US 20130311047A1

(19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0311047 A1
Denaro
(54) DATA MINING IN A DIGITAL MAP DATABASE TO IDENTIFY INTERSECTIONS LOCATED AT HILL BOTTOMS AND ENABLING PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS IN A VEHICLE

(43) Pub. Date:

NOV. 21, 2013

Publication Classi?cation

(51)

(52)

Int. Cl. G06F 1 7/00 US. Cl.

(2006.01)

CPC .................................... .. G06F 1 7/00 (2013.01)

(71)

Applicant: Navteq B.V., Veldhoven (NL)

USPC ............................ .. 701/45; 701/300; 701/117

(72) Inventor:

Robert Denaro, Long Grove, IL (U S)

(57)

ABSTRACT

(73) Assignee: Navteq B.V.,Valdhoven (NL)

(21) Appl.No.: 13/952,815
(22) Filed: Jul. 29, 2013

Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking pre cautionary actions in response to conditions on the road net Work around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an inter section located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations Where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill

Related Us Application Data

(60) Continuation of application No. 13/200,562, ?led on Sep. 26, 2011, noW Pat. No. 8,531,318, Which is a

mdicate such locations. A precautionary action system

installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination With a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a loca tion.

and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to

division of application No. 12/156,277, ?led on May 30, 2008, noW Pat. No. 8,466,810.

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US 2013/0311047 A1

Nov. 21,2013

DATA MINING IN A DIGITAL MAP DATABASE TO IDENTIFY INTERSECTIONS LOCATED AT HILL BOTTOMS AND ENABLING PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS IN A VEHICLE REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

have occurred. HoWever, statistics pertaining to accidents are maintained by various different administrative entities that

use different formats, standards, reporting methods, reporting

periods, etc. Accordingly, it is dif?cult to obtain consistent
information about tra?ic accidents on roads in a large geo

graphic region, such as the entire United States or Europe.

Moreover, data indicating locations Where a statistically large

number of tra?ic accidents occur may not indicate the causes of the accidents or hoW accidents can be avoided.

[0001]

This application is a continuation under 37 CPR.

1.53(b) of US. patent application Ser. No. 13/200,562 ?led Sep. 26, 2011 (Attorney Docket No. 10171/12034AUS
(NC58199USDIV)) now US. Pat. No. , the entire

disclosure of Which is hereby incorporated by reference,

Which is a divisional of Ser. No. 12/156,277, ?led on May 30, 2008, now US. Pat. No. 8,466,810, the entire disclosure of

[0005] Accordingly, it is an objective to provide a system that facilitates taking a precautionary action in a vehicle, such as providing a Warning to a vehicle operator, When approach
ing a location Where accidents may occur. text

Which is incorporated by reference herein. The present patent application is related to patent application Ser. No. 12/ 156,
264, ?led on May 30, 2008, now US. Pat. No. , entitled DATA MINING TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR

SUMMARY

[0006]

The present invention is de?ned by the folloWing

claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limi

tation on those claims. By Way of introduction, the preferred

embodiments described beloW relate to

VEHICLE OPERATION AND USE THEREOF, Attorney Docket No. NO260US, the entire disclosure of Which is

[0007]

To address these and other objectives, the present

incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and sys tem that enables taking a precautionary action in a vehicle,
such as providing a Warning to a vehicle driver about a poten

tially dif?cult or hazardous driving condition on the road network.

invention comprises a feature that enables taking a precau tionary action in a vehicle as the vehicle approaches an inter section located in or at the bottom of a hill. The precautionary action may be a Warning message provided to the vehicle driver to alert the vehicle driver about the intersection so that the vehicle driver can pay extra attention. Alternatively, the precautionary action may be an actual modi?cation of the operation or control of the vehicle, such as braking, acceler ating, or maneuvering the vehicle, or activating a sensor.

[0003] Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including active safety and fuel economy systems, have been developed to improve the comfort, e?iciency, safety, and overall satisfaction of driving. Examples of these advanced driver assistance systems include adaptive headlight aiming,

Alternatively, the precautionary action may be providing an input to an algorithm that also processes inputs from other sensors for taking such actions. In another alternative, the
precautionary action may include a combination of any of these aforementioned actions. [0008] According to another aspect, a database that repre sents the road netWork is used to determine locations Where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at Which a precautionary action is to be provided about the intersection of roads located at the bottom of a hill.

adaptive cruise control, lane departure Warning and control,

curve Warning, speed limit noti?cation, haZard Warning, pre
dictive cruise control, and adaptive shift control, as Well as others. Some of these advanced driver assistance systems use a variety of sensor mechanisms in the vehicle to determine the current state of the vehicle and the current state of the road Way in front of the vehicle. These sensor mechanisms may include radar, infrared, ultrasonic and vision-oriented sen sors, such as digital video cameras and lidar. Some advanced

[0009]

According to further aspects, a precautionary action

system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database

derived therefrom, in combination With a positioning system,

to determine When the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location Where a precautionary action should be taken. When the vehicle is at such a location, the precautionary action is taken, such as providing a Warning to the vehicle operator, as the vehicle is approaching an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. Alternatively, the precautionary action may consist of an actual modi?cation of the operation or

driver assistance systems also use digital map data. Digital

map data can be used in advanced driver assistance systems to

provide information about the road netWork, road geometry,

road conditions and other items associated With the road and terrain around the vehicle. Digital map data is not affected by
environmental conditions, such as fog, rain or snoW. In addi

tion, digital map data can provide useful information that

cannot reliably be provided by cameras or radar, such as

curvature, grade, bank, speed limits that are not indicated by signage, tra?ic and lane restrictions, etc. Further, digital map data can provide a predictive capability Well beyond the range
of other sensors or even beyond the drivers vision to deter

control of the vehicle, such as braking, accelerating, or maneuvering the vehicle, or activating a sensor. Alternatively, the precautionary action may include providing an input to an algorithm that also processes inputs from other sensors for

taking such actions. Alternatively, the precautionary action

may be an adjustment of sensitivities of other ADAS appli cations such as increasing the control authority and sensitivity of a lane departure Warning or control system to lane edge

mine the road ahead of the vehicle, around comers, over hills or beyond obstructions. Accordingly, digital map data can be
a useful addition for some advanced driver assistance sys
tems.

approach and violation. In another alternative, the precaution

ary action may include a combination of any of these afore mentioned actions. [0010] Further aspects and advantages of the invention are

[0004] Although these kinds of systems provide useful fea

tures, there exists room for further improvements. For example, it Would be useful to identify locations on the road netWork Where a relatively high number of traf?c accidents

discussed beloW in conjunction With the preferred embodi

ments.

US 2013/0311047 A1

Nov. 21,2013

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a portion of a road net work with an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. [0012] FIG. 2 is a ?owchart ofa process that uses a database that represents a road network to identify conditions such as the one shown in FIG. 1.

parks, administrative areas (including municipal, state and country boundaries), and locations of points of interest, such
as businesses, hospitals, police stations, and so on. [0022] In FIG. 2, the process 100 examines each data record
that represents a road segment (also referred to herein as a link) to determine whether it represents one similar to the road segment 10 in FIG. 1. (The process 100 may use a

[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a data record formed by the process of FIG. 2. [0014] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a vehicle system that uses data

procedure that examines in turn each data record that repre

sents each road segment represented in the entire database.)

In one step, a data record that represents a link or road seg

produced by the process of FIG. 2. [0015] FIG. 5 is a ?owchart ofa process performed by the system of FIG. 4. FIG. 2 depicts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

ment is read from the database 110 (Step 130). This road segment record includes data attributes that indicate the alti tude at each end (i.e., the nodes) of the represented road segment. The altitudes at the ends of the represented road

segment are compared (Step 134). From the comparison of

altitude information, it can be determined whether the repre sented road segment is part of a hill. If the represented road segment is not part of a hill, the process 100 proceeds to a step in which it is determined whether all the road segment records in the database have been examined (Step 138). If there are more segment records to examine, the process 100 proceeds

[0016]

FIG. 1 depicts road segments 10, 12, 14 and 16.

These road segments meet at an intersection 20. The road segment 10 is located on a hill 22, such that the altitude of one

end 24 of the road segment 10 is greater than the altitude at the other end 26, which in this case is the end at the intersection 20. [0017] FIG. 2 is a ?owchart ofa process 100. The process 100 is performed by a software program or routine that is run
on a suitable computing platform, such as a database server,

to get the next segment record (Step 130) and continues.

[0023]

Referring back to Step 136, if the represented road

PC or plurality of PCs coupled together for parallel comput

ing applications.
[0018] The process 100 uses a database 110 that contains

segment is part of a hill, the process 100 proceeds to obtain the data that represent the successor road segments that connect to the segments downhill node (Step 142). The altitude of the successor road segments is examined (Step 144). From an examination of location of the segments downhill node, as
well as the altitude information associated with the segment s successor segments, it is determined whether there exists an intersection at the bottom of a hill (similar to the intersection

data that represents the road network in a region. The region

may be a country, such as the United States, Germany, France or Korea. Alternatively, the region may include several coun tries or an entire continent. According to another alternative, the region may include only a portion of a country, such as a
state or several states or metropolitan areas.

20 shown in FIG. 1). If examination of the location of the segments downhill node and the altitude information asso
ciated with the successor segments indicates that there is no

[0019] The process 100 is performed by a map developer, such as NAVTEQ Corporation. Alternatively, the process 100
may be performed by another entity that has access to an editable version of a map database 110. For example, the process may be performed by a customer or licensee of NAVTEQ, such as a manufacturer of navigation systems or active safety systems, or by a tra?ic information services
company or by a government o?ice at any level. [0020] The database 110 is in a format that can be edited. That is, new or updated information can be added to the database 110. Alternatively, the database 110 is in a format such that new information can be combined with the original data to form a new database that includes both the original data and new data. In one embodiment, the database is in an

intersection at the bottom of a hill, the process 100 proceeds to the step in which it is determined whether all the road

segment records in the database have been examined (Step

138) and if there are more segment records to examine, the

process 100 proceeds to get the next segment record (Step

130).
[0024] Referring back to Step 150, if examination of the
location of the segments downhill node and the altitude
information associated with the successor segments indicates that there is an intersection at the bottom of a hill, the process

100 adds precautionary action data 160 to the database 110 (Step 156). There may be a minimum threshold applied con

cerning altitude change or slope that constitutes the de?nition

of a slope of su?icient magnitude to be considered a haZard ous condition when associated with the intersection. This threshold may be different for different function class roads, surface types, urban or rural locations, or other conditions. The precautionary action data 160 indicates the presence of a feature in the road network where a precautionary action may be taken. After the precautionary action data 160 is added to

Oracle spatial format. Alternatively, the database may be in delivery format, such as GDF (Geographic Data File), SIF

(Standard Interchange Format), or other formats, including proprietary formats.

[0021] As stated above, the database 110 contains data that represents the road network in the region. The database 110
contains information such as the locations (geographic coor

dinates, including altitude) of roads and intersections, road

names, the three-dimensional shape of the roads including

the database 110, the process 100 proceeds to the step in which it is determined whether all the road segment records in the database have been examined (Step 138) and if there are more segment records to examine, the process 100 proceeds

curvature, slope and bank, speed limits along roads, turn

restrictions at intersections, addresses or address ranges

to get the next segment record (Step 130).

[0025] The process 100 ends when it is determined whether

along roads, the number of lanes each road has, lane width, lane markings, functional classes of roads, the locations of
medians, and so on. The database may also contain informa

all the road segment records have been examined (Step 138). [0026] It is noted that the process 100, above, performs a data mining function. The existence of the potentially di?icult
location, i.e., the intersection located at the bottom of a hill, is

tion about other geographic features, such as bodies of water,

US 2013/0311047 A1

Nov. 21,2013

derived from data already collected and present in the data base. It is noted that the process 100, above, evaluates mul tiple data items in the original database, to determine Whether
the condition exists, in this case, an intersection located at the

tionary action location 160(2) indicates Where along the rep

resented road segment a precautionary action may be taken.

The precautionary action location 160(2) data may include multiple entries. For example, the precautionary action loca
tion 160(2) may indicate Where a Warning may be provided to a vehicle driver to advise the driver about the upcoming
condition, i.e., the intersection at a bottom of a hill. In the case of an intersection located at a bottom of a hill, the Warning

bottom of a hill By evaluating these multiple data items, a determination is made Whether these multiple data items describe the condition of interest. If these data items do describe the condition, a neW data item, i.e., the precautionary action data, is added to the database.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram that shoWs a data record 200 in the database 110. The data record 200 represents a road seg

location 160(2) may indicate a distance (e. g., x meters) from the doWnhill intersection. The location 160(2) is determined based on an analysis of factors, such as the slope of the hill,

ment located in a geographic region. As explained above, the

geographic region may include an entire country or continent. Accordingly, the database 110 includes many data records
like the one shoWn in FIG. 3.

the speed limit along the represented road segment, the road classi?cation, and possibly other factors. These factors may
be determined from other data contained in the database 110. According to one example, the location 160(2) may indicate
that a Warning should be provided at a location 400 meters

[0028]

The data record 200 shoWn in FIG. 3 is exemplary

and shoWs only one Way to represent a road segment. Data

bases may represent road segments in various different Ways and may include different kinds of information. The present invention is not limited to any particular Way of representing roads. [0029] Referring to FIG. 3, various data are associated With the data record 200 that represents a road segment. This various data indicates features or attributes of the represented road segment. For example, associated With the data record is data that indicates the permitted direction(s) of travel. Also associated With the road segment record 200 are data that indicate a speed limit, a classi?cation of the road segment (i.e., 14, the type of road, such as controlled access, etc.), a

along the road segment from the doWnhill intersection. [0033] The precautionary action location 160(2) may also
indicate Where a vehicle control action should be taken, such

as tightening the seatbelts, pre-loading or engaging the

brakes, tightening sensitivities of lane departure Warning sys

tems or stability control systems, etc. This may be a different

location from Where the precautionary Warning is provided

and Would be based on a different analysis of factors.

[0034] Another component of the precautionary action data 160 is direction data 160(3). The direction data 160(3) indi cates the direction along the represented road segment Where the precautionary action should be taken. In this case, the direction data 160(3) indicates the doWnhill direction. (Note
that the database 110 may indicate a direction along a road segment as positive or negative based on the relative latitude

rank (e. g., 1-4), the endpoints of the road segment, shape points (i.e., locations along the road segment betWeen its
endpoints). Also associated With the road segment records is
data that indicate the successors at each endpoint. Successors are those road segments that connect to the represented road

and longitude of the road segment endpoints. Accordingly,

the doWnhill direction may be indicated as positive or nega

tive.)
[0035] Another component of the precautionary action data
160 is a reference 160(4). In this case, the reference 160(4) indicates the location of the intersection at the bottom of the hill The reference 160(4) refers to the node record that rep resents the intersection at the bottom of the hill. [0036] The precautionary action data 160 described in FIG.
3 is one Way that this data may be included in a database that represents a geographic region. There are alternative Ways to

segment at each of its endpoints. The segment record 200 may identify these successors by reference to the data records that
represent the successors.

[0030] In FIG. 3, the database 110 also includes precaution ary action data 160. The precautionary action data 160 is the data added to the database 110 by the process 100 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the precautionary action data 160 is shoWn as added to the road segment record 200. It should be understood that the process 100 adds precautionary action data 160 With

respect to only certain records, i.e., records that represent

those roads segments that meet the conditions identi?ed by the process. Accordingly, the database 110 Will contain data records that represent road segments that contain the precau tionary action data 160 and other data records that represent road segments that do not contain the precautionary action data 160. [0031] In the embodiment shoWn in FIG. 3, the precaution ary action data 160 is associated With the road segment iden
ti?ed as being on a hill and leading to an intersection located

include the precautionary action data. For example, the pre cautionary action data may be included as separate data
records in the database 110. If included as separate data

records, the precautionary action data may be associated With the road segments to Which they apply by pointers or other suitable data references. Alternatively, the precautionary action data may be associated With node data records, i.e., the
data that represent the intersections at the bottoms of hills, instead of the road segments leading to the intersections. Various other Ways exist and the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any speci?c implementation. [0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting components of a
vehicle 300. The vehicle 300 is operated on a road netWork, such as the road netWork represented by the database 110 in FIG. 2. The vehicle 300 may be an automobile, truck, bicycle,

at a bottom of the hill In this embodiment, the precautionary action data 160 includes several components. One component

160(1) indicates a condition type. This condition type 160(1) indicates the type of condition about Which a precautionary
action is to be taken, Which in this case is an intersection that is located at a bottom of a hill. This condition type 160(1) component is used When different conditions are identi?ed in

the database 110 about Which precautionary action may be taken.

motorcycle, etc. [0038] The vehicle 300 includes systems 310. In this embodiment, the vehicle systems 310 include a positioning system 320. The positioning system 320 determines the posi
tion of the vehicle 300 on the road netWork. The positioning system 320 includes appropriate hardWare and softWare to

[0032] Another component of the precautionary action data 160 is the precautionary action location 160(2). The precau

determine the position of the vehicle 300. For example, the

US 2013/0311047 A1

Nov. 21,2013

positioning system may include hardware 322 that includes a GPS unit, an accelerometer, wheel speed sensors, etc. The

actuator 356. The vehicle control systems and actuator are

positioning system 320 also includes a positioning applica tion 324. The positioning application 324 is a software appli
cation that uses outputs from the positioning system hardware 322 and information from a map database 330. The position

operatively connected to various vehicle mechanical systems, such as the vehicles brakes 356(1), engine 356(2), seatbelts

(including tensioners) 356(3), airbags 356(4), stability con

trol algorithms, as well as other system systems 356(5). [0046] FIG. 5 is a ?owchart 400 showing operation of the

ing application 324 determines the position of the vehicle 300 with respect to the road network, including the location of the
vehicle 300 along a road segment and a direction of travel of

precautionary action application 350 (in FIG. 4). As the

vehicle 300 (in FIG. 4) is being operated on a road, the precautionary action application 350 obtains the current

the vehicle along the road segment.

[0039] In one embodiment, the map database 330 is located in the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, the map data base 330 may be located remotely and accessed by the vehicle systems 310 using a wireless communication system. In yet another embodiment, part of the map database 330 may be located locally in the vehicle and part of the map database 330

vehicle position from the positioning system 320 (Step 410).

(During vehicle operation, the positioning system 320 con tinuously determines the current geographic position of the vehicle 300 as the vehicle is being operated using data from the map database 330.) The positioning system 320 provides the precautionary action application with data that indicates
the current vehicle position with respect to the road network as represented by the map database 330. Speci?cally, the location of the vehicle along a road segment and the direction of travel of the vehicle along the road segment are determined

may be located remotely.

[0040] The map database 330 is stored on a computer read

able medium 334. The computer-readable medium may be

implemented using any suitable technology. For example, the

computer readable medium may be a DVD disk, a CD-ROM disk, a hard disk, ?ash memory, or any other medium, or a

and provided to the precautionary action application 350.

[0047] Next, the process 400 obtains data from the map

plurality of media.
[0041] The map database 330 includes data that represents the geographic region in which the vehicle 300 is being oper
ated. The map database 330 may represent the same geo

database 300 that represents the geographic features (i.e., roads, intersections, etc.) at the current location of the vehicle and in the direction in which the vehicle is heading (Step 420).
In one embodiment, an electronic horiZon is used (Step 430). Building an electronic horiZon and using it to provide wam ings are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 6,405,128 and 6,735,515

graphic region as the database 110 in FIG. 2, or alternatively, the map database 330 may represent only a portion of the

region represented by the database 110.

[0042] The map database 330 used by the vehicle systems
310 may be in a different format from the database 110 in FIG. 2. The map database 330 is formed or derived from the

and US. patent application Ser. No. 11/400,151, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Using an electronic horiZon and/or the inventions disclosed in

these patents and pending patent application is optional and

the disclosed process 400 is not limited to using the electronic

database 110 by a compilation process that organiZes and presents the data in a form and format that speci?cally facili tates its use for performing speci?c functions. For example, the map database 330 may be separated into different collec
tions of data that are used for speci?c functions, such as

horiZon technology.
[0048] After obtaining data from the map database 300 that represents the geographic features at the current location of the vehicle and in the direction in which the vehicle is head ing, the process 400 includes the step of examining the data to determine whether any precautionary action data (1 60 in FIG.

vehicle positioning, route calculation, map display, route

guidance, destination selection, and so on. The map database

330 may also be organiZed into groupings spatially. One kind

of compiled database format is disclosed in US. Pat. No.

3) is associated with the represented geographic features

(Step 440). If there is no precautionary action data associated with the represented geographic features, the process 400
loops back to get a new current vehicle position (Step 410). On the other hand, if there is precautionary action data asso

5,968,109, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Various other compiled database formats

exist, including proprietary formats, and the disclosed

embodiment(s) are not limited to any particular format. [0043] Included among the vehicle systems 310 in FIG. 4 is a navigation system 340. The navigation system 340 uses

ciated with the represented geographic features, the process 400 takes a precautionary action (Step 450). The precaution
ary action may be a warning provided to the vehicle operator when the vehicle is at the location (i.e., 160(2) in FIG. 3) indicated by the precautionary action data. The warning may
be provided via the user interface 354. The warning may be an audible warning message or a visual warning.

outputs from the positioning system 320 and data from the
map database 330 to provide navigation-related features to a vehicle user, e.g., the vehicle operator or passenger. The navi

gation system 340 includes applications for route calculation 344, map display 346, as well as possibly other applications.

[0049]

The precautionary action is not limited to warnings,

The navigation system 340 provides the navigation-related

features to the vehicle user via a user interface 354. (The

navigation system 340 is optional and may be omitted.)

[0044] Also included among the vehicle systems 310 is a

but may also include other actions. For example, in the case of an intersection located at the bottom of a hill, vehicle systems 356, such as the brakes, engine or transmission, can be read ied for a quick deceleration or stop. In addition, the seatbelts

precautionary action application 350. The precautionary

action application 350 uses outputs from the positioning sys
tem 320 and data from the map database 330 to take precau

may be tightened or the airbags set to deploy. As explained above, to facilitate these kinds of actions, additional informa tion may be added to the warning data 160 (in FIG. 3) to
indicate the type of action as well as the location where the action should be taken.

tionary actions, such as provide warnings to the vehicle

operator. The precautionary action application 350 provides

the warning to the vehicle operator via the user interface 354.

[0050]

Referring still to FIG. 5, after taking the precaution

[0045]

FIG. 4 also shows that precautionary action appli

ary action, the process 400 loops back to get a new current

cation 350 provides an output to vehicle control systems and

vehicle position (Step 410).

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Alternative With Dynamic Data

[0051] The process (400 in FIG. 5) Was described as a Way to use the precautionary action data that had been stored in the map database to take an appropriate action in a vehicle When
the vehicle is at or is approaching a location identi?ed as having a potentially hazardous condition. This process uses a

a positioning system that determines a current location

relative to the data representing a geographic region; and a precautionary action application, responsive to the posi tioning system and the database, that provides a precau tionary action When the positioning system determines
that the current location is approaching a location asso

positioning system and map database in the vehicle to deter

mine When the vehicle is at or is approaching such a location.

The process may also take into account dynamic information. Dynamic information may include current tra?ic and Weather

ciated With precautionary action data. 2. The system of claim 1 Wherein the precautionary action
data further includes data that indicates a location along a

conditions, ambient light conditions, road conditions (e.g.,

ice), and so on. The vehicle may include systems to obtain such information. For example, the vehicle may have a tra?ic

road segment Which precedes the location associated With the

precautionary action data at Which a precautionary action is to be taken. 3. The system of claim 1 Wherein the precautionary action data further includes data that indicates a direction along a road segment at Which a precautionary action is to be taken. 4. The system of claim 1 Wherein the precautionary action data further includes data that refers to the location of the actual intersection of roads located at the bottom of a hill. 5. The system of claim 1 Wherein at least part of the data base is located remotely and accessed using Wireless commu nications.

data receiver that obtains real-time traf?c information, e.g., RDS-TMC messages. The process 400 may use the dynamic information in combination With the precautionary action data. For example, the process may modify the location at Which a Warning is provided. As an example, if Weather conditions indicate that it is raining, the location at Which a Warning is provided to the vehicle driver about an upcoming intersection at the bottom of a hill may be modi?ed, i.e., adjusted to a point farther in advance of the location of the hazardous condition, in order to give the vehicle operator
additional time or distance. The process may even take certain

6. A method for providing precautionary actions compris

ing:
determining a current position; accessing a database that contains data representing a geo graphic region Wherein the data includes data that rep resents a road netWork located in the geographic region

actions only under certain conditions. For example, a Warning

about an intersection located at the bottom of a hill may be

provided only during nighttime hours. During daylight, the

condition may not Warrant a Warning.

Veri?cation
[0052] The process (100 in FIG. 2) Was described as a Way to automatically examine records in a database that represents roads to identify locations or conditions along the road net

and precautionary action data that indicates precaution

ary action locations associated With locations Where a

combination of conditions exist, Wherein the combina tion of conditions comprises an intersection of roads
located at a bottom of a hill; and

Work Where a precautionary action might be taken. According

to the described process, data is then added to indicate the

upon determining that the data representations of the part

of the road netWork around the current position include

location Where the precautionary action should be taken.

precautionary action data, taking a precautionary action

as the current location is approaching a location associ

Alternatively, instead of automatically adding the precaution

ary action data to the database, the locations Where such
conditions are identi?ed could be marked on a temporary

basis. Then, a geographic analyst (or other human operator)

could revieW some or all such temporarily marked locations.

ated thereWith. 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

building an electronic horiZon after accessing the database;

and using the electronic horiZon to determine Whether precau tionary action data is included therein. 8. The method of claim 6 Wherein the precautionary action
is provided via a user interface.

The analyst may conduct this revieW by physically traveling

to the locations or by revieWing satellite or aerial photographs of the locations, or video taken While driving by the locations

(previously or subsequently acquired either by the analyst or others including members of the public). Based on the revieW, the analyst then determines Whether precautionary action
data should be added to the database.

9. The method of claim 6 Wherein the precautionary action comprises a Warning provided to an operator at a ?rst preced

[0053]

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description

ing location preceding the location associated With the pre

cautionary action data, and readying a user for a quick decel eration or stop at a second preceding location preceding the

be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is

understoodthat the folloWing claims including all equivalents

are intended to de?ne the scope of the invention. text

location associated With the precautionary action data, the

second preceding location being closer to the location asso ciated With the precautionary action data then the ?rst pre

I claim:

1. A Warning system comprising:

a database that contains data representing a geographic

ceding location.
10. The method of claim 9 Wherein the Warning comprises
an audible Warning message.

region in Which the Warning system is being operated,

Wherein the data includes data that represents a road

network located in the geographic region and precau tionary action data that indicates precautionary action
locations associated With locations Where a combination

11. The method of claim 9 Wherein the Warning comprises

a visual Warning. 12. The method of claim 9 Wherein the readying further

of conditions exist, Wherein the combination of condi

tions comprises an intersection of roads located at a bottom of a hill;

comprises tightening seatbelts.

13. The method of claim 9 Wherein the readying further

comprises setting airbags to deploy.

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14. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

using dynamic information to determine the precautionary

action to take as the current location approaches the

determining a current location; accessing the database based on the current location to
identify one or more data records associated With one or

location associated With precautionary action data. 15. The method of claim 14 Wherein the dynamic informa tion comprises current tra?ic conditions. 16. The method of claim 14 Wherein the dynamic informa tion comprises current Weather conditions. 17. The method of claim 14 further comprising: modifying a location at Which the precautionary action is
taken based on the dynamic information.

more locations around the current location and deter

mine if any of the identi?ed one or more data records are

associated With precautionary action data; and

taking a precautionary action if approaching a location
associated With any of the identi?ed one or more data

18. A method for providing precautionary actions compris

ing:
accessing a database that represents a road netWork in a

geographic region, identifying a data record therein

associated With a location in the geographic region com prising an intersection at a hill bottom and augmenting the database to include precautionary action data asso

ciated With the identi?ed data record, the precautionary action data operative to indicate a potentially haZardous
location at Which a precautionary action is to be taken

records determined to be associated With precautionary action data. 19. The method of claim 18 Wherein the precautionary action comprises a providing a Warning at a ?rst preceding location preceding the location associated With the precau tionary action data, and readying for a quick deceleration or stop at a second preceding location preceding the location associated With the precautionary action data, the second preceding location being closer to the location associated With the precautionary action data then the ?rst preceding location. 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

using dynamic information to determine the precautionary

action to take the location associated With precautionary

When approaching, Wherein the accessing, identifying,

and augmenting occur prior to being located at the loca tion associated With the identi?ed data record;

action data is approached.

* * * * *