A Universal Geographic Database (“UGD”) is provided that includes a real-time, automated registry/clearinghouse for the publication and retrieval of real-world locations and location-related information for businesses and other entities. By this registry, entities may publish their location and location-related information in a single place, and information services and their users can refer to this single place, via telecommunications devices, to obtain static, real-time location and location-based information about the registered locations. Each UGD record is keyed by a proprietary location address (PLA) based on the World Geographic Referencing System (WGRS). PLAs may be used as key reference and addressing terms, e.g., imbedded in digital documents, websites, GPS devices, or other information services to provide links to maps, directions, and information in the registry related to such locations. PLAs may also provide a concise, user-friendly notation for location naming and designating real-world locations and on all types of location-sensitive electronic devices.

A method or apparatus for performing map updates includes two stages for reducing a size of the update package. A first navigation database having a first set of navigation data records and a first index section and a second navigation database having a second set of navigation data records and a second index section are identified. In a first stage, a first subset of the first set of navigation data records and a corresponding second subset of the second set of navigation data records are identified using a first difference operation. The first subset and second subset correspond to records that have changed between the first and second sets of navigation data records. In a second stage, a second difference operation is performed on the first subset and the second subset. The update package is generated based on a result of the difference operation.

Described herein is a method and arrangement (11) for sourcing of location information, generating and updating maps (16) representing the location. From at least two road vehicle (12) passages at the location is obtained (1, 2) vehicle registered data on the surrounding environment from environment sensors and positioning data from consumer-grade satellite positioning arrangements and from at least one of an inertial measurement unit and a wheel speed sensor. The positioning data is smoothed (3) to establish continuous trajectories for the respective vehicles (12). Individual surrounding environment maps are created using the data from each respective vehicle (12) passage at the location. From the individual surrounding environment maps are identified submaps (15) sharing area segments. Pairs of submaps (15) sharing area segments are cross-correlated (6). The information from the pairwise cross-correlation (6) of submaps (15) is used for optimizing each submaps (15) offset relative a full map (16) of the surrounding environment and the submaps (15) are merged into the full map (16).

A system and method for discreet routing of a vehicle are described. The system and method provide a way of getting a subject vehicle from Point A to Point B while minimizing the visibility of the subject vehicle by one or more observers. In one embodiment, the method includes (1) determining a location of one or more observers within a target area and (2) applying elevation data to a plurality of grid squares within the target area. Based on the elevation data, a field-of-view (FOV) for each of the one or more observers is determined. The FOV includes one or more of the plurality of grid squares that are visible from the location of the observer. The method includes determining a route from an initial location to a destination location within the target area that minimizes an amount of the route within the FOV of the one or more observers.

A method of displaying information pertaining to an air vehicle is disclosed. Information is displayed indicative of first portions of a map where distance between a current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a first threshold. Information is displayed indicative of second portions of a map where a distance between the current altitude of the air vehicle and terrain in the map are within a second threshold. The first and second portions are updated based on a change in the current altitude of the air vehicle. In another example, a map including a projected flight path of an aircraft is displayed. Location-based information pertaining to radio frequency (RF) status between the aircraft and at least one ground radio is displayed on the map. The location-based information pertaining to RF status is updated based on a change in the current position of the air vehicle.

Methods, apparatus, computer program products, and systems related to partial map updates are provided. An example embodiment provides a method comprising receiving updated map data comprises a plurality of links. One or more changed or new are identified links. The method further comprises determining a tiling of the updated map data and determining, based on the tiling of the updated map data, that a tile boundary between a first tile and a second tile intersects at least one of the one or more changed or new links. The method further comprises compiling a map update based on the updated map data, previous map data comprising at least one of the changed or new links intersected by the tile boundary, and the tiling, and providing the map update for at least the first tile.

Methods, apparatus, computer program products, and systems related to partial map updates are provided. An example embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a map update for at least a first tile comprising map update data. The map update comprises updated map data for the first tile and previous map data for the first tile corresponding to one or more changed or new links intersected by a tile boundary between the first tile and a second tile. A map region of interest is determined, wherein the map region of interest comprises at least a portion of the first tile. The previous map data for the one or more changed or new links intersected by the tile boundary is used or displayed when a map update for the second tile has not been received and is not used or displayed when a map update for the second tile has been received.

A vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle performs localization to determine the current location of the vehicle using different localization techniques as the vehicle drives. The localization technique used by the autonomous vehicle is selected from a localization variant index that stores mapping from a driving context to localization variant, each localization variant identifying a localization technique. The driving context may comprise information including: a geographical region in which the autonomous vehicle is driving, a speed at which the autonomous vehicle is driving, an angular velocity of the autonomous vehicle, or other information. Using an optimal localization technique in each driving context improves the accuracy of localization as well as computing efficiency of the process of localization.

The present technology provides systems, methods, and devices that can dynamically augment aspects of a map as an autonomous vehicle navigates a route, and therefore avoids the need for dispatching a special purpose mapping vehicle to keep navigating a route. As the autonomous vehicle navigates a route, the autonomous vehicle can determine that current data captured by at least one sensor of the autonomous vehicle describing a location is inconsistent with the primary map of the location. The autonomous vehicle can determine that a portion of the current data describes a second feature that is distinct from a first feature described by a primary map. The second feature can be added to an augmented map that is based on the primary map, and the position of the autonomous vehicle can be located with respect to the first feature rather than the second feature on the augmented map.

The embodiments of the present invention propose a map construction device and method thereof. According to the method, a three-dimensional map is obtained, the three-dimensional map is converted to an initial two-dimensional map, the occupancy probabilities of the grids on the initial two-dimensional map is determined by the training model, and a final two-dimensional map is generated according to the occupancy probabilities of the grid. The three-dimensional map is constructed based on the depth data generated the architectural space scanning. The initial two-dimensional map is divided into multiple grids. The occupancy probability of each grid is related to whether there is an object occupying thereon. The final two-dimensional map is divided according to the grids, and the grids on the final two-dimensional map are determined whether there are objects occupying thereon. Therefore, according to the map construction device and method of the disclosure, a high-precision two-dimensional map can be generated.