Route evaluation system

• US 20070038367A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RM Acquisition LLC (Rand McNally & Company)
• Original Assignee: Rand McNally & Company
• Inventors: Froeberg, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries

Abstract

A route evaluation system includes a processor, a computer readable memory and a database that stores roadway data pertaining to a route. A first routine is arranged to obtain selected roadway data from the database. A second routine is arranged to determine a route from an origin to a destination based at least in part on the roadway data. A third routine is arranged to compute a set of navigation parameters for the route. A fourth routine is arranged to compare the set of navigation parameters to at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A route evaluation system comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a memory;

a database accessible by the processor and including roadway data pertaining to a geographical area;

a first routine, the first routine stored in the memory and executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to obtain selected roadway data from the database;

a second routine, the second routine stored in the memory and executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to determine a route from an origin to a destination based at least in part on the roadway data;

a third routine, the third routine stored in the memory and executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to compute a set of navigation parameters for the route; and

a fourth routine, the fourth routine stored in the memory and executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of route navigation parameters to at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter of a vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of route navigation parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and a distance traveled within the selected portion.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the route includes a selected portion and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and an area of the selected portion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of navigation parameters includes a curvature parameter, and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a minimum radius of curvature.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographical area is defined by a user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographical area is stored on a computer readable medium.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth routine is further arranged to direct the processor to assign a route suitability score to the route based at least in part on the comparison between the set of navigation parameters and the at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the fourth routine is further arranged to direct the processor to output a route suitability indicator selected from the group consisting of total heading change in the selected portion as a function of an area of the selected portion, total heading change in the selected portion as a function of distance traveled in the selected portion, and minimum radius of curvature in the selected portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to determine multiple routes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of route navigation parameters to a user-defined threshold value, the user-defined threshold value stored on a computer readable medium and indicative of the suitability of the route.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the route is displayed on an output device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the output device shows at least one of a graphical route description and a textual route description.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the roadway data includes at least one of a set of preexisting routes and a commercially available database.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter is defined by a user.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter is storable on a computer readable medium.

17. A software program for use in a route evaluation system, the software program comprising:

a set of vehicle maneuverability parameters stored on a first computer readable medium;

a set of roadway data stored on a second computer readable medium;

a first routine stored on a third computer readable medium, the first routine executable by a processor and arranged to access the set of roadway data and to determine a route from an origin to a destination based on the set of roadway data; and

a second routine stored on the third computer readable medium, the second routine executable by the processor and arranged to calculate a set of route navigation parameters based on the roadway data for the route, the set of route navigation parameters indicative of the suitability of the route.

18. The software program of claim 17, wherein the set of route navigation parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

19. The software program of claim 18, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and a distance traveled within the selected portion.

20. The software program of claim 18, wherein the route includes a selected portion and wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and an area of the selected portion.

21. The software program of claim 17, wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to assign a route suitability score to the route based at least in part on a comparison between the set of navigation parameters and at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter.

22. The software program of claim 17, wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of route navigation parameters to a user-defined threshold value, the user-defined threshold value stored on a computer readable medium and indicative of the suitability of the route.

23. A software program for use in a route evaluation system, the software program comprising:

a first routine stored on a computer readable medium, the first routine executable by a processor and arranged to direct the processor to access a set of roadway data stored in a database and arranged to determine a route from an origin to a destination based on the set of roadway data; and

a second routine stored on a computer readable medium, the second routine executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to determine a set of route navigation parameters based on the set of roadway data pertaining to the route, the set of route navigation parameters indicative of a suitability of the route.

24. The software program of claim 23, wherein the set of roadway data includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of a geodetic street coordinate, associated shape geometry, road class, lane count, lane width and turn direction.

25. The software program of claim 23, wherein the set of route navigation parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

26. The software program of claim 25, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and a distance traveled within the selected portion.

27. The software program of claim 25, wherein the route includes a selected portion and wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and an area of the selected portion.

28. The software program of claim 23, wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to assign a route suitability score to the route based at least in part on a comparison between the set of navigation parameters and at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter.

29. The software program of claim 23, wherein the second routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of route navigation parameters to a user-defined threshold value, the user-defined threshold value stored, on a computer readable medium and indicative of the suitability of the route.

30. A system comprising:

a vehicle;

a processor operatively coupled to a memory;

a set of roadway data stored on a first computer readable medium;

a first routine stored on a second computer readable medium, the first routine executable by the computer and arranged to direct the processor to obtain selected roadway data from the set of roadway data;

a second routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the second routine executable by the computer and arranged to direct the processor to determine a route from an origin to a destination based at least in part on the selected roadway data;

a third routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the third routine executable by the computer and arranged to direct the processor to compute a set of navigation parameters for the route; and

a fourth routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the fourth routine executable by the computer and arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of navigation parameters to at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle also includes a communication device adapted to communicate with the processor.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of route navigation parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and a distance traveled within the selected portion.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the deliver route includes a selected portion and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and an area of the selected portion.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the set of navigation parameters includes a curvature parameter and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a minimum radius of curvature.

35. A dispatch system comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a memory;

a communication device operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate with a vehicle;

a set of roadway data stored on a first computer readable medium;

a first routine stored on a second computer readable medium, the first routine executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to obtain selected roadway data from the set of roadway data;

a second routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the second routine executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to determine a route from an origin to a destination based at least in part on the selected roadway data;

a third routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the third routine executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to compute a set of navigation parameters for the route;

a fourth routine stored on the second computer readable medium, the fourth routine executable by the processor and arranged to direct the processor to compare the set of navigation parameters to at least one vehicle maneuverability parameter of the vehicle.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of route navigation parameters includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the route includes a selected portion, and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and a distance traveled within the selected portion.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the route includes a selected portion and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion and an area of the selected portion.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the set of navigation parameters includes a curvature parameter and wherein the third routine is further arranged to direct the processor to compute the curvature parameter based on a minimum radius of curvature.

40. A method of evaluating a route comprising:

defining a geographical area on a computer;

retrieving roadway data from a database for the geographical area;

creating a route from an origin to a destination within the geographical area;

evaluating a navigation parameter of the route;

comparing the navigation parameter of the route to a vehicle maneuverability parameter of a vehicle.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the navigation parameter is selected from the group consisting of a curvature parameter, a time of travel parameter and a number of turns parameter.

42. The method of claim 41, further including defining a selected portion of the route and computing the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion of the route and a distance traveled within the selected portion of the route.

43. The method of claim 41, further including defining a selected portion of the route and computing the curvature parameter based on a heading change within the selected portion of the route and an area of the selected portion of the route.

44. The method of claim 41, further including defining a selected portion of the route and computing the curvature parameter based on a minimum radius of curvature of the selected portion of the route.

45. The method of claim 40, further including assigning a route suitability score to the route based at least in part on the comparison between the navigation parameter and the vehicle maneuverability parameter.

46. The method of claim 40, further including comparing the route navigation parameter to a user-defined threshold value that is indicative of the suitability of the route.