Method of updating navigation map data

• US 20090125235A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Hsiang-Yin, Chen, Chun-Ming
• Application Number:
  US12/010,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3848 Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors

Abstract

A method of updating navigation map data obtains at least one corresponding coordinate position with movement of the global positioning system navigator by receiving at least one satellite positioning signal. When it is determined that a vehicle is traveling to a street intersection, at least one image of road scene is photoed, and the coordinate position of the street intersection is recorded. At the same time, a traveling route comprising the image is recorded according to all coordination positions received between intersections, and a street map, road type information, and road scene information in a map database are updated according to the traveling route, such that navigation map database is updated, navigation route accuracy is maintained, and scene navigation and other functions are implemented immediately without linking to a server.

Claims

1. A method of updating navigation map data comprised in a global positioning system (GPS) navigator having a digital camera module on real time, the method comprising:

receiving at least one GPS signal to obtain at least one corresponding coordinate position with movement of the global positioning system navigator;

taking at least one image of road scene when traveling to a street intersection is confirmed, and recording the coordinate position of the street intersection;

recording a traveling route comprising the image according to the coordinate positions received before traveling to a next street intersection; and

updating the map database according to the traveling route when the traveling route does not exist in the map database.

2. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the road scene is one selected from a set composed of photoed dynamic images and static images.

3. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the map database comprises a street map, road type information, and road scene information.

4. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein traveling to the street intersection is confirmed by determining a change of the coordinate positions received in a predetermined time, when the change of the coordinate positions is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined traveling to the street intersection.

5. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein traveling to the street intersection is confirmed by an accelerometer or a gyro, when traveling direction change is sensed, it is determined traveling to the street intersection.

6. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 3, wherein the street intersection is determined through the predetermined street intersections recorded by the street map in the map database.

7. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of updating the map database according to the traveling route comprises:

when determining the street map does not comprise the traveling route, drawing the traveling route in the street map, and updating the road scene information according to the road scene.

8. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the map database according to the traveling route comprises:

when determining the road scene information is not recorded on a coordinate of the street map corresponding to the coordinate position of the street intersection at which the road scene is took, updating the road scene information according to the road scene.

9. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the map database according to the traveling route comprises:

analyzing a quantity of intersections in the road scene;

determining a type of the road scene through the quantity of the intersections; and

updating the map database according to the traveling route, the road scene, and the type of the road scene.

10. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, further comprising using a human-machine interface or an acoustic control equipment to adjust photographic angle of the digital lens, and recording the instruction voice corresponding to the road scene.

11. The method of updating navigation map data as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying the road type information and the road scene information, and playing the corresponding instruction voice when traveling to the street intersection.