Abstract: A method includes maintaining vehicle accident occurrence information, wherein the vehicle accident occurrence information includes accident location information, accident occurrence date information, and accident occurrence time information and identifying, based at least in part on the accident location information, one or more accident-prone locations. When a vehicle enters an area comprising one of the accident-prone locations, a notification is made that the vehicle has entered the area comprising one of the accident-prone locations. In addition, in response to a query, a visual representation of one of the accident-prone locations is displayed, along with accident occurrence date information and accident occurrence time information associated with the accident-prone location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system automatically assigns or allows a user to assign a brand icon to a particular location. The navigation system displays the assigned brand icon as well as generic icons on a map image. Thus, the navigation system enables the user to quickly distinguish a particular place such as a point of interest (POI) from other similar type of POIs on a map image. The user can identify a particular chain restaurant from other restaurant by the brand icon unique to the particular chain restaurant on the map image so that the user can easily specify the favorite restaurant as a destination.

Abstract: [Object] Object of the present invention is to improve accuracy of the travelling test of a tested vehicle on a chassis dynamometer, and to increase realistic feeling of the travelling test. [Means to solve] A driver's aid device 5 displays, on a main screen 11, a travelling speed pattern 12 that is a driving pattern for performing a performance evaluation test of a tested vehicle 6. The main screen 11 displays thereon topographical feature information 13 of a road where the travelling test is carried out. A marker 14 that indicates a vehicle state is shown at an intersection of the topographical feature information 13 and a reference line 15 that indicates a present position of the tested vehicle 6. This marker 14 is shown with the marker 14 inclined in accordance with a gradient of the road where the test is carried out. Further, a curve band 28 indicating curve information of the road where the travelling test is carried out is shown on the main screen 11.

Abstract: A selection method and system. The method comprises receiving by a tracking apparatus data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments. The audio/video data segments and the associated tracking data segments are associated with a plurality of locations. The tracking apparatus is moved within a specified proximity of a first location of the locations. The tracking apparatus senses the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves a first audio/video data segment of the audio/video data segments associated with the first location. The retrieving is based on a first tracking data segment of the associated tracking data segments associated with the first audio/video data segment. The tracking apparatus broadcasts a specified portion of the first audio/video data segment. The specified portion is dependent on a specified condition of the tracking apparatus.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of spline control points representing a two-dimensional geometry of a portion a road segment and obtaining data indicating a road grade of the portion of the road segment. The spline control points and data indicating road grade are obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The method further comprises projecting the spline control points onto a slope provided by the road grade to obtain a representation of a restored true road curvature of the portion of the road segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a Synthetic Vision System (SVS) view combined with information from navigation charts. The operator of a vehicle is not required to mentally combine separate SVS view and navigation charts, increasing situational awareness and decreasing complexity. A synthetic terrain representation is generated, combined with navigation chart information, and displayed. Additionally, the combination may include an indicator indicating the intended path of the current planned course. The combination may be generated with less detailed navigation chart information when further away or more detailed navigation chart information when close, displaying more detail as landmarks are approached. The combination may include indicators representing one or more navigation aids based on information in the navigation charts. The combination may include text based on navigation chart information.

Abstract: System and method for warning drivers of changing road conditions is disclosed. In one embodiment road condition information is obtained for at least a portion of a route. The road condition information is analyzed to identify one or more significant features on the portion of the route. The driver is alerted to the one or more significant features.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system helps guide a driver to a destination by enhancing visualization of upcoming intersections. The navigation system stores animation data that depicts the intersection as it will appear to the driver. The animation data may be a sequence of images (e.g., digital camera images) taken at intervals before and after the intersection. The navigation system may show the images in synchronism with the progress of the vehicle to provide an animated display of the intersection for the driver. The animated display aids the driver with following a recommended navigation route to the destination.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display device displaying, on a cockpit pilot display unit, a set of indications including an aircraft symbol which illustrates the position of the aircraft and a map part which represents the airport and moves in relation to the aircraft symbol according to the current position of the aircraft in the airport, the aircraft symbol fixed on the cockpit pilot display unit in a centered position in a standard display. The system also has an actuating unit for deactivating the standard display to enable the aircraft symbol to be displaced on the cockpit pilot display unit, and an actuating unit for controlling a temporary displacement of the set of indications on the cockpit pilot display unit such that the aircraft symbol displayed moves away from the centered position.

Abstract: A tracking and guidance system is provided. The system comprises a first device configured to transmit a location of the first device. The system further comprises a second device configured to receive the location from the first device, to display the location on a common map view, to receive inputs comprising a drawn directional data and a verbal directional data, and to transmit the drawn and verbal directional data to the first device, wherein the drawn and verbal directional data is received by the first device and the drawn directional data is displayed on the common map view displayed by the first device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for displaying a map for a route in a ground-based vehicle. The map includes a variable road network map showing finer detail for geographic features near the route and less detail for geographic features farther from the route. The map is displayed based on the travel direction of the ground-based vehicle.

Abstract: A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user's vehicle.

Abstract: A map display controller displays a three-dimensional map image on a display screen of a display device, and superimposes a route wall standing from a route and along the route in the three dimensional map image on the display device. This reduces a difficulty in confirming the route behind structures such as a building in the three-dimensional map image displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: A method of processing location data at a portable computing device is provided and includes receiving information associated with a user defined location at the portable computing device. The information includes a central point and an entry indication perimeter. An entry alert associated with the user defined location is received at the portable computing device. The location of the portable computing device is monitored to determine when the portable computing device crosses the entry indication perimeter associated with the central point of the user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to the user defined location. The method further includes switching the portable computing device from a roaming state to an entry state indicating that the portable computing device is about to enter the user defined location. An indication can be provided to the user that the portable computing device has switched to the entry state.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, processes and systems for use in determining navigation. Some embodiments provide methods that receive a communication at a mobile navigation system from an external device, determine whether the communication comprises navigation information, extract the navigation information when the communication comprises navigation information, identify a navigation location based on the navigation information, retrieve a current location, and generate navigation instructions between the current location and the navigation location.

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.

Abstract: A traffic information display system comprises a traffic information processing unit adapted to receive traffic information data which are transmitted in multiple cycles and to generate at least one portion of traffic information from the traffic information data which is indicative of a traffic event, and a display unit coupled with the traffic information processing unit and which is adapted to display the at least one portion of traffic information. The display unit includes a user receiving status determining unit which is adapted for assigning a category of a plurality of categories to the at least one portion of traffic information, the plurality of categories being indicative of different user receiving statuses of traffic information.

Abstract: A route between locations includes a detailed set of directions to get from a present location to a destination. A route summary is provided, showing a subset of the roads needed to be traveled to go from the present location to the destination. The route summary is determined at least in part based on a set of rules for evaluating the roads in the route for inclusion in the route summary.

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 display method and apparatus for a navigation system promotes to quickly search a desired on a map image with respect to an order of distance from a current vehicle position or other reference position. On the screen of the navigation system, it displays a specially designed screen to implement the city search operation which includes a state selection box and a city selection box. The navigation system detects the search direction specified by the user and moves the cursor to the location of the candidate city in response to every operation of the input device in the order of distance in the specified direction. Thus, the user is able to find the city by its relative location to the current vehicle position or other reference location, thereby enabling to quickly and intuitively search the target city.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including data about roads for which whether or not a car pool lane is also provided is specified; a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position; and a route searching unit 130 for searching for a route from the current position determined by the current position determining means to a destination inputted by an input unit on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and for, when a road where a car pool lane is also provided is included in a route acquired through the route search, presenting, as a recommended route, the route using the car pool lane if the distance over which the road will be traveled is equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user's vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing maps and directions, including walking and mass transit directions in urban environments where users do not drive cars. Additionally, driving directions can be included. Various criteria, including preferences for amount of walking, for or against particular streets, certain mass transit vehicle types, number of transfers between mass transit vehicles, and other preferences, are considered in the routing calculations, as well as non-individual information such as current conditions and other information. User feedback on various qualitative aspects of the directions is received and stored, and used in subsequent routing decisions. Embodiments disclosed include web services whereby third parties, such as members of the travel industry, can access such services which provide textual and graphical information. Further, clients can access and edit mass transit information through the web services.

Abstract: A map in a navigation apparatus is displayed on a screen with its orientation aligned with an orientation of a facility map that is distributed in a facility when a vehicle having the navigation apparatus is traveling in a facility area that has pre-memorized guide information. When the vehicle is traveling in a meandering section of a road, a rough direction is oriented upward in the map that is displayed on the screen. Furthermore, the map is displayed with an entrance direction, which is determined as a direction at a time of entering an area outside of the road such as a parking or the like, oriented upward under a circumstance that the vehicle is constantly turning its direction.

Abstract: Techniques are described for determining and providing location-based information, including based on decomposing a geographic area into numerous smaller areas and using one or more layers of polygons to represent various of the smaller areas. In some situations, location-based information for a geographic area is determined efficiently and accurately to reflect actual travel distances and/or times, such as for use in identifying one or more points of interest that are sufficiently proximate to an indicated location (e.g., a current location of a user), and/or to determine actual travel distances and/or times between two or more indicated locations of interest. The location-based information determination may in some situations be performed in a realtime or near-realtime manner after a request is received from a user, such as to interactively provide results to the user that include or are based at least in part on the determined location-based information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs create a road map data structure, the data structure including road network data in which a road is represented by a plurality of links connected in a link string. The systems, methods, and programs assign a link ID to each of the links of the road network data. For each link, the link ID has a numerical range set in accordance with both a length of the link and a road attribute, and the link ID is set sequentially in a connection order within the link string.

Abstract: A method and system for providing navigational instructions. A signal is received from a first device. The signal specifies a destination location, a second device, and a request for at least one route leading to the destination location such that the at least one route is to be sent to the second device. During or after the signal is received from the first device, a device type of the second device is determined. At least one set of images is sent to the second device. Each set of images defines a unique route leading to the destination location. A total number of the sets of images and a content of each set of images are a function of the determined device type.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system is located on an aircraft. The aircraft communications system comprises a set of eyewear units, an aircraft data processing system, and a wireless system. Each eyewear unit has a set of sensors and a display. The set of eyewear units is capable of receiving user input and is capable of presenting information to a set of users of the set of eyewear units. The aircraft data processing system is capable of receiving the user input and sending the information to the set of eyewear units in response to receiving the user input from the set of eyewear units. The wireless system is located proximate to the cabin of the aircraft and is capable of sending the user input from the set of eyewear units to the aircraft data processing system and sending the information to the set of eyewear units.

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.

Abstract: A method for vehicular communications and information reporting. First and second wireless Internet connections between respective first and second vehicles and a web-server are provided. First and second event information is transmitted, to the web-server, from the first and second vehicles. The first and second event information relates to the same event in visual range, respectively, of occupants of the first and second vehicles. The web server may transmit, to the first and second vehicles, confirmed event information derived from the first and second event information.

Abstract: A vehicle recommendation speed display system includes a vehicle speed sensor, a recommendation speed processing unit that calculates a recommended speed based on a vehicle speed and a display unit that is usually mounted in a speedometer. The recommendation speed processing unit is configured to send information on the vehicle recommended speed to the display unit to display the recommended speed regardless of whether an actual vehicle speed is higher than the recommended speed or not in order to prevent a driver from being irritated by a difference between the actual vehicle speed and a vehicle speed intended by the driver.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.

Abstract: A point-of-interest display system includes an updateable database which interfaces with a microprocessor which receives data from a GPS receiver providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display provides the operator textural and elemental graphic display information, and easily accessible control switches allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interest, and points of interest and display directions to a selected entry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a weather information display and decision system that incorporates weather depiction charts together with other graphs and diagrams generated via a computing device on-board a vehicle (for example, a water, air and land based vehicle) as an integrated system to aid safe and comfortable vehicle navigation and handling, and provide data of immediate comprehension and use to the vehicle operator including data points on a geographic route at an applicable future time of vehicle presence and data presented from the operator's chosen perspective, using the operator's chosen frame of reference.

Abstract: A data display device includes: a position obtaining unit obtaining current position data of a mobile object; a direction obtaining unit obtaining traveling direction data of the mobile object; a display control unit causing a display unit to display a current position and a traveling direction of the mobile object based on the current position data and the traveling direction data of the mobile object; and a determining unit determining that the mobile object has entered or exited a parking lot based on the current position data of the mobile object. The display control unit causes the display unit to display the mobile object so the current position of the mobile object is not changed and only the traveling direction of the mobile object is changed, from a determination that the mobile object has entered the parking lot until a determination that the mobile object has exited the parking lot.

Abstract: A method of displaying information on a display of a handheld electronic device includes steps of determining a target area onscreen to be visually magnified and causing a shape-changing zone of the display to change shape in the target area to visually magnify information displayed in the target area. The array of shape-changing zones on the touch-sensitive display can be independently actuated to form a magnifying lens over any onscreen object of interest. For example, this lens can be used to magnify a selected portion of a map, a portion of text or a specific point of interest. The lens can be used to magnify a route displayed on a map, or simply to zoom in on the current location of the device as displayed onscreen.

Abstract: An on-vehicle information terminal that conducts communication with a road side communication device (base station) located on a road includes a transmitter/receiver section that communicates with the road side communication device, a voice output section that outputs data from the road side communication device which is received by the transmitter/receiver section through a voice or images, and a control section having a priority table that stores information on categories representative of the type of data that is added with the data and transmitted from the road side communication device and priorities for determining orders in which the voice output section outputs the data in association with each other. The priority of the priority table is variable, and is changed on the basis of a signal from a priority setting switch due to the operation of a user or an instruction signal from the road side communication device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler.

Abstract: A fuel information data service system is presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a fuel information data service can include a controller operable to receive information regarding costs of various types of fuel, and to correlate such costs of fuel information to actual operating costs for a given vehicle, based on a known consumption efficiency for a plurality of types of fuel for that vehicle, to calculate a FuelEQ or fuel equivalency for each fuel offering. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an exemplary system can further include a presentation device coupled to the controller where the controller is further operable to present such FuelEQ information expressed as a cost per distance traveled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted apparatus whereby a user can easily select and use a Web site in accordance with a point associated with information provided by the Web site and a description of the information. According to the present invention, a precache control unit automatically downloads at least one Web page of a Web site associated with each point matching a predetermined condition to a page cache memory and displays site icons at respective points corresponding to the downloaded Web sites on a map image. In addition, the precache control unit displays the predetermined type of extracted information by analyzing the description of the Web page of each Web site in an information window that pops up from the corresponding site icon. When the user selects one of the site icons, a Web browser displays the Web page of the Web site corresponding to the selected site icon.

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: An in-car navigation device depicts dynamic travel information (congestions, weather, etc.) in the context of a schematic display of the actual roads that the information relates to. In one implementation, the schematic view is a linear representation of the route and that schematic linear representation is displayed at the same time but separate from a map of a 2-D or 3-D representation of the actual road being traveled along and the current location of the device on that road. The device can send a request to a remote server over a wireless communications network for dynamic travel information relevant to a defined route and receive and display that information.

Abstract: A weather information display device displays on its display device a section, for which weather information is acquired, in a display mode corresponding to the weather information. An icon indicating the weather information is displayed on the section of the weather information. When a relatively wide area map is displayed, a plurality of icons for a plurality of sections may have to be displayed in overlapped manner. If the icons indicate the same weather information, only one icon is displayed as a representative of the same icons. If the icons indicate the different weather information, an icon having higher display priority is displayed as being overlapped over icons of lower display priority. If one of the different overlapped icons is touched, only the touched icon and the corresponding weather information are displayed.

Abstract: An electronic device, a display processing method and a program for displaying a direction and distance of a moving body outside of a displayed range of a map, seen from a certain position on the map and a moving direction of the moving body at a time, are provided. A calculation portion calculates a distance from a current position of a portable device 3 to the destination based on the current position information and position information of the destination included in map data; a moving direction specifying portion specifies a current moving direction of the portable device; a display processing portion determines a position, size and direction of an arrow on the map based on the current position information of the portable device, position information of the destination, a distance between the destination and the current position, and the moving direction and generates a map image to be displayed.

Abstract: A turn-by-turn navigation system includes a positioning module receiving position information and updating real time road information on a road where a car is currently located, a map database storing map information required for driving the car, a route planning/route guidance module receiving the real time road information and the map information and generating current guidance information and next guidance information, a turn-by-turn graphic user interface module receiving the current and next guidance information and generating current and next guidance images, and an image display unit displaying the current and next guidance images.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus acquires weather information along a navigation route to a destination from an information center and calculates an importance that is assigned to the weather information based on a predetermined criterion as well as a determination mode and a travel purpose inputted from a user. The importance of the weather information may be calculated by employing an importance calculation table that defines importance of the weather information itself or the importance of the weather information relative to the navigation route. The importance of the weather information is used to extract a required part of the weather information for providing the user with the information. The weather information extraction may be performed according to a criterion such as extracting the weather information with a certain importance level or higher, extracting the weather information of top n th importance, or the like.

Abstract: A method is provided for indicating the boundaries of a required navigational performance (RNP) corridor on an aircraft's map display. The method includes the steps of producing an aircraft leg segment symbol on the map display, establishing an RNP value, and scaling the RNP value to the map display field of view. The method further includes the step of generating an RNP corridor boundary graphic on the map display offset from the aircraft leg segment symbol by the scaled RNP value.

Abstract: Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide visually-oriented information to the user, such as driving directions that include visual data points along the way of the driving route, thereby improving the user experience. The user may preview the route associated with the driving directions, where the preview is based on, for example, at least one of satellite images, storefront images, and heuristics and/or business listings.

Abstract: A routing guide system has memory means provided outside a mobile body for storing data of images at a plurality of guide points. The routing guide system also has distance measuring means for measuring the distance from the current position of the mobile body to the next guide point. The routing guide system also has image request generation means for generating an image request for the next guide point when the distance measured by the distance measuring means is not more than a first predetermined distance. The routing guide system also has transmission means provided outside the mobile body for reading from the memory means an image of the next guide point in response to the image request and for transmitting that image to the mobile body. The routing guide system also has display control means for causing the mobile body to receive the image transmitted from the transmission means and causing a display device to display the image.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for displaying a map for a route in a ground-based vehicle. The map includes a variable road network map showing finer detail for geographic features near the route and less detail for geographic features farther from the route. The map is displayed based on the travel direction of the ground-based vehicle.