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

• US 20090265095A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Herbst, James M., Borak, Jason M., Bennett, James R., Hopkins, Karen A., McGrath, Suzanne M., Bauer, Ellen M., DeVries, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US12/481,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A method of operating a navigation system is disclosed. A request for a route between a first location on a road network and a second location off of the road network is received. A geographic database stored on a computer readable medium associated with the navigation system is accessed to obtain data representing a plurality of road segments including data representing a sidewalk along the road segment and data representing a crosswalk associated with the road segment. The geographic database is accessed to obtain data representing a plurality of pedestrian segments and data representing at least one orientation node providing a connection between one of the road segments and one of said pedestrian segments. A solution route comprising a series of connected road segments and a series of connected pedestrian segments between the first location and the second location is determined.

Claims

1. A method of operating a navigation system comprising:

receiving a request for a pedestrian route between a first location on a road network and a second location off of the road network;

accessing a geographic database stored on a computer readable medium associated with the navigation system to obtain data representing a plurality of road segments including data representing a sidewalk along the road segment and data representing a crosswalk associated with the road segment;

accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing a plurality of pedestrian segments, wherein the pedestrian segments are paths for travel by a pedestrian off of the road network;

accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing at least one orientation node providing a connection between one of the road segments and one of said pedestrian segments; and

determining a solution route comprising a series of connected road segments and a series of connected pedestrian segments between the first location and the second location, wherein said solution route passes through at least one orientation node and road segments that have associated sidewalk and crosswalk.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said request for the pedestrian route includes a walking preference for said pedestrian route.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising accessing the geographic database for attribute information of the road segments and pedestrian segments, said attribute information including at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of:

wheel chair accessible, paved surface, tree lined segment, type of transportation allowed, pets allowed, lighting level, noise level, pollution level, activity level and weather effects.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said solution route provides a route matching said walking preference.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing guidance instructions for said solution route.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said guidance instruction includes at least one maneuver and at least one reference to a visible feature along the route.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing said guidance instruction on a user interface of the navigation system.

8. A method of operating a navigation system comprising:

receiving a request for a pedestrian route between an origin and a destination;

receiving a walking preference for said pedestrian route;

accessing a geographic database stored on a computer readable medium associated with the navigation system to obtain data representing a plurality of candidate segments for the pedestrian route;

evaluating attribute information for each of the candidate segments for conformity with said walking preference, wherein said attribute information includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of;

type of transportation allowed, wheel chair accessible, pets allowed, lighting level, noise level, pollution level, activity level, tree lined and weather effects; and

determining a solution route comprising a series of connected segments between the origin and the destination, wherein said solution route matches said walking preference.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing said candidate segments includes accessing data representing a sidewalk along the segment.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing said candidate segments includes accessing data representing a crosswalk associated with the segment.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing said candidate segments includes accessing data representing at least one orientation node providing a connection between one of the segments associated with a road network and one of said segments off of the road network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said solution route passes through said at least one orientation node.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing guidance instructions for said solution route.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said guidance instruction includes at least one maneuver and at least one reference to a visible feature along the route.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing said guidance instruction on a user interface of the navigation system.

16. A method of operating a navigation system comprising:

receiving a request for a pedestrian route between an origin and a destination;

accessing a geographic database stored on a computer readable medium associated with the navigation system to obtain data representing a plurality of candidate segments including information indicating a sidewalk along the segment;

evaluating the information indicating the sidewalk for each of the candidate segments; and

determining a solution route comprising a series of connected segments that have associated sidewalks.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

accessing the geographic database for information indicating a crosswalk associated with the candidate segment.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

accessing the geographic database for accessing the geographic database to obtain data representing at least one orientation node providing a connection between one of the segments on a road network and one of said segments off of the road network.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the request for the pedestrian route includes a walking preference and the solution route matches the walking preference.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing guidance instructions for said solution route, wherein said guidance instruction includes at least one maneuver and at least one reference to a visible feature along the route.