METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MAPPING DATA

• US 20100164791A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Harold, Giles, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.310
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing mapping data in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives coordinate data from a customer mobile endpoint device, and processes the coordinate data against at least one existing map. The method then identifies a route associated with the coordinate data as a candidate new route if the route is not previously known on the at least one existing map.

Claims

1. A method for processing coordinate data in a network, comprising:

receiving coordinate data from a customer mobile endpoint device;

processing said coordinate data against at least one existing map; and

identifying a route associated with said coordinate data as a candidate new route if said route is not previously known on said at least one existing map.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying said candidate new route.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said verifying said candidate new route comprises verifying said candidate new route against a predefined threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said verifying said candidate new route comprises verifying said candidate new route against at least one of:

postal addresses, or city planning records.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

updating one or more route databases or said at least one map if said candidate new route is successfully verified as a new route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinate data comprises one or more of:

a longitudinal coordinate, a latitudinal coordinate or an altitudinal coordinate of said customer mobile endpoint device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer mobile endpoint device comprises a receiver for a global navigation satellite system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said global navigation satellite system comprises at least one of:

a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Galileo positioning system, or a GLONASS positioning system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinate data is received with a street name.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said coordinate data is received in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for processing coordinate data in a network, comprising:

receiving coordinate data from a customer mobile endpoint device;

processing said coordinate data against at least one existing map; and

identifying a route associated with said coordinate data as a candidate new route if said route is not previously known on said at least one existing map.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

verifying said candidate new route.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said verifying said candidate new route comprises verifying said candidate new route against a predefined threshold.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said verifying said candidate new route comprises verifying said candidate new route against at least one of:

postal addresses, or city planning records.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

updating one or more route databases or said at least one map if said candidate new route is successfully verified as a new route.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said coordinate data comprises one or more of:

a longitudinal coordinate, a latitudinal coordinate or an altitudinal coordinate of said customer mobile endpoint device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said customer mobile endpoint device comprises a receiver for a global navigation satellite system.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said coordinate data is received with a street name.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said coordinate data is received in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

20. An apparatus for processing coordinate data in a network, comprising:

means for receiving coordinate data from a customer mobile endpoint device;

means for processing said coordinate data against at least one existing map; and

means for identifying a route associated with said coordinate data as a candidate new route if said route is not previously known on said at least one existing map.