Abstract: A communications apparatus includes a processing resource arranged to support, when in use, a main application and a user interface. The apparatus, in at least one embodiment, also includes a data store and a user interface host entity arranged to access, when in use, a user interface template selectable in response to a received message. The user interface template includes an expression of a number of user interface elements. The user interface is arranged to translate the user interface template selected from the expression of the number of user interface elements into a user interface instantiation.

Abstract: An in-car navigation device has a route preview or simulation function. The name of the actual road along which the vehicle is simulated as moving is also displayed, just as it would be if the vehicle were actually travelling along the route. The status bar, or actually on the road itself. This ‘demonstrate route’ function is achievable because the device stores a database sequence of road names, together with the vectors and actions which define the roads of the calculated route (this route has been fully calculated in advance and stored in device memory). Records in this database that define the route can then be sequentially selected (say simulating progress at a rate that allows the entire journey to be completed in 15 seconds) and the device can then display simulated progress of the car along the vectors which define the roads of the calculated route on the map image.

Abstract: A navigation device is programmed to be able to associate any function, belonging to a core set of functions, with a non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger. Hence, the present invention is predicated on the insight that it is possible to identify a set of core functions and to then enable all of them to be reliably selected/activated by a finger touch to a touch input zone large enough for reliable activation. This is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device in which the core functions are those functions that are likely to be activated by a driver whilst still driving.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the present invention relates a mount for mounting a device, such as a telephone cradle or a navigation device, to a surface. The mount includes a connection member for connecting the device to the mount, the connection member being arranged to allow adjustment of the orientation of the device with respect to the mount; a suction cup arranged to be attached to the surface by generating underpressure in between the suction cup and the surface; a pull member arranged to pull a central part of the suction cup substantially in a first direction from a first position to a second position, thereby generating underpressure in between the suction cup and the surface. In at least one embodiment, in the second position, the pull member is arranged to exert a friction force to the connection member to fixate the connection member.

Abstract: Navigation software is integrated with other kinds of software running on the same device so that capabilities of the navigation software can be made available from within the other applications. Those applications can export street, city or postcode format address data to the navigation software. The address data can then be converted to a co-ordinate system based address by the navigation software, which can then automatically be set as the destination address used by the navigation software in calculating the route and/or automatically marked on a map generated and displayed by the navigation software.

Abstract: A navigation device is configured to allocate display setting such as color schemes and screen contents to at least one ambient lighting condition, monitors and evaluates a signal indicative of ambient lighting conditions and determines whether display settings for the current ambient lighting conditions are already in use and to change display settings so that they suit current ambient lighting conditions if needed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation device (10). The navigation device (10) is arranged to display navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on a display (18). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to receive a feed from a camera (24). The navigation device (10) is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image fr>m the feed fr>m the camera (24) and the navigation directions (3, 4, 5) on the display (18).

Abstract: An end-user can input a map error report to a map error, directly on the device. The device stores the map error report and can send the report to a remote server for processing. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete.

Abstract: An in-car navigation device depicts dynamic travel information (congestions, weather, etc.) in the context of a schematic display of the actual roads that the information relates to. In one implementation, the schematic view is a linear representation of the route and that schematic linear representation is displayed at the same time but separate from a map of a 2-D or 3-D representation of the actual road being traveled along and the current location of the device on that road. The device can send a request to a remote server over a wireless communications network for dynamic travel information relevant to a defined route and receive and display that information.

Abstract: A navigation device, programmable with map data and a navigation application that enables a route to be planned between two user-defined places; the device is operable to read a removable memory card storing the device operating system, the navigation application, and the map data. It does not need to store the operating system in mask ROM; hence, customisation for a specific country requires only that the appropriate memory card be inserted at the time of use.

Abstract: A dock for a portable navigation device comprises a RF connector designed to automatically interface with a RF connector in the device in order to feed GPS RF signals from an external aerial to the device when the device is correctly mounted on the dock. RF signals from an external aerial are conventionally routed along a co-axial cable that is plugged directly into the navigation device. This means that a user has to first dock the device and then hook up the RF cable. But with the present invention, a user merely has to dock the navigation device onto the platform for an automatic connection to any external aerial connected to the dock to be made. There is no need to laboriously plug in a RF cable directly into the navigation device.

Abstract: A navigation device displays a route superimposed on a road map, together with one or more symbols each indicating a location for which audio or visual traffic information exists, each symbol being selectable to play back the audio or visual information. Visual traffic information can be from a fixed traffic camera; a driver can hence rapidly view a video feed or still image from a traffic camera to allow him to assess the traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method for locating and tracking devices in a mobile telephone network compries the steps of (a) receiving mobile telephone control parameters in a subscriber database; and (b) using one or more location parameter databases (LPDBs), each mapping control parameters to a geographic location and returning a location result when queried. One or more filters is applied to the control parameters that is received by the subscriber database, each filter selectively initiating processing using a LPDB appropriate to the task of the filter and to the current state of the device.

Abstract: The present invention combines the geographical coverage possible with fixed, pre-defined route segment costs (e.g. the legal speed limit) with, wherever possible, richer time dependent costs. A user of, for example, a portable navigation device, can therefore continue route planning as before to virtually any destination in a country covered by the stored map database, but wherever possible, can also use traffic data with time-dependent costs, so that the effect of congestion with any time predictability can be accurately taken into account as an automatic, background process. It leaves the user to simply carry on driving, following the guidance offered by the navigation device, without needing to be concerned about congestion that exists now, and whether it will impact his journey.