Patent Application
20110106448
The present invention generally relates to a database system and method of obtaining and communicating data, and more particularly, a database system and method for obtaining and communicating data to provide environmental data that relates to a geographical location.
Generally, navigation map databases contain a variety of parameters that describe a roadway segment environment. These data-element attributes can include roadway curvature, roadway classification (e.g., highway, urban, city, rural), number of lanes, roadway inclination, and some traffic control signage (e.g., speed, stop, etc.), and devices (e.g., traffic lights, light poles, etc.). Typically, these parameter elements are collected through extensive manual methods, such as skilled personnel traveling the roadways and noting the parameter value and entering the relevant information into database along with the GPS location. However, some other parameter elements can be estimated through other methods. For example, a roadway curvature parameter at the specific roadway coordinate can be estimated based upon processing several nearby discrete Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) roadway points and assigning a “spline” line segment that best represents the curvature.
However, once a roadway segment has been catalogued, it may be a very long period of time before that roadway segment is “updated/refreshed” to reflect possible alterations in the roadway segments (e.g., new roadway intersections and roads, re-zone roadway, new traffic control signage, and devices etc.). Typically, some events (such as temporary construction zone areas, inadvertent removal of signage due to crash events, theft, inoperable traffic control devices, etc.) would not be entered into the database.
Generally, when a customer acquires a navigation system, the navigation database already reflects “old” information. Typically, the navigation database only reflects the accuracy of the roadway segment at the time the information was collected, and does not reflect real-time current status of the roadway segment. Further, once the navigation system is acquired by a customer, the customer typically has to return to the seller (e.g., the dealership) to update the navigation database. Maintaining the accuracy of the navigation database to reflect “real-time” roadway status is difficult due to how the information is collected, and transferred to existing navigation databases.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a database system for obtaining and communicating data includes a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein at least a first mobile node of the plurality of nodes has an environmental data collection device configured to obtain environmental data adjacent the first mobile node, a location determination device configured to determine a geographical location that is associated with the obtained environmental data, and a memory device configured to store the environmental data and the associated geographical location. The first mobile node of the plurality of nodes further includes a processor in communicative connection with the environmental data collection device, the location determination device, and the memory device, and a communication device in communicative connection with the processor and configured to transmit the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a database, wherein at least one of the database and the first mobile node is configured to categorize the environmental data and the associated geographical location, and communicate data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a second mobile node of the plurality of mobile nodes based upon the categorization.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a database system for obtaining and communicating data includes a first mobile node that includes an imager configured to obtain an image, a global positioning satellite (GPS) device in communication with the imager, and configured to determine GPS coordinates of the first mobile node, a navigation system in communication with the GPS device and configured to provide navigation data to a user of the first mobile node, wherein the navigation system has a memory device configured to store the navigation data, and a communication device configured to transmit data related to the image and the GPS coordinates. The detection system further includes a second mobile node communicatively connected to the first mobile node, and a database in communication with at least the first mobile node, the database being configured to categorize the data related to the image and the GPS coordinates as one of a first category and a second category, and communicate data adapted to be received in a navigation system of the second mobile device, wherein the communicated data is a function of the data related to the image and the GPS coordinates, such that the data that is a function of the image and the data related to the image GPS coordinates are communicated to a second mobile node when the image and the data related to the image GPS coordinates are categorized as the first category to update the second mobile device, and the image and the data related to the image GPS coordinates are deleted when categorized as the second category.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of obtaining and communicating data including the steps of obtaining environmental data approximate a first mobile node, and determining a geographical location of at least one of the obtained environmental data and the mobile node, such that the environmental data is associated with the determined geographical location. The method further includes the steps of communicating the environmental data and the associated geographical location, categorizing the environmental data and the associated geographical location, and communicating data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a second mobile node based upon the categorization.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In regards to both
By way of explanation and not limitation, the database system 100 can obtain environmental data that includes data about the environment adjacent or approximate to the mobile node 102 (e.g., roadway information), and communicate the environmental data that is associated with a determined geographical location, such that the geographical location of the obtained environmental data is known. Thus, it can be determined if the environmental data in that particular determined geographical location is new. One exemplary embodiment is a navigation system, as described in greater detail below, such that environmental data (e.g., roadway information) and a geographical location (e.g., GPS coordinates) can be used to determine if the obtained environmental data is new as compared to the data already stored in the database 114, the memory device 116, or a combination thereof. Other exemplary embodiments are, but not limited to, determining whether a user of the mobile node 102 is performing an unlawful act, such as driving while intoxicated or speeding, as described in greater detail below. According to one embodiment, the obtained environmental data can be data relating to operating conditions of the mobile node 102, conditions relating to an environment adjacent or approximate to the mobile node 102, the like, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the geographical data is associated with the obtained environment data, such that the geographical location of the mobile node 102 is determined, the geographical location of the obtained environmental data is determined, the like, or a combination thereof.
Generally, one of the database 114 or the first mobile node 102 is configured to categorize the environmental data and the associated geographical location as either a first category or a second category. According to one embodiment, when the environmental data and the associated geographical location is categorized as the first category, it is communicated to a second mobile node to update the memory device 108 of the second mobile node, and when the environmental data and the associated geographical location is categorized as the second category, it is deleted. Typically, the environmental data and associated geographical location that are obtained by the first mobile node are communicated to the database 114, and if it is categorized as the first category, then it is communicated to the other mobile nodes (e.g., the second mobile node). Alternatively, the first mobile node can be configured to obtain and categorize the environmental data and associated geographical location, and communicate it if it is categorized as the first category. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system 100 can include both the first mobile node and the database 114 being configured to categorize the environmental data and the associated geographical location as one of a first category or a second category. It should further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in an embodiment wherein the first mobile node categorizes the environmental data and the associated geographical location, the first mobile node can communicate the environmental data and associated geographical location categorized as the first category directly to the second mobile node.
According to one embodiment, the environmental data and geographical location is categorized as the first category, when it is determined that the obtained environmental data is something new or something that is not previously stored in the memory device 108 of the mobile node 102 or a memory device 116 (
According to one embodiment, at least one mobile node 102 includes a navigation system generally indicated at 122 (
According to one embodiment, an approximate location of an object or objects captured in the image can be determined relative to the function of the mobile node 102. Thus, if GPS coordinates of the mobile node 102 are determined by the location determination device 106, an approximate location of the object or objects can be determined by angles and distance of the object or objects in the image relative to the mobile node 102. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the approximate location of the object or objects in the image can be determined in other suitable ways relative to a known location.
For purposes of explanation and not limitation, in operation, the mobile node 102 can be a vehicle, such that as the vehicle travels down a road, the environmental data collection device 104 (e.g., an imager) can image a new street and the approximate location of the new street can be determined by the location determination device 106. The image and the GPS coordinates and/or determined approximate location can then be communicated to the database 114, wherein it is determined if the imaged street and associated GPS coordinates are new data or old data (e.g., that is already standard in the navigation system 122 and/or the database 114). If it is determined that the image and associated GPS coordinates are new (i.e., categorized as the first category) then data that is a function of the image and the associated GPS coordinates is communicated to another mobile device of the plurality of mobile nodes 102 to update the navigation system 122 and/or the memory device 108 contained therein.
According to an alternate embodiment, the location determination device 106 is a wireless device, such as, but not limited to, a cellular device, other suitable wireless devices, the like, or a combination thereof, that is included in a wireless network generally indicated at 124 (
Additionally or alternatively, the communication device 112 of the mobile node 102, the communication device 120 of the database 114, or a combination thereof can be satellite communication devices that are included in a satellite communication network, generally indicated at 126 and including at least one satellite 128, such that the obtained environment data and associated geographical location and the data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location is communicated between the plurality of mobile nodes 102 and the database 114 via the satellite communication network 126. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the communication devices 112, 120 can be other suitable communication devices that use wireless communications, such as, but not limited to, the cellular network 124, or that the system 100 can include a combination of different types of communication devices.
The system 100 can use the environmental data collection device 104, the location determination device 106, the memory device 108, the processor 110, and the communication device 112 of the mobile node 102, the memory device 116, the processor 118, and the communication device 120 of the database 114, or a combination thereof to collect environmental data and obtain an associated geographical location, to form a mobile node-to-infrastructure (e.g., the database 114) connectivity (e.g. communication devices 112, 120) to provide substantially real-time information updates of data-elements that describe environmental data, such as, but not limited to, roadway segments of a navigation map database and other roadway features not currently included in the database, according to one embodiment. Thus, intelligent imaging processing algorithms (e.g., one or more executable software routines 121) can classify a variety of environmental conditions, such as, but not limited to, travel control signage and devices, signal, roadway information such as bridge or tunnel height, railway crossing, road exit or entry, curves, temporary signage for construction zones or detours, roadway classification, such as lanes, tunnel, bridge, curvature, guardrail, light poles, lane markers, street names, traffic control operations, or a combination thereof. Each mobile node 102 can upload the environmental data and the associated geographical location to the database 114 for further processing and corrective action notification to appropriate organizations.
It should be appreciated that the processing and categorization of the environmental data and associated geographical location can additionally or alternatively be performed by the mobile node 102, in accordance with an alternate embodiment. In such an embodiment, the processor 110 can include one or more executable software routines, such as, but not limited to, an executable software routine similar to the software routine 121.
In regards to
The method 350 then proceeds to decision step 360, wherein it is determined if the environmental data and the associated geographical location are a first category. If it is determined at decision step 360 that the environmental data and the associated geographical location are categorized as the first category, then the method 350 proceeds to step 362, wherein data that is a function of the environmental data and associated geographical location are communicated, and the method 350 then ends at 364. Typically, the communication of the data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location can be communicated using the communication devices 112, 120 (
However, if it is determined at decision step 360 that the environmental data and the associated geographical location are not categorized as a first category, then the method 350 proceeds to step 368. At step 368, the environmental data and the associated geographical location that are categorized as the second category are deleted, and the method 350 ends at step 364.
According to one embodiment, step 358 of the method 350, wherein the environmental data and the associated geographical location are categorized, is generally shown in
However, if it is determined at decision step 372 of method 358 that the environmental data and the associated geographical location are already stored in a memory (e.g., memory device 108 and/or memory device 116), then the method 358 proceeds to step 378. At step 378, the environmental data and the associated geographical location are categorized as a second category, and the method 358 then ends at step 376, such that the method 350 would proceed to decision step 360 (
In accordance with an alternate embodiment, the step 358 of method 350 is generally shown in
However, if it is determined at decision step 372′ that the environmental data is below a threshold value, then the method 358′ proceeds to step 378. At step 378, the environmental data and the associated geographical location are categorized as a second category, and the method 358′ then ends at step 376, such that the method 350 would proceed to decision step 360 (
According to one embodiment, the system 100 (
By way of explanation and not limitation, a conflict resolution can be included in decision step 360 of the method 350. Thus, not only can it be determined at decision step 360 whether the environmental data and geographical location is a first category based upon data collected by a single mobile node 102, but the decision step 360 can be performed based upon data collected by multiple mobile nodes 102. In such an embodiment, the number of mobile nodes 102 that report data and a time period for obtaining the data can be used for conflict resolution. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional data can be used in the conflict resolution.
As to
The method 380 then proceeds to decision step 372″, wherein it is determined if the image and associated GPS coordinates are already stored in the memory device 116 of database 114. If it is determined at decision step 372″ that the image and associated GPS coordinates are not are already stored in the memory device 116 of the database 114, then the method 380 proceeds to step 374′. At step 374′, the image and associated GPS coordinates are categorized as the first category. Then, at step 362′, data that is a function of the image and associated GPS coordinates that were categorized as the first category are communicated to other mobile nodes of the plurality of mobile nodes 102. At step 384, the mobile nodes 102 are updated by receiving the communicated data, which is a function of the image and associated GPS coordinates. The method 380 then ends at step 386.
However, if it is determined at decision step 372″ that the image and associated GPS coordinates are already stored in the database 114, then the method 380 proceeds to step 378′. At step 378′, the image and associated GPS coordinates are categorized as the second category. The method 380 then proceeds to step 368′, wherein the image and the associated GPS coordinates that are categorized as the second category are deleted, and the method 380 then ends at step 386.
According to an alternate embodiment, the environmental collection data device 104 can be an alcohol sensing device, such that a blood alcohol content or BAC of a user, such as, but limited to, a breathalyzer, can be determined, and such data along with an associated geographical location can be transmitted to the database 114, local authorities, or a combination thereof. Exemplary alcohol sensing devices are described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0077176 entitled “TRACER TO COMPENSATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATIONS THAT INFLUENCE A CHEMICAL VAPOR SENSOR MEASUREMENT,” U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0154377 entitled “CHEMICAL VAPOR SENSOR,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,132 entitled “CHEMICAL VAPOR SENSOR HAVING AN ACTIVE AND A PASSIVE MEASUREMENT MODE,” and U.S. Pat. No. 7,095,501 entitled “ETHYL ALCOHOL SENSOR AND METHOD OF USE,” the entire disclosures being hereby incorporated herein by reference. Additionally or alternatively, the environmental data collection device 104 can monitor vehicle operating conditions, such as, but not limited to, speed of the mobile node 102 or going through a stop sign/or red light. In such an embodiment, when the speed of the mobile node 102 exceeds a threshold value, the communication device can communicate the data obtained by the environmental data collection device 104 and associated geographical location to the database 114, local authorities, or a combination thereof.
Advantageously, the system 100 and methods 350 and 380 can provide for substantially real-time updates of information. These updates can improve roadway safety by providing the most up-to-date information to a driver and automatic notification to local government authorities about roadway irregularities or other obtained environmental data. Additionally, the communicated data can provide information as to operating conditions of the mobile node 102 or the user of the mobile node 102. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system 100 and methods 350 and 380 may include additional or alternative advantages. Further, it should be appreciated by those skilled in art that the above described elements and steps of the system 100 and methods 350 and 380 can be combined in alternative ways, not explicitly described herein.
Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
