Determining speed parameters in a geographic area

• US 8,423,287 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J., Olsen, John A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US13/491,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 701/409, 701/450, 701/439, 701/454, 701/466, 701/519, 701/540
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is determined for one or more of the street segments and associated with one or more of the street segments.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive geofenced area data associated with a geofenced area that comprises at least one street segment, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of (i) a vehicle or (ii) a vehicle driver is within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the at least one street segment; and

associate a speed limit with the at least one street segment of the geofenced area, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the vehicle driver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speed limit is determined from the speed data using an average speed of the vehicle with respect to the at least one street segment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speed data is automatically collected by at least one telematics device during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the at least one telematics device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speed data is collected by a handheld device as input from the vehicle driver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the handheld device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit for at least a portion of the at least one street segment.

9. A method for associating a speed limit with a street segment, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, geofenced area data associated with a geofenced area that comprises at least one street segment, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of (i) a vehicle or (ii) a vehicle driver is within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the at least one street segment; and

associating, via the one or more processors, a speed limit with the at least one street segment of the geofenced area, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the vehicle driver.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the speed limit is determined from the speed data using an average speed of the vehicle with respect to the at least one street segment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the speed data is automatically collected by at least one telematics device during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the at least one telematics device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the speed data is collected by a handheld device as input from the vehicle driver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the handheld device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit for at least a portion of the at least one street segment.

17. A computer program product for associating a speed limit with a street segment, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive geofenced area data associated with a geofenced area that comprises at least one street segment, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of (i) a vehicle or (ii) a vehicle driver is within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the at least one street segment; and

an executable portion configured to associate a speed limit with the at least one street segment of the geofenced area, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the vehicle driver.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed limit is determined from the speed data using an average speed of the vehicle with respect to the at least one street segment.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed data is automatically collected by at least one telematics device during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the at least one telematics device.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed data is collected by a handheld device as input from the vehicle driver.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein, after collection, the geofenced area data is provided by the handheld device.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit for at least a portion of the at least one street segment.