Employing Map Database System Patents (Class 701/532)
  • Patent number: 11136037
    Abstract: In a vehicle control device and a vehicle control method, the vehicle control device comprises a lane recognition unit adapted to recognize a lane type of an adjacent lane adjacent to a host vehicle lane in which a host vehicle is traveling, a determination condition setting unit adapted to set a determination condition for permitting a lane change of the host vehicle from the host vehicle lane to the adjacent lane depending on the lane type of the adjacent lane that was recognized by the lane recognition unit, a lane change determining unit adapted to permit the lane change in the case that the determination condition is satisfied, and a vehicle control unit adapted to carry out a travel control or an assist control in relation to the lane change, in the case that the lane change determining unit has permitted the lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marina Saikyo, Hiroshi Miura, Toshifumi Suzuki, Suguru Yanagihara, Yuta Takada, Shogo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11131552
    Abstract: A map generation system includes a server configured to: transfer reference curved road constituent points onto a measurement target curved road as virtual constituent points arranged along the measurement target curved road adjacent to the reference curved road; acquire virtual trajectory curvature information based on positions of the virtual constituent points; acquire detailed curve information of the measurement target curved road by acquiring, based on a position of a start point of the measurement target curved road preset in the road map information, travel information of a vehicle traveling on the measurement target curved road, and the virtual trajectory curvature information, measurement target curved road constituent points arranged at preset intervals from the start point along the measurement target curved road, and associating the virtual trajectory curvature information with each of the measurement target curved road constituent points; and generate a map by acquiring the second detailed curve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Kyoichi Tohriyama, Minoru Kamata, Takuma Ito, Satoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11131550
    Abstract: A method for generating a road map for vehicle navigation comprises: providing original road image data having an image of a road; identifying boundary lines defining respective lane segments of the road from the original road image data; associating traffic properties with the lane segments defined by the boundary lines, respectively; grouping the lane segments to generate road segments; and combining the road segments with traffic control objects corresponding thereto so as to generate the road map for vehicle navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: WERIDE CORP.
    Inventors: Qiu Jin, Yiqing Yang, Huan Chen, Chao Lin, Hua Zhong, Zhenzhen Kou
  • Patent number: 11119493
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an unusually narrow road width or lane width. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an unusually narrow road width or lane width exists along roads. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the location where the unusually narrow road width or lane width exists. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a location where the unusually narrow road width or lane width exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 11120296
    Abstract: A method performed by an apparatus is described. The method includes receiving a first set of object data corresponding to a first journey. The method also includes receiving a second set of object data corresponding to a second journey. The method further includes determining a similarity metric between the first set of object data and the second set of object data. The similarity metric indicates a distance between the first set of object data and the second set of object data for at least one object. The method additionally includes clustering the first set of object data and the second set of object data for the at least one object based on the similarity metric to produce at least one object cluster. The method also includes producing map data based on the at least one object cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Onkar Jayant Dabeer, Kiran Somasundaram, Radhika Dilip Gowaikar, Ravi Teja Sukhavasi
  • Patent number: 11112251
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of generating and communicating map version agnostic road identifiers. Methods may include: providing an indication of a route request between an origin and a destination; receiving a list of road link identifiers in response to the route request; in response to the first road link identifier not corresponding to a road link identifier of a network of road link identifiers: applying an XOR function to the first road link identifier and a subsequent road link identifier in the list of road link identifiers; in response to a result of the XOR function applied to the first road link identifier and the subsequent identifier corresponding with a road link identifier of the network of road link identifiers, adding the road link identifier of the network of road link identifiers to the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Rolf, Raul Cajias
  • Patent number: 11109187
    Abstract: Mobile device users navigate to each other by their mobile devices sharing location information, and then one or more of the mobile devices receiving or generating geographical directions for presentation to the mobile device's user to navigate to another of the mobile devices. Two mobile devices can provide geographical directions to enable their respective users to navigate toward each other, and a group of mobile devices can receive and provide or display geographical directions to variously enable their respective users to navigate to different mobile devices in the group. In one scenario, first and second mobile devices provide geographical directions to their respective locations and a third mobile device provides geographical directions to the first or second mobile device, and directions are dynamically updated as the mobile devices move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Painter, Maikel Faltaous, Caesar Winebrenner, Andre Sacaguti
  • Patent number: 11099027
    Abstract: In an information processing device, an acquirer acquires an estimated congestion degree at each time at a destination based on route search result data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to the destination such that a user arrives at the destination out of a time period during which an estimated congestion degree at the destination acquired at the acquirer is a predetermined value or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Nagata
  • Patent number: 11092445
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system for localizing a vehicle using a digital map are described. In accordance with the method, the digital map assigns to the features one or a plurality of predetermined attributes, which are provided for characterizing possibly occurring actual changes in the features comparison to the digital map existing at the moment. On the basis of the assigned attributes, probabilities relative to the changes are also determined, and the vehicle is localized in consideration of the determined probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Hasberg, Christoph Schroeder, Danny Hiendriana, Oliver Pink, Philipp Rasp
  • Patent number: 11087343
    Abstract: A method for controlling access to data displayed by an information services portal on a user device is provided. The method includes receiving a candidate login input corresponding to a user. The method further includes comparing the candidate login input to a list of login entries stored in the memory, each of the stored login entries having a corresponding code segment, each code segment defining a bounding area defining a geographic area. The method further includes retrieving from the memory a selected code segment corresponding to the stored login entry matching the candidate login input, and applying a geographic restriction to the data set by processing the selected code segment. The method further includes transmitting a data subset of the data set to the user computing device for display, the data subset including data satisfying the geographic restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Debashis Ghosh
  • Patent number: 11087457
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling components of a workpiece. Some embodiments include a work surface; a first digital projector that projects an image of at least some features of the workpiece onto the work surface, wherein the image includes a plurality of line indicators that have visually discernible different markings such as colors or line types; a camera that obtains input images of the work surface and the components of the workpiece; and a first controller configured to receive the input images from the camera and to control the first digital projector to project the first output digital image on the work surface for assembly of the components to form the workpiece, wherein the first controller is further configured to store distortion-correction parameters and to use the stored distortion-correction parameters to adjust the first projected output digital image. In some embodiments, the workpiece is a lumber truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Wein Holding LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Weinschenk, Leo Passov
  • Patent number: 11080624
    Abstract: The described system and method reviews past receipts from purchases and past purchase patterns and, in response to a request, returns a recommendation about future scheduling or future purchases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventor: Jerry Wald
  • Patent number: 11080908
    Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable displaying of a street view or map in the context of a video stream object. Specifically, captured video is analyzed for a plurality of geo-coordinate and direction metadata associated with frames of the video. The video may also be analyzed for visual indicia of location or direction. A user watching the video selects an object therein, which may be then identified by its coordinates and labeled for the user. A map or street view corresponding to the selected object is shown synchronized to the video (e.g., in a side-by-side view), based on the geo-coordinate and direction metadata associated with the video frames. The synchronized video and map speed may be manipulated. The video may also be broken up by frames, and the user permitted to navigate beyond the bounds of the video, where frames are played when the user navigates to areas within the video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 11068515
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide measures of uncertainty for map features provided in association with a vehicle map service. A vehicle map service may include a vehicle map model that is configured to provide map data for a geographic area in association with a vehicle map service. The vehicle map model can have an entity schema that includes a first address space configured to represent a plurality of entities associated with the vehicle map model. The vehicle may service may include an uncertainty model that is configured to represent a plurality of uncertainties associated with the plurality of entities. The uncertainty model can have an uncertainty schema that includes a second address space that is separate from the first address space. Uncertainties in the second address space can point to one or more entities in the first address space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Richard William Bukowski
  • Patent number: 11062150
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a processing method and apparatus for vehicle scene sequence tracking, and a vehicle. The method includes: obtaining a current vehicle speed of a vehicle driving in a first area and at least one frame of a current image taken; determining a vehicle speed ratio interval and a length of a sequence to be tracked according to the current vehicle speed; and performing the scene sequence tracking according to the vehicle speed ratio interval, the length of the sequence to be tracked, the at least one frame of the current image, and pre-stored multiple frames of historical reference images of the vehicle, to obtain position information of the vehicle. The method ensures that an accurate speed scanning range can still be quickly found when the vehicle speed changes greatly, and the speed scanning efficiency is greatly improved when the vehicle speed is relatively stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Meng Yao
  • Patent number: 11060878
    Abstract: A navigation device is provided that includes one or more input devices configured to receive starting and ending locations for route navigation, and a processor configured to retrieve user route preferences. The user route preferences may indicate one or more preferred route characteristics. The processor further may be configured to receive a request for a route from a starting location to an ending location via the one or more input devices, to read stored map information including a plurality of route segments. Each route segment may include route segment data indicating one or more route characteristics of that route segment. The processor may further be configured to generate a personalized route that includes at least one route segment having route segment data indicating at least one of the one or more preferred route characteristics of the user, and to display the personalized route to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Grochocki, Jr., Elizabeth Salowitz, Ana Lilia Otero Diaz, Kshitij Sethi, Kshitij Mehta, Jeff West, Mansi Rajkondawar
  • Patent number: 11054263
    Abstract: A route setting device is provided, which may include a display controller, a user interface device, a waypoint detecting module, and a route setting module. The display controller having a display screen may display map data on the display screen. The user interface device may accept a route input operation using the display screen where the map data is displayed. Processing circuitry may detect a waypoint of a ship in the map data based on a trace of the route input operation in the map data. The processing circuitry may set a route of the ship based on the waypoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoo Wada
  • Patent number: 11055998
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of receiving, by a first transport, an indication from a traffic signal that the first transport is legally able to move from a stopped disposition, elapsing a period of time between receiving the indication and the first transport did not move during the period of time, and receiving a notification at the end of the period of time, by the first transport, that the first transport ought to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sachin J. Ahire, Manoj Kalamkar, Christopher J. Risberg
  • Patent number: 11037444
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for designing a preferred route for a vehicle. The route designing system receives a request from the vehicle for a preferred route from a first geographical point to a second geographical point. The route designing system analyzes the request and obtains driving scores associated with drivers of other vehicles. The route designing unit may identify a set of preferred and non-preferred vehicles based on the driving scores. The route designing system then determines a preferred route based, at least in part, on the driving scores associated with drivers of the other vehicles. The preferred route is designed to minimize the likelihood of proximity to non-preferred vehicles and maximize the likelihood of proximity to preferred vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Dana Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11034338
    Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Refueling stations can be equipped to refuel autonomous vehicles without occupant assistance. Refueling stations can be equipped with wireless networks that communicate with vehicles to permit autonomous vehicles to self-schedule refueling at fueling stations serving a mixture of autonomous, semi-autonomous and occupant piloted vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Lei, Shiqi Qiu, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jayanthi Rao
  • Patent number: 11036922
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a route information sharing method and an electronic device. The method includes: collecting a user operation on a first electronic device; in response to the user operation, drawing a first route on a first map displayed on the first electronic device; extracting route information of the first route; based on the route information, determining first location information corresponding to Y points on the first route, Y being an integer not less than 2; and providing the first location information for a second electronic device, the first location information being used for the second electronic device to draw, on a second map, a second route corresponding to the first route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ran Zhi, Hairong Wang, Ning Liu, Yan Zhao, Xi Liu, Bin Jia, Shaojie Lu
  • Patent number: 11030234
    Abstract: A system and method for sharing an item of media content is described. An exemplary method includes associating a first location with the item of media content at a first mobile device and sending a request to view the item of media content to a second mobile device at a second location. The method includes showing a recipient of the item of media content a simulated journey from the recipient's location to a location associated with the item of media content. The simulated journey includes zooming out from the recipient's location shown on a map, following a path between the recipient's location and the location associated with the item of media content, and zooming into the location associated with the item of media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Ibrahim Ali Musallam
  • Patent number: 11029168
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer in a vehicle, cause the computer to carry out a method for determining an energy-optimal path for the vehicle from an initial location to a final location, the vehicle corresponding to a vehicle energy model. Based at least on the initial location, an initial time, the final location, the vehicle energy model, and an environmental forecast a global path is generated. The global path includes a final maximum net energy path and a plurality of waypoints. Based on the global path a local path from the present location to a next waypoint of the plurality of waypoints is generated. Whether a net energy gain is generated by a deviation from the global path to the next waypoint of the plurality of waypoints is determined. Generating a local path is repeated until the vehicle reaches the final location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard Stroman, Daniel J. Edwards, Daniel S. Newton, John J. Bird, Jacob W. Langelaan, Vladimir Dobrokhodov
  • Patent number: 11023747
    Abstract: An approach is provided for detecting degraded ground paint in an image. The approach, for example, involves performing semantic segmentation on the image to determine one or more pixels of the image that are classified in a ground paint category. The approach also involves generating a binary image that contains the one or more pixels of the image that are classified in the ground paint category. The approach further involves generating a hole-filled binary image by filling in the binary image to generate one or more curvilinear structures from the one or more pixels. The approach further involves determining a difference between the image and the hole-filled binary image to identify one or more degraded ground paint pixels of the image and providing the one or more degraded ground paint pixels as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Nicholas Pojman, Anish Mittal, David Lawlor, Zhanwei Chen
  • Patent number: 11014566
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus is provided with a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to an object which exists in a surrounding area of a vehicle, by transmitting scanning waves to the surrounding of the vehicle and receiving reflection waves of the scanning waves, and an image acquiring section that is adopted to the vehicle, and is provided with an on-vehicle camera that captures images in the surrounding of the vehicle, the imaging acquiring section acquiring an image that is captured by the camera. The apparatus includes a determination section that determines whether, a predetermined object that is difficult to detect by the reflection waves of the distance measurement sensor is included in the object image, and a sensitivity control section that increases a sensitivity of the object detection by the distance measurement sensor and a vehicle control that is executed relative to the predetermined object as a target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Maeda, Hirohiko Yanagawa, Mitsuyasu Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11009357
    Abstract: A communication terminal is connected to a server and provides movement guidance for a mobile unit based on guidance information delivered from the server. The terminal requests the server for update information for updating area identification information that identifies a section corresponding to an update target area and a section not corresponding to the update target area on a section-by-section basis. The update target area is an area whose terminal-side map information included in the communication terminal is an older version. The terminal updates the area identification information based on the update information transmitted from the server, requests the server for guidance information for providing movement guidance for the mobile unit based on the updated area identification information, and provides the movement guidance for the mobile unit based on the guidance information delivered from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Aoyama, Daisuke Tanizaki, Hiroaki Hirano, Kazuteru Maekawa, Motohiro Nakamura, Kazunori Watanabe, Katsuya Masuda, Takeshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10999286
    Abstract: A method for enrolling a user of a vehicle to a first server, wherein the vehicle includes a system having at least a user interface. The method provides a wireless connection between the vehicle and the first server; sends user data to the first server in response to user actuation on the user interface; and receives at the user interface an enrollment confirmation from the first server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Stephan Ritter, Sarah Boroske, Lena Fromhage, Stefan Winger
  • Patent number: 10990353
    Abstract: Multiple items of first address information are identified by a server associated with a first service provider. Each item of first address information is identified from a corresponding item of first account information provided by the first service provider. Multiple items of second address information are identified by the server. Each item of second address information is identified from a corresponding item of second account information provided by a second service provider. For each item of first address information, a determination is made, by the server, that an item of second address information matches the particular item of first address information, and a mapping relationship is established, by the server, between an item of first account information, corresponding to the particular item of first address information, and an item of second account information, corresponding to the item of second address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Zhou, Jun Xiong, Dijun He
  • Patent number: 10976172
    Abstract: A system anticipates one or more destinations that a user may be interested in requesting. Using parameters such as time of day, day of week, and user device location, the system categorizes users according to current user parameters. Categories, which may be predefined by the system, are organized according to similar destination types. In some embodiments, the system determines variety scores indicative of whether a user is likely to select a destination that the user has requested before or more likely to select a new destination, within a selected category. The system uses the determined categories and variety scores to select a list of destinations to suggest to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Juthika Dabholkar
  • Patent number: 10976168
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a map application that identifies a transit route between a starting location and a destination. The transit route, in some embodiments, includes a set of transit legs that each is serviced by transit vehicles of a transit line. The map application of some embodiments, after identifying the transit route, categorizes each transit line of the transit route as one of a high frequency transit line and a low frequency transit line. The map application displays the departure schedules of high frequency transit lines in a first manner, while the map application displays the departure schedules of low frequency transit lines in a second different manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Imran A. Pirwani, Stanley E. Roberts, David Hodge, Cameron Sabol, Usama M. Hajj, Ian Leighton, Alexander Tesov, Kaspar Fischer, Curtis Galloway
  • Patent number: 10969233
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer readable product for trajectory data compression are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises generating spatial data for one or more moving objects; projecting the data onto a network comprised of a plurality of trajectories, the network constraining movement of the one or more moving objects; and storing the projected data in a data store. In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises translating updates and queries to the spatial data, using specified data of the network, into links to the data store, and using the links to update and query the data store. In embodiments of the invention, the specified data of the network are stored in a network store. In embodiments of the invention, each of the trajectories includes one or more sub-trajectories, and the projecting the spatial data onto a network includes projecting the spatial data onto the sub-trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao Yan Chen, Raghu K. Ganti, Sheng Huang, Kai Liu, Ramya Raghavendra, Mudhakar Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 10972873
    Abstract: Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: determining or triggering a determination of a coarse position estimate based on GNSS-based and/or non-GNSS-based positioning; obtaining user input information indicative of one or more inputs a user has entered into a mobile device; analyzing the user input information for forming one or more pieces of location indication information; comparing the coarse position estimate with the one or more pieces of location indication information; and in case a respective location indication information matches or is in the vicinity of the coarse position estimate: determining a position estimate to represent or comprise the position of the respective location indication information. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Lauri Aarne Johannes Wirola, Henri Jaakko Julius Nurminen, Pavel Ivanov
  • Patent number: 10962383
    Abstract: An objective of the present application is to provide a road characterization method, comprising: acquiring a target road, wherein the target road comprises one or more road segments; determining one or more atomic lanes corresponding to the road segments according to the road segment attribute information of the road segments; and determining lane association information related to the atomic lanes corresponding to the target road; wherein the one or more atomic lanes and the lane association information are used for characterizing the target road. The method can functionally completely describe objective connections of lanes within a target area, including lane connectivity and lane change feasibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UISEE (SHANGHAI) AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyu Qi, Xiaocheng Zhou, Yan Jiang, Dan Zhang, Haiyang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10955854
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining the position of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps: recording sensor data from the ground over which the vehicle travels; extracting ground characteristics of the ground over which the vehicle travels from the recorded sensor data or from occupancy grids which are calculated on the basis of the sensor data; determining the current position of the vehicle on the basis of the extracted ground characteristics using a characteristic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Fechner, Stefan Heinrich, Stefan Hegemann, Ralph Grewe
  • Patent number: 10955253
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for aggregating and displaying tactical information. Multiple navigation routes between a starting location and ending location are computed. Each route is evaluated on a variety of criteria, and a ranked list is presented to a user. Additional information, such as rendering a geographically specific notification, display of a virtual range card, and/or information pertaining to an air support operation may also be rendered. Embodiments further enable issuing of air support requests via a tactile user interface. In this way, pertinent information is rendered in a timely manner to battlefield and commanding personnel to enable effective decision-making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Alex Mathew
  • Patent number: 10955254
    Abstract: A device can obtain historical accident data identifying accidents within a geographic region. The device can classify geographic areas within the geographic region as being sparse accident-prone zones (APZs) or dense APZs by processing the historical accident data using a clustering technique and clustering parameters. The device can generate data identifying geographic boundaries of the sparse APZs and the dense APZs. The device can provide the data identifying the geographic boundaries to be stored using a data structure. The device can receive telematics data associated with a vehicle within the geographic region. The device can determine whether the vehicle is in or approaching a particular APZ based on whether a location of the vehicle is within the particular APZ or based on whether the vehicle is likely to enter the particular APZ. The device can provide an alert to the vehicle or a user device associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Anil Nakirikanti, Thomas George Ancheriyil, Anjjan Sathia Narayan, Lakshmi N. Chakarapani, Kapilan Baskar, Chaewon L. Min
  • 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: 10943281
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for searching information and an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, at one or more computing devices, a search term; acquiring, at the one or more computing devices, a 3D search result corresponding to the search term if the search term includes a 3D search requirement, in which the 3D search result includes a 3D picture and one or more service items corresponding to the 3D picture; displaying, at the one or more computing devices, the 3D search result; determining, at the one or more computing devices, a service item selected by a user; and processing, at the one or more computing devices, the 3D picture according to the service item. The method can provide a service on the basis of the 3D search result when the user has the 3D search requirement, thereby better satisfying the user' requirement and improving the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jizhou Huang, Shaolei Ding, Lu Wan, He Qu, Zhi Jin, Lei Lv
  • Patent number: 10942961
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing user experience in a search environment are provided. The method includes displaying results of a search operation, the display comprising an extract of at least one search result; the extract comprising a combination of a text and at least one inline visual representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Aravind Musuluri
  • Patent number: 10942031
    Abstract: A server device 4 stores on a storage unit 42 an advanced map database 43 which includes feature information associated with a feature. The server device 4 receives, from vehicle mounted devices 1 equipped with external sensors 31 which measure features, difference information Idf indicative of a difference between feature information and the actual feature corresponding to the feature information. In accordance with the degree of reliability Rdf which is calculated based on a plurality of the difference information Idf, the server device 4 sends to the vehicle mounted device 1 a raw data request signal SR for requesting the transmission of raw data which is measurement data of the actual feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito
  • Patent number: 10928215
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for providing last mile navigation. In an example, the system may determine that a vehicle has arrived at or near the destination. The system may store the destination in memory when determined that the vehicle has arrived at or near the destination. The system may monitor the location of the vehicle and determine the vehicle is parked at a parked location. Once determined that the vehicle is parked, the system may transmit last mile navigation information associated with the destination and the parked location to a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Alvin T. Yuan
  • Patent number: 10922838
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image display system, a terminal, a method, and a program that can quickly and accurately display an image corresponding to a particular place. An image display system according to one example embodiment of the present invention includes: an information acquisition unit that acquires information including a position and an orientation of a mobile terminal; and an image acquisition unit that, based on the position and the orientation of the mobile terminal and a position and an orientation associated with an image stored in a storage device in the past, acquires the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shizuo Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10921139
    Abstract: A method includes determining a first task requiring one of a plurality of machines to traverse along a first route and determining a second task requiring the one of the plurality of machines to traverse along a second route. The method also includes determining a first route score for the first route, the first route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the first route, and determining a second route score for the second route, the second route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the second route. The method may also include receiving sensor data generated by a sensor associated with a first machine of the plurality of machines and determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, an alertness metric associated with an operator of the first machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David James Edwards, Scott Andrew Kirkman, Gregory Mark Wood, Andrew Thiel, Ryan J. Howell, Gregory Davis
  • Patent number: 10921138
    Abstract: The virtual reality navigation system can display the position of an autonomous vehicle at a predetermined amount of time in the future via virtual reality. A virtual reality display can display a virtual reality autonomous vehicle, as if the virtual reality autonomous vehicle is the autonomous vehicle operating at the predetermined amount of time in the future. Additionally, a virtual reality interface can provide an interface for an operator to interact with the environment of the autonomous vehicle. The virtual reality interface can receive an alternate route selection, and display in virtual reality the one or more maneuvers that would be required to reach the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kristofer D. Kusano, Yi Li, Hideki Hada, Miles J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10914607
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are therefore provided for providing a navigation user interface to a plurality of points of interest. Methods may include receiving an indication of a location; receiving an indication of a category of points of interest; identifying a plurality of points of interest associated with the category; generating point of interest specific routes from the location to each of the plurality of points of interest; identifying portions of the point of interest specific routes that are common to more than one point of interest; generating a plurality of consolidated routes, where multiple points of interest are located along at least one of the plurality of consolidated routes; and providing for presentation of the plurality of consolidated routes, where each of the plurality of consolidated routes is distinguished, based at least in part, on the number of points of interest that are located along the respective consolidated route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Rolf, Federico Rubagotti
  • Patent number: 10917747
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process by which first data is received from a mobile device regarding first objects detected by the mobile device in an area, the first data having been collected by the mobile device at a number of first collection points while moving along a first path from an initial position in the area to a boundary of the area. The first data is aggregated with second data previously collected regarding second objects in the area, the second data having been collected at a number of second collection points along a second path different from the first path. The second data includes a position indicator for each of the second objects indexed by the initial position. A map of the area is generated based on the aggregating and the map is transmitted to the mobile device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rudolph L. Mappus, IV, James Morgan White
  • Patent number: 10917764
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to responsively send vehicle information to a data center, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to carry out the steps of: receiving vehicle identification information; sending the vehicle identification information to the data center; capturing an image of one or more third-party-vehicle identifying features in response to a request from the data center; and sending the image to the data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matt Neely, Eric T. Hosey, Huong T. Chim, Russell A. Patenaude
  • Patent number: 10915580
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining an activity of a user based on sensor readings from sensor(s), and providing, for presentation to the user via a user interface output of a computing device of the user, information that is based on the determined activity. In some implementations, the information may be provided in response to input entered by the user via a user interface input device of the computing device of the user. In some implementations, the input may be a search query and the information may be search results. In some implementations, the input may be a partial query and the information may be query suggestions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Tomkins, Amr Ahmed, Alexander Johannes Smola, Daniel Wyatt, Daniel J. Clancy, Martin Zinkevich
  • Patent number: 10907973
    Abstract: A method and a device for predicting the future course of a roadway for a transportation vehicle driving on a road, wherein the road has a first section, a bend and a second section, and the bend is arranged between the first and the second section. The method determines an approximated course of a road derived from a digital map material using an original clothoid segment, wherein the clothoid segment has a starting point on the first section, an end point on the second section, and the clothoid segment sweeps over the angle defined by the bend between the first and the second section, and continuously corrects the original clothoid segment by subsequent corrective clothoid segments, wherein the corrective clothoid segments take into account the curvature of the route actually traveled by the transportation vehicle after the starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Eigel
  • Patent number: 10908795
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided comprising a processor; and a memory device storing instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to generate scene information to reproduce display of at least one selected area of a pathological image; and receive order information corresponding to the scene information based on a user input. In another embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to receive scene information to display at least one selected area of a pathological image and order information corresponding to an order of the scene information; and control display of the at least one selected area of the pathological image in the order based on the scene information and the order information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kyusojin, Kenji Yamane, Hirofumi Watanabe, Naoki Tagami