Method and system for compact representation of routes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of representing a route comprising:
- using a database that defines nominal paths through intersections located in a geographic region, wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited; and
representing the route in the geographic region by identifying each intersection at which the route deviates from a nominal path through said intersection.
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Abstract
A method for representing a route along a road network in a geographic region is disclosed. A database includes data representations of intersections of roads in the geographic region. Associated with the data representation for each intersection of roads are data indicating one or more nominal paths through the intersection. The nominal paths through an intersection identify, for each road segment by which the represented intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the represented intersection is exited. The route is represented by indicating each intersection at which the route deviates from the nominal path into the intersection.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of representing a route comprising:
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using a database that defines nominal paths through intersections located in a geographic region, wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited; and
representing the route in the geographic region by identifying each intersection at which the route deviates from a nominal path through said intersection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
identifying a location associated with an end of the route.
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3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of representing also comprises:
identifying a location associated with a beginning of the route.
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4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of representing also comprises:
identifying a new exit at each intersection at which the route deviates from a nominal path through said intersection.
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5. A database that represents geographic features located in a region, the database comprising:
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data representations of intersections of roads located in the region; and
for each data representation of an intersection, data that represent nominal paths through the intersection, wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
for each data representation of an intersection, data that indicate the geographic coordinates of the intersection.
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7. The invention of claim 5 wherein the exit road segment associated with an entrance road segment is that road segment onto which a motorist is most likely to travel from the entrance road segment.
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8. A method of operation for a navigation system comprising:
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calculating a route to a destination;
representing the route by identifying each intersection along the route at which the route deviates from a nominal path through the intersection, wherein nominal paths though intersections are defined in a geographic database, and wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited; and
providing a representation of the route formed by the representing step to an application that uses the representation to provide a navigation-related function. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
sending the representation from a server to a vehicle.
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13. The method of claim 8 wherein said steps of calculating and providing are performed in a vehicle.
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14. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of representing further comprises:
identifying an exit path at each intersection at which the route deviates from a nominal path through said intersection.
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15. A navigation system comprising:
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a first navigation application that forms a representation of a route by identifying each location at which the route deviates from nominal paths defined through intersections of roads located in a geographic region, wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited; and
a second navigation application that uses the representation of the route formed by the first navigation application to provide a navigation-related function to a user of the navigation system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of forming a geographic database comprising:
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storing data representations of intersections of roads located in a geographic region; and
for each data representation of an intersection, associating therewith data that indicate nominal paths through the intersection, wherein a nominal path defines, for each road segment by which an intersection can be entered, one and only one road segment from which the intersection is exited. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
for each data representation of an intersection, associating therewith data that indicates the geographic coordinates of the intersection.
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Specification