TRAVEL TIME INFORMATION SYSTEM

• US 20080162033A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wagner, Thomas, Wagner, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• 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: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A system is provided for providing travel time information for a plurality of positions on an electronic map. The system provides map data including information on road segments, determines a plurality of road segment travel times based on the map data, selects a plurality of positions for which travel time information is to provided, determines a travel time for each of these positions in dependence on the road segment travel times, and displays an optical indicator for the travel times on an electronic map.

Claims

1. A method of providing travel time information for a plurality of positions on an electronic map comprising the steps of:

providing map data containing information on road segments;

determining a plurality of road segment travel times based on the map data, where a road segment travel time for a road segment corresponds to a travel time from a start point to a point on the road segment;

selecting a plurality of positions for which travel time information is to be provided, for each of the positions, determining a travel time in dependence on at least one road segment travel time of a road segment located in proximity to the respective position; and

displaying an optical indicator for the respective travel time on an electronic map.

2. The method of claim 1, where the step of selecting includes selecting the plurality of positions in dependence on pre-defined positions.

3. The method of claim 1, where the step of selecting includes comparing the road segment travel times to pre-defined times.

4. The method of claim 1, where the step of selecting includes receiving a user input specifying at least one position of the plurality of positions.

5. The method of claim 4, where the method further comprises a step of monitoring the user input, where the steps of determining a travel time and displaying an optical indicator are repeated when the user input changes, thereby sequentially displaying the optical indicators for positions specified by the user input.

6. The method of claim 1, where the plurality of road segment travel times is determined for a set of road segments located on a route connecting the start point and a destination, where the plurality of positions is located on the route.

7. The method of claim 6, where in the step of determining a travel time for a position, the travel time of the position is set equal to the road segment travel time of the road segment in proximity to the position.

8. The method of claim 6, where the step of determining a travel time for a position includes the steps of determining first and second road segments located in proximity to the position and having first and second road segment travel times, and interpolating between the first and second road segment travel times.

9. The method of claim 1, where the plurality of positions is located in an area at least partially surrounding the start point, where the optical indicators comprise a line or a surface pattern on the electronic map indicative of a region that can be reached within a given travel time.

10. The method of claim 9, where the plurality of road segment travel times is determined for a plurality of road segments which is automatically determined depending on the area.

11. The method of claim 9, where the method further comprises the step of defining a tiling covering the area, where for each tile of the tiling, a road segment travel time is respectively determined for a road segment located in the tile and having maximum travel speed in the tile.

12. The method of claim 1, where the plurality of road segment travel times is determined using a fastest route search.

13. The method of claim 1, where the plurality of road segment travel time is determined using a shortest route search.

14. The method of claim 1, where for each position of the plurality of positions, the optical indicator is displayed on the electronic map in proximity to the respective position.

15. The method of claim 1, where the method further comprises the step of receiving a TMC-signal and adapting the plurality of road segment travel times in dependence on the TMC-signal.

16. The method of claim 15, where the method further comprises the step of re-determining the travel times in dependence on the adapted plurality of road segment travel times and re-displaying optical indicators of the respective re-determined travel times on the electronic map.

17. The method of claim 1, where the method further comprises the steps of determining a current vehicle position and a current time, and updating the optical indicators in dependence on the current vehicle position and the current time.

18. The method of claim 1, where the electronic map is displayed by an optical output unit of a navigation system.

19. A device for providing travel time information for a plurality of positions on an electronic map, comprising:

a storage unit storing map data containing information on road segments;

a processor unit that determines a plurality of road segment travel times based on the map data, where a road segment travel time for a road segment corresponds to a travel time from a start point to a point on the road segment;

the processor unit being further configured to select a plurality of positions for which travel time information is to be provided and to determine, for each of the positions, a travel time in dependence on at least one road segment travel time of a road segment located in proximity to the respective position; and

a display unit coupled to the processor unit and configured to display an optical indicator for a travel time of each of the plurality of positions on an electronic map.

20. The device of claim 19, where the storage unit stores pre-defined positions and the processor unit selects at least one of the plurality of positions in dependence on the pre-defined positions.

21. The device of claim 19, where the processor unit selects at least one of the plurality of positions by comparing the road segment travel times to pre-defined times.

22. The device of claim 19, where the device comprises an input unit coupled to the processor unit for receiving a user input, where the processor unit selects at least one position of the plurality of positions in dependence on the user input.

23. The device of claim 19, where the processor unit determines the plurality of road segment travel times for a set of road segments located on a route connecting the start point and a destination, and selects the plurality of positions on the route.

24. The device of claim 19, where the processor unit selects the plurality of positions so that it is located in an area at least partially surrounding the start point, where the optical indicators utilize a line or a surface pattern on the electronic map indicative of a region that can be reached within a given travel time.

25. The device of claim 19, where the processor unit performs a fastest route search to determine the plurality of road segment travel times.

26. The device of claim 19, where the processor unit performs a shortest route search to determine the plurality of road segment travel times.

27. The device of claim 19, where the display unit is configured such that, for each position of the plurality of positions, the optical indicator is displayed on the electronic map in proximity to the respective position.

28. The device of claim 19, where the device further comprises a TMC-receiver coupled to the processor unit, where the processor unit adapts the plurality of road segment travel times in dependence on a signal received by the TMC-receiver.

29. The device of claim 19, where the device further comprises a GPS-receiver coupled to the processor unit for determining a current vehicle position, where the processor unit re-determines the travel times for the plurality of positions in dependence on the current vehicle position and a current time.