METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING POWER CONSUMPTION IN A NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20140244156A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Magnusson, Birgir, Tuukkanen, Marko Tapio
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance

Abstract

An approach is provided for providing mechanisms to minimize power consumption in a navigation system while allowing for various levels of functionality and accuracy. A device may process telematics information and/or sensor information associated with at least one vehicle to determine an estimated location of the vehicle. Then the device may cause a comparison of the estimated location against available mapping data. Further, the device may determine whether to determine a sensed location of the vehicle via one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

a processing of telematics information, sensor information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one vehicle to determine an estimated location of the vehicle;

a comparison of the estimated location against mapping data; and

at least one determination of whether to determine a sensed location of the vehicle via one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the comparison.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the telematics information indicates, at least in part, a location of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the comparison indicates a potential deviation, an accuracy, or a combination thereof of the estimated location with reference to the mapping data.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

an activation of the one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the potential deviation, the accuracy, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

the activation of the one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the travel route, a destination, a threshold associated with the potential deviation, a threshold associated with the accuracy, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the activation of the one or more location sensors is based, at least in part, on a power level associated with the vehicle, one or more devices associated with the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the sensed location is determined based, at least in part, on data from a satellite-based navigation system, a network-assisted navigation system, one or more external sensors, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of directional information of the vehicle based, at least in part, on data from one or more sensors associated with a steering control of the vehicle; and

an update to the estimated location based, at least in part, on the directional information.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the mapping data is available via an in-vehicle system, via one or more devices in the vehicle, via one or more service providers, via one or more content providers, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the estimated location is based, at least in part, on the vehicle location history, a user history, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

process and/or facilitate a processing of telematics information, sensor information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one vehicle to determine an estimated location of the vehicle;

cause, at least in part, a comparison of the estimated location against mapping data; and

determine whether to determine a sensed location of the vehicle via one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the comparison.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telematics information indicates, at least in part, a location of the vehicle, a movement of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the comparison indicates a potential deviation, an accuracy, or a combination thereof of the estimated location with reference to the mapping data.

14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, an activation of the one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the potential deviation, the accuracy, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a travel route based, at least in part, on a user input; and

cause, at least in part, the activation of the one or more location sensors based, at least in part, on the travel route, a destination, a threshold associated with the potential deviation, a threshold associated with the accuracy, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the activation of the one or more location sensors is based, at least in part, on a power level associated with the vehicle, one or more devices associated with the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensed location is determined based, at least in part, on data from a satellite-based navigation system, a network-assisted navigation system, one or more external sensors, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine directional information of the vehicle based, at least in part, on data from one or more sensors associated with a steering control of the vehicle; and

cause, at least in part, an update to the estimated location based, at least in part, on the directional information.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mapping data is available via an in-vehicle system, via one or more devices in the vehicle, via one or more service providers, via one or more content providers, or a combination thereof.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the estimated location is based, at least in part, on the vehicle location history, a user history, or a combination thereof.

21-48. -48. (canceled)