Abstract: The linkability of trajectory data based on similarities to candidate trajectory data is measured and quantified as describer herein. Methods may include: receiving a set of probe data points defining a target trajectory from a probe apparatus; characterizing the trajectory based on features of the target trajectory; identifying a plurality of candidate trajectories sharing at least some features with the target trajectory; calculating, for each of the plurality of candidate trajectories, a similarity score with respect to the target trajectory; calculating a privacy score representing a likelihood of identifying the probe apparatus from the target trajectory based on a number of trajectories in the plurality of candidate trajectories and their respective similarity score; and providing information associated with the target trajectory for location-based services in response to the privacy score satisfying a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to accelerate the estimation of a radio model of a beamforming access point within a radio environment, such as a beamforming access point that has been newly added to or relocated. In a method, the presence of a first beamforming access point in a radio environment is determined and information is obtained regarding one or more of a plurality of beams that are transmitted by the first access point. The method then estimates the radio model of the first access point based at least upon: (i) at least some of the information regarding the one or more of the beams transmitted by the first access point and (ii) signal propagation characteristics of one or more existing access points in the radio environment as represented by respective radio models of the one or more existing access points.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of generating and communicating map version agnostic road link identifiers. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a new road link being joined to an existing road link along a length of the existing road link, where the existing road link extends between a first node and a second node, where the existing road link has a first road link identifier, and where a new node is formed where the new road link joins the existing road link; generating a first new identifier for a segment of the existing road link between the first node and the new node; generating a second new identifier for a segment of the existing road link between the new node and the second node, where the second new identifier is set equal to an XOR function of the first road link identifier and the first new identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a traffic level in the future. A road network including graph edges for a plurality of intersections and graph nodes for a plurality of road links is identified. A road link of interest is selected from the plurality of road links. A set of related link subset are calculated for the selected road link. Historical data is queried for the related link subset. A predicted traffic level is calculated for the selected road link in response to the historical data for the related link subset.

Abstract: An apparatus obtains a set of radio data comprising signal strength related values for radio signals transmitted by a transmitter with an association of each signal strength related value with a representation of a geographical location. The apparatus applies a frequency transform to the obtained set of radio data to obtain transform coefficients, each transform coefficient comprising a transform index and an associated transform value. The apparatus selects a subset of transform indices having more significant transform values than the remaining transform indices and compresses the transform indices by encoding each transform index exploiting a probability of occurrence of an index value of a respective transform index. The same or another apparatus decodes the compressed transform indices again for use in position operations.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a map matcher tolerant to wrong map features. The approach involves, for instance, finding a segment of a probe trajectory containing a plurality of low-speed probe points. The approach also involves forming a line between a first and a last probe point of the segment. The approach further involves calculating a distance from each probe point of the segment to the line. The approach further involves splitting the segment based on comparing the distance to a threshold at a turning point of the segment. The approach further involves creating a new probe trajectory based on a plurality of high-speed probe points in the probe trajectory and the turning point. The approach further involves estimating a heading of the turning point of the segment based on the new trajectory, and then performing a feasibility check between two consecutive probe points of the new trajectory.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to define a strand upstream of a direction based traffic (DBT) link. In a method, a strand is defined upstream of a DBT link. The method includes extending the strand so as to include one or more links upstream of the DBT link. The strand is extended by determining whether a link is to be added to the strand based upon evaluation of a termination criteria. The termination criteria is at least partially based upon a relationship of a function class of the link to the function class of one or more other links. In an instance in which the termination criteria is satisfied, the method ceases further extension of the strand.

Abstract: One or more processors obtain a first radio environment signature associated with an aerial vehicle (AV) and a second radio environment signature associated with a computing device. Responsive to determining that the first radio environment signature and the second radio environment signature satisfy a similarity criteria, the one or more processors generate a validation data object verifying one or more of (i) that a location of the AV substantially corresponds to a location of the computing device at a time associated with at least one of the first radio environment signature or the second radio environment signature, (ii) a AV delivery associated with the AV and the computing device, or (iii) a AV pickup associated with the AV and the computing device. The one or more processors store or provide validation information based on the validation data object.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for improved radio and/or altitude data collection in the context of a positioning system. In particular, processor(s) could execute a first phase of the collection process, which may involve collection of data only in seed area(s) associated with generation of an initial map as well as setting forth guidance, via a user interface of a mobile device, to collect data only in the seed area(s). And when the processor(s) detect a trigger to end the first phase, the processor(s) could responsively execute a second phase of the process, which may involve collection of data in secondary area(s) associated with generation of an updated map as well as setting forth guidance, via the user interface, (i) to collect data in the secondary area(s) and (ii) to visit seed area(s) and/or other area(s) that are deemed to be ready.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product provide a map layer of one or more temporary dynamic obstructions. For example, the apparatus is configured to receive vehicle/driver behavior data associated with a vehicle at a portion of a road, determine a likelihood of a temporary dynamic obstruction existing proximate to the portion based on the vehicle behavior data, and update a datapoint of a map layer based on the likelihood. The datapoint indicates a state of existence of the temporary dynamic obstruction at the portion.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method for using one or more audio signals from one or more sensors to establish the presence and severity of precipitation at a particular location. Methods may include: receiving at least one first audio signal from a first audio sensor of a vehicle; extracting acoustical features including frequency and amplitude from the at least one first audio signal; receiving at least one second audio signal from a second audio sensor of the vehicle; extracting acoustical features including frequency and amplitude from the at least one second audio signal; processing the frequency and amplitude from the at least one first audio signal and the frequency and amplitude from the at least one second audio signal as inputs to an algorithm to generate an output from the algorithm; and determining, from the output of the algorithm, a precipitation condition and a confidence measure of the precipitation condition.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product provide a route using a map layer of one or more sound events. For example, the apparatus receives a user preference indicating a sound type, identifies a road segment associated with the sound type from a plurality of road segments, selects a subset from the plurality of road segments as a route based on association of the subset with respect to the road segment, and outputs the route.

Abstract: A system for identifying redundant road lane detections in map data and subsequently updating the map data to remove the redundant road lane detections is provided. The system may be configured to determine, based on sensor data, a plurality of road lane detections associated with a road link represented by the map data. The system is further configured to determine a cluster for the road link based on a clustering criterion. The system is further configured to establish a plurality of road lane detection groups based on connectivity of the road lane detections in the cluster. The plurality of road lane detection groups is evaluated to identify one or more redundant road lane detections based on one or more of a parallel-detection criterion or a heading difference criterion. The identified redundant road lane detections are used to update the map data by a computer-implemented update process.

Abstract: A method is provided that is performed by at least one first apparatus with the method including obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a variation in intensity of light emitted from at least two light sources positioned along a segment of a road; and obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a velocity of the at least one first apparatus based at least on the information indicative of the variation in intensity. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product train a signature encoding module and a query processing module. In a method, at least one of the signature encoding module and the query processing module is trained by providing the signature encoding module with a reference image containing a particular object of interest that is marked therewithin. The method generates a digital signature of the object of interest and at least some context associated therewith and provides the query processing module with a query image and the digital signature representing the object of interest and at least some of the context associated therewith. The method additionally identifies the object of interest within the query image based upon the digital signature and modifies at least one of the signature encoding module or the query processing module based upon a qualitative or quantitative difference between the objects of interest identified within the query image and marked in the reference image.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining tunnel speed for a vehicle travelling through a tunnel. A tunnel processing platform aggregates probe data associated with at least one vehicle into at least one tunnel path based, at least in part, on a network geometry topology for at least one tunnel. The tunnel processing platform also designates at least one probe point collected upstream of the at least one tunnel as at least one starting point of the at least one tunnel path and at least one temporary probe point as at least one endpoint of the at least one tunnel path, wherein the at least one temporary probe point is downstream of the at least one tunnel. It then determines at least one temporary tunnel speed for the at least one tunnel path based, at least in part, on the timestamp for the at least one probe point and the current time associated with the at least one temporary probe point.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and user interface for left turn indicator detection comprising obtaining image data of at least one navigable link, determining a left turn indicator based on the obtained image data, wherein the left turn indicator includes data from at least one driver profile, and associating the determined left turn indicator with one or more navigable links to update a map layer of a geographic database.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to automatically detect changes in width of road segments in real-time or near real-time using probe data, such as probe data collected from vehicle and/or mobile devices traveling along a road segment. Probe data collected in real-time or near real-time is partitioned in order to identify width-defining portions of the probe data. The width-defining portions may be representative of the laterally-extreme lanes of the road segment, such as the left-most lane and the right-most lane. The width-defining portions are compared to corresponding width-defining portions of historical probe data to determine measures indicative of whether a road segment has expanded or narrowed. Indications of detected segment width changes may be provided to drivers and/or other systems or users. For example, map data for the road segment may be updated to reflect a detected width expansion or narrowing of the road segment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for predicting a state of visibility for a road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign. The processor further receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed, and using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data, a state of visibility for the road sign is identified.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and user interface for determining appointment attendance probability comprising obtaining an indication of least a first location and second location of an end user; wherein the first location and second location are obtained at a predefined time interval, obtaining end user driving profile data, obtaining end user appointment data, determining appointment attendance probability based, at least in part, on the obtained first location, second location, end user appointment data, and end user driving profile data, and updating at least one database with the determined appointment attendance probability.