Abstract: A route planning system (10) uses a computer (11) and stored road data to calculate a desired route to a destination. Road data is stored in a multiple layer road map data memory (13) in hierarchical multiple layers (17, 18, 19), each layer defining roadways by stored road segments (1S1-3S7) which extend between nodes (135-365)that correspond to roadway intersections. A first or lower layer (17) of road data designates a large number of first layer vehicle roadways while a second or higher level layer (18 or 19) of road data designates only some of the large number of first layer roadways as second layer roadways. Preferably, stored second layer road segments (2S1-2S17 or 3S1-3S7) extend between intersections of the roadways designated in the second layer rather than between intersections of roadways in the second layer with roadways or road segments not designated in the second layer but designated in the first layer.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation/position system (10) investigates road segments having start and end coordinates stored in a road map data memory (13). The system determines what road segments have at least a portion inside a rectangle of interest (ROI-100) about an estimated vehicle position (101). Map matching then corrects vehicle position by locating vehicle position on one of the road segments inside the rectangle of interest. Vehicle location/navigation information is then provided. A computer (11) identifies road segments as inside the rectangle of interest (100) by creating electrical signals associated with each road segment start/end coordinate as compared to boundary coordinates of the rectangle. These electrical signals identify the road segment coordinates with respect to areas (B-I) surrounding the rectangle of interest (A).

Abstract: Vehicle route planning system (10) uses a route planning apparatus (13, 19) to calculate a desired route between start and destination locations. Apparatus (16, 17) provides route information based on the calculated route. The route is calculated in accordance with fixed road path data stored in a memory (14). A user of the system (10) uses input devices (11, 12) to specify "detour" data that define what stored road path data should not be considered in calculating the desired route. A navigation computer (13) allows the system user to designate the detour data as "system detour data" to be used for excluding road path data for all routes calculated for all drivers to all destinations or to designate the user specified detour data as "subsystem detour data" which is used for excluding road path data for calculating some, but fewer than all, routes to be calculated. Preferably, the subsystem detour data includes driver ID associated detour (route calculation) data and/or trip associated detour data.