Vehicle guidance system using signature zones to detect travel path
First Claim
1. An automatic vehicle path determination system for determining the path taken by a vehicle travelling through an area having structures that inhibit reception of position locating signals, said system comprising:
- a signature zone cell database including a plurality of signature zone cells corresponding to travel paths within a signature zone, said signature zone cell database also including a plurality of location coordinates, said plurality of location coordinates corresponding to locations within said plurality of signature zone cells; and
a travel path matrix including a plurality of correlation values, said plurality of correlation values corresponding to said plurality of location coordinates such that the travel path of a vehicle can be determined by comparing values in said travel path matrix for ones of said plurality of location coordinates in said signature zone cell database corresponding to position information received from said vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining which of a plurality of travel paths is taken by vehicles through area in which the performance of an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system is reduced. In one embodiment, the present invention divides a geographic region into a plurality of signature zones which are further divided into a plurality of signature zone cells. The signature zone cells in each signature zone correspond to travel paths that pass through an area having structures that prevent reception of GPS signals or any area where GPS alone is not sufficient to discern travel path. The present automatic vehicle path determination system then calculates correlation values for positions in each signature zone cell that correspond to the travel paths that pass through the signature zone. The position of each vehicles is monitored by an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system. The present automatic vehicle path determination system then determines the path taken by each vehicle passing through the signature zone. The present invention then communicates to the CAD system the path taken by each vehicle. Thus, the present invention provides a system which automatically determines which path is taken by a vehicle entering an area having structures that prevent reception of GPS signals, a system which can function in conjunction with an existing AVL or CAD system, and a system which reduces CAD system operator decision making processes.
261 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automatic vehicle path determination system for determining the path taken by a vehicle travelling through an area having structures that inhibit reception of position locating signals, said system comprising:
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a signature zone cell database including a plurality of signature zone cells corresponding to travel paths within a signature zone, said signature zone cell database also including a plurality of location coordinates, said plurality of location coordinates corresponding to locations within said plurality of signature zone cells; and a travel path matrix including a plurality of correlation values, said plurality of correlation values corresponding to said plurality of location coordinates such that the travel path of a vehicle can be determined by comparing values in said travel path matrix for ones of said plurality of location coordinates in said signature zone cell database corresponding to position information received from said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a computer system including a processor coupled to a bus, and a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing information, a computer-implemented method for indicating which of a plurality of travel paths is taken by a vehicle, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:
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a.) designating a plurality of signature zone cells corresponding to travel paths that extend through an area having structures that inhibit reception of position locating signals; b.) calculating correlation values corresponding to locations within said signature zone cells; c.) incorporating signature zone cell information into an automatic vehicle path determination system; d.) incorporating correlation value information into said automatic vehicle path determination system; e.) determining the travel path of a vehicle passing through said signature zone cells by comparing position information from said vehicle to said signature zone cell information and comparing said correlation information corresponding to said position information; and f.) communicating to said automatic vehicle location system which travel path is taken by vehicles passing through one of said signature zone cells such that position information for each of a plurality of vehicles monitored by said automatic vehicle path determination system further comprises an indication of the travel path of vehicles passing through said signature zone cells. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
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a.) designating a plurality of signature zone cells corresponding to travel paths that extend through an area having structures that inhibit reception of position locating signals; b.) calculating correlation values corresponding to locations within said signature zone cells; c.) incorporating signature zone cell information into an automatic vehicle path determination system; d.) incorporating correlation value information into said automatic vehicle path determination system; e.) determining the travel path of a vehicle passing through said signature zone cells by comparing position information from said vehicle to said signature zone cell information and comparing said correlation information corresponding to said position information; and f.) communicating to said automatic vehicle location system which travel path is taken by vehicles passing through one of said signature zone cells such that position information for each of a plurality of vehicles monitored by said automatic vehicle path determination system further comprises an indication of the travel path of vehicles passing through said signature zone cells. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification