Abstract: A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.

Abstract: A method is provided of generating a plurality of diverse routes from a source to a destination in a weighted directed graph. Such a method may be used for route planning or navigation with the weighted directed graph representing a road network, but may also be used in other applications. A source routing tree is generated from the source to a first set of points of the graph, which may comprise some or all of the points. A destination routing tree is generated from some or all of the points of the graph to the destination. The trees are then combined to form the routes. For example, the sub-routes common to and transverses in the same direction by the source and destination trees may be selected. The sub routes may then be formed into the routes by extending each sub-route as necessary to the source and destination along the source and destination trees.

Abstract: A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.

Abstract: A method of providing data to an external application is provided. The location and time of an object are periodically recorded to form a record of sightings. The record of sightings is then analysed in accordance with at least one criterion specified by the external application to which the data is to be provided. Lists of sightings from the record meeting the at least one criterion are supplied for use by the external application.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for predicting the future behavior of an object such as a vehicle. A location and time determining system, such as a GPS receiver (6), determines the geographical location of the vehicle and the current time and supplies this to a processor, such as a computer (1) with a program memory (2). The processor periodically records the location and time to form a record of sightings of the vehicle. The processor (1, 2) compares a sequence of recent sightings with earlier recorded sightings from the record to find matching sequences which represent journey segments which match over a predetermined minimum distance. The processor (1, 2) retrieves some of the sightings which follow the matching sequences and derives from these a prediction of the future behavior, for example possible future routes and destinations of the vehicle.