Open area maps with restriction content

• US 8,374,780 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Mays, Joseph P., Gale, William N., Seegers, Peter A., Stroila, Matei N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/179,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701206-208, 701/213, 701/214, 701/209, 701/433, 701/434, 701/435, 701/410, 701/411, 701/408, 345/629, 345/630, 345/419, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 701/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

Open area maps and related systems and methods are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person walks about. A restriction associated to a passageway within the image is generated. The image is used to generate a routable map for point-to-point routing. Routing through or around the restriction is based on whether or not criteria for passing the restriction is met.

Claims

1. A method of generating an open area map, the method comprising:

receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person walks about;

applying a grid on the image of the layout, at least a portion of the grid designated as navigable and associated with a navigable area in the layout;

applying a restriction associated to a passageway within the navigable area in the layout; and

generating a routable map for point-to-point routing as a function of the grid and the restriction, wherein the point-to-point routing in the generated routable map includes calculating a route between any two points anywhere within the navigable area covered by the portion of the grid designated as navigable, and

wherein routing through or around the restriction is based on whether or not criteria for passing the restriction is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the restriction comprises forming a line having a length that covers the associated passageway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the restriction corresponds to a key, a badge, a code, a retinal scan, a finger print, a time of day, money, height, or weight.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria corresponds to information of a user of the open area map, the information corresponding to physical information, authorization information, or monetary information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria corresponds to a time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria for passing the restriction is considered for only one direction through the restriction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the layout comprises an image of a building floor plan.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a routable map comprises:

generating a plurality of reference regions; and

compiling the plurality of reference regions and the restriction with the grid.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the plurality of reference regions comprises:

identifying a plurality of reference image objects in the image; and

generating the plurality of reference regions by forming borders corresponding to the respective reference image objects.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the borders comprises vectorizing a portion of a binarized image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the grid and the restriction are in separate spatial layers prior to compilation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein calculating the route comprises calculating as a function of adjacent tiles of the grid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the routable map is configured to be displayed on an end user device.

14. A method of routing in an open area map, the method comprising:

identifying a destination selected in the open area map, the open area map including an image of a real-world pedestrian area, wherein a grid of a plurality of tiles is associated with the image of the real-world pedestrian area, and wherein at least a portion of the grid is designated as navigable and associated with a navigable area in the real-world pedestrian area;

calculating a route from an origin point to the selected destination in the open area map as a function of point-to-point routing, wherein the point-to-point routing includes calculating, based on adjacent tiles of the grid, a route between points within the navigable area covered by the portion of the grid designated as navigable, the point-to-point routing including route calculation not dependent upon one or more predetermined path segments; and

querying for pedestrian information corresponding to a conditional barrier associated with the route or portion thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein querying for the pedestrian information comprises notifying a user about the conditional barrier or a condition thereof via visual or audio content.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pedestrian information is received after the notification.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a path through the conditional barrier and to the selected destination is generated if the pedestrian information meets the requirements of the conditional barrier.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a route circumventing the conditional barrier is calculated if the pedestrian information does not meet the requirements of the conditional barrier.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein querying for the pedestrian information comprises retrieving the pedestrian information that is inputted prior to calculating the route.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a path from the origin point, through the conditional barrier, and to the selected destination is generated if the pedestrian information meets the requirements of the conditional barrier.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a path from the origin point to the selected destination that bypasses the conditional barrier is generated if the pedestrian information does not meet the requirements of the conditional barrier.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the route is configured to be displayed within the open area map on an end user device.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more predetermined path segments comprise one or more path segments determined prior to the route calculation.

24. An open area map system comprising:

an image of a floor plan corresponding to a pedestrian area;

a grid associated with the image of the floor plan, wherein at least a portion of the grid is designated as navigable and associated with a navigable area in the floor plan; and

a restriction barrier compiled with the grid, the restriction barrier corresponding to a real-world condition for passing through a sub-area of the navigable area,

wherein the open area map is configured for point-to-point routing based, in part, on the restriction barrier, the point-to-point routing includes calculating a route between points within the navigable area covered by the portion of the grid designated as navigable, and wherein the point-to-point routing includes route calculation not dependent upon one or more predetermined path segments.

25. The open area map system of claim 24, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein the restriction barrier is associated with at least one tile associated with a gate, an opening, a door, or a connection.

26. The open area map system of claim 24, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein calculating the route comprises calculating as a function of adjacent tiles of the grid.

27. The open area map system of claim 24, wherein the route is configured to be displayed within the open area map on an end user device.

28. The open area map system of claim 24, wherein the one or more predetermined path segments comprise one or more path segments determined prior to the route calculation.