Manipulation Of Map Display Or Data Patents (Class 340/995.14)
  • Patent number: 8095307
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a map display in a vehicle, a display device is controlled such that a section of a geographical map is displayed in a spatially non-linear scale. A display apparatus for displaying a geographical map includes a control unit and a display device, connected to the control unit, a map section, the control unit including an arithmetic-logic unit by which data assigned to the geographical map is able to be converted into display data, taking a spatially non-linear scale into consideration. A navigation system includes such a display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Ebert, Jens Fliegner, Christoph Waeller, Lorenz Bohrer, Heino Wengelnik, Joerg Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 8090483
    Abstract: A system for displaying throttle settings to an aircraft operator includes, but is not limited to, a display unit, a data storage unit configured to store aircraft and airport data, an operator input unit configured to receive thrust related information from the aircraft operator, an aircraft sensor configured to detect an aircraft condition, and a processor. The processor is communicatively connected to each of the above components and is configured to obtain therefrom the aircraft data, the airport data, the thrust related information, and the aircraft condition. The processor is also configured to calculate a first thrust requirement based on the aircraft data, the airport data, the thrust related information, and the aircraft condition, and to provide commands to the display unit to display either the first thrust requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Pepitone, John Anthony Wise, William Rogers
  • Patent number: 8073620
    Abstract: An instrument panel display system includes a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal controller arranged to generate display data to be inputted into the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal controller includes a graphic LSI arranged to autonomously create screen data from imaging data read out from a memory and image data inputted in the graphic LSI, and a control LSI arranged to receive vehicle data and create an imaging operation switching command according to the vehicle data. The graphic LSI creates the screen data in response to the imaging operation switching command, and outputs the screen data as the display data. This configuration can reduce the load on a processor connected to the vehicle network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8073619
    Abstract: An apparatus corrects a position coordinate measured by a GPS receiver. Road data representing a position coordinate of a constructed road is included. Locus data representing a plurality of position coordinates of the GPS receiver during a past specified period is generated based on a position coordinate acquired. A road section traveled by the GPS receiver during the past specified period is estimated based on road data stored and a position coordinate acquired. A bias error of a position coordinate measured by the GPS receiver is estimated based on position coordinates at a plurality of points in a road section estimated and position coordinates at a plurality of points represented by the locus data. A position coordinate measured by the GPS receiver is corrected based on a bias error estimated and outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Hattori, Minoru Okada, Masahiro Goto, Hiroshi Inou, Yoshifumi Kato
  • Patent number: 8072448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jiajun Zhu, Daniel Filip, Luc Vincent
  • Publication number: 20110291863
    Abstract: An in-vehicle display apparatus includes a communication device and an in-vehicle device. The communication device acquires information posted by the user and geographical location data indicating the destination of the posted information and classifies the acquired posted information into categories. The communication device generates map data in which the posted information is displayed in a display format corresponding to the classified category at a position on the map specified by the geographical location data that is acquired together with the posted information and transmits the map data to the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device displays the received map data on, for example, a liquid crystal monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yukisuke OZAKI, Takayoshi YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 8068982
    Abstract: An on-vehicle navigation system reliably performs guidance of a necessary exiting authorized section while avoiding the guidance of a needless exiting authorized section on a plural-lane road having a normal lane and a special lane where advancing from the normal lane in a predetermined advancing authorized section and exiting to the normal lane in a predetermined exiting authorized section are authorized. After discriminating whether the vehicle is driving in the special lane of the plural-lane road based on whether a characteristic object has been detected by a characteristic object detecting section, the guidance of an exiting authorized section is avoided in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route including a special lane, and the guidance of an exiting authorized section is performed in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route not including a special lane and drives in a special lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Takayuki Takada
  • Patent number: 8049603
    Abstract: An on-vehicle display device mounted on a ceiling including an open and close mechanism, which secures the rearward visibility during the backward driving of the vehicle and also enables the user to continue to enjoy display images. The on-vehicle display device includes a control means which controls the display 1, when the display 1 is open at a best view-angle position, to move in even more widely open direction to a predetermined angle (an displacement-angle position 1b), upon detection of entering a backward driving state of the vehicle. The display 1 is controlled to return to the best view-angle position when the backward driving state of the vehicle is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikunami
  • Patent number: 8046167
    Abstract: A method and a processing device may provide navigational information including non-photographic cues, such as, contextual color, texture, and structure cues, corresponding to physical entities visible to a party traveling along a determined route. In one embodiment, the non-photographic cues may be previously stored in a database. In another embodiment, non-photographic cues may be extracted from at least one provided image of a geographic area. In a third embodiment, a sequence of non-photographic cues may be automatically extracted from at least one image of a geographic area and, if the sequence of non-photographic cues was not previously saved, the sequence of non-photographic cues may be saved, along with related information, for later use when the sequence of non-photographic cues corresponds to a desired location. The provided navigational information may be presented in a number of ways including a simplified map, textual instructions, or generated speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pragyana K Mishra, Nagendra V Kolluru
  • Publication number: 20110251786
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aircraft that may have a fuselage and a cockpit located within the fuselage. A display may be located within the cockpit, with the display being controlled by a display control system. The display control system may have a graphical user interface module that generates at least one of a primary display or a context display, and receives at least one user input, and an image control module. The image control module may generate primary display data for display on the primary display based on the at least one user input. The image control module may determine, based on the primary display data, whether the context display is displayed, and may automatically display the context display as an overlay in a corner portion of the primary display when the at least one user input causes a portion of information associated therewith to be unavailable for display on the primary display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wipplinger, Rick Ellerbrock, Thorsten Wiesemann
  • Patent number: 8032297
    Abstract: A mapping systems includes determining that a map object (“MO”) is outside the visible area of a map displayed; calculating the direction, distance and travel-time to the MO, creating an object vector indicator (“OVI”) and displaying the OVI on the map-display application. The OVI may be displayed on the periphery of the map-display and may be positioned in the general direction of the MO. The position of the electronic device is factored into the calculations and placement of the OVI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Gabriel Jakobson
  • Patent number: 8032155
    Abstract: Displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes steps of obtaining map data for rendering the map to be displayed on the wireless communications device, determining a rotation that, when applied to the map, will orient a selected path in a selected direction, such as a current direction of travel, generating a corrected rotation by applying a spherical correction factor, e.g. based on a current location, and rendering the map on a display of the wireless communications device by applying the corrected rotation. The spherical correction factor corrects for map distortions that occur at high latitudes for paths that are neither purely north-south or east-west. When such a path is rotated to face upward to show direction of travel, the path needs to be straightened by applying the spherical correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard Dietrich Klassen, David Yach
  • Patent number: 8019532
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved mapping and navigational system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a system for defining and assigning geographical boundaries to points of interests on a graphical map, where the geographical boundaries preferably correlate to spatially defined boundaries of the respective points of interests. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the points of interest, along with the respective defined geographical boundaries, can be transferred from a personal computing device to a telecommunication device, such as a portable communication device, so as to be used for mapping purposes and to set off proximity alerts when the portable communication device, equipped with a GPS unit, enters or exits the geographical boundary of a particular point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sheha, Angie Sheha
  • Patent number: 8018354
    Abstract: An onboard display device has a pickup unit that picks up nighttime environment to acquire a nightview image, a display that can display a nightview image together with a map image, and a display control unit that displays an information-providing image that is different from the map image and the nightview image on the display and controls displays of the map image and the nightview image, when the information-providing image has to be displayed in a state in which the map image and the nightview image are displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110215950
    Abstract: In a method for displaying information in a vehicle, a geographic map is displayed on a display surface, a symbol for the vehicle is displayed within the geographic map, the position of the symbol relative to the geographic map changing as a function of the geographic position of the vehicle, and a graphic object including supplementary information being displayed within the geographic map as a function of the geographic position of the vehicle. An image sequence including multiple images for the graphic object is produced and displayed as a function of the geographic position of the vehicle such that at the end of the image sequence the graphic object has disappeared or can no longer be assigned to the supplementary information. A device is adapted to implement the method described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Volkmar Wagner, Indra-Lena Koegler, Daniel Canis
  • Patent number: 8014946
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. One apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes means for sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, means for receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, means for assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, means for aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and means for displaying the result as a map image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen, Bret Steven Taylor, James Christopher Norris, Stephen Ma, Andrew Robert Kirmse, Noel Phillip Gordon, Seth Michael LaForge
  • Patent number: 8005613
    Abstract: Techniques for generating, storing and displaying graphics on computer systems are disclosed. The type of graphics in particular are images, where the image can be defined as a set of areas, whether these areas are lines, geometric shapes, letters or other types of areas. The effect of using these methods is that graphics, such as digital maps, can be handled faster, with more flexibility and with higher display quality, both for screen use and for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8004395
    Abstract: An instrument panel display system displays vehicle information, amenity information, and safety information as images. In this instrument panel display system, data (image data, image layout data, and image output control data) for displaying the images are generated in a shared manner by a vehicle system processor, an amenity system processor, and a safety system processor. On account of this, the stability of image display on an instrument panel of a vehicle or the like is improved and hence safety of driving is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Okamoto, Toshiya Aoki, Kouichi Oda, Jun Hamachi, Fumiaki Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Yoda
  • Publication number: 20110199239
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a route for an aircraft or managing a map of an airport. The map is displayed on a display device. A movement of a number of fingers with respect to a number of aeronautical objects on the map is detected. The route for the aircraft is changed or information generated by an operation based on the number of aeronautical objects on the map is displayed in response to detecting the movement of the number of fingers with respect to the number of aeronautical objects on the map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andre Lutz, Cindy Dorfmann, Jason W. Clark
  • Patent number: 7991548
    Abstract: A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, whether the route segment is an unfamiliar segment, and identifying, based on the user's travel history, a road that is familiar to the user and that is within a scaled range of the unfamiliar segment. The computed route and the familiar road are then provided for presentation in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, and the familiar road is represented relative to the unfamiliar segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Scenera Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mona Singh
  • Patent number: 7987045
    Abstract: A method of stitching converging path segments to aesthetically label Y-intersections, path bifurcations or splits in roads or the like entails determining which pair of adjacent path segments subtend the largest angle. The path segments subtending the largest angle are reconstructed (stitched together) and a single instance of the label is then rendered along the reconstructed path. Although this stitching can be performed on the client device, pre-stitching server-side is even more efficient in terms of economizing over-the-air bandwidth and onboard processing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Gordon Gregory Bowman, Eric Johnson
  • Patent number: 7982635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for displaying a driving location of a moving object which controls a Red, Green, Blue (RGB) ratio by corresponding to a property of a road where the moving object travels, differently renders a moving object symbol according to the controlled RGB ratio, and thereby may identify a driving status of the moving object more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Deuk Yeong Seong
  • Publication number: 20110167392
    Abstract: A cellular telephony device operatives to receive map data via a cellular network map data, and causes a region of a map having one or more selectable map elements to be displayed in a display in accordance with the map data. The cellular telephony device then causes selectable map element information to be displayed in the display in response to detecting a selection of one of the selectable map elements. In response to detecting a selection of the selectable map element information, the cellular telephony device sends, to a private network file server via the cellular network, a request for an electronic file document associated with the selectable map element information. The cellular telephony device then receives, via the cellular network, the file contents information corresponding to the request for the electronic file document, and causes at least a portion of the electronic file document to be displayed in the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ronald Anthony Dicke, Eric Johnson
  • Patent number: 7973678
    Abstract: A control for a system in a building. The control includes a tracking device, a controller, and a programmer. The tracking device is configured to travel with a vehicle and to determine where the tracking device is located. The controller is configured to be located in the building, to communicate with the tracking device, to communicate with the system in the building, to determine an event that should be executed based on information received from the tracking device and a programmed event trigger. The programmed event trigger includes a programmed location for the tracking device. The controller generates a command for the system in the building to execute the determined event. The programmer is configured to communicate with a user interface. The user interface includes an interactive map and one or more geographical boundary tools for creating one or more event triggers on the map. A user uses the user interface to program the event triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis M. Petricoin, Jr., Melvin Chapman, Steven Markham
  • Patent number: 7969294
    Abstract: An onboard display device includes a display section attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle. The section has a second display area and a first display area. The second display area shows at least the speed as vehicle condition images indicating the conditions of the vehicle. The first display area shows a navigation image and other secondary images. The display section measures greater in width than in height with an aspect ratio of 7:3 or greater. The aspect ratio is the width/height ratio of a display area. The onboard display device allows for a visibility-improved simultaneous display of the secondary image, such as a navigation image, and the vehicle condition image, such as a speed display, which presents information on the conditions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamamoto, Aki Miake, Toshiya Takahashi, Megumi Itoh, Mitsukazu Okuda, Takeshi Doi, Takeo Abe
  • Patent number: 7970538
    Abstract: An accurate global positioning system having a receiver, a display screen, an input device, having capabilities for visual calibration of the system is disclosed. Further methods of operating that system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Masaaki Miyagi
  • Patent number: 7971153
    Abstract: A weather information display apparatus comprising a map information retrieving device, a weather information retrieving device, a display device, a command receiving device, and a display controlling device. Each of weather information sets has a predetermined display priority. When a first region of a map associated with first weather information overlaps with a second region associated with second weather information via an overlapped section, the display controlling device controls a display condition of the overlapped section such that the overlapped section is displayed under the display condition associated with the first weather information. Here, the first information has the display priority higher than that of the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taichi Satoh
  • Patent number: 7966125
    Abstract: A method of controlling a display of geographical data to assist in the navigation of a mobile platform (such as a train, ship, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The method includes determining a map associated with the navigation of the mobile platform into or out of a terminal and generating a primary display based on the map. The primary display displays at least a portion of the map to assist in the navigation of the mobile platform. The method also includes generating a context display if the portion of the map displayed does not include all of the map. The context display includes the entire map with an indicator of the portion of the map displayed in context to the primary display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick R. Wipplinger, Rick W. Ellerbrock, Thorsten Wiesemann
  • Publication number: 20110140928
    Abstract: A method of displaying a navigation map includes preprocessing photorealistic three- dimensional data offline. A location of a vehicle is automatically determined online. A portion of the preprocessed photorealistic three-dimensional data is identified that is associated with objects that are disposed within a geographic area. The geographic area includes the location of the vehicle. A nonphotorealistic image is rendered based on the identified portion of the preprocessed data. The nonphotorealistic image is electronically displayed to a user within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Liu Ren, Lincan Zou
  • Patent number: 7962281
    Abstract: Digital tile-based mapping techniques are disclosed that enable efficient online serving of aesthetically pleasing maps. In one particular embodiment, an image tile-based digital mapping system is configured for generating map tiles during an offline session, and serving selected sets of those tiles to a client when requested. Also provided are solutions for handling map labels and other such features in a tile-based mapping system, such as when a map label crosses map tile boundaries. Various processing environments (e.g., servers or other computing devices) can be employed in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen, Stephen Ma
  • Patent number: 7957896
    Abstract: A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display, a navigation data producing device for producing first data that is to be displayed on the display, and a transmitting device for transmitting intermediate data to the vehicular meter device. The vehicular meter device includes a receiving device for receiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device and a navigation data display area for displaying second data. A display size changing device for changing the first data into the second data is included in at least one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meter device. A display size of the first data is different from the display size of the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kawakami, Tetsuya Enokizaka, Akihiro Watanabe, Tsuneo Uchida, Kiyotaka Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7936286
    Abstract: A system for providing transportation information to passengers during an emergency, such as a terrorist attack. The system links emergency responders, public transportation operations (including subways, buses and other mass transit systems), and network operations in a coordinated evacuation of a crowded metropolitan area. Information is provided to the public via system of networked kiosks and displays provided strategically throughout a city. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system provides transportation and routing information to passengers during a non-emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Robin Adair
  • Patent number: 7925437
    Abstract: A navigation device programmed with a map database and software that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places. The device may be further programmed to be able to display on a touch sensitive display a main navigation mode screen showing a map and to allow a user to input destination address information using a virtual keyboard whose keys are sized to allow reliable finger activation. The device is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device since it allows the user to easily and reliably input address information, even whilst the device is mounted in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Ayal Pinkus, Edwin Neef, Sven-Erik Jurgens, Mark Gretton
  • Patent number: 7925436
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel of a vehicle in which the navigation device is located, based upon at least a desired destination and a current location of the vehicle; storing map information including attribute information relating to network area coverage; and determining, based upon at least one of the map information and the attribute information and based upon the route of travel of the vehicle, when network area coverage will permit data information transfer along the route of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Tom Tom International B.V.
    Inventor: Adrian Blackwood
  • Patent number: 7920966
    Abstract: Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs set a first reference point on a driving route, set a second reference point on the driving route, the second reference point being prior to the first reference point along the driving route, and set a third reference point on the driving route, the third reference point being after the first reference point along the driving route. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a triangular area having vertices corresponding to the first reference point, the second reference point, and the third reference point and obtain three-dimensional map data around the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a predetermined translucent ratio for a structure included in the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs generate a moving three-dimensional image which displays the driving route overlapped with the structure set with the predetermined translucent ratio and display the generated three-dimensional motion-image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiko Emoto, Shinya Miyamoto, Kazuyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7916142
    Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of generating user-specified information. The method includes receiving a plurality of points selected on a map to form a first continuous line having one or more vertices. The method also includes generating a closed polygon having a plurality of edges, where at least one edge forms a second continuous line substantially parallel to and spaced apart at a distance from the first continuous line. The method also includes determining a plurality of coordinate pairs each associated with a point on the plurality of edges of the closed polygon and retrieving user specified information for an area enclosed by the plurality of coordinate pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Geo-Softworks, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Carroll
  • Patent number: 7912634
    Abstract: A map user interlace is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a map, and a location marker placed at the selected location on the map upon receiving a placement request indicating selection of a selected location for placement of a location marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Reed, Ryan Massie, Anton V. Jouline, Michiel Frishert, Gary Chevsky
  • Patent number: 7911362
    Abstract: A map user interface is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a first map and the initial path displayed on the first map, the initial path being from a starting location via at least one intermediate location to an end location, a deletion selector, selection of the deletion selector causing transmission of a deletion command being indicative of removal of a selected one of the locations, and a second view generated in response to the transmission of the deletion command, the second view including a second map and the modified path displayed on the second map, the modified path including all of the locations but not including the selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: IAC Search & Media, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Reed, Ryan Massie, Anton V. Jouline, Michiel Frishert, Gary Chevsky
  • Patent number: 7912639
    Abstract: A navigation device has a regional map data item for each of multiple regions, into which a nation is divided. A connection table is included in a regional map data item for a certain region and associates (i) a certain ID of a connection road in the certain region with a certain connection number. The connection road is connected with a paired connection road in an adjacent region. A connection table of a regional map data item for the adjacent region associates an ID of the paired connection road with the same connection number as the certain connection number. When the certain ID in the certain region is replaced with a different ID because of a road construction or the like, only the certain ID is replaced in the connection table with the certain connection number unchanged. This eliminates need of amending the connection table for the adjacent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutaka Atarashi
  • Patent number: 7913192
    Abstract: One method involves causing a viewable map region of a map to be displayed, the viewable map region having points of interest (POI) indicators; monitoring to detect a user selection of one of the POI indicators; causing information corresponding to the POI indicator to be displayed in response to detecting the user selection, the information including a file identifier corresponding to a file; monitoring to detect a user selection of the file identifier; and causing, with use of a file link, file contents information of the file to be requested and received through a wireless network from a file server in response to detecting the user selection. The file contents of the file are provided in a converted XML format. Preferably, data associated with the files are maintained in one or more private databases separate from the public network database which stores the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Anthony Dicke, Eric Johnson
  • Patent number: 7894984
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. One apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes means for sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, means for receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, means for assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, means for aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and means for displaying the result as a map image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen, Bret Steven Taylor, James Christopher Norris, Stephen Ma, Andrew Robert Kirmse, Noel Phillip Gordon, Seth Michael LaForge
  • Patent number: 7890255
    Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes a map information storage unit (15) for storing map information, a map update information storage unit (8) for storing one or more pieces of map update information (30 to 32) used for updating yet-to-be-updated map information, a map update information selection unit (19) for selecting one or more pieces of map update information required to update the map information stored in the map information storage unit (15) from the one or more pieces of map update information stored in the map update information storage unit, and a map information updating unit (20) for updating the map information stored in the map information storage unit (15) by applying the one or more pieces of map update information selected by the map update information selection unit to the map information one by one in order of updating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Ikeuchi, Masaharu Umezu, Makoto Mikuriya, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 7889101
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system for generating a reminder message by applying predefined validation rule to display and/or voice announce the reminder message associated with a particular location. The method includes the steps of creating reminder message data which include a reminder message, a primary location, a secondary location, and a validation rule; comparing a reference location with the primary location; applying the validation rule in the reminder message data to determine whether a relationship between the primary location and the reference location satisfies the condition in the validation rule; displaying the reminder message when the condition is satisfied; and conducting a route guidance operation to reach a location selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc
    Inventor: Tatsuo Yokota
  • Patent number: 7885764
    Abstract: A method for constructing and revising road maps in a vehicle map database using vehicle location signals to provide traffic flow information for recognized vehicle patterns from past vehicle travel. The method includes identifying vehicle travel segments as a series of exemplar points from the location signals. Exemplar points in each travel segment are eliminated to define the travel segment by a beginning exemplar point and an ending exemplar point. A potential ending exemplar point may be redefined if an average location of the exemplar points from a line connecting the beginning point and the potential ending point is outside of a threshold distance. The travel segments are stored in a database, where each stored travel segment includes a travel time. The method compares new vehicle travel segments to the stored vehicle travel segments to identify a match, and then revise the vehicle travel time for the stored travel segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Darrel J. Van Buer
  • Patent number: 7881862
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for tracking resources at a site and initiating audio and video communication with tracked resources using multiple input and output modalities. The systems include a location tracking system, including a positioning engine and a presentation engine, an environmental tracking system, location and environmental sensors, either permanently installed or temporarily deployed, and portable devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants carried by the tracked resources and users. The methods include tracking such resources at a site, displaying their locations on a portable device using a visual map display, and providing the ability to initiate bi-directional audio and video communications with one of more of the tracked resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Robert Pei, Tim Kaldewey, Samir Raiyani
  • Patent number: 7868756
    Abstract: A zone shaping method and system. The method comprises receiving by a computing system from a sensory infrastructure transmitter attached to an object data associated with the first object. The object is located within a zone area. The computing system calculates a location within the zone area for the object. The computing system receives first environmental data associated with a first environmental condition in the zone area from a first sensor. The computing system analyzes the data, the location, and the first environmental data. The computing system generates based on results of the analysis, a first modified zone area associated with the zone area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Holger H. Maier, Amadeus Podvratnik, Torsten E. Teich
  • Patent number: 7868785
    Abstract: A method of symbolically representing a location of an aircraft on a display in the aircraft is disclosed. It is determined whether the aircraft is operating proximal one of a runway and a taxi-way. A range of the display is selected. Features are displayed near a location of the aircraft on the display at a first scale that corresponds to the selected range. A first symbol representing a current location of the aircraft is displayed on the display at the first scale in solid form. A second symbol representing the current location of the aircraft is displayed on the display at a second scale in non-solid form when a size of the first symbol representing the aircraft at the first scale obscures the displayed features on the display. The size of the first symbol is smaller than a size of the second symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifei Wang
  • Patent number: 7865301
    Abstract: Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide more flexibility to the user through the use of multiple views of map information, including a secondary map and a main map. The secondary map can provide the user with either a zoomed out or in relative to the main map, or a different type of map view (e.g., satellite images). The secondary map can be turned on and off by the user. The secondary map may include one or more viewing frames that indicate views (e.g., current and alternate views) of the main map. The user can move the main map, viewing frame, or secondary map to achieve desired map views. During such movement, the relationship between the main and secondary maps can be synchronous, partially synchronous, or serial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Bret Steven Taylor, Lars Eilstrup Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7844395
    Abstract: A map display apparatus that displays a map includes: a display device; a touch panel disposed over a screen at the display device; and a control device that controls display at the display device with a signal input from the touch panel, and: the control device displays at the display device a map and a plurality of buttons used to adjust a scaling factor of the map, makes a decision as to whether or not the touch panel has been pressed at a position corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons, makes a decision as to whether or not a finger having pressed the touch panel has been moved to a specific position and displays, together with the map, a wide-area map at a scaling factor smaller than the scaling factor of the map if the finger having pressed the touch panel is judged to have been moved to the specific position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7840349
    Abstract: A navigation system has a display device for displaying a predefined maximal number of graphic driving lane objects. A control device is operatively configured such that the actual number of driving lanes of a street or road is determined, and only a maximal number of graphic driving lane objects is displayed on the display device when the maximal number is smaller than the actual number of driving lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcello Tava, Wilfried Steins, Bernd Biechele, Uwe Koch