Vehicle navigation system and method

• US 8,355,871 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark, Scalf, Mark, Berry, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIN, ABBY YEE
• Application Number:
  US13/463,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20120221246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/411, 701/417, 701/433, 701/467, 701/522, 701/537, 709/200, 709201-253, 455/1, 455/2.01, 455 301- 306, 455 7- 261, 455 39- 48, 455 59- 88, 455 901-355, 455400-466, 455500-528, 4555501-5759, 455/899, 340988-996
• US Class Current: 701/537
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented vehicle navigation method comprising:

determining a vehicle route to a destination;

determining a type or speed of a wireless connection between a navigation server and a vehicle;

assigning a tolerance in accordance with the connection type, the tolerance usable to determine when a vehicle is off-route, wherein the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the type or speed of the connection type;

using the assigned tolerance, determining, in a computing system remote from the vehicle, points defining the route such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area defined by the tolerance; and

delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system over the wireless connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining a connection speed or speed range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining whether the connection is made using a data connection or a voice connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a finite number of tolerances may be assigned, and wherein a higher tolerance corresponds to a lower speed connection type, a lower tolerance corresponds to a higher speed connection type, and any remaining tolerances correspond to connection types such that as connection speed increases the tolerances decrease.

5. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance from either side of the lines to an outer border of the bounded area.

6. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.

7. A system comprising:

a server in wireless communication with a vehicle computing system (VCS), configured to;

determine a vehicle route to a destination;

determine a type or speed of a wireless connection between the server and a VCS;

assign a tolerance in accordance with the connection type, the tolerance usable to determine when a vehicle is off-route, wherein the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the type or speed of the connection type;

using the assigned tolerance, determine points defining the route such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area defined by the tolerance; and

deliver the determined points to the VCS over the wireless connection.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a finite number of tolerances may be assigned, and wherein a higher tolerance corresponds to a lower speed connection type, a lower tolerance corresponds to a higher speed connection type, and any remaining tolerances correspond to connection types such that as connection speed increases the tolerances decrease.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining a connection speed or speed range.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining whether the connection is made using a data connection or a voice connection.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance from either side of the lines to an outer border of the bounded area.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:

determining a vehicle route to a destination;

determining a type or speed of a wireless connection between a navigation server and a vehicle;

assigning a tolerance in accordance with the connection type, the tolerance usable to determine when a vehicle is off-route, wherein the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the type or speed of the connection type;

using the assigned tolerance, determining points defining the route such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area defined by the tolerance; and

delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system over the wireless connection.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining a connection speed or speed range.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the determining a connection type includes determining whether the connection is made using a data connection or a voice connection.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein a finite number of tolerances may be assigned, and wherein a higher tolerance corresponds to a lower speed connection type, a lower tolerance corresponds to a higher speed connection type, and any remaining tolerances correspond to connection types such that as connection speed increases the tolerances decrease.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance from either side of the lines to an outer border of the bounded area.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the bounded area is an area having lines between successive points as a central axis and the tolerance defines a distance, axially centered about the lines, such that half the tolerance equals the distance from the line to an outer border of the bounded area.