Navigation Technologies Corporation

Russell Shields

Lawrence M Kaplan

John C Jasper

Aaron I Crane

Kevin Cherveny

A method for updating a geographic database is disclosed. Data collecting equipment is installed in each of a plurality of vehicles each of which also has a navigation system. The data collection equipment is used to collect data while the vehicles are being driven along roads by their respective users. In addition, a method for assigning a confidence level to geographic data is disclosed. The confidence level is assigned to the geographic data as an attribute. In addition, a method for determining a position of a vehicle by sensing roadside structures is disclosed. Data indicating positions of roadside structures are contained in a geographic database. By matching positions of sensed roadside structures to data in the geographic database that indicates the positions of the structures, the position of the vehicle while traveling can be determined.

System and method for updating, enhancing or refining a geographic database using feedback

A system for updating, enhancing and/or refining a geographic database. A geographic database includes data representing physical features in the geographic region, and, optionally, attributes of such features. The system includes a plurality of data collecting sensors. Each of the data collecting sensors is installed in a separate one of a plurality of vehicles each of which is capable of traveling on roads in a geographic region. Each of the data collecting sensors provides outputs indicative of one or more features in the geographic region as the vehicle in which it is installed travels on the roads in the geographic region. A computer program executes a feedback process on the geographic database using the outputs of the data collecting sensors. A first part of the feedback program compares the outputs of the data collecting sensors to the data identifying the physical features and provides results representative of the comparisons. A second part of the feedback program is responsive to the results from the first part and determines the significance of the comparisons. A third part of the feedback program modifies the data in the geographic database based upon the significance determined by the second part of the program. The data in the geographic database representing physical features in the geographic region are updated, enhanced, or refined based upon the significance determined by the feedback program. The data which has been updated, enhanced, or refined, is used to provide updated, enhanced, or refined data in end-user vehicles, some of which may include the vehicles in which data collecting sensors have been installed. Sensors in end-users' vehicles are calibrated to high levels of accuracy using the data which has been updated, enhanced or refined using a feedback process. Further, an out-of-calibration sensor in an end-user's vehicle is detected and re-calibrated using the data which has been updated, enhanced or refined using a feedback process. Using a feedback process, levels of confidence are assigned to data in the geographic database representing physical features in the geographic region, thereby enabling the data to be used for purposes requiring high levels of confidence.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Russell Shields