System and method for detecting a boundary crossing event

• US 8,284,069 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orange-Mango, Series 48 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Cadec Global Incorporated (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Sverrisson, Heimir
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/503,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.17, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 701/1, 701/205, 701/207, 701/208
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

Model zone data and model subzone data is employed to simplify calculations for determining where and/or when a boundary crossing event has occurred. A system for detecting a boundary crossing event employs a memory and a processor. The processor in one embodiment is configured by the memory to perform the steps of sensing current position; comparing the sensed current position to model zone data to determine presence within a geometric figure constructed around a boundary crossing point; comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a first portion of the geometric figure; comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a second portion of the geometric figure; and detecting a boundary crossing event as a result of movement from the first portion of the geometric figure to the second portion of the geometric figure.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a boundary crossing event, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of;

sensing current position;

comparing the sensed current position to model zone data to determine presence within a geometric figure constructed around a boundary crossing point;

comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a first portion of the geometric figure;

comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a second portion of the geometric figure; and

detecting a boundary crossing event as a result of movement from the first portion of the geometric figure to the second portion of the geometric figure.

2. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 1 wherein the first and second portions of the geometric figure share a common border that intersects the boundary crossing point.

3. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 2 wherein the common border shared by the first and second portions of the geometric figure is a line segment that is more or less perpendicular to a line connecting the boundary crossing point with a perpendicular construction point farther in a direction of travel on a path along which a vehicle would travel in crossing the boundary crossing point.

4. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 3 wherein a line connecting the border crossing point and the perpendicular construction point would be approximately parallel to the path along which a vehicle would travel in crossing the boundary crossing point.

5. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 2 wherein the common border shared by the first and second portions of the geometric figure is a line segment that is more or less perpendicular to a path along which a vehicle would travel in crossing the boundary crossing point.

6. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 5 wherein the geometric figure is a rectangle, and the first and second portions of the geometric figure are respectively trapezoidal.

7. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 1 wherein the processor is furthermore configured by the memory to perform the step of:

recording the boundary crossing event in association with at least one species selected from among the group consisting of location of the boundary crossing point, name of the boundary crossing point, location of the first portion of the geometric figure, location of the second portion of the geometric figure, name of a first geographical region corresponding to the first portion of the geometric figure, name of a second geographical region corresponding to the second portion of the geometric figure, name of a boundary that was crossed as a result of the boundary crossing event, direction in which the boundary was crossed, name of a road along which a vehicle would travel in crossing the boundary crossing point, time at which the boundary crossing event was detected, odometer reading at the time that the boundary crossing event was detected, remaining fuel at the time that the boundary crossing event was detected, tolls due as a result of the boundary crossing event, tax due based on distance traveled within the first geographical region, and credit due based on one or more purchases made while within the first geographical region.

8. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 1 wherein the geometric figure is a square at least length L on a side, L being given by L=2*N*T₀*V_max, where N=2, T₀ is a time interval between successive position sensing events as determined by a slow sampling rate in effect at a time when the sensed current position is determined not to be within the geometric figure, and V_max is a maximum posted speed on a road along which a vehicle would travel in crossing the boundary crossing point.

9. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 8 wherein the processor is furthermore configured by the memory to perform the step of:

varying the sampling rate at which the sensing of current position is carried out in correspondence to whether the sensed current position is determined to be within the geometric figure.

10. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 9 wherein the sampling rate at which the sensing of current position is carried out is varied such that T₁<

T₀, where T₁ is a time interval between successive position sensing events as determined by a fast sampling rate in effect following a time when the sensed current position is determined to be within the geometric figure.

11. The system for detecting a boundary crossing event according to claim 10 wherein an error with which the boundary crossing event is detected is not more than E, E being given by E=V_c/T₁+E_pos, where Vc is a speed with which the movement from the first portion of the geometric figure to the second portion of the geometric figure takes place, and E_pos is a maximum error with which the sensing of current position is carried out.

12. A first non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a processor to perform the step of:

accessing a model zone/subzone data structure stored on a second non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the data structure comprises

model zone data representing a plurality of model zones, each of the model zones being a geometric figure constructed around a boundary crossing point; and

model subzone data representing a plurality of model subzones respectively associated with the model zones;

wherein the model subzones associated with the model zones are respective portions of the geometric figures at those model zones; and

wherein a first trapezoidal model subzone among the model subzones is bounded on three sides thereof by a perimeter of a first model zone of which it is a first portion and is bounded on a fourth side thereof by a line segment that intersects a first border crossing point around which the first model zone was constructed and that is a common border shared with a second trapezoidal model subzone that is a second portion of the first model zone.

13. A first non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a processor to perform the step of:

accessing a model zone/subzone data structure stored on a second non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the data structure comprises

border crossing point data representing a border crossing point where a road crosses a geographical boundary;

model zone data representing a model zone constructed so as to be centered on the border crossing point;

model boundary data representing a model boundary constructed within the model zone, the model boundary being approximately perpendicular to the road at the border crossing point; and

model subzone data representing a plurality of model subzones constructed within the model zone, each of the model subzones within the model zone being bounded on one side by the model boundary within the model zone.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing current position;

comparing the sensed current position to model zone data to determine presence within a geometric figure constructed around a boundary crossing point;

comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a first portion of the geometric figure;

comparing the sensed current position to model subzone data to determine presence within a second portion of the geometric figure; and

detecting a boundary crossing event as a result of movement from the first portion of the geometric figure to the second portion of the geometric figure.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 14 wherein the geometric figure is a rectangle, and the first and second portions of the geometric figure are respectively trapezoidal.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 14 further having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a processor to perform the step of:

varying the sampling rate at which the sensing of current position is carried out in correspondence to whether the sensed current position is determined to be within the geometric figure.

17. A system for constructing model zone data and model subzone data, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of;

identifying a border crossing point where a road crosses a geographical boundary;

constructing a model zone centered on the border crossing point;

constructing a model boundary within the model zone, the model boundary being approximately perpendicular to the road at the border crossing point; and

constructing a plurality of model subzones within the model zone, each of the model subzones within the model zone being bounded on three side by a perimeter of the model zone.

18. The system for constructing model zone data and model subzone data according to claim 17 wherein the model zone is rectangular, and each of the plurality of model subzones within the model zone is trapezoidal.

19. The system for constructing model zone data and model subzone data according to claim 18 wherein each of the model subzones within the model zone is bounded on one side by the model boundary within the model zone.

20. A boundary crossing event detection system comprising:

model construction means for creating model zone data and model subzone data;

position sensing means for sensing current position;

position comparison means for determining when the sensed position is within model zones and model subzones; and

boundary crossing event detection means for detecting movement between model subzones.