Abstract: A computer-implemented method is made available for processing a character string for a graphical representation on a man/machine interface, wherein each character of the character string is represented by a glyph saved in a font library. The glyph assigned to each character provides at least one outline for the character. The method comprises the steps of retrieving at least the outline of each character of the character string from the font library, generating, on the basis of the retrieved outlines, a single path object representing the character string, which comprises at least the outlines of all the characters of the character string, and transferring the path object to a graphics interface for the purpose of graphical representation of the path object. Furthermore, a module for implementing the method is specified.

Abstract: A technique for providing addressable database objects for route guidance by a navigation device to geographical areas is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises providing a map database comprising at least area objects, wherein each area object is associated with an area name and a polygon representative of a geographical area, retrieving at least one area object from the map database, determining, based on the polygon associated with the retrieved area object, at least one destination point for route guidance to the geographical area, generating a point object comprising the area name associated with the retrieved area object and the at least one destination point, and making the first point object, or a database object derived therefrom, available for being addressed by the area name during a destination search.

Abstract: A technique for generating from a point set geometric data that continuously describe a course of a geographic object used in the context of generating data for a navigation device or driver assisted system is disclosed. The technique includes determining, from sub-sets of two or more road points, a sequence of primary base elements; determining an interconnecting secondary base element for adjacent primary base elements, that continuously connects to and at a connection point has the same gradient as each of the interconnected primary base elements; determining an interconnecting transition curve for adjacent primary and secondary base elements, that continuously connects to and at a connection point has the same gradient and the same curvature as each of the interconnected primary and secondary base elements; and determining geometric data that continuously describe a course of the geographic object from primary base elements, secondary base elements and transition curves.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining an energy-saving route between two geographic positions on the basis of predefined cartographic data, the cartographic data describing a real traffic route network in the form of route segments and route nodes. A method aspect comprises the steps of subdividing the route segments provided for a route calculation into route segment portions that each have a predefined speed profile, providing an energy consumption value to be expected for each of the route segment portions, on the basis of the respectively assigned speed profile, and calculating weights for the respective route segments on the basis of the energy consumption values provided for the route segment portions, wherein the weights can be used to determine the energy-saving route in the context of the route calculation.

Abstract: A technique for controlling a navigation device to generate a navigation maneuver graphics for a road junction maneuver is proposed. A device embodiment of this technique comprises a routing module adapted to provide routing information pertaining to a scheduled route, with the scheduled route comprising the road junction. Furthermore, an interface to a map database is provided, with the map database containing road data pertaining to the upcoming road junction. A processor of the navigation device analyzes the road data to determine one or more junction geometry parameters of the road junction and to compose, based on the junction geometry parameters and from a plurality of pre-defined graphical junction elements, junction graphics data representative of the road junction. The processor is further adapted to generate, from the routing information and the junction geometry parameters, maneuver indication graphics data representative of the junction maneuver.

Abstract: A technique for manipulating precalculated routes on a screen is described. One aspect of the method comprises the steps of detecting a selected screen position (P) and a time period (t) of a selection operation at the screen position (P), modifying weights of the road segments in dependence on the detected screen position (P) and the time period (t), and calculating a route, manipulated in relation to the precalculated route, on the basis of the modified weights.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for identifying points of interest, or POIs, in a vicinity of a predetermined location on the basis of digital cartographic data and a predetermined search time and a predetermined number of POI hits. The method comprises the steps of identifying, on the basis of cartographic data, an initial search field that includes the predetermined location, searching for a POI in the search field, and iteratively enlarging the search field and searching for the POI in the enlarged search field until the predetermined search time has elapsed or the predetermined number of POI hits has been attained.

Abstract: A technique is described for correcting digitized map data stored in a map database of a navigation device, wherein the map data comprises routing data in the form of route links and shape points, and wherein each route link is associated with a sequence of shape points representing a course of a road segment that is displayable on a navigation screen. A method aspect comprises the steps of detecting a first user input operation indicative of a selection of a road segment displayed on the screen, detecting at least one second user input operation indicative of a graphical manipulation of the course of the selected road segment on the screen, generating on basis of the detected second user input operation corrected routing data reflecting the manipulated course of the selected road segments and storing the corrected routing data in the map database.

Abstract: A technique is described for providing travel information for route segments repeatedly covered by a vehicle, wherein the travel information is indicative of map data changes extractable from map data update information. A method aspect comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle is likely to travel along repeatedly covered route segments; selecting map data changes that are associated with the repeatedly covered route segments the vehicle is likely to travel; and generating travel information on basis of the selected map data changes and providing the travel information to a driver. Provided are also a computer program product and a device implementing the described method.

Abstract: A data selection system and a method for data selection by means of a touch-sensitive surface are disclosed. The method comprises sensing a first touch position on the touch-sensitive surface and tracking a movement from the first touch position to a second touch position. The method additionally comprises calculating at least one geometric parameter from the first touch position, the second touch position and a reference position, and effecting a data selection within a data range in dependence on the geometric parameter.

Abstract: An adaptive dialogue system and also a computer-implemented method for semantic training of a dialogue system are disclosed. In this connection, semantic annotations are generated automatically on the basis of received speech inputs, the semantic annotations being intended for controlling instruments or for communication with a user. For this purpose, at least one speech input is received in the course of an interaction with a user. A sense content of the speech input is registered and appraised, by the speech input being classified on the basis of a trainable semantic model, in order to make a semantic annotation available for the speech input. Further user information connected with the speech input is taken into account if the registered sense content is appraised erroneously, incompletely and/or as untrustworthy. The sense content of the speech input is learned automatically on the basis of the additional user information.

Abstract: A technique for calculating a location of a first vehicle is described. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of detecting, from the perspective of the first vehicle, a movement of a second vehicle relative to the first vehicle, determining, for the time of the relative movement, a location of the second vehicle based on the detected relative movement by matching the detected movement of the second vehicle against map data, measuring, for the time of the relative movement, a distance between the first and second vehicles, and calculating the location of the first vehicle based on the measured distance and the determined location of the second vehicle. The technique also comprises an apparatus, a computer program product, and a vehicle navigation system.

Abstract: A technique for assisting driving a vehicle and for learning at least one distance between first and second distinctive marks on or at a road is disclosed. In method aspects, a first method comprises the steps of identifying the first distinctive mark on or at a road on which the vehicle is travelling, retrieving, from a database, a distance between the first distinctive mark and the second distinctive mark, calculating, based on a location of the vehicle relative to the first distinctive mark, the relative distance of the vehicle to the second distinctive mark taking into account the distance between the first and second distinctive marks, and assisting the driving of the vehicle based on the calculated relative distance. A second method comprises the steps of identifying the first and second distinctive marks, calculating the distance between the first and second distinctive marks, and storing the distance between the first and second distinctive marks.

Abstract: A technique for determining location data from a database is presented. A method implementation of that technique comprises receiving a first user input defining an extension of a search corridor relative to a map visualized on a display unit. The search corridor extends from a first map area to a second map area spaced apart from the first map area. In response to a second user input defining one or more characters, location data are determined of at least one location associated with the one or more characters and lying within the search corridor. The technique may be used for searching for an intermediate or target location in connection with calculating a route.

Abstract: A technique for the acoustic signalling of a navigation manoeuvre is described. A method aspect of this technique comprises providing an association between two or more navigation manoeuvres on the one hand and two or more manoeuvring instructions on the other hand. In this case, different nonverbal acoustic manoeuvring instructions are associated with different navigation manoeuvres. A navigation manoeuvre is signalled by outputting the nonverbal acoustic manoeuvring instruction associated with the navigation manoeuvre. This manoeuvring instruction may be a tone or a tone sequence.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining an energy-saving route between two geographic positions on the basis of predefined cartographic data, the cartographic data describing a real traffic route network in the form of route segments and route nodes. A method aspect comprises the steps of subdividing the route segments provided for a route calculation into route segment portions that each have a predefined speed profile, providing an energy consumption value to be expected for each of the route segment portions, on the basis of the respectively assigned speed profile, and calculating weights for the respective route segments on the basis of the energy consumption values provided for the route segment portions, wherein the weights can be used to determine the energy-saving route in the context of the route calculation.

Abstract: A technique is specified for configuring an electronic control unit having intercommunicating applications which have been arranged in various partitions and to which differing safety integrity levels have been assigned. According to one method aspect, the communications behaviour of the applications assigned to the differing partitions amongst themselves is analysed, in order to identify data-writing and data-reading applications that are not located in the same partition. Subsequently, a shared memory area for the intercommunicating applications is configured, and a to communications data structure for the applications is generated. The communications data structure is at least partially arranged in the shared memory area.

Abstract: A technique for calibrating sensor data used for dead reckoning positioning comprises the steps of simultaneously recording sensor data of at least one dead reckoning positioning sensor and position data of a position sensor during travel, comparing a first travel path derived from the position data with a second travel path derived from the sensor data, and calibrating the sensor data based on the comparison.

Abstract: A technique for providing addressable database objects for route guidance by a navigation device to geographical areas is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises providing a map database comprising at least area objects, wherein each area object is associated with an area name and a polygon representative of a geographical area, retrieving at least one area object from the map database, determining, based on the polygon associated with the retrieved area object, at least one destination point for route guidance to the geographical area, generating a point object comprising the area name associated with the retrieved area object and the at least one destination point, and making the first point object, or a database object derived therefrom, available for being addressed by the area name during a destination search.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spinlock-based multi-core synchronization technique in a real-time environment, wherein multiple processor cores perform spinning attempts to request a lock and the lock is allocated to at most one of the multiple cores for a mutually exclusive operation thereof. A method embodiment of the technique comprises the steps of allocating the lock to the first core requesting it; establishing for each core an indication of a waiting time for receiving the lock; selecting at least one of the spinning cores based on the waiting time indications; and, upon return of the lock, conditionally allocating the lock to the selected core, if the selected core performs a spinning attempt within a predefined time window starting with the return of the lock.