WO2002073132A1

WO2002073132A1 - Methods and devices for making information data available

Info

Publication number: WO2002073132A1
Application number: PCT/DE2002/000183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerd Draeger; Volker Skwarek
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-03-08
Filing date: 2002-01-22
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: EP1370833A1; JP2004518981A; DE10111075A1

Abstract

In order to make information data available for users, in particular in vehicle navigation systems, information data is divided among various transmission media by means of a categorisation. The categorisation is carried out into information data of a global type, a regional type and individual type. Global type information data is retained by the users (4), regional type information data is distributed by a point-to-multipoint method, information data of an individual type is only requested where needed and transmitted to a user (4) by a point-to-point method.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION DATA

The invention is based on a method for providing information data.

State of the art

A navigation database is required to search for routes and route guidance using navigation devices. This navigation database contains all the necessary information that a mobile device needs for the targeted influencing of navigating objects, which is why this database is also referred to as a digital map. There are currently various options for making the digital data available in a mobile device. Here the cards

- held locally in the terminal and in volatile and / or permanent memories, e.g. RAM, CD-ROM,

- potentially transfer multiple terminals via point-to-multipoint method or

- made available to a single terminal by point-to-point method. It is also known to implement links between the aforementioned methods, usually a medium providing the main information, for example a map of Germany on CD-ROM, which is optionally supplemented by another medium, for example TMC messages by radio. '

JP-2 000 227 339 A shows a GPS system for determining the position of a vehicle. A microcomputer determines a driving recommendation from the specific position to the destination. It is stored there on a CD-ROM

Card information used in conjunction with a radio contact.

In a system according to JP-2 000 055 682 A, a server in the vehicle receives card information which is provided by a

Information center. To do this, a bidirectional radio link to the information center must always be available.

The route guidance system according to WO-96/04524 A uses a radio connection to radio beacons from which the route guidance data are processed. The beacons also transmit updated navigation data.

DE 198 32 035 A uses for the transmission in more detail

Map information as a function of route characteristics, a radio link that is set up on request from the control unit of the navigation device.

EP-100 48 52 A discloses an onboard navigation system for processing route guidance information based on position data and map data. Additional traffic data emitted using the point-to-multipoint method are taken into account when preparing the route guidance information. Advantages of the invention

The inventive method according to claim 1 enables a cost and bandwidth-optimized division of information data / route guidance data among different

Transmission media that can be operated side by side with equal rights. Depending on the categorization of the. Information data in information data of a global nature, i.e. Data that may be relevant for all users of a target group, information data of a regional nature, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for a subset of the users of the target group and information data of an individual type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for individual users of the target group is used in the optimal transmission medium for the respective purpose.

Information data of a global nature are held directly by the users, so that there is no transmission capacity, e.g. in the form of radio channels. This global data represents by far the largest volume of data

Route guidance information for navigation devices and are the same for all users of a target group, so that their availability in a user-specific memory, e.g. via CD-ROM, is the most cost-effective and requires the least external administration and transmission effort.

Regional-type information data are transmitted using the point-to-multipoint method, ie the broadcast method, for example from regional, in particular digital, radio. Information data of an individual type are requested in a point-to-point procedure and therefore only require transmission capacity when requested by the user. Since not all users constantly request such information data, a radio channel intended for this purpose or a few radio channels can be sufficient for a target group for this purpose. The The method according to the invention provides various coordinated transmission media which serve to reach the largest possible number of terminal users inexpensively and with little effort, without having to do without information or restricting navigation options.

In known methods for the transmission of

No coordination of the various transmission media is guaranteed for information data.

If different transmission media are used at all, the same information data is often provided twice over different transmission media. This creates an increased need for communication that ties up resources unnecessarily. Such information may overlap prevents the transmission media by ^{'categorizing} and the unique assignment of the categorized data. become.

Claims 10 and 14 show user-side or information provider-side devices for carrying out the method according to the invention. The subclaims show advantageous embodiments of the method and the device.

According to claim 2, the user requests the information data of an individual type via a terminal-side return channel, whereupon he then receives this data from an information provider. This transfer of information data of an individual type therefore does not permanently tie up resources and transmission capacity, neither for the user nor for the information provider. Information data of a global nature are stored in a non-volatile, in particular writable memory, for example CD (RW) -ROM, in the vehicle of the user. This also avoids tying up resources and transmission capacity. When changes the data of a global nature can ^'according to claim 4 automatically by the information provider, ie routinely without stress or deflection of the user is updated. ^• Particularly easy way to do this if the user has a writable memory.

According to claim 5, the regional and / or individual information data can be provided with additional attributes, such as traffic or road conditions. ^• This can be equivalent to anything else

Alternative routes can be selected according to the needs of the user, e.g. faster destination attainment on alternative route with less traffic.

According to claim 6, these attributes can be taken into account both in a route search and in the route guidance of a vehicle.

It is particularly advantageous, according to claim 7, to carry out the categorization for a target group spatially and / or subject-related, e.g. for fire department, police or similar vehicles.

According to claim 8, informational data of a global nature can represent a higher-level road network and be held at the user as CD-ROM / CDRW. The supplementary data, i.e.

Data of a non-global nature is then only transferred via

Point-to-multipoint or point-to-point method transmitted to the user. Claim 9 advantageously provides the route guidance data for a motor vehicle navigation system as information data, which of course does not preclude the use of the method according to the invention for other information systems.

According to claim 10, the user-side device for providing information data comprises a navigation device with several interfaces to different transmission media, a first interface to a transmission medium for

Information data of a global type, a second interface to a transmission medium for information data of a regional type and a third interface to a transmission medium for information data of an individual type is provided.

The transmission media for information data of a regional or individual type are advantageously radio channels according to claim 11 and the transmission medium for information data of a global type comprises a non-volatile memory, e.g. a CD RW / ROM. A further interface is provided for updating the information data of a global nature.

The information provider facility for

The provision of information data comprises, according to claim 14, means for categorizing information data into information data of a global, regional and individual type, means for providing this categorized information data, means for distributing the information

Regional-type information data in the point-to-multipoint method and means for providing the categorized information data of an individual type in the point-to-point method. According to claim 15, the means for distributing / providing the categorized information data of a regional and / or individual type are equipped to provide attributes in addition to the information data.

According to claim 16, the means for distributing the categorized information data of a regional type are broadcast facilities such as radio stations, DAB stations or the like.

According to claim 17, the means for providing the categorized information data of an individual type can be mobile radio devices, for example according to ^' the' GSM or ÜMTS standard.

drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it

Figure 1 an assignment of the categorization to a

Target group,

FIG. 2 the provision of information data of a global, regional and individual type for users of a vehicle navigation system,

Figure 3 shows the user information processing on

Example of vehicle navigation and

Figure 4 shows the information provider side

Information processing using the example of ^'a Fährzeugnavigation.

Description of exemplary embodiments

In the method according to the invention, information data, for example map information, in particular route guidance data for vehicle navigation, categorized and divided into different transmission media based on the categorization. This categorization takes place in the three classes: information data of a global type, regional type and individual type. Information data of a global type are understood here to mean information data which affect all members of a target group. Regional information data refers to a subset of this target group in the mathematical sense. This means not only spatial regions, e.g. Ruhr area, federal states, etc., but also quantity-theoretical regions - all municipal vehicles, all police officers, etc. Individual information data affect only one or very few members of the aforementioned target group.

FIG. 1 shows for a target group the quantity 1 for information data of a global type, the subset 2 for information data of a regional type and the quantity 3 for information data of an individual type.

Information data of a global nature are permanently stored in storage media in the terminal device, information data of a regional type are broadcast by unidirectional point-to-point radio systems. If required, information data of an individual type are queried by this provider via a return channel of the terminal to an information provider external to the terminal and then transmitted to the user of the terminal.

Figure 2 shows this in a schematic sketch using the example of vehicle navigation systems in Germany. The vehicles 4 have the information data of a global nature stored in a user 5, that is to say in the vehicle 5. The point-to-multipoint transmission for informational data of a regional nature takes place via broadcast transmitter 6, while the Information data of an individual type are transmitted via mobile radio devices 7, for example according to the GSM or UMTS standard. The information or service provider 8 categorizes the information data and distributes it to the transmission media 5, 6 and 7.

The information data held and / or transmitted via the individual channels are sensibly reduced, so that they adequately meet the information needs of the target group on average at each level of abstraction. The content of the regional information is preferably determined by the information provider according to the needs of the target group. A restriction of the target group usually results in a changed need for information, so that this is covered by an increasingly refined information supply network. The aforementioned division from global to regional to individual can be refined as desired. It is only crucial that the highest level of abstraction represents the global information that the user holds in the terminal device and that the lowest level of abstraction represents the information data of an individual nature that a user requests from the information provider on a return channel and then receives. All levels of abstraction in between are called regional.

The exemplary embodiment relates to a transmission system such as can be used in vehicle navigation. Everyone is under the target group

Understand vehicles that navigate within Germany (see Figure 2). A navigation database that is reduced to coarse levels of abstraction is understood as information data of a global nature that affects all drivers. The content of this navigation database includes, for example only all motorways and important federal highways that are referenced in previously defined coordinates. This navigation database is stored in a memory 5 of the vehicle navigation system. In terms of navigation, this navigation database is used to determine a rough direction of travel from the location to the destination, especially for longer distances. With the help of coordinate comparisons of the start, destination and navigation database, the most sensible connection points are searched for according to the route optimization criterion. Due to the abstraction, in this navigation database in the vehicle there is generally only insufficient information available for navigation. Therefore, more detailed information is required, which is transmitted, for example, as regional information data via a point-to-multipoint radio medium, for example digital broadcasting. Due to the range of radio stations, it can be assumed that a not insignificant share of the target group is located within a broadcasting region. Therefore, more detailed information is more than just of individual interest, so that a majority of the vehicles should receive it. With entry into a new transmission region, which lies within an overlap area to the current region, the route estimated towards the destination due to the abstraction is optimized by the now regional, more detailed database.

This level of detail is sufficient to lead the vehicle into the immediate vicinity of the destination. However, it can be assumed that due to the still reduced amount of data with this level of detail, important information is still missing in the navigation database in order to reach the destination directly. These include, for example, streets in small towns or small streets in cities. Such information is considered Information data of an individual type viewed that are only of interest to a small proportion of the target group. Due to the reduced bandwidth that is available in a point-to-multipoint transmission medium, this individual information is not transmitted. An individual request must therefore be made to a service provider for navigation information on an individual transmission medium, after which the requested information data is transmitted to the user.

An advantageous further development of the system is that the information data of a global nature are stored in the vehicle in a writable memory 5, for example in the form of CD-RWs, so that they can also be updated at a very low transmission rate, for example once a day. This has advantages in the event of changes in the global road network, so that no individual intervention in the navigation system is necessary.

With regard to the transmitted information, it is an advantageous further development if at least the individual and the regional navigation databases are provided with messages about the traffic and road condition, so-called attributes, so that these can be taken into account when searching for routes and / or route guidance.

As a user-side / vehicle-side device for carrying out the method according to the invention, the navigation device 9, in addition to the memory 5 for the information data of a global nature, the regional map data, symbolized by the memory 10, and the

Information data of an individual type, symbolized by the memory 11, also the interface 12 to the memory 5, the Interface 13 for the transmission of point-to-multipoint information and the interface 14 for the transmission of the individual information data assigned. The interface 15 can optionally be provided for updating the information data of a global nature, for example after releasing newly built roads or changing the labeling of national roads.

The device on the information provider side has appropriate means, as shown in FIG. 4, one

Collection point 20 for the information data to be processed, a device 16 for categorizing this information data, and interfaces 17, 18 and 19. The interface 17 for the regional-type information data leads to the broadcast transmitter 6 and the interface 19 for the individual-type information data leads to a base ^' sstation for a cellular network. The interface 18 leads to a device for producing the CD-RW / ROM, which can be purchased by a user or already from the vehicle manufacturer or

Navigation device manufacturers are installed. The interface 18 can optionally also be connected to a transmitter that transmits information data of a global nature to the memory 5, in this case a CD-RW, of the user via its interface 15, automatically and without distracting the user / driver. An example of route guidance is explained in more detail below.

A driver whose vehicle is equipped with a navigation device and a device according to FIG. 3 would like to take a trip from "Sarstedt" near Hanover to "Poing" near Munich. Due to the navigation system, which at the time of the start only has information data of a global nature, national road network of Germany, on a CD-ROM, the locating unit can give a rough position be determined. However, only one road belonging to the global road network can be assigned to this position. In addition, according to the method according to the invention, regional-type information data, ie a road network, are received - the information about this road network is constantly broadcast by digital radio - which belongs to the geographically immediate region. This information is initially saved. The navigation device is now aware of a road network that contains at least the main roads of this region. If the information is not sufficient for navigating the vehicle of the global and regional road network, is ^'the local over an inquiry via a return channel, the driver individually interest road ^network' - transfer immediate vicinity of the vehicle. This is requested via radio in a central office, ie from the information provider, and transmitted to the vehicle. With the information now available, a route to the destination "Poing" near Munich is calculated. Since the fine road network in the target area is also not yet known, only a rough route can be determined in the globally known road network with greater distance from the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle sets off and follows the driving instructions of the navigation device. During the journey, the regional information (road network) is constantly received and temporarily stored via the radio. This regional information also contains current traffic reports so that the current traffic situation can be reacted to dynamically. Regional information also includes travel information that the driver can view while driving. During the journey, the vehicle changes regions and is located in new transmission areas for information data of a regional nature. These, in turn, are immediately incorporated into the route calculation for optimization. The last missing individual streets in the target area are then requested and transmitted via direct radio - 1: 1 connection - at the headquarters, so that the target street of the small village "Poing" can also be reached.

The following example shows that the invention

Procedure is not only transferable for spatial, but also for other, target group-oriented information. The target group are, for example, police officers.

Global information for all police officers is, for example, search information for serious criminals. These are kept in all vehicles. Special police areas, such as a drug department or the traffic police, receive additional individual information about criminals in their area by radio procedures that essentially only they can receive. Individual information that a single police officer needs about offenders who are of particular interest to him is then only transmitted to the individual police officer via a query on a return channel.

Claims

0 claims

1. Procedure for providing information data with the following steps:

- The information data are divided into different transmission media using a categorization 5, these

Categorization is done as follows:

- Information data of a global nature, i.e. Data that can be relevant for all users (4) of a target group,

- Regional information data, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for a subset of users (4) of the target group,

- Information data of an individual type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for individual users (4) of the target group,

! 5 - the information data of a global nature are held by the users (4),

- the regional-type information data is distributed using the point-to-multipoint procedure,

- The information data of an individual type are only available at

0 ^" Requested and transferred to a user (4) using the point-to-point procedure.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the user (4) the information data of individual type requests a terminal-side return channel and then receives it from an information provider.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information data of a global nature in the vehicle of the user (4) in a non-volatile, in particular writable memory (5), e.g. on a CD RW / ROM.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the information data of a global nature are automatically updated by an information provider when they change at the user (4).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the information data of a regional and / or individual type are provided with additional attributes, such as Traffic or road conditions.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the additional attributes are taken into account in a route search and / or route guidance.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the categorization for a target group is carried out spatially and / or thematically.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the information data of a global nature represent a national road network, which are held as CD-ROM / CDRW at the user (4).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that route guidance data for a motor vehicle navigation system are provided as information data.

10. User device for the provision of

Information data for users of a target group, consisting of a navigation device (9) and the following units:

- a first interface (12) to a transmission medium for information data of a global nature, i.e. Data that can be relevant for all users (4) of a target group,

- a second interface (13) to a transmission medium for information data of a regional type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for a subset of users (4) of the target group

- a third interface (14) to a transmission medium for information data of an individual type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for individual users (4) of the target group.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission medium for information data of regional and individual type are radio channels.

12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the transmission medium for information data of a global nature a non-volatile memory (5), e.g. a CD (RW) -ROM.

13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a further interface (15) is provided which is suitable for updating the data of a global nature.

14. Information provider-side device for providing information data, in particular route guidance data, for users of a target group, consisting of the following units: - Means (16) for categorizing

Information data / route guidance data in information data / route guidance data of a global nature, i.e. Data that may be relevant for all users (4) of a target group - Information data / route guidance data of a regional type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for a subset of users (4) of the target group

- Information data / route guidance data of an individual type, i.e. Data that can only be relevant for individual users (4) of the target group,

Means (5) for providing categorized data of a global nature on a non-volatile storage medium, e.g. a CD (RW) -R0M

- means (6) for distributing the categorized information data of a regional type in a point-to-multipoint method,

- Means (7) for providing the categorized information data of an individual type in the point-to-point method.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the means (6, 7) for distributing / providing the categorized information data of a regional and / or individual type are equipped to provide additional attributes in addition to the information data.

16. Device according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the means for distributing the categorized information data of a regional type are broadcast facilities (6) such as radio stations, DAB stations. 2/073132

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17. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the means (7) for providing the categorized information data of an individual type mobile radio devices, e.g. according to the GSM or UMTS standard.