Map version control methods and apparatus for updating the use of network-maintained map data sets for mobile communication devices

1. A method in a mobile device for use in receiving updates of network-maintained map data sets, the method comprising:

storing, at the mobile device, a block file for caching data for at least one maplet, and an index file containing an index of available map data for the at least one maplet, where the block file and the index file each further contain an address offset and length of each maplet or index to permit determination of an address of a particular maplet or maplet index within the block file or index file, each maplet comprising an area of interest of a map;

receiving, at the mobile device through a wireless network, map data for rendering a map, the map data including a plurality of different superimposable layers that together constitute the map, each said superimposable layer including a version number and a plurality of sets of data entries, each said set of data entries indicating a plurality of data points for rendering one or more different artifacts or labels within a maplet;

storing the map data in the block file;

displaying the maplet at the mobile device by superimposing the plurality of different superimposable layers of the stored map data;

receiving, through the wireless network, an indication of availability of an alternative version of one of the different superimposable layers of the stored map data, the indication of availability including an alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

when the alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer is greater than the version number included with the corresponding superimposable layer of the stored map data:

sending one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest through the wireless network in response to identifying whether an application on the device indicates a preference to utilize the alternative version, receiving the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest through the wireless network in response to the one or more requests, the receiving the alternative version of the superimposable layer including receiving the superimposable layer for storing within a maplet in the block file and header information to situate the superimposable layer within the block file, and displaying the maplet at the mobile device based on the superimposed plurality of layers of the previously received and stored map data but with use of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

refraining from sending the one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer when the application on the device indicates a preference not to utilize the alternative version.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if the alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer is less than or equal to the version number of the stored version included with the corresponding superimposable layer of the stored map data, then refraining from causing the one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest to be sent through the wireless network, and continuing to display the area of interest based on the superimposed plurality of layers of the previously received and stored map data without use of the alternative version of the superimposable layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an acceptance or declination from a user that the alternative version of the superimposable layer is to be requested and permitting the one or more requests only when acceptance is received.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map rendered using the alternative version of the superimposable layer includes one or more map objects that are unavailable in the map rendered using the stored version.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the map rendered using the alternative version of the superimposable layer provides one or more map objects that are unavailable in the map rendered using the stored version.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the map rendered using the alternative version of the superimposable layer provides an appearance that is different from the appearance of the map rendered using the stored version.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if an acceptance is identified, then storing the alternative version of the superimposable layer in the block file to replace the stored version of said corresponding superimposable layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying one of an acceptance or a declination of the alternative version of the superimposable layer by receiving the acceptance or declination via a user interface of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying one of an acceptance or a declination of the alternative version of the superimposable layer by identifying a stored configuration setting for a mapping application of the mobile device used for rendering the maps based on the map data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephony device operative for communications in the wireless network which comprises a cellular telecommunications network.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preference is programmable through a user interface of the mobile device.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium and computer instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device for performing acts of:

storing, at the mobile device, a block file for caching data for at least one maplet, and an index file containing an index of available map data for the at least one maplet, where the block file and the index file each further contain an address offset and length of each maplet or index to permit determination of an address of a particular maplet or maplet index within the block file or index file, each maplet comprising an area of interest of a map;

receiving, at the mobile device through a wireless network, map data for rendering a map, the map data including a plurality of different superimposable layers that together constitute the map, each said superimposable layer including a version number and a plurality of sets of data entries, each said set of data entries indicating a plurality of data points for rendering one or more different artifacts or labels within a maplet;

storing the map data in the block file;

displaying the maplet at the mobile device by superimposing the plurality of different superimposable layers of the stored map data;

receiving, through the wireless network, an indication of availability of an alternative version of one of the different superimposable layers of the stored map data, the indication of availability including an alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

when the alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer is greater than the version number included with the corresponding superimposable layer of the stored map data:

sending one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest through the wireless network in response to identifying whether an application on the device indicates a preference to utilize the alternative version, receiving the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest through the wireless network in response to the one or more requests, the receiving the alternative version of the superimposable layer including receiving the superimposable layer for storing within a maplet in the block file and header information to situate the superimposable layer within the block file, and displaying the maplet at the mobile device based on the superimposed plurality of layers of the previously received and stored map data but with use of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

refraining from sending the one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer when the application on the device indicates a preference not, to utilize the alternative version.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

one or more processors;

a cache memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes a visual display;

the one or more processors being configured to:

store a block file for caching data for at least one maplet, and an index file containing an index of available map data for the at least one maplet, where the block file and the index file each further contain an address offset and length of each maplet or index to permit determination of an address of a particular maplet or maplet index within the block file or index file, each maplet comprising an area of interest of a map;

receive, via the wireless transceiver from one or more network databases, map data for rendering a map, the map data having a plurality of different superimposable layers that together constitute the map, each said superimposable layer including a version number and a plurality of sets of data entries, each said set of data entries indicating a plurality of data points for rendering one or more artifacts or labels within a maplet;

cause the map data to be stored in the block file;

cause the maplet to be displayed in the visual display by superimposing the plurality of different superimposable layers of the stored map data;

receive, via the wireless transceiver, an indication of availability of an alternative version of one of the different superimposable layers of the stored map data, the indication of availability including an alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

when the version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layer is greater than the version number included with the corresponding superimposable layer of the stored map data:

cause one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest to be sent via the wireless transceiver in response to identifying whether an application on the device indicates a preference to utilize the alternative version, receive the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest from the one or more network databases via the wireless transceiver in response to the one or more requests, the receipt of the alternative version of the superimposable layer including receiving the superimposable layer for storing within a maplet in the block file and header information situate the superimposable layer within the block file, and cause the maplet to be rendered in the visual display based on the superimposed plurality of layers of the previously received and stored map data but with use of the alternative version of the superimposable layer; and

refrain from causing the one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer to be sent when the application on the device indicates a preference not to utilize the alternative version.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the alternative version number of the alternative version of the superimposable layers is less than or equal to the version number of the stored version included with the corresponding superimposable layer of the stored map data, then refrain from causing one or more requests for the alternative version of the superimposable layer for the area of interest to be sent via the wireless transceiver, and continue to cause the map to be rendered in the visual display based on the superimposed plurality of layers of the previously received and stored map data without use of the alternative version of the superimposable layer.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive via the user interface an acceptance or declination that the alternative version of the superimposable layer is to be requested, such that the one or more requests are only sent when acceptance is received.

16. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if an acceptance is identified, then storing the alternative version of the superimposable layer in the cache memory to replace the stored version of said corresponding layer.

17. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

identify one of an acceptance or a declination of the alternative version of the superimposable layer by receiving the acceptance or declination by an end user through the user interface.

18. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

identify one of an acceptance or a declination of the alternative version of the superimposable layer by identifying a stored configuration setting for a mapping application of the mobile communication device used for rendering the maps.

19. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the map rendered using the alternative version of the superimposable layer includes one or more map objects that are unavailable in the map rendered using the stored version.

20. The mobile device of claim 15 , wherein the map rendered using the alternative version of the superimposable layer provides one or more map objects that are unavailable in the map rendered using the stored version.

21. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephony device operative for communications in the wireless network which comprises a cellular telecommunications network.

22. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the preference is programmable through the user interface of the mobile device.