ADVANCED MAP INFORMATION DELIVERY, PROCESSING AND UPDATING

• US 20120078512A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark, DiMeo, David M., Scalf, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/446
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments include update determination programmed logic circuitry operable to determine that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating. The illustrative embodiments further include update qualification programmed logic circuitry operable to qualify the permissibility of an update. Also included in the illustrative embodiments is update provision programmed logic circuitry operable to, contingent on the qualifying, provide an updated version of the map data tile. The update determination, update qualification and update provision programmed logic circuitry are operable to repeat the determining, qualifying and providing for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle'"'"'s current location along the route.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating;

qualifying the permissibility of an update;

contingent on the qualifying, providing an updated version of the map data tile; and

repeating the steps of determining, qualifying and providing for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle'"'"'s current location along the route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein qualifying the permissibility of an update further comprises:

qualifying the permissibility of an update based at least on a level-of-service associated with an identification number associated with a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system and a remote network, wherein at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled is provided from the remote network to the vehicle computing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein qualifying the permissibility of an update further comprises:

qualifying the permissibility of an update based at least on a level-of-service associated with an identification number associated with a vehicle housing a vehicle computing system, in communication with a remote network, wherein at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled is provided from the remote network to the vehicle computing system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing that the update is a critical update; and

if the permissibility of the update is not qualified;

instructing a vehicle computing system to notify a user that the update is a critical update;

querying a user to determine if the update is desired; and

if the update is desired, providing an updated version of the map data tile.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing that the update is a safety-related update; and

if the permissibility of the update is not qualified, qualifying the permissibility of the update based at least in part on the recognition that the update is a safety-related update.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the map data tile comprises a plurality of types of data, and wherein the level-of-service qualifies updates to a limited number of the types of data.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the map data tile comprises a plurality of types of data, and wherein the level-of-service qualifies updates to a limited number of the types of data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory housed within the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory remote from the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle database is stored on a wireless device operable to provide communication between a vehicle computing system and a remote network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the updated version of the map data tile is stored on a wireless device operable to provide communication between a vehicle computing system and a remote network, the storage persisting at least until either the updated version of the map data tile is provided to at least a second vehicle, different from a vehicle with which the wireless device is in communication or a newer updated version of the map data tile is provided.

12. An apparatus comprising:

update determination programmed logic circuitry operable to determine that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating;

update qualification programmed logic circuitry operable to qualify the permissibility of an update;

update provision programmed logic circuitry operable to, contingent on the qualifying, provide an updated version of the map data tile;

wherein the update determination, update qualification and update provision programmed logic circuitry are operable to repeat the determining, qualifying and providing for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle'"'"'s current location along the route.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein qualifying programmed logic circuitry is further operable to qualify the permissibility of an update based at least on a level-of-service associated with an identification number associated with a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system and a remote network, wherein at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled is provided from the remote network to the vehicle computing system.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein qualifying programmed logic circuitry is further operable to qualify the permissibility of an update based at least on a level-of-service associated with an identification number associated with a vehicle housing a vehicle computing system, in communication with a remote network, wherein at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled is provided from the remote network to the vehicle computing system.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory housed within the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory remote from the vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the vehicle database is stored on a wireless device operable to provide communication between a vehicle computing system and a remote network.

18. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a server in communication with a vehicle computing system, the execution of the instructions causing the server to:

determine that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating;

qualify the permissibility of an update;

contingent on the permissibility, provide an updated version of the map data tile; and

repeat the process of determination, qualification and provision for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle'"'"'s current location along the route.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory housed within the vehicle.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the vehicle database is stored in a memory remote from the vehicle.