Abstract: A method of generating map data indicating a deviation from expected jam conditions on a segment of a plurality of segments in an area covered by an electronic map, the segment having associated therewith a jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment. The method comprises establishing an expected jam condition for the segment based on the jam probability of that segment, and then obtaining live data indicating the jam conditions on at least one of the plurality of other segments in the area. A revised jam condition can then be established for the segment using the obtained live data.

Abstract: A method of generating map data indicating a deviation from expected jam conditions on a segment of a plurality of segments in an area covered by an electronic map, the segment having associated therewith a jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment. The method comprises establishing an expected jam condition for the segment based on the jam probability of that segment, and then obtaining live data indicating the jam conditions on at least one of the plurality of other segments in the area. A revised jam condition can then be established for the segment using the obtained live data.

Abstract: A server arranged to process GPS data to generate enhanced map data is disclosed, and comprises a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by a map, the server connected with a wireless telecommunications transceiver arranged to receive GPS fixes by wireless telecommunication from a plurality of navigation devices and send the received GPS fixes to the server, the server comprising a processor arranged to generate at least one speed profile for each segment from the GPS fixes from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment, and the server arranged to subsequently cause the transceiver to send the speed profiles to the navigation devices.

Abstract: A method of creating map data is disclosed, the map data including a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map with each segment being arranged to have speed data associated therewith. In at least one embodiment, the method includes processing speed data relating to a plurality of the segments of the navigable route covered by the map to generate a set of generated speed profiles, with each generated speed profile within the set being an approximation to traffic speed along one or more of the segments of the navigable route and each speed profile varying with respect to time; and associating at least one speed profile from the set with a navigable segment within the map data.

Abstract: A method of processing positioning data to create map data is disclosed, the map data including a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map with each segment being arranged to have speed data associated therewith. In at least one embodiment, the method includes processing the speed data to categorise the speed data into a plurality of time periods for the navigable segment with which the speed data is associated; and averaging the speed data within each time period in order to generate a measured speed profile for the navigable segment.

Abstract: A system for providing travel and traffic information to an occupant of a vehicle, the system comprising: an electronic device 12? positionable in the vehicle; a remote server 16? arranged to provide travel information based on a determined position of the electronic device 12?; and an in-vehicle radio receiver unit 15? comprising means for audio and/or visual output of travel information to the vehicle occupant. The electronic device 12?, for example in the form of a vehicle cigarette lighter adapter (CLA), comprises a plug that is insertable into an in-vehicle power supply socket for providing power to the electronic device. The position of the electronic device 12? is determined by a GPS receiver 220. The electronic device 12? also comprises a network transceiver 224 for communicating with the remote server 16? via a wireless telecommunications network and a radio transmitter 226.

Abstract: A method of processing speed data is disclosed for use in the provision of enhanced map data including a plurality of navigable segments which together may define a navigable route in an area covered by a digital map.

Abstract: A method of generating map data indicating a deviation from expected jam conditions on a segment of a plurality of segments in an area covered by an electronic map, the segment having associated therewith a jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment. The method comprises establishing an expected jam condition for the segment based on the jam probability of that segment, and then obtaining live data indicating the jam conditions on at least one of the plurality of other segments in the area. A revised jam condition can then be established for the segment using the obtained live data.

Abstract: A method of processing data relating to an electronic map, the map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable segments in the area covered by the map, the method comprising using a processing apparatus to generate segment data and comprising the steps of: collecting historic travel data for the segment; defining a jam condition for the segment, such that where the jam condition is satisfied the segment is classified as jammed and otherwise as not jammed; generating a jam probability for the segment according to the historic travel data and the jam condition definition; generating a jam speed for the segment using the historic travel data, the jam speed being indicative of the speed on the segment when the segment is considered jammed; and associating the jam probability and the jam speed with the segment in the electronic map.

Abstract: A method of generating expected average speeds of travel across one or more segments in the area covered by an electronic map, each segment representing a navigable segment in the area covered by the map and having associated therewith: an average speed of travel across that segment; segment data comprising at least one jam probability, the jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment; and a jam speed indicative of the speed of travel on that segment when it is considered jammed. The method comprises using the segment data to predict whether a jam condition exists on at least one or each of the segments; and outputting the expected average speed of travel across these segments as: a) a first speed, where a jam condition is predicted to exist, the first speed being the jam speed for the relevant segment or a speed based thereon, or b) a second speed, where a jam condition is not predicted, the second speed being the average speed for the relevant segment or a speed based thereon.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, for processing positioning data to generate map data which includes a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map, with each segment being arranged to have speed data associated therewith.

Abstract: A system for providing travel and traffic information to an occupant of a vehicle, the system comprising: an electronic device 12? positionable in the vehicle; a remote server 16? arranged to provide travel information based on a determined position of the electronic device 12?; and an in-vehicle radio receiver unit 15? comprising means for audio and/or visual output of travel information to the vehicle occupant. The electronic device 12?, for example in the form of a vehicle cigarette lighter adapter (CLA), comprises a plug that is insertable into an in-vehicle power supply socket for providing power to the electronic device. The position of the electronic device 12? is determined by a GPS receiver 220. The electronic device 12? also comprises a network transceiver 224 for communicating with the remote server 16? via a wireless telecommunications network and a radio transmitter 226.

Abstract: A server arranged to process GPS data to generate enhanced map data is disclosed, and comprises a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by a map, the server connected with a wireless telecommunications transceiver arranged to receive GPS fixes by wireless telecommunication from a plurality of navigation devices and send the received GPS fixes to the server, the server comprising a processor arranged to generate at least one speed profile for each segment from the GPS fixes from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment, and the server arranged to subsequently cause the transceiver to send the speed profiles to the navigation devices.

Abstract: A server arranged to process GPS data to generate enhanced map data is disclosed. The enhanced map data includes a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by a map. In at least one embodiment, the server is connected with a wireless telecommunications transceiver arranged to receive GPS fixes by wireless telecommunication from a plurality of navigation devices and send the received GPS fixes to the server, the server includes a processor arranged to generate at least one speed profile for each segment from the GPS fixes from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment, and the server is arranged to subsequently cause the transceiver to send the speed profiles to the navigation devices.

Abstract: A method, of resolving a location from an ordered list of location reference points being representative of nodes in an encoder digital map and each having attributes representative of a specific line or segment in the encoder digital map emanating from or incident at those nodes, is disclosed.

Abstract: A efficient method of encoding a continuous path within a road network in which the path to be encoded is expressible as a path list of lines and/or segments existing in a digital map and consecutively ordered.

Abstract: A method of processing data relating to an electronic map, the map comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable segments in the area covered by the map, the method comprising using a processing apparatus to generate segment data and comprising the steps of: collecting historic travel data for the segment; defining a jam condition for the segment, such that where the jam condition is satisfied the segment is classified as jammed and otherwise as not jammed; generating a jam probability for the segment according to the historic travel data and the jam condition definition; generating a jam speed for the segment using the historic travel data, the jam speed being indicative of the speed on the segment when the segment is considered jammed; and associating the jam probability and the jam speed with the segment in the electronic map.

Abstract: A method of generating expected average speeds of travel across one or more segments in the area covered by an electronic map, each segment representing a navigable segment in the area covered by the map and having associated therewith: an average speed of travel across that segment; segment data comprising at least one jam probability, the jam probability indicating the likelihood of a jam on that segment; and a jam speed indicative of the speed of travel on that segment when it is considered jammed. The method comprises using the segment data to predict whether a jam condition exists on at least one or each of the segments; and outputting the expected average speed of travel across these segments as: a) a first speed, where a jam condition is predicted to exist, the first speed being the jam speed for the relevant segment or a speed based thereon, or b) a second speed, where a jam condition is not predicted, the second speed being the average speed for the relevant segment or a speed based thereon.

Abstract: An efficient method of encoding a continuous path within a road network is described. Ideally the path to be encoded is capable of being completely represented within a digital map and expressible as a path list of lines and/or segments existing in the digital map and consecutively ordered.

Abstract: A method, of resolving a location from an ordered list of location reference points being representative of nodes in an encoder digital map and each having attributes representative of a specific line or segment in the encoder digital map emanating from or incident at those nodes, is disclosed.