Navigation system with road condition sampling
First Claim
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1. A vehicle navigation system comprising:
- at least one inertial sensor generating a motion signal;
a map database including a network of roads; and
a processor analyzing the motion signal to determine a position of the vehicle navigation system, the processor analyzing the motion signal to determine a condition of a current road at the position of the vehicle navigation system.
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Abstract
A vehicle navigation system includes a map database and at least one inertial sensor. When the vehicle encounters a problem road condition, such as a pothole, the problem road condition induces acceleration in the inertial sensor. The navigation system identifies the occurrence of a problem road condition by monitoring the signals generated by the inertial sensor. The navigation system then stores the occurrence and location of the problem road condition. This data can be used later to identify, locate and repair problem road conditions.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle navigation system comprising:
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at least one inertial sensor generating a motion signal;
a map database including a network of roads; and
a processor analyzing the motion signal to determine a position of the vehicle navigation system, the processor analyzing the motion signal to determine a condition of a current road at the position of the vehicle navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining a condition of roads including the steps of:
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(a) driving on a road;
(b) determining a current position on the road during said step (a) utilizing a processor analyzing a motion signal from an inertial sensor;
(c) determining a condition of the road during step (a) at the current position by utilizing the processor to analyze the motion signal from the inertial sensor;
(d) associating the condition determined in step (c) with the position determined in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
determining latitude and longitude in said step b; and
associating the latitude and longitude with the condition determined in said step (c).
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20. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:
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determining a current date; and
associating the current date with the condition.
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21. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:
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determining current speed at the time the condition is determined in said step (c); and
associating the vehicle speed with the condition.
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22. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:
transmitting the condition via a wireless signal.
Specification