Caching & Offline Data

Cacheable Data

MapsIndoors has three levels of caching:

  1. Basic Data: All descriptions, geometries and metadata about POIs, rooms, areas, buildings and venues.

  2. Detailed Data: The same as Basic Data, plus images referenced by the data.

  3. Full Dataset: The same as Detailed Data, plus Map Tiles.

Full Dataset caching requires that Map Tiles are prepared specifically for this purpose. Contact MapsPeople in order to arrange this.

Automatic Caching

Out of the box, MapsIndoors automatically caches all basic data for the active dataset on the device, whereas images and Map Tiles are cached only as they are used.

This means all MapsIndoors-specific data is cached automatically, but images are only cached after they have been needed for map display. Likewise, Map Tiles are only cached when needed for map display, so all parts of the map that has been shown are cached. Areas and Zoom Levels that have not been shown as part of user interaction are not cached.

Tweaking Caching Behaviour

Applications have a few ways to change the default caching behaviour:

The synchronization process can be started manually:

MapsIndoors.synchronizeContent((e) -> {
    ...
});

The level of caching can be changed:

MPDataSetCache dataSet = MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().getDataSetByID("API KEY");
dataSet.setScope(mContext, MPDataSetCacheScope.DETAILED);
MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().synchronizeDataSets(Collections.singletonList(dataSet));

Caching of Multiple Datasets

The most common use of MapsIndoors involves only one dataset, but for large deployments, data may be partitioned into multiple datasets.

Offline caching of multiple simultaneous datasets is fully supported, and is mostly limited by the available storage space on device.

NOTE: Only one dataset is active at any point in time.

Management of multiple datasets is done via MPDataSetCacheManager, which allows querying, adding, modifying and removing datasets.

Listing Managed Datasets

All datasets currently managed are accessible via the MPDataSetCacheManager:

for (MPDataSetCache dataSet : MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().getManagedDataSets()) {
    Log.i("dataset", dataSet.getSolutionId() + ": size " + dataSet.getCacheItem().getSyncSize());
}

This can be used to build a management user interface, and information about individual datasets can be accessed from the MPDataSetCache and MPDataSetCacheItem classes.

Adding Datasets for Offline Caching

Datasets are scheduled for caching using MPDataSetCacheManager:

MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().addDataSetWithCachingScope("API KEY", MPDataSetCacheScope.BASIC);

The current MapsIndoors API key is automatically added as a managed dataset with MPDataSetCacheScope.BASIC.

Removing Datasets

Datasets are removed from caching using MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().removeDataSetCache(MPDataSetCache);:

MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().removeDataSetCache(MPDataSetCache);

NOTE: The currently active dataset is not removed.

Changing Caching Parameters

To change the extent of caching, for example in a management menu:

MPDataSetCache dataSet = MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().getDataSetByID("API KEY");
dataSet.setScope(mContext, MPDataSetCacheScope.DETAILED);
MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().synchronizeDataSets(Collections.singletonList(dataSet));

Determining the Caching Size of a Dataset

The estimated and cached size of a dataset is available via:

dataSet.getCacheItem().getCacheSize(mContext);
dataSet.getCacheItem().getSyncSize();

To refresh or get the size of a synced dataset:

MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance().getSyncSizesForDataSetCaches(Collections.singletonList(dataSet), this);

This is an asynchronous process, and a MPDataSetCacheManagerSizeListener is needed for getting information about progress and results.

Synchronizing Data with MPDataSetCacheManager

The MPDataSetCacheManagerallows for detailed control over which datasets are synchronized, and allows for cancellation:

MPDataSetCacheManager dataSetCacheManager = MPDataSetCacheManager.getInstance();

// sync all managed datasets
dataSetCacheManager.synchronizeDataSets();

// sync specific datasets
dataSetCacheManager.synchronizeDataSets(dataSets);

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