Abstract: A method of computing at least one photogenic route from a starting location to a destination location, including; computing photogenic values for images in a large collection representing a geographic region that includes the starting location and the destination location; computing a photogenic index for each route segment based on computed photogenic values of images taken along the route segment; computing at least one photogenic route from the starting location to the destination location and presenting the route(s) to a user.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for enabling collection and/or refinement of digital map information for aiding navigation route planning for vehicles larger than ordinary cars, such as goods-vehicles, buses, and car+caravan combinations. In at least one embodiment, a profile of a vehicle's characteristics, and one or more routes followed, are logged by a navigation device, and fed-back to a server that supports the navigation device with map data updates. At the server, or an alternative processing centre, the fed-back data from plural navigation devices is analysed to observe statistically the patterns of roads used by these vehicles, and to categorise these by the type of vehicle.

Abstract: An operator control unit has a user interface that allows a user to identify a mode of display and interaction that narrows the user's options for his next interaction with the user interface. The user interface utilizes portals to transition between environments such as indoors to outdoors, outdoors to indoors, different rooms of a building, and different floors of a building, the portals representing one or more of stairways and doors, and being used in remote vehicle path planning as waypoints that may require execution of predetermined behaviors.

Abstract: A system for driver identification comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a driving maneuver signature and to determine a driver identification based at least in part on the driving maneuver signature. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: Pictorial information is provided relevant to a geographic location through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a traveler, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to the traveler in association with geographic locations. Characteristics include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation system and displaying method thereof, which controls the level of protrusion for each piece of indication data displayed on a 3-D screen of the navigation system based on its criticality so as to maximize the legibility of the driver. More specifically, the navigation system includes a GPS receiving member which receives GPS location information, a map data storage member which stores map data including a plurality of indication data, a controlling member which requests a display scope of the map data, corresponding to the received GPS location information, and at least one set of indication data within the display scope, and 3-D data-processes said indication data so that it can be displayed so that the most important data is protruding the most to the driver, and a display member which displays the map data containing the 3-D data-processed indication data.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of providing path information based on a status of a path and/or a purpose of the use of the path. A path information providing server collects environmental information from a sensing device. The path information providing server receives a path information request including a departure and a destination from a terminal device, and provides path information generated by mapping environmental data to a searched path.

Abstract: A method is provided for semi-automatic operation of a portable control device for a remote-controlled, unmanned vehicle. The method includes the steps of monitoring parameters of an operational environment of the portable control device, switching from a manual operation mode to a semi-automatic operation mode in response to occurrence of predetermined criteria within the operational environment, and presenting a semi-automatic operation graphical user interface to a user of the portable control device. The semi-automatic operation graphical user interface includes a reduced set of user interfaces for the semi-automatic operation mode presented by the portable control device.

Abstract: A system for navigation along a desired route on a desired future date may include a map interface operable to display a traffic condition and a travel time received via a communication network, and an automobile navigation network communicatively coupled to the communication network. The automobile navigation network may estimate the traffic condition and the travel time for travel along the desired route on the desired future date based on historical travel information, current traffic information and current weather information. Information regarding the estimated travel conditions may be automatically communicated to the map interface. The traffic condition may include geographic location information and/or route information. The historical travel information may include historical traffic information.

Abstract: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) navigation routing system and routing methods are presented, in which a traveling route is determined from the current vehicle location to the destination location by preferentially selecting low speed routes over higher speed routes if the present state of charge of the vehicle battery is insufficient to reach the destination location using shortest time or shortest distance routes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating passenger bookings along transportation routes. In some implementations, actions include generating a request at a mobile computing device, the request including route data corresponding to a route, transmitting the request to a server system, receiving route data and fare data from the server system at the mobile computing device, displaying the route data and the fare data on a display of the mobile computing device, receiving a single user input at the mobile computing device, in response to receiving the single user input, generating booking data and transmitting the booking data to the server system, receiving confirmation data from the server system at the mobile computing device, and displaying the confirmation data on the display of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A vehicle information transmission device prompts recognition of a certain object. The vehicle information transmission device prompts recognition of a position different from a position of the certain object.

Abstract: An outdoor-to-indoor (and vise versa) navigation system guides a traveler (30) to an interior point of interest (POI, 28) inside a three-dimensional structure (16) using a navigation device (10). When the traveler (30) reaches the destination (16) address, a 3D model of the destination object (16) is rendered on a display screen (12) and subsequent navigation assistance is rendered in relation to attributed features associated with the 3D model. Initial directional cues (33) associated with the 3D model guide the traveler (30) in relation to externally discernable POIs and toward an exterior portal POI (24). When the current position of the navigation device (10) generally coincides with the exterior portal POI (24), a set of final directional cues (35) are rendered which lead the traveler (30) in relation to internally discernable POIs to an interior feature POI (28). 3D navigation attributes may be associated with various POIs and used in the 3D portion of the navigation routing program.

Abstract: A travelable area display device according to the present invention is configured to compute a travelable distance from, an optional spot, specify a feature spot which a driver can recognize on die basis of accumulated movement history information of a vehicle, and simultaneously display on a map in an in-vehicle screen a travelable area which is specified by the travelable distance, and the specified feature spot.

Abstract: An environment recognizing device for a vehicle is provided that can correctly detect a preceding vehicle in a scene, such as for instance the dusk, which is under an illumination condition different from that in the daytime. The device detects a vehicle external shape while detecting vehicle taillights, and determines a region in which the vehicle external shape and the vehicle taillights move in synchronization, as a vehicle.

Abstract: A methods, apparatus and system are provided for a vehicle with a ground navigational display. The system may include a display, a navigation system determining a location of the vehicle, a database storing a map including locations of buildings on the map and a processor. The processor may be configured to display the map on the display based upon the location of the vehicle, assign a fixed height to all of the buildings displayed on the display, and render the buildings displayed on the display in three-dimensions and having the assigned fixed height.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle having at least one solar panel, a battery rechargeable by the at least one solar panel, and a computer system including one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs. The program(s) generate a list of parking locations, determine which of the one or more parking location provide sun exposure, and recommending at least one parking location to a vehicle operator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a navigation system, which includes a graphic display unit and by which accurate-lane destination guidance is made possible on a planned route. A road map containing lane information can be displayed on the display unit. Within or in superimposition of the displayed road map, the route can be displayed accurately with respect to the lanes. A lane guidance display area can be displayed, which is graphically set off from the road map and within which several lanes of a currently traveled route section are graphically represented and within which the necessity of a lane change is graphically displayed. A rating can be determined for the urgency of the lane change, and this rating can be graphically displayed in the lane guidance display area.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a navigation device and a navigation method. The navigation method includes a satellite signal receiving module of the navigation device for receiving a positioning signal, a control unit of the navigation device for controlling a display module to display a navigation map on a map region according to the positioning signal, and the control unit of the navigation device for controlling a prompt region to present prompt information with different light effects according to traffic information. The prompt region is located outside the map region. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the user to further pay too much cognitive attention on understanding or referring to the navigation images and instructions, so the driving safety can be ensured.

Abstract: The described method and system provide for adaptable GPS navigation based on road and traffic conditions. A method includes: receiving input front a user designating a destination; determining a calculated route from a starting point to the destination; and presenting turn-by-turn (TBT) directions based on the route, wherein the presenting of the TBT directions includes presenting conditions information received from an external source. The conditions information can be used during route calculation and can be updated while the user is traveling on the calculated route.

Abstract: A portable terminal and a method for providing network contents using the portable terminal are provided. The portable terminal receives contents from a network, uses information related to a destination and a pre-stored map data to search for a travel route from a start point to the destination, determines an estimated time for a user to reach the destination from the start point, and outputs travel guide information to guide the user along the travel route while outputting contents having a reproduction time corresponding to the estimated time.

Abstract: Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user's mapped location and/or a user preference.

Abstract: A machine includes a frame and a dump body. An electronic controller is operably connected to the machine. At least one accelerometer is disposed to measure an acceleration of the frame and/or the dump body, and to provide an acceleration signal to the electronic controller. The electronic controller is disposed to receive and analyze the acceleration signal and provide a loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition to a remote control station and/or a loading machine performing the loading.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle having a hybrid powertrain includes monitoring vehicle navigation and traffic patterns associated with a predicted travel path. It extends the powertrain instantaneous controller into a predictive control framework, and utilizes previewed traffic and geographic information based on on-board sensing and navigation information. An impending road load is predicted from which a fuel cost factor is optimized under a model predictive control framework. A state-of-charge trajectory is predicted from the impending road load and operation of the hybrid powertrain system is controlled in response thereto.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of determining speed information for one or more road segments in map data by receiving probe data relating to the one or more road segments, determining a speed formula for the one or more road segments based on the probe data, and determining the speed information for the one or more road segments according to the speed formula.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a navigation route; generating an initial recommendation related to a search keyword for a point of interest upcoming along the navigation route; calculating an acquisition cost for the initial recommendation; and generating a message with the acquisition cost for the initial recommendation related to the point of interest and for displaying on a device.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a navigation device and a navigation method. The navigation method includes a satellite signal receiving module of the navigation device for receiving a positioning signal, a control unit of the navigation device for controlling a display module to display a navigation map on a map region according to the positioning signal, and the control unit of the navigation device for controlling a prompt region to present prompt information with different light effects according to traffic information. The prompt region is located outside the map region. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the user to further pay too much cognitive attention on understanding or referring to the navigation images and instructions, so the driving safety can be ensured.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a navigation system to detect arrival to a new city and provide information on the city such as dining, lodging, popular sightseeing place, etc. to the user. In addition, it can also provide the user a list of his or her friends in the new city according to an address book or from social networking websites. The navigation includes a detecting unit communicatively coupled with a position measuring device and a map information memory to detect whether the user is entering a new city by determining whether the user is moving across the new city border line. Further, the detecting unit indicates the user is entering a new city when the user is moving a predetermined distance away from an airport. Further, the new city information may not be shown if the user has visited the city before within a predetermined period.

Abstract: An adjusting method and an adjusting system of an intelligent vehicle imaging device are provided, wherein a real feature point for comparison is disposed in a monitoring area around a vehicle. A camera captures images around the vehicle. The images are transmitted to the controller and displayed on a touch display panel. The controller performs image processing on the images and the real feature point, and compares the real feature point with position data of predetermined feature points, and generates a bird's-eye view image. If the images are captured, the bird's-eye view image is rotated and scaled after conversion according to a predetermined position and a predetermined proportion and then is located on a stitched image and outputted. A blind spot area size or a lane departure parameter is selected through the touch display panel, and the stitched image is adjusted through the touch display panel.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing capability-specific routing. The method includes receiving location information specifying a location. At least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities is also received. A database is accessed, the database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user, as well as respective geographic locations of specified facilities. A determination is then made as to the facilities that are associated with the received location that are compatible with the received capability indicator. Position information specifying a position may also be received, and at least one route may be determined between the location and the position, the route being compatible with the capability indicator. An apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for determining energy efficient routes is described. Map data represents road segments. Energy consumption data is obtained while a vehicle travels on a first road segment. Energy consumption data associated with the first road segment can be used to predict the expected energy consumption when traveling on a second road segment that has similar physical attributes to those of the first road segment. The predicted energy consumption data may be used to determine whether the second road segment is part of a most energy efficient route.

Abstract: A display system and method is provided for deployment on board a vehicle and includes a data source that provides the display system with data indicative of at least time, position, and velocity of the vehicle. The system comprises a monitor, a display included within the monitor for displaying range data indicative of a specific distance and time data indicative of time it takes to travel the specific distance, an input device, and a processor coupled to the monitor and to the input device and configured to (1) render symbology on the display visually representative of the time data and the range data, and (2) update the range data, and correspondingly change the time data in response to the change in range data made via the input device.

Abstract: A route planning device includes: a search unit that searches for a plurality of facilities located near the minimum-cost route from a current position to the destination, where the battery can be charged; a guided route calculation unit that sets a waypoint on the minimum-cost route via which the moving object can be guided to each facility, and calculates a guided route from the waypoint to the each facility and a first power requirement indicating an amount of power required to travel through the guided route; and a facility designating unit that designates a target facility to which the moving object is to be guided, based upon third power requirements each calculated by adding a second power requirement, indicating an amount of power required to allow the moving object to travel from the current position to the waypoint, to the first power requirement and remaining power in the battery.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that is subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a preferred consequential result related to a selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding administrative compliance states and their respective benefits, as well as regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that is subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a preferred consequential result related to a selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding administrative compliance states and their respective benefits, as well as regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, mobile device attribute data is received from a plurality of mobile devices over a network. The mobile device attribute data includes location data representative of a plurality of geographic locations associated with the mobile devices. The method further includes selectively aggregating the mobile device attribute data and generating traffic condition data based at least in part on the mobile device attribute data. The traffic condition data is representative of at least one traffic condition. In certain embodiments, the mobile devices include mobile telephones and the network includes a mobile telephone network. In certain embodiments, the traffic condition data is real time data. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the traffic condition data is provided for access over the network.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a position detecting unit detecting a position, an explanation information storage unit storing explanation position information and explanation information, a generation unit extracting the explanation information corresponding to a first explanation position from the explanation information storage unit and generating the extracted explanation information with a sound when the first explanation position is detected within a first distance from the detected position, and a group determining unit determining whether or not the first explanation position belongs to the same group as a second explanation position when the second explanation position is detected within the first distance from the detected position after the generation unit starts the generating of the explanation information corresponding to the first explanation position with a sound, wherein the generation unit continues to reproduce the explanation information with a sound when both explanation pos

Abstract: Probe data is analyzed to derive Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) and an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) for each road segment or link in a digital map network. The Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) profiles are calculated during defined time spans whereas the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) is based on the LSP for the time span corresponding only to free flow traffic conditions. All of the LSPs can used to create a respective energy cost for each time span, or only the OLSP (18) can be used (or alternatively the RRDSL 16 or LRRDSL 17) to calculate an energy cost for the free flow conditions only. The energy cost can be used to predict the energy required by a vehicle to traverse the link. Navigation software can use the energy cost to plan the most energy efficient route between two locations in the digital map. Sensory signals can be activated if a driver strays from the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) to achieve extremely high levels of energy efficiency.

Abstract: Conventional navigation devices are equipped with technology that supports the driving of a driver by detecting the surroundings of a vehicle using a plurality of sensors such as cameras. However, because complex arithmetic processing is carried out using the detection results from the plurality of sensors, the processing load increases and other processes requiring a rapid response can be delayed. As a result, consideration has been given to decreasing the amount of arithmetic processing and reducing the processing load by uniformly decreasing the processing area for information detected by the sensors. However, if the processing area is uniformly decreased, information necessary for driving support may not be obtained.

Abstract: In a vehicle control, a future travel locus of a vehicle is computed by using an evaluation function, and travel road surface information regarding a travel road surface on which the vehicle travels is stored. According to the travel road surface information stored, a convergence criterion for the evaluation function is variably set.

Abstract: A system and method for determination and display of personalized distance. A request is received for the determination of a personalized distance over a network, wherein the request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and a plurality of real world entities comprising at least a starting location and an ending location. At least one route is determined between the first location and the second location. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. A personalized distance is calculated via the network between the first location and the second location using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route. A representation of the personalized distance calculated for the route is displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting audio and/or multimedia descriptions of featured locations to a traveling user, so that descriptions are not replayed in repeated journeys in the same area. When descriptions along a certain route are exhausted in the course of repeated journeys, the user is offered an alternate route in order to visit additional featured locations that have not yet been presented to the user.

Abstract: Maps are created that display representations of GPS data generated from a plurality of GPS devices. The GPS data received from the GPS devices is embodied as a representation having descriptive features that visually indicate the location, direction of travel, and speed of travel of the GPS device, and the representation is associated with a road segment on the map. The display of the GPS data from a plurality of GPS devices can be used for editing information about roads on maps and determining preferred routes.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to predict energy consumptions of a vehicle, using geographic characteristic values which are independent from particular driving patterns and vehicle parameters and unique to respective links. A navigation server predicts energies which are consumed when a vehicle runs on links. The navigation server calculates geographic characteristic values of respective links, the geography of the each link affecting the consumption energy with the geographic characteristic values, the calculation being based on energy consumptions collected from probe vehicles, and calculates predicted energy consumption of each link selected as a processing target, based on the geographic characteristic values. A navigation terminal obtains these predicted energy consumptions and performs route search with the obtained predicted energy consumptions as costs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a historical tour are disclosed. The historical tour may comprise historical images and information for selected geographic locations. In some aspects, the historical tour may sequentially move a view of a virtual map to each of the selected geographic locations along a path. At each geographic location, the historical tour may present the user with at least one historical image and information for the location.

Abstract: A method and system for adding traffic gadgets to a traffic report is disclosed. A traffic gadget is a dynamic object defined by a relatively small code module that is separate from the main traffic report application code. A programmer develops the traffic gadget's visual functionality and specifies the type of data that the traffic gadget can receive. An artist configures the visible appearance of the traffic gadget for a specific end-user application. The end-user may then select a traffic gadget and add the selected traffic gadget to a visual traffic report. The user may also select data to control the functionality of the traffic gadget during the traffic report.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is determined for one or more of the street segments and associated with one or more of the street segments.

Abstract: The present invention provides the simple operation for displaying the information that is expected to be necessary for the user and the simplified procedure of the hands-free operation when displaying the map information on the screen. The display device 20 in which an arrangement state of the screen can be selected between a first state and a second state displays on the screen the detailed information of a destination or its surrounding area such as parking lot information, an access route guide to the transportation facilities, and information of the facility of the destination is displayed on the screen if a change of the arrangement of the screen is detected, if the destination has been set in advance, and if a distance between a current position and the destination is within a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An interior rear-view mirror for cars is so designed that a portable GPS device may be readily mounted on. Depending on implementation, a portable GPS device may be slid in or clipped onto a rear-view mirror.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing personalized route information involves gathering a plurality of past location indicators over time for a wireless client device, determining a future driving objective using the plurality of previously-gathered location indicators, obtaining real-time traffic data for an area proximate to the determined driving objective, and generating a suggested route for the driving objective using the near real-time traffic data.