Method and apparatus for matching probe points to road segments utilizing a trajectory identifier

An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

• for a probe point having a respective trajectory identifier (ID) that identifies probe points collected by a device at least for a period of time and associated with an ambiguous link tuple comprised of two or more links of a road network to which the probe point is matched, identify each probe point having the respective trajectory ID that is unambiguously matched to one of a first branch or a second branch that extend away from the ambiguous link tuple;
• separately determine a number of probe points having the respective trajectory ID that are unambiguously matched to the first branch and that are unambiguously matched to the second branch;
• and
• match the probe point having the respective trajectory ID that was associated with the ambiguous link tuple to a respective one of the first branch or the second branch based upon the number of probe points having the respective trajectory ID that are unambiguously matched to the first branch and that are unambiguously matched to the second branch.

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:

• for a probe point having a respective trajectory identifier (ID) that identifies probe points collected by a device at least for a period of time and associated with an ambiguous link tuple comprised of two or more links of a road network to which the probe point is matched, program instructions configured to identify each probe point having the respective trajectory ID that is unambiguously matched to one of a first branch or a second branch that extend away from the ambiguous link tuple;
• program instructions configured to separately determine a number of probe points having the respective trajectory ID that are unambiguously matched to the first branch and that are unambiguously matched to the second branch;
• and
• program instructions configured to match the probe point having the respective trajectory ID that was associated with the ambiguous link tuple to a respective one of the first branch or the second branch based upon the number of probe points having the respective trajectory ID that are unambiguously matched to the first branch and that are unambiguously matched to the second branch.