Patent ID: 6385539
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G01C,G08G,G09B

Abstract:
A method for autonomously developing substantially static geospatial information concerning a particular area using a plurality of uncoordinated probe systems moving in said area, the method comprising the acts of:obtaining probe system specific geospatial information of a lower quality from only the plurality of probe systems moving in said area; combining said probe system specific information obtained over time into a data set; analyzing said data set to determine substantially static geospatial information of a higher quality; wherein said probe system specific geospatial information is position information; wherein the probe systems are probe vehicles, and further comprising the act of developing map information on the particular area based on the higher quality geospatial information; wherein the act of developing the map information comprises the act of deriving at least one of roadway and vehicle lane geometry information; and wherein the act of deriving at least one of roadway and vehicle lane geometry information comprises the acts of: obtaining a baseline trace of the position information of an initial probe vehicle to determine an initial virtual roadway centerline; and refining the initial virtual roadway centerline based on additional traces of position information from subsequent probe vehicles traveling the roadway to derive the location of the roadway.