Method of collecting information for a geographic database for use with a navigation system

• US 7,421,341 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Devries, Steven P., Herbst, James M., Borak, Jason M., Bennett, James R., Hopkins, Karen A., McGrath, Suzanne M., Bauer, Ellen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/880,660
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701208-212, 701/23, 701/25, 342/357.13, 340/988, 340/995.14, 340/995.18, 340/998
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A method for collecting geographic data for use with a navigation system is disclosed. A route between a first location and a second location is identified. Data providing directions for traveling from said first location to said second location is collected. The data providing directions is stored in a geographic database. The geographic database is provided for use with navigation related features.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data for a geographic database for use with a navigation system comprising:

identifying a route between a first location and a second location;

collecting data providing directions for traveling from said first location to said second location;

creating pre-composed guidance instructions from said collected data, said pre-composed guidance instructions provide a plurality of guidance messages for traveling said route, wherein each of said guidance messages comprise a maneuver instruction together with a reference visible feature on said route;

storing said pre-composed guidance instructions in said geographic database, wherein said pre-composed guidance instructions are associated with data that represents said first location and with data that represents said second location of said route; and

providing said geographic database for use with navigation related features.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting attribute information for said route, wherein said attribute information includes at least one feature of the segment selected from the group consisting of;

type of transportation allowed, wheel chair accessible, pets allowed, lighting level, noise level, pollution level, activity level and weather effects; and

storing said attribute information in said geographic database.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said visible feature is a point of interest or building component.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said reference to said visible feature includes one of a predetermined number of phrases and a name of said visible feature.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said one of a predetermined number of phrases is selected from the group consisting of above, through, by, right, left, between, up, down, across, after, along, past and synonyms thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first location is located within a public facility and said second location is located on a road network.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying segments associated with said guidance messages.

8. A geographic database for use with a navigation system, said geographic database comprising:

data representing a pre-composed set of route guidance instructions providing a plurality of guidance messages for traveling a route from an origin to a destination, wherein said data representing said pre-composed guidance instructions is associated with data representing said origin and said destination; and

data representing attribute information for said route, wherein said attribute information includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of;

wheel chair accessible, pets allowed, lighting level, noise level, pollution level, activity level and weather effects.

9. The database of claim 8 wherein said guidance message provides a maneuver instruction.

10. The database of claim 8 wherein said guidance message references a visible feature between said first location and said second location.

11. The database of claim 10 wherein said visible feature is a point of interest.

12. The database of claim 11 wherein said visible feature is one selected from a group consisting of stairs, escalator, elevator, entrances exit and door.

13. The database of claim 10 wherein said reference to said visible feature includes one of a predetermined number of phrases and a name of said visible feature.

14. The database of claim 13 wherein said one of a predetermined number of phrases is selected from the group consisting of above, through, by, right, left, between, up, down, across, after, along, past and synonyms thereof.

15. The database of claim 8 wherein said first location is associated with a mass transit station and said second location is associated with a road network.

16. The database of claim 8 wherein said guidance messages include instructions to use public transportation.

17. The database of claim 8 further comprising data representing a plurality of segments associated with said guidance messages.

18. A geographic database that represents features in a geographic region, said geographic database comprising:

data representing road segments; and

data representing a pro-composed set of route guidance instructions providing a plurality of guidance messages for traveling a route from a location in a public facility to one of said road segments, said guidance messages comprise at least one maneuver instruction and at least one reference to a visible feature, wherein said data presenting said pre-composed instructions associated with data representing said public facility.

19. The database of claim 18 wherein said reference to said visible feature includes a name of said visible feature and one of a predetermined number of phrases is selected from the group consisting of above, through, by, right, left, between, up, down, across and synonyms thereof.