Concepts for determining the accuracy of map data

• US 8,958,985 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• 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:
  US14/170,219
• Time in Patent Office: 382 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 a plurality of routes that have been traveled in a geographic area;

determining, via one or more processors, an estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on map data;

determining, via the one or more processors, an actual distance traveled for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on telematics data collected while one or more vehicles traveled each of the plurality of routes; 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 for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes, 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 difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more underages in the map data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more overages in the map data.

6. 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 plurality of routes that have been traveled in a geographic area;

determine an estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on map data;

determine an actual distance traveled for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on telematics data collected while one or more vehicles traveled each of the plurality of routes; and

determine the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes, 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.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a percentage.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more underages in the map data.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more overages in the map data.

11. 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 plurality of routes that have been traveled in a geographic area;

an executable portion configured to determine an estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on map data;

an executable portion configured to determine an actual distance traveled for each of the plurality of routes in the geographic area based at least in part on telematics data collected while one or more vehicles traveled each of the plurality of routes; 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 for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes, 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.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a percentage.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more underages in the map data.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the difference between the estimated distance for each of the plurality of routes and the actual distance for each of the plurality of routes comprises one or more overages in the map data.