METHOD OF OPERATING A NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A PEDESTRIAN ROUTE

• US 20110246055A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kalus, Christian, Thieme, Norbert, Huck, Arnulf F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles

Abstract

A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route is provided. The method comprises receiving a request for a route from an origin to a destination. The method evaluates a plurality of pedestrian paths by accessing data representing the pedestrian paths to determine a safety cost associated with including the pedestrian path in the route. The safety cost indicates a safety risk for the pedestrian. The method provides the route comprising the pedestrian paths that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination that minimize the safety cost.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

receiving an origin and a destination;

determining a plurality of candidate solution routes each comprising a plurality of sidewalks and crosswalks that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination, wherein the sidewalks are associated with road segments and motor vehicles are prohibited from traveling the sidewalks;

evaluating the candidate solution routes by accessing data representing the sidewalks and crosswalks from a geographic database to determine a safety cost associated with including the sidewalks and the crosswalks in the candidate solution route, wherein the safety cost indicates a safety risk for the pedestrian; and

generating route guidance for the candidate solution route that minimizes the safety cost, wherein the route guidance includes a safety advisory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that favor pedestrian friendly zones.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor crosswalks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that favor crosswalks controlled by an associated traffic signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that favor crosswalks associated with an intersection having an all-way stop.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor crosswalks having pedestrian blackspots.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor crosswalks that cross high speed roads.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor crosswalks that cross roads with high traffic volume.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor sidewalks in high crime areas.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety advisory provides information regarding roads to be crossed.

11. A navigation system that provides a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

a geographic database;

a computer; and

a route calculation program executed on the computer, the route calculation program receives an origin and a destination, computes a solution route between the origin and the destination comprising a series of pedestrian paths that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination for travel by a pedestrian, wherein the candidate pedestrian paths for the solution route are evaluated for a pedestrian safety cost and included in the solution route to minimize safety risk.

12. The navigation system of claim 11 further comprising:

a route guidance program executed on the computer, the route guidance program determines maneuvers for following the route and generates a safety advisory for the route.

13. The navigation system of claim 11 wherein the route calculation program accesses the geographic database to obtain data representing a safety cost item associated with the pedestrian path.

14. The navigation system of claim 13 wherein the safety cost item minimizes pedestrian interaction with motor vehicles.

15. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a route from an origin to a destination;

evaluating a plurality of pedestrian paths by accessing data representing the pedestrian paths to determine a safety cost associated with including the pedestrian path in the route, wherein the safety cost indicates a safety risk for the pedestrian when traveling the pedestrian path; and

providing the route comprising the pedestrian paths that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination that minimize the safety cost.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing guidance for the route that includes maneuver instructions and a safety advisory.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor pedestrians interacting with motor vehicles.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the provided route minimizes route complexity.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the route favors pedestrian paths that are associated with data representing landmarks along the pedestrian path or images of the pedestrian path from a geographic database.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the provided route is optimized for travel efficiency.