Abstract: A list of places of interest geographically located near a travel route may be generated by accessing a routing database storing shape points capable of defining a travel route, determining a travel route from the shape points stored in the routing database, accessing a place of interest database including geographic centers, selecting from the places of interest database at least one geographic center that is geographically proximate to the travel route, and generating a list of places of interest associated with at least one of the selected geographic centers.

Abstract: Such a system is provided in which a map can be supplied to a user to permit the user to grasp the geography easily, if the address or the telephone number of an installation of destination, such as a restaurant, is stated, even though the scheme of displaying a map picture is not stated by an information provider in a text document of a preset format. An HTML analyzer 211 initiates an analysis loop of an HTML document being browsed to extract a location information letter/character string, which is seemingly an address or a telephone number, from the HTML document. A location searcher 212 calculates the latitude/longitude of a site from the location information letter/character string received through controller 217, using a site information database 213, and sends the so calculated latitude/longitude through controller 217 to a map picture generating unit 214.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a navigation-related information server and one or more customer-interface servers. Each customer-interface server receives requests for navigation-related information from end users who have end user computing platforms. The end users send their requests for navigation-related information from end user computing platforms over a data network to the customer-interface servers. In order to respond to the end users, the customer-interface servers request language and format-independent navigation-related information from the navigation-related information server. The navigation-related information server receives the requests from the customer-interface servers. To response to each request for navigation-related information, the navigation-related information server uses one or more geographic databases to formulate language- and format-independent data structures. These language- and format-independent data structures are sent to the customer-interface servers.

Abstract: When the drive guide is performed by acquiring the drive route information from the information center, a control unit of the navigation terminal receives the information of a partial drive route in the total drive route connecting the place of departure and the place of destination and starts the drive guide on the basis of the received information of partial drive route, even if the information of the total drive route connecting the place of departure and a place of destination is not received.

Abstract: A method of determining the driving route of a vehicle using a navigation system, a method of entering a destination on a navigation device, as well as a device to perform the methods, using which the destination input is simplified. Approaching infrastructure facilities through input using predefined keys or touch-sensitive fields, the driving route being established as a function of the automatically determined, instantaneous vehicle position. Entering the administrative area in which the infrastructure facility is located is no longer necessary.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for a vehicle that registers a place of departure, a destination, and a route traveled by the vehicle and determines whether an input place of departure and input destination are respectively substantially the same as a place of departure and destination of a registered route. The navigation apparatus reads out a portion of a particular registered route from registered route information, the particular registered route having substantially the same place of departure and destination as the respective input place of departure and input destination, and the portion of the particular registered route being that portion of the particular registered route within a predetermined layer of map data which has been organized into layers. The navigation apparatus performs route guidance based on a the read out route.

Abstract: A navigation system for route guidance is provided. The navigation system comprises a navigation server storing map information and the mobile terminal displaying map information. The mobile terminal has access to the navigation server through a communication network and is controlled to turn on and off the display of map information.

Abstract: Devices, systems, functional data and methods are provided for an improved route generation in navigational enabled devices. In generating the route, the available locations are inspected repetitively and locations adjacent to a last selected location are inserted into a first data structure such that the first location of the first data structure is always a least cost location associated with all adjacent locations comprising the first data structure. The first location is then optionally inserted into a second data structure. The generated route includes the current location, one or more first locations, and the destination.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to determine a primary route between two locations by monitor vehicle speed using transmitting wireless devices. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: receiving information associated with traffic conditions on a route from a starting location to a destination location; determining a primary route from the starting location to the destination location; determining an average speed of vehicles along portions of the primary route from signals received from wireless transmitters transmitting from the vehicles; identifying one or more delayed portions of the primary route at which the average speed is less than a respective predetermined speed; and displaying the primary route including indicia of the one or more identified delayed portions. The wireless device may include a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

Abstract: In order to intuitively recognize a display relating to a route on a map, data of character strings and figures to be displayed on the map are stored in advance by relating a target designated by a character string or a figure to an associated link or node. When a recommended route is computed, character strings and figures related to a link and node through which the recommended route runs are displayed on the map together with the recommended route with emphasis in comparison to the other character strings and figures.

Abstract: A method for transmitting location-related data information between a main station and a mobile terminal is described, as well as a main station and a mobile terminal are described, which provide a position tracing of the mobile terminal or a navigational application on the display device of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may include a mobile telecommunications terminal. In a first step, a position of a mobile terminal is ascertained and transmitted to the main station. In a second step, location-related data information for the mobile terminal is formed in the main station, in dependence upon the ascertained position of the mobile terminal. In a third step, the location-related data information is transmitted from the main station to the mobile terminal. In a fourth step, the location-related data information received is brought to reproduction on a reproduction device of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An in-vehicle navigation system includes a receiver for receiving real-time traffic information (RTTI), a database for storing routine trip information, and a processor for running a regular route application. The regular route application includes a learning mode program and an operational mode program. The learning mode program records information regarding trips regularly taken by a vehicle and populates the database with records of routine trip information. The recorded trip information can include driver identifiers, trip departure times, origin points, destination points, dates of travel, days of travel, and route data. When the vehicle begins a new trip, the operational mode program determines whether the vehicle is engaging in a routine trip. This is accomplished by comparing current vehicle location or departure time information to routine trip information in the database.

Abstract: A corridor search process is used to identify locations of interest along a travel route. The corridor search process identifies locations of interest along a travel route by using a grid search process that first identifies shape points that correspond to the travel route. Each shape point is associated with a portion of a grid system used to delineate a region of geography through which the route traverses. The portions of the grid system correspond to a corridor along the travel route. References to redundant portions of the grid system are removed, and locations of interest are identified based on an association between a location of interest with a particular portion of the grid system.

Abstract: The input operation recognizing section 13 recognizes an input operation to execute re-search in the operating section 4. The facility search control section 10 makes the facility search section 9 execute re-search. The re-search by the facility search section 9 is carried out by searching, from facilities belonging to the same group as that of those detected in the previous search, facilities other than those detected in the previous search. With the present invention, when the re-search as described above is to be performed, user's operation for specifying a facility is not required, which improves the convenience in facility search.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying medical facilities along a travel route preferably includes an input device, a processor, Microsoft SQL server database and a memory storing various information regarding medical facilities. For on-demand determination of medical facilities along a travel route, the input device preferably includes a GPS receiver providing the current geographical coordinates of a patient requiring medical assistance to the processor. The processor compares the geographical coordinates of the patient to coordinates of medical facilities in the database to determine medical facilities near the patient. A user of the system may also input a type of medical emergency, preferred language and insurance information to refine the search for medical facilities. The processor may also calculate a projected travel route using navigational software.

Abstract: An electronic device is built including a memory, a processor, and a display. The processor is configured to calculate an array of estimated travel time data from a first location to a plurality of locations within a destination area from a set of situational parameters and a set of user parameters. These situational parameters may include data such as: the location, condition, and speed limits of roads and paths; the availability of public transportation; terrain information such as elevation, slope, the presence of trails and vegetation; and weather information such as wind speed and precipitation. User parameters may include data such as: the user's mode of transportation, the user's physical abilities, and the load the user is carrying.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus, and method, comprised of an input unit, central processing unit, output unit, locator, processing devices, computing and retrieving devices, and storage unit. The navigation apparatus and method computes or retrieves and outputs or displays a unit area not suitable for travel, that is, a “cell”, from a destination, based on, for example, a type of moving object or data of a navigated area. The navigation apparatus and method thereby presents cells as realistic, useful, basic information based on various travel factors and enables such cells to be avoided and the destination to be reached.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a scenic information searching unit for searching for drop-in information about a favorable place for drop-in around a guide route leading from a departing place to a destination based on the drop-in information set in acquired map data. A route searching unit searches for the guide route via a drop-in route running through the favorable place for the drop-in based on the drop-in information searched by the surrounding drop-in information searching unit and calendar information detected by the time computing unit.

Abstract: A system and method for describing local area geo-reference features and landmarks in providing high resolution asset location information. Geo-image data is integrated to a mapping application and geo-reference data to add more detailed scale levels to the map. The geo-image data includes geo-images and its features to provide more detailed references to the asset and support the larger references of the geo-reference data. To describe a geo-reference landmark, an original landmark representation is selected with a center point and a radius. The asset location points located at the original landmark representation are compiled along with the asset location points generated by events occurring at the landmark to create a point set. The point set replaces the original landmark representation when a prescribed number of points is reached. The asset location points that are within a specified distance from any of the points in the point set are added to the point set to complete the landmark representation.

Abstract: A database stores map data including road network data and landmark data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database. A road pattern analysis unit analyzes a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and obtains road pattern data as the analysis result. A route guidance information generation unit generates route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route. A presentation unit presents the route guidance information.

Abstract: A map data distribution system includes a navigation apparatus and a map distribution server. The navigation apparatus is connected to the map distribution server through a predetermined network. The navigation apparatus transmits a distribution request to the map distribution server. The distribution request includes distribution conditions relating to the amount of map data to be distributed. The map distribution server transmits area information to the navigation apparatus. The area information shows a geographical area of the map data that is transmittable under the distribution conditions. The navigation apparatus displays, in accordance with the transmitted area information, a map area of the map data transmittable in a single distribution operation under the distribution conditions and superimposes it on the map. The navigation apparatus transmits a downloading instruction in which one or more map areas are specified by a user to the map distribution server.

Abstract: A real-time vehicular traffic flow display system employs groups of monitor stations positioned at spaced-apart locations along vehicular roadways, to sense the speed of traffic flow on a given portion of a route. Individual section stations each serve a sequential group of different monitor stations. Each monitor station senses the speed of vehicular traffic a given road portion and transmits corresponding information to an associated section station; each section station processes the received signals, and transmits them to display stations on board vehicles in addition to sending the signals to an optional geographic area central station. The signals transmitted to vehicles present information concerning traffic speed for each monitored portion of a road in addition to identifying the road portion; traffic speed information is processed to identify predetermined ranges of average speed in selected colors.

Abstract: A navigation device includes: a display device which displays a map; a route search device which searches a route based upon a departure location, an enroute location, and a destination location which have been inputted; an enroute location addition device which adds the enroute location with an enroute location addition screen which is displayed upon the display device; and a display control device which displays the enroute location addition screen with the map upon the display device.

Abstract: An arrival detection method for automatically detecting arrival of a current destination based on various conditions and proceeding to route guidance for the next destination when two or more destinations are specified. The method includes the steps of guiding a vehicle of the user to a current destination, detecting whether a current vehicle position is within a predetermined distance from the current destination, applying a primary condition when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, applying a secondary condition when the primary condition is met, and determining arrival at the current destination when the secondary condition is met and proceeding to a route guidance operation for the next destination. The primary condition is a time length during which the vehicle is stationary within the predetermined distance from the current destination.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided which obtains facility information and displays a facility icon in a position corresponding to the position of the facility on a map shown on a display. The navigation system includes a facility designating device to designate the facility icon, and a designated facility route guidance device to give route guidance to the facility when the facility designating operation is conducted with the facility designating device.

Abstract: An information center generates packets of route guidance information, each corresponding to a prescribed road length of a recommended route. The information center may generate major guide point information and guidance information and transmit both to a vehicular apparatus. The vehicular apparatus provides guidance only for major guide points based on the received major guide point information if it cannot receive the guidance information. According to another aspect of the invention, if the end of a route segment which was the subject of the preceding route guidance information is on an expressway or toll road, guidance information for a preliminary route from that end to an escape position ahead on the expressway or toll road is first transmitted and then information for a remaining route, that is a segment of the recommended route having the prescribed road length minus the preliminary route, is then transmitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system, a terminal and a processing device for a navigation system, as well as a method for displaying navigation icons on display means of a terminal. In order to make efficient use of the storage space in the terminal and to allow flexible display of navigation icons, the storage of partial graphics in the terminal is proposed, with navigation icons being able to be composed from said partial graphics. To display a currently suitable navigation icon, the required partial graphics are then selected and composed to form the navigation icon. A processing device according to the invention is able to provide information which makes it possible for the terminal to determine the required partial graphics. The invention also relates to a module for a terminal or for a processing device comprising respective processing means.

Abstract: The invention relates to navigation systems for motor vehicles, in which route planning information is output via a monitor (3). Data records containing map data are stored in a storage element (5). According to the invention, the storage element (5) stores information regarding traffic restrictions which is part of a data record of the map data, and the traffic restrictions relevant to the ascertained vehicle position can additionally be displayed on the monitor (3). Furthermore, in one specific embodiment, time restrictions for traffic restrictions are likewise stored and only the traffic restrictions which are applicable at the present time are displayed.

Abstract: A communication type navigation apparatus can communicate with a server device via a communication path. The navigation apparatus requests route search, and the server device executes route search to produce route information of a searched route. Then, the meshes necessary to travel along the searched route are determined, and the navigation apparatus obtains necessary mesh data from the server device. The navigation apparatus may request newer mesh data to the server device based on the updating information of the mesh data. By appropriately determining the mesh data to be and not to be downloaded from the server device, the communication cost necessary for obtaining the mesh data can be saved.

Abstract: A first recommended route is computed as having the minimum cost from a start point to an end point as a destination. The first recommended route is then divided by using each road name. Here, Tomei Expressway occupies 60% or more in the entire traveling length of the first recommended route while National Road No. 1 occupies 10% or more in the entire traveling length of the first recommended route. A link cost of Tomei Expressway is thereby multiplied by 1.5, while a link cost of National Road No. 1 is thereby multiplied by 1.2. Another route from the start point to the end point is re-computed by using the changed link costs. A detour avoiding Tomei Expressway and National Road No. 1 is thereby designated.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for managing traffic-relevant events in a vehicle-based navigation system. A traffic information database, which can be updated by the driver in particular through prioritized driver queries initiated by the system concerning the traffic situation is managed in the navigation system. Thus observations made by the driver during his trip can be stored in the database as traffic information and used for updated route planning.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for a navigation system for receiving traffic information and displaying traffic incidents in a manner easily and quickly comprehensible by a user of the navigation system. The navigation system applies various criteria to the traffic incidents and the route to the destination and determines an order of displaying the traffic incidents in accordance with the degrees of severity to the driving to the intended or calculated route to the destination. In other aspect, instead of assigning the listing order, colors are assigned to the traffic incident icons based on the degrees of severity.

Abstract: Devices, systems, functional data and methods are provided for an improved route generation in navigational enabled devices. The navigational device with route generation capabilities includes a processor communicating with a memory. The memory includes a current location of the device, one or more available locations, and a destination of the device. A display communicates with the processor and is capable of communicating at least a portion of a generated route for the device. In generating the route, the available locations are inspected repetitively and locations adjacent to a last selected location are inserted into a first data structure such that the first location of the first data structure is always a least cost location associated with all adjacent locations comprising the first data structure. The first location is then optionally inserted into a second data structure. The generated route includes the current location, one or more first locations, and the destination.

Abstract: There is provided a navigation system using a wireless communication system and a route guidance method thereof. In the navigation system, an information center searches out an optimum route between a present vehicle position and a destination referring to map data in its map database and generates route guidance data. A navigation terminal inside the vehicle calculates the present position of the vehicle, transmits the vehicle's current position information to the information center, receives the route guidance data, and announces a notification message. A wireless communication network connects the information center to the navigation terminal wirelessly.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a current position detector that detects a current position and at least one controller. The at least one controller determines an administrative district where the current position is located, searches for at least one facility, each at least one facility located in a corresponding one of a plurality of administrative districts substantially adjacent to the administrative district where the current position is located, and assigns each of the plurality of administrative districts substantially adjacent to the administrative district where the current position is located to a selection area on a search screen based on a direction from the current position to one of the at least one facilities within that one of the plurality of administrative districts substantially adjacent to the administrative district where the current position is located.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus is provided for ensuring safe execution of a navigation function even when a vehicle travels high altitude areas. The navigation apparatus has a function of searching for a route to a destination, and comprises the following structure: a memory device 30 for storing map data or the like, a data memory 70 for being capable of storing part of the map data or the like stored in the memory device 30, a position detector 500 for detecting positional information on a vehicle position, a controller 80 for causing the map data stored in the memory device 30 to be stored in a backup memory area 74 of the data memory 70 when the vehicle reaches a predetermined altitude based on the positional information, and a display controller 50 for displaying the map data read from the data memory 70 on a display device 51.

Abstract: According to a car navigation system and a map version management method thereof, a version management method for a server having maps of different versions and a car navigation apparatus is suggested. The method of the present invention includes: managing an update history on the basis of guidance information included in a map, receiving the map update information included in search information in real time, reconstructing path guidance information of a terminal, and performing exact guidance on the terminal with search path information transmitted from the server.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system enables a user easily see a list of points of interest (POIs) along a route to a destination. The navigation system shows a list of distance ranges of the route where each range shows a number of POIs searched. The current user position is marked in the corresponding distance range. The navigation system displays a list of POI names in the selected distance range where the POI names are arranged in the order that the user sees the POIs along the route. For determining the listing order, the navigation system uses a plurality of region circles having their centers on the route to the destination, and retrieves POIs contained in the region circles and calculates a modified distance of each POI.

Abstract: A “Point of Interest (POI)” search method for navigation system in which POIs are searched through a search-by-street method which can be used at any stage of the conventional POI search process. The POI search method includes the steps of starting a POI search process where POIs are selectable either by a place type of a place name, specifying a name of a street to retrieve POIs along the street, and displaying a list of POIs retrieved along the street to select one of them. The search process further includes a step of specifying a name of a city, thereby retrieving POIs along the specified street within the specified city. The search process further includes a step of specifying a first intersection of the street and a second intersection of the street, thereby retrieving POIs along the specified street between the first and second intersections.

Abstract: A system controller 115 includes a table data storage 131 storing table data for calculating the order of priority of each destination, and a priority destination list creator 132 for creating a priority destination list based on the table data in such a manner that priorities of destinations that suit the preferences of the user will set high based on destination conditions set by the user and the stored table data.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus for navigation system enables a user easily see a list of points of interest (POIs) along a route to a destination. The POI names are arranged in the order that the user sees the POIs along the route. The method first determines a route to the destination, and specifies a search area by selecting a distance range on the route from a user position and by defining a radius of a region circle. The method further creates a plurality of region circles consecutively on the route, retrieves points of interest (POIs) within the search area, calculates a modified distance of each POI based on distances from two reference points to the POI and distances from the user position to the two reference points, and lists the POIs in the order of modified distance.

Abstract: The navigation device of the present invention has a storage device which stores map data including link data of respective links constituting roads on a map, and statistical data including travel time (moving speed) which is determined by statistical values of traffic information collected in the past, with respect to each of the links. Then, the navigation device uses for each departure time candidate, the map data and the statistical data of collection conditions corresponding to the statuses upon passing each of the route constituting links which constitute the route, so as to obtain the travel time for each of the route constituting links. Thereafter, the travel times of respective route constituting links thus obtained are summed up, and the travel time between the departure position and the destination is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a travel route in a navigation system. The apparatus includes: a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver for receiving position data from a plurality of GPS satellites; a storage unit for storing map data and the travel route therein; a display unit for displaying the stored map data and travel route on a screen; a key input unit for receiving a variety of input key signals, and an origin and a destination therebetween; a velocity and direction detection unit for detecting a travel velocity and direction of travel of a moving object; a wireless communication unit for communicating to receive traffic information on an on-road; and a control unit for controlling each unit to store the travel route in the storage unit and to provide the stored travel route for a user.

Abstract: Information is stored relating to zones in which there are a plurality of POIs including at least one parking lot, a parking lot in a zone which has been selected from among these zones which are stored in memory is set as a destination point, a route is searched out to that parking lot based upon a road map, and the driver is guided to that parking lot based upon the route which has been found.

Abstract: A navigation device displays major routes and direction indications without a specific destination requirement. Where several possible destinations are presented, the device displays information for a destination at or when nearing decision points for traveling to the destination. Direction indicators can be presented on top of an appropriately scaled map having routes displayed which are integral to the indicators and directions. A destination displayed may be selected to retrieve detailed driving instructions to that specific destination. In one embodiment, the navigation device displays direction indications to major destinations, entrances, exits, and other important facilities in a “highway sign” fashion at major decision points.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus is configured to generate display data of a rough route map extracting only information, which satisfies a display condition, when the display condition is set for the rough route map. For example, when a display condition for displaying a rough route map regarding only a main road is set, display data is generated for the rough route map regarding only the main road.

Abstract: A database stores map data including road network data and landmark data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database. A road pattern analysis unit analyzes a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and obtains road pattern data as the analysis result. A route guidance information generation unit generates route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route. A presentation unit presents the route guidance information.

Abstract: A recommended route is searched by the use of traffic information collected in the past. A map/statistical traffic data storage device 3 stores map data including link data of respective links constituting roads on a map, and statistical data including travel time or moving speeds of the respective links determined by statistical values of traffic information collected in the past. Said statistical data is classified every condition of collection of traffic information. A navigation device searches a recommended route from a departure position to a destination by using the map data stored in the map/statistical traffic data storage device and statistical data corresponding to a day type and a weather type which constitute conditions of search, out of statistical data stored in the map/statistical traffic data storage device 3.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location. One exemplary method embodiment includes obtaining through a server at least one set of “from” coordinates associated with the first service location; obtaining through the server at least one set of “to” coordinates associated with the second service location; transmitting the “from” and the “to” coordinates to a mapping system; and receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “to” and the “from” coordinates. Another exemplary method embodiment includes receiving first knowledge of one or more service personnel locations, receiving second knowledge of one or more service locations, and applying an algorithm with a computer using the first and the second knowledge to facilitate moving a service person to a most appropriate service location.

Abstract: A navigation system of the present invention provides a user of a moving object with a return path on an original driving path when the moving object deviates from the original driving path. A method for searching the return path of the moving object for use in the navigation system comprises the steps of: searching and storing an original driving path of the moving object, and guiding the moving object along the searched driving path; deciding whether the moving object is deviated from the driving path; when the moving object is deviated from the driving path, deciding a start point and return points for returning the moving object on the original driving path; after searching respective paths from the start point to the return points, deciding a shortest path as an optimum return path; and guiding the moving object to the original driving path along the decided return path.