Navigation device and method using map data correction files

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9080887-B2
Application number	US-73547409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2009
Priority date	Mar 14, 2008
Publication date	Jul 14, 2015
Grant date	Jul 14, 2015

Abstract

A method of operating a PND or navigation system is described, together with a PND or navigation system for performing such a method. The PND or navigation system includes memory storing map data consisting of base map data files and supplemental corrective data files. In at least one embodiment, the method includes correlating the current location with the map data, and in the event that the current location and derived map data are seemingly at odds with one another, performing at least one secondary action. In at least one embodiment, the secondary action may be the issuing of an approve/reject prompt to the user, or the automatic creation, modification or deletion of a new or pre-existing correction. In a further aspect, at least one embodiment of the invention also provides for a PND or navigation system storing an indication of a home location, and prompting a user to visit nearby locations for which corrections exist, followed by prompted or automatic confirmation or rejection thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a navigation system of a vehicle including one or more base map data files to which have been applied one or more map data correction files containing both geospatial information and error identification information, which together form a basis for navigation, route guidance, and map information display on a display screen of the navigation system, the method comprising:
determining a current or home location of the navigation system and a distance of the current or home location from one or more locations geospatially identified in the map data correction files, and
effecting at least one of alteration and qualification of the error identification upon or after receiving an affirmative user response to a prompt automatically output by the navigation system when the distance is less than a threshold and based on a vehicle-specific parameter, the prompt at least partially being representative of the error identification, wherein the vehicle-specific parameter is at least one of: vehicle type; vehicle size; and vehicle weight.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the prompt is a request of the user to confirm a veracity of the error identified at a specific geospatial location.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the prompt includes at least one of an approve and a reject option.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the alteration of the error identification is its deletion.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the prompt includes or causes display of a user data entry screen whereby the user is permitted to enter specific data relevant to the correction desired to be created, modified or deleted.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the error identification information includes qualifying information, the qualifying information being in the form of a trust level, the at least one of alteration and qualification including increasing or reducing a value of the qualifying information when a user approves or rejects a respective error.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the qualification of the error identification includes providing an indication of a relative trust level of the error identification.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the error identification, subsequent to at least one of alteration and qualification, is stored on the navigation system for subsequent transmission to a centralized map correction data processing facility.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the navigation system is a personal navigation device (PND).

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program code segments, adapted to perform the method of claim 1 when run on a computer device of the navigation system.

11. A navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:
memory, in which one or more base map data files to which have been applied one or more map data corrections containing both geospatial information and error identification information, are stored;
a display; and
a processor, configured for processing received navigation satellite signals to determine a current geospatial location of the navigation system, correlating the processed information with the map data and causing display of information representative of the map data at and in the vicinity of the current geospatial location of the navigation system, said processor also being configured for performing navigation and route guidance in an event that a desired destination is selected, wherein the memory additionally stores a current or home location, wherein said processor is configured for determining a distance of the current or home location from one or more of the locations geospatially identified in the map data correction files, the processor further being configured for causing the navigation system to automatically output a prompt soliciting a user response when the determined distance is less than a threshold and based on a vehicle-specific parameter, the prompt at least partially being representative of the error identification, affirmative user input response to said prompt subsequently causing modification or deletion of the one or more map data corrections, wherein the vehicle-specific parameter is at least one of: vehicle type; vehicle size; and vehicle weight.

12. A navigation system according to claim 11 , wherein the navigation system is a personal navigation device (PND).

Assignees

• Geelen Pieter
• Thomassen Erik
• Roosen Mareije
• Neef Edwin
• Kucheiko Sergei
• Jones Rory
• Tomtom Int Bv

Inventors

• Geelen Pieter
• Thomassen Erik
• Roosen Mareije
• Neef Edwin
• Kucheiko Sergei
• Jones Rory

Classifications

• G01C21/32 Primary

  Structuring or formatting of map data · CPC title

• G01C21/3664

  Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures · CPC title

• G01C21/36

  Input/output arrangements for on-board computers · CPC title

• G01C21/3896

  Transmission of map data from central databases · CPC title

• G01C21/3859 Primary

  Differential updating map data · CPC title