Abstract: A mapping or navigation device comprises or is connectable to position determining apparatus, the position determining apparatus being operable to determine one or more locations of the mapping or navigation device, the one or more determined locations forming at least one route, wherein the mapping or navigation device is configured to determine at least one portion of the at least one route, where the at least one portion is determined according to at least one property associated with at least one location comprised in the portion, and the mapping or navigation device is configured to form at least one anonymized route from the at least one determined route, wherein the at least one anonymized route does not include the at least one portion of the at least one route.

Abstract: An alert content reception apparatus comprises a communications interface (229) compatible with a data broadcast service and capable of receiving, when in use, a broadcast data message comprising reference data concerning alert content. The apparatus also comprises a processing resource (202) arranged to analyze, when in use, the broadcast data message and acquire the alert content associated with the reference data in response to determining that the alert content associated with the reference data has not previously been acquired. The communications interface (229) is compatible with a bidirectional data communications service, the processing resource (202) also being arranged to cooperate with the communications interface (229) in order to retrieve the alert content via the bidirectional data communications service.

Abstract: A mapping or navigation device comprises or is connectable to position determining apparatus, the position determining apparatus being operable to determine one or more locations of the mapping or navigation device, the one or more determined locations forming at least one route, wherein the mapping or navigation device is configured to determine at least one portion of the at least one route, where the at least one portion is determined according to at least one property associated with at least one location comprised in the portion, and the mapping or navigation device is configured to form at least one anonymized route from the at least one determined route, wherein the at least one anonymized route does not include the at least one portion of the at least one route.

Abstract: A portable navigation device includes a processing resource operably coupled to a Radio Data System communications unit and a location determination unit. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource supports a country code selector and is operably coupled to a data store capable of storing Radio Data System country code data. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource is also arranged to determine a first country associated with location data generated, when in use, by the location determination unit, the country code selector being arranged to identify a first country code from the country code data that does not correspond to the first country associated with the location data and a second country neighboring the first country. The processing resource is also arranged to use the first country code to generate a Program Identification code.

Abstract: An electronic map generation process is provided comprising the steps of: 1) Obtaining a local electronic map via a communication system, the local electronic map having been generated by a horizon generator in a vehicle and output to the communication system, the horizon generator having used a source electronic map and vehicle position data from a vehicle positioning system to generate the local electronic map; 2) Processing the local electronic map in an electronic map generation unit; and 3) Outputting an electronic map.

Abstract: An alert content reception apparatus comprises a communications interface (229) compatible with a data broadcast service and capable of receiving, when in use, a broadcast data message comprising reference data concerning alert content. The apparatus also comprises a processing resource (202) arranged to analyse, when in use, the broadcast data message and acquire the alert content associated with the reference data in response to determining that the alert content associated with the reference data has not previously been acquired. The communications interface (229) is compatible with a bidirectional data communications service, the processing resource (202) also being arranged to cooperate with the communications interface (229) in order to retrieve the alert content via the bidirectional data communications service.

Abstract: A portable electronic communications apparatus includes a processing resource operably coupled to a Radio Data System communications unit. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource is also arranged to identify, when in use, a number of available frequencies capable of serving as a number of Alternative Frequencies, respectively. The processing resource communicates on a tuned frequency first Radio Data System data identifying the number of Alternative Frequencies. A data store is also operably coupled to the processing resource. The Radio Data System communications unit is arranged to re-tune, when in use, from the tuned frequency to another frequency of the number of available frequencies and to communicate on the another frequency second Radio Data System data, the re-tuning being supplemental to any re-tuning initiated as a result of inadequate signal strength associated with the tuned frequency. The number of Alternative Frequencies is kept below a certain maximum.

Abstract: A portable navigation device includes a processing resource operably coupled to a Radio Data System communications unit and a location determination unit. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource supports a country code selector and is operably coupled to a data store capable of storing Radio Data System country code data. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource is also arranged to determine a first country associated with location data generated, when in use, by the location determination unit, the country code selector being arranged to identify a first country code from the country code data that does not correspond to the first country associated with the location data and a second country neighbouring the first country. The processing resource is also arranged to use the first country code to generate a Programme Identification code.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a portable navigation device or navigation system having a digital camera associated therewith and controlled is described. The method includes capturing digital image data as well as performing a pattern recognition technique on the captured digital image data to determine whether the image includes one or more recognizable pre-defined features. In addition, some information is stored into memory, including an indication of a feature identified for which the pattern recognition technique was successful together with geospatial location data identifying the approximate position of at least one of: the location of the device or system when the digital image was captured, a calculated predicted location of the device and a calculated approximation of the location of the feature identified in the captured digital image.

Abstract: A radio data system transmits message groups comprising four blocks of which the first block always carries the program identification code for the transmitting network (P1(TN)). One type of message group, identified by a corresponding group type code (GT) in a second block always carries a program identification code for another network (PI(ON) in a fourth block and carries various corresponding items of information in a third block. Which of these various items is in the third block is identified by a user code (UC) in the second block. The items of information in the third block may in particular include alternative frequency codes for the other network identified in the fourth block.