NAVIGATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20130275033A1
• Filed: 12/31/2010
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Bastiaensen, Edwin, T'Siobbel, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,709,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3658 Lane guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn

Abstract

Lane speed profiles are determined for each of a plurality of individual lanes of a multi-lane road section. The plurality of individual lanes are lanes for a given direction of travel. The lane speed profiles are determined using real-time vehicle probe data. The speed profiles are used to determine a timing for provide an instruction to a user of a navigation apparatus to change lane. The timing may be determined to provide a quickest route through at least a part of the road section, to increase the time available for the user to perform the lane change, or to enable a user to pass an incident affecting a lane most quickly.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

determining lane speed information for each of a plurality of individual lanes of a multi-lane road section, wherein the plurality of individual lanes are lanes for a given direction of travel, and

using the lane speed information to determine a timing for providing a lane selection instruction to a user of the navigation apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane speed information is determined, at least in part, using real-time data.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising using vehicle probe data to determine the lane speed information for each said lane.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane speed information for each lane comprises a lane speed profile for each lane.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using lane speed information in the form of speed profiles for two different lanes of the plurality of lanes to determine a speed difference profile between the two lanes, and using the speed difference profile to determine said timing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane selection instruction is a lane change instruction, and the method comprises using lane speed information relating at least to a current lane and a lane to which the user is to change to determine said timing.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising using lane speed information relating to at least to a portion of the road section ahead of a current position of the user to determine the timing for providing the lane selection instruction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the road section includes or in the vicinity of one or more of:

roadworks, a frequent accident hot spot, an exit or entry to the road, a splitting of a road, a merging of a road with a lane from another road, an interchange or intersection, and a frequently congested section of road.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising determining lane speed information for each lane of the road section in the given direction of travel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane selection instruction is at least one of:

(i) an instruction to change lane;

(ii) a lane selection required to follow a given route to a destination;

(iii) an instruction to take an exit;

(iv) a lane selection to enable the user to pass an incident affecting one or more lanes; and

(v) a lane selection which is determined to provide a quickest route through at least a part of the road section.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing of the lane instruction is determined to at least one of:

(i) provide a quickest route through at least a part of the road section, (ii) increase the time available for a user to perform a lane change, and (iii) provide at least a part of a determined quickest route past an incident affecting one or more lanes.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

11-13. -13. (canceled)

15-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of operating a navigation apparatus, the method comprising the navigation apparatus using lane speed information for each of a plurality of individual lanes in the same given direction of a multi-lane road section to determine a timing for providing a lane selection instruction to a user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the navigation apparatus is a portable navigation device (PND) or wherein the navigation apparatus forms part of an integrated navigation system.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claim 17.

18. A navigation apparatus, comprising at least one processor configured to use lane speed information for each of a plurality of individual lanes in the same given direction of a multi-lane road section to determine a timing for providing a lane selection instruction to a user.

20. The navigation apparatus of claim 18, wherein the navigation apparatus is a portable navigation device (PND) or wherein the navigation apparatus forms part of an integrated navigation system.