Method and system using a hand-gesture responsive device for collecting data for a geographic database

• US 6,687,612 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cherveny, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/396,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/120, 701/200, 704/275, 345/358, 345/157, 345/173, 345/156, 345/702, 178/18.01, 348/734, 348/155, 382/114, 382/103, 382/173, 382/177, 382/57, 382/159, 235/472
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113

Abstract

A data collection system including a data glove is used by a researcher to safely and efficiently collect and input data for a geographic database. The data collection system is transported by the researcher along roads in a geographic area. As the data collection system is being transported, the positions of the data collection system are determined. The researcher inputs data into the data collection system through the glove by hand and/or finger gestures. The data collection system stores data indicating a determined position with a type of data associated with the gestures. The data obtained by the data collection system is displayed so that the researcher can add or modify data records in the geographic database. The data obtained by the data collection system is used to add data to or modify data in the geographic database.

Claims

1. A data collection system used to collect data for a geographic database, the data collection system comprising:

a device responsive to a hand gesture by a human operator in a vehicle, wherein the hand gesture relates to a geographic feature being observed by the human operator as the vehicle is driven on roads in a geographic region;

programming that interprets the hand gesture as information relating to the geographic feature; and

programming that stores the information as data relating to the geographic feature in a data storage device.

2. The data collection system of claim 1 where the programming that stores the information as data relating to the geographic feature associates therewith data indicative of a geographic position of the vehicle when the hand gesture was made.

3. The data collection system of claim 1 further comprising:

programming that receives from a positioning system located in the vehicle data indicative of a geographic position of the vehicle, wherein said data relating to the geographic feature is associated with corresponding data indicative of a geographic position of the vehicle when stored.

4. The data collection system of claim 1 wherein said device responsive to a hand gesture fits as a glove on a hand of the human operator.

5. The data collection system of claim 1 wherein said device responsive to a hand gesture captures hand movements by at least one of:

laser, optics, and still frame pictures.

6. The data collection system of claim 1 wherein the hand gesture is based on American Sign Language and wherein said programming that interprets the hand gesture further comprises programming that interprets American Sign Language.

7. The data collection system of claim 1 further comprising:

a component that audibly plays back the information relating to the geographic feature for the human operator to hear.

8. The data collection system of claim 1 further comprising:

programming that synthesizes speech from the information relating to the geographic feature; and

a component that audibly plays back the speech for the human operator to hear.

9. The data collection system of claim 1 wherein the programming that interprets the hand gesture refers to a stored table that associates gestures with corresponding commands and matches the hand gesture by the human operator to one of said gestures in said table.

10. The data collection system of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the geographic feature comprises one of:

carpools allowed;

through traffic allowed;

trucks allowed;

automobiles allowed;

pedestrians allowed;

buses allowed;

bicycles allowed;

bridge;

tunnel;

paved road;

private road;

gated road;

ramp;

frontage road;

tollway;

built up area;

street address;

street name;

divider;

drive path lane traversal;

center turn lane present;

lane transition;

number of lanes;

relative altitude;

travel restriction;

traffic signal present;

toll booth;

one way restriction;

speed limit;

school zone;

speed advisory;

variable speed;

speed bump;

deliveries allowed;

taxis allowed; and

emergency vehicles allowed.

11. A method for collecting data for a geographic database, the method comprising:

with a device, sensing a hand gesture by a human operator in a vehicle, wherein the hand gesture relates to a geographic feature being observed by the human operator as the vehicle is driven on roads in a geographic region;

interpreting the hand gesture as information relating to the geographic feature; and

storing the information as data relating to the geographic feature in a data storage device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

associating data indicative of a geographic position of the vehicle when the hand gesture was made with the data relating to the geographic feature.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving data indicative of a geographic position of the vehicle from a positioning system; and

associating the data indicative of the geographic position of the vehicle with the data relating to the geographic feature.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the hand gesture is based on American Sign Language and wherein said interpreting further includes interpreting American Sign Language.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

audibly playing back the information relating to the geographic feature for the human operator to hear.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

synthesizing speech from the information relating to the geographic feature; and

audibly playing back the speech for the human operator to hear.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of interpreting further comprises:

referring to a stored table that associates gestures with corresponding commands; and

matching the hand gesture by the human operator to one of said gestures in said table.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the information relating to the geographic feature comprises one of:

carpools allowed;

through traffic allowed;

trucks allowed;

automobiles allowed;

pedestrians allowed;

buses allowed;

bicycles allowed;

bridge;

tunnel;

paved road;

private road;

gated road;

ramp;

frontage road;

tollway;

built up area;

street address;

street name;

divider;

drive path lane traversal;

center turn lane present;

lane transition;

number of lanes;

relative altitude;

travel restriction;

traffic signal present;

toll booth;

one way restriction;

speed limit;

school zone;

speed advisory;

variable speed;

speed bump;

deliveries allowed;

taxis allowed; and

emergency vehicles allowed.

19. A method of collecting data for a geographic database comprising:

traveling in a vehicle on roads in a geographic area;

observing a geographic feature;

making a hand gesture to indicate information about the observed geographic feature;

with an apparatus responsive to hand movements, sensing the hand gesture and determining the information indicated thereby;

storing data that corresponds to the information determined by the apparatus responsive to hand movements; and

using the stored data for updating the geographic database.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

associating data indicative of a position of the vehicle with the data that corresponds to the information determined by the apparatus responsive to hand movements.