Abstract: A system is provided for providing location-specific images to a mobile device for display. The system generally comprises three components: a mobile device having a screen, a position identification system (e.g., a GPS receiver) that determines the position of the mobile device, and a database containing location-specific images taken at various locations. Each location-specific image is associated with geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was taken. Based on the position of the mobile device as determined by the position identification system, a location-specific image is selected from the database and displayed on the screen of the mobile device. For example, when a user is using the mobile device as a car navigation system, a location-specific image of the user's destination location can be selected and displayed when the determined position of the mobile device comes within a certain distance from the geographic coordinates of the destination location.

Abstract: Methods for flying multiple aircraft in a predetermined formation in which a relative navigation grid is emitted from at least one of the aircraft, a spatial relationship is calculated based on the emitted relative navigation grid, and a relative position of at least one aircraft is altered to position the aircraft in the predetermined formation when the spatial relationship does not conform with the predetermined formation.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for vehicle control, tracking, and reporting. In an aspect, vehicle parameters that describe the current operation of the vehicle are compared to profile parameters of a driver. If the vehicle parameters are not within the operational limits defined by the profile parameters, an out of profile parameter process is performed. The out of profile parameter process includes wirelessly sending a violation report to an administrator device.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a first display and a first camera. An environmental image of the part of the environment of the vehicle lying behind the motor vehicle can be recorded using the first camera and the environmental image recorded using the first camera can be completely or partially displayed on the first display. The first display is disposed inside the motor vehicle such that the recorded environmental image, or a part of the recorded environmental image, may be perceivable as a virtual image behind a side pane of the motor vehicle for a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for generating a digital roadmap that can be stored on an electronic storage medium and in which a geographical area is specified by a multitude of data sets. The present invention further pertains to a navigation system that features a memory on which a digital roadmap of this type is stored and provided for use. Moreover, the present invention pertains to a method for operating a navigation system of the afore-mentioned type with a digital roadmap of the afore-mentioned type.

Abstract: A method and system for adding traffic gadgets to a traffic report is disclosed. A traffic gadget is a dynamic object defined by a relatively small code module that is separate from the main traffic report application code. A programmer develops the traffic gadget's visual functionality and specifies the type of data that the traffic gadget can receive. An artist configures the visible appearance of the traffic gadget for a specific end-user application. The end-user may then select a traffic gadget and add the selected traffic gadget to a visual traffic report. The user may also select data to control the functionality of the traffic gadget during the traffic report.

Abstract: A system for matching freight vehicles and loads includes a database receiving location data for various freight vehicles associated with multiple organizations, as well as other vehicle data, such as destination location and times. The database also includes location data from a plurality of loads, as well as other load data, such as origin and destination locations and times. A user operating a computing device receives this data based on organizational permissions. The computing device displays a map on which the various freight vehicles, loads, and associated data may be displayed. As such, the user may quickly and efficiently match available loads to available vehicles or vice-versa.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for displaying on a map a definitive image of precise locations of multiple mobile objects such as vehicles in a lot. The lot is mapped digitally to display precise locations of sub-areas of different types, such as parking and movement slots and their raw, approximate distances from vehicles are determined from approximate coordinates of vehicles obtained remotely. A data base of vehicle and sub-area types is established and a vehicle placement matrix is determined providing probabilities of respective sub-areas being occupiable by respective vehicles derived from business environment rules based on compatibilities of respective vehicle types with respect sub-area types. Raw, approximate distances of vehicles from sub-areas are divided by the probabilities to provided adjusted distances, sub-areas ranked by least adjusted distances and the respective vehicles placed in their top ranked sub-areas for more accurate display of location on a GUI.

Abstract: An electronic mobile device includes a display for displaying a graphical element. A tilt sensor is configured to sense first and second tilt angles of the mobile device. A processor is coupled to the display and the tilt sensor and configured to move the graphical element relative to the display in a first direction based on the first tilt angle, and to move the graphical element relative to the display in a second direction based on the second tilt angle.

Abstract: A navigation system is configured such that: an in-vehicle device collects and provides position information and movement information of a vehicle to a portable terminal device, and displays image data sent from the portable terminal device. The portable terminal device acquires map information from a map center device based on the position information and the movement information sent from the in-vehicle device, calculates an actual location of the vehicle based on the position information and the movement information sent from the in-vehicle device, and generates image data in which the calculated actual location is superposed on the acquired map information.

Abstract: A system for disabling a fleeing vehicle via disrupting the vehicle's onboard computer or electrical system. The system optionally includes a tracking system for tracking the vehicle's location and/or a remote sensing system for identifying a payload contained in the vehicle or asset. A launcher of the disabling/tracking device may be handheld or vehicle mounted, and may use high pressure gas or another propellant to launch the projectile at a fleeing vehicle. The system may include a tether for connecting the disabling device to a power supply disposed on a pursuit vehicle or a handheld launcher.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the same are provided. In the method, position information of a different bicycle user or bicycle riding course information is displayed. Riding information of the different bicycle user is displayed or the bicycle riding course information is changed according to weather or the like. The method provides a navigation screen for bicycle riding and supports prevention of bicycle theft and accident.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving a retrieval reservation having an exit time; generating an alert with the exit time for retrieving a vehicle from a parked location; and identifying a pick-up location based on the alert for parking the vehicle at the pick-up location.

Abstract: A location-based and preference-based system and method for matching media content about persons, places and things with the expressed preferences of mobile users to notify users about and provide users with access to media content about persons, places and things that match the user's expressed preferences. The system thus provides information such as stories or articles that match the user's interests and relate to their location. The system may assign ranks to all of the media content that meets that user's preferences wherein, in one embodiment, it will automatically play them in the assigned order. Comparison of the user's preferences with the various profiles of the media content allows the user only to be informed of the media content for those persons, places or things that the user is likely to be interested in. The system and method thus provides for a mobile real-time point of interest exchange network.

Abstract: Implementing a resource tracking service includes searching a database in response to a request for a resource from a first vehicle, retrieving a record from the database that is identified with the resource, the record mapped to a second vehicle. Implementing a resource tracking service also includes determining a geographic location of the second vehicle, and populating a navigation system map at the first vehicle with an icon reflecting the geographic location of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle using an image generated by a camera includes monitoring the image, and utilizing a first patch-based analysis of the image including dividing the image into a plurality of patches, and analyzing each patch to determine a first clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the first patch-based analysis. Each of the patches with the first clear path confidence likelihood greater than a first threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch. A second analysis is utilized upon a portion of the patches with the first clear path confidence not greater than the first threshold confidence likelihood to determine a second clear path confidence likelihood for each of the patches of the second analysis. Each of the patches of the second analysis with the second clear path confidence likelihood greater than a second threshold confidence likelihood is defined as a clear path patch.

Abstract: An electronic direction system accesses navigation data describing at least one instance in which a direction was missed during provision of electronic navigation along a route and tracks instances in which directions have been missed based on the accessed navigation data. The electronic direction system accounts for the tracked instances in which directions have been missed in handling provision of future directions.

Abstract: Vehicle speed identification information for identifying vehicle speed of a vehicle on a road is obtained for a plurality of vehicles. Based on a distribution of the vehicle speed identification information, the vehicle speed identification information is classified into groups corresponding to motions of the vehicle. An occurrence probability of a motion of the vehicle is obtained based on the classification.

Abstract: Traffic management reports are created by providing vehicle sensor devices at different location in a region. Each device captures data of vehicles that pass the device. The vehicle data is communicated to a central computer database. At the central computer database, a user interface selects one or more criteria from a plurality of criteria for filtering the vehicle data. Traffic management reports are then automatically created from the filtered vehicle data using the selected criteria.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates generating a point of interest related to a map. An interface component can collect a portion of annotation data from two or more users, wherein the portion of annotation data is associated with a digital map and includes at least one of a map location and a user specific description of the map location. An annotation aggregator can evaluate annotation data corresponding to the map location on the digital map. The annotation aggregator can create a point of interest (POI) for the map location based upon the evaluation and populates the digital map with at least one of an identified location extracted from two or more users or a universal description extracted from two or more users.

Abstract: Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.

Abstract: A method and system for adding traffic gadgets to a traffic report is disclosed. A traffic gadget is a dynamic object defined by a relatively small code module that is separate from the main traffic report application code. A programmer develops the traffic gadget's visual functionality and specifies the type of data that the traffic gadget can receive. An artist configures the visible appearance of the traffic gadget for a specific end-user application. The end-user may then select a traffic gadget and add the selected traffic gadget to a visual traffic report. The user may also select data to control the functionality of the traffic gadget during the traffic report.

Abstract: A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination, the navigation device being connected to a server for searching the route. A navigation method for the navigation device includes sending a request for searching the route to the server and receiving information on the route from the server. The method also includes measuring an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance, and performing the route guidance based on the information received. The method further includes cutting off a communication with the server and coming into a standby state, upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a position of a vehicle are described. The system includes at least one GNSS sensor mounted to the vehicle for receiving GNSS signals of a global positioning system and at least one physical sensor mounted to the vehicle for generating physical data indicative of a physical parameter of at least a part of the vehicle. The system also includes a recursive statistical estimator, such as a Kalman Filter, in communication with the GNSS sensor(s) for seeding the recursive statistical estimator with an output of the GNSS sensor(s) to determine an estimated position of the vehicle. A data fusion module combines the estimated position and velocity of the vehicle with the physical data thus generating combined data, which is used to seed the recursive statistical estimator to determine an updated estimated position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a location of a device. For each of a plurality of locations of a device, a set of positional data is determined from signals received from a plurality of satellites. The positional data is filtered and compared with data from a road network database. This comparison may be a function of a distance from at least one point defined by a set of the filtered positional data to a road in the road network database and an angle between a line representing a best fit for plural points defined by corresponding plural sets of the filtered positional data to a line defined by a road in the road network database.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature.

Abstract: A mechanism for directing a vendor vehicle to an area in a region. A device receives a plurality of search requests from a plurality of corresponding user devices. Each search request includes search request data that includes a location identifier that identifies a location of the corresponding user device in the region at a time of the search request, and one or more user search criteria. The device identifies, based on the plurality of search requests and at least one subset-determination criterion, at least one subset of the plurality of user devices. The device determines at least one determined location within the region based on the corresponding locations of the user devices in the at least one subset. The device sends vehicle positioning information that identifies the at least one determined location to a vendor device associated with the vendor vehicle.

Abstract: A location localization method and system. The method includes transmitting by an RFID tag reader, a request for locating a passive RFID tag in a facility. The RFID tag reader receives from active RFID tags, a first date/time associated with first data. The RFID tag reader transmits to the active RFID tags, a request for retrieving the first data. The first data comprises distances between each active RFID tag and the passive RFID tag. The RFID tag reader receives the first data. The RFID tag reader receives a map of the facility and locations on the map for the active RFID tags. The RFID tag reader determines a location within the facility for the passive RFID tag based on the first data, the map, and the locations on the map. The RFID tag reader transmits the first location to a user.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature. The importance rating is adjusted to favor the identified feature closest to the lane in which the vehicle is currently located.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for tracking assets, such as high-value tools, customer equipment, testing equipment, technicians, and/or the like. Some of these tools and techniques can be used to track assets in a mobile environment (such as in a delivery truck, installation van, and/or the like).

Abstract: A night vision device for a vehicle is provided, in which a travel path that is set or is to be set is inserted in an image recorded by a camera, the travel path being determined from an evaluation of a location-finding or travel direction sensor.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for minimizing or preventing runway incursion at airports by utilizing data packets of information transmitted over the voice communication channel used by pilots at the airport. The data packets of information contain the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the aircraft provided by an on board GPS receiver and a unique identifier for the aircraft, such as the tail number, which is then received by other aircraft on the same ground frequency, and the tower, and displayed on a geo-referenced map display of the airport provided to the pilots and the tower ground controller. The information may be updated by polling the various aircraft In this manner, information received from all active aircraft within an airport can be displayed on an electronic map of the airport which can be viewable by the pilots on the ground as well as the ground controller.

Abstract: A communications module for conveying information to the driver of a truck is provided. The module is designed to reside in the cab of a truck that is carrying a full truckload of cargo. The communications module includes a user interface such as a screen. The communications module also has a modem. The modem is used for communicating with a host trucking management system through a wireless communications system. The communications module has a vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system communicates with a GPS satellite system to generate maps on the user interface. The navigation system allows the driver to refer to a map on a screen for driving directions en route to a cargo pick-up location or other location. Further, the communications module includes a processing unit that is programmed to receive cargo delivery data sets from the host trucking management system.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a map database for a vehicle navigation system with the location and type of wireless access points that can be used to update or service wireless systems on the vehicle. The map database can be initially populated with the known wireless access points at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, and then the vehicle communications system can detect new wireless access points as the vehicle travels, which can be stored on the map database. By storing the location and type of the access points in the map database, the vehicle will know the direction of the access point relative to the vehicle, and can compensate for the Doppler shift as a result of the relative movement of the vehicle to the access point.

Abstract: A route calculation device is disclosed. The route calculation device sets a recommended route leading from a departure point through via-points and sets an order of the via-points in the recommended route, through: (1) calculating multiple optimum routes from an origin point of a departure side route to multiple unarranged via-points and selecting one unarranged via-point that constitutes one optimum route that has minimum cost among the multiple optimum routes; (2) determining the place of the one unarranged via-point in the order so that the recommended route passes through the one unarranged via-point one via-point later than the origin point, adding the one optimum route to the departure side route, and setting the origin point to the one unarranged via-point; and (3) calculating, when the number of unarranged via-points becomes one, the optimum route between the origin point and the last one unarranged via-point.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route using a route presentation that provides both a context map and one or more detail route maps. Narrative instructions for the route also may be presented. The presentation of the context map and the one or more detail route maps may be interactive. The route presentation also may be user controllable such that a user may control the portions of a route that are printed. The route presentation also may include a re-routing feature that allows a user to request that a new route be identified that avoids a particular maneuver or maneuvers in a route.

Abstract: A method and a navigation device are disclosed for sharing at least one location message with at least one other device. The navigation device includes a receiver to determine a signal strength of a traffic message channel at a location, a memory to store information representing the signal strength of a traffic message channel, and at least one processor to correlate the information stored in memory to compile a traffic message channel resource and select a traffic message channel based on the traffic message channel resource and a location associated with a navigation device. The method includes determining a signal strength of a traffic message channel at a location, storing information representing the signal strength of a traffic message channel, correlating the information stored in memory to compile a traffic message channel resource, and selecting a traffic message channel based on the traffic message channel resource and a location associated with a navigation device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs search for a route to a destination and set a recommended travel lane, based on the searched for route. The systems, methods, and programs provide lane guidance to lead the vehicle into the recommended lane. The systems, methods, and programs receive a current position of the vehicle and determine a movement direction of the vehicle, based on the received current position and the recommended lane. The systems, methods, and programs determine whether to provide lane guidance based on the movement direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for placing reference locators on a streaming video image taken from a camera mounted on a vehicle. Sensors monitoring the camera field of view and direction of the optical axis along with sensors monitoring the vehicle's position are used to generate a video overlay having various indicia. The calculated positions of the indicia may be compared to the position of landmarks taken from the video image to compensate for any inaccuracies in the calculated position taken from the various sensors.

Abstract: A system for providing location information of a vehicle includes a communications interface and a correlation logic that correlates location information of a communications device to location of the vehicle. The communications interface communicates electronic signals including: a first signal including data representing a request for the location of the vehicle, a second signal transmitted to a location information provider corresponding to a party or device other than the communications device including data representing a request for location information of the communications device, a third signal received from the location information provider corresponding to the party or device other than the communications device including data representing the location information of the communications device, and a fourth signal including data representing the location of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating delivery and adjustments of customer orders at a customer delivery site. A delivery courier is assigned a mobile field computing device for facilitating delivery and order adjustments of customer orders associated with that courier's delivery route. The mobile field computing device includes memory for storing customer order history data and delivery route data downloaded from a server system. The delivery route data stored in the mobile field computing device may be used by the delivery courier to facilitate delivery of the customer orders. Further, the delivery courier may use the mobile field computing device to process a variety of different order adjustment transactions at a customer delivery site.

Abstract: A personal vehicle security device attaches to a personal vehicle secured to a rigid structure using a security cable. The security device includes a housing securely attached to the personal vehicle. The housing has apertures for receiving security cable. Within the housing are one or more sensors for sensing the electrical continuity of the cable, movement of the security device, and location of the security device. A memory device within the housing stores a unique identification number (UIN) associated with the security device. The security device also includes a controller for receiving signals from the one or more sensors and generating an alert message based on an event indicated by the one or more sensors. The alert message includes the UIN and information regarding the event. A wireless modem within the security device housing transmits the alert message from the security device to a wireless network.

Abstract: Methods of locating a vehicle are disclosed. Location coordinates are received at regular intervals via a handheld locator device for the current location of the handheld locator device. The handheld locator device detects the cessation of the presence of the vehicle. The location coordinates last-received before the detection of the cessation of the presence of the vehicle are stored automatically, and represent the approximate location of the parked vehicle when the cessation of the presence of the vehicle is detected.

Abstract: An approach is provided for custom zooming of geographic representation. A custom zooming application determines an input specifying a level of zoom for rendering a geographic representation presented at a device, the geographic representation including a plurality of objects. The custom zooming application determines respective degrees of relevance of the plurality of objects based, at least in part, on the device, a user of the device, related context information, or a combination thereof. The custom zooming application determines to render one or more of the plurality of objects with at least one different level of visibility with respect to other ones of the plurality of objects based, at least in part, on the respective degrees of relevance, the level of zoom, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Automatic map generation is enabled by assigning priorities to each city in a list of cities under consideration for display on a map. A mapping engine determines a reference count for each city, indicating how frequently the city appears in one or more corpora of documents. Based on the reference count, and optionally upon other data such as population and political importance, a priority score is assigned to each city. Each city is then assigned to one of a plurality of categories according to the city's priority score. A map is then generated including cities from a specified highest number of categories. In one embodiment, cities from a higher-scored category are presented in a more significant way, e.g., in capital letters, bold type, etc., than are those in the next-highest scored category.

Abstract: Vehicle-mounted equipment includes a storage unit 12 for storing data for a plurality of destinations, a vehicle-mounted network connecting unit 11 for receiving destination data indicating a destination via a vehicle-mounted network, a destination determining unit 21 for determining the destination on the basis of destination data received by the vehicle-mounted network connecting unit, and a data deleting unit 22 for deleting data other than data for the destination determined by the destination determining unit from the storage unit.

Abstract: A marine electronic device such as a chartplotter which includes a display; a location determining component; and a processing system for receiving location data from the location determining component and for causing information to be displayed by display. The processing system causes the display to display information which assists an operator in navigating and ascertaining characteristics of bodies of water, objects on nearby shores, and other vessels.

Abstract: The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.

Abstract: The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.