METHOD FOR UPDATING A DIGITAL ROAD MAP
First Claim
1. A method for updating a digital road map which represents a road system and in which road segments having segment lengths are stored, comprising:
- equipping at least two vehicles moving about in the road system with at least one respective onboard unit generating position readings;
if a first set of position readings of a first onboard unit can be associated with a road segment of the digital road map, determining a first path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the first set;
if a second set of position readings of a second onboard unit can be associated with the same road segment, determining a second path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the second set;
calculating an average path length for the road segment based on at least the first and second path lengths; and
if the calculated average path length deviates from the stored segment length of the road segment by at least a predetermined minimum amount and/or by no more than a predetermined maximum amount, storing the average path length as an updated stored segment length of the road segment in the digital road map.
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Abstract
Methods are provided for updating a digital road map in which road segments having segment lengths are stored. At least two vehicles are equipped with at least one respective onboard unit generating position readings. If a first set of position readings of a first onboard unit can be associated with a road segment, a first path length is determined based on the position readings of the first set. If a second set of position readings of a second onboard unit can be associated with the road segment, a second path length is determined based on the position readings of the second set. An average path length is calculated based on at least the first and second path lengths. If the average path length deviates from the stored segment length, the average path length is stored as an updated stored segment length of this road segment in the digital road map.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for updating a digital road map which represents a road system and in which road segments having segment lengths are stored, comprising:
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equipping at least two vehicles moving about in the road system with at least one respective onboard unit generating position readings; if a first set of position readings of a first onboard unit can be associated with a road segment of the digital road map, determining a first path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the first set; if a second set of position readings of a second onboard unit can be associated with the same road segment, determining a second path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the second set; calculating an average path length for the road segment based on at least the first and second path lengths; and if the calculated average path length deviates from the stored segment length of the road segment by at least a predetermined minimum amount and/or by no more than a predetermined maximum amount, storing the average path length as an updated stored segment length of the road segment in the digital road map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An onboard unit included in a vehicle moving about a road system, the onboard unit comprising:
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a memory that stores a digital road map which represents the road system; a satellite navigation receiver that receives navigation signals used to generate a first set of position readings; a microprocessor configured to associate the first set of position readings with a road segment of the digital road map, and to determine a first path length for the road segment based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the first set; and a transceiver configured to transmit the first path length from the onboard unit to be used to update a segment length of the road segment in the digital road map. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for updating a digital road map which represents a road system and in which road segments having segment lengths are stored, comprising:
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a central unit configured to receive sets of position readings from at least two vehicles moving about in the road system with at least one respective onboard unit generating position readings; if a first set of position readings of a first onboard unit can be associated with a road segment of the digital road map, the central unit is configured to determine a first path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the first set; if a second set of position readings of a second onboard unit can be associated with the same road segment, the central unit is configured to determine a second path length based at least on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the second set; wherein the central unit is configured to calculate an average path length for the road segment based on at least the first and second path lengths; and if the calculated average path length deviates from the stored segment length of the road segment by at least a predetermined minimum amount and/or by no more than a predetermined maximum amount, the central unit is configured to store the average path length as an updated stored segment length of the road segment in the digital road map.
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Specification