Report generation for a navigation-related database

• US 8,880,568 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Perczynski, David, Fink, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, FARHAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/335,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• US Class Current: 707/804
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3848 Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Systems, devices, features, and methods for updating a geographic database, such as a navigation-related database, and/or reporting discrepancies associated with geographic data of the geographic database are disclosed. For example, one method comprises capturing a photograph of an observed geographic feature in a geographic region. Comment information corresponding to the observed geographic feature may be stored. The comment information is indicative of a discrepancy between the observed geographic feature and the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region. The comment information may be associated with the photograph to generate a report, and the report is transmitted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating a geographic database that includes geographic data for navigation-related services, the method comprising:

providing, via a user device, an indication of a real-world geographic feature in a geographic region that is associated with a perceived discrepancy;

capturing, via a camera of the user device, a photograph of the real-world geographic feature;

storing comment information corresponding to the real-world geographic feature, the comment information indicative of an observed discrepancy between the real-world geographic feature and the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region;

determining geographic position data of a location of the camera capturing the photograph;

determining an estimation of a distance between the real-world geographic feature captured in the photograph and the geographic position data of the location of the camera capturing said photograph;

associating the comment information and the geographic position data with the photograph to generate a report; and

transmitting the report including the photograph, the geographic position data, and the comment information,

wherein the perceived discrepancy comprises a perceived lack of information in the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region, and

wherein the perceived lack of information comprises a missing feature in the geographic data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the perceived discrepancy comprises a perceived error in the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the perceived error comprises an erroneous street name, an erroneous road connection, an erroneous point-of-interest name, an erroneous road or road portion, or an erroneous point-of-interest.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the missing feature in the geographic data comprises a missing road, a missing point-of-interest, or a missing road connection.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the real-world geographic feature comprises a road, a street name, a street sign, an address, or a building.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the report comprises transmitting the report to a map developer, the method further comprising updating the geographic database based on the report.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geographic position data comprises latitude and longitude coordinates.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a comment screen for receiving the comment information, the providing performed in response to the capturing.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the geographic position data comprises determining, via the user device, the geographic position data of the real-world geographic feature captured in the photograph.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing, to a user of the user device, a notification when the user is in proximity to the real-world geographic feature that is associated with the existing perceived discrepancy.

8. In a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, executable by a processor, for reporting perceived errors in geographic data of a navigation-related database, the instructions comprising:

providing, via a user device, an indication of a real-world geographic feature in a geographic region that is associated with an existing perceived discrepancy;

storing data representing a photograph of the real-world geographic feature, the photograph captured via a camera of the user device;

determining position data associated with a location of the camera capturing the photograph;

determining an estimation of a distance between the real-world geographic feature captured in the photograph and the position data of the location of the camera capturing said photograph;

allowing comment data to be entered by a user of the user device, the comment data corresponding to an observed perceived discrepancy in the geographic data,

wherein the data representing the photograph, the position data, and the comment data are formed into a report for a map developer,

wherein the existing perceived discrepancy comprises a perceived lack of a feature in the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the perceived lack of the feature in the geographic data comprises an erroneous street name, an erroneous road connection, an erroneous point-of-interest name, an erroneous road or road portion, an erroneous point-of-interest, a missing road, a missing point-of-interest, or a missing road connection.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the real-world geographic feature comprises a road, a street name, a street sign, an address, or a building.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the position data comprises latitude and longitude coordinates.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the comment data to be entered is presented in a listed option format.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein storing the data representing the photograph and determining the position data are executed via the user device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the report is transmitted to the map developer location to update the navigation-related database.

15. A user device for reporting perceived errors in geographic data of a geographic database used for navigation-related services, the user device comprising:

a user interface configured to indicate a real-world geographic feature in a geographic region that is associated with an existing perceived discrepancy;

a processor in communication with the user interface;

a camera in communication with the processor, the camera configured to capture a photograph of the real-world geographic feature corresponding to the existing perceived discrepancy in the geographic data, the photograph captured in response to the indicated real-world geographic feature;

position determination circuitry in communication with the processor, the position determination circuitry configured to determine position data corresponding to the camera, wherein an estimation of a distance between the real-world geographic feature captured in the photograph and the position data of the camera is determined;

wherein the user interface is further configured to receive comment input from a user regarding an observed perceived error between the real-world geographic feature and the geographic data, and

wherein the processor is configured to associate the captured photograph with the comment input and the position data to generate a report,

wherein the existing perceived discrepancy comprises a perceived lack of a feature in the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region.

16. The user device of claim 15, wherein the user device is a cellular phone.