Navigation system with traffic estimation mechanism and method of operation thereof

• US 8,626,439 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleNav Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TeleNav Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhou, Leqing
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US12/833,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20120010807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/204, 701/207, 701/465
• US Class Current: 701/423
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• 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

Abstract

A method of operation of a navigation system includes: calculating a travel segment of a navigation route, the travel segment having a travel feature; estimating a base time for the travel segment; estimating an incremental time for the travel feature; and calculating a travel time with the base time and the incremental time for displaying on a device.

Claims

1. A method of operation of a navigation system comprising:

calculating a travel segment and a further segment each having a number of lanes, a speed limit, a number of stop lights, or a combination thereof for a navigation route, the travel segment having a travel feature associated with both the travel segment and the further segment;

estimating a base time for the travel segment;

estimating an incremental time for the travel feature with a control unit based on a difference between the travel segment and the further segment in the number of lanes, the speed limit, the number of stop lights, or a combination thereof; and

calculating a travel time with the base time and the incremental time for displaying on a device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a turn type.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a road type based on a school zone, an amount of traffic for a given condition, or a combination thereof.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a traffic control.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a traffic light.

6. A method of operation of a navigation system comprising:

calculating a travel segment and a further segment each having a number of lanes, a speed limit, a number of stop lights, or a combination thereof for a navigation route, the travel segment having a travel feature associated with both the travel segment and the further segment;

estimating a base time for the travel segment;

estimating an incremental time for the travel feature with a control unit based on a difference between the travel segment and the further segment in the number of lanes, the speed limit, the number of stop lights, or a combination thereof; and

calculating a travel time with a sum of the base time and the incremental time for displaying on a device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a stop sign.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a yield sign.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a time of day.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein estimating the incremental time includes estimating the incremental time for a calendar day.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a turn type.

12. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a road based on a school zone, an amount of traffic for a given condition, or a combination thereof.

13. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a traffic control.

14. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a traffic light.

15. A navigation system comprising:

a location unit for calculating a travel segment and a further segment each having a number of lanes, a speed limit, a number of stop lights, or a combination thereof for a navigation route, the travel segment having a travel feature associated with both the travel segment and the further segment;

a control unit, coupled to the location unit, for;

estimating a base time for the travel segment,

estimating an incremental time for the travel feature based on a difference between the travel segment and the further segment in the number of lanes, the speed limit, the number of stop lights, or a combination thereof, and

calculating a travel time with the base time and the incremental time for displaying on a device.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the control unit is for calculating the travel time with a sum of the base time and the incremental time.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a stop sign.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a yield sign.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a time of day.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the control unit is for estimating the incremental time for a calendar day.