Abstract: Systems and methods for processing flight information. Using a flight plan/route message and other flight information (aircraft type and navigation database information), the portion of the message containing the flight plan or route is decoded and translated to construct a ground-based flight route comprising a list of waypoints and associated flight information. The list of waypoints may then used in calculations performed by a flight trajectory predictor to identify spatially associated weather information and/or to create an updated flight plan or route (e.g., by adding or changing waypoints in a flight object) and thereafter transmit that information to users. Prior to transmitting any updated flight plan/route, the associated waypoints and other flight information must be translated and encoded into the required format for inclusion in an outgoing (i.e., uplinked) flight plan/route message.

Abstract: An autonomous controller for a vehicle. The controller has a processor configured to receive position signals from position sensors and to generate operation control signals defining an updated travel path for the vehicle. The controller has a programmable interface providing communication among the position sensors, the operation control mechanisms, and the processor. The controller is configured to normalize inputs to the processor from the position sensors and to generate compatible operation control signals applied as the inputs to the operation control mechanisms. The processor and the programmable interface define a self-contained unit configurable for operation with a variety of different remote sensors and different remote operation control mechanisms.

Abstract: Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed.

Abstract: Locations having similar names are identified and placed in groups. The naming similarity includes how names or portions of names are spelled and/or pronounced. The names within the groups are then ranked by priority. The ranking is calculated using one or more attributes in a geographic database, such as the number of road segments associated with a named location, the population associated with a named location, distance to a named location, and administrative level of a named location. The ranking may be used during destination entry, when providing route guidance and/or maps, and when providing additional information to a user of a navigation system, such as demographic information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for changing the path followed by an aircraft, the aircraft initially following a predefined path on the basis of a sequence of waypoints, the method allowing a subsequent return of the aircraft to the predefined path in the same direction or in the reverse direction. The method allows a possible return of the aircraft to the predefined path in the same direction such that the waypoints of the predefined path are projected onto a new path according to a projection function ensuring that the order of the sequence of the projected image points complies with the order of the sequence of the original waypoints. The projection of a waypoint already reached by the aircraft also is considered as having been reached. The projections of the waypoints on the new path are considered reached by the aircraft progressively as the latter progresses along the new path.

Abstract: An aircraft system includes a deviation module and a visual display. The deviation module is configured to receive a flight plan with a flight segment to a waypoint, the flight plan including a lateral profile, a vertical profile, and a time profile, the time profile including a predetermined time of arrival associated with the waypoint, receive a current lateral position and a current altitude, estimate an estimated time of arrival associated with the waypoint, compare the current lateral position to the lateral profile to generate lateral deviation, compare the current altitude to the vertical profile to generate vertical deviation, and compare the predetermined time of arrival to the estimated time of arrival to generate time deviation. The visual display is coupled to the deviation module and configured to display deviation symbology representing the lateral deviation, the vertical deviation, and the time deviation.

Abstract: A vessel hull robot navigation subsystem and method for a robot including a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot outputs data combining robot and vessel motion. A memory onboard the robot includes data concerning the configuration of the hull and a desired path of travel for the robot. A fix subsystem communicates position fix data to the robot. A navigation processor onboard the robot is responsive to the memory data, the sensor subsystem, the position fix data, and the data concerning vessel motion. The navigation processor is configured to determine the position of the robot on the hull by canceling, form the sensor subsystem output data combining both robot and vessel motion, the determined vessel motion.

Abstract: Route planning methods and systems are provided. First, an input corresponding to a specific region is received via an input unit of a personal navigation device. Then, a first predefined location located in the specific region is determined. A first route from a first current position of the device to the first predefined location is planned.

Abstract: An apparatus having a graphical touch screen for flight planning and navigation of an aircraft by a pilot. The touch screen may be a graphical interface operable to detect the presence and location of a physical object on or in proximity to the touch screen. The touch screen may be used to perform functions previously only accessible by knobs and buttons on avionic navigational and/or flight planning units. The apparatus may comprise the touch screen and a control device configured to receive and interpret signals from the touch screen. The control device may command the touch screen to display a map and to modify a stored route, such as a flight plan, based on pilot selections input via various gestures of the object on or proximate to the touch screen.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for switching between location contexts on a mobile computing device. An estimated geographic location of the mobile computing device is determined by a mobile computing device. A user-identified location is received from an application program invoked on the mobile computing device. The estimated geographic location and the user-identified location are concurrently stored in computer-readable memory. One of the concurrently-stored locations is identified as a current location. A plurality of interface elements that each identify a venue that is geographically near the current location are presented on a display of the mobile computing device. User input that changes the current location from one to the other of the concurrently-stored locations is received at the mobile computing device.

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: An apparatus, method and tangible medium using row sensing for calibrating geographical positions for guiding a farm implement and calibrated geographical positions for steering a vehicle along a row.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle includes a control responsive to an indication of at least one of (a) a geographical location of the hybrid vehicle and (b) a programmed route of travel of the hybrid vehicle. The control, responsive to the indication, selects one of (a) electric-powered propulsion of the hybrid vehicle and (b) non-electric-powered propulsion of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: An efficient route-defining method includes determining a route to a destination. The exemplary method also includes determining a wireless device to server connection type and assigning a tolerance in accordance with a connection type. The tolerance is usable to determine if a vehicle is off-route, and the tolerance is increased or decreased inversely corresponding to the speed of the connection type. According to the illustrative method, the assigned tolerance is used to determine points defining the route, such that the roads comprising the route are within a bounded area. The bounded area may be defined by the tolerance in conjunction with a plurality of lines connecting successive points along the route. Finally, the method includes delivering the determined points to a vehicle computing system in communication with the server.

Abstract: An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application. The integrated system includes means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems. Means are provided for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from the aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data. The aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data is automatically transmitted to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log. The reporting point journey log is installed into a ground storage application.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a map database for a vehicle navigation system with the location and type of wireless access points that can be used to update or service wireless systems on the vehicle. The map database can be initially populated with the known wireless access points at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, and then the vehicle communications system can detect new wireless access points as the vehicle travels, which can be stored on the map database. By storing the location and type of the access points in the map database, the vehicle will know the direction of the access point relative to the vehicle, and can compensate for the Doppler shift as a result of the relative movement of the vehicle to the access point.

Abstract: A method of magnifying a portion of a map displayed on a computing device includes displaying the map at a first zoom level and displaying a magnified portion of the map at a second zoom level. The magnified portion comprises an interactive map element. The magnified portion acts as a localized map magnifier. The magnified portion may be round to resemble a virtual magnifying glass. In certain implementations, multiple map magnifiers may be displayed simultaneously. Map magnifiers may be displayed, for example, at waypoints along a route, at map markers corresponding to points of interest or at the locations associated with search results.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, determining maritime paths includes accessing a feasibility matrix comprising feasibility values for locations of an area. A feasibility value indicates navigability at a location. One or more non-navigable locations represent one or more barriers. Waypoints around the barriers are determined. A cost matrix comprising cost values is calculated. A cost value indicates a distance between two points of a set of points, where the set of points comprises one or more start points, one or more end points, and the waypoints. Dijkstra's technique is applied to a selected start point and a selected end point to yield a shortest length path between the selected start point and the selected end point.

Abstract: A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described for generating a navigation chart. The navigation chart includes a plurality of allocated areas corresponding to symbols for a plurality of chart features. The method includes identifying an unallocated area of the navigation chart proximate to a symbol for one chart feature of the plurality of chart features. A first label and a second label are determined for the one chart feature. The first label includes a plurality of feature attribute indicators, and the second label includes a subset of the plurality of feature attribute indicators. A label is selected from among the first label and the second label based on dimensions of the unallocated area. At least a portion of the unallocated area is allocated to the selected label, and the navigation chart is displayed.

Abstract: System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device is disclosed. The mobile electronic device comprises a near-field-communications receiver and an application. The near-field-communication transceiver receives identification information from at least one of a transit vehicle and a transit platform. The application, when executed on the mobile electronic device, receives a transit destination as entered into the mobile electronic device. Based on the identification information and a transit system route map, the application presents a notification on the mobile electronic device that the identification information does not agree with the transit destination.

Abstract: Provided is a critical point method used to determine the points of a real-time stream of location data, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) data, that should be retained based on their importance in reconstructing the travel path of a mobile device. The method may run on a mobile device or on a server. When run on a mobile device, the method reduces the amount of data transferred between mediums by only transferring points that are critical to reconstructing the path of travel of the mobile device. This reduction saves power used in the wireless transmission and reception of the non-critical data and the bandwidth used while transmitting non-critical data. The method may be run every time a new position is calculated. When a new position is determined to be a critical point, the point is transmitted. If the new position is not a critical point, then the point is discarded.

Abstract: A method of selecting and storing a subset of available meteorological data along a predicted trajectory of an aircraft and relevant to the predicted trajectory includes determining pseudo-waypoints and related meteorological data pertaining to a level segment of the trajectory, and selecting the meteorological data points minimizing weighted fuel burn and time error pertaining to a non-level segment of the trajectory.

Abstract: A method and system for a required time of arrival (RTA) performance graphic display is provided. The system includes a processor programmed to receive a required time of arrival and a first visual display communicatively coupled to the processor. The first visual display includes an RTA graphic having a dial substantially symmetric about an axis, a first marker indicative of a current estimated time of arrival (ETA) at a predetermined waypoint, a second marker indicative of a value of the RTA relative to the current ETA value and a selected RTA time tolerance value, a first indication representing a first time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a second indication representing a last time the vehicle can attain the predetermined waypoint, a third indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in an early arrival direction, and a fourth indication representing the uncertainty of the ETA in a late arrival direction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a position and a heading of a mobile device, defining a zone of interest based on the position and heading of the mobile device, identifying one or more points of interest (POIs) that are located within the zone of interest, determining, for each of the identified POIs, a distance between the mobile device and the respective POI, selecting one or more of the identified POIs based on the distances, and displaying information identifying the selected POIs on a user interface of the mobile device.

Abstract: A swarm navigation system is disclosed. The swarm navigation system includes a plurality of mobile agents, each having a receiver and capable of receiving a collision avoidance signal or a target attraction signal from a remote source. A stereo antenna system and memory storing instructions cause the mobile agent to determine the intensity and direction of the received collision avoidance signal or the received target attraction signal and to navigate the mobile agent substantially towards the received target attraction signal and substantially away from the received collision avoidance signal. Each mobile agent may further include a collision avoidance beacon mounted to the mobile agent and adapted to broadcast a collision avoidance signal, and a target attraction beacon mounted to the mobile agent and adapted to selectively broadcast a target attraction signal.

Abstract: A method of displaying a background sky in a navigation system, the method including: storing and maintaining map data and background sky image data with respect to one or more directions of the map data in a database; detecting a driving direction angle of a vehicle; computing a position of a background sky image corresponding to the detected driving direction angle; extracting background sky image data corresponding to the computed position of the background sky image from the database; and displaying the extracted background sky image data as a background sky with respect to the map data.

Abstract: A flight management system for use in automatically generating a flight path trajectory for an aircraft. The flight path trajectory includes a plurality of waypoints and a plurality of vectors that extend between each waypoint of the plurality of waypoints. The flight management system includes a processor that is configured to calculate a first flight path trajectory including an origin waypoint and a destination waypoint. A tactical command that indicates a change in flight trajectory is received. A second flight path trajectory based at least in part on the tactical command is calculated. The calculated second flight path trajectory includes a departure waypoint along the first flight path trajectory, an intercept waypoint along the first flight path trajectory, and a departure vector from the departure waypoint to the intercept waypoint.

Abstract: A route data compression method to compress the recording points of a line of a route planning data by means of setting the values of predetermined distance, predetermined angle and predetermined number of compression points and then determining whether or not the distance between every two recording points is greater than the predetermined distance and whether or not the contained angle of the two link lines of every three recording points is greater than the predetermined angle. After determination of all recording points, the recording points are compressed. If the number of points after compression is greater than the predetermined number of compression points, increase the value of the predetermined distance, and then repeat the determination procedure. When the number of points after compression becomes smaller than the predetermined number of compression points, the compression is done.

Abstract: A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: The navigation apparatus has a display unit ready to accept a user operation that moves a reference point of a navigation route already being defined on a map by the apparatus. The move of the reference point of the navigation route according to the user operation, together with map information, defines a new navigation route that incorporates route amendments. The navigation apparatus thus allows the user to easily and responsively modify an already-defined navigation route in a novel manner, which enables a rubber-banding of the already-defined navigation route.

Abstract: A tour route generating apparatus includes a distance obtaining unit which obtains a target route distance of a tour route to be generated; a reference point obtaining unit which obtains a reference point as a start point of the tour route; a waypoint determination unit which determines a waypoint of the tour route; and a tour route generating unit which generates the tour route such that a route distance from the reference point to the reference point via the waypoint becomes the target route distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for link promotion for a navigation system allows expansion of search in a lower layer to determine an optimum climbing point to an upper layer to search an optimum route. The link promotion procedure includes the steps of determining whether an upper link exists for a lower link, setting the upper link as a promoted link if such an upper link exists even if a climbing node point does not exist that connect the lower link and the upper link, and comparing a candidate normal route and a promoted route to find an optimum route.

Abstract: Map information distribution systems, methods, and programs that update map information based and distribute the update information, send update request information for requesting the update information of the map information, receive the update request information, and obtain the update information corresponding to the received update request information. The systems, methods, and programs obtain updated content corresponding to the obtained update information, assign a score to the updated content based on factor information corresponding to the obtained updated content, assign an order of priority to the respective updated content based on the scores assigned to the respective updated content, distribute the update information and the prioritized updated content, update the map information based on the received update information, and notify a user of the received updated content based on the order of priority assigned to the updated content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method allowing a modification of the flight plan of an aircraft in a semi-automated manner. The invention presents the main advantage of affording the crew of an aircraft a method for aiding the rejoining of a flight plan requiring only a designation by an operator of the new active reference that he wishes to use for guiding the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a flight of an aircraft. Conditions in an environment around the aircraft are monitored during the flight of the aircraft on a route having a number of target points. In response to detecting a condition requiring a change to the route of the aircraft, current resources for the aircraft are identified. A determination is made as to whether changing the route reduces the number of target points that can be reached based on the current resources for the aircraft. In response to a determination that changing the route reduces the number of target points that can be reached, the route is changed to include a portion of the number of target points using the condition and a policy.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for displaying flight information. A number of elements for a number of phases of flight for a route of an aircraft are identified. The number of elements in association with the number of phases of flight is displayed on a strip on a display. The number of elements is displayed on the strip in a sequence in which the number of elements is encountered by the aircraft on the route during the number of phases of flight.