Abstract: A map data generation apparatus is provided as follows. Probe data are collected from a plurality of vehicles. An integration process is performed to generate an integrated map data by integrating the collected probe data for each of data management units corresponding to (i) road sections, (ii) road links, or (iii) meshes into which a map is divided. A comparison process is performed to obtain a difference by comparing the generated integrated map data with a basic map data. The basic map data is updated based on the obtained difference. The integrated map data for a first data management unit is generated in response to a required number of the probe data being collected for the first data management unit. The required number of the probe data is set depending on a road type in the first data management unit.

Abstract: A blind spot coverage device that includes: a sensor section that senses external environmental information; a definition section that defines an external environmental region, in which sensing information is unobtainable, as a blind spot region; a determination section that determines whether or not the blind spot region is to be covered; and an instructing section that, in a case in which the determination section determines that the blind spot region is to be covered, instructs an actuator to move such that the blind spot region is covered. The determination section determines that the blind spot region is to be covered in a case in which determination is made that the blind spot region lacks global coverage.

Abstract: A location system for use in locating a vehicle or other object. The system may include displaying directional information on a mobile device, such as but not limited to a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), remote vehicle control device (fob, RKE, passive entry, etc.). The displayed directional information may indicate a direction of travel to the vehicle without requiring the mobile device to rely on GPS satellites to determine a position useful in orientating the user in a direction toward the vehicle.

Abstract: Method for transmitting information to a vehicle in which, at a location separate and apart from the vehicle, a determination is made by a processor whether a condition relating to transmission of information to the vehicle is satisfied and only when the condition is determined to be satisfied, the information is transmitted to the vehicle using a transmitter. The condition may be a weather pattern, for example, snow in which case, the information being transmitted may be road icing information.

Abstract: A navigation device is provided including a data storage unit for storing data, and a service information reception processing unit for receiving service information distributed from an external registration destination facility with which member registration is made, and a service information analyzing processing unit performs a predetermined process on the service information received by the service information reception processing unit to register the service information in the data storage unit. The navigation device further includes a notification condition customization setting unit for setting a notification condition, and a facility icon display processing unit displays whether or not there is an update in service information of a registration destination facility on a map according to the notification condition set by the notification condition customization setting unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods store information data in an information data frame, including retrieval keys, and store pertinent data specifying the information data in a pertinent data frame for each individual category specified by the retrieval keys. The systems and methods receive an updating file containing updating information data for updating information data subject to update. The systems and methods extract the information data subject to update from the information data frame and update the extracted information data with the updating information data contained in the received updating file. The systems and methods extract the pertinent data in a category specified by a retrieval key contained in the information data subject to update from the pertinent data frame and update the extracted pertinent data with the updating information data contained in the updating file.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for partially updating map data based on a user's movement path, a service apparatus and a terminal apparatus thereof, and a recording medium therefor, and the method includes checking a major movement path of a user; receiving map data update information; extracting partial map data to be updated from map data matched with the major movement path of the user to request update information for the extracted partial map data; and receiving the requested update information on the partial map data to update the map data, and according to the present invention, map data matched with a user's major movement path is partially updated by determining the user's major movement path to more efficiently update the map data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for road guidance using a mobile terminal. The method for road guidance using a mobile terminal includes receiving a map image created by a users input, setting at least one user-designated location to the map image according to the users input, setting location information of the user-designated location to the user-designated location, comparing the location information of the user-designated location with current location information of the mobile terminal; and notifying of arrival at the user-designated location. A user may arrive at a desired destination according to the present invention without using map data provided by a map data service provider.

Abstract: At the first data access by a navigation unit to a recording medium that records updating right information necessary for updating map data in a rewritable data area in which map data are recorded, the updating right information is read from the data area and is deleted from the data area, and a map updating due date created based on the read updating right information is written in a memory of the navigation unit together with the medium identification information read from a non-rewritable management area.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product are disclosed for creating and displaying shortcuts and landmarks on a navigational map. The embodiments include storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path. The shortcuts may be categorized by their context in travel classes such as car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, disabled pedestrian, or the like. The embodiments register in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path and record locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path. The embodiments receive signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path, including digital photographs, descriptive text and voice clips. The embodiments then form in a shortcut mapping file the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and the context data.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments include update determination programmed logic circuitry operable to determine that a map data tile stored in a vehicle database is in need of updating. The illustrative embodiments further include update qualification programmed logic circuitry operable to qualify the permissibility of an update. Also included in the illustrative embodiments is update provision programmed logic circuitry operable to, contingent on the qualifying, provide an updated version of the map data tile. The update determination, update qualification and update provision programmed logic circuitry are operable to repeat the determining, qualifying and providing for at least all tiles included in a route within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle's current location along the route.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, data regarding the position and operation of a vehicle is gathered by a GPS unit and an On Board Diagnostic (“OBD”) port, respectively. This data is wirelessly transmitted by a wireless transceiver located in the vehicle. The transmitted data from multiple vehicles is received by a remote processor. The data is processed and selectively shared with users of a public web interface, in accordance with user preferences. A user selects the type of data that may be shared and the specified persons, classes of persons or public with whom particular data or types of data may be shared. In some cases, data gathered by the OBD ports and GPS units is transmitted to a host server of a social network, and selectively shared over the social network in accordance with that network's policies.

Abstract: A method of providing location information through a navigation device, the method including: obtaining location information from the Internet; and converting the obtained location information into data that can be used in the navigation device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method is provided whereby map-related requests from mobile devices are used to store and aggregate routes. The routes are then used to determine optimum directions in response to subsequent requests.

Abstract: A map data providing method for providing map data to be used in a navigation system includes: dividing an area over which the map data are available into a plurality of blocks by using each of a plurality of division patterns set so that blocks resulting from divisions with the plurality of division patterns are not identical to one another; generating map data in correspondence to each of the blocks resulting from the divisions achieved with the plurality of division patterns; and providing the map data corresponding to the individual blocks resulting from the divisions achieved with the plurality of division patterns to a user so as to allow the user to freely select map data corresponding to any block.

Abstract: A vehicle position aggregation system receives position information for service vehicles from various fleet management systems, and maintains the current location of the vehicles in a database, including information identifying each vehicle's associated fleet and related contact information. End users can query the vehicle position aggregation system to obtain information about service vehicles in the vicinity of the user's input location.

Abstract: When a map acquisition judgment means judges that the acquisition of map information is required, a terminal device transmits spot position information calculated by a spot information calculation means to a server which mediates providing of the map information, via a first map information providing server where the terminal device is positioned. The server causes an area judgment means to judge according to the spot information an area of providing map information including the spot, identifies a map information providing system on the basis of the judgment, and requests providing of the map information including the spot to a second map information providing server in the area according to the spot position information. The terminal device synthesizes map information held by the terminal and map information provided by the second map information providing server by a map synthesis means and displays the synthesized map information on a display means.

Abstract: A map update data supply apparatus includes: isolation detection means for detecting the presence and the absence of an isolated state in which some of the roads are isolated from other roads in a road network of target map data due to updating of one or more update target segments of the target map data based on update map data; extraction means for extracting, as update required segments, segments of the update map data, other than the update target segments, that have a road that connects to the isolated some of the roads when it is detected that there is the isolated state; and update data file generating means for generating update data files for the update target segments and the update required segments based on the update map data.

Abstract: An update map data acquiring means 6 for acquiring update map data is disposed in a navigation system. Even when a navigation function is being used by a control means 5 which controls the functions of the whole navigation system using yet-to-be-updated map data stored in a map data storing means 2, the control means updates the map data by writing the update map data from the update map data acquiring means 6 in a free space on the map data storing means 2.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method for processing sensor data and controlling the movement of a vehicle. In one illustrative embodiment, a vehicle having a plurality of sensors attempts to receive sensor data. In response to an inability of the vehicle to obtain needed sensor data, collected sensor data is requested from a plurality of other vehicles to form alternate sensor data. The alternate sensor data is received and the vehicle is controlled using the alternate sensor data. In another illustrative embodiment, a request is received at a first vehicle for sensor data from a different vehicle. Sensor data is collected from a plurality of sensors at the first vehicle. The sensor data is then sent to the different vehicle.