System and method for updating, enhancing, or refining a geographic database using feedback
First Claim
1. A method of collecting data for a geographic database comprising:
- equipping end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment whereby each of said end users'"'"' vehicles also includes a navigation system that uses a map database to provide navigation-related features;
using said data collection equipment in each of said end users'"'"' vehicles to collect data while said end users'"'"' vehicles are being driven along roads;
sending at least a portion of the data collected by said data collection equipment to a central database manager; and
updating a central geographic database using the data collected by said data collection equipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for updating, enhancing and/or refining a geographic database is disclosed. The system uses a plurality of data collecting sensors, each of which is installed in a separate one of a plurality of vehicles, each of which travels on roads in a geographic region. Each data-collecting sensor provides outputs indicative of the sensing of one or more features in the geographic region as the vehicle in which it is installed travels. A computer program process compares the outputs of the data collecting sensors to previously obtained data that represent the physical features, determines the significance of the comparisons, and updates, enhances, or refines the data in an existing geographic database accordingly. Data that have been updated, enhanced, or refined, are provided back to end users.
195 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of collecting data for a geographic database comprising:
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equipping end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment whereby each of said end users'"'"' vehicles also includes a navigation system that uses a map database to provide navigation-related features;
using said data collection equipment in each of said end users'"'"' vehicles to collect data while said end users'"'"' vehicles are being driven along roads;
sending at least a portion of the data collected by said data collection equipment to a central database manager; and
updating a central geographic database using the data collected by said data collection equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for updating a geographic database comprising:
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equipping a plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment, wherein the data collection equipment in each vehicle provides for determining positions of the vehicle as the vehicle travels and recording data indicating the positions;
collecting the data from the plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles;
comparing the data collected from the plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles to data contained in a central geographic database; and
identifying a new road not represented by data contained in the central geographic database when the data collected from at least one of the end users'"'"' vehicles does not match data contained in the central geographic database. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for updating a geographic database comprising:
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equipping a plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment, wherein the data collection equipment in each vehicle provides for determining positions of the vehicle as the vehicle travels and recording data indicating the positions;
collecting the data from the plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles;
comparing the data collected from the plurality of end users'"'"' vehicles to data contained in a central geographic database; and
assigning a high confidence level to data contained in the central geographic database that are matched by the data collected from the end users'"'"' vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for updating a geographic database comprising:
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equipping end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment, wherein the data collection equipment in each vehicle provides for determining positions of the vehicle as the vehicle travels and recording data indicating the positions;
collecting the data from the end users'"'"' vehicles;
comparing new data collected from the end users'"'"' vehicles to data collected historically;
upon determining that the new data differs from the data collected historically, updating a central database to indicate the new data. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for updating a geographic database comprising:
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equipping end users'"'"' vehicles with data collection equipment, wherein the data collection equipment in each vehicle provides for determining positions of the vehicle as the vehicle travels and recording data indicating the positions;
collecting the data from the end users'"'"' vehicles;
comparing new data collected from the end users'"'"' vehicles to data collected historically;
upon determining that the new data differs from the data collected historically, verifying need for changing data contained in a central database to indicate the new data. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification