US 8,937,627 B1 · Seamless vector map tiles across multiple zoom levels

Abstract

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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of rendering graphical map information of map tiles on a display of a computer device using zoom level-specific styles, the method comprising:

receiving style information specifying zoom level styles for each of a plurality of zoom levels;
receiving a first map tile of graphical map information, the first map tile associated with nominal use at a first zoom level;
displaying the first map tile of graphical map information on a portion of the display of the computer device at the first zoom level using a zoom level style corresponding to the first zoom level;
receiving a second map tile of graphical information associated with use at a nominal zoom level;
displaying the second map tile of graphical map information on a second portion of the display of the computer device at the same time as displaying the first map tile, wherein displaying the second map tile comprises:
determining a zoom level style associated with the nominal zoom level of the second map tile;
and
displaying the second map tile of graphical map information using a zoom level style different from the zoom level style associated with the nominal use of the second map tile.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seamless vector map tiles across multiple zoom levels

Life of this patent

Seamless vector map tiles across multiple zoom levels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20