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

• US 20100131189A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Roosen, Mareije, Geelen, Pieter, Jones, Rory, Hilbrandie, Geert
• Application Number:
  US12/310,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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, in one example embodiment, 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 supplementing map data on a navigation device, comprising:

loading map data into a memory;

calculating at least one of a location, a speed, and a heading of a vehicle;

determining if there is an inconsistency between said loaded map data and at least one of said calculated location, speed, and heading;

generating, upon determining an inconsistency, a map correction data based on at least one of said calculated location, speed, and heading; and

confirming, upon not determining an inconsistency, accuracy of said map data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a user query.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing menu driven selection of possible alterations;

receiving input comprising at least one of said possible alterations; and

generating a map correction data comprising said at least one of said possible alterations.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said map data comprises said location,

determining, upon determining that said map data comprises said location, if said map associates said current location with a motor vehicle location, and

generating, if said current location is not associated with a motor vehicle location, a correction query.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising planning a route to a destination.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said determining further comprises comparing at least one of said calculated location, speed, and heading to said planned route.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining if said vehicle deviates from said route;

determining, upon determining that said vehicle has deviated from said route, a route portion deviated by said vehicle; and

querying a user whether said route portion should be blocked.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

planning a route, said route comprising altered map data;

determining whether said vehicle followed said route;

generating, upon determining that said vehicle followed said route, a confirmation query regarding user route satisfaction;

receiving a response to said query; and

transmitting said response to a remote server.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

planning a route, said route comprising map data;

determining whether said vehicle followed said route;

generating, upon determining that said vehicle followed said route, a confirmation query regarding user route satisfaction;

receiving a response to said query; and

transmitting said response to a server.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of a vehicle over a given period of time;

determining a location speed limit of said location;

determining a vehicle speed limit of said vehicle;

determining a threshold location speed limit;

comparing said threshold location speed limit with said vehicle speed limit; and

generating, if said comparison shows that said vehicle speed limit exceeds said threshold location speed limit, a user query for changing said location speed limit.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing updates of a non-current map with a current map; and

generating, if said comparison shows that said updates are not located on said current map, a current map correction comprising said updates.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing said map correction data separately from said map data.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising categorizing said map correction data.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising uploading said map correction data to a remote server.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction data comprises at least one of an added street, a blocked street, a changed traffic direction, a changed turn restriction, a changed vehicle type restriction, a changed speed limit, and a changed average speed.

35. A navigation device for supplementing map data, comprising:

a memory for loading map data;

a processor for calculating at least one of a location, a speed, and a heading of a vehicle;

means for determining if there is an inconsistency between said map data and at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading; and

means for generating a map correction data based on at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading upon determining an inconsistency, and

means adapted for performing the method of claim 1.

16. A navigation device for supplementing map data, comprising:

a memory for loading map data;

a processor for calculating at least one of a location, a speed, and a heading of a vehicle;

means for determining if there is an inconsistency between said map data and at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading; and

means for generating a map correction data based on at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading upon determining an inconsistency.

17-34. -34. (canceled)

36. A navigation device for supplementing map data, comprising:

a memory for loading map data;

a processor for calculating at least one of a location, a speed, and a heading of a vehicle;

means for determining if there is an inconsistency between said map data and at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading; and

means for confirming accuracy of said map data in case of no inconsistency.

37. The navigation device according to claim 36, further comprising a display for displaying a user query.

38. The navigation device according to claim 37, further comprising means for planning a route to a destination.

39. The navigation device according to claim 38, wherein said means for determining further comprises means for comparing at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading to said planned route.

40. The navigation device according to claim 36, further comprising means for planning a route to a destination.

41. The navigation device according to claim 40, wherein said means for determining further comprises means for comparing at least one of said location, said speed, and said heading to said planned route.