Method of Collecting Information for a Geographic Database for use with a Navigation System

• US 20090187339A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ellen M. Bauer, James M. Herbst, James R. Bennett, Jason M. Borak, Karen A. Hopkins, Steven P. Devries, Suzanne M. Mcgrath
• Inventors: Herbst, James M., Borak, Jason M., Bennett, James R., Hopkins, Karen A., McGrath, Suzanne M., Bauer, Ellen M., DeVries, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method for collecting geographic data identifies a pedestrian segment associated with a path. Location information for the pedestrian segment is collected. Additionally, lighting level attribute information is collected for the pedestrian segment. The location information and the lighting level attribute information are stored in the geographic database that is stored on a computer readable storage medium.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of collecting data for a geographic database for use with a navigation system comprising:

identifying a pedestrian segment for travel by a pedestrian;

collecting location information for said pedestrian segment;

collecting lighting level attribute information for said pedestrian segment; and

storing data representing the location data and the lighting level attribute information in said geographic database, wherein said geographic database is stored on a computer readable data storage medium.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a pair of nodes as endpoints of said pedestrian segment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting a travel distance along the pedestrian segment.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting data indicating the proximity of the pedestrian segment to a road.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting location data is performed by a geographic researcher traveling in a geographic region.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the geographic researcher captures images of the geographic region.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting location data is performed by analyzing an aerial image.

8. A computer implemented method of collecting data for a geographic database comprising:

identifying a pedestrian segment for travel by a pedestrian;

collecting location information for said pedestrian segment;

collecting attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility; and

storing data representing the location data and the attribute information in said geographic database, wherein said geographic database is stored on a computer readable data storage medium.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility indicates a curb cutout associated with the pedestrian segment.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility indicates a pavement type of the pedestrian segment.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility indicates stairs associated with the pedestrian segment.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility indicates elevator associated with the pedestrian segment.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein attribute information for said pedestrian segment indicating wheel-chair accessibility indicates a cross-walk associated with the pedestrian segment.

14. A geographic database that represents features in a geographic region, said geographic database comprising:

data representing a pedestrian path in said geographic region, wherein said data representing said pedestrian path comprising;

data representing location of said pedestrian path; and

data representing lighting level for said pedestrian path;

wherein said geographic database is stored on a computer readable medium.

15. A geographic database that represents features in a geographic region, said geographic database comprising:

data representing a pedestrian path in said geographic region, wherein said data representing said pedestrian path comprising;

data representing location of said pedestrian path; and

data representing wheel-chair accessibility for said pedestrian path;

wherein said geographic database is stored on a computer readable medium.

16. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said wheel-chair accessibility indicates a curb cutout associated with the pedestrian segment.

17. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said wheel-chair accessibility indicates a pavement type of the pedestrian segment.

18. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said wheel-chair accessibility indicates stairs associated with the pedestrian segment.

19. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said wheel-chair accessibility indicates elevator associated with the pedestrian segment.

20. The geographic database of claim 15 wherein said wheel-chair accessibility indicates a cross-walk associated with the pedestrian segment.