Navigation system capable of updating map data and method thereof

• US 8,200,431 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Communications Incorporated (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lin, Chun-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/490,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701408-409, 701/28, 701/468, 701 24- 25, 701/533, 348/113, 348/118, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3848 Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors

Abstract

A navigation system includes a plurality of navigation devices and a server. The plurality of navigation devices is used for generating a plurality of position data respectively. Each navigation device generates at least one path data according to the plurality of position data and at least one corresponding electronic map and transmits the path data to the server. Then, the server calculates at least one optimum path data and updates the plurality of navigation devices according to the optimum path data.

Claims

1. A navigation system capable of updating map data comprising:

a plurality of navigation devices, each of which comprising;

a global positioning system unit for generating a plurality of position data;

a map data unit for providing at least one electronic map corresponding to the plurality of position data;

a micro-processing unit, coupled to the global positioning system unit and the map data unit, for generating at least one path data according to the plurality of position data and the electronic map;

a data feedback unit, coupled to the micro-processing unit, for storing the path data; and

a first signal transmitting unit, coupled to the data feedback unit, for outputting the path data; and

a server comprising;

a second signal transmitting unit for receiving a plurality of path data transmitted from a plurality of first signal transmitting units of the plurality of navigation devices;

a calculating unit, coupled to the second signal transmitting unit, for calculating an optimum path data according to the plurality of path data received by the second signal transmitting unit; and

an updating unit, coupled to the calculating unit, for updating the map data unit according to the optimum path data.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation device further comprises a user interface, coupled to the micro-processing unit, for inputting commands to control the first signal transmitting unit to transmit the path data stored in the data feedback unit to the server.

3. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein the user interface is a touch screen.

4. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein each path data comprises a time data, and the calculating unit calculates the optimum path data corresponding to different time spans according to the plurality of path data.

5. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein each path data comprises a time data, and the calculating unit estimates a required time corresponding to the optimum path data according to the plurality of path data.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the micro-processing unit stores an unknown position data into the data feedback unit while the map data unit is unable to provide an electronic map corresponding to the unknown position data, and the micro-processing unit controls the first signal transmitting unit to transmit the unknown position data stored in the data feedback unit to the server thereafter.

7. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the navigation device further comprises an image capturing unit, coupled to the micro-processing unit, for capturing an image corresponding to a position data, the micro-processing unit stores the image and the position data into the data feedback unit, and the micro-processing unit controls the first signal transmitting unit to transmit the image and the position data stored in the data feedback unit to the server thereafter.

8. The navigation system of claim 7, wherein the image capturing unit is a camera.

9. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the micro-processing unit controls the data feedback unit to delete related position data within a specific range away from the initial position data or the terminational position data when an amount of initial position data or terminational position data of the plurality of path data stored in the data feedback unit exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The navigation system of claim 9, wherein the navigation device further comprises a user interface, coupled to the micro-processing unit, for inputting commands to adjust the predetermined value and the specific range.

11. A method for updating map data comprising:

generating a plurality of position data by a plurality of navigation devices respectively;

generating at least one path data by each navigation device according to the plurality of position data thereof and at least one electronic map corresponding to the plurality of position data;

transmitting the path data to a server by each navigation device;

calculating at least one optimum path data by the server according to a plurality of path data; and

updating the plurality of navigation devices by the server according to the optimum path data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the calculating step comprises calculating the optimum path data corresponding to different time spans by the server according to time data of the plurality of path data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the calculating step comprises estimating a required time corresponding to the optimum path data by the server according to time data of the plurality of path data.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting an unknown position data to the server while each navigation device is unable to provide an electronic map of the unknown position data.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

capturing an image corresponding to a position data by the navigation device; and

transmitting the image and the position data to the server by the navigation device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising deleting related position data within a specific range away from initial position data or terminational position data by the navigation device when an amount of the initial position data or the terminational position data of the plurality of path data exceeds a predetermined value.