WO2009030520A1

WO2009030520A1 - Dynamic updating of digital maps

Info

Publication number: WO2009030520A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/054923
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich STÄHLIN; Thomas Grotendorst; Anselm Keil
Original assignee: Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg
Priority date: 2007-08-29
Filing date: 2008-04-23
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: DE102008020447A1

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention relates to a navigation system for a vehicle, wherein a digital map is updated based on a dynamic adaptation of points of interest, the points of interest reflecting the alterations of the map data. A change of the map data is not required.

Description

Dynamic updating of digital maps

Field of the invention

The invention relates to assistance and navigation technology for vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to a system for a vehicle for updating a digital map, the use of such a system in a vehicle, a method for updating a digital map, a computer program product and a computer-readable medium.

Technological background

The rapid increase in vehicular traffic on the roads and the associated congestion and travel time extensions lead to increased efforts worldwide to detect traffic conditions and to take these into account when choosing a route or when calculating a route in navigation systems. These traffic conditions can also be taken into account in driver assistance systems.

If the geographic coordinate measured by a location method is imaged directly into the coordinate system of a digital map, the true position of the object in the map may differ from the imaged position of the object in the map. The reason for this can be on the one hand in Measuring errors in locating method, on the other lie in inaccuracies of the map.

Since a navigation system needs to know the true position in the map, the map matching procedure matches the measured position with the map information about the location and geometry of objects in the map to determine the most likely position of the object on the map.

In vehicle navigation systems, the position of the vehicle is usually measured with the assistance of the satellite positioning system GPS. The correctness of the measured and the actual position is given in GPS with about 15 m. Likewise, the digital map can have tolerances in the meter range. By the navigation device now the position of the vehicle must be determined in the digital map, so z. B. a meaningful route calculation from the current location to the destination can be determined. Without reconciling the measured position with the map information, the vehicle could be outside the digitized roads or on the wrong road in the map. Since the position of the vehicle in the digital map is critical to the navigation device, the measured position is compared with the map information to determine the most likely location of the vehicle in the map for navigation. For this purpose, the map matching the knowledge about the movements of the vehicle are used. Digital cards are usually out of date at their delivery. Therefore, updating the card is essential if you want the digital card to match the current conditions. However, these updates involve a large amount of data because the entire map is always updated.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved update of digital maps.

There is provided a system for a vehicle for updating a digital map, the use of such a system in a vehicle, a method for updating a digital map of a vehicle, a computer program product and a computer readable medium according to the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The described embodiments equally relate to the system, the use, the method, the computer program product and the computer readable medium.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for a vehicle is specified, wherein the system for updating a digital map is executed and a - A -

A computer unit for dynamically adapting a first point of interest, the first location of interest for mapping a change in the digital map, and wherein updating the digital map is based on the dynamic adaptation of the first site of interest.

In other words, points of interest may be used to map changes in the map data. For example, these locations of interest may be stored on a different medium or device, such as the digital map data. The digital map data of the digital map are z. B. stored on a DVD or a first controller and are, according to an embodiment of the invention, not changed. The update of the digital map takes place, for example, on a second control unit, which, for. B. is a driver assistance system or a navigation system.

Also, the navigation system and / or the

Driver assistance system to be integrated in the update system.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the map data of the digital map are not updatable, so they can not be changed. In this way, it can be ensured that the map data can be optimally compressed, since the data format of the digital map in the An update does not have to be changed because the update does not take place in the map data.

The digital map can be used both for vehicle navigation and z. B. be used for a driver assistance system.

For example, the dynamic locations of interest are GEO-referenced point objects used to represent location-dependent information. The location of interest may be faded in or out by the system on a location-based map. The representation of the places of interest is dynamic. This means that the dynamic places of interest are created, deleted or changed by the user or the system.

The term "adaptation" means a change, creation or deletion of data, such as a particular location of interest.

The vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle, such as a car, bus or truck, or else a rail vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, such as a helicopter or airplane, or, for example, a bicycle.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the arithmetic unit is for the dynamic application of a second location of Interest and to delete a third place of interest.

There may be a variety of different locations of interest that provide additional information about the digital map data that may be used to supplement or update the map.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first location of interest is for marking a start and the second location of interest is for marking an end of a local change in the digital map.

In this way, a simple identification of a bypass route, a construction site, a danger zone or a route blockage is possible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a dynamic attribute is provided which corresponds to the first location of interest, wherein in the attribute a description containing information about the local change is stored.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the change is a new routing, a changed signage, a changed traffic light circuit or a new source of danger. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arithmetic unit is further designed to generate a profile of a typical change and to deposit the profile in a template.

In this way, typical changes can be specified that are individually adaptable to the current situation. For example, the template describes what the change looks like and includes other variable parameters that are adaptable to a current situation. For example, the template may relate to a typical bypass route. The customizable parameters are the actual speed limit and current hazard warnings, such as road surface oil pollution.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the dynamic attributes are attached to corresponding elements of the digital map.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a display for mapping metadata based on the locations of interest and the attributes corresponding thereto. Such a display is not necessary, for example, if it is an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). For example, this metadata may contain time information. For example, the metadata may include information about how long the change has lasted, and / or since when that change has occurred.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the system is designed to receive data from a server, the data transmitted containing information about the locations of interest and the attributes corresponding thereto.

For example, the server, which may be a central server serving a variety of different systems, may be centrally managed and provide the information on a regular basis or at specific, adjustable times.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the system is designed as a navigation system, wherein the digital map is designed as a navigation map.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the system is designed as a driver assistance system.

It should be noted that the system can also be a combination of navigation system and driver assistance system. In this case, the digital card can be both a Navigation unit and the driver assistance system are provided.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the system has a control unit, via which a user can control a retrieval of the data. So a user can decide at any time whether he wants to have an update of his digital map. In this way, the amount of data transmitted can be reduced because no updates are made if the user does not need such updates.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of updating a digital map of a vehicle, wherein a dynamic adjustment of a first point of interest and a mapping of a change in the digital map through the first location of interest are performed where the update of the digital map is based on the dynamic adaptation of the first location of interest.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a dynamic adaptation or generation of a dynamic attribute corresponding to the first location of interest occurs. Furthermore, a description is stored in the attribute containing information about the local change. According to another embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises generating a profile of a typical change and depositing the profile in a template.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the use of a system described above in a vehicle is indicated.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a computer program product which, when executed on a processor, instructs the processor to perform the method steps specified above.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program product which, when executed on a processor, instructs the processor to perform the method steps outlined above.

A basic consideration of the invention is that places of interest are used to map changes in map data. Thus, it is not necessary to change the map data itself. Rather, the changes can be overlaid with the original map data. This overlay can be done on a different device than reading out the original map data. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 shows a section of a digital map according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a template according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 shows a schematic representation of an overall system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

5 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

In the following description of the figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of components of a system 100, which is installed for example in a vehicle. The system 100 may also be about act a mobile system that can be taken by the user, so not permanently installed in the vehicle.

The system 100 is for updating a digital map and includes a computing unit 101 having a CPU that can dynamically adjust locations of interest.

Furthermore, an input unit 102 is provided, which is connected to the arithmetic unit 101. The input unit 102 is, for example, a control unit via which a user, u. a., Can control a retrieval of the update data.

Furthermore, various settings of the system 100 can be made via the input unit 102 and, for example, a destination and possibly also a location for a navigation unit can be selected. The input of the destination is, for example, by entering the full name of the destination or by selecting from a list that is displayed on an optical output unit, such as a monitor 103, possible. On the monitor 103, the route guidance information is also output. In addition, the route guidance information can also be output via an acoustic output unit 104. The output via an acoustic output unit 104 has the advantage that the driver is less distracted from the current traffic situation. In a memory element 105, which is connected to the central processing unit 101, the map data (navigation map data) or the digital map data are stored in the form of data records. For example, additional information about traffic restrictions and the like are also stored in the memory element 105 and assigned to the data records.

To determine the current vehicle position, the system 100 includes a navigation unit 106 having a GPS receiver configured to receive navigation signals from GPS satellites. Of course, the navigation unit 106 with the GPS receiver can also be designed for other satellite navigation systems.

However, since the GPS signals are not always receivable, for example, in the inner city area, the system 100 also has a direction sensor 107 and an odor sensor 108 for performing dead reckoning. Signals of the GPS receiver, the odometer sensor and the direction sensor are processed, for example, in the central control unit (arithmetic unit) 101. The vehicle position determined from these signals is compared to the road maps via map matching. The route guidance information thus obtained is finally output via the monitor 103.

The digital map software has the ability to dynamically adjust, create or add points of interest (POI) dynamically throughout the life of the system Clear. The POIs usually show attractions, restaurants, etc. According to the POIs are used to map changes in the underlying map. For this purpose, for example, the beginning and end of a change are marked by POIs and a description of how the change looks is stored in the attributes for these POIs. So could a change z. B. be a new route through a construction site or a modified signage or a modified street layout.

To accomplish this, the POI attributes are extended to store these changes. For example, the length of a construction site is stored or, in the case of a changed routing, the new points and lines of the new route. In addition, a possibility may be provided to store typical changes as templates. Construction sites often follow a similar structure.

These dynamic attributes can also be attached to other elements of the map, such as: Points, distances, surfaces, etc.

The data concerning the POIs can also be transmitted via TMC. TMC (Traffic Message Channel) is a digital traffic service, a digital radio data service broadcast in RDS (Radio Digital System) and used to transmit traffic disruptions. In contrast, in off-board navigation, an entire card is reloaded from a server via radio at any given time. The offboard navigation is implemented, for example, in the navigation system as part of the map software. There is also communication with a central server to receive updates from there. In hybrid navigation, a map update mechanism is implemented.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail 201 of a digital map 200, as can be displayed, for example, in a display 103 (see FIG. 1). The section 201 of the digital map 200 shows a road 202 which connects two locations 203, 204 together. Furthermore, a modified route 208 can be seen, which must be used, since there is a construction site on the section 209.

In addition, three locations of interest 205, 206, 207 are provided. The first location of interest 205 is a hazard statement indicating the driver of the altered route at the leg 209. This hazard statement 205 may be permanently displayed in the map section 201 and / or displayed at the time the driver passes over the point 210. The location of interest 206 defines the beginning of the altered route 208, and the location of interest 207 defines the end of the altered route 208.

FIG. 3 shows the schematic visualization of a template 300, which is used, for example, for updating the map detail 201 of FIG. 2. The template 300 includes a typical modified route 208 and three possible locations of interest 301, 302, 303. The templates can, depending on the current situation, be provided with appropriate information. This information relates, for example, to current speed restrictions, type of danger source or else to the start time or end time of the changed route 208.

Using dynamic POIs to update digital maps eliminates the need to make major changes to the software. In addition, if sample templates are used, the effort is additionally reduced. These dynamic POIs also allow functions such as: B. the display of the traffic light condition, warnings of black ice, etc.

According to the invention, the dynamic POIs mark z. B. Start and end of changes in the digital map. The changes are saved in the attributes for the POIs. The attributes also provide information such as. Length a construction site or the course of a new route. For typical changes, sample templates are stored. The dynamic attributes can also be stored on points, routes, areas, etc. of the map. Maps are vector images, with streets being saved as routes. The attributes can thus be stored on all geometric elements of the map.

4 shows a schematic representation of an overall system 400 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The overall system 400 includes an update system 100 for updating a digital map and a center 405, which is embodied, for example, as a central server.

Furthermore, an additional unit 401 is provided, which is, for example, an additional memory or an additional control device, such as a driver assistance system or a navigation system. In addition, a radio module 402 is provided with an antenna 407 for communication with the server 405. Likewise, the server 405 has an antenna 406.

The communication between the components 100, 401, 402 integrated in the vehicle 403 and the server 405 takes place via a radio link 404. The transmission is based, for example, on GSM, UMTS, WLAN or WiMax.

Other transmission protocols are also possible. 5 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. In step 501, the driver notifies the server that he wishes to update a portion of his digital map, or the server recognizes that an update must be sent. The server then sends corresponding update data to the update system in the vehicle (step 502). In step 503, a dynamic adaptation of the locations of interest associated with the selected portion of the digital map occurs. In step 504, a dynamic adaptation of the dynamic attributes corresponding to the locations of interest occurs. In step 505, the changes in the digital map are mapped by the locations of interest and the result is visualized in step 506 on a driver's display.

In addition, it should be noted that "comprehensive" and "comprising" do not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

claims

A system (100) for a vehicle, wherein the system for updating a digital map is implemented, the system comprising: a computing unit (101) for dynamically adapting a first location of interest (206); wherein the location of interest (206) is for mapping a change in the digital map; and wherein updating the digital map is based on dynamically adapting the first location of interest (206).

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing unit (101) is further adapted to dynamically assert a second location of interest (207) and to delete a third location of interest (205).

The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first location of interest (206) is for marking an initial and the second location of interest (207) is for marking an end of a local change in the digital map.

The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a dynamic attribute is provided that corresponds to the first location of interest (206); and wherein in the attribute is stored a description containing information about the local change.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the change is a new route, a changed signage, a changed traffic light circuit, or a new source of danger.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arithmetic unit (101) is further adapted to generate a profile of a typical change and to deposit the profile in a template (300).

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dynamic attributes are appended to corresponding elements of the digital map.

The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a display (103) for mapping metadata based on the locations of interest and the attributes corresponding thereto.

The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) is adapted to receive data from a server (405); and wherein the data includes information about the locations of interest (205, 206, 207) and the attributes corresponding thereto.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is designed as a navigation system; and wherein the digital map is executed as a navigation map.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is designed as a driver assistance system or at least has a driver assistance system.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (100) comprises a controller (102) via which a user can control a retrieval of the data.

13. Use of a system according to one of claims 1 to 12 in a vehicle.

14. A method of updating a digital map of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: dynamically adapting a first location of interest

(206);

Mapping a change in the digital map through the first location of interest (206); and wherein the update of the digital map is based on the dynamic adaptation of the first location of interest (206).

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: dynamically adapting or generating a dynamic attribute corresponding to the first location of interest (206); and

Storing a description in the attribute containing information about the local change.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising the steps:

Generating a profile of a typical change; and depositing the profile in a template (300).

17. Computer program product that when on a processor

(101), instructs the processor (101) to perform the following steps: dynamically adapting a first location of interest

(206);

Mapping a change in the digital map through the first location of interest (206); and wherein updating the digital map is based on dynamically adapting the first location of interest (206).

18. Computer readable medium on which a

Computer program product which, when executed on a processor (101), instructs the processor (101) to perform the steps of: dynamically adapting a first location of interest (206);