Method and apparatus for formulating a positioning extent for map matching

• US 9,500,486 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Sula, Nicholas, Gale, William
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/780,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/410, 701/446, 701/532, 701/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching

Abstract

An approach is provided for formulating a positioning extent for map matching. The positioning extent platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of a plurality of position data points acquired by at least one positioning system to determine one or more variations in the plurality of position data points with respect to one or more thoroughfare segments. Next, the positioning extent platform determines one or more positioning extents associated with the one or more thoroughfare segments for the at least one positioning system based, at least in part, on the one or more variations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing a plurality of position data points acquired by at least one positioning system to determine one or more variations in the plurality of position data points with respect to one or more established thoroughfare segments;

determining one or more positioning extents associated with the one or more established thoroughfare segments for the at least one positioning system based, at least in part, on the one or more variations, wherein each of the one or more positioning extents comprises a vertical positioning extent above the one or more established thoroughfare segments;

determining at least one centerline for respective segments of the one or more established thoroughfare segments; and

adjusting a width of the thoroughfare segment based upon a posted speed limit for the thoroughfare segment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the plurality of position data points to determine one or more threshold distances with respect to the centerline,

wherein the one or more variations are based, at least in part, on one or more position data points within the at least one threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining any parallel offset to at least one of the at least one centerline for respective segments, wherein the one or more threshold distances comprise a left and a right positioning extent with respect to the centerline.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more threshold distances are determined with respect to a statistical average of positions of the plurality of position data points.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the plurality of position data points to determine one or more positioning errors for respective segments of the one or more established thoroughfare segments; and

repositioning a probe data point that is proximate to an established thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on the positioning error for the established thoroughfare segment,

wherein the one or more variations are based, at least in part, on one or more position data points associated with each respective segment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating respective positioning extents with the one or more established thoroughfare segments based on a size of one or more physical structures proximate to the one or more established thoroughfare segments.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a positioning extent for an established thoroughfare segment for which the number of position data points is less than a threshold value is based, at least in part, on the correlation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an intersection extent associated with an intersection of two or more established thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on an intersection of two or more positioning extents of the two or more intersecting established thoroughfare segments.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching a probe data point to at least one established thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on whether the probe data point is within a respective positioning extent of the at least one established thoroughfare segment.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

process and/or facilitate a processing of a plurality of position data points acquired by at least one positioning system to determine one or more variations in the plurality of position data points with respect to one or more established thoroughfare segments;

determine one or more positioning extents associated with the one or more established thoroughfare segments for the at least one positioning system based, at least in part, on the one or more variations, wherein each of the one or more positioning extents comprises a vertical positioning extent above the one or more established thoroughfare segments;

determine at least one centerline for respective segments of the one or more established thoroughfare segments; and

adjust a width of the thoroughfare segment based upon a posted speed limit for the thoroughfare segment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process and/or facilitate a processing of the plurality of position data points to determine one or more threshold distances with respect to the centerline,

wherein the one or more variations are based, at least in part, on one or more position data points within the at least one threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more threshold distances comprise a left and a right positioning extent with respect to the centerline further comprising determine any parallel offset to at least one of the at least one centerline for respective segments.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more threshold distances are determined with respect to a statistical average of positions of the plurality of position data points.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process and/or facilitate a processing of the plurality of position data points to determine one or more positioning errors for respective segments of the one or more established thoroughfare segments; and

cause, at least in part, a repositioning of a probe data point that is proximate to an established thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on the positioning error for the established thoroughfare segment,

wherein the one or more variations are based, at least in part, on one or more position data points associated with each respective segment.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a correlation of respective positioning extents with the one or more established thoroughfare segments based on a size of one or more physical structures proximate to the one or more established thoroughfare segments.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a positioning extent for an established thoroughfare segment for which the number of position data points is less than a threshold value is based, at least in part, on the correlation.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine an intersection extent associated with an intersection of two or more established thoroughfare segments based, at least in part, on an intersection of two or more positioning extents of the two or more intersecting established thoroughfare segments.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a matching of a probe data point to at least one established thoroughfare segment based, at least in part, on whether the probe data point is within a respective positioning extent of the at least one established thoroughfare segment.