Abstract: A user interface for use in a vehicle navigation and traffic information device. Various adaptable menu commands and intuitive UI elements are provided to ease user navigation of the interface and to minimize driver distraction while providing information in an optimized manner.

Abstract: A method of providing location based entertainment with a personal navigation device includes determining if a user wishes to start an entertainment program on the personal navigation device that provides localized entertainment and starting the entertainment program using content about a current location of the personal navigation device in response to the user wishing to start the entertainment program.

Abstract: A method and device for providing information about a user of a social network in the social network are provided. In order to enable the driver of a vehicle or a passenger to communicate with an IT social network with as little distraction as possible, the information is acquired using at least one status recognition device, which is provided in a vehicle used by the user of the social network. The status recognition device delivers status information that indicates a specific status of the vehicle, a specific driving situation, and/or the status of one or more users of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for determining a lane on a roadway for a vehicle having at least two independent sensors includes the steps of obtaining with a first sensor data for a first area surrounding the vehicle, obtaining with at least two additional sensors data for at least two additional areas surrounding the vehicle, determining a first lane based on the data for the first area, determining at least two additional lanes based on the data for the at least two additional areas, and determining a resulting lane from the first and the at least two additional lanes, wherein when two of the least three lanes are identical and a third of the at least three lanes is not identical with the two identical lanes, the third lane is not taken into account when determining the resulting lane.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying map sections and point of interest (POI) data to a user and a database for storing POI data. A retrieval unit is provided to retrieve from the database POI data for the map section to be displayed. The POI database includes POIs and substitute POIs representing a number of POIs in a map region. It may then depend on the map scale with which the map section is to be displayed whether a substitute POI or a POI which it represents is retrieved from the database.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses impedance factor data associated with each segment in the route. The impedance factor is calculated using probe data when the probe data is available for a road segment. When probe data is unavailable, the impedance factor is calculated using machine learning techniques that analyze the results of the impedance factor classifications for road segments having probe data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating a street map that includes a position identifier that identifies a location on the street map. The method and system may also generate and display a plurality of images representative of the location of the position identifier. A user may interact with a position identifier or one of several scroll icons to view images of other locations on the street map and/or to obtain driving directions between two locations.

Abstract: An information processing unit displays a pop-up window in a display area of a display unit when the own vehicle is in an area of a set distance or less away from an extracted intersection, when the own vehicle stops, when a brake switch is ON, and when a display request for an image of traffic conditions of vehicles at the intersection by the driver is recognized. If an accelerator operation is performed in a predetermined way after the pop-up window is displayed, the display of the pop-up window is finished.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses segment cost data associated with each segment in the route. The segment cost is calculated by adjusting an energy consumption value by subtracting a bias term for each segment with known slope data. The bias term causes segment costs associated with segments having a slope that can be traveled with typical efficiency, a zero slope, and an unknown slope to be substantially the same. The bias term also causes the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that can be traveled efficiently to be less than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope, and the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that causes inefficient travel to be greater than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope.

Abstract: A user of a mobile device may use the technique to obtain future location-based situation awareness, e.g., a future location route displayed on the user's mobile device. That future location route comprises the user's future locations through time and space, e.g., a set of planned meetings at successive locations in a geographic area. A service that provides the user's mobile device with the future location route may also alert the user of potential threats to the user's planned activities, such as a restaurant being over-booked. On a permission basis, the user's mobile device may also receive a future location route for at least one other person associated with the user in a social network. The other person's future location route may be overlaid on the user's route so that one or both individuals receive advance notifications of their potential to have their respective paths “crossing” during a future time period.

Abstract: A smart navigation device includes a storage unit for storing map information therein, a positioning module for determining a current location, and a navigation module for generating a navigation route based on a target location, the current location, and the map information. When the navigation route includes a plurality of toll roads and one of which is selected to be excluded from the navigation route, the navigation module re-plans to generate a cost-saving navigation route. Therefore, a user is allowed to select and avoid any toll road on the navigation route. A smart navigation method applicable to vehicle navigation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for displaying points-of-interest (“POIs”) on a digital map are disclosed. One such method includes: presenting a digital map on a graphical display of an electronic device, wherein the digital map comprises map tiles and corresponds to a geographic region; receiving free-hand user input selecting a portion of the digital map; delimiting the portion of the digital map selected by the user; determining one or more of the POIs whose geographic coordinates are within the portion of the digital map selected by the user; and displaying a graphic for each of the determined POIs, wherein the displayed graphic is displayed on the digital map at the geographic coordinates of each of the determined one or more POIs.

Abstract: A power charging station administration device administrates available time slot information and installation site information set by an administrator of an in-vehicle battery charger, that is, the available time slot information representing time slots at which the in-vehicle battery charger is available and the installation site information representing the installation site of the in-vehicle battery charger using an administration. An information publication unit publishes the available time slot information and the installation site information administrated by the administration unit on a homepage. An occupant of a vehicle A other than the administrator of the in-vehicle battery charger can use the in-vehicle battery charger by verifying the published information during time slots at which the in-vehicle battery charger is available.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. The apparatus includes a GPS-based locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway before resurfacing. A computer determines a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. And a marker is responsive to the GPS-based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the resurfaced roadway. The apparatus is typically part of a moving vehicle. A related method is disclosed for placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. A similar apparatus can be used to guide a vehicle having a snow plow along a snow covered roadway, or a paving machine along an unpaved roadway surface.

Abstract: An own-vehicle-path determining method includes calculating a first evaluation value of each of plural predicted own-vehicle-path candidates, calculating a second evaluation value of each of the plural own-vehicle-path candidates, selecting own-vehicle-path candidates with high first evaluation values from the plural own-vehicle-path candidates, selecting own-vehicle-path candidates with high second evaluation values as appropriate own-vehicle-path candidates from the selected own-vehicle-path candidates, and selecting any one of the appropriate own-vehicle-path candidates as an own-vehicle path.

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 user-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.

Abstract: Businesses and other entities may be assigned geographic locations based on various types of data. In one example, entities are associated with segments in a street grid. Additionally, data points (e.g., geotagged blog entries or other online information) are associated with segments in the street grid. For a given segment, data points are compared with entities to identify possible matches between the data points and the entities. Each match is assigned a score, and each match represents a possible physical location for a given entity. The locations of entities on the street are assigned, from among the matches, based on which assignment of entities optimizes the aggregate score for the segment, while satisfying one or more physical constraints.

Abstract: In order to provide a method for the three-dimensional representation of a digital roadmap, which makes greater use of areas near the horizon of the visual representation and provides the user with supplementary information, a provision is made to draw in these areas navigation or orientation-related information as image elements.

Abstract: A system allows a user to select an individual address from the multiple addresses for additional information on that particular address. Multiple addresses can be viewed together on a map for selection purposes. Selection of a particular address can trigger new GUIs for presentation of context information for a particular location to a user. Context information can include differing map views, e.g., map view, satellite view, terrain view, etc., landmarks, photos taken from that particular address, local businesses, telephone numbers for that particular address, etc. Presentation of context information can assist a user in making a more informed decision as to which addresses from multiple presented possible addresses to select. Context information provide criteria to select and/or rule out a particular address.

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: 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 user-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.

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: A computer-implemented method includes establishing a road network model on which a plurality of simulated vehicles may be run. The method also includes setting up a plurality of scenarios under which vehicle driving conditions vary to be run on the road network model. The illustrative method includes receiving energy usage related data for a plurality of simulated vehicles run in at least one of the plurality of scenarios on the road network model. The method further includes calculating a total energy consumption for each of the vehicles. The method additionally includes repeating the receiving and calculating steps to determine how various elements of the road network model and scenarios effect vehicle energy consumption.

Abstract: A method of planning a vehicle route includes estimating fuel requirements of identified alternative routes or route segments using navigation, vehicle, and powertrain information. The method also includes displaying for a vehicle operator a list of alternate routes that features either absolute or relative values representative of such estimated fuel requirements. The method further includes adapting values used to estimate fuel requirements based upon current powertrain operating parameters, and alerting the vehicle operator when actual vehicle fuel economy along a selected route varies significantly from the estimated fuel requirement.

Abstract: A smart navigation device includes a storage unit for storing map information therein, a positioning module for determining a current location, and a navigation module for generating a navigation route based on a target location, the current location, and the map information. When the navigation route includes a plurality of toll roads and one of which is selected to be excluded from the navigation route, the navigation module re-plans to generate a cost-saving navigation route. Therefore, a user is allowed to select and avoid any toll road on the navigation route. A smart navigation method applicable to vehicle navigation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature.

Abstract: Methods, systems and program products provide pictorial information 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 user, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to a user in association with geographic locations. Characteristic 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: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature. The importance rating is adjusted to favor the identified feature closest to the lane in which the vehicle is currently located.

Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle includes a display device and host machine. The host machine communicates with a map database containing information describing a geocoded road network. The network includes nodes each describing a point within the network, with some nodes describing charging waypoints. The host machine executes a method, including recording a destination, determining a remaining state of charge (SOC) of a battery, and calculating a remaining electric vehicle (EV) range of the vehicle using the remaining SOC for every node. The host machine generates a first recommended EV travel route to the destination using a shortest distance or travel time approach when the destination lies within the remaining EV range. The host machine generates a second recommended EV travel route to the destination through a charging waypoint(s) when the destination lies outside of the remaining EV range. The EV route is displayed via the display device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using geographic location data of snowplows to update a snow depth associated with a section of a surface street. The route of the snowplow may be tracked continuously which allows the snow depth of the street to be reset in real-time. The updated snow depth may then be used to generate a cost of travelling on the street. The travelling cost may then be used to plan a route through the region. Alternatively, the cost may be graphically displayed on a map to permit a user to determine which surface streets to avoid. In another embodiment, the cost of travelling on a particular street may be changed by the attributes of the vehicle that will navigate the snow-covered roads, driver's experience, or the geographic terrain of a road. This new cost may then be used, for example, to plan a route or display roads to avoid.

Abstract: A golf GPS device is disclosed herein. The device includes a GPS unit, a memory for storing data for a plurality of golf courses, a display for displaying animations of portions of golf courses, a user input for inputting a plurality of location points on the display, and a processor comprising means for rendering the animations of portions of golf courses from a plurality of latitude and longitude coordinate points.

Abstract: A computer system and computer program product are provided to manage travel for purchasing items. A computer system identifies items for purchase by a group of people. The computer system identifies a set of requirements for the items. The computer system retrieves information about available items at locations for purchasing the items. The computer system can then generate a set of routes for the group of people that includes at least a portion of the locations for purchasing the items based on the set of requirements for the items, and the information about the available items at the locations for purchasing the items.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating the exposure of vehicle occupants to environmental conditions capable of inducing a least discomfort. The occupants are alerted to their proximity to a zone where environmentally-challenging conditions exist and, in a first embodiment, the details of the environmental condition and the estimated duration of any exposure is communicated to the occupants; in a second embodiment a suggested course of action by which the occupants may mitigate the effect of the environmental occurrence is communicated; and in a third embodiment the proposed course of action is automatically executed subject to override by the occupants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel apparatus and method for mapping of urban regions. An apparatus includes the remote sensing equipment that is connected to a computer processor. The remote sensing equipment gathers imaging data about an urban region. The computer processor interprets the imaging data to generate a map of the urban region comprising representations that identify a first set of indicia representing physiographic characteristics, a second set of indicia representing different types of built forms, and a third set of indicia representing patterns of human activity associated with both the physiographic characteristics and the built forms. The map can also include a fourth set of indicia representing an intensity level that at least one of the other types of indicia occurs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a curve along a downhill road segment. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a curve is located along a downhill road segment. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such a location. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at such a location, at which a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system.

Abstract: Navigation system employing augmented labeling and/or indicia. Various embodiments provide very accurate and timely information to a user thereby minimizing the amount of time or effort that a user will need to interpret or translate any information and/or directions provided thereby. In one instance, a vehicular based navigational system, which can operate with one or more projectors, provides information to a user such that the user need not turn away from the actual field of vision (e.g., 3D, 2D, etc.). Labeling and/or indicia is/are projected within the actual field of vision of the navigation system user. In another instance, labeling and/or indicia are overlaid or included within photographic and/or video information corresponding to an environment depicted by the navigation system. Such a navigation system may be implemented within a variety of contexts including within a vehicle, within a handheld/portable device, within a headset/eyeglasses device, etc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for nature event signaling are provided. Example mobile electronic devices of the present disclosure can include a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The processor executes the instructions to calculate a distance between a reference location and a current location, and calculate a travel time for the distance based on a speed. The processor also executes the instructions to determine a nature event time and cause a return alert indication to be signaled, via the mobile electronic device, based on a comparison of a calculated travel time and the nature event time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, system and program product for monitoring the rate of deflation or inflation in vehicular tires to determine the time or distance it takes before the tire pressure of one or more tires enters an undesirable state. Under the present invention, tire specifications, environmental modifiers, vehicular modifiers, road and weather conditions, and current tire pressure for each tire are recorded as input to provide an alert with a route plan for a driver to bring a vehicle to a service station before tire pressure reaches an undesirable condition. In one embodiment, the system can inform the driver at what time in the future a tire will reach an undesirable condition. In another embodiment, the system can inform the driver at what distance (measured in miles, for example) a tire will reach an undesirable condition. In yet another embodiment, the system can modify a route in order to avoid an unsafe tire condition.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a notification of an initial offer; identifying a consumer's vacillation to the initial offer; and generating a second notification of the supplemental incentive offer based on the consumer's vacillation for displaying on a device.

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 mobile computer that can be borne in a vehicle and that can receive position information may adjust a maximum speed limit to account for unfavorable weather or road conditions and cause the vehicle to automatically reduce speed below the adjusted maximum limit.

Abstract: A mobile platform, sensors mounted on the mobile platform, computers, data storage devices, power system, data acquisition hardware, and software form a Travel Way Measurement System. The mobile platform with sensors mounted within and upon it, moves along a surface travel way and records data to determine an accurate location and geometry of the travel way surface, surface features, transverse profile and features along side the travel way surface, structures, signs, and other features above the travel way surface, and utilities, pavement thickness and properties, pavement condition, and bridge deck properties and condition below the travel way surface. The mobile platform and sensors can travel and collect data at up to 60 miles per hour or more. The data acquisition hardware and software protocols permit the synchronization of all the sensor outputs in the temporal and spatial domain or in any other domain resulting from numerical transformation of sensor outputs.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses impedance factor data associated with each segment in the route. The impedance factor is calculated using probe data when the probe data is available for a road segment. When probe data is unavailable, the impedance factor is calculated using machine learning techniques that analyze the results of the impedance factor classifications for road segments having probe data.

Abstract: A management system for use at a worksite is disclosed. The management system may have at least one object detection sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a feature of a roadway traversed by the mobile machine, a positioning device configured to generate a second signal indicative of a position of the mobile machine, and at least one performance sensor configured to generate a third signal indicative of a performance parameter of the mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the feature. The management system may also have a controller configured to determine a surface condition of the roadway based on the first signal, index the surface condition to a particular location on the roadway based on the second signal, and generate a map of the roadway providing a representation of the surface condition and the performance parameter.

Abstract: A recommendation apparatus for determining, for a user, a set of one or more recommended routes going from a starting location to an ending location in response to receiving from the user a route request message identifying the starting and ending locations. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the route recommender apparatus determines a recommended route by analyzing a set of routes between the starting and ending locations, where each route in the set was traversed by a person who is in a “social graph” belonging to the user (e.g., each route in the set was traversed by one of the user's Facebook friends). In this way, routes can be recommended to the user based on routes that are popular with the user's friends.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting and recording video data and inertial motion unit (IMU) data associated with the video data representative of a path of traversal, transmitting the video data and IMU data associated with the video data to a rescue device that includes a display, and subsequently replaying the video data on the display of the rescue device along with viewable indicia, based on the IMU data associated with the video data, that is indicative of the motion of a user when the video data was collected and recorded.

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: Enabling dynamic routing or mapping information, or combinations thereof, based on one or more user specified tasks may include determining one or more locations where one or more user specified tasks can be accomplished and dynamically determining at least one of routing and mapping information from current location of a user to said one or more locations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide navigation devices (10) and methods for receiving and/or forming geoblogs. The provided navigation devices (10) are generally operable to retrieve a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and a user input, form a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and selected pre-defined comment, and/or automatically title a geoblog utilizing a current geographic location of the device (10). Such configurations and variations thereof enable users to easily share information related to a geographic location.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating savings routes for display on a portable computing device (PCD) are described. The method includes receiving at least one of a product category and a service category from an operator of a PCD. The PCD may also receive a destination address. With this information, circle of influence data based on an offer for at least one product or service corresponding to the product category or service category may be generated and provided to the PCD. The circle of influence data may impact edge weights of a graph search algorithm. The graph search algorithm solves a single-source shortest path problem for a graph with non-negative edge path costs. The circles of influence in combination with the graph search algorithm allow a PCD to calculate one or more savings routes based on a start point and the desired destination address provided by the operator of the PCD.