Abstract: A navigation system includes a driving profile program. The driving profile program collects information about an end user's driving activity. The information relates to trips made by the end user. The information includes departure times, intermediate stops, arrival times, purposes of the trips, and so on. After collecting this information over a period of time, the driving profile program analyzes the end user's driving activity. The driving profile program provides the end user with a driving activity profile. In addition, the driving profile program determines ways to reduce the amount of time and/or expense that the end user spends traveling in his/her vehicle and suggests modifications to the end user's driving activity that would save the end user time or expense.

Abstract: A reporting program and system whereby end users of navigation systems, or other computing platforms that use geographic data to obtain navigation-related or map-related services, can make reports about the geographic data. The reporting program can be used by end users to report perceived errors or inaccuracies in the geographic data. The end users can use their own personal computers, or other computing devices, to access the reporting program over a network, such as the Internet. When an end user accesses the reporting program, the reporting program provides a graphical map image to the end user on the end user's computing platform. The reporting program allows the end user to zoom and pan the graphical map image in order to display an image of the area about which the end user wishes to make a report.

Abstract: A reporting program and system whereby end users of navigation systems, or other computing platforms that use geographic data to obtain navigation-related or map-related services, can make reports about the geographic data. The reporting program can be used by end users to report perceived errors or inaccuracies in the geographic data. The end users can use their own personal computers, or other computing devices, to access the reporting program over a network, such as the Internet. When an end user accesses the reporting program, the reporting program provides a graphical map image to the end user on the end user's computing platform. The reporting program allows the end user to zoom and pan the graphical map image in order to display an image of the area about which the end user wishes to make a report.

Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a hand drawn representation of at least part of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising an image processor arranged in operation to generate a reference identification in response to spatial samples produced from at least part of the hand drawn representation, the reference identification being indicative of a first estimate of which of a plurality of pre-stored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation. and a controller which is arranged in operation to cause the image processor to produce a refined reference identification from the spatial samples and further spatial samples produced from a further part of the hand drawn representation, the refined reference identification being indicative of a refined estimate of which of the plurality of the prestored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation.

Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a sequence of spatial samples generated in response to a hand drawn representation of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising a segment processor arranged in operation to determine from the spatial samples stroke data representative of strokes performed in drawing the hand drawn representation of the image, a stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to generate parameter data from the sequence of spatial samples and the determined stroke data of the hand drawn representation, and an image identifier coupled to the stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to identity the image from the parameter data. The image identification apparatus finds application in many fields, including identifying hand drawn images for generating a story board from pre-generated images.

Abstract: A reporting program and system whereby end users of navigation systems, or other computing platforms that use geographic data to obtain navigation-related or map-related services, can make reports about the geographic data. The reporting program can be used by end users to report perceived errors or inaccuracies in the geographic data. The end users can use their own personal computers, or other computing devices, to access the reporting program over a network, such as the Internet. When an end user accesses the reporting program, the reporting program provides a graphical map image to the end user on the end user's computing platform. The reporting program allows the end user to zoom and pan the graphical map image in order to display an image of the area about which the end user wishes to make a report.

Abstract: A method for electronic color dropout utilizing spatial context to enhance accuracy comprises scanning a document to produce a color digital image. A thresholding apparatus is applied to the color digital image to produce a bitonal image. A region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image. An average color for the region is computed and compared to a predetermined dropout color. If the average color matches the predetermined dropout color, the region is erased from the bitonal image. Once it is determined that all features of the bitonal image have been examined, the process is complete. If all the features of the bitonal image have not been examined a region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for a geographic database is disclosed. Speed and position data are collected using a plurality of mobile computing platforms moving in a geographic region. The speed and position data are analyzed to identify a location of a recurring delay point corresponding to a change in the speed. The geographic database is updated to indicate the location of the recurring delay point.

Abstract: A color image reading device, an output controller and a method of controlling an output from a color image reading device provide for an improved signal-noise ratio for the scanning of two-dimensional objects, as in document scanners. In the present invention, the position of a color image reading device with respect to an object to be read is oriented in order to optimize illumination in, for example, the blue wavelength. Pixel data for each line is read, generated in reverse order and/or re-phased so as to compensate for offset linear sensors on the color image reading device.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a driving profile program. The driving profile program collects information about an end user's driving activity. The information relates to trips made by the end user. The information includes departure times, intermediate stops, arrival times, purposes of the trips, and so on. After collecting this information over a period of time, the driving profile program analyzes the end user's driving activity. The driving profile program provides the end user with a driving activity profile. In addition, the driving profile program determines ways to reduce the amount of time and/or expense that the end user spends traveling in his/her vehicle and suggests modifications to the end user's driving activity that would save the end user time or expense.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a driving profile program. The driving profile program collects information about an end user's driving activity. The information relates to trips made by the end user. The information includes departure times, intermediate stops, arrival times, purposes of the trips, and so on. After collecting this information over a period of time, the driving profile program analyzes the end user's driving activity. The driving profile program provides the end user with a driving activity profile. In addition, the driving profile program determines ways to reduce the amount of time and/or expense that the end user spends traveling in his/her vehicle and suggests modifications to the end user's driving activity that would save the end user time or expense.

Abstract: An image scanning system for producing an electronic version of a hardcopy element which is compensated for spectral content of an illumination source in the image scanning system, the image scanning system includes a sensor for receiving light containing the hardcopy element for forming and storing an electronic version of the hardcopy element; a spectral sensor for receiving light from the illumination source and storing an electronic version of spectral contents of the illumination source; and a conversion system for receiving the electronic versions of the illumination source and the hardcopy element and creating a compensation table that compensates subsequent hardcopy elements passed through the conversion system.

Abstract: A method implemented on a navigation system in a vehicle for determining the position of the vehicle relative to a road network. The navigation system uses a geographic database that contains data that represent positions of roads upon which the vehicle travels. Using the output from a GPS system, and optionally outputs from other sensors, the navigation system matches the positions of the vehicle to the locations of the roads represented by the data contained in the geographic database. Upon detecting an event from which the position of the vehicle with respect to the roads represented by the data contained in the geographic database can be determined with a relatively high degree of accuracy, a correction factor is determined. The correction factor is an offset (i.e., a distance and direction) of the GPS position reported during the event to the known-to-be-highly-accurate position. The correction factor is then used to adjust subsequently obtained GPS readings for a limited period of time, i.e.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention a scanner comprises a transport mechanism for moving a document. A sensor detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the document. The sensor turns off a drive mechanism when a leading edge of the document is detected. A drive mechanism is started when a trailing edge of a document is detected. A camera scans the document and detects a skew angle of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the document. A front end controller receives a digital signal from the camera and detects the document in a field of the camera within a specified range of pixels.

Abstract: A system and method in which an image capture device such as a scanner can be automatically switched between a plurality of scanning modes without the need for manual intervention. In the system and method of the present invention, a document scanner can automatically switch or toggle between scanning modes while documents are being scanned. In one implementation of the present invention, the scanner can automatically switch between monochrome scanning and color scanning and vice versa based on a defined pattern on a document to be scanned. The document to be scanned can be in the form of a scanning mode switching document inserted into or associated with a stack of sheets of a jobstream. The scanning mode switching document can include a switching pattern that is detected by a processing system of the scanner.

Abstract: A feature implemented on a navigation system in a vehicle whereby the user of the vehicle selects one or more types of audio programs and associates each type of audio program with a specific location along a predetermined route. As the vehicle is being driven along the route, audio programs of the types selected by the user are obtained and stored in a memory. When the vehicle reaches the location associated with one of the selected types of audio programming, the stored audio program of the selected type is presented to the user.

Abstract: A feature provided by a navigation system to provide guidance to a driver of a vehicle. The feature comprises multiple progress bars displayed on a display screen of the navigation system. The multiple progress bars feature is displayed when the vehicle is approaching a location at which a maneuver, such as a turn, onto a road is to be made and another road is close by and might be confused with the road onto which the maneuver should be made. One of the multiple progress bars represents the vehicle's approach toward the road onto which the maneuver should be made and the other of the multiple progress bars represents the vehicle's approach toward the road not to be taken. As the vehicle approaches both roads, the progress bars are updated indicating the vehicle's relative approach to both the road onto which the maneuver should be made and the road not to be taken.

Abstract: A feature whereby an end user of a navigation system that uses geographic data can easily report perceived errors or inaccuracies in the geographic data or other problems such as poor quality route calculation or guidance. The end user uses a user interface of the navigation system to indicate the perceived error, inaccuracy, or other problem. The navigation system includes a report program that operates in response to the end user's indication. The report program collects information indicating the error, inaccuracy, or other problem and sends a report including the collected information to a geographic database developer. The geographic database developer can use the information in the report to update a geographic database.

Abstract: A feature whereby an end user of a navigation system that uses geographic data can easily report perceived errors or inaccuracies in the geographic data or other problems such as poor quality route calculation or guidance. The end user uses a user interface of the navigation system to indicate the perceived error, inaccuracy, or other problem. The navigation system includes a report program that operates in response to the end user's indication. The report program collects information indicating the error, inaccuracy, or other problem and sends a report including the collected information to a geographic database developer. The geographic database developer can use the information in the report to update a geographic database.

Abstract: Complementary DNA encoding a 52 kDa form of a protein present in the human Ro/SSA ribonucleoprotein complex has been cloned. A lambda gt11 cDNA library made from human thymocyte mRNA was screened with serum from a SLE patient and two immunoreactive clones were isolated. These clones reacted with other patient sera which had anti-52 kDa Ro/SSA antibodies and with affinity purified anti-52 kDa Ro/SSA antibodies. Moreover, affinity purified antibodies eluted from fusion proteins of the isolated clones reacted only with the 52 kDa protein of lymphocytes in the Western blot. Ro/SSA RNAs were also precipitated with these affinity purified antibodies, further confirming that the clones encode a 52 kDa Ro/SSA antigen. The sequence differs from the previously reported 60 kDa Ro/SSA gene.