Abstract: In a case where a CPU 11 provided in an information distribution center 3 has received a request command for requesting predicted traffic information transmitted from a navigation apparatus 2 as well as vehicle information such as a navigator identifying ID, coordinate data of a vehicle position, or coordinate data of a destination, the CPU 11 searches a basic route based on update-purpose map information 14A, and sets a distribution range serving as a transmission target of traffic information 16A, 16H, and 16C. Then, the CPU 11 generates the predicted traffic information 16C such as congestion prediction information corresponding to the distribution range, extracts the predicted traffic information 16C of each link having a difference in the generated predicted traffic information 16C and the current traffic information 16A, and distributes the extracted predicted traffic information 16C to the navigation apparatus 2 together with a link ID of a corresponding link.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods, and programs store traffic information and crated prediction traffic information based on the stored traffic information. The systems, methods, and programs search a plurality of routes to a destination, each route including at least one link and calculate a predicted passage time of each link in each route. The systems, methods, and programs obtain, for each link, prediction traffic information at the predicted passage time, based on the created prediction traffic information and extract the obtained prediction traffic information pertinent to route-search-as information to be distributed, according to a predetermined order of priority.

Abstract: A traffic information notification system for use by a vehicle acquires vehicle travel history data, automatically registers, on the basis of the acquired travel history data, at least one route along which the vehicle usually travels, a time at which the vehicle travels along each of the at least one routes, and traffic information associated with each of the at least one routes. The traffic information system compares current traffic information along a registered route to be traveled provided by a traffic information system with the automatically registered traffic information for that registered route to be traveled, and provides a notification, when the current traffic information is substantially different from the automatically registered traffic information, of the substantially different current traffic information.

Abstract: A navigation system collects life information associated with a user and extracts a life pattern from the collected life information. The navigation system registers the extracted life pattern as life pattern information. The navigation system determines a predicted start time and a predicted destination based on the life pattern information and generates predicted traffic information associated with a geographical area including the destination and associated with a time range including the predicted start time.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods and programs for a vehicle detect a number of travel lanes available for traveling in a direction that the vehicle is traveling. The systems, methods, and programs detect a lane in which the vehicle is currently located and determine a congestion degree for each of the available travel lanes. The systems, methods, and programs determine a degree of difficulty of turning right or left at a next intersection that the vehicle is approaching based on the detected number of available travel lanes, the detected lane in which the vehicle is currently located, and the detected congestion degree. The systems, methods, and programs select a travel route in accordance with the determined degree of difficulty and provide guidance information on the selected travel route.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods and programs for a vehicle detect a number of travel lanes available for traveling in a direction that the vehicle is traveling. The systems, methods, and programs detect a lane in which the vehicle is currently located and determine a congestion degree for each of the available travel lanes. The systems, methods, and programs determine a degree of difficulty of turning right or left at a next intersection that the vehicle is approaching based on the detected number of available travel lanes, the detected lane in which the vehicle is currently located, and the detected congestion degree. The systems, methods, and programs select a travel route in accordance with the determined degree of difficulty and provide guidance information on the selected travel route.

Abstract: Information gathering systems, methods, and programs transmit a request for other-vehicle drive information to an information center; and as a result of the transmitted request, only receive other-vehicle drive information of vehicles that are within a predetermined area, the predetermined area set based on the present location. Information gathering systems, methods, and programs determine whether a link corresponding to a present location is subject for gathering drive information and, if the link corresponding to the present location is subject for gathering the drive information, gather the drive information for that link.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus outputs facility information needed by a user in a simple and easy-to-understand manner and includes a change processing unit. The change processing unit searches, responsive to a signal from a facility display change icon on a facility information display screen, facility information limited to those facilities that are in the direction of travel ahead of the current position, selected from among facility information stored in a facility information storage unit. Additional facilities within the output facilities are searched for within additional facility information stored in an additional facility information storage unit. Then all types of facility icons are displayed on a facility display change screen, but only facilities in the direction of travel from the current position are selectable.

Abstract: Information distribution systems, methods, and/or programs register a point which meets predetermined registration conditions as a register point; select a predetermined register point as a predicted arrival display point; calculate a predicted arrival time at the predicted arrival display point; and display the predicted arrival on a map screen. Systems, methods, and/or programs obtain map data and traffic congestion information, including a plurality of congestion areas; set a priority for each congestion area; and display congestion detail information for a congestion area on the map screen based on the set priority. Systems, methods, and/or programs determine a priority for a register point; and display the register point on the map screen when the priority of the register point is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A navigation system, traffic prediction method, and traffic prediction program search for a plurality of routes to a destination. The system, method, and program calculate, if any of the plurality of routes passes through a predetermined area, a predicted time at which a link within the predetermined area will be passed through. The system, method, and program generate predicted traffic information for the link at the predicted time at which the link will be passed through based on the stored traffic information.

Abstract: A traffic information transmitting apparatus, method, and program store accumulated traffic information including past traffic information and estimate traffic information at a time when a vehicle passes through a predetermined link based on the accumulated traffic information. The apparatus, method, and program determine whether the estimated traffic information is substantially different from traffic information stored in the vehicle. The apparatus, method, and program transmit, when the estimated traffic information and the traffic information stored in the vehicle are substantially different, the substantially different estimated traffic information to the vehicle.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods, and programs store traffic information and crated prediction traffic information based on the stored traffic information. The systems, methods, and programs search a plurality of routes to a destination, each route including at least one link and calculate a predicted passage time of each link in each route. The systems, methods, and programs obtain, for each link, prediction traffic information at the predicted passage time, based on the created prediction traffic information and extract the obtained prediction traffic information pertinent to route-search-as information to be distributed, according to a predetermined order of priority.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for searching for a navigation route search a tentative route from a start point to a destination, based on hierarchical map data. The methods and apparatus search for a start-area route from the start point to a point on the tentative route at which wide-area map data is connected to local-area map data, based on the local-area map data and traffic information and search for a destination-area route to the destination from a point on the tentative route at which the wide-area map data is connected to the local-area map data, based on the local-area map data and the traffic information. The methods and apparatus determine a navigation route from the start point to the destination, based on the start-area route, the tentative route, and the destination-area route.

Abstract: From a mobile communication device, road information about either a preliminarily registered point or an arbitrary point on a route from a present position to a destination is transmitted to and received in a network navigation center via a cellular phone base station and a general telephone network. Based on that road information, the network navigation center retrieves traffic information about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, and then transmits the retrieved traffic information to the mobile communication device via the general telephone network and the cellular phone base station. The traffic information includes traffic congestion area data about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, which is displayed on a display in the mobile communication device wherein the user is informed of future traffic information like traffic congestion.

Abstract: A navigation system collects life information associated with a user and extracts a life pattern from the collected life information. The navigation system registers the extracted life pattern as life pattern information. The navigation system determines a predicted start time and a predicted destination based on the life pattern information and generates predicted traffic information associated with a geographical area including the destination and associated with a time range including the predicted start time.

Abstract: Systems and methods of displaying predicted traffic congestion information may predict traffic congestion information at each of a plurality of times through statistical processing of traffic information. If the predicted traffic congestion information is not conspicuously changed at a setting time or within a predetermined time period of the setting time, the predicted traffic congestion information may be displayed at display times defined by regular time intervals. If the predicted traffic congestion information is conspicuously changed at a setting time or within a predetermined time period of the setting time, the predicted traffic congestion information may be displayed at display times defined by the times at which the predicted traffic congestion information is conspicuously changed.

Abstract: A traffic information notification system for use by a vehicle acquires vehicle travel history data, automatically registers, on the basis of the acquired travel history data, at least one route along which the vehicle usually travels, a time at which the vehicle travels along each of the at least one routes, and traffic information associated with each of the at least one routes. The traffic information system compares current traffic information along a registered route to be traveled provided by a traffic information system with the automatically registered traffic information for that registered route to be traveled, and provides a notification, when the current traffic information is substantially different from the automatically registered traffic information, of the substantially different current traffic information.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus searches for a route from a starting point to a destination wherein, predicted traffic information is associated with each of at least one links within any one of a plurality of predefined areas based on a time at which, according to the predicted traffic information, a vehicle traveling the route is expected to arrive within that predefined area.

Abstract: From a mobile communication device (12), road information (RI) about either a preliminarily registered point or an arbitrary point on a route from a present position to a destination is transmitted to and received in a network navigation center (10) via a cellular phone base station (14) and a general telephone network (16). Based on that road information RI, the network navigation center (10) retrieves traffic information (TI) about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, and then transmits the retrieved traffic information (TI) to the mobile communication device (12) via the general telephone network (16) and the cellular phone base station (14). The traffic information (TI) is comprised of traffic congestion area data about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, which displayed on a display (43) in the mobile communication device (12); whereby the user is informed of future traffic information like traffic congestion.