System and method for automated updating of map information

Abstract

The characteristics of two intersecting roadways are compared to determine whether an inference can be made as to whether there are traffic controls (e.g., stop signs) on one of the roadways. If a larger road with characteristically higher speed intersects with a small road with lower speed, the small road is determined to have a stop sign. A map database is updated with the information regarding the inferred traffic control, and that information is then usable for purposes such as trip planning.

1 . A system for updating a map database, comprising:
 a data reception module configured to obtain a first roadway size characteristic associated with a first road and a second roadway size characteristic associated with a second road, the first road and the second road meeting at an intersection; and   an inference processor operably connected to the data reception module and configured to derive from the first roadway size characteristic and the second roadway size characteristic additional information not already stored within the map database and automatically update the map database to reflect the additional information, wherein the additional information denotes presence of a traffic control device.   
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising:
 a map database comprising information associated with roads;   an input subsystem configured to provide roadway characteristics;   an information inference module configured to derive from the roadway characteristics additional information not already stored within the map database and automatically update the map database to reflect the additional information.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the information inference module is further configured to determine presence or absence of a traffic control based upon vehicle speeds on each of two roadways forming an intersection, in order to derive the additional information. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from GPS readings sent by vehicles. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from speed limits on each of the two roadways. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from operation of fixed roadway sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the information inference module is further configured to determine a type of a traffic control based upon vehicle speeds, in order to derive the additional information. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the type includes at least one of the group consisting of: a stop sign, a traffic light, a synchronized traffic light, a yield sign, a turn restriction control, a lane restriction control, a railroad crossing control and a pedestrian crossing control. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the traffic control includes at least one of the group consisting of: a stop sign, a traffic light, a synchronized traffic light, a yield sign, a turn restriction control, a lane restriction control, a railroad crossing control and a pedestrian crossing control. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the roadway characteristics include at least one of the group consisting of: roadway classification, roadway historical traffic volume, traffic signal phasing, traffic signal state information, roadway sensor information. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the additional information further denotes characteristics of the traffic control device. 
     
     
         12 . A method for automatically updating a map database, comprising:
 receiving map information from the map database, the map database comprising information associated with roads;   receiving roadway characteristic information;   deriving additional information not already stored within the map database responsive to the roadway characteristic information; and   updating the map database to reflect the derived additional information.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein deriving additional information comprises determining presence or absence of a traffic control based upon vehicle speeds on each of two roadways forming an intersection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from GPS readings sent by vehicles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from speed limits on each of the two roadways. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle speeds are derived from operation of fixed roadway sensors. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein deriving additional information includes determining a type of a traffic control based upon vehicle speeds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the type includes at least one of the group consisting of: a stop sign, a traffic light, a synchronized traffic light, a yield sign, a turn restriction control, a lane restriction control, a railroad crossing control and a pedestrian crossing control. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the traffic control includes at least one of the group consisting of: a stop sign, a traffic light, a synchronized traffic light, a yield sign, a turn restriction control, a lane restriction control, a railroad crossing control and a pedestrian crossing control. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the roadway characteristics include at least one of the group consisting of: roadway classification, roadway historical traffic volume, traffic signal phasing, traffic signal state information, roadway sensor information.