Method and apparatus for enabling map updates using a blockchain platform

1. A method for updating map data using a blockchain, the method comprising:

storing a blockchain, wherein the blockchain is a distributed database including a plurality of data records, each data record being associated with an update to a global map, and wherein further the blockchain comprises data for maintaining the global map of a predetermined geographic area;

receiving a message associated with a map update to the global map, wherein the message comprises information pertaining to a map update for a particular route;

validating the map update by evaluating a consensus with respect to the map update, wherein the evaluating comprises selecting and performing at least one of a plurality of proofs for the map update;

responsive to a successful validation of the map update over at least one of the plurality of proofs, generating a data record associated with the map update;

updating the blockchain to include the generated data record to update the global map based on the map update; and

electronically transmitting the generated data record to a plurality of nodes in the blockchain.

2. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the blockchain is a semi-public distributed database.

3. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the receiving the message comprises receiving the message formatted based on a proprietary data format standard of a vendor, and further comprising:

prior to the determining, converting the message from the propriety data format of the vendor to the data format standard compatible with the blockchain.

4. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising:

a proof of location;

a proof of iterations;

a proof of physical delivery; and

a proof of safety.

5. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of iterations, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety, and wherein the selecting the at least one of the plurality of proofs is based on at least one of available sensor configurations, external conditions and the complexity of the environment.

6. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of iterations, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety, and wherein the performing the proof of location comprises validating a map update received by a first mobile unit after a location of the first mobile unit is verified by a map update of a second mobile unit.

7. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of iterations, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety, wherein the performing the proofs of iterations comprises validating a map update received by a first mobile unit after the map update of the first mobile unit is verified by an analogous map update of a second mobile unit, and after a route associated with the map update of the first mobile unit has been verified at least a threshold number of times by one or more mobile units.

8. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of iterations, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety, wherein the performing a proof of physical delivery comprises:

automating a shipment of data associated with the global map and

corresponding map updates to a data center wherein the server is maintained; and

adding a tracking number associated with the shipment to the blockchain.

9. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proofs comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of iterations, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety, wherein the performing the proof of safety comprises performing multiple iterations for the proof of location and the proof of iterations.

10. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising processing the blockchain to determine a particular origin for a particular map update.

11. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

processing the blockchain to determine a particular origin for a plurality of map updates thereto; and

responsive to a determination that the plurality of map updates are accurate and based on a determined number of the plurality of map updates, attributing a reputation score to a vendor associated the said particular origin.

12. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the message is received from a vendor associated with a mapping ecosystem comprising the global map, wherein the vendor is selected from a group comprising: one or more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), one or more global positioning system (GPS) device manufacturers, one or more mapping software providers, one or more autonomous car development platform developers, one or more Tier 1 suppliers, and one or more companies delivering ground truth data.

13. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein a server at which the message is received is maintained in a cloud platform, wherein the cloud platform comprises servers for storing the blockchain and servers for storing data associated with respective vendors.

14. A method as described in claim 13 , wherein the cloud platform is managed by a vendor associated with the mapping ecosystem.

15. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the message is received from a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of: autonomous vehicles and non-autonomous vehicles.

16. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a message associated with a request for a map update from a client;

checking a number of tokens in a token account associated with the client to determine if the client has access privileges to the global map; and

responsive to a determination that the client has a threshold number of tokens in the token account, providing a response to the request.

17. A method for updating map data using a blockchain, the method comprising:

storing a blockchain, wherein the blockchain is a distributed database including a plurality of data records, each data record being associated with an update to a global map, and wherein further the blockchain comprises data for maintaining the global map of a predetermined geographic area;

receiving a message associated with a map update to the global map, wherein the message comprises information pertaining to a map update for a particular route;

validating the map update by evaluating a consensus with respect to the map update, wherein the evaluating comprises selecting and performing a plurality of proofs comprising at least a proof of iterations;

responsive to a successful validation of the map update over at least one of the plurality of proofs, generating a data record associated with the map update;

updating the blockchain to include the generated data record to update the global map based on the map update; and

electronically transmitting the generated data record to a plurality of nodes in the blockchain.

18. A method as described in claim 17 , wherein the blockchain is semi-public.

19. A method as described in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of proofs further comprises one or more proofs selected from the group of proofs comprising: a proof of location, a proof of physical delivery and a proof of safety.