Method of creating map corrections for use in a navigation device

• US 10,156,448 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Goddijn, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US14/617,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3837 Data obtained from a single source
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes correction.

Claims

1. A method of creating map alterations on a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of:

loading a map onto said device;

providing a menu driven selection of possible alterations in a display of said navigation device, said providing comprising displaying, in said display, a plurality of graphical icons having visual appearances of respective traffic signs, each graphical icon being associated with at least one map alteration corresponding to a subject matter of said respective traffic sign;

receiving an input that selects, from among said plurality of graphical icons displayed in said display, a graphical icon associated with at least one alteration to be made to said map;

receiving an input that places, in at least a portion of said map that is displayed in said display, said graphical icon, said graphical icon being placed within said display of said at least said portion of said map at a specified location at which said at least one alteration is to be made to said map;

generating, based on said graphical icon and said specified location, a map correction comprising said at least one alteration;

storing said map correction in a map fix database;

subsequently retrieving said map correction from said map fix database;

planning a route using said map and said map correction, said planning comprising accounting for said map correction for a newly-generated route; and

providing guidance to enable navigation along said route.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of storing said map correction in said map fix database further comprises associating a unique identifier with said stored map correction and storing said unique identifier with said stored map correction.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a time stamp with said map correction in said map fix database, said time stamp indicative of when said map correction was stored.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when the map correction was generated based on an alteration that is designated as shared, transmitting said map correction to the server.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of activating an icon or menu option to change map data stored on said device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of activating further comprises the step of displaying a lower level options menu comprising one or more icons or other menu options for affecting map data changes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction comprises one or more of:

blocking a street on a map;

unblocking a street on a map;

changing a speed limit on a street on a map;

at least one of renaming, moving, adding, deleting and re-categorising a POI;

a modification to a name of at least one of a city, part of a city, street and part of a street;

a change in of direction of road traffic;

an addition of a road or a connection of at least two roads;

an added turn restriction;

a removed turn restriction;

a modified structure number;

a modification to a toll status of a road;

a modified sign post;

a modification to a motorway exit number;

a modification to a postcode associated with a location;

a modification to a vehicle height, weight or width restriction on a particular road.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating said map correction with one or more transportation types.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein associating said map correction with one or more transportation types comprises blocking access for at least one of a motor vehicle;

pedestrian;

heavy goods vehicle; and

bicycle.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of placing further comprises the steps of clicking and dragging said graphical icon.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction does not permanently affect the map data stored on the device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of suggesting a map correction to a device user.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said suggestion is made when a user deviates from a route in accordance with said map correction.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction is generated, after selection of one of said alterations and a location where said alteration should take effect, by displaying a map including said location and by placing a traffic sign corresponding to the map correction at said location by touching a display where said traffic sign is displayed thereon.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction is configured so that said map correction can be used with said map for determining said route independently of other map corrections in said map fix database;

and

wherein determining said route comprises determining, for each map correction, based on one or more rules, whether said map correction and zero or more other map corrections from said map fix database are to be used for determining the route.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said map correction is independent of a supplier that supplied the map, in that the map correction is configured to be usable both with maps from the supplier and from at least one other supplier.

17. A navigation device comprising memory, a display, and a processor arranged to:

load a map onto said device;

provide a menu driven selection of possible alterations in said display, said providing comprising displaying, in said display, a plurality of graphical icons having visual appearances of respective traffic signs, each graphical icon being associated with at least one map alteration corresponding to a subject matter of said respective traffic sign;

receive an input that selects, from among said plurality of graphical icons displayed in said display, a graphical icon associated with at least one alteration to be made to said map;

receive an input that places, in at least a portion of said map that is displayed in said display, said graphical icon, said graphical icon being placed within said display of said at least said portion of said map at a specified location at which said at least one alteration is to be made to said map;

generate, based on said graphical icon and said specified location, a map correction comprising said at least one alteration;

store said map correction in a map fix database;

subsequently retrieve said map correction from said map fix database;

plan a route using said map and said map correction, said planning comprising accounting for said map correction for a newly-generated route; and

provide guidance to enable navigation along said route.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method of creating map alterations on a navigation device, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

loading a map onto said device;

providing a menu driven selection of possible alterations in a display of said navigation device, said providing comprising displaying, in said display, a plurality of graphical icons having visual appearances of respective traffic signs, each graphical icon being associated with at least one map alteration corresponding to a subject matter of said respective traffic sign;

receiving an input that selects, from among said plurality of graphical icons displayed in said display, a graphical icon associated with at least one alteration to be made to said map;

receiving an input that places, in at least a portion of said map that is displayed in said display, said graphical icon, said graphical icon being placed within said display of said at least said portion of said map at a specified location at which said at least one alteration is to be made to said map;

generating, based on said graphical icon and said specified location, a map correction comprising said at least one alteration;

storing said map correction in a map fix database;

subsequently retrieving said map correction from said map fix database;

planning a route using said map and said map correction, said planning comprising accounting for said map correction for a newly-generated route; and

providing guidance to enable navigation along said route.