APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API) FOR NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS THAT MERGES INCREMENTAL UPDATES WITH EXISTING MAP DATABASE

摘要

A system and method for efficiently updating the map database in a mobile computing system, such as a vehicle navigation system. The system includes a central server that computes changes between the latest version of a master map database and a previous version of the map database, and wirelessly transmits the changes to participating vehicles' onboard navigation systems. The navigation system stores the changes in a look-aside buffer, and a navigation processor uses the stored changes to update a base map database.