Methods for digital mapping and associated apparatus
A method comprises extracting a local identifier ( 130, 730 a, 730 b ) from an image ( 100, 500, 700 ), the image ( 100, 500, 700 ) also having positional data ( 120 ) relating to the location at which the image ( 100, 500, 700 ) was captured; and associating the extracted local identifier ( 130, 730 a, 730 b ) with the corresponding positional data ( 120 ) to allow for associating the extracted local identifier with a digital map ( 300, 600, 800 ).
1. A method of associating information with a digital map comprising:
extracting at least one local identifier from at least one image, the at least one image also having positional data; and
determining the location of each of the at least one extracted local identifier using the positional data of the corresponding image;
creating at least one cluster of common or similar extracted local identifiers based on at least one of:
(i) the distance of the extracted local identifiers from each other; and
(ii) the distance of the extracted local identifiers from one or more segments of the digital map; and
associating the at least one cluster with at least one segment of the digital map.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the extracted at least one local identifier is a street name.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one extracted local identifier is extracted from the at least one image by using character recognition.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the positional data comprises data relating to one or more of:
global navigation satellite system data;
cellular network data;
local wireless network data; and
pseudolite data.
5. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one cluster is further based on the orientation of the at least one extracted local identifier.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the segments of the digital map are derived from probe data.
7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program code to make a computer execute the method as claimed in claim 1 .
8. A digital map created using the method of claim 1 .
9. An apparatus for associating information with a digital map comprising:
a processor configured to:
extract at least one local identifier from at least one image, the at least one image having positional data relating to the location at which the image is captured;
determine the location of each of the at least one extracted local identifiers using the positional data of the corresponding image;
create at least one cluster of common or similar extracted local identifiers based on at least one of:
(i) the distance of the extracted local identifiers from each other; and
(ii) (ii) the distance of the extracted local identifiers from one or more segments of the digital map; and
associate the one or more clusters with at least one segment of the digital map.