Abstract: A system and method for distributing information for storage media, and in particular, for distributing updated navigation data, such as geographical data and navigation application programs, contained on storage media and used in in-vehicle navigation systems. A plurality of local repositories are located in a geographical area. Each of the local repositories includes updated versions of navigation data for the navigation systems. Owners of vehicles having navigation systems may visit any of the repositories from time to time where they can obtain updated versions of the navigation data for their navigation systems. Subscriptions for obtaining updated navigation data would be available to the owners of navigation systems that would entitle them to obtain updated navigation data from the repositories. Procedures for updating the local repositories are also provided. The system and method can be used for updating other types of software.

Abstract: A system and method for arranging and storing a plurality of records of geographic data, wherein each record corresponds to a physical feature having a physical location in a geographic region. The method and system comprise arranging the records of geographic data into a plurality of parcels. Each parcel includes records of geographic data that represent features having physical locations encompassed within a corresponding associated rectangular area located in the geographic region. The size and location of each such rectangular area associated with a parcel is determined by a series of divisions of a bounding rectangle that encompasses all of the features represented by the plurality of records into further rectangular areas. Each division, subsequent to an initial division, is made on a rectangular area resulting from the preceding division.

Abstract: An improved method and system for storage of geographic data on physical storage media. The geographic data are stored in a manner that facilitates and enhances use and access of the data by various navigation application functions in navigation systems that use the data. The geographic data includes a parcelization that separates the geographic data into parcels having less than or equal to a maximum parcel size but having at least a desired fill percentage. The parcelization method also provides for a division arrangement that facilitates addressing and identification of the parcels. According to a further aspect, the geographic data includes special nodal entities that are used to collapse complex intersections, such as roundabouts, cloverleaves, and divided highways, into simpler data representations. The special nodal entities are associated with road segment data entities and used in a route calculation program in place of regular node entities.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing information for storage media, and in particular, for distributing updated navigation data, such as geographical data and navigation application programs, contained on storage media and used in in-vehicle navigation systems. A plurality of local repositories are located in a geographical area. Each of the local repositories includes updated versions of navigation data for the navigation systems. Owners of vehicles having navigation systems may visit any of the repositories from time to time where they can obtain updated versions of the navigation data for their navigation systems. Subscriptions for obtaining updated navigation data would be available to the owners of navigation systems that would entitle them to obtain updated navigation data from the repositories. Procedures for updating the local repositories are also provided. The system and method can be used for updating other types of software.

Abstract: A system and method for making and using a geographic database. The geographic database represents a geographic region and is used with a navigation application program. The geographic database includes a plurality of data entities each of which represents a physical feature in the geographic region. The plurality of data entities are separated into a plurality of parcels each of which contains a grouping of data entities that represent features in the geographic area encompassed within a separate one of a plurality of rectangles which together encompass all the features in the entire geographic region represented by all of the plurality of data entities. Each of the plurality of data entities has a data entity ID.

Abstract: A system and method of providing incremental updates for a geographical data set for use in navigation systems. The system and method include organizing updates of geographical data set into a series of transactions. Each of the transactions includes a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies the transaction, and n steps to be applied to the geographical data set to complete the transaction. All the steps of the transaction are required to be successfully applied in order for the transaction to be completed, otherwise, the entire transaction is not applied.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for providing route guidance and other information from a base unit to a remote unit in response to a request from the remote unit. A query is formatted at the remote unit, the query including the request, and is transmitted from the remote unit to the base unit. Requested route guidance information is calculated at the base unit in response to the query, using a large up-to-date database located at the base unit. A response to the query is formatted at the base unit, the response including route guidance information. The response is then transmitted from the base unit to the remote unit for display. The transmission is made in a compact form through the use of maneuver arms and combined maneuver arms and through the use of tokenized forms. A maneuver arm represents a road at an intersection, for depiction on a display, by one or two endpoint coordinates.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic release system includes a buoyed member with an attached line that is released from a preselected underwater location using an acoustic signal that activates a heating element to melt a volume of wax or like meltable substance. The wax expands, pushing a cylinder or like linkage to release the buoy and its attached line so that it rises to the surface identifying the location for a survey vessel.

Abstract: An acoustic transponder device includes waterproof housing that accepts a battery pack with a water displacing connection placing the housing and battery pack in communication. The housing carries an electronics package. Both the housing and battery pack can be disposable components, and can be sealed upon manufacture to prevent water ingress.