Validating map data corrections

• US 8,543,335 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Gruijters, Paulus, Lukassen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/736,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 701/411, 701/413, 701/431, 701/418, 701/409, 701/445, 701/517, 701/532, 340/992, 340/993, 340/995.12, 340/995.16
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3885 Transmission of map data to client devices; Reception of map data by client devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A system is disclosed for validating a correction to map data for a geographic location, the system including: a processing resource; and a navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource includes: a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device; a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device; and a receiver for receiving a user response from the navigation device; and the navigation device includes: a receiver for receiving the user request transmitted from the processing resource; a user request module configured to present the received user request to a user of the navigation device; a user response module for capturing a user response to the presented user request, and a transmitter for transmitting the captured user response to the processing resource.

Claims

1. A system for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the system comprising:

a processing resource; and

a navigation device,

wherein the processing resource comprises;

a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device; and

a receiver for receiving a user response from said navigation device, and wherein the navigation device comprises;

a receiver for receiving the user request transmitted from the processing resource;

a user request module configured to present said received user request to a user of the navigation device;

a user response module for capturing a user response to said presented user request, and

a transmitter for transmitting said captured user response to said processing resource.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user request includes position information defining one or more geographic locations at which said user request module presents said user request to said user.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the navigation device includes a navigation module configured to determine the geographic position of the navigation device, and said user request module is configured to present said user request to the user when said navigation module indicates that the geographic location of said navigation device is included in said position information.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said position information defines a zone that is a predetermined distance from the location associated with said geographic location.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined distance varies in accordance with the type of correction that is to be validated.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said user request generator is configured to generate a plurality of user requests, each for transmission to a different navigation device.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said processing resource comprises a device selection module operable to select navigation devices to which generated user requests are to be transmitted.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing resource comprises a route log configured to store navigation routes traveled by navigation devices.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said device selection module is configured to select a set of devices for which a route is stored in said route log that includes a location in the vicinity of the geographic location associated with said correction.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said device selection module is configured to select a set of devices for which a route is stored in said route log that includes the geographic location associated with said correction.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said device selection module is configured to randomly select a set of devices from a plurality of devices for each of which a route is stored in said route log that includes a location in the vicinity of the geographic location associated with said correction.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing resource comprises a response review module for analyzing user responses to validate said correction.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said user request module is configured to present said user request by playing an audio message to said user.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said user request module is configured to present said user request by displaying a visual message to said user.

15. A method for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the method comprising:

generating a user request for transmission from a processing resource to a navigation device, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device;

controlling the navigation device to present the user request to a user of the navigation device;

capturing a user response to said presented user request; and

transmitting the user response to said processing resource.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising analyzing said user response to validate said correction.

17. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising one or more computer program modules configured, when executed by a processor resource, to cause the processor resource to implement a method as defined in claim 15.

18. A method for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the method comprising:

generating a user request for transmission from a processing resource to a navigation device, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device for presentation of the user request to a user of the navigation device; and

receiving from a navigation device a user response to a presented user request.

19. A method for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the method comprising:

receiving, at a navigation device, a user request transmitted from a processing resource, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

controlling the navigation device to present the user request to a user of the device;

capturing a user response to said presented request; and

transmitting said user response to said processing resource.

20. A processing resource configured for use in a system for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the system comprising a navigation device that includes a receiver for receiving user requests transmitted from the processing resource, a user request module configured to present a received user request to the navigation device user, a user response module for capturing a user response to said presented user request, and a transmitter for transmitting said captured user response to said processing resource;

the processing resource comprising;

a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device; and

a receiver for receiving the user response from said navigation device.

21. A navigation device configured for use in a system for use in the validation of a correction, by a navigation device user, to map data for a geographic location, the system comprising a processing resource that includes a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device, a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device, and a receiver for receiving from said navigation device a user response to a user request presented to a user of said navigation device;

the navigation device comprising;

a receiver for receiving the user request transmitted from the processing resource, wherein the user request is a request for assistance from the navigation device user in the validation of the correction;

a user request module configured to present said received user request to a user of the navigation device;

a user response module for capturing the user response to said presented user request, and

a transmitter for transmitting said captured user response to said processing resource.