Traffic Information Service Based on Traffic Information Transmitted to a Navigation System

• US 20060184322A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Hyoung-Jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a traffic information service to a vehicle. Traffic information is broadcast through an external network to the vehicle, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map. Data within the broadcasted traffic information and based on a the first map is compared to a second map provided in a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map. A traffic information service is provided to the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the vehicle navigation unit is configured for displaying the traffic information with the second map.

Claims

1. A method for providing a traffic information service to a vehicle comprising:

broadcasting traffic information through an external network to the vehicle, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map;

providing data, within the broadcasted traffic information, which enables a relationship to be established between the traffic information that is based on the first map and a second map to be rendered by a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map; and

based on the traffic information, providing a traffic information service to the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the vehicle navigation unit is configured for displaying the traffic information with the second map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting comprises broadband broadcasting the traffic information through the external network to the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data within the broadcasted traffic information includes a link ID relating the first map to the second map.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the link ID identifies one or more of a road segment, a landmark, and a guide point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data within the broadcasted traffic information includes data corresponding to a look-up table within the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the look-up table defines relationships between the first map and the second map.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a look-up table in the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the look-up table contains data linking the first map and the second map.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information service includes information relating to one or more of a travel route, road conditions, or traffic conditions.

8. A method for providing a traffic information service comprising:

receiving traffic information through an external network, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map;

associating the traffic information based on the first map with a second map to be rendered in a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map; and

providing a traffic information service based on the traffic information associated with the second map in the vehicle navigation unit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising broadband broadcasting the traffic information through the external network to a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising accessing data linking the first map and the second map through a link ID of the first map, wherein associating the traffic information based on the first map comprises comparing the link ID of the first map that is received with the traffic information to a link ID of the second map.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the link ID identifies one or more of a road segment, a landmark, and location coordinates.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein associating the traffic information based on the first map with the second map comprises comparing data contained in the traffic information with a look-up table.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the look-up table is stored in the vehicle navigation system.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the look-up table reflects a relationship between a link ID of the first map and a link ID of the second map.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating map data in the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the map data contains data linking the first map and the second map.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the map data is provided in a look-up table which is valid for a limited period of time or is valid for a limited number of uses.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the traffic information and a link ID associated with the first map and the second map in a traffic information table in the navigation unit.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein associating the traffic information comprises:

assessing the reliability of the traffic information based on the first map;

identifying a link ID associated with the first map in a look-up table in the navigation unit;

identifying a link ID of the second map in the look-up table corresponding to the link ID of the first map.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

providing data to the navigation unit for guiding a vehicle through a route;

matching a link ID of the second map with the traffic information based on the first map;

determining a weighted value of the link ID of the second map based on the traffic information matched with the second map; and

searching the route based on the weighted value of the link ID.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

providing real time traffic information and vehicle guidance to the navigation unit based on link IDs of the second map; and

displaying traffic information associated with each link ID.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

defining a travel route; and

providing a summary report of traffic information relating to the defined travel route, wherein the summary report includes road conditions or traffic conditions relating to the travel route.

22. An apparatus for receiving information relating to road and traffic conditions comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving traffic information based on a first map, wherein the receiving unit is configured for receiving traffic information transmitted through a broadband broadcast;

a navigation unit configured for providing information relating to road and traffic conditions provided with the traffic information based on the first map from the receiving unit; and

a storage unit containing a look-up table, wherein the look-up table defines a relationship between the received traffic information based on the first map and a second map to be rendered by the navigation unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the look-up table reflects a relationships between a link ID of the first map and a link ID of the second map.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the look-up table is valid for a limited period of time or is valid for a limited number of uses

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a pre-processing unit configured to associate the traffic information with a link ID of the second map based on the look-up table; and

a traffic information storage unit configured for storing information obtained by associating the traffic information and the link ID of the second map, the traffic information storage unit including a traffic information table.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the pre-processing unit is configured to assess the reliability of the traffic information, to associate the look-up table with the link ID of the first map, and to associate the link ID of the second map with the link ID of the first map.