HANDLING OF ERRORS IN MAP DATA

• US 20140214318A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Maria Sodergren
• Inventors: Johansson, Oskar, Sdergren, Maria, Roos, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,200,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3822 Road feature data, e.g. slope data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3837 Data obtained from a single source
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A system for handling errors in map data D_map. Information I related to map data D_map is determined by a determination unit. An identification unit then identifies at least one error in the map data D_map on the basis of the information I determined. Thereafter a storage unit stores data D related to the at least one error identified in map data D_map. A data providing unit can then at least partly disregard the map data D_map including the error, when supplying map data D_map, so that the stored data D may instead be used in decision making. The risk of decisions being based on erroneous map data D_map may thus be minimized.

Claims

1. A system for handling of errors in map data D_map, characterised by

a determination unit adapted to determination of information I related to map data D_map,

an identification unit adapted to identifying at least one error in said map data D_map on the basis of said information I determined,

a storage unit adapted to storage of data D related to said at least one identified error in map data D_map,

a providing unit adapted to at least partly disregarding said map data D_map which contain said at least one identified error at the time of their provision, and to instead providing said stored data D.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which said at least one error is related to topographical map data D_map,top.

3. A system according to claim 2, in which said topographical map data D_map,top comprise an erroneous representation of a road gradient α

.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1-3, in which said at least one error is related to at least one item of map data D_map from among

a road sign,

a speed limit,

a radius of curvature,

a tunnel,

a changing number of traffic lanes,

a loadbearing class for a road,

a road class,

a height limit for a road, and

a point of interest (POI).

5. A system according to claims 1-4, in which said determination unit is adapted to basing said determination of information I on comparison between a predicted speed variation for at least one road segment and an actual speed variation for said at least one road segment.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1-4, in which said determination unit is adapted to basing said determination of information I on comparison between a road gradient a obtained from map data D_map,α

for a road segment and an estimate D_est,α

of the road gradient a for the same road segment.

7. A system according to claim 6, in which said estimate D_est,α

of the road gradient α

is determined by at least one of the following;

an accelerometer method,

a force equation method, and

an altitude change method.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1-4, in which said determination unit is adapted to basing said determination of information I on comparison of a first road gradient D_map,α

1 obtained from map data for a first road segment with a second road gradient D<sub>map,α

2</sub> obtained from map data for a second road segment, said first and second road segments being mutually adjacent.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1-8, in which said stored data D related to said at least one error comprise said information I determined.

10. A system according to claims 1-9, in which said stored data D comprise at least one of the following:

a location where said system was when the error was identified,

a direction in which said system was moving when the error was identified, and

a stretch of road over which the error was observed.

11. A system according to any one of claims 1-10, in which said stored data D comprise estimated data D_est used in said identification of at least one error in map data D_map.

12. A system according to claim 11, in which said providing unit is adapted to providing said estimated data D_est instead of the erroneous map data D_map identified, for decision making on board said vehicle.

13. A system according to either of claims 11 and 12, in which said providing unit is adapted to supplying said estimated data D_est to at least one further system which is adapted to communicating with said system for handling of errors in map data D_map, instead of the erroneous map data D_map identified, so long as the error in said map data D_map remains.

14. A system according to any one of claims 1-13, in which said providing unit is adapted to disregarding said erroneous map data D_map at the time of supplying said map data D_map to at least one further system which communicates with said system for handling of errors in map data D_map, when at least one error in map data D_map has been identified.

15. A system according to claim 14, in which said providing unit is adapted to disregarding said map data for a predetermined stretch of road S comprising a location for which said error in map data D_map is identified.

16. A system according to any one of claims 1-15, in which the providing unit is adapting to supplying said stored data D to at least one of the following external units:

at least one vehicle,

at least one server for storage of map information, and

at least one provider of map information.

17. A system according to any one of claims 1-16, which system is contained in or interacts with an economical cruise control.

18. A system according to any one of claims 1-17, in which said providing unit is adapted to supplying said stored data D to at least one of the following:

at least one system on board said vehicle which takes decisions based on said stored data D,

at least one system outside said vehicle which takes decisions based on said stored data D, and

a presentation unit adapted to presenting said stored data D for a driver of said vehicle, for him/her to take decisions based on said stored data D.