Data mining in a digital map database to identify blind intersections along roads and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle

• US 10,648,818 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Denaro, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pipala, Edward J
• Application Number:
  US15/707,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/219 Managing data history or versioning querying versioned data G06F16/2474; querying temporal data G06F16/2477
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing precautionary actions in a vehicle, the method comprising:

evaluating, by a computer processor prior to the vehicle'"'"'s approach to a location ahead thereof, a combination of data items representing different road network features associated with the location in a database coupled therewith, at least one of which is undetected by at least one sensor provided on the vehicle, to determine whether the combination of the different road network features describes a condition of interest, the database comprising previously collected data representative of features of a road network in a geographic area; and

upon the determination that the combination of data items describe the condition of interest, providing an output, by the computer processor, operative to maneuver of the vehicle via modification, by the computer processor, of the operation or control of the vehicle.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein, subsequent to the determining and prior to the providing, the combination as describing the condition of interest has been validated by a human being based on an inspection.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the determination is further based on sufficient comments occurring about the particular location received via community input from citizens or organizations.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the condition of interest is selected from a group comprising:

a turn with a decreasing radius of curvature, a turn where the superelevation (bank angle) is insufficient or in the wrong direction, a downhill segment that has an intersection at the bottom of the hill, a downhill segment that has a stop sign or stoplight at the bottom of the hill, a sharp curve on a downhill slope, a curve that has a stop sign or stoplight somewhere along the curve, a blind intersection either because it is in a turn or over a hill, an unusually narrow lane or road, a lane merge, a road entrance with no stop sign or stoplight that has no merge lane, and a curve with a lower speed recommendation than the preceding straight segment speed limit.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one different road network feature is undetected by the at least one sensor because it lies beyond the range thereof.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one different road network feature is undetected by the at least one sensor because it is obscured by inclement weather.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the providing further comprises evaluating, by the computer processor, another condition, wherein the providing further comprises upon the determination that the combination describes the condition of interest, and the other condition is satisfied, providing the output, by the computer processor, for the maneuvering of the vehicle.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the other condition comprises at least one of the different road network features represented by the multiple data items deviating from a threshold value.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the other condition comprises occurrence of a dynamic condition at a location of the vehicle at least at the time of the providing.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein the dynamic conditions include current traffic conditions, current weather conditions, current ambient light conditions, current road conditions, or combinations thereof.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the different road network features represented by the combination are in physical proximity to the location.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle occurs prior to arrival at the location.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating further comprises adding, by the computer processor, precautionary action data to the database when it is determined that the combination describes the condition of interest.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating further comprises determining, by the computer processor, precautionary action data that indicates where a precautionary action may be taken when it is determined that the combination describes the condition of interest.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating further comprises determining, by the computer processor, precautionary action data that indicates a direction of travel in which to take a precautionary action when it is determined that the combination describes the condition of interest and the it is further determined that the vehicle is approaching the location in the determined direction of travel.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the evaluating further comprises determining, by the computer processor, precautionary action data that indicates a type of condition about which a precautionary action is to be taken when it is determined that the combination describes the condition of interest.

17. A computer implemented method for providing precautionary actions in a vehicle comprising:

evaluating, by a computer processor, multiple data items associated with a location and already collected and present in a database that contains data items that represents features of a road network in a geographic area, at least one of which is undetectable by at least one sensor provided on the vehicle;

determining, by the computer processor, whether, when a combination of the features represented by the multiple data items describe a condition of interest; and

upon determining that the combination describes a condition of interest, providing an output, by the computer processor, for maneuvering the vehicle when approaching the location by modifying operation or control of the vehicle.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein the database is located in the vehicle.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein the database is located remotely and accessed by vehicle systems in the vehicle.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein part of the database is located locally in the vehicle and part of the database is located remotely.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein the at least one road network feature is undetectable by the at least one sensor because it lies beyond the range thereof or is obscured therefrom.

22. A vehicle system comprising:

a sensor operative to sense one or more road network features ahead of the vehicle;

a positioning system that determines a current location of the vehicle; and

a precautionary action application responsive to the positioning system and operative to provide an output for maneuvering the vehicle to modify the operation thereof when the positioning system determines that the current location of the vehicle is approaching a location of features, represented by a combination of multiple data items determined to describe a condition of interest based on an evaluation of the subset of multiple data items stored in a database of previously collected data that represents features of a road network in a geographic area, at least one of which is undetectable by the sensor.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to indicate a location along a road segment at which the maneuvering of the vehicle is to be undertaken by a vehicle system.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to indicate a direction along a road segment at which the maneuvering of the vehicle is to be undertaken.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the features comprise an intersection along the road and another geographic feature where, in combination, the driver'"'"'s view of the intersection is obstructed by the other geographic feature.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to provide the output for maneuvering the vehicle based on precautionary action data stored in the database in association with the location of the features.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the precautionary action data indicates a type of condition about which maneuvering the vehicle is to be undertaken.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the road network features represented by the combinations of multiple data items associated with the location lie beyond the range of, or are obscured from, the sensor.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to evaluate another condition, wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to provide the output, upon the determination that combination describes the condition of interest, and the other condition is satisfied, for the maneuvering of the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the other condition comprises at least one of the road network features represented by the subset of multiple data items deviating from a threshold value.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the other condition comprises occurrence of a dynamic condition at a location of the vehicle at least at the time of the providing.

32. The computer implemented method of claim 31 wherein the dynamic conditions include current traffic conditions, current weather conditions, current ambient light conditions, current road conditions, or combinations thereof.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle occurs at the location.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle occurs prior to arrival at the location.

35. A computer implemented method for providing precautionary actions in a vehicle comprising:

sensing, by at least one sensor located on the vehicle, one or more road network features ahead of the vehicle;

determining by a computer processor, a current position of the vehicle;

providing an output, by the computer processor, for maneuvering the vehicle to modify the operation thereof when the positioning system determines that the current location of the vehicle is approaching a location of features, represented by multiple data items, a combination of which describes a condition of interest based on an evaluation of the multiple data items stored in a database of previously collected data that represents features of a road network in a geographic area, at least one of which is undetectable by the sensor when the vehicle is approaching the location.

36. The computer implemented method of claim 35 further comprising:

building by the computer processor, an electronic horizon after accessing the database; and

using by the computer processor, the electronic horizon to determine whether the maneuvering of the vehicle should be undertaken.

37. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle is provided via a user interface of the vehicle.

38. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the precautionary action application is further operative to indicate a location along a road segment at which the maneuvering of the vehicle is to be undertaken by a vehicle system.

39. The computer implemented method of claim 35 further comprising indicating, by the computer processor, a direction along a road segment at which the maneuvering of the vehicle is to be undertaken.

40. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the features comprise an intersection along the road and another geographic feature where, in combination, the driver'"'"'s view of the intersection is obstructed by the other geographic feature.

41. The computer implemented method of claim 35 further comprising providing the output, by the computer processor, for maneuvering of the vehicle based on precautionary action data stored in the database in association with the location of the features.

42. The computer implemented method of claim 41 wherein the precautionary action data indicates a type of condition about which maneuvering of the vehicle is to be undertaken.

43. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the at least one road network feature lies beyond the range of, or is obscured from, the at least one sensor.

44. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the providing further comprises evaluating, by the computer processor, another condition, wherein the providing further comprises upon the determination that the combination describes the condition of interest, and the other condition is satisfied, providing the output, by the computer processor, for the maneuvering of the vehicle.

45. The computer implemented method of claim 44 wherein the other condition comprises at least one of the road network features represented by the multiple data items deviating from a threshold value.

46. The computer implemented method of claim 44 wherein the other condition comprises occurrence of a dynamic condition at a location of the vehicle at least at the time of the providing.

47. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle occurs at the location.

48. The computer implemented method of claim 35 wherein the maneuvering of the vehicle occurs prior to arrival at the location.