UPDATE UNIT AND METHOD FOR UPDATING A DIGITAL MAP

• US 20110125401A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Stählin, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US12/674,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3848 Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

An update device for updating a digital map for a vehicle is specified which has a multiplicity of sensors which measure the current traffic situation, the movement of the vehicle or else the road conditions. These measured values are transferred to a control center which evaluates them and then sends appropriate update data for updating the digital map to other vehicles.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. An update device for updating a digital map for a vehicle, said update device comprising:

a capture unit in the vehicle for capturing measured values;

a communication unit for transmitting measurement data, which are based on the measured values, to a control center and for receiving update data from the control center;

an update unit for updating the digital map on the basis of the update data;

wherein the update data are based on the measurement data.

18. The update device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the capture unit has at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a GPS sensor, an ambient sensor, an ESP sensor, a camera, an ABS sensor, an ASR sensor and a speed sensor.

19. The update device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the control center is a traffic data control center as a service provider.

20. The update device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the update device is configured to condition the captured measured values in the vehicle before captured and conditioned measured values are transmitted to the control center as measurement data.

21. The update device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the update unit is configured to produce a safety map on the basis of the update of the digital map;

wherein the safety map contains safety-relevant information about a current road situation.

22. The update device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the digital map is a navigation map.

23. An update system for updating digital maps for a multiplicity of vehicles, said update system having:

an update device as claimed in claim 17;

a control center for receiving measurement data from the update device and for transmitting update data to the update device;

wherein the control center is also configured to produce the update data on the basis of the measurement data.

24. The update system as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the control center is configured to individually transmit individualized update data to the multiplicity of vehicles.

25. The update system as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the control center is configured to receive measurement data from a multiplicity of communication units from different vehicles and to produce the update data on the basis of all received measurement data.

26. The update system as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the control center is configured to statistically condition the measurement data for the purpose of producing the update data.

27. The use of an update device as claimed in claim 17 in a vehicle.

28. A method for updating a digital map in a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:

capturing measured values by a capture unit in the vehicle;

transmitting measurement data which are based on the measured values from the vehicle to a control center;

producing update data on the basis of the measurement data in the control center;

transmitting the update data, which are based on the measurement data, from the control center to an update device; and

updating the digital map on the basis of the update data.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28,

wherein said capturing step comprises at least one of the following sub-steps:

ascertaining a vehicle speed and a GPS position for the vehicle;

ascertaining distances from other vehicles using ambient sensors;

ascertaining information about the roadbase using an ESP sensor system;

ascertaining visibility conditions using an ambient sensor system;

ascertaining lanes using cameras; and

ascertaining interventions of an Antilock Braking System (ABS), an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), an Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) system or any combination thereof.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the update data transmission step is preceded by a comparison with data in the digital map.

31. A computer program product which, when executed on a processor, instructs the processor to perform the following steps:

capture measured values by a capture unit in a vehicle;

transmit measurement data which are based on the measured values from the vehicle to a control center;

update a digital map in the vehicle on the basis of update data which have been produced on the basis of the measurement data in the control center.

32. A computer-readable medium which stores a computer program product which, when executed on a processor, instructs the processor to perform the following steps:

capture measured values by a capture unit in a vehicle;

transmit measurement data which are based on the measured values from the vehicle to a control center;

update a digital map in the vehicle on the basis of update data which have been produced on the basis of the measurement data in the control center.