Digital map system

• US 20050209774A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Speedinfo
• Original Assignee: Speedinfo
• Inventors: Finlay, Doug
• Application Number:
  US10/807,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting to a plurality of receivers a first road segment having a first segment first endpoint and a first segment second endpoint, and transmitting to a plurality of receivers a second road segment having a second segment first endpoint and a second segment second endpoint. The first segment and the second segment are combined together to form a portion of the digital map.

Claims

1. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map comprising:

transmitting to a plurality of receivers a first road segment having a first segment first endpoint and a first segment second endpoint, and

transmitting to a plurality of receivers a second road segment having a second segment first endpoint and a second segment second endpoint wherein the first segment and the second segment are combined together to form a portion of the digital map.

2. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state.

3. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state that varies over time.

4. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state including speed information.

5. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state including weather information.

6. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state including accident information.

7. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment is part of a polygon that enclose an area of interest.

8. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state including road condition information.

9. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and a transmitter transmits an updated segment state based on a real-time measurement.

10. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the source of information for the segment state is a sensor.

11. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the source of information for the segment state is a private database.

12. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the source of information for the segment state is a public database.

13. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by processing information from a sensor.

14. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by processing information from a private database.

15. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by processing information from a public database.

16. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by correcting speed data for a mounting angle of a sensor.

17. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by converting a raw speed to an effective speed.

18. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is derived by converting a raw speed to an effective speed using measurements of a vehicle traveling a given road segment.

19. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the road segment endpoints are transmitted in a road segment data packet.

20. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the road segment endpoints are transmitted in a road segment data packet that is comprised of a segment identifier, a first endpoint longitude and latitude, and a second endpoint longitude and latitude.

21. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the road segment endpoints are transmitted in a road segment data packet that is comprised of a segment identifier, a first endpoint longitude and latitude, a second endpoint longitude and latitude, a name, and a road type.

22. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and the segment speed state is transmitted in a speed update information packet.

23. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and the segment speed state is transmitted in a speed update information packet that is comprised of a segment identifier and a speed.

24. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and a transmitter transmits an updated segment state that is used to update a database.

25. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update an optimum trip plan.

26. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update an optimum route plan.

27. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update a digital map display.

28. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update a digital map display whose displayed level of detail depends on the size of the area displayed in the display.

29. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update a digital map display whose displayed level of detail depends on a user selection.

30. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment state and the segment state is used to update a digital map display of the area near to the receiver location.

31. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and the color of a road segment on a digital map display corresponds to the segment speed state.

32. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and the shade of gray of a road segment on a digital map display corresponds to the segment speed state.

33. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and a pattern of a road segment on a digital map display corresponds to the segment speed state.

34. A method of broadcasting a digital traffic map as in claim 1 wherein the first segment has a segment speed state and a user selects one of a table of different colors, an alternate table of different colors, a table of different shades of gray, or a table of different patterns to correspond to speeds on a digital map display.

35. A method of receiving a digital traffic map comprising:

receiving from a transmitter a first road segment having a first segment first endpoint and a first segment second endpoint, and

receiving from a transmitter a second road segment having a second segment first endpoint and a second segment second endpoint wherein the first segment and the second segment are combined together to form a portion of the digital map.