METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GENERATING MAP DATA AND A METHOD AND NAVIGATION DEVICE FOR DETERMING A ROUTE USING MAP DATA

• US 20100299055A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Rutten, Ben, Wolf, Martin, Atkinson, Ian Malcom, Hilbrandie, Karine, Schäfer, Ralf-Peter, Mieth, Peter, Hilbrandie, Geert
• Granted Patent: US 9,829,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3844 Data obtained from position sensors only, e.g. from inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases

Abstract

A method of processing speed data is disclosed for use in the provision of enhanced map data including a plurality of navigable segments which together may define a navigable route in an area covered by a digital map. In at least one embodiment, the method includes (i) obtaining the speed data for at least one segment, the speed data including the measured speed of travel of a plurality of vehicles through the segment at different times; (ii) generating from the speed data for the at least one segment, data on at least one normal speed profile including an average speed of travel through the segment for a time recurring weekly; (iii) for at least one specified time, generating for the at least one segment data on at least one abnormal speed profile including an expected speed of travel through the segment during the specified time, the specified time being a time that does not occur weekly; and (iv) assigning to the at least one segment of the map data the corresponding normal speed profile and the abnormal speed profile for use by a navigation device in routing algorithms to determine a journey across the area.

Claims

1. A method of processing speed data to generate map data which comprises a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by the map, the method comprising:

i. obtaining the speed data for at least one segment, the speed data comprising measured speeds of travel through the segment at different times;

ii. generating from the speed data for the at least one segment, data on at least one normal speed profile comprising an average speed of travel through the segment for a time recurring weekly;

iii. for at least one specified time, generating for the at least one segment data on at least one abnormal speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment during the specified time, the specified time being a time that does not occur weekly; and

iv. assigning to the at least one segment of the map data the corresponding normal speed profile and the abnormal speed profile for use by a navigation device in routing algorithms to determine a journey across the area.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning, to each at least one segment, an identifier identifying when a navigation device should use the abnormal speed profile for determination of a route.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying times of atypical weekly traffic behaviour and generating the at least one abnormal speed profile by identifying from the speed data the measured speed of travel through the segment at one or more of the identified times and determining from the identified speed data one or more average speeds of travel through the segment.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein identifying times of atypical weekly traffic behaviour comprises searching an events database for events that affect traffic behaviour.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the at least one abnormal speed profile comprises speeds determined by increasing or decreasing the average speeds of the normal speed profile.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving data on specified times and, in response to receiving the data on future specified times, associating the at least one abnormal speed profiles with the specified times.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the map data comprises data on a first map, in which the normal speed profile is associated with the navigable segments, and data on at least one second map for use on specified times, in which the abnormal speed profile is associated with the navigable segments, the method further comprising sending the data on the first map to a navigation device on request and sending data on the or one of the second maps when map data is requested for the specified time to which the second map is applicable.

8. A machine readable data carrier containing instructions, which when read by a machine cause that machine to perform the method according to claim 1.

18. A method according to claim 2, further comprising identifying times of atypical weekly traffic behaviour and generating the at least one abnormal speed profile by identifying from the speed data the measured speed of travel through the segment at one or more of the identified times and determining from the identified speed data one or more average speeds of travel through the segment.

19. A method according to claim 2, wherein generating the at least one abnormal speed profile comprises speeds determined by increasing or decreasing the average speeds of the normal speed profile.

9. A machine arranged to process speed data to generate map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by the map, speed data being associated with each segment, the machine comprising:

a processor arranged to;

i. obtain speed data for at least one segment, the speed data comprising measured speeds of travel through the segment at different times;

ii. generate from the speed data for the at least one segment, data on at least one normal speed profile comprising an average speed of travel through the segment for a time recurring weekly;

iii. generate. for at least one specified time for the at least one segment, data on at least one abnormal speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment during the specified time, the specified time being a time that does not occur weekly; and

iv. assign to the at least one segment of the map data the corresponding normal speed profile and the abnormal speed profile for use by a navigation device in routing algorithms to determine a journey across the area.

10. A machine readable medium containing map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by the map data, speed data being associated with each navigable segment, wherein at least one of the navigable segments includes associated therewith a normal speed profile, one or more abnormal speed profiles and an identification of when a navigation device should use the at least one abnormal speed profile in a routing algorithm rather than the normal speed profile.

11. A method of determining a route across an area using map data, the map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map data, at least one of the navigable segments including, associated therewith, a normal speed profile for a weekly recurring time period comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment during the recurring time period and a specified condition when a time of travel through the segment is significantly different to the time of travel according to the normal speed profile, the method comprising:

i. receiving a request for determination of a navigable route,

ii. identifying whether the specified condition is met at a time of travel and, upon the condition being met, determining a route using at least one other speed profile and upon the condition not being met, determining a route using the speed of travel through the segment for the weekly time period corresponding to the time of travel according to the normal speed profile.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the other speed profile is a normal speed profile for the segment for a weekly time period that does not correspond to the time of travel.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the map data comprises an abnormal speed profile comprising a speed of travel through the segment at a time of the specified condition, and wherein the other speed profile is the abnormal speed profile.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining data on an affected area and a specified condition; and

determining a route using at least one of the abnormal speed profiles for segments that are within the affected area and using at least one of the normal speed profiles for segments outside the affected area.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data on a location of a traffic incident or other event; and

determining an affected area by identifying segments within distances of the incident or other event.

16. A machine readable data carrier containing instructions, which when read by a machine cause that machine to perform the method according to claim 11.

17. A navigation device arranged to determine a route across an area using map data, comprising:

memory including stored thereon map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map data, at least one of the navigable segments including, associated therewith, a normal speed profile for a weekly recurring time period comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment during the recurring time period and a specified condition when a time of travel through the segment is significantly different to the time of travel according to the corresponding normal speed profile;

an input for receiving a request for determination of a navigable route;

a route calculator arranged to identify whether at a time of travel the specified condition is met and, upon the condition being met, to determine a route using at least one other speed profile and to, upon the condition not being met, determine a route using the speed of travel through that segment for the weekly time period corresponding to the time of travel according to the normal speed profile.