Method and system for updating digital road maps

US5948042A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann AG · DE

Inventors

• Josef Heimann · Düsseldorf, DE
• Christian Hort · Düsseldorf, DE
• Thomas Weber · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 2, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 7, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 2, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09B29/106
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of updating digital road maps which are used in traffic direction and guiding vehicles to their destinations. In the method actual route data is determined, stored and transmitted to a traffic computer by at least one test vehicle provided for the purpose. The traffic computer evaluates the information items contained in the route data and assigns them as attributes to the corresponding road sections of a digital road map. At least the actual geographical position of the test vehicle is automatically continually determined as route data and the attributes of the corresponding road sections of the road map are updated by reference to the route data. The attributes include at least the permissibility of driving over the road sections in at least one direction.