Methods and systems for generating route data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026056024-A1
Application number	US-202519198689-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2025
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device is provided to extract scan lines data from images of a route, said scan line data comprising only a portion of the an image that extends along a scan line, and to store this data in memory together with respective positional data pertaining to the position of the device traveling along the route in a navigable network. This scan line and positional data can be obtained from a plurality of devices in a network and transmitted to computing apparatus, for example, for use in a production of a realistic view of a digital map.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
accessing scan line data and corresponding positional data,
wherein the scan line data is determined based on a plurality of images captured by a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices captured at least one image of at least one route of a navigable network, and
wherein the corresponding positional data is received as a plurality of positional data feeds, each of the plurality of positional data feeds associated with a corresponding device of the plurality of devices on the navigable network; and
extracting at least one route-specific feature from the scan line data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the scan line data determined based on the plurality of images comprises data acquired from at least one portion of each image of the plurality of images.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one portion of each image is of a specified shape or a predetermined width.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the specified shape includes at least one of a rectangle, an arc and an ellipse.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the scan line data further comprises:
using the corresponding positional data to identify scan line data associated with a route of the navigable network; and aggregating the scan line data associated with the route to generate a simulation of a view along the route.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein aggregating the scan line data comprises:
adjusting an orientation of scan line data determined based on an image captured by a device from the plurality of devices, wherein the adjusting is based on at least one parameter specific to the device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one parameter specific to the device includes a tilt or a vibration;

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein extracting the at least one route-specific feature comprises:
identifying one or more route-specific features based on the simulation of the view along the route.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one route-specific feature includes one or more of numbers of road lanes, lane guidance indicators, road works, road signs, colours, trees, tunnels, bridges and weather.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
updating a digital map representative of the navigable network with the at least one route-specific feature.

11 . A system including at least one processor to execute program code to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
accessing scan line data and corresponding positional data,
wherein the scan line data is determined based on a plurality of images captured by a plurality of devices, wherein each device of the plurality of devices captured at least one image of at least one route of a navigable network, and
wherein the corresponding positional data is received as a plurality of positional data feeds, each of the plurality of positional data feeds associated with a corresponding device of the plurality of devices on the navigable network; and
extracting at least one route-specific feature from the scan line data.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the scan line data determined based on the plurality of images comprises data acquired from at least one portion of each image of the plurality of images.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one portion of each image is of a specified shape or a predetermined width.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the specified shape includes at least one of a rectangle, an arc and an ellipse.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein accessing the scan line data further comprises:
identifying, using the corresponding positional data, scan line data associated with a route of the navigable network; and aggregating the scan line data associated with the route to generate a simulation of a view along the route.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein aggregating the scan line data comprises:
adjusting an orientation of scan line data determined based on an image captured by a device from the plurality of devices, wherein the adjusting is based on at least one parameter specific to the device.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one parameter specific to the device includes a tilt or a vibration;

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein extracting the at least one-one-route specific feature comprises:
identifying one or more route-specific features based on the simulation of the view along the route.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one route-specific feature includes one or more of numbers of road lanes, lane guidance indicators, road works, road signs, colours, trees, tunnels, bridges and weather.

20 . The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
updating a digital map representative of the navigable network with the at least one route specific feature.

Assignees

• Tomtom Global Content Bv

Inventors

• Van Der Molen Henk
• Trum Jeroen
• Van Den Brand Jan Willem

Classifications

• G01S19/01

  Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO · CPC title

• G01C21/3676

  Overview of the route on the road map · CPC title

• G06V20/588

  Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• G06F16/29

  Geographical information databases · CPC title