Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.

Abstract: An approach is provided for efficiently capturing, processing, presenting, and/or associating audio objects with content items and geo-locations. A processing platform may determine a viewpoint of a viewer of at least one content item associated with a geo-location. Further, the processing platform and/or a content provider may determine at least one audio object associated with the at least one content item, the geo-location, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the processing platform may process the at least one audio object for rendering one or more elements of the at least one audio object based, at least in part, on the viewpoint.

Abstract: Traffic flow is viewed in mapping or navigation. A processor generates a two-dimensional map from a perspective view. The perspective view is at an angle, which is not a normal to the map, looking down on the two-dimensional map. At least one road or pathway represented on the two-dimensional map is identified. Traffic flow information is obtained for a plurality of locations along the at least one road or pathway. A line is projected along a third dimension on the two-dimensional map. The line is above the road or pathway from the perspective view. A height of the line is a function of the traffic flow information for the locations such that the height for a first of the locations is greater than for a second of the locations. The map is displayed with the line.

Abstract: A method and system for representing multiple road properties with a single multi-dimensional parametric spline curve is disclosed. A B-Spline is generated to represent a first road dimension. The B-Spline is written mathematically in vector format. One or more road dimensions to be added to the B-Spline are selected. Depending on the selection, the road dimensions are created in a format compatible with the B-Spline. For example, the road dimensions may be created using curve fitting, B-Spline merger, or direct assignment. Once the road dimensions are created, they are added to the original B-Spline vector. The new B-Spline vector is then stored in a data storage unit for use by systems, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

Abstract: A navigation system utilizes building directories to aid navigation. A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, captures an image of a building directory. The building directory includes information regarding the names and/or locations of tenants. An image recognition algorithm is performed on the captured image to extract information from the building directory. The extracted information is used to access a map database. The mobile device may display directions or a map to guide the user to a selected destination. In addition, the captured image may be used to build the map database or update the map database. Finally, the captured image may be matched with stored images of the building directory to determine the current location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system for adding traffic gadgets to a traffic report is disclosed. A traffic gadget is a dynamic object defined by a relatively small code module that is separate from the main traffic report application code. A programmer develops the traffic gadget's visual functionality and specifies the type of data that the traffic gadget can receive. An artist configures the visible appearance of the traffic gadget for a specific end-user application. The end-user may then select a traffic gadget and add the selected traffic gadget to a visual traffic report. The user may also select data to control the functionality of the traffic gadget during the traffic report.

Abstract: A method for selecting a traffic pattern for use by a navigation system is disclosed. When unusual traffic conditions exist, a message is sent to the navigation system. The message includes a code that identifies a traffic pattern. The navigation system uses the code to select a traffic pattern to use when calculating a route or to provide other navigation system functions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and methods for navigating on images are disclosed. For example, one method includes identifying a point selected on an initial image. An image component, such as a pixel, of the initial image corresponding to the identified point is determined. The image component of the initial image represents an origin. A route from the origin to a destination is generated, and the destination corresponds to another image component, such as another pixel.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing device do-not-disturb operational modes based on context information. A do-not-disturb manager determines context information associated with a device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof. The do-not-disturb manager also processes and/or facilitates a processing of the context information to cause, at least in part, an activation of one or more operational modes of the device. The do-not-disturb manager also causes, at least in part, a disabling or enabling of one or more functions of one or more applications associated with the device based, at least in part, on the activated one or more operational modes.

Abstract: A page server and method of using the page server is described. The page server stores versioned pages. The pages, which are equally sized data chunks, can be stored with identifiers and version data in a relational database, in separate files, or in a single file where pages are concatenated. The page server may be accessed via SQL, a web interface, a proprietary key/value/version interface on top of TCP/IP, or other method. The page server facilitates incremental updates.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for emphasizing objects in an image, such as a panoramic image, are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system, wherein the depthmap includes position data and depth data for each of a plurality of points. The optical distancing system measures physical data. The depthmap is overlaid on the panoramic image according to the position data. Data is received that indicates a location on the panoramic image and, accordingly, a first point of the plurality of points that is associated with the location. The depth data of the first point is compared to depth data of surrounding points to identify an area on the panoramic image corresponding to a subset of the surrounding points. The panoramic image is altered with a graphical effect that indicates the location.

Abstract: A method and system for exchanging location content data in different data formats is disclosed. A third-party system makes a request to retrieve, add, modify, or delete location content. The request is made in a first data format. A data exchange system receives the request, converts the request to a second data format supported by a location reference system, and sends the request to the location reference system. The location reference system prepares a response to the request and sends the response to the data exchange system. The data exchange system converts the response to the first data format and sends the response to the third-party system.

Abstract: An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for a vehicle is disclosed. An electronic control unit (ECU) is programmed to reduce vehicle lateral skidding by reducing differences between an intended vehicle direction and/or yaw rate and an actual vehicle direction and/or yaw rate by applying modifications to operation of the vehicle brakes and/or throttle. The ESC system receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a steering wheel position sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor. The ESC system also receives input that indicates at least a property of the road upon which the vehicle is located, wherein the road upon which the vehicle is located is determined from a positioning system that uses a map database and the property is determined from the map database. The ESC system incorporates the road property information in determining when and/or how to modify operation of the vehicle to reduce vehicle skidding.

Abstract: Traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system is obtained. A user selects a start geographical location and an end geographical location. An animated flythrough 3D graphical map is then created and displayed beginning at the start geographical location and navigating toward the end geographical location. The traffic flow data is continuously displayed during the flythrough.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses segment cost data associated with each segment in the route. The segment cost is calculated by adjusting an energy consumption value by subtracting a bias term for each segment with known slope data. The bias term causes segment costs associated with segments having a slope that can be traveled with typical efficiency, a zero slope, and an unknown slope to be substantially the same. The bias term also causes the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that can be traveled efficiently to be less than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope, and the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that causes inefficient travel to be greater than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope.

Abstract: A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route.

Abstract: A method and system for full text search for use during destination selection with a navigation system is disclosed. The method partitions a full text search index based on frequently used terms. These frequently used terms are then mapped to dedicated full text search indexes, where each document contains this frequently used term but the term itself is not stored in the index. A relation maps the frequently used terms to the inverted indexes.

Abstract: An approach is provided for detecting points of interest or events based on geotagged data and geolocation seeds. A maps platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of location information associated with one or more devices to determine one or more geolocation seeds. The maps platform causes, at least in part, a querying for content information based, at least in part, on the one or more geolocation seeds. The maps platform then processes and/or facilitates a processing of the content information to determine one or more points of interest, one or more location-based events, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining parking information for a place of interest. A travel platform processes one or more trace results associated with a device, a user of the device, or a combination there to determine one or more travel paths, one or more places of interest, or a combination thereof. The travel platform processes the one or more travel paths to determine one or more parking areas associated with the one or more places of interest. The travel platform then presents the one or more parking areas associated with the one or more travel paths, the one or more places of interest, or a combination thereof.