Abstract: A recommended route calculation method for calculating a recommended route from a current position to a destination based upon map data constituted of nodes and links, includes steps of: extracting attribute data of a link from data related to the links, the attribute data indicating characteristics of the link; judging whether or not the extracted attribute data of the link match attribute data having been input; and processing so that selectability of the link as a part of the recommended route is raised, when judging that the extracted attribute data of the link match the attribute data having been input.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for more efficient use of RAM and other resources in connection with a route calculation algorithm which quickly obtains a best or reasonable best path between two locations. The navigational aid device includes forced layer switching capabilities. The navigational aid device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The memory has cartographic data including any number of locations and data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types connecting certain ones of the locations. The plurality of thoroughfares are organized in a hierarchy of detail levels. The processor operates on a route calculation algorithm to find a path between any two of the number of locations and the route calculation algorithm dynamically forces switching between different levels in the hierarchy of detail levels based on a set of criteria.

Abstract: A route searching system is provided with: a road map database for storing a road map data; a searching device for performing a link cost calculation on the basis of the road map data and thereby searching an optimal route. The searching device increases or decreases the link cost of a link corresponding to a road section that requires a difficult turn on a route option, the difficult turn being a right turn or a left turn, one of which is more difficult than the other in accordance with a traffic rule, and connecting a node corresponding to an intersection, in at least two cases depending on the difficulty of the difficult turn at the intersection.

Abstract: A communication state monitoring section 35 of a terminal unit 2 installed in a vehicle checks whether communication is possible between the terminal unit 2 and a server system 3. If the section in question finds communication is not possible, information regarding the current position of the vehicle and its target point and search condition acquired by the terminal unit 2 is stored in an internal memory, and communication is suspended. Communication state is checked at predetermined intervals. As soon as it is confirmed that communication is possible, the server system 3 determines a path to be taken by the mobile body and a signal notifying the path is transmitted to the terminal unit 2, which then guides the navigation of the vehicle. According to this system, it is not necessary to restart operations even if communication is interrupted and recovers after a certain interval, which will improve the utility of the system.

Abstract: A configuration is provided which allows users, such as children, who cannot sufficiently read map information to easily perform positional confirmation. An information terminal apparatus carried on a user includes an image data storage block storing actually taken image data of two or more geographical points in an area in which positional information is to be provided and a positional information database storing the correlation data between the identifiers of image data stored in the image data storage block and the positional information. On the basis of the positional information obtained from a positional information capture block, the image data identifier corresponding to the positional information is obtained from the positional information database, the actually taken image data are obtained from the image data storage block based on the obtained image data identifier, and the obtained actually taken image data are displayed on a display block.

Abstract: A stop area is set in an arbitrary area where map matching processing is to be stopped, by an operation switch group or a remote controller. When a vehicle enters the stop area, the map matching processing is stopped, and when the vehicle exits from the stop area, the map matching processing is performed. It is supposed that a situation where the map matching processing should be performed has changed to a situation where the map matching processing should be stopped or vice versa. Here, since the stop area can be set in advance, it is not necessary to perform any selection operation. Thus, load on a driver during driving the vehicle can be reduced.

Abstract: There is provided a communications-type car navigation system including a vehicle-mounted terminal and a server. When transferring, to the terminal, the result of a route searching which the server has performed, the server transfers the data that will satisfy the requirements of a route guiding method which the user wishes. Also, the server transfers the route data that has been compressed. Concerning the map data as well, the server transfers only the necessary attributes thereof. Moreover, the following conditions allow the operability to be enhanced: the selection of a map transferring method and the route guiding method where the driving state has been taken into consideration, and the selection of a guiding unit which the user wishes.

Abstract: When a facility is specified from a facility list indicating facilities which satisfy a facility searching condition, a path searching processing section searches for a driving path with the specified facility being set as a destination, and obtains information such as driving distance and driving time required when a vehicle travels the driving path to the destination. A text-information generating and drawing section generates drawing data for displaying text information, such as the driving distance and the driving time, and stores the drawing data in a VRAM. A map drawing section generates drawing data for displaying a map image of an area which includes the driving path and stores the drawing data in the VRAM. An image synthesis section synthesizes the drawing data stored in the VRAM and the drawing data supplied from an operation-screen generation section, and causes a display apparatus to display a search image which includes the facility list, the text information, and the map image on one screen.

Abstract: A navigational device, where an input destination is first clearly and unambiguously determined on the basis of a data record stored in the navigational device, and, only then, is this destination transmitted to a central processing unit for purposes of route determination.

Abstract: A portable terminal with the function of walking navigation. The portable terminal displays information on its narrow screen so as to make it easy for the user (walker) to understand and realize an interface that enables the user to understand inputs of retrieving conditions intuitively, thereby saving the input labor.

Abstract: A system 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. The identified medical facilities may be displayed to a user in any manner and/or saved in a navigational computer for reference in case of a medical emergency.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programmatically calculating directions (or other types of paths between points) without reliance on proprietary file formats or binary shape files, and without requiring application programmers to write code that performs complex manipulations of directed graphs. Preferred embodiments leverage built-in functions of a spatially-enabled object relational database system. Information about intersections between streets is used in a novel manner to compute paths between points. The intersection information is preferably obtained from precomputed information stored in a spatially-enabled relational database table.

Abstract: In a route guidance system, when depression of a PTT switch is detected in the middle of voice guidance of respective guidance landmarks located in a guidance route, recognition of a voice command inputted through a microphone is initiated, When the recognized voice command is identified as one of a next setting command and a return setting command, the voice guidance of the guidance landmarks is sequentially provided starting from a corresponding one of a previous guidance landmark and a next guidance landmark in consistency with the one of the next setting command and the return setting command. When the recognized voice command is other than the next setting command and the return setting command, setting and/or resetting of the guidance route are performed based on the type of the corresponding guidance landmark and the recognized command.

Abstract: A navigation system utilizing a warning generating apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A communication navigation system is provided with a communication center apparatus (3) and a communication navigation terminal (5), which perform two-way communication on a communication network (1, 2). The communication center apparatus for providing map information is provided with: a search device (74) for searching for a recommendation route with respect to the request of route search from the communication navigation terminal; and a wireless device (73) for wirelessly transmitting guidance position information including information indicating a direction or a route to be advanced and/or information indicating a location of each one of a plurality of guidance positions located on the recommendation route. The communication navigation terminal is provided with a display processing device (43) for displaying the recommendation route by connecting the plurality of guidance positions by interpolation according to the content of the received guidance position information.

Abstract: A guidance information providing apparatus comprises a first memory to store network data including line segment data representing a passage in a target area of route guidance in an information map and point data representing a connecting point of a passage, a second memory store three-dimensional shape data representing a three-dimensional shape of the target area, a route search unit which searches for a guiding route connecting, an input departure, place and destination, a setting unit which sets viewpoint position candidates, an evaluation unit which obtains an evaluation value, from each viewpoint position candidate, an generating unit which determines a viewpoint position, on the basis of the evaluation value of visibility from each viewpoint position candidate, and generates the information map by projecting the three-dimensional shape data, and a presentation unit which presents the generated information map to a user.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a destination guidance system for providing presentation information that contains guidance pertaining to movement from a place of departure to a destination on the basis of structure information and guidance information on the premises of a building or construction. The presentation information contains both information of the entire three-dimensional structure, and detailed information, and a three-dimensional movement and normal two-dimensional movement in the presentation information are presented by different methods. Also, this invention is directed to a destination guidance data acquisition system for acquiring structure information and guidance information on the premises of a building, which are used by the destination guidance system. The destination guidance data acquisition system inputs and compiles information of a three-dimensional structure on the basis of a plan view of the building to support acquisition of the detailed information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying FMS information to a pilot with a map segment and a configurable window of textual information which is configurable both in size and content.

Abstract: The in-vehicle information apparatus 1 according to the present invention for presenting, to a user, information which includes a returning route is composed of the following: a home position holding unit 102 for holding beforehand a position of the user's home; a home arrival time holding unit 103 for holding beforehand a home arrival time of the user; a present position obtainment unit 106 for obtaining a present position of the user; a present time obtainment unit 107 for obtaining a present time; a route search unit 108 for obtaining a returning route from the present position to the user's home position, a required time for the returning route, and a departure time to leave the present position so that the user can get home by the home arrival time; and a presentation unit 111 for comparing the departure time obtained by the route search unit 108 and the present time, and presenting to the user the departure time and the returning route obtained by the route search unit 108, before the departure time is

Abstract: To provide a navigation system for a moving body useful to carry out delivery service operation. A delivery history is included in customer information, and a route guide including at least one past delivery destination point is generated. A method of navigating a movable body for a delivery service is also included.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation device for presenting a navigation content by continuing a predetermined inputting operation for navigation till the last step even if the used state changes. The navigation device comprises a presentation unit (6) for presenting a navigation content, a manual input unit (3) for receiving a plurality of inputting operations, a speech input unit (4) for receiving a speech input operation substantially identical to that of the manual input unit (3), a database (5) stored with data necessary for navigation, and a control unit (2) for providing the navigation content to the presentation unit (6) by searching the database (5) according to the inputting operation from the manual input unit (3) or the speech input unit (4).

Abstract: PDA devices, systems, functional data and methods are provided for an improved route generation. A PDA with route generation capabilities includes a processor communicating with a memory. The memory includes a current location of the PDA, one or more available locations, and a destination of the PDA. A display communicates with the processor and is capable of communicating at least a portion of a generated route for the PDA. Available locations are repetitively inspected 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: An in-vehicle navigation device in which a route search block outputs a search result of a guiding route from an exit of the expressway to an entrance of the expressway by way of the selected facility to a display block to make the display block display the search result in a case where a present position detected by a present position detection block is on an expressway and where position of a target facility selected by a facility information selection block is outside the expressway.

Abstract: The latitude/longitude and time acquired at prescribed sampling time intervals by a touring bus 1 which runs a predetermined running route are wireless-transmitted. A user 6 specifies a getting-on/off point on the basis of the latitude/longitude and time provided by the touring bus and acquires a running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point. Therefore, the user can acquire the running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously. The user can specify the getting-on/off point using the speed computed from the latitude/longitude and time acquired. Thus, the user can set his desired notifying point on the running route thus acquired. In such a configuration, there are provided a system for permitting a user of a touring bus to acquire a running route of the touring bus inclusive of a getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously and a system for notifying the arrival of the touring bus which permits the user to set his desired notifying point easily.

Abstract: A bounding route is calculated between two physical locations to determine a boundary value for which subsequent route calculations or portions thereof may be compared to. The bounding route may be calculated by selecting segments of roads that satisfy certain criteria. These criteria may be based on weighting factors or parameters such as the “least distance traveled” or the “least travel time.” The bounding route and the value may then provide any route calculation program with criteria used to determine whether a search at a particular location should continue. That is, if a search at a particular location has exceeded the criteria, or equivalently, the search has gone beyond the boundary, the search is stopped because it will most likely result in an un-optimal route. This process may then be an iterative one until an optimal search with a value less than the boundary value is found.

Abstract: A simple navigation system is disclosed in which a remote customer service center calculates an optimal route and selects a geo area covering all traveling routes of the optimal route. The geo area is defined by two boundary points, and equally divided by a pair of 2D grid number into multiple geo zones each defined with a respective pair of 2D index. The remote customer service center sends the two boundary points, the pair of 2D grid number, and multiple pairs of 2D indexes of traveling zones arranged orderly from a starting point to a destination to a car wirelessly. The car reconstructs a 2D grillwork with two boundary points, divides the 2D grillwork subject to the 2D grid number, defines each grid a pair of 2D index, and fines a guiding direction by comparing the pairs of 2D indexes of the current grid and the next traveling grid.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a navigation system, more particularly, to a navigation system and an operating method thereof, in which the navigation system shows the configuration of a complicated intersection a driver is about to enter, and displays where to turn and a progression rate of the car on the path the driver is headed to.

Abstract: An information providing system for vehicles includes: a first information center; a second information center; and an on-vehicle apparatus. The first information center includes a voice line to be used by an operator, an information search device that executes a search for facility information from a telephone directory data recording device, and a data transmission device that transmits the facility information obtained through the search executed by the information search device. The second information center includes a position search device that executes a search for position data corresponding to the facility information transmitted from the first information center, from a position data recording device, and a data line. The on-vehicle apparatus includes a communication device that obtains the facility information provided as a voice message from the first information center via the voice line and obtains the position data from the second information center via the data line.

Abstract: A turn-by-turn on-vehicle navigation system is capable of providing drivers with helpful and appropriate information to free them from their various anxieties caused as a result of relatively less information on a display. When the vehicle's current position is located on a recommended route after the completion of a certain guidance the driver is determined as properly driving the vehicle as expected, and receives a message telling that he/she is on the right track. With such a message, the driver does not feel anxiety that often occurs when making a turn at an intersection. Further, when the vehicle passes by a predetermined landmark located at close range, supplemental information is provided for the location. Such information removes the driver's uneasiness when he/she keeps going straight along the same road for a long time. Still further, at the destination, information about the area is provided. Thereby, the driver can feel secure even if he/she is new to the area.

Abstract: A material control system (MCS) to select an optimum transport route by calculating a prospective transport time between a source node and a destination node includes a transport order manager to receive and manage layout information, and real-time job information of a load and a waiting job number of a storehouse according to respective unit links. The MCS also includes an optimum route generating part to calculate the prospective transport time by receiving the layout information and the real-time job information in a predetermined period of time from the transport order manager and by modeling the information. The optimum route generating part also selects a transport route having a minimum prospective transport time as the optimum transport route. Thus, a transport flow of production lines may be balanced, and interruption between transport vehicles may be minimized, thereby enabling overall transport efficiency to be maximized.

Abstract: In a vehicle navigation system, a data storage device stores data on categories of points of interest indicated on sign boards provided at freeway exits and facilities and services available at the points of interest. The navigation system performs a search for a point of interest that provides facilities or services specified by an input from a user in a category specified by an input from the user based on the stored data. The navigation system displays an exit at which a sign board including the searched point is provided in a manner that the searched exit is distinguishable from other exit on the display device. Furthermore, the navigation system displays a route to the searched point of interest on the display device.

Abstract: As the name of a given road is inputted, intersecting roads that share nodes such as an intersecting, merging, or branching point with the given road are designated. From the given road's nodes shared by the designated intersecting roads, the nearest node to the present position is displayed along with its peripheral map. A portion of the given road that is far from the present position is thereby prevented from being displayed along with its peripheral map. This can eliminate additional manipulation such as changing a reduction scale of the displayed map or repeatedly scrolling the displayed map till an objective point is being displayed. As a result, operationality can be enhanced in designating a point such as an objective point by using a name of a road.

Abstract: A navigation system has an information acquisition processing unit for acquiring search data including network data of networks formed for individual transportation methods, a search processing unit for searching acquired search data for routes based on the network data beginning with a network of a highest priority, and a route connection processing unit for connecting the routes found as a result of the search. Since the routes of all the transportation measures are not searched in each network and only routes of a transportation method corresponding to a network are searched, it becomes easier to search for routes in route search processing.

Abstract: A feature guidance information that provides guidance on a feature has a data structure where a unique information representing a feature position and a guidance position are associated with respective sub-areas so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position to represent the feature or the guidance position. When it is recognized that a vehicle reaches a position indicated by the unique mesh information of the guidance position with respect to a current position of the vehicle, guidance on the feature corresponding to the guidance position is provided. Thus, an amount of information, load for sending/receiving data and processing can be largely decreased compared to that coordinates are used for representing the feature position and the guidance position of the feature guidance information, thereby providing smooth navigation.

Abstract: In a navigation device, matching is executed between road shape data read from a map data storage medium and road shape data included in guidance route data received from a server. Road data relevant to that of the guidance route data is thereby designated from the road data stored in the map data storage medium. Connection relation of the road data between the map data storage medium and the guidance route is then established. This results in eliminating a problem that it is difficult for the navigation device to indicate a correct present position when the navigation device moves along a route different from the guidance route.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for an improved navigational route planning device which provides more understandable, accurate and timely route calculation capabilities. The navigational aid device with route calculation capabilities includes a processor connected to a memory. The memory includes cartographic data and a desired destination, the cartographic data including data indicative of thoroughfares of a plurality of types. A display is connected to the processor and is capable of displaying the cartographic data. The device is adapted to calculate a route to navigate to the desired destination. And, the device is adapted to adjust a starting point for the route calculation to an appropriate location such that the device is on the route at a time when the route calculation is completed. The device processes travel along the route, recognizes when the device has deviated from the route, and calculates a new route to navigate to the desired destination.

Abstract: A present time indicated by an internal clock A can be changed by an ECU. When a user inputs a starting position and a destination through a remote controller, the ECU computes an arrival time at the destination and displays the arrival time along with the present time on a touch display. Thereafter, when the user commands changing the present time, the ECU changes the present time indicated by the internal clock A by a given commanded period. The arrival time is simultaneously changed by the given commanded period.

Abstract: A navigation system that searches for a route to a destination based on stored map data and provides navigation guidance to the destination along the route includes a controller that acquires road congestion information associated with the route, searches for the route to the destination based on a calculated search cost and changes a search cost based on predicted secondary congestion that is predicted based on acquired road congestion information, wherein a recommendable route that can avoid congestion is searched based on the search cost that has been changed based on the predicted secondary congestion.

Abstract: The navigation apparatus comprises: a GPS receiving unit, a sensor unit, a DVD disc drive that reads data from a DVD disc on which data such as map data are pre-recorded, a map-data-storage unit that acquires the map data in advance from the DVD disc with perform route guidance and stores it, and a system-control unit that controls the entire system, and that performs route guidance for an automobile based on the map data stored in the map-data-storage unit.

Abstract: A system and method of the type for aiding a user in navigating a route through a facility so as too efficiently locate specific items within a facility is provided. The system includes a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from selected location to selected location within a facility, a label located proximate individual items, the label electronically communicating information specific to the item it is associated with, and a digital device having the interactive route electronically stored thereon, the digital device electronically communicating with the facility processor and the labels for tracking movement of the digital device along the route via communication with the labels and communicating a direction to move to follow the route.

Abstract: A point service utilizing system, a method of utilizing a point service, and a navigation apparatus are provided that enable obtaining the point service effectively in the usage of a vehicle.

Abstract: A method of exchanging navigation information between a terminal, an offboard vehicle navigation device in particular, and a control center is described, the navigation information including route information for at least one route between a starting point and a destination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring at least one navigation element from a vehicle navigation unit to a master station. The present invention also relates to a vehicle navigation unit, as well as a master station.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus for searching for a route from an inputted place of departure to an inputted destination and performing guide, the apparatus comprising: a registration unit for associating a traveled route with a place of departure and a destination and thus registering the traveled route; a judgment unit for judging whether the same place of departure and destination as a place of departure and a destination of a registered route are inputted or not; a route search unit for reading out information of the registered route when it is judged by the judgment unit that the same place of departure and destination are inputted, and lowering weighting in searching for the route so as to search for the route; and a control unit for performing guide of the route found by the search by the route search unit. Thus, route guide preferred by a user can be performed.

Abstract: A communication navigation system is provided with: a communication navigation terminal (5) and a communication center apparatus (3) with a communication network (2) for connecting them. The communication navigation terminal is provided with a traveling locus recording device (36, 24) for preferentially holding a traveling locus recorded when a movable body is driving out of a service area of the communication navigation system; and a processing device (20) for performing a route search and the like on the basis of this preferentially held traveling locus.

Abstract: A feature provided by a navigation system or other device whereby additional information about roadside signs can be provided to a driver of a vehicle while traveling along a road. The additional information may be provided automatically or in response to a request from the driver. The additional information may include a translation of the sign text into a selected language, supplementary information about the subject matter of the sign, commercial information about the subject matter of the sign, or other kinds of information. In one embodiment, the additional information is contained in a database that includes data identifying locations of roadside signs and additional information about the roadside signs. Programming in the navigation system or other device determines the location of the vehicle, uses the database to identify one or more roadside signs close to the location of the vehicle, and provides the driver with the additional information about the one or more roadside signs via a user interface.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for controlling at least one traffic light having a vehicle having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, and a control unit for processing traffic control signals; and a traffic control module having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, a control unit for processing traffic control signals, traffic light control logic for controlling the at least one traffic light, and means to connect to the at least one traffic light; wherein the traffic control signals control the flow of traffic about the at least one traffic light enabling a vehicle to travel from a present location to a destination passing through intersections at which traffic flow is controlled by the at least one traffic light; and also including means for controlling at least one traffic light on a selected optimal route in response to the traffic control signals.

Abstract: To provide a method of automatically deleting a traffic message that is associated with at least one directed segment and/or at least one node, in which traffic messages are automatically deleted at the earliest possible time while ensuring that the route segment affected by the traffic message is not traveled again, the traffic message is deleted when the sum of the resistances remaining between the current position and the destination is less than or equal to a reference resistance which is determined by the sum of the resistances remaining between a reference segment and the destination, the reference segment being the segment subsequent to the segment of the route, in the direction toward the destination, that is affected by the traffic message and that was the route specified before the traffic message was taken into account.

Abstract: In accordance with operation, data on a starting point, a destination, and a display scale are inputted to set a first route from the starting point to the destination based on the inputted data on the starting point and the destination. In case an obstacle which blocks a smooth traveling of the vehicle is detected in the first route, a second route to bypass the obstacle is searched for. In accordance with the inputted display scale, the range of display of the map information to be displayed is set. With the traveling of the vehicle, the map information to be displayed in the range of display is successively updated. In case the searched for second route is to be displayed, the new range of display is set irrespective of the inputted display scale so that the overall second route is displayed simultaneously with the first route.

Abstract: Road map data includes node data indicating a branch point, a junction point, or an intersection point and link data indicating a road between the preceding points. The node data and link data include distances, kinds of the roads, costs based on easiness of traveling. In a route search, a route is selected so that a total cost included in traveling on the route to a destination can be minimum. When command is generated as giving priority to an automatic travel road, costs included in the node and link data that correspond to the automatic travel road are lowered. A route including the automatic travel road is thereby selected in preference to other routes.