METHOD OF GENERATING IMPROVED MAP DATA FOR USE IN NAVIGATION DEVICES, MAP DATA AND NAVIGATION DEVICE THEREFOR

• US 20100131186A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Kucheiko, Sergei, Geelen, Pieter, Jurgens, Sven, Jones, Rory, Neef, Edwin, Hilbrandie, Geert, Roosen, Mareije
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3837 Data obtained from a single source
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, an end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.

Claims

1. A method of generating improved map data for use in an electronic navigation device, the method comprising:

displaying map data, suitable for route guidance algorithms, on the electronic navigation device;

receiving, via a direct input of an end-user on the electronic navigation device, a correction to a map error;

using, at the electronic navigation device, the received correction without external processing of the correction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic navigation device stores the map data and the correction locally on the electronic navigation device, and wherein the correction is used when calculating a route to a destination.

3. The method of claim 1, where-in the electronic navigation device stores the correction together with, in or as at least one of a unique identifier, a time stamp defining when the correction was input, in a modular format that enables the correction to be applied in a routing algorithm independently of other corrections.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein an icon, or other kind of menu item shown on a display of the electronic navigation device, is selectable by the user to make changes to the map data stored on the electronic navigation device.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein selecting an icon causes a menu at a deeper level to be displayed, this deeper level menu including one or more icons or other kinds of menu items that each allows the user to make a different kind of change to the map data stored on the electronic navigation device.

64. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising one or more of the following:

enabling the correction to be shared with other devices or users;

restricting the correction for use solely on the electronic navigation device;

downloading corrections input by other end-users optionally by a defined community; and

downloading corrections from a defined supplied of map data.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic navigation device enables the user to determine kinds of corrections that are to have effect and to be used by the electronic navigation device in its routing algorithms, the kinds of corrections including one or more of the following:

corrections input by the end-user;

corrections input by other end-users;

corrections input by other end-users known to the end-user;

corrections that satisfy a predefined trust level; and

corrections that have been reported more than a predefined number of times.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein the correction is for one or more of the following:

to block a street;

to unblock a street;

to change a speed or speed limit applicable to a street;

to rename, move, add, delete or re-categorise a POI;

to add or change a name applicable to a city, part of a city, street or a part of a street;

to change a direction of traffic property of a road to add a road or connect two roads;

to block access for one or more of a motor vehicle, pedestrians, heavy goods vehicles, and bicycles;

to add or remove a turn restriction to a road;

to add or modify house numbers;

to mark or remove an indication of a road as a toll road;

to add or modify signpost information for a road;

to modify motorway exit numbers;

to modify a postcode associated with a location; and

to add or modify a height, weight or width restriction.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein a correction is associateable, by the user, with one or more transportation types.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the correction has one or more of the following characteristics:

is compressed for OTA distribution;

is securely encoded, optionally in a way that is not specific to any one supplier of the map data;

does not permanently affect the map data stored on the device;

is automatically removable if the area related to the fix has changed in a new release of the map data;

is automatically suggested to a user if the user departs from a planned route in a manner consistent with the correction; and

is sent to a server which aggregates other corrections sent to it.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein the user actions or options involve one or more of the following:

elect not to use corrections when planning a route;

configure the device such that at least one of private and public corrections from one or more categories are automatically included within route calculations; and

automatically informed that they are using corrections.

70. Map data for a navigation device that has been developed at least in part using the method of claim 1.

71. An electronic navigation device storing map data as defined in claim 70.

4-61. -61. (canceled)

72. An electronic navigation device, the electronic navigation device comprising:

a display to displaying map data;

an input device to enable an end-user to input a correction to a map error, directly on the electronic navigation device; and

a processor to use the input correction without external processing of the correction.

73. The navigation device of claim 72, wherein the user navigates through a menu hierarchy of the electronic navigation device solely by touching on-screen keys, buttons or icons and wherein one menu screen includes a key, button or icon that, if selected, enables the user to make a correction to a map stored on the electronic navigation device.

74. The navigation device of claim 73, wherein the selecting of the key, button or icon on the menu screen opens another menu screen at a deeper level in the menu hierarchy that includes keys, icons or buttons that each enable a specific kind of correction to be input.

75. The navigation device of claim 72, wherein the navigation device is one of a portable stand-alone device including a touch screen;

a PDA;

a PC;

a mobile telephone; and

a navigation device integrated into a vehicle.

76. An automated map correction suggestion method, comprising:

collecting and analyzing statistical data relating to driver behaviour in a system; and

suggesting, when certain threshold criteria are met, a map correction to a user of the system.

77. A map correction analysis method in which one or more of the following steps occur in a server:

analysis and aggregation of user corrections to derive a “

validity”

of a correction;

analysis of corrections supplied by a single user to derive “

trustworthiness”

of corrections from the single user;

keyword analysis of all string data in order to remove “

banned”

words; and

analysis of corrections in order to decide whether a map correction should be applied to other maps of the same region.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the server informs the user if the correction has already been corrected in a newer version of the map data and also informs the user how they can purchase the updated map data.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the server distributes corrections.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the server decides whether to distribute a correction to a specific navigation device dependent on the maps used by the specific navigation device.