Vehicle Navigation System and Method

• US 20120232784A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark, Scalf, Mark, Berry, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US13/474,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232784A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/420
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• 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

Abstract

An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A navigation method comprising:

determining a route to a destination;

determining a road classification for each road or a portion of each road comprising the route;

assigning a tolerance to each road or portion of each road based on the determined classification for that road or road portion;

using the assigned tolerances, determining points defining the route such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route; and

delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with a server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bounded area is an area having the lines as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance to either side of the lines, between successive points, to an outer border of the bounded area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the bounded area is an area having the line as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the higher speed limit of a road or portion of a road is, as indicated by the classification, the higher the tolerance assigned to the road is.

11-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A system comprising:

a server in wireless communication with a vehicle computing system, configured to;

determine a destination route;

divide the route into a plurality of portions;

determine a road classification for the portions;

assign a tolerance to each portion based on the classification;

using the assigned tolerances, determine route points such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area; and

deliver the determined points for navigating the vehicle toward the destination.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the bounded area is an area having the lines as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance to either side of the lines, between successive points, to an outer border of the bounded area.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the bounded area is an area having the line as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein a higher speed limit of a road or portion of a road is, as indicated by the classification, the higher the tolerance assigned to the road is.

28. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:

determining a route to a destination;

determining a road classification for each road or a portion of each road comprising the route;

assigning a tolerance to each road or portion of each road based on the determined classification for that road or road portion;

using the assigned tolerances, determining points defining the route such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route; and

delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with a server.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the bounded area is an area having the lines as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance to either side of the lines, between successive points, to an outer border of the bounded area.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the bounded area is an area having the line as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the higher speed limit of a road or portion of a road is, as indicated by the classification, the higher the tolerance assigned to the road is.