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NvidiaGranted patentCars & transportInterest 6/10

Nvidia patents map updates that refresh only busy areas

Nvidia describes a system for managing large digital maps used by self-driving vehicles. It splits the map into sections and tracks how much new data arrives for each part. When a section reaches a certain amount of new information, the system updates just that section while leaving the rest of the map unchanged.

Why it mattersThis approach could help self-driving cars keep their navigation maps current without wasting computer power on areas that have not changed.

In the filing’s own words

In various examples, segmented map creation for autonomous and semi-autonomous systems and applications is described herein. For instance, systems and methods described herein may segment a map into various portions, where the systems and methods then update the map based at least on the segmentation. For instance, based at least on receiving instances of data from machines navigating with an environment associated with the HD map, the instances of data may be associated with various portions of the map. Additionally, metrics associated with the portions of the map may be updated, such as by indicating the numbers of instances of data that are associated with the portions of the map. As such, when a metric associated with a portion of a map is satisfied, such as by reaching a threshold, the portion of the map may be updated without updating one or more other portions of the map.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system comprising: one or more processors to cause a machine to navigate between locations within an environment using at least a first portion of a map associated with a first portion of the environment, wherein the map is updated, at least, by: storing first mapstreams representing the first portion of the environment that is associated with the first portion of the map and second mapstreams representing a second portion of the environment that is associated with a second portion of the map; determining, based at least on associating the first mapstreams with the first portion of the map, at least a first total number of mapstreams that are associated with the first portion of the map; determining, based at least on associating the second mapstreams with the second portion of the map, at least a second total number of mapstreams that are associated with the second portion of the map; determining, based at least on the first total number of mapstreams being equal to or greater than a threshold number of mapstreams and the second total number of mapstreams being less the threshold number of mapstreams, to update the first portion of the map while refraining from updating the second portion of the map; and causing the first portion of the map to be updated using at least a portion of the first mapstreams.

Facts

Company
Nvidia (NVIDIA Corporation)
Official title
Map updates
Patent number
US12729978B2
Application number
18538558
Filed
Dec 13, 2023
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

G01C 21/387 Physics & computingG01C 21/3841 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.