Abstract: Techniques are described for virtual traffic sensors (VTS). In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to ascertain locations of one or more virtual traffic sensors. In at least some embodiments, locations of virtual traffic sensors are determined by the electronic device using a variety of VTS criteria. Using a determined position, the electronic device may detect proximity to the virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may collect traffic related data when in proximity to the one or more virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may then communicate the collected traffic data over a suitable network connection to a service provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and analyzing cellular identification (ID) numbers at various geographic locations to estimate cellular tower locations. The method may include collecting cellular ID numbers obtained by collection mobile devices at a plurality of geographic locations then calculating minimum bounding circles encompassing a set of geographic location points with the same cellular identification numbers. If the cellular ID number of a set of location points indicates that the cellular tower is omni-directional, a center of the minimum bounding circle is an estimated cellular tower location. If the cellular ID number indicates that the cellular tower is multi-sector, the apparatus may calculate the estimated cellular tower location as the location at which lines that extend from the centers of a plurality of related minimum bounding circles intersect with each other to form equal angles.

Abstract: Techniques are described for position source selection. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to select between a plurality of position sources to determine position based upon a variety of selection criteria. In an implementation, a last known position may be stored when position is being determined through the plurality of position sources. The last known position may be used as an alternative to determining position via the position sources when one or more of the position sources are unavailable. In another implementation, the last known position may be employed to automatically select one of the plurality of position sources to be used by the electronic device for determining position.

Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate the automatic creation of journals that may include a variety of related content. Journal creation functionality may be furnished by a server to one or more client devices to create journals of content that include content from one or more content sources. The content provided by the content sources includes tags (e.g., metadata) describing the content. Thus, a client device may furnish a request to a server to create a journal of content. The request includes an attribute to relate the content of the journal. The server causes content to be associated with the journal from one or more computer-readable content sources accessible by the server by associating one or more of the content tags with the attribute for one or more existing journals and thereafter creating the journal using the processor by causing content from the one or more existing journals to be associated with the journal, the associated content having tags associated with the attribute.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and analyzing cellular identification (ID) numbers at various geographic locations to estimate cellular tower locations. The method may include collecting cellular ID numbers obtained by collection mobile devices at a plurality of geographic locations then calculating minimum bounding circles encompassing a set of geographic location points with the same cellular identification numbers. If the cellular ID number of a set of location points indicates that the cellular tower is omni-directional, a center of the minimum bounding circle is an estimated cellular tower location. If the cellular ID number indicates that the cellular tower is multi-sector, the apparatus may calculate the estimated cellular tower location as the location at which lines that extend from the centers of a plurality of related minimum bounding circles intersect with each other to form equal angles.

Abstract: A device and method for calculating information regarding a route to a destination. The device may include a computer-readable memory element on which is stored a plurality of templates comprising historical speed values for a quantity of time segments and a map database including data for a plurality of road segments associated with template codes identifying one or more of the templates. The device may also include a processing device for accessing the map database to determine a historical speed value for one or more selected road segments. The historical speed value may be used for calculating an estimated amount of time to complete a selected route, a route to the destination that takes the least amount of time, and/or a predicted time of arrival at the destination.

Abstract: Techniques are described to determine a fuel-efficient route for a vehicle. In an implementation, a determination is made, based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle, as to a route between an identified location and a designated location that would cause the vehicle to consume a lesser amount of fuel when traveling between the identified and designated locations. Accordingly, the route may be represented, such as for use in navigating to the designated location.

Abstract: Techniques are described for virtual traffic sensors (VTS). In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to ascertain locations of one or more virtual traffic sensors. In at least some embodiments, locations of virtual traffic sensors are determined by the electronic device using a variety of VTS criteria. Using a determined position, the electronic device may detect proximity to the virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may collect traffic related data when in proximity to the one or more virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may then communicate the collected traffic data over a suitable network connection to a service provider.

Abstract: Techniques are described for traffic data quality. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including functionality to determine position. The device may use determined position to ascertain geographic locations as collection points where traffic related data may be collected. In at least some embodiments, traffic data quality techniques combining both device side and server side technique are applied to data collected at the collections points. In an embodiment, communication of collected data by the device may be delayed to enable additional observations of vehicle movement, routing, position, and so forth. The additional observations during the delay enable the device to determine the validity of the collected data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for position source selection. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to select between a plurality of position sources to determine position based upon a variety of selection criteria. In an implementation, a last known position may be stored when position is being determined through the plurality of position sources. The last known position may be used as an alternative to determining position via the position sources when one or more of the position sources are unavailable. In another implementation, the last known position may be employed to automatically select one of the plurality of position sources to be used by the electronic device for determining position.