Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus based on a precise load level using a GPS includes: a load level calculator to determine a load level of a road based on GPS information; a load level controller that classifies the road into a plurality of regions based on the determined load level and differentially controls an engine power output for each of the regions; and a storage to store a map for the engine power output for each of the regions.

Abstract: A system for localization includes a radar, a database, a simulator, a registrar, and a filter. The radar is positioned at a disposed location requiring localization. The radar generates a radar image scanning a proximity around the disposed location. The database stores features of a landmass. The simulator generates synthesized images of the features that the radar is predicted to generate from corresponding viewpoints. The registrar calculates respective correlation indicators between the radar image and each synthesized image. The filter sets a pose estimate of the disposed location to an average of those viewpoints from which correspond the synthesized images having the best or better ones of the correlation indicators.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining whether a feature of map information. For example, data identifying an object detected in a vehicle's environment and including location coordinates is received. This information is used to identify a corresponding feature from pre-stored map information based on a map location of the corresponding feature. The corresponding feature is defined as a curve and associated with a tag identifying a type of the corresponding object. A tolerance constraint is identified based on the tag. The curve is divided into two or more line segments. Each line segment has a first position. The first position of a line segment is changed in order to determine a second position based on the location coordinates and the tolerance constraint. A value is determined based on a comparison of the first position to the second position. This value indicates a likelihood that the corresponding feature has changed.

Abstract: A map recording device includes: a display which displays information; a storage; and a processor. The processor causes the display to perform a display of an arbitrary region expressed by browsing map information specified by a user's manipulation. The processor further acquires partial map information from the browsing map information. The partial map information is map information other than the browsing map information and expresses a region corresponding to a whole region displayed in the display. The storage stores the partial map information acquired in the acquiring.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining whether a feature of map information. For example, data identifying an object detected in a vehicle's environment and including location coordinates is received. This information is used to identify a corresponding feature from pre-stored map information based on a map location of the corresponding feature. The corresponding feature is defined as a curve and associated with a tag identifying a type of the corresponding object. A tolerance constraint is identified based on the tag. The curve is divided into two or more line segments. Each line segment has a first position. The first position of a line segment is changed in order to determine a second position based on the location coordinates and the tolerance constraint. A value is determined based on a comparison of the first position to the second position. This value indicates a likelihood that the corresponding feature has changed.

Abstract: A map recording device includes: a display which displays information; a storage; and a processor. The processor causes the display to perform a display of an arbitrary region expressed by browsing map information specified by a user's manipulation. The processor further acquires partial map information from the browsing map information. The partial map information is map information other than the browsing map information and expresses a region corresponding to a whole region displayed in the display. The storage stores the partial map information acquired in the acquiring.

Abstract: A map display device includes a display and a processor. The display displays a predetermined map information group including first map information in a first display mode correlated to a first area and second map information in a second display mode correlated to a second area. The processor conducts the functions of acquiring current position information. When a current position indicated by the current position information is included in the first area, the processor causes the display to perform a display of the first map information in the first display mode correlated to the first area without guiding a user to a destination. When the current position is included in the second area, the processor causes the display to perform a display of the second map information in the second display mode correlated to the second area without guiding the user to the destination.

Abstract: Custom geographic databases are created by analyzing a geographic database to determine database structure elements. The database structure elements may involve road attributes or points of interest. Database structure elements are then selected to include in a customized geographic database. A customized geographic database is created that includes the selected database structure elements.

Abstract: A method and system utilizes an interface for the blind and low vision passengers in a touch screen passenger information module (PIM). The PIM is enabled to operate in at least two modes. A low vision mode provides different user input framework on the touch screen as well as appropriate audio prompting. The interface enables a blind or low vision person to interact with the PIM easily, including using the PIM to pay for the fare. The low vision mode can be initiated by the passenger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying points-of-interest using customized query prediction. According to certain embodiments, a partial query is received from a client via a network. The partial query may comprise a plurality of characters associated with a full query and location data associated with the client. The received partial query may be analyzed using at least one dictionary. Based on the analysis of the received partial query, at least one query may be predicted. Moreover, at least one point-of-interest may be identified based on the at least one predicted query. Further, data associated with the at least one identified point-of-interest may be transmitted over the network to the client prior to receiving the full query from the client.

Abstract: A navigation device and a method of determining parking information are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving, at a server, journey information from a plurality of navigation devices, the journey information indicating one or more journeys made by each navigation device and determining, by the server from the journey information, parking information indicating a geographical location of one or more parking areas.

Abstract: A user, such as the driver of a vehicle, to retrieve information related to a point of interest (POI) near the vehicle by pointing at the POI or performing some other gesture to identify the POI. Gesture recognition is performed on the gesture to generate a target region that includes the POI that the user identified. After generating the target region, information about the POI can be retrieved by querying a server-based POI service with the target region or by searching in a micromap that is stored locally. The retrieved POI information can then be provided to the user via a display and/or speaker in the vehicle. This process beneficially allows a user to rapidly identify and retrieve information about a POI near the vehicle without having to navigate a user interface by manipulating a touchscreen or physical buttons.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a navigation device having a display device and a processing device coupled thereto and configured to present on the display device an indicator of a legend location, determine at least one travel metric corresponding to at least one legend location, and present the at least one travel metric in tandem with the indicator of the legend location. The at least one travel metric includes one or more of the following: a travel route distance to the legend location from a current physical location, an estimated time of arrival at the legend location, and an estimated duration of travel to the legend location from the present physical location. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: View parameter establishing means are arranged for establishing a first view parameter value based on a first object parameter value. View visualization means are arranged for visualizing the view of the image in accordance with the first view parameter value. Interaction means are arranged for enabling a user to indicate a point in the view. Object parameter updating means are arranged for updating the object parameter based on the point to obtain a second object parameter value. The view parameter establishing means is arranged for updating the view parameter based on the second object parameter value to obtain a second view parameter value. The view visualization means is arranged for sequentially visualizing a view of the image in accordance with an intermediate view parameter value between the first view and the second view parameter values, and a view of the image in accordance with the second view parameter value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying a portion of a map on a mobile device of a user while the user is traveling along a route. The mobile device can use a selected route and a current location of the device to load map tiles for parts of the map that are upcoming along the route. In this manner, the user can have quick access to the portions of the map that the user likely will want to view. For example, the map tiles can be loaded for the next 50 Km, and then when the stored tiles reaches only 25 Km ahead, another 25 Km of tiles can be retrieved. The amount of tiles loaded (e.g., minimum and maximum amounts) can vary based on a variety of factors, such as network state, distance traveled along the route, and whether the mobile device is charging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for biometric authentication of a user to be authenticated, from among a plurality of users, with an authentication system storing a set of pieces of reference biometric data, each associated with one of the users. The method includes providing, by the user to be authenticated, a piece of biometric authentication data by a device for obtaining biometric data from a transactional terminal. A subset of the set of pieces of reference biometric data stored by the authentication system is searched for a piece of reference biometric data corresponding to the user to be authenticated as a function of the piece of biometric authentication data. The step of searching includes filtering the pieces of reference biometric data as a function of: a base station of a mobile communications network; and a set of mobile devices for which a connection indicator is activated for the base station. The transactional terminal is substantially near a zone of coverage of the base station.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, method, and recording medium which acquire movement trace information and automatically determine a division point for dividing the movement trace information based on an analysis result of the movement trace information. Optionally a movement trace track is generated from the movement trace. Various criteria used for how the division points are generated include using distance and time; altitudes; repeated track; mode of transportation; and lapse of data, for example.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including, a track list generation unit that generates a track list that is a list of track groups including at least a movement trajectory track generated from movement trajectory information containing position information and time information corresponding to the position information, and a display control unit that causes a display device to display a list screen including the track list.

Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation device including: a target candidate extracting unit for extracting target candidates located along a guidance route from a map database on a basis of a vehicle position, the guidance route, and intersection information about a target intersection for guidance; a target determining unit for determining a target on a basis of knowledge about target determination from among the target candidates extracted by the target candidate extracting unit; a guidance sentence generating unit for generating a guidance sentence by using the target determined by the target determining unit; and a sound output unit for outputting voice guidance on a basis of the guidance sentence generated by the guidance sentence generating unit.

Abstract: A vehicle data acquisition system and method are provided for the analysis of vehicle conditions. A vehicle-external communication device, a vehicle-internal communication device, a vehicle-external computer and a vehicle-external databank are utilized. For providing an informative vehicle data acquisition system, on the basis of the data in the vehicle-external databank, the vehicle-external computer identifies those vehicles which have a first characteristic profile. The vehicle-external computer queries vehicle data from the identified vehicles by way of the vehicle-external and the vehicle-internal communication devices, and the vehicle-external computer evaluates the queried and received vehicle data for the analysis of vehicles having the first characteristic profile.

Abstract: A bus stop includes a storage unit, a communicating unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The communicating unit communicates with a server which is in communication with a plurality of buses, a plurality of stops which the buses will pass, and current locations of the buses. The display unit displays at least one route consisting of a plurality of bus stops including the bus stop. The control unit generates a request signal carrying the location of the bus stop to the server. The server determines current locations of the buses on a route which includes the bus stop, compares the real-time locations with the location of the bus stop to select a nearest bus travelling towards the bus stop. The display unit display a mark marking the bus stop. A related system is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.

Abstract: A drive assist system includes: wireless communication devices on first and second vehicles. The wireless communication device on the first vehicle includes: a distance calculation device for calculating a satellite positioning distance between the first and second vehicles; and a difference calculation device for calculating a distance difference between the satellite positioning distance and a distance to the second vehicle obtained by a ranging sensor in the first vehicle.

Abstract: A map information delivery system, including a navigation apparatus, is capable of preferentially receiving map updating information based on a host vehicle's state. The updating information may be preferentially received based on whether a destination has been set, a location of the updating information relative to an updating position or a destination, and/or the size of the updating information.

Abstract: A bus stop includes a storage unit, a communicating unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The communicating unit communicates with a server which is in communication with a plurality of buses, a plurality of stops which the buses will pass, and current locations of the buses. The display unit displays at least one route consisting of a plurality of bus stops including the bus stop. The control unit generates a request signal carrying the location of the bus stop to the server. The server determines current locations of the buses on a route which includes the bus stop, compares the real-time locations with the location of the bus stop to select a nearest bus travelling towards the bus stop. The display unit display a mark marking the bus stop. A related system is also provided.

Abstract: A method, database, memory computer readable medium and navigation device are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes projecting a plurality of known address points onto an address segment vector of a source map database, to create projection points; interpolating locations for addresses of the address points, to create corresponding interpolation points; and segmenting the address segment vector into a plurality of address sub-segment vectors, upon a distance between a projection point and a corresponding interpolation point exceeding a threshold distance.

Abstract: A method of identifying an intersection for a collision warning system is disclosed. The method includes steps of selecting an identified intersection where a driver intends to turn from a set of potential intersections. The collision warning system is then controlled according to the identified intersection.

Abstract: In a course of updating old map data on a hard disk drive to new map data, a low-priority portion of the old map data that has less importance/necessity is deleted to create a vacant area, and a high-priority portion of the new map data is copied to the vacant area as an update of the map data. Then, the high-priority portion of the old map data is deleted to create another vacant area, and a low-priority portion of the new map data is copied to the vacant area. During the update of the map data, restrictions on the usage of the map data are avoided at all efforts by having the high-priority portion of at least one of the new map data and the old map data maintained on the hard disk drive, while maximizing the utilization of storage resources in a map data management apparatus.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device for displaying a plurality of screen data generated by a mobile terminal device on one display is provided. A registering unit is configured to register partial area information in which disposition information indicating disposition of each of a plurality of partial areas which are disposed on a display area of the display are associated with priority information indicating priority of each of the partial areas. A adjusting unit is configured to adjust the display area by allocating one of the screen data to one of the partial areas based on the priority information included in the partial area information when receiving a request to display the one of the screen data on the display. A display control unit is configured to display the one of the screen data allocated to the one of the partial areas on the display based on the disposition information included in the partial area information.

Abstract: A map generation apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a classification unit, a tentative map generation unit and a map generation unit. The acquisition unit acquires information which is a target of an analysis process. The classification unit classifies the acquired information into a plurality of types. The tentative map generation unit selects the types provided by the classifying one by one as a type in question to generate tentative map information of the information belonging to the type in question, based on (i) the information belonging to the type in question and (ii) representative information that represents at least one type other than the type in question. The map generation unit generates a map image based on the tentative map information generated for the respective types.

Abstract: A route guidance device is provided with a two-dimensional road network for a route search, a three-dimensional road network for a route guidance, and guiding line shape data. The guiding line shape data is three-dimensional guidance display data for guiding an operator to go straight through, or to make a right turn, left turn, etc. at intersections in accordance with a passage mode, or to switch lanes before entering an intersection. A link node of the two-dimensional road network is associated with the guiding line shape data through the three-dimensional road network. The route search uses the two-dimensional road network, and the route guidance uses the guiding line shape data associated with the link node acquired by the route search. The present invention can realize an instinctively understandable route guidance that follows a passage mode without increasing a load of a route search.

Abstract: Map data define a road in units of links, and a multilink as links connected consecutively with an identical attribute while containing: a road management information list storing fixed-length road management information elements, each indicating the number of links in each multilink; a lower level link information list storing fixed-length link information elements, each indicating the number of coordinate points in each link, in an order in which corresponding road management information elements are arrayed in the road management information list; a higher level link information list storing fixed-length link information elements, each indicating a multilink as a higher level link; and a higher level link ID list storing fixed-length information elements, each indicating a storage array position in the higher level link information list with respect to a multilink, in an order in which corresponding lower link information elements are arrayed in the lower level link information list.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product are disclosed for creating and displaying shortcuts and landmarks on a navigational map. The embodiments include storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path. The shortcuts may be categorized by their context in travel classes such as car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, disabled pedestrian, or the like. The embodiments register in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path and record locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path. The embodiments receive signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path, including digital photographs, descriptive text and voice clips. The embodiments then form in a shortcut mapping file the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and the context data.

Abstract: In map data, a road corresponds to a multilink defined as links connected consecutively with an identical attribute. The map data contains a road management information list, link information list, and coordinate information list of a real data list. In the road management information list, fixed-length road management information elements, each of which indicates the number of links in each multilink, are arrayed in an order. In the link information list, fixed-length link information elements, each of which indicates the number of coordinate points in each link, are arrayed in an order in which corresponding road management information elements are arrayed in the road management information list. In the coordinate information list, fixed-length coordinates information elements, each of which indicates coordinate points arranged in one link to illustrate a shape of the link, are arrayed in an order in which the coordinate points are arranged in the link.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: A system and method for vehicle-centric infrastructure monitoring system includes an inspection system mountable on a vehicle configured to travel over an expanse of rail track having a plurality of track blocks. The inspection system acquires track data for at least some track blocks along the expanse of rail track. The monitoring system also includes a positioning system to determine a location of the vehicle and generate location data indicative of an associated track block location, a communications device to transmit the track/location data to a remote location, and a centralized computing system positioned at the remote location to receive the transmitted track/location data. The centralized computing system is programmed to determine a current probability of a track condition for a track block and combine the current track condition probability with a previously determined cumulative track condition probability to provide an updated track condition probability for the track block.

Abstract: A map data providing method for providing map data to be used in a navigation system includes: dividing an area over which the map data are available into a plurality of blocks by using each of a plurality of division patterns set so that blocks resulting from divisions with the plurality of division patterns are not identical to one another; generating map data in correspondence to each of the blocks resulting from the divisions achieved with the plurality of division patterns; and providing the map data corresponding to the individual blocks resulting from the divisions achieved with the plurality of division patterns to a user so as to allow the user to freely select map data corresponding to any block.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques directed to creating, encrypting, and updating a database of position coordinates of LDAR components. In one implementation, the method for creating a database of coordinates of leak detection and repair (LDAR) components includes receiving an input pertaining to an LDAR component, obtaining position coordinates of a handheld computer device and associating the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the LDAR component.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for switching between location contexts on a mobile computing device. An estimated geographic location of the mobile computing device is determined by a mobile computing device. A user-identified location is received from an application program invoked on the mobile computing device. The estimated geographic location and the user-identified location are concurrently stored in computer-readable memory. One of the concurrently-stored locations is identified as a current location. A plurality of interface elements that each identify a venue that is geographically near the current location are presented on a display of the mobile computing device. User input that changes the current location from one to the other of the concurrently-stored locations is received at the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A navigation device stores road data in a storage part. The road data includes a consecutive connection of a plurality of links as a link queue, the plurality of links acquired by sectioning a road length into a plurality of pieces. The navigation device includes a guidance part that performs route search and guidance to a destination using the road data. The link queue includes a standard link for which, based on a sectioned link of a specific road stored in the storage part, information relating to the sectioned link is stored as road-related information in the storage part, and an invariance link for which the road-related information is not stored in the storage part if there is no difference in the road-related information compared to an adjacent link in the link queue. A navigation road data creating device is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a technology of a navigation device which is capable of identifying an intersection or the like based on designation of an incomplete name of a street in which an input of a first keyword and an input of a second keyword are received, and a connection point of a first street having a street name which includes at least in part the first keyword and a second street having a street name which includes at least in part the second keyword is identified, to thereby save the user, who is not always familiar with the geography of a search target area, from the inconvenience of inputting a complete name of the first street, based on which the second street is retrieved and selected and an intersection point of the first street and the second street is identified.

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 method and apparatus for searching and generating trajectory content in a navigation device are provided. The method includes establishing a predetermined search region from a current position; extracting information about first parcels included in the established search region and information about second parcels including information about links of specific trajectory content; and determining whether the specific trajectory content is included in the established search region by comparing the information about the first parcels with the information about the second parcels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system automatically assigns or allows a user to assign a brand icon to a particular location. The navigation system displays the assigned brand icon as well as generic icons on a map image. Thus, the navigation system enables the user to quickly distinguish a particular place such as a point of interest (POI) from other similar type of POIs on a map image. The user can identify a particular chain restaurant from other restaurant by the brand icon unique to the particular chain restaurant on the map image so that the user can easily specify the favorite restaurant as a destination.

Abstract: A method is described for generating a navigation chart. The navigation chart includes a plurality of allocated areas corresponding to symbols for a plurality of chart features. The method includes identifying an unallocated area of the navigation chart proximate to a symbol for one chart feature of the plurality of chart features. A first label and a second label are determined for the one chart feature. The first label includes a plurality of feature attribute indicators, and the second label includes a subset of the plurality of feature attribute indicators. A label is selected from among the first label and the second label based on dimensions of the unallocated area. At least a portion of the unallocated area is allocated to the selected label, and the navigation chart is displayed.

Abstract: A traffic management system (31) is described that combines wireless tracking of motorists (32) with scheduling of time slots for travel on roadways (33) during peak hours. Rewards are given to motorists (32) who travel during allotted time slots thus improving the effectiveness of the system over time. Motorists are tracked using their cellular device to check if a reward can be given or not, based on travel undertaken in the allotted time slot.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.

Abstract: First and second route guidance systems provided with country or region-specific map data or route search network data are linked. If the departure place and the destination are in different areas, a first route guidance system (A) extracts a candidate connection which is the border between the different areas to transmit it to a second route guidance system (B). The first and second route guidance systems search the optimum route from the departure place to the candidate connection and the optimum candidate route from the candidate connection to the destination, respectively and provide the required time and link data to their respective route guidance systems. The first or second route guidance system determines a recommended route with the smallest total of the required time out of candidate routes connected at the candidate connection and provides the recommended route data including the link data from the first route guidance system (A) to a terminal (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for displaying a driving location of a moving object which controls a Red, Green, Blue (RGB) ratio by corresponding to a property of a road where the moving object travels, differently renders a moving object symbol according to the controlled RGB ratio, and thereby may identify a driving status of the moving object more accurately.