Path information providing server, method of providing path information, and terminal

• US 9,086,296 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Jong-woo, Kang, Nam-wook, Woo, Joo-kyung, Kim, Sin-ae
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US12/546,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and method of providing path information based on a status of a path and/or a purpose of the use of the path. A path information providing server collects environmental information from a sensing device. The path information providing server receives a path information request including a departure and a destination from a terminal device, and provides path information generated by mapping environmental data to a searched path.

Claims

1. A path information providing server, comprising:

an environmental information collecting unit configured to collect environmental information of data sensed by a sensing device and information on a location at which the data is sensed;

a path searching unit configured to select a path from a departure location to a destination that are identified in a path information request received from a terminal device;

a path information generating unit configured to determine a type of environmental information to be mapped to the path according to a purpose for a trip identified by a user of the terminal and to map the determined type of environmental information to the path based on the location information to generate path information; and

a communication unit configured to provide the path information to the terminal device, wherein

the path is selected from among a plurality of paths based upon environmental information pertaining to the paths and the identified purpose for the trip,

the environmental information is mapped to the path using an environmental information providing data structure which records the environmental information sensed around the location to correspond with global positioning system coordinates of the location,

the environmental information comprises ambient air pollution levels describing concentrations of different particles, and

whether the ambient air pollution level is displayed is determined based on the identified purpose for the trip.

2. The path information providing server of claim 1, wherein the environmental information further comprises path status data indicating the status of the path.

3. The path information providing server of claim 2, wherein the path status data includes information of at least one of a sloping level and curved sections of a road.

4. The path information providing server of claim 1, wherein the path information generating unit sets at least one or more zones including the path and maps environmental information containing information on a location belonging to the set zone to a path adjacent to the location.

5. The path information providing server of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of paths are identified from the received departure location and destination;

the path information generating unit maps the determined type of environmental information to each of the identified paths based on the location information;

a weight is applied to each piece of the environmental information mapped to the paths;

a score of the environmental information is calculated for each path based upon the applied weights; and

the selected path is chosen based upon the calculated scores and the identified purpose for the trip.

19. The server of claim 1, wherein the path is selected from among the plurality of paths based upon the identified purpose for the trip and ambient air pollution sensed at locations along each of the paths.

6. A path information providing method comprising:

collecting environmental information of data sensed by a sensing device and information on a location at which the data is sensed;

receiving a path request including a departure location and a destination from a terminal device;

selecting a path, among a plurality of paths, based upon the received departure location and destination, environmental information pertaining to the paths, and a purpose for a trip identified by a user of the terminal device;

determining a type of environmental information among the collected environmental information to be mapped to the path based upon the identified purpose for the trip;

mapping the determined type of environmental information to the path based on the location information to produce path information; and

providing the path information to the terminal device,

wherein the mapping of the determined type of environmental information comprises mapping the environmental information to the path using an environmental information providing data structure which records the environmental information sensed around the location to correspond with global positioning system coordinates of the location,

wherein the environmental information comprises ambient air pollution levels describing concentrations of different particles, and

wherein whether the ambient aft pollution level is displayed is determined based on the identified purpose for the trip.

7. The path information providing method of claim 6, wherein the environmental information further comprises path status data indicating the status of the path.

8. The path information providing method of claim 7, wherein the path status data includes information of at least one of sloping levels and curved sections of a road.

9. The path information providing method of claim 6, wherein the mapping further comprises:

setting at least one zone including the path; and

mapping environmental information including information on a location belonging to the set zone to a path adjacent to the location.

10. The path information providing method of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying the plurality of paths from the received departure location and destination;

mapping the determined type of environmental information to each of the identified paths based on the location information;

applying a weight to each piece of the environmental information mapped to the paths;

calculating a score of the environmental information for each path based upon the applied weights; and

choosing the selected path based upon the calculated scores and the identified purpose for the trip.

20. The method of claim 6, wherein the path is selected from among the plurality of paths based upon the identified purpose for the trip, ambient air pollution sensed at locations along each of the paths, the departure location, and the destination.

11. A terminal device, which receives path information from a path information providing server, the terminal device comprising:

a network interface unit configured to perform data transmission and receipt with the path information providing server; and

a control unit configured to generate a path information request including information identifying the purpose for a trip, a departure location, and a destination according to a user input signal, transmit the generated path information request to the path information providing server and control the network interface unit to receive path information from the path information providing server;

wherein;

the path information includes mapping information in which relevant environmental information is mapped to a path between the departure location and destination,

the environmental information mapped to the path is selected from a larger set of environmental information based upon the identified purpose for the trip,

the path is selected from among a plurality of paths based upon environmental information pertaining to the paths and the identified purpose for the trip,

the environmental information is mapped to the path using an environmental information providing data structure which records the environmental information around the location to correspond with global positioning system coordinates of the location,

the environmental information comprises ambient air pollution levels describing concentrations of different particles, and

whether the ambient air pollution level is displayed is determined based on the identified purpose for the trip.

12. The terminal device of claim 11, further comprising:

a data sensing unit to sense environmental data; and

a location identifying unit to detect information of a location at which the data is sensed, wherein

the control unit collects the sensed environmental data and the location information and transmits the collected information to the path information providing server through the network interface unit.

13. The terminal device of claim 11, wherein the environmental information further comprises path status data indicating the status of the path.

14. The terminal device of claim 13, wherein the path status data includes information of at least one of sloping levels and curved sections of a road.

15. A path information providing method of a terminal device which receives path information from a path information providing server, the method comprising:

transmitting path request information including information identifying the purpose for a trip, a departure location, and a destination to the path information providing server; and

receiving path information from the path information providing server, wherein;

the path information includes mapping information in which relevant environmental information is mapped to a path between the departure location and destination,

the environmental information mapped to the path is selected from a larger set of environmental information based upon the identified purpose for the trip,

the path is selected from among a plurality of paths based upon environmental information pertaining to the paths and the identified purpose for the trip,

the environmental information is mapped to the path using an environmental information providing data structure which records the environmental information around the location to correspond with global positioning system coordinates of the location,

the environmental information comprises ambient air pollution levels describing concentrations of different particles, and

whether the ambient aft pollution level is displayed is determined based on the identified purpose for the trip.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing data relevant to an environment and detecting information on a location at which the data is sensed; and

transmitting the sensed data and the location information to the path information providing server.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the environmental information further comprises path status data indicating the status of the path.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the path status data includes information of at least one of sloping levels and curved sections of a road.