Navigation data quality feedback

• US 20070179709A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 where the complete route is computed only once and not updated
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

A computer assisted navigation system determines a recommended route for a vehicle to travel between a source and destination location, and provides exception notifications in some events where the vehicle travels a route different that the recommended route. The vehicle includes a navigation system that has a location monitoring component. It is determined if the location of the vehicle is different than a location along the recommended route. An exception notification is generated when the vehicle is not along the recommended route it is likely that the reason the recommended route was not used is because the recommended route is not the optimal route between the source and destination locations.

Claims

1. A method for determining exceptions from a recommended route in a navigation application, comprising:

providing to a computer assisted navigation system a recommended route for a vehicle to travel from a first location to a second location;

monitoring a location of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling from the first location to the second location;

determining that the vehicle has deviated from the recommended route; and

generating an exception notification when the deviation from the recommended route is different than an expected deviation.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

firstly determining that a location of the vehicle that is different than an expected location provided in the recommended route;

secondly determining that the location of the vehicle is back within an expected location provided in the recommended route.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said generating comprises:

determining that the vehicle did not stop for longer than a predetermined time between said firstly and secondly determining steps; and

generating said exception notification.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

firstly determining that a current location of the vehicle greater than a predetermined distance from an expected location provided in the recommended route; and

generating said exception notification.

5. The method, as claimed in claim 4, further comprising, after said firstly determining:

secondly determining that a predetermined length of time has elapsed since the vehicle location has been different than the recommended route.

6. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

firstly determining that a location of the vehicle is different than an expected location provided in the recommended route; and

secondly determining that the vehicle is at said second location.

7. The method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said generating comprises:

thirdly determining that there were no stops of longer than a predetermined time period between said firstly determining step and said secondly determining; and

generating said exception notification.

8. A computer assisted navigation system that is operably interconnected with a vehicle and operable to assist a driver of the vehicle with navigation, comprising:

a location sensor operable to output a current location;

a wireless communication portion operable to send/receive wireless communication;

a

a controller operably coupled to said location sensor and wireless communication portion; and

a user interface operable to provide the driver with navigation information,

wherein said controller is operable to receive current location information from said location sensor, use said location information to determine that vehicle is at a location that is different than a location within a recommended route, and generate an exception notification when the difference in location is not within a set of predefined rules.

9. The computer assisted navigation system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controller is operable to receive current location information from said location sensor and transmit, using said wireless communication portion, said current location information to a remote server.

10. The computer assisted navigation system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controller generates said exception notification when the vehicle does not stop for longer than a predetermined time period when the vehicle location is different that a location within the recommended route.

11. The computer assisted navigation system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controller if further operable to generate a query to the driver requesting an explanation for the difference in location and to generate said exception notification when the driver indicates the recommended route was not an optimal route.

12. A tangible data storage medium comprising executable data capable of causing a programmable device to perform the steps of:

providing a recommended route for a vehicle to travel from a first location to a second location;

monitoring a location of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling from the first location to the second location;

determining that the vehicle has deviated from the recommended route; and

generating an exception notification when the deviation from the recommended route is different than an expected deviation.

13. The tangible data storage medium of claim 12 wherein said determining comprises:

firstly determining that a location of the vehicle that is different than an expected location provided in the recommended route;

secondly determining that the location of the vehicle is back within an expected location provided in the recommended route.

14. The tangible data storage medium of claim 13 wherein said generating comprises:

determining that the vehicle did not stop for longer than a predetermined time between said firstly and secondly determining; and

generating said exception notification.

15. The tangible data storage medium of claim 12 wherein said generating comprises:

firstly determining that a current location of the vehicle greater than a predetermined distance from an expected location provided in the recommended route; and

generating said exception notification.

16. The tangible data storage medium of claim 15 further comprising, after said firstly determining:

secondly determining that a predetermined length of time has elapsed since the vehicle location has been different than the recommended route.

17. The tangible data storage medium of claim 12 wherein said determining comprises:

firstly determining that a location of the vehicle is different than an expected location provided in the recommended route; and

secondly determining that the vehicle is at said second location.

18. The tangible data storage medium of claim 17 wherein said generating comprises:

thirdly determining that there were no stops of longer than a predetermined time period between said firstly determining and said secondly determining; and

generating said exception notification.

19. A method for determining exceptions from a recommended route in a computer assisted navigation application, comprising:

providing a computer assisted navigation system that is capable of noting deviations between a vehicle location and a recommended route for the vehicle;

determining that a vehicle has deviated from the recommended route;

determining that another vehicle made a similar deviation from the recommended route; and

generating an exception notification when it is determined that at least two vehicles have made the deviation from the recommended route.

20. The method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said determining that another vehicle has made a similar deviation comprises:

determining if another vehicle has been provided with the recommended route;

determining that another vehicle has deviated from the recommended route; and

determining if the deviations in the recommended route are substantially similar.

21. The method, as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

determining that the deviations occurred within a predetermined time period.

22. The method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said determining that a vehicle has deviated from the recommended route comprises:

collecting location information of the vehicle;

comparing the location information with the recommended route;

determining that the vehicle location is different than the recommended route for at least a portion of the recommended route; and

determining that the vehicle deviated from the recommended route when the difference in location is not within a set of predefined rules.