Method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route

• US 9,217,648 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Huck, Arnulf F., Kalus, Christian, Thieme, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US12/749,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles

Abstract

A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route is provided. The method comprises receiving a request for a route from an origin to a destination. The method evaluates a plurality of pedestrian paths by accessing data representing the pedestrian paths to determine a safety cost associated with including the pedestrian path in the route. The safety cost indicates a safety risk for the pedestrian. The method provides the route comprising the pedestrian paths that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination that minimize the safety cost.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

receiving an origin and a destination;

determining, using a processor, a plurality of candidate solution routes each comprising a plurality of sidewalks and crosswalks that form a continuous navigable route between the origin and the destination, wherein the sidewalks are associated with road segments and motor vehicles are prohibited from traveling the sidewalks;

receiving data indicative of a user selection option for safety consideration of crosswalks;

performing, using the processor, a comparison of the plurality of candidate solution route based on the user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks,

wherein when the user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks is turned on, a first candidate solution route from the origin to the destination having a first distance is selected, and when the user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks is turned off a second candidate solution route from the origin to the destination having a second distance is selected, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and generating route guidance including a safety advisory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparison is further based on cost items that favor pedestrian friendly zones.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparison is further based on cost items that favor crosswalks controlled by an associated traffic signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparison is further based on cost items that favor crosswalks associated with an intersection having an all-way stop.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparison is further based on cost items that disfavor crosswalks having pedestrian blackspots.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein comparison is further based on cost items that disfavor crosswalks that cross high speed roads.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the safety advisory provides information regarding roads to be crossed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison is based at least on part of analysis of data describing characteristics for the sidewalks in a pedestrian maneuver table.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison is further based on whether there is a curb cut-out or ramp.

10. A navigation system that provides a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

a geographic database including a pedestrian maneuver table;

a computer; and

a route calculation program executed on the computer, the route calculation program configured to;

receive an origin and a destination,

identify a first solution route and a second solution route based on the origin and the destination, wherein the first solution route is longer than the second solution route,

identify a user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks,

compare the first solution route and the second solution route based on the user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks and at least one characteristic of a crosswalk in the second solution route, and

select the first solution route based on the user selection for safety consideration of crosswalks even though the first solution route is longer than the second solution route.

11. The navigation system of claim 10,

wherein the route guidance program determines maneuvers for following the first solution route and generates a safety advisory for the first solution route.

12. The navigation system of claim 10 wherein the route calculation program accesses the geographic database to obtain data representing a safety cost item associated with the first solution route.

13. The navigation system of claim 12 wherein the safety cost item minimizes pedestrian interaction with motor vehicles.

14. A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide a pedestrian route, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a route from an origin to a destination;

receiving a user preference for safety consideration in pedestrian routing;

identifying, using a processor, a plurality of pedestrian paths by accessing data representing the pedestrian paths to determine which of the plurality of pedestrian paths include crosswalks and types of intersections associated with the crosswalks;

performing, using the processor, a comparison of the plurality of pedestrian paths based on the user preference, wherein;

the processor selects a first route from the origin to the destination including fewer crosswalks or less complex intersections when the user preference for safety consideration is activated; and

the processor selects a second route from the origin to the destination including more crosswalks or more complex intersections when the user preference for safety consideration is deactivated.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing guidance for the first route or the second route, the guidance including maneuver instructions and a safety advisory.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the safety cost is determined using cost items that disfavor pedestrians interacting with motor vehicles.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the route favors pedestrian paths that are associated with data representing landmarks along the pedestrian path or images of the pedestrian path from a geographic database.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the provided route is optimized for travel efficiency.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the comparison is based on a pedestrian maneuver table that includes first data indicative whether each of the plurality of pedestrian paths includes a crosswalk and second data indicative of whether each of the pedestrian paths includes a signal for the crosswalk.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the first route is longer than the second route.