Concepts for determining the accuracy of map data

• US 9,273,975 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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:
  US14/570,136
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

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

determining, via the one or more processors, an actual distance traveled by a vehicle via a street network of street segments from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data, the telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to the vehicle while the vehicle traveled a route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

providing, via the one or more processors, for simultaneous display via an interface of (a) at least a portion of the route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data and (b) at least a portion of the route traveled by the vehicle from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a segment of duplicate travel in the actual distance by identifying (a) a first segment of travel having a first heading over a first street segment of the street network of street segments and (b) a second segment of travel having the first heading over the first street segment of the street network of street segments;

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 excluding the segment of duplicate travel from the actual distance; and

updating, via the one or more processors, the map data to reflect the actual distance that excludes the segment of duplicate 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:

determine an estimated distance for traveling from a first serviceable point to a second serviceable point, the estimated distance determined based at least in part on map data and (b) comprising a route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data;

determine an actual distance traveled by a vehicle via a street network of street segments from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data, the telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to the vehicle while the vehicle traveled a route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

provide for simultaneous display via an interface of (a) at least a portion of the route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data and (b) at least a portion of the route traveled by the vehicle from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

identify a segment of duplicate travel in the actual distance by identifying (a) a first segment of travel having a first heading over a first street segment of the street network of street segments and (b) a second segment of travel having the first heading over the first street segment of the street network of street segments;

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 excluding the segment of duplicate travel from the actual distance; and

update the map data to reflect the actual distance that excludes the segment of duplicate 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 determine an estimated distance for traveling from a first serviceable point to a second serviceable point, the estimated distance determined based at least in part on map data and (b) comprising a route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data;

an executable portion configured to determine an actual distance traveled by a vehicle via a street network of street segments from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data, the telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to the vehicle while the vehicle traveled a route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

an executable portion configured to provide for simultaneous display via an interface of (a) at least a portion of the route from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data and (b) at least a portion of the route traveled by the vehicle from the first serviceable point to the second serviceable point via the street network of street segments;

an executable portion configured to provide identify a segment of duplicate travel in the actual distance by identifying (a) a first segment of travel having a first heading over a first street segment of the street network of street segments and (b) a second segment of travel having the first heading over the first street segment of the street network of street segments;

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 excluding the segment of duplicate travel from the actual distance; and

an executable portion configured to update the map data to reflect the actual distance that excludes the segment of duplicate 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.