Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system obtains an ordered plurality of interconnected segments providing a route from an origin to a destination. A guidance message for each of the segments is formed. The step of forming the guidance message comprises determining whether to reference a previous segment and adding a reference to a current segment.

Abstract: A method for developing traffic messages for broadcast is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of traffic conditions on a road network are obtained. For each of the traffic conditions, the data provides a start location at which the traffic condition begins and an end location at which the traffic condition ends. For each of the traffic conditions, a road length from the start location to the end location is determined. The traffic conditions are assigned a priority based upon the road lengths. The data indicating the traffic conditions are transmitted in the assigned priority as a plurality of traffic messages.

Abstract: A method whereby a computing platform that uses geographic data that are spatially organized into parcels of a given size can specify a parcel block size larger than the given size. Thereafter, during runtime, the geographic data are accessed by the computing platform in groups of one or more parcels not larger than the parcel block size. According to one embodiment, at or after initialization of the computing platform, groupings of parcels corresponding to parcel blocks are determined. Each parcel block has a size larger than the maximum parcel size but not larger than a maximum parcel block size. Data identifying the groupings and the parcels corresponding thereto are stored on the computing platform and the data identifying the groupings and the parcels corresponding thereto are used to access all the parcels corresponding to a parcel block whenever geographic data in any one of the parcels are needed.

Abstract: A method for developing traffic messages is disclosed. Data indicating traffic speed at a plurality of locations on a road network are obtained. Each of the locations is assigned a unique location reference code. The data indicating traffic speed for the location reference codes assigned to locations along a road of the road network are evaluated. Locations reference codes along the road having related traffic speeds are grouped into at least one congestion event along the road. The congestion events are transmitted as traffic messages.

Abstract: A method of collecting market research information 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. Users of mobile computing platforms are provided with geographically-related services that use the geographic database. As users of the mobile computing platforms travel in the geographic region, the locations of the mobile computing platforms are determined. Demographic information of the mobile computing platform is associated with the position of the mobile computing platform. A market research record identifies which of the mobile computing platforms are located within or passing through one of the advertising zones.

Abstract: An in-vehicle navigation system includes a receiver for receiving real-time traffic information (RTTI), a database for storing routine trip information, and a processor for running a regular route application. The regular route application includes a learning mode program and an operational mode program. The learning mode program records information regarding trips regularly taken by a vehicle and populates the database with records of routine trip information. The recorded trip information can include driver identifiers, trip departure times, origin points, destination points, dates of travel, days of travel, and route data. When the vehicle begins a new trip, the operational mode program determines whether the vehicle is engaging in a routine trip. This is accomplished by comparing current vehicle location or departure time information to routine trip information in the database.

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: A method of organizing map data on a physical storage medium is disclosed. The map data represents geographic features located in a geographic region. The method identifies at least one dense area in the geographic region. The map data representing the geographic features within the dense area have a data size exceeding a predetermined maximum size for a predetermined sized geographic area of the region. The method subdivides the map data representing the geographic features within the dense area into parcels so that the portion of map data contained in the parcel is close to a predetermined parcel size. The method subdivides the map data less the map data representing the dense area into parcels so that the portion of map data contained in the parcel is close to the predetermined parcel size. Additionally, the method locates the map data in each parcel together on the physical storage medium.

Abstract: A method of organizing map data on a physical storage medium is disclosed. The map data represents geographic features located in a geographic region. The method identifies at least one dense area in the geographic region. The map data representing the geographic features within the dense area have a data size exceeding a predetermined maximum size for a predetermined sized geographic area of the region. The method subdivides the map data representing the geographic features within the dense area into parcels so that the portion of map data contained in the parcel is close to a predetermined parcel size. The method subdivides the map data less the map data representing the dense area into parcels so that the portion of map data contained in the parcel is close to the predetermined parcel size. Additionally, the method locates the map data in each parcel together on the physical storage medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for providing route guidance and other information from a base unit to a remote unit in response to a request from the remote unit. A query is formatted at the remote unit, the query including the request, and is transmitted from the remote unit to the base unit. Requested route guidance information is calculated at the base unit in response to the query, using a large up-to-date database located at the base unit. A response to the query is formatted at the base unit, the response including route guidance information. The response is then transmitted from the base unit to the remote unit for display. The transmission is made in a compact form through the use of maneuver arms and combined maneuver arms and through the use of tokenized forms. A maneuver arm represents a road at an intersection, for depiction on a display, by one or two endpoint coordinates.

Abstract: A method of facilitating delivery of traffic messages is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of traffic conditions on a road network are obtained. For each of the traffic conditions, the data provides a location description. For each of the traffic conditions, the location description is converted into a location reference code assigned by a traffic message supplier. A plurality of traffic messages representing the traffic conditions is transmitted. Each of the traffic messages includes the location reference code of the traffic condition.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for a geographic database is disclosed. Altitude data are collected using a vehicle traveling in a geographic region. A barometer associated with the vehicle supplies the altitude data. Road grade data along the roads traveled by the vehicle is derived by analyzing the altitude data. The geographic database is updated to indicate the road grade.

Abstract: A method for displaying a zooming operation on a display screen of a computing platform. The method includes retrieving data from a geographic data storage system, possibly located on another system, displaying a starting image that shows geographic features at a first scale with a first level of detail and then displaying an ending image that shows the same geographic features at a second scale with a second level of detail. Between the displaying of the starting image and the displaying of the ending image, at least one intermediate image is displayed. The intermediate image combines two component images of at least some of the same geographic features shown in the starting or ending image. The two component images in the intermediate image are at the same scale and are registered with respect to each other so that the same geographic features represented in the two component images coincide.

Abstract: A geographic database represents roads including an altitudinal component of the geometry of the roads. The altitudinal component of the geometry of roads is represented using data that indicate straight line segments and vertical curves, in particular parabolic vertical curves. The straight lines and vertical curves are determined by providing data, indicating the altitude at a plurality of locations along portions of roads, as an input to a Hough transform to determine the straight line segments and vertical curves that coincide with the portions of the roads vertically. Then, data that define the straight line segments and vertical curves are stored to represent the altitudinal component of the geometry of the portions of the roads in the geographic database. The altitudinal variation of roads is thus expressed in closed form. From this closed form representation, the slope or grade at any point along the road can be easily computed.

Abstract: A method for developing traffic messages for broadcast is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of traffic conditions on a road network are obtained. For each of the traffic conditions, the data provides a start location at which the traffic condition begins and an end location at which the traffic condition ends. For each of the traffic conditions, a road length from the start location to the end location is determined. The traffic conditions are assigned a priority based upon the road lengths. The data indicating the traffic conditions are transmitted in the assigned priority as a plurality of traffic messages.

Abstract: A method and system for securing a data product for mass distribution. An authorization server may encrypt a portion of a data product. Further, the authorization server may assemble an authorization key that includes information indicative of an entity authorized to store the data product, and the authorization server may encrypt the authorization key. To encrypt the authorization key, the authorization server may apply a symmetric encryption algorithm based on a cryptographic key that is derived as a function of an identification code associated with the authorized entity. The encrypted portion of the data product, the encrypted authentication key, and the remainder of the data product may then be stored on the authorized entity, which may be provided to a machine authorized to access the data product. The machine is preferably programmed to derive the second decryption key, use it to decrypt the authentication key, and then use the authentication key to validate use of the data product.

Abstract: An in-vehicle navigation system includes a receiver for receiving real-time traffic information (RTTI), a database for storing routine trip information, and a processor for running a regular route application. The regular route application includes a learning mode program and an operational mode program. The learning mode program records information regarding trips regularly taken by a vehicle and populates the database with records of routine trip information. The recorded trip information can include driver identifiers, trip departure times, origin points, destination points, dates of travel, days of travel, and route data. When the vehicle begins a new trip, the operational mode program determines whether the vehicle is engaging in a routine trip. This is accomplished by comparing current vehicle location or departure time information to routine trip information in the database.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a driving profile program. The driving profile program collects information about an end user's driving activity. The information relates to trips made by the end user. The information includes departure times, intermediate stops, arrival times, purposes of the trips, and so on. After collecting this information over a period of time, the driving profile program analyzes the end user's driving activity. The driving profile program provides the end user with a driving activity profile. In addition, the driving profile program determines ways to reduce the amount of time and/or expense that the end user spends traveling in his/her vehicle and suggests modifications to the end user's driving activity that would save the end user time or expense.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting meteorological data. A plurality of vehicles travel on roads in a geographic region. Each of the vehicles includes sensor equipment that senses at least one meteorological condition. The sensor equipment may be used to support other vehicle systems, such as vehicle safety systems or a vehicle navigation system. Each of the vehicles includes a program run on a computing device in the vehicle that prepares messages containing data indicative of the one or more meteorological conditions sensed by the sensor equipment. The messages are sent wirelessly from the vehicle to a meteorological data collection service that collects the data and uses the data for weather modeling or forecasting.

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.