System and method for updating a geographic database using satellite imagery

• US 6,873,998 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Lawrence M., Dorum, Ole Henry, Hanson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/691,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/101.1, 707/203, 707/104.1, 382/113, 342/64, 701207-208, 701/210, 701/213, 358/462
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/918 Location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A reporting program and system for updating a master copy of a geographic database is disclosed. According to the method and system, reports are obtained that relate to data contained in a geographic database. Satellite images of the geographic locations represented by the data in the reports are obtained. The satellite images are analyzed to confirm a need to make changes to the master copy of the geographic database based on the reports. After confirming the need to make, the changes, the master copy of the geographic database is updated.

Claims

1. A method for updating a master copy of a geographic database comprising:

obtaining a report about errors in data that represent geographic features;

identifying a location of at least one of said errors;

determining whether said report is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery;

if said report is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery, obtaining a satellite image containing said location of said error; and

determining from the satellite image appropriate changes to make to the master copy of the geographic database to correct said error in said data that represent said geographic feature.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to the step of obtaining, grouping reports about errors that relate to the same geographic feature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to the step of obtaining, grouping repots about errors that relate to the same geographic feature so that only one satellite image needs to be obtained to determine the appropriate change to make to the master copy of the geographic database with respect to the data that represent that geographic feature.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to the step of obtaining, grouping reports about errors that relate to geographic features that are located close to each other so that only one satellite image needs to be obtained to determine the appropriate changes to make to the master copy of the geographic database with respect to the data that represent those geographic features.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning a higher priority to reports about errors that relate to the same geographic feature.

6. A method of updating a master copy of a geographic database comprising:

obtaining a report relating to at least one geographic feature;

identifying a location corresponding to said report;

determining whether said report is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery;

if said report is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery, obtaining a satellite image of the location corresponding to said report;

analyzing the satellite image to determine how to update the master copy of the geographic database; and

updating the master copy of the geographic database.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the satellite image is obtained by ordering from a commercial satellite image provider.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

prior to obtaining the satellite image, confirming that a current satellite image is not available in a satellite image archive; and

then ordering the satellite image from a commercial satellite image provider.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the satellite image has at least approximately 1 meter accuracy.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

after the step of obtaining the satellite image, displaying the satellite image at a workstation of a geographic database developer.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

indicating a position on the satellite image being displayed wherein the position corresponds to the reported geographic location.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

indicating latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a position of a movable cursor.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

while displaying the satellite image at a workstation of a geographic database researcher, displaying geographic features represented by data contained in the master copy of the geographic database at a workstation indicating a position on the satellite image being displayed wherein the position corresponds to the reported geographic location.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

overlaying the geographic features represented by the data contained in the master copy of the geographic database over the satellite image being displayed at the workstation.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying the geographic features represented by the data contained in the master copy of the geographic database and the satellite image side-by-side on the workstation.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

while displaying the satellite image at a workstation of a geographic database developer, displaying the report submitted by an end user including explanatory text provided therewith.

17. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing an on-line program accessible to the end users; and

with the on-line program, allowing the end user to submit the report.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein said satellite image is obtained from an archive.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

prior to analyzing said satellite image, confirming that said satellite image was taken recently enough depending on a type of updating to be made to said master copy of said geographic database.

20. The method of claim 6 wherein the satellite image is obtained from a central server of a geographic database developer.

21. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

defining a grid that overlays a geographic coverage area corresponding to said geographic database, wherein said satellite image corresponds to a cell of said grid.

22. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to roadway geometry.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to a placement of a roadway divider.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to a number of roadway lanes.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to roadway lane widths.

26. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to roadway direction restrictions.

27. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to a turn restriction along a road.

28. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to whether a road is paved.

29. The method of claim 6 wherein the report relates to a lake, river, park, or recreational area.

30. A method of updating a geographic database including data that represents geographic feature in a geographic region comprising:

obtaining a report indicating a location of an error in data representing the geographic feature in the geographic region;

determining whether said report relates to a type of error that is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery;

if said report does relate to the type of error that is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery, obtaining a satellite image of the location;

analyzing the satellite image to determine a correction to the data, said correction to the data accurately representing the geographic feature; and

updating the geographic database with the correction.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

if said report does not relate to a type of error that is suitable for confirmation by satellite imagery, designating the location for review by field inspection.