Concepts for determining the accuracy of map data

• US 9,709,402 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• 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): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Gerrad A
• Application Number:
  US14/170,128
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 of a digital map, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, at least a portion of an address for a first serviceable point represented in map data of a digital map;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a telematics-based location of the first serviceable point in the map data of the digital map based at least in part on telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to a vehicle while the vehicle visited the first serviceable point, wherein the telematics-based location comprises a telematics-based geocode;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the street segment is proximate the telematics-based location and (b) the street segment is identified based at least in part on a street segment identifier that is not visibly displayed to users;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a map-based location on the street segment in the map data of the digital map by identifying a perpendicular path from the telematics-based location in the map data of the digital map to the street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the map-based location comprises a map-based geocode represented in the map data of the digital map, and (b) the map-based geocode is an estimated location of the first serviceable point on the street segment;

generating, via the one or more processors, a graphical display of at least a portion of the digital map comprising an indication of the telematics-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map and an indication of the map-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map; and

determining, via the one or more processors, the accuracy of the map data of the digital map for the first serviceable point based at least in part on the geographical distance between the telematics-based geocode and the map-based geocode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a telematics-based location of a second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle the second serviceable point;

identifying a map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on map data; and

determining the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the distance between the telematics-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the telematics data and the map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the estimated distance based on the map data is under estimated in response to detecting that the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point is less than a distance traveled to the telematics-based location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the estimated distance based on the map data is over estimated in response to detecting that a distance traveled to the telematics-based location is less than the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point.

6. An apparatus for determining the accuracy of map data of a digital map, the 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:

receive at least a portion of an address for a first serviceable point represented in map data of a digital map;

identify a telematics-based location of the first serviceable point in the map data of the digital map based at least in part on telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to a vehicle while the vehicle visited the first serviceable point, wherein the telematics-based location comprises a telematics-based geocode;

identify a street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the street segment is proximate the telematics-based location and (b) the street segment is identified based at least in part on a street segment identifier that is not visibly displayed to users;

identify a map-based location on the street segment in the map data of the digital map by identifying a perpendicular path from the telematics-based location in the map data of the digital map to the street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the map-based location comprises a map-based geocode represented in the map data of the digital map, and (b) the map-based geocode is an estimated location of the first serviceable point on the street segment;

generate a graphical display of at least a portion of the digital map comprising an indication of the telematics-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map and an indication of the map-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map; and

determine the accuracy of the map data of the digital map for the first serviceable point based at least in part on the geographical distance between the telematics-based geocode and the map-based geocode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

identify the telematics-based location of a second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle visited the second serviceable point;

identify the map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on map data; and

determine the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the distance between the telematics-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the telematics data and the map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine that the estimated distance based on the map data is under estimated in response to detecting that the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point is less than a distance traveled to the telematics-based location.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine that the estimated distance based on the map data is over estimated in response to detecting that a distance traveled to the telematics-based location is less than the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point.

11. 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 receive at least a portion of an address for a first serviceable point represented in map data of a digital map;

an executable portion configured to identify a telematics-based location of the first serviceable point in the map data of the digital map based at least in part on telematics data collected by a telematics device affixed to a vehicle while the vehicle visited the first serviceable point, wherein the telematics-based location comprises a telematics-based geocode;

an executable portion configured to identify a street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the street segment is proximate the telematics-based location and (b) the street segment is identified based at least in part on a street segment identifier that is not visibly displayed to users;

an executable portion configured to identify a map-based location on the street segment in the map data of the digital map by identifying a perpendicular path from the telematics-based location in the map data of the digital map to the street segment in the map data of the digital map, wherein (a) the map-based location comprises a map-based geocode represented in the map data of the digital map, and (b) the map-based geocode is an estimated location of the first serviceable point on the street segment;

an executable portion configured to generate a graphical display of at least a portion of the digital map comprising an indication of the telematics-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map and an indication of the map-based location on the at least a portion of the digital map; and

an executable portion configured to determine the accuracy of the map data of the digital map for the first serviceable point based at least in part on the geographical distance between the telematics-based geocode and the map-based geocode.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the accuracy of the map data is expressed as a distance.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to identify the telematics-based location of a second serviceable point based at least in part on telematics data collected while a vehicle visited the second serviceable point;

an executable portion configured to identify the map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on map data; and

an executable portion configured to determine the accuracy of the map data based at least in part on the distance between the telematics-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the telematics data and the map-based location of the second serviceable point based at least in part on the map data.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine that the estimated distance based on the map data is under estimated in response to detecting that the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point is less than a distance traveled to the telematics-based location.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine that the estimated distance based on the map data is over estimated in response to detecting that a distance traveled to the telematics-based location is less than the estimated distance for traveling to the first serviceable point.