Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a map database storing map data. The map data has links representing road segments, road number icons, and additional road information icons. At least one of the links is associated with at least one of the road number icons and at least one of the additional road information icons. The vehicle navigation system may furthermore include a processing unit coupled to the map database and configured to control outputting of route guidance information via an output device. The outputting of route guidance information may include displaying a road number icon and an additional road information icon together with a link if the link is associated with the road number icon and the additional road information icon.

Abstract: A navigation system may use digital maps to represent cartographic features during guidance along a route to a destination requested by a user. A system and method are provided for management of icons used to represent the cartographic features by storing data for multiple icons in a data array representing an image containing the plurality of icons.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. The navigation system includes a navigation database which stores any text and/or symbol(s) associated with a signpost independently from a background of the signpost. The text and/or symbol(s) and the background may be retrieved from the navigation database and displayed as a signpost image in the displayed part of the digital map.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a 3-dimensional landmark providing a 3-dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional real world object located at a predefined geographic location is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a data set containing the 3-dimensional landmark, determining a largest continuous horizontal surface of the 3-dimensional landmark, and storing the determined largest horizontal surface as road traffic area of a road network used by a user when moving on the object.

Abstract: A navigation device comprises a processing device and a database. The database may store first data defining, for a plurality of objects, respectively a three-dimensional representation of the object. The database may store second data including, for at least a subset of the plurality of objects, an icon representation of the respective object, coordinates of the respective object and a pointer to a portion of the first data which is associated with the respective object. The processing device is coupled to the database and is configured to control an optical output device to display an object based on the first data or based on the second data.

Abstract: The invention relates to system and method for generating a 3-dimensional representation of a tunnel. Road network data is provided having a plurality of road segments, at least one road segment being a tunnel road segment, including the information that said at least one road segment is a road segment located in a tunnel. The tunnel segment in the road network is identified, providing a geographical elevation map including elevation data of the geographical region in which the tunnel road segment is located, providing predefined patterns representing predefined parts of a 3-dimensional tunnel body, generating the 3-dimensional representation of the tunnel based on the tunnel road segment, the elevation map and the predefined patterns, and storing the 3-dimensional representation of the tunnel in connection with the road network as a 3-dimensional object which is located at the geographical position of the tunnel road segment.

Abstract: To update a database of a navigation device which stores at least a base version of a digital map, versions of the digital map which are available locally in the database or remotely from the navigation device are identified. To execute the navigation task, a version of the digital map is selected for execution of the navigation task. Data from a sub-set of storage blocks in which the selected version is stored is required to execute the navigation task. Depending on whether all storage blocks of the sub-set are already stored locally in the database, data stored in storage blocks of the sub-set which are not yet stored locally in the database are downloaded via a wireless interface. The downloaded data are stored in the database without modifying the base version of the digital map.

Abstract: In a database usable for a navigation device, object data units comprising information for a three-dimensional displaying of objects like buildings are provided. At least one of the object data units comprises an adjustable height parameter for adjusting a height of the corresponding object when displayed.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system has a processing device. The processing device receives entries in a first data structure that are generated and are respectively associated with one tile of a tiling. The processing device may compare a three-dimensional terrain on the respective tile with at least one pre-defined tile pattern. Either an identifier for a pre-defined tile pattern or data describing the terrain on the respective tile may be stored by the processing device in the entry.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a map database storing map data. The map data has links representing road segments, road number icons, and additional road information icons. At least one of the links is associated with at least one of the road number icons and at least one of the additional road information icons. The vehicle navigation system may furthermore include a processing unit coupled to the map database and configured to control outputting of route guidance information via an output device.

Abstract: A navigation system may display a map element represented by a spline including a plurality of vertices. Label coordinate values derived from coordinate values of the plurality of vertices may be retrieved from a database. A label assigned to the map element may be displayed based on the stored label coordinate values. The assigned label may be adapted to the geometric form of at least a portion of the map element.

Abstract: A navigation system may display a segment of a digital map including a map element and a label corresponding to the map element. A portion of the digital map where no labeling shall occur may be determined based on coordinate values of the map element. The label may be displayed such that the portion of the digital map where no labeling shall occur is not occupied by any portion of the label.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. A landmark detected within the digital map is displayed as a three-dimensional graphical object or a two-dimensional graphical object depending on a location of the landmark.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. The navigation system includes a navigation database which stores any text and/or symbol(s) associated with a signpost independently from a background of the signpost. The text and/or symbol(s) and the background may be retrieved from the navigation database and displayed as a signpost image in the displayed part of the digital map.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation device comprises a map data base storing map data and a processing unit. The map data base includes first attributes indicative of the presence of express lanes and second attributes assigned to lanes to indicate which lanes of a road segment are express lanes. The processing unit is coupled to the map data base and is configured to perform a route search based at least on the first attribute and to control outputting of route guidance information via a user interface based at least on the second attribute.