How Digital Maps Are Built From Small Image Pieces
Google's 2007 patent on how to assemble small map images, called tiles, into a larger map view on your device, enabling smooth zooming and panning.
Original patent title: “Digital mapping system”
Google's 2007 patent on how to assemble small map images, called tiles, into a larger map view on your device, enabling smooth zooming and panning. Granted to Google LLC in 2007 with 82 claims and 399 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for creating digital maps that you see on your screen. Instead of sending one giant map image, it breaks the map into many small square images called 'map tiles.' When you request a map area, your device asks a server for the specific tiles it needs. The device then stitches these tiles together into a grid, aligns them within a viewing area (a 'clipping shape'), and shows you the map. If you zoom in or pan, it requests new tiles and reassembles them. It can also add extra information like markers or directions as overlays on top of the map tiles.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Displaying a single, unbroken map image file without assembling smaller tiles.
- Maps that do not use a server to provide the map image data.
- Systems that do not align the assembled tiles within a specific viewing boundary.
- Methods that do not allow for zooming or panning by requesting new tiles.
- Displaying a map without the ability to overlay additional information like markers or directions.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The core innovation was a standardized way to request, assemble, and display map data using small, manageable 'tiles.' This allowed for smooth user interactions like panning and zooming without needing to reload the entire map, making digital maps practical for widespread use.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Google Maps
Apple Maps
OpenStreetMap
Most web-based mapping applications
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational to how virtually all modern online mapping services function, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, and others. The 'tile-based' approach it describes is essential for efficiently delivering map data to billions of users on devices with varying screen sizes and internet speeds.
Filed
February 5, 2005
Granted
January 2, 2007
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Google LLC, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a dominant player. Major tech companies like Apple and Microsoft, as well as numerous startups in location-based services and geospatial data visualization, build upon these fundamental tile-based mapping principles.
Market impact
This patent's approach standardized the delivery and rendering of digital maps, enabling the creation of highly interactive and scalable mapping products. It directly facilitated the growth of location-based services and mobile navigation as we know them today.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for creating digital maps that you see on your screen. Instead of sending one giant map image, it breaks the map into many small square images called 'map tiles.' When you request a map area, your device asks a server for the specific tiles it needs. The device then stitches these tiles together into a grid, aligns them within a viewing area (a 'clipping shape'), and shows you the map. If you zoom in or pan, it requests new tiles and reassembles them. It can also add extra information like markers or directions as overlays on top of the map tiles.
The clever bit
The core innovation was a standardized way to request, assemble, and display map data using small, manageable 'tiles.' This allowed for smooth user interactions like panning and zooming without needing to reload the entire map, making digital maps practical for widespread use.
What it does not cover
- Displaying a single, unbroken map image file without assembling smaller tiles.
- Maps that do not use a server to provide the map image data.
- Systems that do not align the assembled tiles within a specific viewing boundary.
- Methods that do not allow for zooming or panning by requesting new tiles.
- Displaying a map without the ability to overlay additional information like markers or directions.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
High impact
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$135K – $432K
Midpoint $270K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
82 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Norris, J. C., Gordon, N. P., Ma, S., Taylor, B. S., LaForge, S. M., Kirmse, A. R., Rasmussen, L. E., & Rasmussen, J. E. (2007). How Digital Maps Are Built From Small Image Pieces (U.S. Patent No. 7,158,878). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7158878/google-maps-directions
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Digital Maps Are Built From Small Image Pieces cover?
Google's 2007 patent on how to assemble small map images, called tiles, into a larger map view on your device, enabling smooth zooming and panning.
Who owns patent US 7158878?
Google LLC owns this patent, granted in 2007.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 2, 2027, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7158878 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 399 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational to how virtually all modern online mapping services function, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, and others. The 'tile-based' approach it describes is essential for efficiently delivering map data to billions of users on devices with varying screen sizes and internet speeds.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Displaying a single, unbroken map image file without assembling smaller tiles.
Same assignee
More from Google LLC
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