Abstract: A spherical joint couples an accessory to a support. The spherical joint enables the accessory to be leveled about one or more axes and panned about an axis, such that the accessory may be leveled and panned with respect to a viewing sphere. The spherical joint comprises a collar, a cup, and a ball head, wherein the collar is configured to house the ball head and the ball head is configured to couple to one of an accessory or a support via a mount interface. The ball head further comprises a ball configured to enable rotation of the ball head relative to the collar with respect to one or more axes. The cup is configured to resist rotation of the ball head relative to the collar, such that the spherical joint may be fixed at a suitable orientation.

Abstract: A navigation system having a client device and a service center. The client device is capable of transmitting a starting point and a destination point from a user. The client device also includes a memory having a memory limit. The service center is capable of receiving the starting point and the destination point and calculates a route between the starting point and the destination point. The service center further is capable of generating and transmitting data associated with the calculated route to the client device. However, before transmitting the data, the service center makes a determination whether the size of the data associated with the calculated route is greater than the memory limit of the memory in the client device. If so, the data associated with the calculated route is transmitted to the client device in a plurality of segmented data files, each at a different time. The division of data may take a variety of forms including a division by geographic area.

Abstract: A system (10) for storing and using information associated with geographic locations of interest to a mobile user comprises a mobile apparatus (100) and a remote apparatus (200). The mobile apparatus accepts and transmits information associated with a mobile user's geographic position. The remote apparatus (200) receives the transmitted information, stores the information along with data indicative of the position and time as a waypoint, and allows the user to retrieve and manipulate waypoints. The system is preferably realized as a vehicle information system (20) that allows a vehicle user to store waypoints descriptive of different locations encountered during travel. Each waypoint includes the geographic position of its corresponding location, the time, and may include appended information such as a voice message or a picture. The waypoints are stored in a remote server accessible from both the vehicle and an auxiliary apparatus such as a standard telephone (310) or a personal computer (330).

Abstract: A navigation system (20) having a service center (24) and a navigation unit (22) and a method of transmitting data to reduce the complexity of the navigation unit (22) and minimize the transmitted data. The navigation unit (22) transmits (202) a current location (or starting point (102)) and a desired destination (or destination point (104)). The service center (24) receives (204) the starting point and the destination point and selects (206) a route (100) between the two points. The service center (24) then generates (210, 212, 214) and transmits (216) data associated with a plurality of points on the selected route (100). These points may include items such as preparation points (140, 142, 144, 146), warning points (130, 132, 134, 136), instruction points (120, 122, 124, 126) and confirmation points (150, 152, 154, 156, 160, 162, 164, 166).

Abstract: A navigation system having a client device and a service center. The client device is capable of transmitting a starting point and a destination point from a user. The client device also includes a memory having a memory limit. The service center is capable of receiving the starting point and the destination point and calculates a route between the starting point and the destination point. The service center further is capable of generating and transmitting data associated with the calculated route to the client device. However, before transmitting the data, the service center makes a determination whether the size of the data associated with the calculated route is greater than the memory limit of the memory in the client device. If so, the data associated with the calculated route is transmitted to the client device in a plurality of segmented data files, each at a different time. The division of data may take a variety of forms including a division by geographic area.

Abstract: A navigation system (20) having a service center (24) and a navigation unit (22) and a method of transmitting data to reduce the complexity of the navigation unit (22) and minimize the transmitted data. The navigation unit (22) transmits (202) a current location (or starting point (102)) and a desired destination (or destination point (104)). The service center (24) receives (204) the starting point and the destination point and selects (206) a route (100) between the two points. The service center (24) then generates (210, 212, 214) and transmits (216) data associated with a plurality of points on the selected route (100). These points may include items such as preparation points (140, 142, 144, 146), warning points (130, 132, 134, 136), instruction points (120, 122, 124, 126) and confirmation points (150, 152, 154, 156, 160, 162, 164, 166).

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic content includes providing a traffic flow algorithm (220) coupled to receive a set of solicited navigation route data (210) and a set of solicited traffic data (212) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410), where traffic flow algorithm (220) is designed to compute a set of optimized traffic content (230) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410). A set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215) is received and incorporated into traffic flow algorithm (220).

Abstract: A distributed navigation system and method for providing driving instructions to a user. The system includes a service center having a navigation server and associated workstations. The service center stores driving instructions in a continuously updated map database. In response to a user request the instructions are transmitted by way of a wireless network to a client device residing in the user vehicle. The instructions are assembled into sequential stepwise driving directions and stored in a storage device in the client device. Commands from the user trigger playback of the driving instructions in a stepwise fashion.

Abstract: A method of compiling navigation route content (202) in a distributed communications system (100) includes defining a navigation route (306) between a starting location (302) and a destination location (304) that is comprised a plurality of route links (320-332) and defined by a user of a remote communications node (104). The plurality of route links (320-332) are monitored and navigation route content (202) is recorded for each of the route links. Navigation route content (202) is compiled by a navigation route algorithm (204) and navigation route data (206) is calculated for the navigation route (306) between starting location (302) and destination location (304).

Abstract: A distributed navigation system and method for providing driving instructions to a user. The system includes a service center having a navigation server and associated workstations. The service center stores driving instructions in a continuously updated map database. In response to a user request the instructions are transmitted by way of a wireless network to a client device residing in the user vehicle. The instructions are assembled into sequential stepwise driving directions and stored in a storage device in the client device. Commands from the user trigger playback of the driving instructions in a stepwise fashion.

Abstract: A method of compiling navigation route content (202) in a distributed communications system (100) includes defining a navigation route (306) between a starting location (302) and a destination location (304) that is comprised a plurality of route links (320-332) and defined by a user of a remote communications node (104). The plurality of route links (320-332) are monitored and navigation route content (202) is recorded for each of the route links. Navigation route content (202) is compiled by a navigation route algorithm (204) and navigation route data (206) is calculated for the navigation route (306) between starting location (302) and destination location (304).

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic content includes providing a traffic flow algorithm (220) coupled to receive a set of solicited navigation route data (210) and a set of solicited traffic data (212) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410), where traffic flow algorithm (220) is designed to compute a set of optimized traffic content (230) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410). A set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215) is received and incorporated with set of solicited navigation route data (210) and set of solicited traffic data (212) into traffic flow algorithm (220). A set of optimized traffic content (230) is calculated between the starting location (305, 405) and the destination location (310, 410) utilizing at least the set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215).

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic content includes providing a traffic flow algorithm (220) coupled to receive a set of solicited navigation route data (210) and a set of solicited traffic data (212) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410), where traffic flow algorithm (220) is designed to compute a set of optimized traffic content (230) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410). A set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215) is received and incorporated with set of solicited navigation route data (210) and set of solicited traffic data (212) into traffic flow algorithm (220). A set of optimized traffic content (230) is calculated between the starting location (305, 405) and the destination location (310, 410) utilizing at least the set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215).

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic content includes providing a traffic flow algorithm (220) coupled to receive a set of solicited navigation route data (210) and a set of solicited traffic data (212) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410), where traffic flow algorithm (220) is designed to compute a set of optimized traffic content (230) between a starting location (305, 405) and a destination location (310, 410). A set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215) is received and incorporated with set of solicited navigation route data (210) and set of solicited traffic data (212) into traffic flow algorithm (220). A set of optimized traffic content (230) is calculated between the starting location (305, 405) and the destination location (310, 410) utilizing at least the set of unsolicited user-defined navigation route data (215).

Abstract: A method of navigation guidance includes providing a communications node (104, 106), and a remote communications node (108). The remote communications node (108) requests a navigation route (201, 301) from communications node (102, 104, 106). The navigation route (201, 301) is from a location (202) to a destination location (204). The navigation route (201, 301) is transmitted to remote communications node (108), where the navigation route (201, 301) includes a plurality of route segments (207, 210, 211, 212, 213, 254) based on location (202). The plurality of route segments include a set of multiple route threads from location (202) to destination location (204).

Abstract: A distributed navigation system and method for providing driving instructions to a user. The system includes a service center having a navigation server and associated workstations. The service center stores driving instructions in a continuously updated map database. In response to a user request the instructions are transmitted by way of a wireless network to a client device residing in the user vehicle. The instructions are assembled into sequential stepwise driving directions and stored in a storage device in the client device. Commands from the user trigger playback of the driving instructions in a stepwise fashion.

Abstract: A method of navigation guidance includes providing a communications node (104, 106), and a remote communications node (108). The remote communications node (108) requests a navigation route (201, 301) from communications node (102, 104, 106). The navigation route (201, 301) is from a location (202) to a destination location (204). The navigation route (201, 301) is transmitted to remote communications node (108), where the navigation route (201, 301) includes a plurality of route segments (207, 210, 211, 212, 213, 254) based on location (202). The plurality of route segments include a set of multiple route threads from location (202) to destination location (204).

Abstract: An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables providing navigational services to be provided to a wireless communication device, and comprises the steps of providing a user interface in said wireless communication device for providing navigational services to a user; downloading updated navigational data from a remote network; and providing navigational services based upon said updated navigational data. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.