Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing geographic information. The system includes a base unit that receives a request from a mobile unit and provides a response to the mobile unit. The request includes a point of interest category and a traveling distance or traveling time parameter. The base unit identifies a point of interest that matches the point of interest category and satisfies the traveling distance or traveling time parameter. The response from the base unit to the mobile unit provides the identified point of interest.

Abstract: A method of collecting data for a geographic database for use with a navigation system is disclosed. A feature visible from a road segment is identified. A guidance feature point object is defined at a location at the road segment where the identified feature is most visibly prominent. Additionally, an importance rating and a preferred name for the identified feature are determined. Data representing the guidance feature point object, importance rating and the preferred name are stored in the geographic database on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system determines a route between an origin and a destination and provides a photographic image showing a geographic area through which the route passes. The photographic image shows the geographic area from a land-based viewpoint. The method overlays a route highlight on the photographic image identifying a path to be traveled. The route highlight includes a symbol indicating at least one feature of the route selected from a group consisting of handicap accessible route, tree-lined route, well-lit route, quiet route, scenic route, crowded route, peaceful route, and bicycle friendly route.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of compressing a plurality of TPEG format traffic messages is provided. The method forms a template containing the data values of fields of a message management container, an event container and a location container and forms a global data set representing a base time of the traffic messages and data indicating the geographic region. The method creates compressed TPEG traffic messages comprising a template identification indicating the template and data values of the fields of the message management container, the event container and the location container not included in the template or global data set.

Abstract: A rating is calculated that represents the traffic conditions of a specified driving route. A driving route is specified that includes a plurality of different roads. The traffic conditions for each of the different roads of the driving route are obtained. A rating is then calculated for the driving route that is based on the traffic conditions for each of the different roads of the driving route.

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

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request for the pedestrian route between a first location inside a building and a second location inside the building is obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing a plurality of pedestrian paths. A solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths between the first location and the second location is determined. A guidance message that identifies a feature visible from at least one of the pedestrian paths is provided.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of generating location information for an object of interest are disclosed. The location information is based on dynamic input from one or more members of an interest group associated with the object. The input from the one or more members can be provided by users of a collaboration device. The collaboration device includes a GPS receiver, and a target input mechanism in communication with the GPS receiver. The target input mechanism is configured to receive a user indication of the presence of an object of interest to generate location data from the GPS receiver for the object of interest. The collaboration device further includes a radio configured for transmitting the location data to at least one other member of the interest group.

Abstract: A reporting program and system for updating a master copy of a geographic database is disclosed. According to the method and system, reports are obtained that relate to data contained in a geographic database. Satellite images of the geographic locations represented by the data in the reports are obtained. The satellite images are analyzed to confirm a need to make changes to the master copy of the geographic database based on the reports. After confirming the need to make the changes, the master copy of the geographic database is updated.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request to calculate the pedestrian route from an origin to a destination and a walking preference for the pedestrian route identifying a feature of the pedestrian route are obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing at least one pedestrian path. The data representing the pedestrian path includes lighting level attribute information for the pedestrian path. A valid solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths that support the walking preference is determined.

Abstract: Cartographic data is represented using wavelet coefficients. Specifically, a cartographic shape point database consisting of shape points and nodes stored on a per geographic feature basis is converted to a cartographic wavelet database consisting of wavelet and scaling coefficients also stored on a per geographic feature basis. The shape of each geographic feature can be reconstructed from the stored wavelet and scaling coefficients for that geographic feature. The wavelet transform organizes the information in a function according to scale, a concept which is related to resolution. The wavelet-based representation facilitates operations such as line simplification (generalization) and zooming. Multi-resolution error metrics are defined using the wavelet representation for assessing the accuracy of sampled cartographic databases with respect to a ground truth database.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing geographic information. The system includes a mobile unit having a first geographic database and a base unit having a second geographic database that is more up-to-date than the first geographic database. The base unit receives a request from a mobile unit for updated geographic data. The base unit identifies a portion of the second geographic database that corresponds to the request and provides a response to the mobile unit comprising the identified portion of the second geographic database.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request to calculate the pedestrian route from an origin to a destination and a walking preference for the pedestrian route identifying a feature of the pedestrian route are obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing at least one pedestrian path. The data representing the pedestrian path includes lighting level attribute information for the pedestrian path. A valid solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths that support the walking preference is determined.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for developing traffic messages. The method obtains traffic data indicating collected traffic speeds at various locations on a road network. Traffic messages are developed from the traffic data. The method obtains ground truth data indicating ground truth speeds at a subset of the locations on the road network. The ground truth speed represents average speed of vehicles at one of the locations. For those locations for which ground truth speed has been obtained, the method computes a traffic quality value comparing the collected traffic speed to the ground truth speed for the location. The traffic messages and traffic quality data representative of the traffic quality values are transmitted.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system determines a route between an origin and a destination and provides a photographic image showing a geographic area through which the route passes. The photographic image is obtained from a geographic database, and the photographic image shows the geographic area from a land-based viewpoint. The method overlays a route highlight on the photographic image identifying a path to be traveled. The route highlight extends along the path for a distance visible in the photographic image.

Abstract: A method of facilitating delivery of advertising to users of mobile computing platforms is disclosed. A geographic database contains data entities that represent geographic features, such as roads, located in a geographic region. Advertising zones are defined within the geographic region. Associated with at least some of the data entities that represent geographic features are data that indicate in which of the advertising zones the represented geographic feature is located. Advertisers are allowed to associate advertising messages with the advertising zones. Users of mobile computing platforms are provided with geographically-related services that use the geographic database. As a user of a mobile computing platform travels in the geographic region, the location of the mobile computing platform is determined. The user of the mobile computing platform is provided with the advertising message associated with the advertising zone in which the mobile computing platform is determined to be located.

Abstract: Cartographic data is represented using polynomial splines. To improve representation accuracy and reduce storage requirements, a database storing data points (shape points and nodes) is converted into a database of spline control points. The spline control points are computed by fitting a polynomial spline to the geographic features using a least squares approximation. The control points associated with each geographic feature are stored in a computer-usable database. The geographic features can be displayed by computing the spline functions using the stored control points.

Abstract: A system and method for providing geographic data to end users' computing platforms. A server maintains downloadable geographic data that are organized into pre-computed parcels that correspond to pre-determined sub-areas into which the entire geographic region serviced by the server is divided. The server responds to requests from the end users' computing platforms for navigation services and data by sending selected pre-computed parcels of geographic data to the end users' computing platforms. The end users' computing platforms store the pre-computed parcels received from the server in a cache memory. The end users' computing platforms use the data in the pre-computed parcels to provide navigation-related features locally.

Abstract: A method for collecting geographic data identifies a pedestrian segment associated with a path. Location information for the pedestrian segment is collected. Additionally, lighting level attribute information is collected for the pedestrian segment. The location information and the lighting level attribute information are stored in the geographic database that is stored on a computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing tracking information. The system includes a base unit that receives a request from a first mobile unit and provides a response to the first mobile unit. The base unit obtains a current position of a second mobile unit. The response from the base unit to the mobile unit indicates the current position of the second mobile unit.