Traffic information service based on traffic information transmitted to a navigation system

• US 8,150,622 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyoung-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/276,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701208-211, 340/995.13, 340/995.14, 340/995.12, 707/751, 707/758, 707/781, 370/401, 370/206, 715/711, 345/601, 708/235
• US Class Current: 701/428
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a traffic information service to a vehicle. Traffic information is broadcast through an external network to the vehicle, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map. Data within the broadcasted traffic information and based on a the first map is compared to a second map provided in a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map. A traffic information service is provided to the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the vehicle navigation unit is configured for displaying the traffic information with the second map.

Claims

1. A method for providing a traffic information service to a vehicle comprising:

broadband broadcasting traffic information through an external network to the vehicle, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map configured to include a traffic information measurement node that comprises the traffic information;

providing data, within the broadcasted traffic information, the data comprising a set of link IDs that relates the first map with a second map to be rendered by a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different from the first map, and wherein the set of link IDs are configured to identify at least one of a road segment, a landmark and a guide point in the first and second map;

translating, the traffic information measurement node matched from the first map to the second map, the translation comprising;

determining, on the first map, whether a link ID in the set of link IDs is located within a pre-set distance from the traffic information node;

responsive to determining that the link ID in the set of link IDs is located within the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, identifying, on the second map, a location of the traffic information node with the pre-set distance and the link ID; and

responsive to determining that the link ID in the set of link IDs is located outside of the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, translating the traffic information node onto the second map, the translating of the traffic information node onto the second map comprising;

identifying, on the first map, at least two link IDs between for which the traffic information node is located;

determining, on the first map, a ratio of distances between the at least two link IDs and the traffic information node;

identifying the location, on the second map, of the traffic information node with the ratio of distances and at least one link ID;

based on the traffic information, providing a traffic information service to the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the vehicle navigation unit is configured for displaying the traffic information with the second map,

wherein map data in the vehicle navigation unit includes data linking the first map and the second map, the map data being provided in a look-up table that is valid for one of a period of time and a number of uses, the look-up table being configured to establish a relationship between the first map and the second map only when the look-up table is valid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data within the broadcasted traffic information includes data corresponding to the look-up table within the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the look-up table defines relationships between the first map and the second map.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the look-up table includes a traffic information reflection ratio that is related to links of the first map and used for accuracy assessment of map data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information service includes information relating to one or more of a travel route, road conditions, or traffic conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the look-up table is updated by a software patch that is periodically sent to the vehicle navigation unit via wireless transmissions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the traffic information based on the first map with the second map comprises comparing data contained in the traffic information with the look-up table.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the look-up table is stored in the vehicle navigation system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the look-up table reflects a relationship between the link ID of the first map and the link ID of the second map.

6. A method for receiving a traffic information service comprising:

receiving, through broadband broadcasting, traffic information through an external network, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map configured to include a traffic information measurement node that comprises traffic information;

accessing data, within the broadcasted traffic information, the data comprising a set of link IDs that relates the first map with a second map to be rendered by a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map and wherein the set of link IDs are configured to identify at least one of a road segment, a landmark and a guide point in the first and second map;

associating the traffic information measurement node matched from the first map to the second map, the associating comprising;

determining, on the first map, whether a link ID in the set of link IDs is located within a pre-set distance from the traffic information node;

responsive to determining that the link ID in the set of link IDs is located within the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, identifying, on the second map, a location of the traffic information node with the pre-set distance and the link ID; and

responsive to determining that the link ID in the set of link IDs is located outside of the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, translating the traffic information node onto the second map, the translating of the traffic information node onto the second map comprising;

identifying, on the first map, at least two link IDs between which the traffic information node is located;

determining, on the first map, a ratio of distances between the at least two link IDs and the traffic information node;

identifying the location, on the second map, of the traffic information node with the ratio of distances and at least one link ID; and

providing a traffic information service to a user via the vehicle navigation unit based on the traffic information associated with the second map in the vehicle navigation unit,

wherein map data in the vehicle navigation unit includes data linking the first map and the second map, the map data being provided in a look-up table that is valid for one of a period of time and a number of uses, the look-up table being configured to establish a relationship between the first map and the second map only when the look-up table is valid.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the traffic information and a link ID associated with the first map and the second map in a traffic information table in the navigation unit.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein associating the traffic information comprises:

identifying a link ID associated with the first map in the look-up table in the navigation unit; and

identifying a link ID of the second map in the look-up table corresponding to the link ID of the first map.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

providing data to the navigation unit for guiding a vehicle through a route;

matching a link ID of the second map with the traffic information based on the first map;

determining a weighted value of the link ID of the second map based on the traffic information matched with the second map; and

searching the route based on the weighted value of the link ID.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

providing real time traffic information and vehicle guidance to the navigation unit based on link IDs of the second map; and

displaying traffic information associated with each link ID.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the traffic information service comprises:

defining a travel route; and

providing a summary report of traffic information relating to the defined travel route, wherein the summary report includes road conditions or traffic conditions relating to the travel route.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the look-up table includes a traffic information reflection ratio that is related to links of the first map and used for accuracy assessment of map data.

16. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving, at the vehicle navigation unit via wireless transmissions, a software patch, and updating the look-up table based on the software patch.

17. An apparatus for receiving information relating to road and traffic conditions comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving traffic information based on a first map configured to include a traffic information measurement node that comprises the traffic information, wherein the receiving unit is configured for receiving the traffic information transmitted through a broadband broadcast;

a navigation unit configured for outputting to a user, information relating to road and traffic conditions provided with the traffic information based on the first map from the receiving unit;

a storage unit containing a look-up table, wherein the look-up table defines a relationship between the received traffic information based on the first map and a second map to be rendered by the navigation unit;

a pre-processing unit configured to associate the traffic information with a link ID of the second map based on the look-up table, the associating the traffic information with the link ID of the second map comprising;

determining, on the first map, whether a link ID of the first map is located within a pre-set distance from the traffic information node;

responsive to determining that the link ID of the first map is located within the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, identifying, on the second map, a location of the traffic information node with the pre-set distance and the link ID of the second map, wherein the link ID of the second map is derived from the link ID of the first map through the look-up table; and

responsive to determining that the link ID of the first map is located outside of the pre-set distance from the traffic information node, translating the traffic information node onto the second map, the translating of the traffic information node onto the second map comprising;

identifying, on the first map, at least two link IDs of the first map between which the traffic information node is located;

determining, on the first map, a ratio of distances between the at least two link IDs of the first map and the traffic information node;

identifying the location, on the second map, of the traffic information node with the ratio of distances and at least one link ID of the second map, the link ID of the second map derived from at least one link ID of the first map through the look-up table; and

a traffic information storage unit configured for storing information obtained by associating the traffic information and the link ID of the second map, the traffic information storage unit including a traffic information table.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the look-up table is updated by a software patch that is periodically received by the receiving unit via wireless transmission.