Abstract: In an electronic device, in particular a navigation device, having operator-input devices and communications devices for exchanging data with an external, central computer, at least one operator-input device is assigned a function for sending a specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and to the respective operator-input device, or for sending function data assigned to the input-identification code, to the external, central computer for executing the at least one function defined by the input-identification code and the function data.

Abstract: A device and a method of detecting and preprocessing vehicle data, traffic data, and/or driver data, such as the speed, direction of travel, engine condition, weather conditions, heart rate, etc., is described, in which the time and location of recording the data are also recorded in addition to the data mentioned. The position determination may be accomplished in particular by a positioning system such as GPS. The position may be adjusted using a digital map. The recorded data is preferably preprocessed in real time, coded, and/or compressed and/or subjected to a statistical analysis, linked mathematically/logically and recorded and/or transmitted.

Abstract: A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, wherein at least two direction indications, from a current position to waypoints and to a destination, respectively, are prepared and are outputted for the user. At least one distance indication is also prepared. Output of these indications may be accomplished simultaneously on a display. Output of these indications may be used in a region where no known map data or route data are available to the user.

Abstract: A method for navigating from a starting location to a destination location includes calculating a total route that is divided into at least two partial routes, at least one partial route being calculated locally in a mobile navigation client and at least one other partial route being calculated centrally in a stationary route server. At least one transfer point is ascertained as the end point of a first partial route and as the starting point of a second partial route as a function of the resulting total route.

Abstract: In a navigational system for generating route recommendations and for target tracking, a system (500, 800) is proposed, which detects vehicle-, traffic-, and/or driver-related data and which from these data can derive patterns of behavior of the user. The patterns of behavior as well as the user preferences derived therefrom can then be used to apply individually adapted optimization criteria to the specific user in calculating the route. When patterns of behavior are detected that deviate from the usual behavior, the detection of sensor information can automatically be expanded in order, in a plausibility check, to establish causes for the deviations and to derive therefrom new user preferences, if appropriate.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system and a navigation system for a vehicle, a motor vehicle in particular, data concerning geographic positions of the vehicle being determined by a position-finding system and transmitted to an electronic data processing device having access to a database and a digital road map. Based on this data, the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined and route guidance instructions are output to the driver of the vehicle acoustically and/or visually. Also, information from the navigation system may be used for traveling routes selected by the driver himself before the start of the trip and to which the navigation system does not output any route guidance instructions. Routes selected by the driver himself are entered into the navigation system and stored by a route memory of the navigation system.

Abstract: A method of exchanging navigation information between a terminal, an offboard vehicle navigation device in particular, and a control center is described, the navigation information including route information for at least one route between a starting point and a destination. The method involves the following steps: a) verifying a starting point reference ID and/or starting coordinates and verifying a destination reference ID and/or destination coordinates and b) calculating route data and transmitting to the terminal a route response containing at least parts of the route data, the route data corresponding to at least one complete route from the starting point to the destination or at least one partial route from the starting point to an intermediate point located between the starting point and the destination at least as a function of the length of the route from the starting point to the destination.

Abstract: For the purpose of making available route data for a navigational device, an overall route is divided up into route segments which each include a part of the overall route. A first route segment is transmitted to the navigational device, upon its request, which around the starting point includes a starting field including a plurality of possible routes, as well as a main route to an intermediate destination. Before the intermediate destination is reached, a further route segment is transmitted to the navigational device, which includes a plurality of possible routes around the intermediate destination as its starting field, as well as a main route to an additional intermediate destination or to the destination itself. The latter step is repeated for route segments for further intermediate destinations until the destination is reached.

Abstract: In methods for encoding and decoding objects with reference to a traffic route network, wherein the encoded information can also be decoded with the aid of databases that differ from a database used in the encoding, the objects are provided with relationships to at least one relational object which is present in databases that are used for the decoding, and the relationships do not primarily result from the traffic route network. A position indication can also be provided with a position type designator, which for instance indicates whether the transmitted position is an exact or navigable position or is the location of a search space.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system and a navigation system for a vehicle, in which data regarding geographic positions of the vehicle are ascertained by a positioning system and transmitted to an electronic data processing device having access to a database and a digital road map, on the basis of this data the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined and destination guidance instructions are output visually and/or acoustically to the driver of the vehicle, wherein additional information can be stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or other passengers in the vehicle and output via the navigation system, this additional information being loaded into the navigation system in the form of program “navlets” which are usable by the driver and/or other passengers in the vehicle.

Abstract: The method is used for the user-defined setting of a driver information system (10), in which data are stored and are retrievable for making a decision. In this context, it is provided that a user-defined decision matrix (26) is set up which is adjustable as a function of operating data and is retrievable for making a preliminary decision with the aid of the information system (10).

Abstract: In an electronic device, in particular a navigation device, having operator-input devices and communications devices for exchanging data with an external, central computer, at least one operator-input device is assigned a function for sending a specific input-identification code uniquely assigned to the electronic device and to the respective operator-input device, or for sending function data assigned to the input-identification code, to the external, central computer for executing the at least one function defined by the input-identification code and the function data.

Abstract: Proposed is a method and a navigation device, a method for selecting map information from a digital map on the basis of a predefined polyline being used on the digital map, and, in addition to the information defined by the polyline, the map information including further information regarding a route corridor.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for managing traffic-relevant events in a vehicle-based navigation system. A traffic information database, which can be updated by the driver in particular through prioritized driver queries initiated by the system concerning the traffic situation is managed in the navigation system. Thus observations made by the driver during his trip can be stored in the database as traffic information and used for updated route planning.

Abstract: A method for making destination guidance instructions available to a user, wherein at least two direction indications, from a current position to waypoints and to a destination, respectively, are prepared and are outputted for the user. At least one distance indication is also prepared. Output of these indications may be accomplished simultaneously on a display. Output of these indications may be used in a region where no known map data or route data are available to the user.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system and a navigation system for a vehicle, a motor vehicle in particular, data concerning geographic positions of the vehicle being determined by a position-finding system and transmitted to an electronic data processing device having access to a database and a digital road map. Based on this data, the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined and route guidance instructions are output to the driver of the vehicle acoustically and/or visually. Also, information from the navigation system may be used for traveling routes selected by the driver himself before the start of the trip and to which the navigation system does not output any route guidance instructions. Routes selected by the driver himself are entered into the navigation system and stored by a route memory of the navigation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a navigation system (10) for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to which a positioning system (14) determines data on the geographical position of the vehicle and transmits said data to an electronic data processing system (12) with access to a database (16, 18) and a digital road map. Said data is used to determine the location of the vehicle on the digital road map, and directions to the destination are acoustically and/or visually output to the driver of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a navigation system having means for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for updating route data stored in a vehicle navigation device, particularly an offboard vehicle navigation device, the route data being updated in response to the occurrence of at least one predetermined event.

Abstract: A method of exchanging navigation information between a terminal, an offboard vehicle navigation device in particular, and a control center is described, the navigation information including route information for at least one route between a starting point and a destination.

Abstract: A method and a device for transmitting navigation information from a data processing center to an on-board navigation system. The device includes a request profile generating device for generating an individual request profile according to the navigation information required by the on-board navigation system, a communication device for transmitting the individual request profile from the navigation system to the data processing center via a wireless interface, a preparation device provided in the data processing center for analyzing the transmitted individual request profile and preparing the navigation information required in the on-board navigation system and transmitting back the required navigation information from the data processing center to the on-board navigation system via the wireless interface, and a navigation information integrating device for integrating the back-transmitted, required navigation information into the on-board navigation system.