System and method for road map creation

• US 8,958,979 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Levine, Uri, Shinar, Amir, Shabtai, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Application Number:
  US14/069,051
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/213, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

The present invention provides system and method for creation of a road map, the system comprising a plurality of navigation devices; and an application server to receive from the plurality of navigation devices time series of location points, and to create a road map based on the time series of location points. The method comprising receiving location points from plurality of navigation devices, along with respective time stamps indicating the time of recordation of each of the location points; identifying at least one route according to the location points and respective time stamps; and creating a road map based on the at least one route.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a source device, cause the source device perform a method of creating a road map, the method comprising:

receiving location points from plurality of navigation devices, along with respective time stamps indicating the time of recordation of each of said location points;

performing statistical analysis to determine existence of roads based on at least one of direction and speed of said plurality of navigation devices; and

creating a dynamic navigational road map based on said at least one route that includes determined existing roads; and

determining road characteristics of at least one of said determined existing roads, based on navigation patterns of said location points and respective time stamps.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said creating a dynamic navigation road map is based on said at least one of direction and speed.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising calculating average durations of travel in certain portions of roads and/or intersections based on said location points and respective time stamps.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising identifying based on said statistical analysis at least one road characteristic.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said at least one road characteristic is at least one of a list comprising a one way road, two-way road, traffic restrictions, traffic signs, traffic lights, intersection, T-intersection, roundabout, overpass/underpass, tunnels, turning limitations, number of lanes, public transportation lanes, a lane for high occupancy vehicles, lanes for right/left turns only.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising identifying based on said statistical analysis allowability of at least one kind of turn of a list comprising U-turn, left turn, right turn and keeping straight.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein said identifying allowability of at least one kind of turn is based on a predetermined threshold of average number of identified performed turns of said at least one kind.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said identifying at least one road characteristic is further based on predetermined thresholds.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said identifying at least one road characteristic is further based on said statistical analysis and pre-stored data, definitions and/or thresholds.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising receiving motion signals and identifying at least one of a list comprising road bumps, speed bumps and severe road conditions.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising identifying road characteristics with respective times in a day and/or days in a week.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising calculating average durations of travel in roads, portions of roads and intersections.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said dynamic navigation road map includes at least one road characteristic of said determined existing roads.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said dynamic navigation road map includes said road bumps, said speed bumps and said severe road conditions.