Methods, Devices and Map Databases for Green Routing

• US 20120022781A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Tele Atlas North America (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Wilson, Christopher Kenneth Hoover
• Granted Patent: US 10,175,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/410
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• 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 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• 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

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining algorithmically a a plurality of vehicle cost values for traveling a plurality of road segments in a vehicle based at least in part on vehicle cost data derived at least in part from position derivative data obtained from at least one vehicle that traveled the road segments (S1); associating each of the plurality of road segments with at least one of the vehicle cost values (S2); and storing the determined vehicle cost values in a memory device (S3). In at least one embodiment, a method for determining a route of travel from a first location to a second location is disclosed. Other embodiments include a map database, storable on a storage medium; a device including a memory (230) storing a map database, a processor (210) and an output device (260); and a device for use in a vehicle, where the device includes a GPS receiver (250), a memory (230) and a processor (210).

Claims

1. An automated method for determining a route of travel from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:

determining algorithmically, from a map database including a plurality of road segments and at least one vehicle cost value associated with each of the plurality of road segments, a route of travel from the first location to the second location along at least one of the plurality of road segments, the determination of the route of travel being based at least in part on the associated at least one vehicle cost value, to relatively reduce a total cost of operating a vehicle travelling between the first location and the second location;

wherein the at least one vehicle cost value associated with a road segment is indicative of at least one of an acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the road segment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the total cost of operating a vehicle represents at least one of the group consisting of:

(i) an expected energy consumption of the vehicle;

(ii) an expected pollutant emission of the vehicle; and

(iii) an expected depreciation of the value of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle cost value is indicative of at least one of an average acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the associated road segment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle cost value is indicative of at least one of a maximum acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the associated road segment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle cost value further comprises elevation data, and the determination of the route of travel is further based on the associated elevation data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle cost value further comprises a generally constant road segment condition selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a repair condition of the road segment;

(ii) the material of the road segment; and

(iii) a frictional coefficient of the road surface of the road segment, and the determination of the route of travel is further based on the associated generally constant road segment condition.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle cost value is based on vehicle specific data including at least one of:

(i) a weight of the vehicle;

(ii) a propulsion system in the vehicle; and

(iii) a drag coefficient of the vehicle.

51. The method of claim 9, wherein the elevation data associated with a road segment comprises an average elevation for the road segment.

52. The method of claim 9, wherein the elevation data associated with a road segment comprises the change in elevation for the road segment.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the route of travel acts to reduce a total cost of operating a vehicle travelling between the first location and the second location based on the at least one vehicle cost value associated with each of the plurality of road segments so long as the total travel time associated with the route does not exceed the fastest possible route by a certain amount of time.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the route of travel acts to reduce a total cost of operating a vehicle travelling between the first location and the second location based on the at least one vehicle cost value associated with each of the plurality of road segments so long as the total distance associated with the route does not exceed the shortest possible route by a certain distance.

56. A computer program product comprising one or more software modules operable, when executed in an execution environment, to cause a processor to perform the steps of claim 1.

2. (canceled)

4-5. -5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A map database, storable on a storage medium, the map database comprising map information about a plurality of road segments, at least one vehicle cost value associated with at least one of the plurality of road segments, the vehicle cost value being indicative of at least one of an acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the road segment.

16-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A device comprising:

a memory to store a map database including map information including a plurality of road segments, and a plurality of vehicle cost values, at least one vehicle cost value being associated with each of the plurality of road segments, the at least one vehicle cost value associated with a road segment being indicative of at least one of an acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the road segment;

a processor configured to determine a route of travel using the map database from a first location to a second location along at least one of the plurality of road segments, the determination of the route of travel being based at least in part on the associated at least one vehicle cost value, to relatively reduce a total cost of operating a vehicle travelling between the first location and the second location; and

an output device, controllable by the processor, to output the determined route of travel.

23. The device of claim 21, further comprising a GNSS receiver to receive GNSS signals, the processor being further configured to determine a location of the device, at least in part, from the received GNSS signals.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of:

a navigation device;

a portable navigation device; and

an in-vehicle navigation device.

22. (canceled)

25-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An automated method performed by a processor comprising:

determining algorithmically, from at least one vehicle that has traveled along a road segment, a plurality of vehicle cost values for traveling a plurality of road segments, the vehicle cost value being indicative of at least one of an acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the road segment;

associating each of the plurality of road segments with at least one of the vehicle cost values; and

storing the determined vehicle cost values in a map database in a memory device.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the vehicle cost data is acquired from at least one of:

(i) GNSS data about a probe vehicle;

(ii) sensors on a probe vehicle; and

(iii) an on-board diagnostic (OBD) connection of a probe vehicle.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein the vehicle cost value is indicative of one of:

(i) at least one of an average acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the associated road segment; and

(ii) at least one of a maximum acceleration and jerk of a vehicle travelling along the associated road segment.

57. A computer program product comprising one or more software modules operable, when executed in an execution environment, to cause a processor to perform the steps of claim 37.

38-46. -46. (canceled)

48-50. -50. (canceled)