Abstract: In an Interactive Real-Time Distributed Navigation system a method and system is disclosed for implementing a warm start/cold start option. Through selection of the warm start option, an interactive session for providing navigational directions to a user is more quickly established because a user's position is assumed not to be ambiguous. A method of the invention verifies this assumption. Through selection of the cold start option, the method of the invention seeks to remove ambiguity in a user's position before providing navigational directions. If, however, a user's position is not ambiguous, the method of the invention reverts to a warm start condition to immediately transmit navigational directions to the user.

Abstract: An enhanced operating environment for an Interactive Real-Time Distributed Navigation system is disclosed. In the present invention, an enhanced operating environment is provided by improving input and output techniques in a navigation system. Disclosed are methods for reducing the number of inputs to a navigational sytstem through a wireless device. Improved input methods include methods for entering non-deterministic information to retrieve deterministic information. Also disclosed are improved output techniques including methods for pacing navigational prompts provided by a navigation system. The invention is applicable to text, graphics or audible navigation systems.

Abstract: A method and system for interactive real-time distributed navigation employs improved techniques for input and output. The method and system may receive inputs through a wireless device. The operating environment simplifies and reduces these inputs. In some embodiments, the system receives non-deterministic input to generate deterministic information using a number of methods. The system may also employ improved output techniques including methods for pacing navigational prompts provided by a navigation system, and methods of providing navigational information to a number of users. The method and system are applicable to text, graphics or audible navigation systems.

Abstract: In an Interactive Real-Time Distributed Navigation system a method and system is disclosed for implementing a warm start/cold start option. Through selection of the warm start option, an interactive session for providing navigational directions to a user is more quickly established because a user's position is assumed not to be ambiguous. A method of the invention verifies this assumption. Through selection of the cold start option, the method of the invention seeks to remove ambiguity in a user's position before providing navigational directions. If, however, a user's position is not ambiguous, the method of the invention reverts to a warm start condition to immediately transmit navigational directions to the user.