Abstract: The invention relates to a spinlock-based multi-core synchronization technique in a real-time environment, wherein multiple processor cores perform spinning attempts to request a lock and the lock is allocated to at most one of the multiple cores for a mutually exclusive operation thereof. A method embodiment of the technique comprises the steps of allocating the lock to the first core requesting it; establishing for each core an indication of a waiting time for receiving the lock; selecting at least one of the spinning cores based on the waiting time indications; and, upon return of the lock, conditionally allocating the lock to the selected core, if the selected core performs a spinning attempt within a predefined time window starting with the return of the lock.

Abstract: A technique of structuring a navigation database is provided, wherein the navigation database includes at least route link data for a predetermined geographic area. A method implementation of the technique includes organizing route link data associated with the predetermined geographic area into at least one routing cluster; providing the at least one routing cluster with a cluster identifier; and storing the at least one routing cluster together with the cluster identifier in the navigation database.

Abstract: A technique for structuring a navigation data base in order to support incremental data updates is provided. A method implementation of the technique includes the steps of providing at least two data levels, wherein a first data level is associated with route links representing road segments of regional distance roads, partitioning the first data level into local tiles, wherein each local tile is associated with route links representing road segments of regional distance roads for a specific local geographic area, and interlinking those route links of neighboring local tiles that represent road segment portions of a regional distance road extending over neighboring local tiles.

Abstract: A technique for calculating a location of a first vehicle is described. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of detecting, from the perspective of the first vehicle, a movement of a second vehicle relative to the first vehicle, determining, for the time of the relative movement, a location of the second vehicle based on the detected relative movement by matching the detected movement of the second vehicle against map data, measuring, for the time of the relative movement, a distance between the first and second vehicles, and calculating the location of the first vehicle based on the measured distance and the determined location of the second vehicle. The technique also comprises an apparatus, a computer program product, and a vehicle navigation system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a technique for controlling the signalling of incoming telephone calls during a route guidance by means of a navigation device. A method aspect includes the steps of detecting an incoming telephone call, determining a distance to a forthcoming manoeuvre instruction or route reference point on a predetermined route in response to the detected telephone call, and delaying the incoming telephone call until a manoeuvre instruction has been output if the determined distance to the forthcoming manoeuvre instruction or route reference point falls short of a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A technique for determining shifted cargo on a vehicle is described. A method realization of this technique comprises the steps of acquiring data from a positional sensor and determining a change in a balance of loads upon wheels of the vehicle. Shifted cargo is determined if the change in load balance does not correspond to the positional data. Furthermore, a device and system suited for carrying out the method are provided.

Abstract: A technique for manipulating precalculated routes on a screen is described. One aspect of the method comprises the steps of detecting a selected screen position (P) and a time period (t) of a selection operation at the screen position (P), modifying weights of the road segments in dependence on the detected screen position (P) and the time period (t), and calculating a route, manipulated in relation to the precalculated route, on the basis of the modified weights.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for identifying points of interest, or POIs, in a vicinity of a predetermined location on the basis of digital cartographic data and a predetermined search time and a predetermined number of POI hits. The method comprises the steps of identifying, on the basis of cartographic data, an initial search field that includes the predetermined location, searching for a POI in the search field, and iteratively enlarging the search field and searching for the POI in the enlarged search field until the predetermined search time has elapsed or the predetermined lo number of POI hits has been attained.

Abstract: A technique for determining shifted cargo on a vehicle is described. A method realisation of this technique comprises the steps of acquiring data from a positional sensor and determining a change in a balance of loads upon wheels of the vehicle. Shifted cargo is determined if the change in load balance does not correspond to the positional data. Furthermore, a device and system suited for carrying out the method are provided.