Patents by Inventor James A. Meek

James A. Meek has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7266560
    Abstract: A navigable map database, stored on a computer-readable medium and used with a navigation application program, includes data which are spatially parcelized into a plurality of parcels. Associated with each of the plurality of parcels is a first index which associates the area represented by the data in the parcel with a plurality of sub-areas formed of the area. Also associated with each of the parcels is a second index associating each of the data in the parcel with at least one of the sub-areas. Further disclosed is a method for producing a navigable map database which is parcelized into a plurality of parcels, wherein each of the plurality of parcels includes a first index which associates the area represented by the data in the parcel with a plurality of sub-areas formed of the area and a second index associating each of the data in the parcel with at least one of the sub-areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Navteq North America, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Lampert, Richard A. Ashby, Robert Fernekes, James A. Meek, John Jaugilas
  • Patent number: 7197500
    Abstract: An improved method and system for storage of data that represent geographic features in a region. The data are organized into parcels each of which contains data that represent those geographic features that are located within a separate one of a plurality of rectangular areas into the region is divided. The method identifies linearly extending features that extend across multiple rectangular areas so that data representing the linearly extending feature can be included in each parcel that contains data that represents a rectangular area in which the linearly extending feature extends at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Navteq North America, LLC
    Inventors: Vijaya S. Israni, Richard A. Ashby, Paul M. Bouzide, John C. Jasper, Robert P. Fernekes, Gregory M. Nyczak, Nicholas E. Smith, David S. Lampert, James A. Meek, Aaron I. Crane
  • Patent number: 7051035
    Abstract: A data construction for storing data efficiently and a method for forming and using the data construction is disclosed. The method comprises representing a set of actual data values from an original source of data with an alternative representation. One or more parameters of a formula are determined to approximate the set of actual data values in the original source of data. For each actual data value in the original source of data, the difference between the actual data value and the value predicted therefor by the formula is determined. The difference for each actual data value is stored in a data construction on the medium along with the one or more parameters. The alternative representation preserves the information content of the actual data values from the original source of data while reducing the storage requirements for storing the information on a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: NAVTEQ North America, LLC
    Inventor: James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6768818
    Abstract: A data compression method and system that include the substitution of a substring of data characters located at a first position in a stream of data characters with a substitution code. The substitution code includes a reference to a previous position in the stream of data characters at which is located a substring of data characters that matches the substring of data characters which are being substituted located at the first position. The substitution code also includes an indication of the size of the substituted substring. The reference in the substitution code is a backwards offset to the previous position relative to the first position. According to a further aspect, Huffman encoding can be applied to the backward offsets, the substring lengths, the consecutive literal character lengths, and the literal characters themselves to reduce the data requirement size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Navteq North America, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Friederich, James A. Meek
  • Publication number: 20030210825
    Abstract: A data compression method and system that include the substitution of a substring of data characters located at a first position in a stream of data characters with a substitution code. The substitution code includes a reference to a previous position in the stream of data characters at which is located a substring of data characters that matches the substring of data characters which are being substituted located at the first position. The substitution code also includes an indication of the size of the substituted substring. The reference in the substitution code is a backwards offset to the previous position relative to the first position. According to a further aspect, Huffman encoding can be applied to the backward offsets, the substring lengths, the consecutive literal character lengths, and the literal characters themselves to reduce the data requirement size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Matthew Friederich, James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6600841
    Abstract: A data compression method and system that include the substitution of a substring of data characters located at a first position in a stream of data characters with a substitution code. The substitution code includes a reference to a previous position in the stream of data characters at which is located a substring of data characters that matches the substring of data characters which are being substituted located at the first position. The substitution code also includes an indication of the size of the substituted substring. The reference in the substitution code is a backwards offset to the previous position relative to the first position. According to a further aspect, Huffman encoding can be applied to the backward offsets, the substring lengths, the consecutive literal character lengths, and the literal characters themselves to reduce the data requirement size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Friederich, James A. Meek
  • Publication number: 20030014392
    Abstract: A data construction for storing data efficiently and a method for forming and using the data construction is disclosed. The method comprises representing a set of actual data values from an original source of data with an alternative representation. One or more parameters of a formula are determined to approximate the set of actual data values in the original source of data. For each actual data value in the original source of data, the difference between the actual data value and the value predicted therefor by the formula is determined. The difference for each actual data value is stored in a data construction on the medium along with the one or more parameters. The alternative representation preserves the information content of the actual data values from the original source of data while reducing the storage requirements for storing the information on a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6507850
    Abstract: A geographic database for use with a navigation application program that provides navigation features to an end-user. The geographic database includes a plurality of data records of a first type and a plurality of data records of a second type. The plurality of records of the first type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the first type and the plurality of records of the second type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the second type. The parcels of data records of the first type are interleaved with the parcels of data records of the second type. This interleaving enables navigation functions that use these different types to access these different types more quickly and efficiently, thereby enhancing navigation system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Livshutz, Richard A. Ashby, Paul M. Bouzide, Srinivasa Doddapaneni, Robert P. Fernekes, Matthew Friederich, Vijaya S. Israni, John C. Jasper, Asta Kavakh, William McDonough, James A. Meek, Senthil K. Natesan, Nicholas E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6473770
    Abstract: A geographic database for use with a navigation application program that provides navigation features to an end-user. The geographic database includes a plurality of data records of a first type and a plurality of data records of a second type. The plurality of records of the first type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the first type and the plurality of records of the second type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the second type. The parcels of data records of the first type are interleaved with the parcels of data records of the second type. This interleaving enables navigation functions that use these different types to access these different types more quickly and efficiently, thereby enhancing navigation system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Livshutz, Vijaya S. Israni, Richard A. Ashby, Paul M. Bouzide, Srinivasa Doddapaneni, Robert P. Fernekes, Matthew Friederich, John C. Jasper, Asta Kavakh, William McDonough, James A. Meek, Senthil K. Natesan, Nicholas E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6460046
    Abstract: A data construction for storing data efficiently and a method for forming and using the data construction is disclosed. The method comprises representing a set of actual data values from an original source of data with an alternative representation. One or more parameters of a formula are determined to approximate the set of actual data values in the original source of data. For each actual data value in the original source of data, the difference between the actual data value and the value predicted therefor by the formula is determined. The difference for each actual data value is stored in a data construction on the medium along with the one or more parameters. The alternative representation preserves the information content of the actual data values from the original source of data while reducing the storage requirements for storing the information on a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6393149
    Abstract: A data compression method and system that include the substitution of a substring of data characters located at a first position in a stream of data characters with a substitution code. The substitution code includes a reference to a previous position in the stream of data characters at which is located a substring of data characters that matches the substring of data characters which are being substituted located at the first position. The substitution code also includes an indication of the size of the substituted substring. The reference in the substitution code is a backwards offset to the previous position relative to the first position. According to a further aspect, Huffman encoding can be applied to the backward offsets, the substring lengths, the consecutive literal character lengths, and the literal characters themselves to reduce the data requirement size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Friederich, James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6366927
    Abstract: A system and method for storing data to represent other-than-straight map features in a computer-readable geographic database for use in a navigation system. For geographic features that are other-than-straight, a curve generated by a computable function is fitted to an image of the other-than-straight map feature. The computable function may be a polynomial equation whose shape is defined by its coefficients. In one embodiment, the polynomial equation is a type of spline curve, in particular a Bezier curve whose shape is defined by control points. The coefficients of the polynomial equation are associated with data representing the other-than-straight feature. In the case in which the polynomial equation is a Bezier curve, the control points for generating the Bezier curve are associated with the data representing the other-than-straight feature. These control points are stored in the geographic database and are used in displaying the other-than-straight geographic feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Meek, Richard A. Ashby, David S. Lampert
  • Patent number: 6362779
    Abstract: A system and method for providing updated geographic data for use by a navigation application program. The navigation application program is at a first version level and uses geographic data in a geographic database. An updated geographic database is provided to the navigation application program. The updated geographic database is at a second version level which is later than the first version level. Also provided to the navigation application program are one or more replacement routines. These replacement routines may be stored with the updated geographic database on a computer-readable medium or may be provided separately. The one or more replacement routines are used by the navigation application program either at initialization or during runtime. The one or more replacement routines are called to access or use the data in the updated geographic database. The one or more replacement routines are preferably in an interpretive language and executed by a virtual processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Meek, Paul Crowley, Paul M. Bouzide
  • Patent number: 6182006
    Abstract: An improved remote control unit for an in-vehicle navigation system and methods for use thereof. The improved remote control unit includes a re-writable data storage memory and a data reception interface through which data from an external computing device can be transmitted to the remote control unit and stored in the re-writable data storage memory. The remote control unit also includes appropriate programming that provides for receiving data from an external computing device, storing the data in the re-writable data storage memory, and then transmitting the stored data from the re-writable data storage memory to the in-vehicle navigation system from a data transmission interface of the improved remote control unit. The improved remote control unit can also be used to transfer data from the in-vehicle navigation system to an external computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Meek
  • Patent number: 6121924
    Abstract: A system and method for providing updated geographic data for use by a navigation application program. The navigation application program is at a first version level and uses geographic data in a geographic database. An updated geographic database is provided to the navigation application program. The updated geographic database is at a second version level which is later than the first version level. Also provided to the navigation application program are one or more replacement routines. These replacement routines may be stored with the updated geographic database on a computer-readable medium or may be provided separately. The one or more replacement routines are used by the navigation application program either at initialization or during runtime. The one or more replacement routines are called to access or use the data in the updated geographic database. The one or more replacement routines are preferably in an interpretive language and executed by a virtual processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Meek, Paul Crowley, Paul M. Bouzide
  • Patent number: 6038559
    Abstract: A geographic database for use with a navigation application program that provides navigation features to an end-user. The geographic database includes data entities that represent segments of roads and additionally includes data entities that represent aggregations of segments of roads. The data entities that represent aggregations of segments of roads are used during a route calculation by the navigation application to suppress evaluation of roads of lesser functional rank thereby enhancing performance of the navigation system. According to one aspect, each of the data entities that represent segments of roads that represents a segment of a road that together with at least one other segment of a road forms part of an aggregation which is represented by one of the data entities that represent aggregations of segments of roads includes a reference thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Ashby, Paul M. Bouzide, Srinivasa Doddapaneni, Robert P. Fernekes, Matthew Friederich, Vijaya S. Israni, John C. Jasper, Asta Kavakh, William McDonough, James A. Meek, Senthil K. Natesan, Nicholas E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6029173
    Abstract: A system and method for storing data in a computer-readable database to represent curved geographic features. The database can be used in a navigation system. A computable function is used to define a curved line that represents the curved geographic feature. The computable function may be a polynomial equation whose shape is defined by its coefficients. In one embodiment, the polynomial equation is a type of spline curve, in particular a Bezier curve whose shape is defined by control points. The coefficients of the polynomial equation are associated with data representing the curved geographic feature. In the case in which the polynomial equation is a Bezier curve, the control points for generating the Bezier curve are associated with the data representing the curved geographic feature. These control points are stored in the database and are used in displaying the curved geographic feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Meek, Richard A. Ashby, David S. Lampert
  • Patent number: 5968109
    Abstract: An improved method and system for storage of geographic data on physical storage media. The geographic data are stored in a manner that facilitates and enhances use and access of the data by various navigation application functions in navigation systems that use the data. The geographic data includes a parcelization that separates the geographic data into parcels having less than or equal to a maximum parcel size but having at least a desired fill percentage. The parcelization method also provides for a division arrangement that facilitates addressing and identification of the parcels. According to a further aspect, the geographic data includes special nodal entities that are used to collapse complex intersections, such as roundabouts, cloverleaves, and divided highways, into simpler data representations. The special nodal entities are associated with road segment data entities and used in a route calculation program in place of regular node entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Navigation Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Vijaya S. Israni, Richard A. Ashby, Paul M. Bouzide, John C. Jasper, Robert P. Fernekes, Gregory M. Nyczak, Nicholas E. Smith, David S. Lampert, James A. Meek, Aaron I. Crane