Abstract: A system and method for flight planning determines an optimal route by setting an initial departure weight or range of such weights for an aircraft traveling from a departure airport to a destination airport, defining a network of nodes for potentially legal routes, labeling each node with a graph of fuel needed to reach that node either as a function of flight duration or as a function of flight duration and departure weight, selecting or discarding routes when conditions at a node of that route are favorable or violated, selecting a preferred route, departure weight and duration for the desired payload and minimizing fuel for the desired route and payload.

Abstract: A notification system determines a correspondence between a vehicle and an upcoming traffic signal, and predicts a likely remaining duration of the traffic signal in a particular state, such as “red light”, when the vehicle is at the signal's location. The notification is displayed on a user device in the vehicle, or is used to control the vehicle directly, for instance to turn off the vehicle's engine if the light is to remain red for a duration exceeding a threshold. Prediction of the vehicle's arrival is also used to set the state of the traffic signal to “vehicle waiting.

Abstract: A traffic routing system reduces emissions from commuter and other traffic, eases congestion on roadways, and decreases transit time by use of communications among vehicles and traffic controls, such as traffic lights. In one aspect, a traffic light receives a signal that a vehicle is approaching and in response turns green to allow the vehicle to pass without impairment. In another aspect, a vehicle receives a signal to adjust a current rate of speed to arrive when a traffic signal allows vehicles to pass. In still another aspect, a combination of congestion, emergency traffic, roadwork and similar factors influence proposed routes sent to vehicles.

Abstract: An electronic map system obtains a vehicle's GPS fix from a GPS receiver and compares the fix with nearby map features such as road segments. Due to GPS inaccuracies, several such map features may correspond to a GPS fix. To determine which map feature should be shown as the location of the vehicle on the electronic map, the system infers a best fit among the map features that are close to the GPS fix by considering both distance and inferred characteristics of each map feature, such as prior GPS fixes and typical vehicle direction and speed on such feature. Some of these characteristics may be retrieved from a database and may be based on historical observations while others may be obtained in real time, for instance from on-board vehicle sensors.

Abstract: A safety system determines a correspondence between a vehicle and an upcoming traffic signal, and predicts a state of the traffic signal when the vehicle is expected to reach the signal's location. Based on proximity to the signal and speed of the vehicle, the system provides a warning if it determines that the vehicle is likely to proceed contrary to the signal (e.g., a driver is likely to run a red light). The warning is issued to the vehicle about to illegally enter the intersection, to other nearby vehicles and pedestrians, and to the traffic signal itself.

Abstract: The characteristics of two intersecting roadways are compared to determine whether an inference can be made as to whether there are traffic controls (e.g., stop signs) on one of the roadways. If a larger road with characteristically higher speed intersects with a small road with lower speed, the small road is determined to have a stop sign. A map database is updated with the information regarding the inferred traffic control, and that information is then usable for purposes such as trip planning.

Abstract: A system for automatic detection of road conditions reduces emissions from vehicles by determining whether proposed routes may be less efficient due to weather conditions. In one aspect, the system chooses routes not only based on overall distance to travel, but also based weather conditions. The determination is made by information received from various sources, including other vehicles and roadside sensors. In-vehicle warnings are also provided by combining data from in-vehicle sensors with data from other sources, such as conditions currently sensed at upcoming locations and historical and forecast weather data.

Abstract: A system and method for flight planning determines an optimal route by first assuming that the gross payload of a plane is used for fuel, determining legal routes based on to-capacity fueling, determining available payload for possible flight segments by removing unneeded fuel, selecting an optimal route for a desired payload, and minimizing fueling for the selected route.

Abstract: Increased efficiency and lower cost job scheduling is provided by a system and method that optimizes for cost instead of makespan, and minimizes fluctuations in resource utilization. A schedule is constructed using a workflow scheduling system that includes a load leveler, a cost minimizer, and a manpower planner. The load leveler minimizes makespan, subject to resource limits, and then lowers the resource limits, repeating the process in order to create a flatter schedule. The cost minimizer generates an initial solution, and then incrementally improves it, using the manpower planner to evaluate the different possible solutions. The manpower planner calculates, for a given schedule, the optimal hire/fire decisions to minimize total cost.

Abstract: A traffic routing system reduces emissions from commuter and other traffic, eases congestion on roadways, and decreases transit time by use of communications among vehicles and traffic controls, such as traffic lights. In one aspect, a traffic light receives a signal that a vehicle is approaching and in response turns green to allow the vehicle to pass without impairment. In another aspect, a vehicle receives a signal to adjust a current rate of speed to arrive when a traffic signal allows vehicles to pass. In still another aspect, a combination of congestion, emergency traffic, roadwork and similar factors influence proposed routes sent to vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for flight planning determines an optimal route by considering a region of operation for an aircraft in a flight segment, dividing the region into subregions; estimating a minimum cost to traverse each subregion, determining the optimal route based on the sum of the estimates.

Abstract: Traffic information readings corresponding to a vehicle are received, the readings including at least a location. The traffic information readings are compared to information already within a map database, and are used to derive additional map information augmenting or correcting that already within the database, the additional map information subsequently being stored in the database. Additional information that is derived includes the presence of stop signs and traffic lights at intersections, the legality of turns at certain times of day, and the connectedness or non-connectedness of road segments.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of campaign resources generates proposed allocations of resources, predicts electoral results based on such proposals, and selects strategies based on predetermined metrics. Both the activities of a protagonist (e.g., candidate) and of one or more opponents are considered. A campaign model considers polling impacts from the proposed allocations as well as electoral projections based on polling. Results are presented to a user via maps and timelines, as well as by alphanumeric data.

Abstract: N or more dimensions of information are presented on a conventional M-dimensional graph, where N>M, using a visual attribute type such as color to depict the additional dimensions of information. Each data input value comprised by the graph has additional values beyond those representing the M-dimensional aspects, and the visual attributes with which the data input value is presented on the graph is a function of these additional values. In one embodiment, a two-dimensional bar graph employs color to provide a visualization of the quality of a work schedule by depicting not only time and resource utilization, but also criticality of component work tasks.