Method of generating improved map data for use in navigation devices

• US 20080065325A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Geelen, Pieter, Jones, Rory
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/210
• 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 corrections.

Claims

1. A method of organizing map correction data comprising the steps of:

receiving map correction data,

validating said map correction data,

categorizing said map correction data into at least one category, and

storing said map correction data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving further comprises the step of receiving said map correction data over a wireless data connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving further comprises the step of receiving said map correction data over the Internet.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of validating further comprises at least one of the steps of searching for malicious words, checking for duplicate corrections, checking for conflicting corrections and associating corrections with a source.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one category comprises at least one of community categorization, correction type categorization, source categorization, location categorization, language categorization, validity categorization, importance categorization, POI category categorization, priority categorization and map supplier categorization.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of storing said map correction data further comprises the step of storing said map correction data on a remote server.

7. An apparatus for organizing map correction data, comprising:

means for receiving map correction data,

means for validating said map correction data,

means for categorizing said map correction data into at least one category, and

means for storing said map correction data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for receiving said map correction data over a wireless data connection.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for receiving said map correction data over the Internet.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for validating said map correction data by at least one of the steps of searching for malicious words, checking for duplicate corrections, checking for conflicting corrections and associating corrections with a source.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least one category comprises at least one of community categorization, correction type categorization, source categorization, location categorization, language categorization, validity categorization, importance categorization, POI category categorization, priority categorization and map supplier categorization.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for storing said map correction data on a server.