Navigation system for providing real-time traffic information and traffic information processing method by the same

• US 20030083813A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hee-Do
• Granted Patent: US 6,850,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

Disclosed is a navigation system for providing real-time traffic information to users connected thereto through a communication network and a traffic information processing method by such a system. The processing method for using real-time traffic information for calculating a travel route in a navigation system according to the present invention includes the step of receiving acquired traffic information and creating traffic information based on first map data. The processing method also includes the steps of converting the created traffic information into a second map data format different from a first map data format, and causing the format-converted traffic information to be reflected in the second map data and thus enabling an optimal travel route, based on the second map data in which the acquired traffic information is reflected, to be calculated when the travel route is requested.

Claims

1. A method for using real-time traffic information for calculating a travel route in a navigation system comprising the steps of:

receiving acquired traffic information and creating traffic information based on first map data;

converting the created traffic information into a second map data format different from a first map data format; and

calculating an optimal travel route based on the format-converted traffic information and the second map data.

2. A navigation server system for providing navigation functions to users connected thereto through a communication network comprising:

a traffic information server for acquiring traffic information, producing real-time traffic information based on first map data and converting the produced traffic information into a second map data format different from a first map data format; and

a route calculation server for calculating an optimal travel route based on the format-converted traffic information and the second map data, and providing the calculated traffic information to a subscriber when the subscriber requests the travel route.

3. A navigation server system according to claim 2, wherein the communication network is a wireless network.

4. A navigation server system according to claim 2, wherein the traffic information server comprises:

a traffic information acquisition section for acquiring the traffic information;

a traffic information production section for producing the real-time traffic information based on the first map data; and

a format conversion section for converting the produced traffic information into the second map data format.

5. A navigation server system according to claim 4, wherein the traffic information server further includes a table for storing items to be referred to when the format conversion section performs the format conversion.

7. A navigation server system according to claim 2, wherein the route calculation server comprises:

a database in which the second map data is stored; and

a route calculation section for calculating an optimal travel route based on the format-converted traffic information and the second map data, and providing the calculated traffic information to a subscriber when the subscriber requests the travel route.

6. A navigation server system according to claim 6, wherein the stored items include a link, node information and vehicle travel information.

8. A method for using real-time traffic information for calculating a travel route in a navigation system comprising the steps of:

receiving acquired traffic information and creating traffic information based on first map data;

converting the created traffic information into a standard map data format;

converting the standard map data format traffic information into a second map data format different from a first map data format; and

calculating an optimal travel route based on the second map data format and the second map data when the travel route is requested.

9. A navigation server system for providing navigation functions to users connected thereto through a communication network comprising:

a traffic information server for acquiring traffic information, producing real-time traffic information based on first map data and converting the produced traffic information into a standard map data format; and

a route calculation server for converting the standard map data format traffic information, into a second map data format different from a first map data format, calculating an optimal travel route based on the converted traffic information and the second map data in which the acquired traffic information is reflected, and providing the calculated traffic information to a subscriber when the subscriber requests the travel route.

10. A navigation server system according to claim 9, wherein the communication network is a wireless network.

11. A navigation server system according to claim 9, wherein the traffic information server comprises:

a traffic information acquisition section for acquiring the traffic information;

a traffic information production section for producing the real-time traffic information based on the first map data; and

a format conversion section for converting the produced traffic information into the second map data format.

12. A navigation server system according to claim 11, wherein the traffic information server further includes a table for storing items to be referred to when the format conversion section performs the format conversion.

13. A navigation server system according to claim 12, wherein the stored items include a link, node information and vehicle travel information.

14. A navigation server system according to claim 9, wherein the route calculation server comprises:

a database in which the second map data is stored;

a format conversion section for converting the standard map data format traffic information into the second map data format; and

a route calculation section for calculating an optimal travel route based on the traffic information and on the second map data and providing the calculated traffic information to a subscriber when the subscriber requests the travel route.

15. A navigation server system according to claim 14, wherein the traffic information server further includes a table for storing items to be referred to when the format conversion section performs the format conversion.

16. A navigation server system according to claim 15, wherein the stored items include a link, node information and vehicle travel information.