Moving history conversion apparatus and moving history conversion method

• US 7,672,777 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Jun, Yoshioka, Mototaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/504,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.27, 342/357.09, 701/100, 701/206, 701/208, 701/213
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

Moving history conversion apparatus making moving history accumulated in an apparatus available in other different-type apparatuses. The moving history conversion apparatus includes: a first map information accumulation unit which accumulates first map information representing a map using a series of first-type IDs for identifying geographical positions; a first moving history accumulation unit accumulating moving history represented as the series of first-type IDs accumulated in the first map information accumulation unit; the first moving history conversion unit converting, into latitude and longitude information, the series of IDs included in the moving history accumulated in the first moving history accumulation unit; a second map information accumulation unit accumulating the second map information which represents a map using a second-type IDs for identifying geographical positions; a second moving history conversion unit converting latitude and longitude information into the series of IDs included in the second map information accumulated in the second map information accumulation unit.

Claims

1. A moving history conversion apparatus which converts a representation format of moving history of a mobile object, said apparatus comprising:

a first map information accumulation unit operable to accumulate first map information which represents a map using a series of first-type IDs for identifying geographical positions;

a first moving history accumulation unit operable to accumulate first moving history to which time information indicating a time when the mobile object has passed through a point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached and which is represented as the series of first-type IDs included in the first map information accumulated in said first map information accumulation unit, the series of first-type IDs representing a starting point, a route, and a destination of the mobile object;

a second map information accumulation unit operable to accumulate second map information which represents a map using a series of second-type IDs for identifying geographical positions;

a second moving history accumulation unit operable to accumulate second moving history represented as the series of second-type IDs included in the second map information accumulated in said second map information accumulation unit; and

a conversion unit operable to convert the series of first-type IDs included in the first moving history accumulated in said first moving history accumulation unit into the series of second-type IDs included in the second map information accumulated in said second map information accumulation unit, and to accumulate the series of second-type IDs obtained through the conversion into said second moving history accumulation unit as the second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached, and as the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object, wherein

each first-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the first map information,

the first map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective first-type IDs,

each second-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the second map information,

the second map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective second-type IDs,

said conversion unit is operable to perform the conversion by replacing the first-type IDs with the second-type IDs which identify a point same or close in latitude and longitude to a point identified by the first-type ID, with reference to latitude and longitude information included in the first map information and the second map information,

said conversion unit is operable to convert the series of first-type IDs included in the first map history into the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, with reference to the latitude and longitude information included in the first map information, and to replace the series of latitude and longitude information records obtained through the conversion with the series of second-type series IDs, based on the second-type IDs included in the second map information and the latitude and longitude information associated with the first-type IDs, and

said conversion unit is operable to interpolate the time information by estimating the passage time at a latitude and longitude different from the latitude and longitude indicated by the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, based on the plurality of latitude and longitude information records converted from the series of first-type IDs and the time information which are included in the first moving history, and to replace the plurality of latitude and longitude information records with the series of second-type IDs, based on the interpolated time information.

2. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an unconverted history accumulation unit operable to accumulate the plurality of latitude and longitude information records as unconverted history in the case where the series of second-type IDs are present and are to be candidates which are replaced with the plurality of latitude and longitude information records; and

a reconversion unit operable to determine one of the series of second type IDs, with reference to the second moving history or the second map information, and to replace the plurality of latitude and longitude information records accumulated in said unconverted history accumulation unit with the candidate series of second-type IDs.

3. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a moving history obtainment unit operable to obtain a moving history of the mobile object and accumulate the obtained moving history into said second moving history accumulation unit as the second moving history,

wherein said reconversion unit is operable to determine, as a series of second-type IDs, a moving history which is close to the second moving history from among the series of second-type IDs, the second moving history being accumulated into said second moving history accumulation unit by said moving history obtainment unit.

4. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the first moving history further includes first traffic information obtainment point information identifying a first traffic information obtainment point,

said conversion unit is operable to accumulate the traffic information obtainment point information into said unconverted history accumulation unit together with the plurality of latitude and longitude information records,

the second map information further includes second traffic information obtainment point information identifying a second traffic information obtainment point, and

said reconversion unit is operable to judge the sameness between the first traffic information obtainment point information accumulated in said unconverted history accumulation unit and the second traffic information obtainment point information included in the second map information, and determine, as the series of second-type IDs, traffic information obtainment point information with a high degree of sameness from among the series of second-type IDs.

5. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the first moving history further includes passage information indicating, on a first-type ID basis, whether or not the mobile object passed the series of first-type IDs on a preset route,

said conversion unit is operable to accumulate the passage information into the unconverted history accumulation unit along with the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, and

said reconversion unit is operable to determine the series of second-type IDs from among the series of second-type IDs to be selected when a destination is set, in the case where the passage information accumulated in said unconverted history accumulation unit indicates that the mobile object passed.

6. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said conversion unit includes a table in which respective first-type IDs and second-type IDs having the same or close corresponding geographical positions are placed in association with each other, and is operable to perform the conversion with reference to the table.

7. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first map information represents communication base station area information identifying a position of a first communication base station as a first-type ID, the first communication base station being operated by a first communication service company,

the second map information represents communication base station area information identifying a position of a second communication base station as a second-type ID, the second communication base station being operated by a second communication service company, and

the first moving history is represented as the series of first-type IDs included in the first map information associated with the series of communication base station areas through which the mobile object passed.

10. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a moving history deleting unit operable to delete the moving history,

wherein said moving history deleting unit is operable to delete the first moving history from said first moving history accumulation unit after the conversion has been performed by said conversion unit.

11. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein moving histories of a plurality of users are accumulated separately,

said moving history conversion apparatus further comprising:

an authentication unit operable to authenticate the plurality of users, and

said conversion unit is operable to convert only the moving history of a user authenticated by said authentication unit.

12. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a mode of transportation is specified based on the passage time, and

said conversion unit is operable to convert moving history corresponding to the specified mode of transportation.

13. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said conversion unit is operable to estimate the time based on the latitude and longitude prior to and subsequent to the latitude and longitude, out of the plurality of latitude and longitude information records.

14. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said conversion unit is operable to calculate a distance of a route from the latitude and longitude to a latitude and longitude different from the latitude and longitude based on the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, and to estimate the time by adding a time proportional to the calculated distance.

15. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said conversion unit is operable to vary an interval of the conversion of the series of first-type IDs included in the first moving history accumulated in said first moving history accumulation unit into the series of second-type IDs included in the second map information accumulated in said second map information accumulation unit.

16. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first moving history accumulation unit is operable to accumulate the first moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object has passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and traffic information are attached, and

wherein said conversion unit operable to accumulate the series of second-type IDs obtained through the conversion into said second moving history accumulation unit as the second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and the traffic information are attached, and as the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object.

17. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first moving history accumulation unit is operable to accumulate the first moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object has passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and information related to a wrong route taken are attached, and

wherein said conversion unit operable to accumulate the series of second-type IDs obtained through the conversion into said second moving history accumulation unit as the second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and the information related to a wrong route taken are attached, and as the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object.

18. The moving history conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first moving history accumulation unit is operable to accumulate the first moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object has passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and points registered by a user are attached, and

wherein said conversion unit operable to accumulate the series of second-type IDs obtained through the conversion into said second moving history accumulation unit as the second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID and the registered points are attached, and as the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object.

8. A moving history conversion method for converting a representation format of moving history of a mobile object, said method comprising:

converting a series of first-type IDs representing a starting point, a route, and a destination of the mobile object included in first moving history into a series of second-type IDs included in second map information, the first moving history, to which time information indicating a time when the mobile object has passed through a point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached, being represented as the series of first-type IDs included in first map information; and

accumulating the series of second-type IDs obtained through said converting as second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached, the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object, wherein

each first-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the first map information,

the first map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective first-type IDs,

each second-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the second map information,

the second map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective second-type IDs, and

said converting comprises;

replacing the first-type IDs with the second-type IDs which identify a point same or close in latitude and longitude to a point identified by the first-type ID, with reference to latitude and longitude information included in the first map information and the second map information;

converting the series of first-type IDs included in the first map history into the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, with reference to the latitude and longitude information included in the first map information, and replacing the series of latitude and longitude information records obtained through the conversion with the series of second-type series IDs, based on the second-type IDs included in the second map information and the latitude and longitude information associated with the first-type IDs; and

interpolating the time information by estimating the passage time at a latitude and longitude different from the latitude and longitude indicated by the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, based on the plurality of latitude and longitude information records converted from the series of first-type IDs and the time information which are included in the first moving history, and replacing the plurality of latitude and longitude information records with the series of second-type IDs, based on the interpolated time information.

9. A program for a moving history conversion apparatus which converts a representation format of moving history of a mobile object, said program causing a computer to execute a moving history conversion method, said method comprising:

converting a series of first-type IDs representing a starting point, a route, and a destination of the mobile object included in first moving history into a series of second-type IDs included in second map information, the first moving history, to which time information indicating a time when the mobile object has passed through a point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached, being represented as the series of first-type IDs included in the first map information; and

accumulating the series of second-type IDs obtained through said converting as second moving history to which the time information indicating the time when the mobile object passed through the point that is associated with the first-type ID is attached, the series of second-type IDs representing the starting point, the route, and the destination of the mobile object, wherein

each first-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the first map information,

the first map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective first-type IDs,

each second-type ID is for identifying a respective point in the second map information,

the second map information includes a plurality of latitude and longitude information records indicating a latitude and a longitude of each point of the respective second-type IDs, and

said converting comprises;

replacing the first-type IDs with the second-type IDs which identify a point same or close in latitude and longitude to a point identified by the first-type ID, with reference to latitude and longitude information included in the first map information and the second map information;

converting the series of first-type IDs included in the first map history into the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, with reference to the latitude and longitude information included in the first map information, and replacing the series of latitude and longitude information records obtained through the conversion with the series of second-type series IDs, based on the second-type IDs included in the second map information and the latitude and longitude information associated with the first-type IDs; and

interpolating the time information by estimating the passage time at a latitude and longitude different from the latitude and longitude indicated by the plurality of latitude and longitude information records, based on the plurality of latitude and longitude information records converted from the series of first-type IDs and the time information which are included in the first moving history, and replacing the plurality of latitude and longitude information records with the series of second-type IDs, based on the interpolated time information.