Patent ID: 6317683
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A method of determining a position of a vehicle relative to a road network formed by road segments represented by a geographic database, the method comprising the steps of:determining an intermediate position density along a plurality of road segments in the road network by shifting a prior position density which had been determined along said plurality of road segments by a distance traveled by the vehicle since the prior position density had been determined;modifying said intermediate position density to take into account sensor data received since the prior position density had been determined to form a second position densitywherein the sensor data includes(a) data indicating a position of the vehicle,(b) data indicating a heading of the vehicle, and(c) data indicating a change of heading of the vehicle as a function of distance traveled; anddetermining the position of the vehicle to be that location along the plurality of road segments at which the second position density is greatest.