Method of identifying a temporarily located road feature, navigation apparatus, system for identifying a temporarily located road feature, and remote data processing server apparatus

• US 8,751,149 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Tomtom Belgium NV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Van Doorselaer, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/392,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/423, 701/450, 701/451
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/40 Hidden part removal
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A method of identifying a temporarily located road feature that engenders vehicular speed behavior change comprises a navigation apparatus monitoring speed thereof or a parameter associated therewith. The method also comprises the navigation apparatus generating a message in response to detection of a profile associated with speed of the navigation apparatus and that corresponds to a predetermined speed change profile associated with the presence of the temporarily located road feature.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus comprising:

a location determining unit for determining a location of the apparatus; and

one or more processors configured to monitor a speed of the apparatus, or a parameter associated therewith;

wherein, when in use, the apparatus is arranged to;

detect the location of a temporarily-located road feature by detection of a speed profile of the apparatus corresponding to a predetermined speed change profile;

generate a message comprising data indicative of the location at which the speed profile was detected;

prompt a user of the navigation apparatus for a confirmatory input in response to the detection;

upon receipt of the confirmatory input, generate confirmatory data; and

transmit the message to a remote data processing resource to update a listing of known feature locations.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed change profile is substantially U-shaped.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined speed change profile comprises a first portion corresponding to a reduction in speed.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predetermined speed change profile comprises a second portion corresponding to maintaining speed substantially below or substantially equal to a speed limit.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the maintenance of the speed is for a minimum predetermined duration.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predetermined speed change profile comprises a third portion corresponding to an increase in speed.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third portion follows the second portion.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second portion follows the first portion.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the prompt for confirmatory input comprises one of;

a telephone call to the user, a text message or a prompt via the user interface of the navigation apparatus.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, configured to receive the confirmatory input via a hardware or software button on the navigation apparatus, or via voice input.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further configured to transmit the message to a remote processing device.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the message further comprises the confirmatory data.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to perform pattern recognition by comparing the speed profile of the apparatus with the predetermined speed change profile to determine a vehicular speed change behavior indicative of a temporarily located road feature.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message comprises at least one of:

data identifying at least one of a plurality of message types, location data and supporting data.

15. A method of identifying a temporarily located road feature that engenders vehicular speed behaviour change, the method comprising:

providing a navigation apparatus comprising;

a location determining unit for determining a location of the apparatus; and

one or more processors configured to monitor a speed of the apparatus, or a parameter associated therewith;

detecting the location of a temporarily-located road feature by detection of a speed profile of the apparatus corresponding to a predetermined speed change profile;

generating a message comprising data indicative of the location at which the speed profile was detected;

prompting a user of the navigation apparatus for a confirmatory input in response to the detection;

upon receipt of the confirmatory input, generating confirmatory data; and

transmit the message to a remote data processing resource to update a listing of known feature locations.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method of identifying a temporarily located road feature that engenders vehicular speed behaviour change, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

providing a navigation apparatus comprising;

a location determining unit for determining a location of the apparatus; and

one or more processors configured to monitor a speed of the apparatus, or a parameter associated therewith;

detecting the location of a temporarily-located road feature by detection of a speed profile of the apparatus corresponding to a predetermined speed change profile;

generating a message comprising data indicative of the location at which the speed profile was detected;

prompting a user of the navigation apparatus for a confirmatory input in response to the detection;

upon receipt of the confirmatory input, generating confirmatory data; and

transmit the message to a remote data processing resource to update a listing of known feature locations.