IP Library Granted Patent US 12,100,306
Granted Patent B2
US 12,100,306 · App. 17/644,025 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Efficient computer-storage of obstacle data for rendering in a map view

Inventors: Linnea Goss (Raymond, ME); Christopher Andrew Docking (Shropshire, GB); Travis Scott Clayton Root (Austin, TX)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
G08G5/0086G08G5/0021G08G5/045
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,100,306
App. No.
17/644,025
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to efficient computer-storage and computer-rendering of obstacle data in the computer-generated map view. In one example, one or more vector tiles collectively representing a geographic region are received. Each of the one or more vector tiles represents a sub-region of the geographic region. Obstacle data for one or more obstacles in the geographic region is received. The obstacle data defines a location of each of the one or more obstacles in relation to a local origin of the vector tile representing the sub-region where the obstacle is geographically located. A map view is rendered for visual presentation via a display. The map view includes the geographic region represented by the one or more vector tiles and indicating the one or more obstacles.

Claims (40)

1. A computing system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable storage device holding instructions executable by the processor to:

receive one or more vector tiles collectively representing a geographic region, each of the one or more vector tiles representing a sub-region of the geographic region;

receive obstacle data for one or more obstacles in the geographic region, wherein the obstacle data defines a location of each of the one or more obstacles in relation to a local origin of the vector tile representing the sub-region where the obstacle is geographically located, wherein the obstacle data includes a data blob of continuous data for each vector tile of the one or more vector tiles collectively representing the geographic region, wherein each data blob comprises a continuous sequences of bits collectively representing at least location data for obstacles located in the vector tile;

for each data blob, parse the data blob according to a uniform bit size to extract the location data for each obstacle located in the vector tile; and

render a map view for visual presentation via a display, the map view including the geographic region represented by the one or more vector tiles and indicating the one or more obstacles.

2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, the location of the obstacle is defined by a pair of coordinate delta values that are relative to the local origin of the corresponding vector tile.

3. The computing system of claim 2 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, each coordinate delta value is normalized along an axis of the corresponding vector tile.

4. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, the obstacle data is compressed according to a bit packing compression algorithm.

5. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive user input indicating selection of an obstacle in the map view; and

render from the obstacle data for the selected obstacle one or more of an obstacle height, an obstacle type, and an obstacle lighting status for the selected obstacle in the map view.

6. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the obstacle data further defines an obstacle height.

7. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the obstacle data for the one or more obstacles is received from an obstacle database storing obstacle data for a plurality of obstacles sorted in the database from tallest to shortest.

8. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the obstacle data further defines an obstacle type.

9. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the obstacle data further defines an obstacle lighting status.

10. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more vector tiles includes vector data defining a relative location of the vector tile in relation to the plurality of vector tiles and a zoom level of the vector tile, and wherein the one or more vector tiles are rendered in the map view based on the vector data.

11. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the location data for each obstacle includes a pointer to an externally stored data blob of location data for the obstacle.

12. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein different obstacles in the geographic region are represented in the map view with different symbols based at least on the height of the obstacle being greater than or less than a threshold height.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving one or more vector tiles collectively representing a geographic region, each of the one or more vector tiles representing a sub-region of the geographic region;

receiving obstacle data for one or more obstacles in the geographic region, wherein the obstacle data defines a location of each of the one or more obstacles in relation to a local origin of the vector tile representing the sub-region where the obstacle is geographically located, wherein the obstacle data includes a data blob of continuous data for each vector tile of the one or more vector tiles collectively representing the geographic region, wherein each data blob comprises a continuous sequences of bits collectively representing at least location data for obstacles located in the vector tile;

for each data blob, parsing the data blob according to a uniform bit size to extract the location data for each obstacle located in the vector tile; and

rendering a map view for visual presentation via a display, the map view including the geographic region represented by the one or more vector tiles and indicating the one or more obstacles.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, the location of the obstacle is defined by a pair of coordinate delta values that are relative to the local origin of the corresponding vector tile.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, each coordinate delta value is normalized along an axis of the corresponding vector tile.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein, for each of the one or more obstacles, the obstacle data is compressed according to a bit packing compression algorithm.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving user input indicating selection of an obstacle in the map view; and

rendering from the obstacle data for the selected obstacle one or more of an obstacle height, an obstacle type, and an obstacle lighting status for the selected obstacle in the map view.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the location data for each obstacle includes a pointer to an externally stored data blob of location data for the obstacle.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein different obstacles in the geographic region are represented in the map view with different symbols based at least on the height of the obstacle being greater than or less than a threshold height.

20. A computing system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable storage device holding instructions executable by the processor to:

receive one or more vector tiles collectively representing a geographic region, each of the one or more vector tiles representing a sub-region of the geographic region;

receive obstacle data for one or more obstacles in the geographic region, wherein the obstacle data defines a location of each of the one or more obstacles by a pair of coordinate delta values that are relative to a local origin of the vector tile representing the sub-region where the obstacle is geographically located, each coordinate delta value normalized along an axis of the corresponding vector tile, wherein the obstacle data includes a data blob of continuous data for each vector tile of the one or more vector tiles collectively representing the geographic region, wherein each data blob comprises a continuous sequences of bits collectively representing at least the pair of coordinate delta values that are relative to the local origin of the vector tile each obstacle located in the vector tile;

for each data blob, parse the data blob according to a uniform bit size to extract the pair of coordinate delta values that are relative to the local origin of the vector tile for each obstacle located in the vector tile; and

render a map view for visual presentation via a display, the map view including the geographic region represented by the one or more vector tiles and indicating the one or more obstacles.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2026
From: THE BOEING COMPANY
To: JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC. (F/K/A BOEING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 074967/0544 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2025
From: FOREFLIGHT LLC; JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073622/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2025
From: THE BOEING COMPANY
To: BOEING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073156/0773 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2021
From: GOSS, LINNEA; DOCKING, CHRISTOPHER ANDREW; ROOT, TRAVIS SCOTT CLAYTON
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058375/0876 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230186778A1 · Jun 15, 2023