Abstract: An automatic steering system for a work vehicle comprises a position sensor for detecting a position of the vehicle, a memory for storing information about a nominal path of the vehicle and a control unit coupled to the position sensor, to the memory and to a steering actuator for steering the vehicle. The control submits control signals to the steering actuator that depend upon a feedback gain and a lateral offset between the actual position and the nominal path. The feedback gain depends upon a sensed payload of the vehicle.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus is disclosed. The navigation apparatus is configured to: acquire a trace of a vehicle; produces unregistered road data representative of an unregistered road based on the trace when the vehicle travels on the unregistered road; register the unregistered road data in a storage medium; determine whether the vehicle makes a turn in direction; determine based on the trace whether deviation of the vehicle from a road is greater than or equal to a deviation threshold, when it is determined the vehicle makes the turn in direction; and prohibits the unregistered road data from being registered in the storage medium when it is determined that the deviation of the vehicle from the road is less than the deviation threshold.

Abstract: A navigation device 100 having a function to modify a route comprises an operational object detecting part 11 configured to detect a point or a section on the route as an operational object, a fixed point setting part 12 configured to set as fixed points two points on the route sandwiching the operational object therebetween, an operational object displacement detecting part 13 configured to detect a displacement of the operational object, a path changing part 14 configured to change a path of the route depending on the displacement of the operational object while elongating or contracting a line connecting the operational object and the fixed point, and a route re-searching part 15 configured to re-search and display an alternate route continuously depending on the changing path.

Abstract: A navigation device is provided. The device includes a driving state tracker for tracking a mobile driving state using a current mobile position and RGI (Route Guidance Information) data including driving information on multi-routes from the current mobile position to a destination, and outputting deviation information and the current mobile position when a mobile object is deviated from a route; and a re-routing unit for searching partial routes from a mobile deviation position to each of the multi-routes using the deviation information, the current mobile position and the driving information on the multi-routes, and re-routing a route to the destination using each of the partial routes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a navigation system is provided which builds up historical information of routes taken by a vehicle and uses this information to provide an appropriate route for the vehicle based upon deviations from suggested routes stored upon a mobile computer unit of the navigation system of the vehicle.

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.

Abstract: An onboard navigation apparatus provides travel guidance on a road including a plurality of roadways heading in the same direction. The road specifically includes a special roadway such as a carpool lane having no exits to other roads, an ordinary roadway having exits to the other roads and a predetermined traveling-path changing area provided as a sole area allowing a vehicle to change a traveling path thereof between the special roadway and the ordinary roadway. The apparatus determines a present position of a vehicle, determines whether the detected position is in the special roadway or in an ordinary roadway. The apparatus provides, in addition to normal travel guidance, information on the traveling-path changing area existing ahead of the vehicle on a display, when the detected position is in the special roadway.

Abstract: A navigation device has a route re-calculation function. This is activated by the user touching the screen to task away from the normal navigation map mode to a menu screen which displays multiple types of route re-calculation options.

Abstract: A mapping system associated with a social network includes determining that a social networking map object (“MO”) is outside a visible area of a map displayed; calculating the direction, distance and travel-time to the MO (e.g. a social network member, a location, a meeting place, etc.), creating an object vector indicator (“OVI”) and displaying the OVI on a map-display application. The OVI may be displayed on the periphery of the displayed map and may be positioned in the general direction of the MO. The position of the electronic device, as well as a current position of the MO, are factored into the calculations and placement of the OVI. The OVI may include a graphical representation, obtained from the social network, of the MO it references.

Abstract: Techniques are described for monitoring whether a user is following directions to a destination during electronic navigation to the destination provided by an electronic navigation device. When the electronic navigation device determines that the user is not following directions to the destination (e.g., the user has missed several turns suggested by the electronic navigation device), the electronic navigation device determines that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination. In response to a determination that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination, the electronic navigation device may automatically, without human intervention, perform an operation directed to using an alternative route (or alternative primary component) to the destination despite the current route remaining preferred according to current routing settings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and method for a web-based mapping and routing service for pedestrians, which may include wheeled transportation (e.g. buses). More specifically, the present invention is directed toward use on a college campus. The present invention provides customized pedestrian routes highlighting campus and community locations while providing navigation options concerning walking distance and safety factors. This provides custom routes to each user that are designed to be optimized for safety or speed depending on user input.

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.

Abstract: Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times.

Abstract: A method to generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan comprising receiving input from at least one flight-plan-relevant source, determining a revised flight route based on the received input, and generating a preconfigured clearance request message to deviate from the flight plan for a user based on the determining. The method further comprises prompting the user for one of approval and rejection of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan. The preconfigured clearance request message is downlinked when an approval of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan is received from the user.

Abstract: A navigation system is able to find an optimum route to a destination even when a large non-digitized area exists between a starting point to the destination. The navigation system produces processing points based on a particular shape and size of the large non-digitized area and determines whether such processing points should be used for route search operations. When it is determined that the route search operation is effective, the navigation system performs A* algorithm search operations with respect to the start point, processing points and the destination and detects an optimum route to detour the large non-digitized area.

Abstract: A navigation device and the like capable of harmonizing a navigation route for guiding a mobile body set on the basis of a support route search result by a navigation server and a navigation route for also guiding the mobile body set independently of the navigation route, from a view point of guiding the mobile body smoothly. In the case where the second navigation route r2 is set in the condition where the first navigation route r1 is set, the second navigation route r2 is set and output so as to include a part dr1 of the first navigation route r1 which takes a position departing from the current position pt of the automobile 2 by a first distance d1.

Abstract: A navigation system stores setting record information related to places designated as destination or reached place. The setting record information includes setting frequencies with which corresponding places were designated. A control unit searches a map database for places meeting a keyword inputted by a user and causes a display unit to present the places in the descending order of their corresponding setting frequencies in the stored setting record information. The user then selects as a destination a certain place from the presented places. The control unit stores the selected certain place to update the setting record information. Thus, the names of places meeting the keyword inputted are directly displayed in the descending order of the setting frequency with which they have been designated in the past. Therefore, the user need not perform an operation to hierarchically select a desired place by region or facility name.

Abstract: This navigation apparatus includes a road setting unit that sets a road to be traversed between a departure point and a destination, the road being constituted by links for each of which a predetermined link cost is set, a replacement unit that replaces the links constituting the road to be traversed that has been set by the road setting unit, with a virtual link whose link cost is set to be smaller than the total of the link costs of the links for the road to be traversed, and a route search unit that searches for a recommended route from the departure point to the destination, based upon link costs set for links that constitute roads other than the road to be traversed, and the link cost set for the virtual link with which the road to be traversed has been replaced by the replacement unit.

Abstract: A navigation system (20) includes a transceiver unit (210), a display unit (250), an input unit (260) and an ECU (230). The transceiver unit (210) transmits a signal for demanding a detection of a navigation path to a path detecting server (10) and then receives path data which represent the navigation path from the path detecting server (10). The display unit (250) outputs the navigation path or a revised navigation path. The ECU (230) conveys data on a departure point and a destination from the input unit (260) to the transceiver unit (210) and transfers the path data from the transceiver unit (210) to the display unit (250). Further, the ECU (270) precalculates deviation-expected paths in the course of driving along the navigation path and selects the revised navigation path among the precalculated deviation-expected paths in case a present position of a mobile object deviates from the navigation path to thereby provide the revised navigation path to the display unit (250).

Abstract: Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes an adaptive routing module (210) that allows a user to provide inputs that influence routes that are calculated to predetermined destinations. A route calculation module (204) executed by a navigation server (102) is operable to calculate a first route from the trip origin to the trip destination. An adaptive route calculation (204) executed by the navigation server (102) is operable to allow the user to enter a user modification of the first route. After the user modification is entered by the user, a second route to the trip destination is calculated as a function of the user modification. The second route is then transmitted to a vehicle navigation system (104).

Abstract: A navigation system and method having a function of alerting the driver to potential wrong way driving comprises means 102 for determining a position of a vehicle 300, means 107 for calculating a driving route of the vehicle 300, means 108 for determining a driving manoeuvre in accordance with the predetermined driving route 305, means 104, 105, 110, 111 for outputting indications relating to the determined driving manoeuvre to a driver of the vehicle 300, and means 109 for alerting the driver to potential wrong way driving including means 201 for detecting a potential wrong way driving situation and means 202, 104, 105, 110, 111 for outputting an indication relating to the potential wrong way driving situation to the driver.

Abstract: Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times.

Abstract: When a rotary intersection is of large scale, “rotary intersection guidance based on exit number” is provided. That is, it is informed from what number exit road of the multiple exit roads of a rotary intersection, relative to an entrance road, the driver should get off. For example, the guidance of “Get off from the second exit road ahead” is provided. In contrast, when a rotary intersection is of small scale and the rotary intersection is in simple shape, “rotary intersection guidance based on direction guidance” is provided. That is, the direction of an exit road about which guidance is to be provided, relative to an entrance road, is informed. For example, the guidance of “Turn to the right” is provided.

Abstract: An unoccupied route search system for efficiently searching for a route (transportation means used) to the destination according to presence/absence of an unoccupied set of transportation means. An unoccupied seat route searching system (10) comprises an operation data DB (52) storing operation data on operation of transportation means, a search operation data DB (37) storing operation data for search, reservation information collecting means (35) for collecting reservation information on transportation means, condition input means (22) for inputting route search conditions including a seat condition, route search means (36) for searching transportation means constituting the route according to the reservation information collected by the reservation information collecting means (22) under the route search condition while referencing the search operation data DB (37), and output means (23) for outputting the results of the route search.

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 presented in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, and the familiar road is represented relative to the unfamiliar segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system for inputting a street name allows a user to quickly find a desired street name even when the user inputs an incorrect prefix or suffix of the street name. The navigation system accepts a street name based on either a base name input method or a full name input method in the same input field while performing a street name search mostly based on a base name of the street name. The method and apparatus hints an inexperienced user the distinction between the base name and other components of the street name so that the user knows that non-base name element is unnecessary for finding the correct address of the destination.

Abstract: Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively using traffic flow data to provide routing options for a vehicle traveling to a destination point. There is provided a method comprising setting a threshold traffic flow data availability level, receiving traffic flow data from traffic flow sensors placed along one or more routes to the destination point, and determining whether the traffic flow data for each route meets the threshold availability level. The method further comprises enabling a flow-based route guidance for those routes for which the traffic flow data meets the threshold availability level. In one embodiment, the flow-based route guidance comprises utilizing the traffic flow data to calculate an estimated time of arrival at the destination point along each route.

Abstract: A travel route stray discriminating method of a mobile object in navigation system is disclosed in which discrimination of travel route deviation is temporarily withheld even if the mobile object has deviated from the travel route on a busy road such as a cross-road, and a warning that the mobile object has deviated from the travel route is issued if it is accurately discriminated that the mobile object has strayed from the travel route.

Abstract: A destination prediction device having a map information accumulation unit that accumulates map information including at least positions of a plurality of points on a map and routes between the plurality of points; a start position acquisition unit that acquires a start position of the mobile body; a current position acquisition unit that acquires a current position of the mobile body; a destination candidate position acquisition unit that acquires positions of a plurality of destination candidates that may potentially become destinations of the mobile body; a circuitousness calculation unit that calculates a circuitousness which is a deviation of a route from the start position to the position of the destination candidate and a destination prediction unit that predicts, as a destination, a destination candidate whose calculated circuitousness is the smallest among the destination candidates.

Abstract: A method and a device for driver information and for a reaction upon leaving the traffic lane by a vehicle. In this context, the course of at least one edge marking of the traffic lane is ascertained, the track of the vehicle that is to be expected is determined, and as a function of these variables the possible leaving of the traffic lane by the vehicle is ascertained. In the determination of the track of the vehicle, future reactions of the driver are taken into consideration.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is provided with a destination input section, a travel route information section, a historical data input section and an expected travel time reporting section. The travel destination input section is provided for entering a destination point. The travel route information section provides at least one potential travel route to the destination point. The historical data input section provides historical time information based on a plurality of actual motorist travel times to navigate various travel routes. The expected travel time reporting section reports to a user an expected travel times based on the historical time information for a potential travel route.

Abstract: A method of implementing a plurality of unmanned vehicles over an obstacle field. The method includes obtaining a physical map of the obstacle field. Discretizing the physical map into traversable edges that avoid the obstacles, the traversable edges meeting at nodes. Replacing sections of the traversable edges that are beyond the maneuverability of the unmanned vehicles with traversable arcs. Determining traverse time parameters associated with paths through the obstacle fields, each path made up of select traversable edges and select traversable arcs and using the traverse time parameters in planning and scheduling the vehicles.

Abstract: A method of navigating a mobile machine dependent upon the relationship of the mobile machine to a target path includes operating a steering system to change the heading of the mobile machine in response to the mobile machine deviating from a first navigational dead band. Additionally, the method may include subsequently operating the steering system to make a heading change of the mobile machine only in response to predetermined events, which may include operating the steering system to make a heading change of the mobile machine if the mobile machine deviates from a second navigational dead band.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for generating an alternate route for a system to travel to a predetermined destination are described. The method comprises determining a velocity of a system traveling along a primary route; and generating an alternate route to the primary route if the system velocity is below a predetermined motion threshold. A navigation system for generating an alternate route to a destination includes a motion sensor for detecting the navigation system velocity along a primary route and a controller coupled with the motion sensor. The controller receives a motion signal indicating navigation system motion and generates an alternate route to the primary route responsive to the motion signal indicating navigation system motion different from a predetermined motion threshold value.

Abstract: When the destination of a guided vehicle 24 is changed from a point 20 to a point 18, the speed of the guided vehicle 24 is controlled so that a new travel route can be calculated before the guided vehicle 24 arrives at the nearest branch point 10. The guided vehicle 24 cancels unnecessary blocking for straight traveling at the branch point 10, for straight traveling at a merge point 14, and for branch traveling at a branch point 12, and request blocking for branch traveling at the branch point 10 again, and travels based on the new route.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs for determining whether a vehicle is off-road or on-road, store map data, determine the vehicle's current position; and obtain information about an area around the current position of the vehicle from the stored map data. The systems, methods, and programs obtain information related to a road-side zone of a road from the obtained information about the area around the current position of the vehicle, and determine that the road-side zone is crossed. The systems, methods, and programs may make an off-road determination if the determined current position of the vehicle was on-road before the crossing of the road-side zone and make an on-road determination if the current position of the vehicle was off-road before the crossing of the road-side zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing routes that include multiple stops. This is accomplished by allowing users to identify a starting point, a destination, and types of businesses or other locations to be visited along the way. A route processor then provides users with a list of stores or other requested detour choices yielding a trip of optimal itinerary. The detour choices may be either an ordered sequence or an unordered set of points to be visited and may include constraints that make it possible to optimize utility functions according to user preferences.

Abstract: A navigation system, a vehicle navigation apparatus therein, and a method for obtaining navigation information using the same are provided which can obtain navigation information quickly when a vehicle goes off-route by obtaining the navigation information required for route guidance of the vehicle through communications, thereby achieving reduction in communication time and cost. In a vehicle-mounted terminal connected in communication with a server for executing route guidance to provide a guidance route from the present position of the vehicle to a destination, when the vehicle reaches a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing the next turn on the guidance route, the server is accessed to set a communication means in a communication connection stand-by state. If the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is requested from the server.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of optimizing a fixed route on a transit network, comprising the steps of: a) permitting a vehicle providing service on the fixed route to make deviations from the fixed route based on passenger requests; b) tracking the deviations and number of passenger requests corresponding to each deviation; c) submitting information from tracking step b) into a decision-making algorithm; and d) modifying the fixed route to include new stops based on results from the decision-making algorithm, as well as a system for implementing this method.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying map information on a portable computing device. When approaching a location at which maneuvering guidance is to be provided by the portable computing device, the portable computing device presents alternating images on a display screen. The alternating images include an overhead view map image and either a perspective view map image or a stylized image. The stylized image can be either a 2D image or a 3D image.

Abstract: In order to create a method for making available driving lane recommendations for each driving direction relating to at least one curb and interlinked with one another, as well as a system related thereto, which improve the quality of the driving instructions provided by a navigation device via optimized processing of the driving lanes on roads, in particular at intersections, it is recommended that (a) a curb (10, 11, 12; 10?, 12?, 15?) be assigned at least one lane list (20) whose elements (20.a.1.1, 20.a.1.2, 20.a.2) contain lane information on the totality of the driving lanes assigned to the curb (10, 11, 12; 10?, 12?, 15?); (b) each of the driving lanes be assigned at least one lane data list (30; 40) whose elements (30.b.1, 30.b.2; 40.b.1, 40.b.2) each contain lane data information on the particular driving lane; and (c) each follow-on driving lane succeeding the driving lane be assigned at least one follow-on lane list (50; 60; 70) whose elements (50.c.1, 50.c.2, 50.c.3, 50.c.4; 60.c.1, 60.c.2, 60. c.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for determining the path of a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a control component accesses a first path which comprises at least one curved portion. The control component then determines a second path which is substantially parallel with the first path and which comprises a second curved portion that corresponds to the at least one curved portion of the first path. The control component then amends said second path wherein a radius of the second curved portion is at least equal to a minimum turning radius of the mobile machine.

Abstract: A control system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a GPS system (16) that generates a vehicle position for a vehicle relative to a surface, a plurality of driver inputs (40), and a plurality of vehicle inputs (50). A controller (14) is coupled to the GPS system (16), the driver inputs (40) and the vehicle inputs (50). The controller determines a predicted path in response to the plurality of driver inputs and the vehicle inputs and a desired path in response to the GPS system (16). The controller performs a comparison of the predicted path and the desired path and generates a control signal in response to the comparison.

Abstract: When a first one-way traffic road becomes partially impassable because of roadworks, a second one-way traffic road temporarily replaces the first road and is used in a direction opposite to an original trafficable direction. This second road is registered as a replacing road based on traffic information from the VICS center. When the second road registered as the replacing road is present within a given area surrounding the current position of a relevant vehicle, map matching is executed without considering the original trafficable direction of the second road. This allows the second road to be designated as a travel road through the map matching even when the relevant vehicle travels in a direction opposite to the original trafficable direction of the second road.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling navigation guidance in a vehicle. The method includes: a) determining a re-route instruction based on a non-executed guidance instruction; b) presenting the re-route instruction; c) determining a non-execution of a re-route instruction; d) repeating steps a) through c) for a pre-determined number of re-route attempts; e) prompting for cancellation of navigation guidance after the pre-determined number of re-route attempts; and f) altering navigation guidance upon acceptance of the prompt for alteration.

Abstract: A safety navigation system applying wireless communication technology and a method therefor are provided, wherein road information transmitted by wireless communication technology is received and statistically analyzed to learn about road sections that are inconvenient for driving or cannot be passed through, so as to decelerate when driving on the road section or avoid the road section altogether when planning routes, thereby ensuring a driver's safety.

Abstract: A method of navigating a vehicle includes determining a route. At least one probable off-route condition is determined based on the route. Digital map information is transmitted based on the determination of the at least one probable off-route condition from a call center to a vehicle telematics unit via a wireless connection.

Abstract: A control system 20 for an automotive vehicle 22, such as an adaptive cruise control system, is provided including a navigation system 34. The navigation system 34 includes a global positioning system 38. The navigation system 34 detects a ramp and generates a navigation signal including navigation data and map data. A controller 24 is electrically coupled to the navigation system 34. The controller 24 in response to the navigation signal adjusts the speed of the vehicle 22.