Systems and methods for using a distributed data center to create map data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12002358-B2
Application number	US-202318188188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2023
Priority date	Apr 20, 2018
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a distributed data center that includes resources carried by a fleet of vehicles. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicles and/or the surroundings of vehicles. The system includes a remote computing server configured to maintain map data and distribute it to the fleet, including local map data to individual vehicles pertaining to their surroundings. Individual vehicles may compare the local map data with the information related to their individual surroundings. Based on such comparisons, individual vehicles may detect discrepancies between the local map data and the information related to their individual surroundings. The remote computing server may modify and/or update the map data based on the detected discrepancies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured to use data-processing resources carried by multiple vehicles to modify map data, the system configured to couple with the multiple vehicles, including a first vehicle located near first surroundings and a second vehicle located near second surroundings, the system comprising:
a remote computing server including one or more processors, wherein the remote computing server is separate from the multiple vehicles, and wherein the one or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to:
maintain a real-time map of a geographical area, wherein the real-time map includes information related to one or more location-specific features of the first surroundings and the second surroundings;
receive, from a first transceiver carried by the first vehicle, first discrepancy information, wherein the first discrepancy information reflects a first detected discrepancy between the real-time map and the first surroundings of the first vehicle that have been detected;
receive, from a second transceiver carried by the second vehicle, second discrepancy information, wherein the second discrepancy information reflects a second detected discrepancy between the real-time map and the second surroundings of the second vehicle that have been detected;
determine whether the first detected discrepancy corresponds to the second detected discrepancy; and
responsive to a threshold number of more than one different vehicles having detected corresponding discrepancies, modify the real-time map, wherein a modification of the real-time map is based on one or both of the received first discrepancy information and the received second discrepancy information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multiple vehicles are part of a fleet of vehicles.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein detections by the first vehicle are based on first output signals generated by a first set of sensors carried by the first vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detected discrepancy is based on a comparison of the real-time map and the first surroundings of the first vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to compare the first discrepancy information with the second discrepancy information.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
transmit at least a first part of the modified real-time map to the first vehicle; and
transmit at least a second part of the modified real-time map to the second vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more location-specific features are not pertaining to current local traffic conditions regarding nearby vehicles.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information related to one or more location-specific features includes information related to road-side construction and/or information related to road-side hazards.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information related to one or more location-specific features includes information related to one or more conditions of the road surface and/or information related to lane-usage.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information related to one or more location-specific features includes information related to road-closures and/or detours.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information related to one or more location-specific features includes information related to road-side signage.

12. A method for using data-processing resources carried by multiple vehicles to modify map data, including a first vehicle located near first surroundings and a second vehicle located near second surroundings, the method comprising:
maintaining a real-time map of a geographical area, wherein the real-time map includes information related to one or more location-specific features of the first surroundings and the second surroundings;
receiving, from a first transceiver carried by the first vehicle, first discrepancy information, wherein the first discrepancy information reflects a first detected discrepancy between the real-time map and the first surroundings of the first vehicle that have been detected;
receiving, from a second transceiver carried by the second vehicle, second discrepancy information, wherein the second discrepancy information reflects a second detected discrepancy between the real-time map and the second surroundings of the second vehicle that have been detected;
determining whether the first detected discrepancy corresponds to the second detected discrepancy; and
responsive to a threshold number of more than one different vehicles having detected corresponding discrepancies, modifying the real-time map, wherein a modification of the real-time map is based on one or both of the received first discrepancy information and the received second discrepancy information.

Assignees

• Smartdrive Systems Inc

Inventors

• Brookins Nicholas Shayne
• Ghanbari Reza
• Forney David
• Freitas Mark
• Deninger Daniel Andrew
• Griswold Jeffrey
• Palmer Jason

Classifications

• G08G1/096791 Primary

  where the origin of the information is another vehicle · CPC title

• G01C21/3492

  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 title

• G01C21/3822

  Road feature data, e.g. slope data · CPC title

• G08G1/0112 Primary

  from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD] · CPC title

• G08G1/0133

  for classifying traffic situation · CPC title