Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application for rendering map portions. The mapping application includes a map receiver for receiving map tiles from a mapping service in response to a request for the map tiles needed for a particular map view. Each map tile includes vector data describing a map region. The mapping application includes a set of mesh building modules. Each mesh building module is for using the vector data in at least one map tile to build a mesh for a particular layer of the particular map view. The mapping application includes a mesh aggregation module for combining layers from several mesh builders into a renderable tile for the particular map view. The mapping application includes a rendering engine for rendering the particular map view.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render map data according to texture masks. A rendering device may obtain map data, which may include one or more shapes described by vector graphics data. Along with the one or more shapes, embodiments may include mask indicators corresponding to the one or more shapes. Embodiments may render the map data by creating a mask shape based upon mask indicators corresponding to the shapes described by the vector graphics data. For each created mask shape, a texture source may be determined according to the mask indicator for the mask shape. Embodiments may obtain a texture from the texture source and may apply the mask shape to the obtained texture to render a fill portion of the corresponding shape described by the vector graphics data. Some embodiments may display the rendered map data as a map view.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render a map with adaptive textures for map features. Embodiments may for a portion of map data, such as a map tile, including a feature of a given feature type specify a level-of-detail texture. A level-of-detail texture may be one of a plurality of level-of-detail textures for a given feature type ordered according to level-of-detail. Embodiments may then provide the specified level-of-detail texture with a mipmap chain to a rendering unit to render the map data. At the lowest level of the mipmap chain may be the specified level-of-detail texture. At the next lowest level of the mipmap chain may be a portion of the level-of-detail texture adjacent to the specified level-of-detail texture in the ordered plurality of level-of-detail textures for the feature type.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render a map according to hybrid map data. A map may be generated by a map service and sent to a client device. Hybrid map data composed of raster graphics data and vector graphics data may be generated by a map service to be sent to and rendered on a client device. A client device obtains hybrid map data, renders the vector graphics data using vector graphics, renders the raster graphics data using raster graphics, and displays the map view. A client device may receive input modifying the zoom level of the displayed map. In response a client device may render the vector graphics data at the modified zoom level and scale the raster graphics data to the zoom level. Some embodiments may obtain update raster graphics data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a map tool displaying a three-dimensional view of a map region, where the map tool determines whether or not partially occluded labels within the map region are to be drawn or are to not be drawn. The map tool determines whether or not to draw a label in a map view dependent upon mapping information and upon construction of a three-dimensional model based on one or more two- or three-dimensional data sets. The map tool further determines whether or not to draw a label in the map view dependent upon a measure of occlusion of a label in the map view. In order to determine a measure of occlusion, the map tool may calculate whether a line of sight projection from virtual camera viewpoint for the mobile device intersects, once or more than once, with any objects or landmarks within the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application that has a novel way of displaying traffic congestion along roads in the map. The mapping application in some embodiments defines a traffic congestion representation to run parallel to its corresponding road portion when the map is viewed at a particular zoom level, and defines a traffic congestion representation to be placed over its corresponding road portion when the map is viewed at another zoom level. The mapping application in some embodiments differentiates the appearance of the traffic congestion representation that signifies heavy traffic congestion from the appearance of the traffic congestion representation that signifies moderate traffic congestion. In some of these embodiments, the mapping application does not generate a traffic congestion representation for areas along a road that are not congested.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein pertain to power conservation for electronic devices. According to one embodiment, power conservation can be achieved through adaptive frame rate control for a display associated with an electronic device. The frame rate is able to be controlled so as to adapt to a frame rate that is adequate for the display task. Since the display often times displays content that is not very dynamic, the frame rate in such situations can be controlled to use a reduced frame rate, which thereby reduces power consumption. However, when the display displays content that is substantially dynamic, the frame rate in such situations can be controlled to use an enhanced (or not reduced) frame rate, which ensures reasonable display quality.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render a map with adaptive textures for map features. Embodiments may for a portion of map data, such as a map tile, including a feature of a given feature type specify a level-of-detail texture. A level-of-detail texture may be one of a plurality of level-of-detail textures for a given feature type ordered according to level-of-detail. Embodiments may then provide the specified level-of-detail texture with a mipmap chain to a rendering unit to render the map data. At the lowest level of the mipmap chain may be the specified level-of-detail texture. At the next lowest level of the mipmap chain may be a portion of the level-of-detail texture adjacent to the specified level-of-detail texture in the ordered plurality of level-of-detail textures for the feature type.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for efficiently identifying map tiles of a raised-relief map to retrieve from a server. An electronic device can use estimates of height(s) for various region(s) of the map to determine map tiles that are likely viewable from a given position of a virtual camera. The device can calculate the intersection of the field of view of the virtual camera with the estimated heights to determine a location of the map tiles (e.g., as determined by a 2D grid) needed. In this manner, the electronic device can retrieve, from a map server, the map tiles needed to display the image, without retrieving extraneous tiles that are not needed. Identifying such tiles can reduce the amount of data to be sent across a network and reduce the number of requests for tiles, since the correct tiles can be obtained with the first request.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render map data according to texture masks. A rendering device may obtain map data, which may include one or more shapes described by vector graphics data. Along with the one or more shapes, embodiments may include mask indicators corresponding to the one or more shapes. Embodiments may render the map data by creating a mask shape based upon mask indicators corresponding to the shapes described by the vector graphics data. For each created mask shape, a texture source may be determined according to the mask indicator for the mask shape. Embodiments may obtain a texture from the texture source and may apply the mask shape to the obtained texture to render a fill portion of the corresponding shape described by the vector graphics data. Some embodiments may display the rendered map data as a map view.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for loading and rendering curved features in a map are described. Embodiments may include a map tool of a mapping or navigation application configured to generate a display for a map that includes one or more curved features (e.g., curved roads or curved polygons). The map tool may be executed in a client/server environment in which a server portion receives digitized map data in the form of polylines, detects a curved feature in the map data by fitting it to a parametric curve, and transmits data representing the parametric curve to a client device for subsequent rendering. The client device may render the curved feature using the received parametric curve data or, dependent on characteristics of the client device, extract data corresponding to points on the parametric curve to generate a triangle mesh for rendering the curved feature at a suitable resolution.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program which when executed on a device by at least one processing unit provides different viewing modes for viewing a three-dimensional (3D) map. The program renders a first view of the 3D map for display in a first viewing mode based on a first set of map data. The program receives input to adjust the view of the 3D map. In response to the input, the program renders a second view of the 3D map for display in a second viewing mode based on a second set of map data different from the first set of map data.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a mapping application which when executed on a device by at least one processing unit provides automated animation of a three-dimensional (3D) map along a navigation route. The mapping application identifies a first set of attributes for determining a first position of a virtual camera in the 3D map at a first instance in time. Based on the identified first set of attributes, the mapping application determines the position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at the first instance in time. The mapping application identifies a second set of attributes for determining a second position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at a second instance in time. Based on the identified second set of attributes, the mapping application determines the position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at the second instance in time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a map tool displaying a three-dimensional view of a map region, where the map tool determines whether or not partially occluded labels within the map region are to be drawn or are to not be drawn. The map tool determines whether or not to draw a label in a map view dependent upon mapping information and upon construction of a three-dimensional model based on one or more two- or three-dimensional data sets. The map tool further determines whether or not to draw a label in the map view dependent upon a measure of occlusion of a label in the map view. In order to determine a measure of occlusion, the map tool may calculate whether a line of sight projection from virtual camera viewpoint for the mobile device intersects, once or more than once, with any objects or landmarks within the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application for rendering map portions. The mapping application includes a map receiver for receiving map tiles from a mapping service in response to a request for the map tiles needed for a particular map view. Each map tile includes vector data describing a map region. The mapping application includes a set of mesh building modules. Each mesh building module is for using the vector data in at least one map tile to build a mesh for a particular layer of the particular map view. The mapping application includes a mesh aggregation module for combining layers from several mesh builders into a renderable tile for the particular map view. The mapping application includes a rendering engine for rendering the particular map view.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render a map according to hybrid map data. A map may be generated by a map service and sent to a client device. Hybrid map data composed of raster graphics data and vector graphics data may be generated by a map service to be sent to and rendered on a client device. A client device obtains hybrid map data, renders the vector graphics data using vector graphics, renders the raster graphics data using raster graphics, and displays the map view. A client device may receive input modifying the zoom level of the displayed map. In response a client device may render the vector graphics data at the modified zoom level and scale the raster graphics data to the zoom level. Some embodiments may obtain update raster graphics data.