Patent US6510382B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6510382B2
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Method for obtaining precision road maps
Assignee: Northstar Systems LLC
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Filing: 2001-01-26
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Granted: 2003-01-21
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Expires: 2021-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A highly precise digital road map and method of producing same are provided for vehicle applications. The method obtains a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes, and represents a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes of the conventional digital map. Branch and merge points are identified on the road network by divergences and convergences from ideal paths of the vehicles traveling thereon. These ideal paths are obtained by statistically combining the actual paths of the vehicles traveling between the same points.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher K. H. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:49
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B29/00; G09B29/003; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/38; G01C21/3804; G01C21/3807; G01C21/3815; G01C21/3863; G01C21/3867; G09B29/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes; wherein the act of representing comprises the act of identifying branch and merge points of the road network by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles; and wherein the ideals paths are obtained by statistically combining the actual paths of vehicles traveling between the same points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes; wherein the act of representing comprises the act of identifying branch and merge points of the road network by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles; and wherein the ideals paths are obtained by statistically combining the actual paths of vehicles traveling between the same points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the act of statistically combining uses a geometry refinement algorithm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein each identified branch and merge point is associated with a nearby one of the traditional nodes of the conventional digital map containing attribute information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes; wherein the act of representing comprises the act of identifying branch and merge points of the road network by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles; and wherein an ideal path is defined as a root of a group of drivers, all traveling between point one and point two, where point two represents a driver's perceived destination while driving.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes; wherein the act of representing comprises the act of identifying branch and merge points of the road network by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles; and wherein an ideal path is defined as a root of a group of drivers, all traveling between point one and point two, where point two represents a driver's perceived destination while driving.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A precision digital road map, comprising: a road network represented as a set of geometric shapes indexed to traditional segments and nodes of a conventional digital map; wherein branch and merge points of the road network are identified by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles, said ideal paths being statistical combinations of actual paths of vehicles traveling between the same points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A precision digital road map, comprising: a road network represented as a set of geometric shapes indexed to traditional segments and nodes of a conventional digital map; wherein branch and merge points of the road network are identified by divergences and convergences, respectively, from ideal paths of vehicles, said ideal paths being statistical combinations of actual paths of vehicles traveling between the same points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The precision digital road map according to claim 5 , wherein each identified branch and merge point is associated with a nearby one of the traditional nodes of the conventional digital map containing attribute information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The precision digital road map according to claim 5 , wherein an ideal path is defined as a root of a group of drivers, all traveling between point one and point two, where point two represents a driver's perceived destination while driving.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The precision digital road map according to claim 5 , wherein the geometric shapes comprise road lanes traveled by the vehicles.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; and representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes, which traditional segments and nodes have substantially no physical meaning in the precision digital road map.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for producing a precision digital road map for vehicle applications, the method comprising the acts of: obtaining a conventional digital map having traditional segments and nodes; and representing a road network of the precision digital road map as a set of geometric shapes indexed to the traditional segments and nodes, which traditional segments and nodes have substantially no physical meaning in the precision digital road map.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-20 | 2006-07-22 | 2007-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-20 | 2010-07-22 | 2011-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-20 | 2014-07-22 | 2015-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |