client device travels along the route, dynamic information regarding a change in travel conditions in a vicinity of the route,
• wherein the client device is adapted to submit a request to the server for updated information regarding the route, the request specifying, based on the downloaded route and the location coordinates, one or more of the route segments not yet traversed by the user, and
• wherein the server is adapted to determine, based on the route segments specified by the client device and on the dynamic information received by the server, a modified route to the destination, and to download the modified route to the client device.

Apparatus for displaying a map, comprising:

• a mobile client device;
• a location providing device, which is associated with the client device and is adapted to find location coordinates of the client device;
• a memory;
• and
• a mapping server, which is adapted to store map data delineating features in the map, and to download to the client device a portion of the map data corresponding to a selected area of the map, causing the client device to render and display an image of the selected area of the map,
• the server being further adapted to receive, while a user of the client device travels within the selected area, dynamic information with regard to the area, and to download the dynamic information to the client device, responsively to the location coordinates of the client device, causing the client device to display the dynamic information on the image of the selected area of the map displayed by the client device, without requiring the client device to render the image of the selected area again.