Updating map data from camera images

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device is adapted to update map data in a map database by:

• determining a current position of the wireless communications device;
• capturing an image using a camera;
• processing the image for transmission over a wireless network, the processing comprising one of creating a low resolution version of the image and creating a wire mesh version of the image;
• transmitting the processed image to a map server;
• receiving a message from the man server in response to the processed image, the message including an identification of an object from the processed image and a location of a landmark in a map database from the map server, the landmark corresponding to the object;
• using the location of the landmark to refine the current position of the wireless communications device;
• determining a location of a second object in the image;
• using the refined position of the wireless communications device and the location of the second object to create new map data;
• and
• updating the map database with the new map data.

A wireless communications device for updating map data, the device comprising:

• a camera;
• a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;
• a memory for storing the image, the memory being operatively coupled to a processor;
• and
• a radiofrequency transceiver operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine a current position of the wireless communications device;
• capture an image using the camera;
• process the image for transmission over a wireless network, the processing comprising one of creating a low resolution version of the image and creating a wire mesh version of the image;
• transmit the processed image to a map server with the radiofrequency transceiver;
• receive a message from the map server in response to the processed image, the message including an identification of an object from the processed image and a location of a landmark in a man database from the man server, the landmark corresponding to the object;
• use the location of the landmark to refine the current position of the wireless communications device;
• determine a location of a second object in the image;
• use the refined position of the wireless communications device and the location of the second object to create new map data;
• and
• update the man database with the new map data.