Map reports from vehicles in the field

• US 9,123,152 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Chatham, Andrew Hughes
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzpatrick, Atiba O
• Application Number:
  US13/465,578
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/005 Tree description, e.g. octree, quadtree
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for assessing validity of a map using image data collected by a laser sensor along a vehicle path. The method may compile image data received from the laser sensor. The map subject to assessment may define an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for assessing validity of a map, comprising:

receiving image data from a laser sensor, the image data being collected along a vehicle path on a roadway;

compiling the image data to form a first image, wherein the compiling includes at least partially overlaying a first image data from the laser sensor over a second image data from the laser sensor;

identifying a map related to the vehicle path;

comparing the map to the first image; and

assessing validity of the identified map based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a signal to a server via a network indicating a result of the assessed validity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the map includes an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering the first image to a Mercator projection of an area related to the vehicle path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein compiling image data to form a first image further comprises rendering the first image based on a plurality of images taken at a plurality of locations along the vehicle path.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the map to the first image further comprises determining whether one or more discrepancies exist between the map and the first image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if one or more discrepancies exist between the map and the first image, transmitting a signal to a remote computing device indicating that the map is outdated.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if no discrepancies exist between the map and the first image, transmitting a signal a remote computing device indicating that the map is valid.

5. A system for assessing validity of a map, comprising:

a laser sensor a memory storing a map associated with a vehicle path on a roadway; and

one or more processors in communication with at least one of the memory and the laser sensor, the one or more processors configured to;

compile image data detected by the laser sensor along a vehicle path into a first image, wherein compiling includes at least partially overlaying a first image data from the laser sensor over a second image data from the laser sensor,

compare the first image with the map, and

assess validity of the map based on the comparison.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the map includes an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a cellular modem configured to transmit a result of the assessment to a server.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein compiling the image data to form a first image further comprises rendering the first image based on a plurality of images taken at a plurality of locations along the vehicle path.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein comparing the map to the first image further comprises determining whether one or more discrepancies exist between the map and the first image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit a signal to a remote computing device indicating that the map is outdated based on determining that one or more discrepancies exist between the map and the first image.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit a signal to a remote computing device indicating that the map is valid based on determining that no discrepancies exist between the map and the first image.