Patents Assigned to Tomtom Global Content B.V.
  • Patent number: 11274928
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Kudrynski, Krzysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski, Blazej Kubiak
  • Patent number: 11137255
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Kudrynski, Krzysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski, Blazej Kubiak
  • Patent number: 11085775
    Abstract: Methods and systems for classifying data points of a point cloud indicative of the environment around a vehicle by using features of a digital map relating to a deemed current position of the vehicle. Such methods and systems can be used to detect road actors, such as other vehicles, around a vehicle capable of sensing its environment as a point cloud; preferably used by highly and fully automated driving applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Blazej Kubiak, Krzysztof Kudrynski, Krzysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski
  • Patent number: 10948302
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. A vehicle localization is obtained by comparing real time depth map acquired by a sensor associated to the vehicle to a depth map associated to a digital map. The depth maps are indicative of an environment around the vehicle. Longitudinal and lateral offsets of the vehicle with respect to the digital map are determined. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Kudrynski, Krzysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski, Blazej Kubiak
  • Patent number: 10830604
    Abstract: A method of detecting the closure of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area. A server obtains positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable element with respect to time. The positional data is used to determine an elapsed time since a device was last detected on the navigable element, and the determined elapsed time is compared to an expected time interval between consecutive devices being detected on the navigable element. The navigable element is identified as being potentially closed, subject to one or more optional validation steps, when the determined elapsed time exceeds the expected time interval, e.g. by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT, B.V.
    Inventors: Arne Kesting, Nikolaus Witte, Jean-Claude Mattelaer
  • Patent number: 10768006
    Abstract: A device is provided to extract scan lines data from images of a route, said scan line data comprising only a portion of the an image that extends along a scan line, and to store this data in memory together with respective positional data pertaining to the position of the device traveling along the route in a navigable network. This scan line and positional data can be obtained from a plurality of devices in a network and transmitted to computing apparatus, for example, for use in a production of a realistic view of a digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Henk van der Molen, Jeroen Trum, Jan Willem van den Brand
  • Patent number: 10654489
    Abstract: A method of operating a controller of a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) is disclosed, comprising: providing first output control signals configured to cause a vehicular head up display (HUD) to present first content to a vehicle operator; and providing second output control signals configured to cause a vehicular digital cluster display (DCD) to present second content to the vehicle operator, different to the first content. The method can further comprise the receiving input control signals from a touch sensitive steering wheel, for interacting with the information presented on the HUD and/or DUD. A related apparatus, vehicular HMI and computer software, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Simone Francine Tertoolen, Hubertus Jacobus Maria Nijssen, Cornelis Klaas van Dok
  • Patent number: 10614600
    Abstract: An improved method for matching traces derived from probe data to one or more line segments in a digital vector map. Points in a probe trace are provisionally matched one-by-one to line segments in the digital vector map to identify all possible matching candidates. A graph of the matching candidates is created having one or more paths. The graph has a plurality of sequential levels corresponding to the points in the probe trace. Each matching candidate is assigned to a level of the graph corresponding with trace point to which it relates. Edges are established between matching candidates in adjacent levels provided they are topologically related to one another. The graph is simplified and scored. The best paths deliver the matching results. The invention allows use of graph theoretic methods to find the best path through the graph, which in turn represents an efficient map matching algorithm. The concepts of this invention may be used in conjunction with longitudinal distance as matching criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Mund, Hannes Scharmann
  • Patent number: 10489431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of obtaining and storing data relating to a count of journeys made between origin and destination pairs in respect of different predetermined time periods. Positional data is received from vehicles, and filtered to obtain positional data relating to travel between each of a plurality of origin-destination pairs. The filtered positional data is analysed to obtain multiple sets of profiles. Each set of profiles represents a count of journeys made between the origin and destination in a plurality of predetermined time periods for each origin-destination pair. The different sets of profiles relate to different days of the week, and journeys having arrival or departure times in the predetermined time periods. The sets of profiles are used in a clustering operation to provide a reduced set of standard profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Filip Ballegeer, Gaƫtan Martens
  • Patent number: 10371533
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of determining speed information, comprising receiving traffic monitoring information navigation devices (610), wherein the traffic monitoring information includes identification information identifying a mobile device (630), location information indicating a geographic locations (910, 920) at which the identification information was received from the mobile device (630), and temporal information indicating times at which the identification information was received, and determining speed information associated with the mobile device from the traffic monitoring information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventor: Christopher Kenneth Hoover Wilson
  • Patent number: 10240934
    Abstract: A method of determining a longitudinal position of a vehicle (100) relative to a digital map is disclosed in which real time scan data (200, 202) is determined by scanning a lateral environment around the vehicle using at least one range-finder sensor, said real time scan data comprising one or more depth maps, each depth map representing the measured lateral distance to surfaces in the lateral environment for a plurality of longitudinal positions and elevations. Localization reference data associated with the digital map for a deemed current longitudinal position of the vehicle (100) in relation to the digital map is retrieved, and compared to the real time scan data (200, 202) by calculating a cross-correlation to determine a longitudinal offset. The deemed current longitudinal position is adjusted based on said longitudinal offset to determine the longitudinal position of the vehicle (100) relative to the digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski, Blazej Kubiak
  • Patent number: 10175058
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining algorithmically a a plurality of vehicle cost values for traveling a plurality of road segments in a vehicle based at least in part on vehicle cost data derived at least in part from position derivative data obtained from at least one vehicle that traveled the road segments (S1); associating each of the plurality of road segments with at least one of the vehicle cost values (S2); and storing the determined vehicle cost values in a memory device (S3). In at least one embodiment, a method for determining a route of travel from a first location to a second location is disclosed. Other embodiments include a map database, storable on a storage medium; a device including a memory (230) storing a map database, a processor (210) and an output device (260); and a device for use in a vehicle, where the device includes a GPS receiver (250), a memory (230) and a processor (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventor: Christopher Kenneth Hoover Wilson
  • Patent number: 10161758
    Abstract: Probe data collected at times of low traffic density is analyzed to derive a Raw Road Design Speed Limit (RRDSL, 16) for each road segment or group of segments in a digital map. The RRDSL (16), comprised of longitudinally distributed speeds, is associated with the road segment and stored in a digital medium to indicate the limits of the road section in free flow traffic. The longitudinally distributed speeds may be limited by local speed limits or other business logic to establish a Legal Raw Road Design Speed Limit (LRRDSL, 17). Either the RRDSL (16) or the LRRDSL (17) can be further modified to smooth acceleration and deceleration rates between changes in the longitudinally distributed speeds to create an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (OLSP, 18), which represents optimized energy consumption. A signal can be produced if a driver's current speed rises unacceptably above a longitudinally distributed speed in real time. The signal can be audible, visible and/or haptic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Volker Hiestermann, Robert Joannes Van Essen, Edwin Bastiaensen, Stephen T'Siobbel
  • Patent number: 10036640
    Abstract: A method for providing map data composed of providing geospatial map data pre-rendered into a plurality of raster graphic files, where each of the raster graphic files comprising a plurality of image pixels each having pixel data information Additional map data is embedded into at least one of the raster graphic files by altering the pixel data information The additional map data is then delivered simultaneously with the raster graphics files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventor: Michael Hardt
  • Patent number: 10030980
    Abstract: A computerized method of creating map data from a plurality of trips where each trip comprises position data derived from the positions of at least one navigation device over a period of time, the method comprising using a processing circuitry to perform the following steps: i. processing the position data; ii. calculating, from the processing of the position data, trip terminal positions at which the navigation device started to generate positions and/or stopped generating positions and which provide an end point of a trip; iii. performing statistical analysis on the terminal positions in order to determine origin locations at which trips commonly terminate and/or originate; iv. generating further map data, which comprises the origin locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Wojciech Tomasz Nowak, Sven Coppens
  • Patent number: 9891059
    Abstract: A method is disclosed involving receiving GPS data from a personal portable training device. A smoothing operation is performed on the GPS data to generate a more accurate representation of the route travelled for display to a user (504). In the smoothing operation, a cubic spine algorithm is used to obtain an initial estimate of the route representation (500). The estimate is then subjected to a refinement using at least received user motion data recorded by the personal training device (502). In addition one or more of: data indicative of the GPS accuracy; historical route data; and digital map data, such as building footprints and bodies of water, may be used in refining the estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Marcin Michal Kmiecik, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski
  • Patent number: 9880010
    Abstract: A method of and arrangement for mapping first range sensor data from a first range sensor to image data from a camera are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: receiving time and position data from a position determination device on board a mobile system, as well as the first range sensor data from the first range sensor on board the mobile system and the image data from the camera on board the mobile system; identifying a first points cloud within the first range sensor data, relating to at least one object; producing a mask relating to the object based on the first points cloud; mapping the mask on object image data relating to the same object as present in the image data from the at least one camera; and performing a predetermined image processing technique on at least a portion of the object image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: Krysztof Miksa, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski, Lukasz Piotr Taborowski
  • Patent number: 9843810
    Abstract: A method of processing camera data of a mobile mapping system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a) obtaining camera data from at least one camera of the mobile mapping system, b) detecting at least one region in the camera data, c) applying a compression technique on the camera data in a first region, and d) obtaining range sensor data from at least a first range sensor. The range sensor data may at least partially correspond to the camera data. Also, in at least one embodiment, b) includes using the range sensor data to identify the at least one region in the camera data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOMTOM GLOBAL CONTENT B.V.
    Inventors: James E. Hagan, Arkadiusz Wysocki, Marcin Michal Kmiecik
  • Patent number: 9797740
    Abstract: A method of determining trajectories (1810-1813) through at least one junction of a transportation network for display on a visual representation of a digital map, the digital map comprising data that is a digital representation of the transportation network. The method comprises obtaining positional information relating to the movement of a plurality of mobile devices with respect to time on the transportation network through an area (1801) comprising the at least one junction, the border of the area being divided into a plurality of segments. The positional information is used to create an entry histogram (1802) by determining a count of positional information that enters the area at each segment of the border and an exit histogram (1804) by determining a count of positional information that exits the area at each segment of the border; the histograms subsequently being used to define one or more entry (1806) and exits (1808) gates into and out of the area (1801).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Koen Verheyen, Chris Poppe, Joachim De Witte
  • Patent number: 9746335
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes at least one of obtaining and receiving information regarding at least one location reference at a server (302) for transmission to at least one remote device; determining at least one path of the at least one location reference corresponding to at least one pair of points within mapping information at the server (302); computing at least one focusing factor at the server (302) based upon encoded information corresponding to the determined at least one path of the at least one location reference, and enhancing the at least one location reference by the computed at least one focusing factor; and transmitting the at least one location reference enhanced by the computed at least one focusing factor from the server (302) to the at least one remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventor: Tsia Kuznetsov