# US 2016/0258754 A1 · Method and apparatus for providing qualitative trajectory analytics to classify probe data

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- Number: US 2016/0258754 A1
- Document ID: US20160258754A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/638,401
- Filed: 2015-03-04
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04
- Assignees: HERE Global B.V.
- Applicants: HERE Global B.V.
- Inventors: Jane MACFARLANE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258754A1

## CPC

- G01C 21/3679: {Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities (G01C21/3611 takes precedence)}
- G01C 21/3811: {Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]}
- G01C 21/3841: {Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)

## Abstract

An approach is provided for classifying probe data into qualitative categories to determine a point of interest. The approach involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of probe data to determine one or more trajectories associated with one or more probes. The approach also involves determining one or more clips of the one or more trajectories associated with one or more locations at which the one or more probes lingered based, at least in part, on at least one space threshold value, at least one time threshold value, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an extraction of one or more probe parameter values from the one or more clips. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a classification of the one or more probe parameter values into one or more qualitative categories. The approach further involves determining one or more points of interest, one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more locations based, at least in part, on the one or more qualitative categories.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
processing and/or facilitating a processing of probe data to determine one or more trajectories associated with one or more probes;
determining one or more clips of the one or more trajectories associated with one or more locations at which the one or more probes lingered based, at least in part, on at least one space threshold value, at least one time threshold value, or a combination thereof;
causing, at least in part, an extraction of one or more probe parameter values from the one or more clips;
causing, at least in part, a classification of the one or more probe parameter values into one or more qualitative categories; and
determining one or more points of interest, one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more locations based, at least in part, on the one or more qualitative categories.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method of claim 1, further comprising:
causing, at least in part, an evaluation of the one or more clips two data points at a time to determine at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories,
wherein the at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories represents at least one qualitative description of the one or more clips; and
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one qualitative description.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method of claim 2, further comprising:
causing, at least in part, a generation of at least one reduced qualitative description by reducing one or more duplicative qualitative categories in the at least one qualitative description,
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one reduced qualitative description.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method of claim 3, wherein the one or more probe parameter values include, at least in part, one or more speed values, one or more heading values, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method of claim 4, further comprising:
processing and/or facilitating a processing of the one or more speed values to determine one or more acceleration values,
wherein the one or more qualitative categories for the one or more acceleration values include, at least in part, an acceleration category, a deceleration category, a constant speed category, a stopped category, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining that the one or more location potentially includes the one or more points of interest if the at least one qualitative description with respect to the one or more acceleration values includes, at least in part, a deceleration category followed by a stopped category.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A method of claim 4, further comprising:
causing, at least in part, a categorization of the one or more heading values associated with the one or more clips into one or more predetermined heading ranges; and
determining the one or more qualitative categories based, at least in part, on a number of the one or more predetermined heading ranges traversed during the one or more clips.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method of claim 7, wherein the one or more qualitative categories includes at least one high maneuvering category if the number of the one or more predetermined heading ranges traversed during the one or more clips is high; and wherein the one or more qualitative categories includes at least one low maneuvering category if the number of the one or more predetermined heading ranges traversed during the one or more clips is low.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining that the one or more location potentially includes the one or more points of interest if the at least one qualitative description with respect to the one or more heading values includes, at least in part, a high maneuvering category.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest include, at least in part, one or more hours of operation, popularity information, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 11

An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
process and/or facilitate a processing of probe data to determine one or more trajectories associated with one or more probes;
determine one or more clips of the one or more trajectories associated with one or more locations at which the one or more probes lingered based, at least in part, on at least one space threshold value, at least one time threshold value, or a combination thereof;
cause, at least in part, an extraction of one or more probe parameter values from the one or more clips;
cause, at least in part, a classification of the one or more probe parameter values into one or more qualitative categories; and
determine one or more points of interest, one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more locations based, at least in part, on the one or more qualitative categories.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, an evaluation of the one or more clips two data points at a time to determine at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories,
wherein the at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories represents at least one qualitative description of the one or more clips; and
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one qualitative description.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one reduced qualitative description by reducing one or more duplicative qualitative categories in the at least one qualitative description,
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one reduced qualitative description.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more probe parameter values include, at least in part, one or more speed values, one or more heading values, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more speed values to determine one or more acceleration values,
wherein the one or more qualitative categories for the one or more acceleration values include, at least in part, an acceleration category, a deceleration category, a constant speed category, a stopped category, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
determine that the one or more location potentially includes the one or more points of interest if the at least one qualitative description with respect to the one or more acceleration values includes, at least in part, a deceleration category followed by a stopped category.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, a categorization of the one or more heading values associated with the one or more clips into one or more predetermined heading ranges; and
determine the one or more qualitative categories based, at least in part, on a number of the one or more predetermined heading ranges traversed during the one or more clips.

### Claim 18

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:
process and/or facilitate a processing of probe data to determine one or more trajectories associated with one or more probes;
determine one or more clips of the one or more trajectories associated with one or more locations at which the one or more probes lingered based, at least in part, on at least one space threshold value, at least one time threshold value, or a combination thereof;
cause, at least in part, an extraction of one or more probe parameter values from the one or more clips;
cause, at least in part, a classification of the one or more probe parameter values into one or more qualitative categories; and
determine one or more points of interest, one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more locations based, at least in part, on the one or more qualitative categories.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, an evaluation of the one or more clips two data points at a time to determine at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories,
wherein the at least one sequence of the one or more qualitative categories represents at least one qualitative description of the one or more clips; and
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one qualitative description.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one reduced qualitative description by reducing one or more duplicative qualitative categories in the at least one qualitative description,
wherein the one or more points of interest, the one or more characteristics of the one or more points of interest, or a combination thereof is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one reduced qualitative description.

### Claim at position 21

-48. (canceled)