Method of analyzing points of interest with probe data

• US 9,301,099 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Tomtom North America Incorporated (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Witmer, James Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/474,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20140372022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/423, 701/119
• 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 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of analyzing points of interest (22) using traces from probe data is provided. The method includes providing a database of a digital vector map (18) configured to store a plurality of traces (1′-14′) representing roads. The method further includes collecting probe data from vehicles traveling along the traces. Then, bundling a group of select traces (2′, 5′, 7′, 9′, 11′) having routes with a common origin (20) and at least one divergence point (24, I) downstream from the origin (20) and building a database of vehicle maneuvers over the routes. Further, computing average speeds and delay times of a random population of vehicles traversing the vehicle maneuvers. Further yet, computing average speeds and delay times of all vehicles traversing the routes. Then, comparing the computed results from the random population of vehicles with the computed results from all vehicles traversing said routes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of analyzing points of interest using traces from probe data, comprising:

providing a database of a digital vector map configured to store a plurality of traces representing roads of a navigable street network;

collecting, by a processor, probe data from mobile device traveling along said traces;

bundling, by the processor, a group of select traces having routes with a common origin and at least one divergence point downstream from said origin;

building, by the processor, a database of mobile device maneuvers over said routes;

computing, by the processor, at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, of said group of select traces of mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

computing, by the processor, at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, of all mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

comparing, by the processor, the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from the group of select traces of mobile devices with the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from all mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

determining, by the processor, from said comparison, information associated with one or more points of interest along said routes; and

providing, by the processor, the information to one or more mobile devices.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said determining information associated with one or more points of interest along said routes comprises:

determining at least one of the location, type of establishment, or hours of operation, of a point of interest along said routes.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating the skew of the delay times.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating the kurtosis of the delay times.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing the computing steps during at least one of a predetermined time of day, week, month and year.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a profile of specific locations along the routes of the delay times.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating or populating the database with the information associated with one or more points of interest.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform a method of analyzing points of interest using traces from probe data, the method comprising:

providing a database of a digital vector map configured to store a plurality of traces representing a navigable network;

collecting probe data from travelers traveling along said traces;

bundling a group of select traces having routes with a common origin and at least one divergence point downstream from said origin;

building a database of maneuvers over said routes;

computing at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, of said group of select traces of travelers traversing said maneuvers;

computing at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, of all travelers traversing said maneuvers;

comparing the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from the group of select traces of travelers with the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from all travelers traversing said maneuvers;

determining from said comparison, information associated with one or more points of interest along said routes; and

providing the information to one or more mobile devices.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 in which said determining information associated with one or more points of interest along said routes comprises:

determining at least one of the location, type of establishment, or hours of operation, of a point of interest along said routes.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising calculating the skew of the delay times.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising calculating the kurtosis of the delay times.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising performing the computing steps during at least one of a predetermined time of day, week, month and year.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising generating a profile of specific locations along the routes of the delay times.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising updating or populating the database with the information associated with one or more points of interest.

15. A system for analyzing points of interest using traces from probe data, comprising:

a memory storage for maintaining a database; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

collect probe data received from one or more mobile device, the probe data comprising information associated with travel along a transportation network;

bundle a group of select traces, from the probe data, having routes with a common origin and at least one divergence point downstream from said origin;

populate the database with mobile device maneuvers over said routes;

compute at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, for said group of select traces of mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

compute at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile, for all mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

compare the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from the group of select traces of mobile devices with the at least one of average speeds, delay time, or delay profile from all mobile devices traversing said mobile device maneuvers;

determine, from said comparison, information associated with one or more points of interest along said routes; and

provide the information to one or more mobile devices.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each trace comprises a sequence of maneuvers.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the determination comprises:

determining at least one of the location, type of establishment, or hours of operation, of a point of interest along said routes.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further arranged to perform the computation steps during at least one of a predetermined time of day, week, month and year.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further arranged to infer a behavior of the select group based on the comparison of the select group of mobile devices and all mobile devices.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further arranged to apply one or more heuristic rules to the select traces of mobile devices.