Concepts for determining the accuracy of map data

• US 8,942,920 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Gerrad A
• Application Number:
  US14/169,682
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining the accuracy of map data. In one embodiment, map data and collected telematics data can be compared. The difference between the map data and the telematics data can be used to determine the accuracy of the map data.

Claims

1. A method for determining the accuracy of map data, the method comprising:

identifying, via one or more processors, a route for traveling from a first serviceable point to a second serviceable point in a geographic area;

determining, via the one or more processors, an estimated distance for traveling from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the estimated distance determined based at least in part on map data;

determining, via the one or more processors, an actual distance traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the actual distance traveled based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point; and

determining, via the one or more processors, the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance, wherein determining the accuracy of the map data comprises (a) identifying one or more types of travel selected from the group consisting of turn-around travel, break travel, configurable tolerance travel, and duplicate travel and (b) excluding the one or more types of travel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a percentage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable points comprises a plurality of intermediate serviceable points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more underages in the map data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more overages in the map data.

7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

identify a route for traveling from a first serviceable point to a second serviceable point in a geographic area;

determine an estimated distance for traveling from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the estimated distance determined based at least in part on map data;

determine an actual distance traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the actual distance traveled based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point; and

determine the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance, wherein determining the accuracy of the map data comprises (a) identifying one or more types of travel selected from the group consisting of turn-around travel, break travel, configurable tolerance travel, and duplicate travel and (b) excluding the one or more types of travel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a percentage.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the travel from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable points comprises a plurality of intermediate serviceable points.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more underages in the map data.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more overages in the map data.

13. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to identify a route for traveling from a first serviceable point to a second serviceable point in a geographic area;

an executable portion configured to determine an estimated distance for traveling from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the estimated distance determined based at least in part on map data;

an executable portion configured to determine an actual distance traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point, the actual distance traveled based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle traveled from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point; and

an executable portion configured to determine the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance, wherein determining the accuracy of the map data comprises (a) identifying one or more types of travel selected from the group consisting of turn-around travel, break travel, configurable tolerance travel, and duplicate travel and (b) excluding the one or more types of travel.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a percentage.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the travel from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable points comprises a plurality of intermediate serviceable points.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more underages in the map data.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the difference between the estimated distance and the actual distance comprises one or more overages in the map data.