Patent ID: 6363320
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B60R,B60W,G01C,G08G

Abstract:
A system for tracking objects in an environment having geographical reference features, comprising:(a) a database for storing reference data as line segments corresponding to coordinate locations along the reference features, the database being sectioned by geographic unit, the sections comprising digital street maps; (b) means for receiving object data including respective target points as coordinate locations of the objects; (c) a computer having access to the database and to the object data, the computer being programmed for: (i) generating an interpreted location of each of the objects in terms relative to automatically selected ones of the reference features; (ii) determining geographic units containing the coordinate locations of the objects, at least some of the interpreted locations being in terms of a closest street, an intersecting street, and a direction on the closest street from the intersecting street, the determination of the closest street being qualified to exclude streets that are inconsistent with a velocity and heading of the object; and (iii) for each of the objects, accessing a corresponding section of the database; and (d) means for temporarily saving segments of excluded streets as reserve segments, means for determining a likelihood of abnormal object movement, and means for restoring the reserve segments as candidate segments following a determination of abnormal object movement.