METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWO DIMENSIONAL EDGE-BASED MAP MATCHING

• US 20140289267A1
• Filed: 03/22/2013
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Felix, Macgregor, Natesan, Senthil, Williams, Trent
• Granted Patent: US 10,359,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/32 Structuring or formatting of map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles

Abstract

An approach is provided for two-dimensional (2D) edge-based map matching. The 2D edge-based map matching platform receives at least one request to match a probe data point to one of a plurality of thoroughfare segments. Next, the 2D edge-based map matching platform determines respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments and causes a matching of the probe data point to the one thoroughfare segment based on a comparison of the probe data point to the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

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:

at least one request to match at least one probe data point to one of a plurality of thoroughfare segments;

respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments; and

a matching of the at least one probe data point to the one thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on a comparison of the at least one probe data point to the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

2. 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:

a determination of the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on the plurality of thoroughfare segments being proximate to the at least one probe data point among a network of thoroughfare segments.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thoroughfare segments are, at least in part, substantially parallel.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe data point lies between centerlines of the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

5. 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:

first distances from the at least one probe data point to centerlines of the plurality of thoroughfare segments; and

second distances from the centerlines to the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments,

wherein the comparison is based, at least in part, on subtracting the second distances from the first distances.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the at least one probe data point is matched to the one thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on a smallest distance.

7. A method of claim 5, 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:

respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on respective numbers of lanes of the plurality of thoroughfare segments multiplied by a lane width.

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:

elevation information associated with the plurality of thoroughfare segments, the at least one probe data point, or a combination thereof,

wherein the matching of the at least one probe data point to the one thoroughfare segment is based, at least in part, on the elevation information.

9. A method of claim 8, 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:

a determination of the elevation information of one or more of the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on an average elevation of one or more other probe data points associated with the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments are respective edges of each of the plurality of thoroughfare segments proximate to the at least one probe data point.

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,

receive at least one request to match at least one probe data point to one of a plurality of thoroughfare segments;

determine respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments; and

cause, at least in part, a matching of the at least one probe data point to the one thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on a comparison of the at least one probe data point to the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

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

determine the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on the plurality of thoroughfare segments being proximate to the at least one probe data point among a network of thoroughfare segments.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of thoroughfare segments are, at least in part, substantially parallel.

14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one probe data point lies between centerlines of the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

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

determine first distances from the at least one probe data point to centerlines of the plurality of thoroughfare segments; and

determine second distances from the centerlines to the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments,

wherein the comparison is based, at least in part, on subtracting the second distances from the first distances.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one probe data point is matched to the one thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on a smallest distance.

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

determine respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on respective numbers of lanes of the plurality of thoroughfare segments multiplied by a lane width.

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

determine elevation information associated with the plurality of thoroughfare segments, the at least one probe data point, or a combination thereof,

wherein the matching of the at least one probe data point to the one thoroughfare segment is based, at least in part, on the elevation information.

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

determine the elevation information of one or more of the plurality of thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on an average elevation of one or more other probe data points associated with the plurality of thoroughfare segments.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the respective edges of the plurality of thoroughfare segments are respective edges of each of the plurality of thoroughfare segments proximate to the at least one probe data point.

21-48. -48. (canceled)