Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a geographic area of interest can be selected, and photographic images of the selected area can be downloaded and displayed by a user in an efficient and timely manner. The geographic area of interest may initially be selected by various input means such as a map, longitude/latitude coordinates, a global positioning system (GPS), and the like. Once the particular geographic area has been selected, photographic images corresponding to the selected area are downloaded to the user. The photographic images may be stored in a suitable data storage system such as a server. Alternatively, the photographic image data may be generated real time and downloaded to the user. In one embodiment, a relatively low resolution image of a large geographic area is initially displayed to the user, and the user can then select a limited region of the image for closer viewing.

Abstract: A driver information device with a map display is designed in such a way as to make the map display clear and easy to read. This is achieved, in cases where multiple special objects are situated at one location on the map, through the use of an indicator symbol representing such special objects, with a selection menu for selecting individual special objects, instead of displaying an individual symbol for each one of them.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a geographic area of interest can be selected, and information corresponding to the selected area can be downloaded and displayed by a user in an efficient and timely manner. The geographic area of interest may initially be selected by various input means such as a map, longitude/latitude coordinates, a global positioning system (GPS), and the like. Once the particular geographic area has been selected, geographic information corresponding to the selected area is downloaded to the user. The geographic information may include photographic images, radar, radio transmission, cell phone transmission, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas information. The geographic information may be stored in a suitable data storage system such as a server. Alternatively, the geographic information may be generated real time and downloaded to the user.

Abstract: A driving support system including: a vehicle location detector which detects current location and velocity vector of a vehicle; a traffic and road information database which stores point information of points on a route of the vehicle; a point information acquisition unit which acquires, from the database, the point information of the approaching points located in a given distance from the vehicle current location, based on the detected vehicle current location and velocity vector; a display device which provides displays of the acquired point information on a horizontally long screen thereof along a windshield of the vehicle; and a display control unit for controlling the display device. The display control unit determines display positions on the screen to display the point information, based on a positional relationship between the current location of the vehicle and the points where the point information related thereto are displayed.

Abstract: An intelligent vehicle highway system collects and provides real-time traffic data to a vehicle traveling on a continental roadway network. A digitized continental roadway network has nodes interconnected by links that define a digitized representation of the continental roadway network. To enable intelligent data collection and navigation over large expanses of the continental network, which would otherwise be computationally onerous, the digitized continental roadway network is partitioned into a plurality of digitized roadway subnetworks. The onboard vehicle navigation device has a processor for executing an application that instantiates a subset of the digitized roadway subnetworks in a vicinity of a current position of the vehicle to collect and provide relevant real-time traffic data to the vehicle in a computationally efficient manner.

Abstract: A technology for preventing a driver from being distracted even if a navigation operates on an input device in the rear seat. A navigation system, connected to a combination of an output/input devices of a driver and to a combination of an output device and an input device of a fellow passenger, comprises a setting information storage unit storing setting information indicating whether or not information generated is to be output to the output device of the driver and an output processing unit, to the output device of the driver according to the setting information read from the setting information storage unit. When operation information enters from the input device of the fellow passenger, the setting information, stored in the setting information storage unit for the processing, changes to the information indicating that information is not output to the output device of the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus and a method of searching for and displaying a neighborhood facility are provided for enabling an effective search for a neighborhood facility with a searching range having a directivity according to a user's intention. The vehicle navigation apparatus comprises a display unit, an information input unit for entering information designated by a user, a storage unit for storing map information including information about facilities, and a controller for controlling information sent to or from these components. While a map image is displayed on a screen of the display unit based on the map information, a base point for search and a genre of a facility of interest for search are designated by the user, and a desired searching direction viewed from the search base point is also designated.

Abstract: A vehicle communication device mounted to each of vehicles for sending and receiving information among plural vehicles includes a traveling lane detecting device for detecting a vehicle traveling lane on a road surface and an appropriateness of relay determining device for determining an appropriateness of relay on the basis of the vehicle traveling lane detected by the traveling lane detecting device, wherein the vehicle communication device assigns a vehicle to be requested to relay the information on the basis of the result determined by the appropriateness of relay determining device and sends the information to the assigned vehicle.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes an intersecting determining means (20) for determining intersection points where a new road detected by a new road detecting means (19) intersects either roads included in map information or roads previously detected by a new road detecting means, other than start and end points of the new road, a road update information generating means (21) for generating road update information including information for updating new road information and road information included in the map information based on new road information about the detected new road and intersection information indicating the intersection points determined by the intersecting determining means, and a road information updating means (24) for updating the road information included in the map information based on the road update information, and for writing the new road information into a new road information storage means (16b).

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

Abstract: A method and a system for guiding a vehicle are provided, which utilize information regarding the vehicle's position. The position of the vehicle is ascertained exactly to the correct lane, and for at least a part of the traffic lanes of specifiable traffic routes in the surroundings of the vehicle, the traffic situation is ascertained. An estimation of traffic lanes is undertaken in the light of specifiable criteria by the evaluation of the vehicle's position and the traffic situation, thereby enabling the driver to select the most favorable lane in terms of desired criteria, e.g., minimizing lane changes, minimizing travel time, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic navigation device includes a display coupled to the navigation device for displaying various appropriate types of map data corresponding to particular geographic locations. A map manager coordinates map update procedures to periodically realign the map data on the display based upon various types of device location data and device orientation data. The electronic navigation device is implemented to include a processor device that controls said map manager to perform the map update procedures.

Abstract: A navigation system (100) capable of providing acoustic route information summarizing a route to a predetermined destination. The navigation system (100) includes a route calculation module (110) that is capable of calculating a route to a trip destination. A route overview module (104) may also be included for creating a route overview list that is based on the route. An acoustic message module (108) may be used to generate at least one acoustic route overview message as a function of the route overview list associated with the route.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for tracking mobile devices combining packet processing technology with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. A central network system comprising a packet processing subsystem receives transmitted GPS location data from a mobile device transmitting GPS location data, wherein the packet processing subsystem uses a table access scheme to process the GPS location data and produce responsive mapping data, and the central network processing system compares the mapping data to a map and identifies a corresponding map location. Embodiments may also correlate device identification data, tracking table entries, and/or billing zone charges. In some embodiments a look-up key is built responsive to the GPS location data and used to identify map locations. The table access scheme may be a key hashing scheme and, in particular, a longest prefix match type scheme.

Abstract: A map display apparatus includes a view transformation matrix generation unit which generates a view transformation matrix, including four rows and four columns, for transforming a global coordinate of a three-dimensional object into a view coordinate system; a view transformation matrix change unit which (i) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the first row in the second column and (b) the value of the third row in the second column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying a coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the left side of the coordinate, and (ii) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the second row in the first column and (b) the value of the second row in the third column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying the coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the right side of the coordinate; and a view transformation unit which transforms the global co

Abstract: Watermark embedding embeds a digital watermark in positional information measured by positioner for measuring a current position of the mobile object. The positional information embedded with the digital watermark is outputted by a track information output as track information to a carrying medium. The track information is obtained by track information obtaining from the carrying medium, and detected by watermark detection whether water mark is embedded or not. The track information from which the digital watermark is detected and the track information from which no digital watermark is detected are displayed by track display in different modes.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus of a vehicle includes: storage means for storing information about the vehicle and a road area; and guide route calculating means for calculating a guide route on the basis of the information stored in the storage means. The navigation apparatus determines whether to avoid an entry of the vehicle into the road area on the basis of the information about the vehicle and the road area.

Abstract: A guidance information setting apparatus for setting guidance information, comprising: a means for transmitting the unique information about a terminal to a server when the terminal is connected to a network; a means for receiving guidance information or the number (e.g., floor number) corresponding to the guidance information in response to transmitting said unique information to the server; a means for indicating the guidance information for a user based on said received guidance information or the guidance information extracted from a company-wide information based on the number corresponding to the guidance information. The guidance information setting apparatus has a function of turning on or turning off the power to each of the terminals through the server.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for providing and storing annotations that pertain to travel directions to a particular destination, the annotations generally including ratings of the accuracy of the directions and errors observed in the directions by prior users. Annotations submitted by users are stored in a central repository, for access by those who subsequently become interested in the directions or the particular destination. A useful embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for providing travel directions over a selected network, wherein a request for directions regarding a specified destination is sent from a requester to a Directions Provider. The Provider retrieves the requested directions and furnishes them to the requestor. The method further includes generating annotations associated with the furnished directions in accordance with a set of rules resulting from one or more decisions made by the requester, and sending the annotations to the requester.

Abstract: An intelligent vehicle highway system collects and provides real-time traffic data to a vehicle traveling on a continental roadway network. A digitized continental roadway network has nodes interconnected by links that define a digitized representation of the continental roadway network. To enable intelligent data collection and navigation over large expanses of the continental network, which would otherwise be computationally onerous, the digitized continental roadway network is partitioned into a plurality of digitized roadway subnetworks. The onboard vehicle navigation device has a processor for executing an application that instantiates a subset of the digitized roadway subnetworks in a vicinity of a current position of the vehicle to collect and provide relevant real-time traffic data to the vehicle in a computationally efficient manner.

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 present invention provides, in a car navigation system, a unit of notifying a user of the update contents of map data prior to the downloading of the map data. A vehicle-mounted terminal sets a difference update area in accordance with a selection made by a user and sends a difference update request to a map updating server. If an update mode in this case is “update after outline display”, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads an outline update map from the map updating server. The outline update map is displayed on a display unit of a display. Here, when a download start button displayed on the display unit is depressed, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads a detailed update map from the map updating server. The detailed update map is then displayed on the display unit of the display. Furthermore, an updating process is performed on the map data stored in a terminal DB.

Abstract: Accident avoidance system for a host vehicle includes a global positioning system residing on the host vehicle for determining the host vehicle's location as the host vehicle travels based on signals received from one or more satellites, a map database having digital maps corresponding to an area including the location of the host vehicle as determined by the global positioning system, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system residing on the host vehicle operative for receiving signals including location information acquired by global positioning systems residing on other vehicles directly from the other vehicles indicating the locations of the other vehicles, and a navigation system including a display residing on the host vehicle for displaying images to an occupant of the host vehicle showing the digital maps and indications of the locations of the host vehicle and the other vehicles on the digital maps.

Abstract: A system for making a telephone call in a vehicle in which information concerning the traffic situation of a first vehicle is electronically processed and sent to a second vehicle. By apparatuses of further electronic processing, only relevant information concerning the traffic situation, which is in the field of view of the device of the first vehicle, is transmitted to the receiving party together with the telephone conversation. Unimportant details of the environment are able to be suppressed.

Abstract: A navigation system displays different colors on sections of a travel route according to traffic density. A method for controlling a traffic information display in the navigation system includes the steps of: if a traveling route is received from a user of a moving object, displaying and guiding a corresponding travel route; determining whether or not traffic density information is requested during travel of the moving object; if the traffic density information is requested, receiving the traffic density information of the travel route from a traffic information center and searching for a predetermined color stored in a storage unit based on the received traffic density information; and displaying the predetermined color on the corresponding section of the travel route.

Abstract: A map user interface is described, including a view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map.

Abstract: A map user interlace is described, including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a map, and a location marker placed at the selected location on the map upon receiving a placement request indicating selection of a selected location for placement of a location marker.

Abstract: A map user interlace is described, including at least one view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the said at least one view including at least one map and a first path representing a first mode of transportation from a starting location to an end location displayed on the said at least one map, and a second path representing a second mode of transportation from a starting location to an end location displayed on the said at least one map, the second path being at least partially different from the first path.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method for signaling traffic flow information includes monitoring a status for a traffic restrictor, generating a wireless signal indicative of the status of the traffic restrictor, and communicating the wireless signal to a receiver. In another general aspect, a wireless receiver includes a wireless interface and a processor. The wireless interface receives a wireless signal indicative of a status of a traffic restrictor. The processor determines a portion of a route for a vehicle based upon the status of the traffic restrictor.

Abstract: A display screen for displaying multiple sets of information is provided. In one embodiment, an aviation display screen includes a main window and a plurality of miniature windows. The main window is adapted to illustrate one set of information. Each miniature window is adapted to display a set of avionic information. The avionic display is further adapted to toggle a select set of avionic information in one of the miniature windows into the main window.

Abstract: Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, allows multimedia content associated with a particular geographic area to be viewed and accessed through an appropriate geographic map. In one approach to this technology, multimedia content is received. This content has an associated geographic tag. A geographic map is displayed, and can be used to gain access to the multimedia content.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for tracking the geographic location. In one aspect, a method includes receiving timed magnetic field information descriptive of a magnetic field to which a magnetometer was subject, the magnetic field information having been collected while the magnetometer was associated with an animal, receiving timed longitude information descriptive of a longitude position of the animal, the longitude information having been collected while the magnetometer was associated with the animal, and matching the longitude information that is relevant to a first time to the magnetic field information that is relevant to the first time to determine a geographic location of the animal at the first time.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for presenting one or more continuums of image data to a user. Typically, the continuum of image data will be presented via a graphical user interface. Portions of the continuum of image data can be correlated with geospatial data to indicate a particular location. In addition, a continuum of image data can be correlated with other images, such as an aerial view of a geographic area.

Abstract: A navigation system for providing different modes of navigation guidance to drivers is provided. A smart card stores user information. In a main apparatus, a parameter table storage section stores parameters which are used for controlling the outputting of navigation guidance to an entity. A control section acquires at least one parameter from the parameter table storage section based on the user information stored in the smart card, and thereafter generates information necessary for providing navigation guidance for the entity in accordance with the acquired parameter(s). A display section or an audio output section outputs various information generated by the control section.

Abstract: A vehicle driver guarding system using a vehicle telematics service and a control method thereof are provided. The vehicle driver guarding system includes: a vehicle telematics system for receiving a final destination, calculating a final destination arrival expectation time, notifying a central information center of the calculated expectation time through a mobile communication system, receiving a vehicle driver guard confirmation message from the central information center, and transmitting a response message to the received confirmation message, to the central information center; and the central information center being notified of the expectation time, transmitting the vehicle driver guard confirmation message to the vehicle telematics system when the notified expectation time lapses and then a preset time lapses, and performing a vehicle driver guarding function upon non-reception of the response message within the preset time.

Abstract: In a vehicle navigation apparatus, displaying an enlarged view of an intersection within a guide route is suppressed when a value N associated with a corresponding passing direction of the intersection exceeds a learning reference value. When the value N is not more than the learning reference value, the enlarged view of the intersection is displayed on a display unit. When a deletion operation is received while the enlarged view is displayed, the value N is incremented by “1.” In contrast, when an enlarged view display operation is received while the enlarged view is not displayed, the value N is decremented by “1.

Abstract: A method of obtaining data for a geographic database is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of locations along roads including data indicating altitudes at the plurality of locations is provided. Road grade values for a plurality of subsections of the road are computed; each of the subsections is a portion of the road between two of the locations. A plurality of temporary change points are identified as joining two adjacent subsections having road grade values that differ by a value greater than a predetermined amount. Road grade values for each part of the road between adjacent temporary change points are computed. Consecutive parts of the road having road grade values that falls within a predetermined range are grouped into at least one constant road grade section. The geographic database stores data that define the constant road grade section.

Abstract: When an elevated road and a usual fly-under road are located in a stacked state, two roads are shown in overlapped lines on a display unit of a car navigation system in a subject vehicle. When the subject vehicle travels the fly-under road, the elevated road is shown in a translucent state. Thus, a user of the subject vehicle can recognize a state of the fly-under road the subject vehicle is traveling. In contrast, when the subject vehicle travels the elevated road, the elevated road is shown in a non-translucent state. The elevated road thereby becomes easy to see, so its advancing direction can be easily seen.

Abstract: There are provided a point search apparatus and an in-vehicle navigation apparatus capable of searching destination candidates from which a user can view a visual target that he/she desires. A search means is formed so as to search destination candidates from which the user can see a visual target specified by visual target specifying means based on information regarding the three-dimensional position of the visual target and information regarding the three-dimensional position of a point that fulfills a search condition determined by a search condition determining means, and which exists around the visual target.

Abstract: A geographic information system (GIS) displays geographic roadway data, geographic track data and geographic train position data. The GIS includes a GIS database having static roadway and track data. A computer aided dispatching (CAD) system includes a task to determine an occupied track section. A web server includes a first routine determining geographic starting and ending positions of the track section, a second routine displaying geographic information regarding the static roadway and track data, and a third routine determining geographic information regarding the occupied track section from the geographic starting and ending positions of the track section and from the GIS database. A client system communicates with the web server to receive and display the geographic information regarding the static roadway and track data, and to receive and display the geographic information regarding the occupied track section with the geographic information regarding the static roadway and track data.

Abstract: A navigation device changes a position determination accuracy of a receiver for satellite navigation to a higher accuracy in the following cases: when the subject vehicle approaches a destination, the subject vehicle runs on a road not described in map information, when the subject vehicle approaches an intersection at which the road is branched at a narrow angle within a predetermined distance, when the subject vehicle is running on a narrow street, when the subject vehicle is running on one of adjacent parallel roads, when self-contained sensors are calibrated, and other like occasions. In the other cases, the navigation device changes the position determination accuracy of the receiver to a low accuracy. When the receiver is caused to execute low-accuracy position determination, power supply to receiver's operation required only for high-accuracy position determination is prohibited.

Abstract: Vehicle data generated by circuitry of a vehicle is received and functions of a personal navigation device, which are otherwise used to process device navigational data that are generated by navigational circuitry in the personal navigation device, are used to process the vehicle data to produce output navigational information. User interface commands and navigational data are communicated between a personal navigation device and a media head unit of a vehicle, the user interface commands and navigational data being associated with a device user interface of the device, and a vehicle navigation user interface at the media head unit displays navigational information and receives user input for control the display of the navigational information on the media head unit, the vehicle navigation user interface being coordinated with the user interface commands and navigational data associated with the device user interface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for associating and displaying qualitative information with points of interest in a graphical map. In one embodiment, a method comprises the computer-implemented steps of displaying a geographical map; displaying in the map, concurrently, icons identifying one or more points of interest at graphical locations in the map corresponding to geographical locations of the points of interest; and concurrently displaying, over the map, for each of the points of interest, qualitative information associated with the associated point of interest. Each of the points of interest is associated with one or more datasets, and different qualitative information is displayed for different datasets.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus senses without failing an object which exists in a traveling direction of itself even when a pedestrian is moving while looking at a screen on which information is displayed. The mobile apparatus having the screen comprises an object detector part 17 which exits within a predetermined range centered around the traveling direction of itself, an acceleration detector part 16 and the detection range changing means for changing a range in which the object detector part 17 detects the existence of an object, the traveling direction of itself is calculated based on acceleration of itself, and based on thus calculated traveling direction of itself, the detection range changing means changes the range in which the object detector part 17 detects the existence of an object.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for directing region-specific information. The method receives information relating to location of users, and provides location-specific information to the users.

Abstract: A dual-view display system and method are provided for use on a vehicle to display first and second viewing windows to a driver and a passenger in a vehicle. The display system stores acquired regulations for operating a display based on geographic location, and employs a position determining device to determine the position of the display. The display system further includes a controller for retrieving regulations pertaining to the determined geographic location and controls one or more features of the display based on the determined geographic location such that the display system may operate in compliance with geographically imposed regulations.

Abstract: A vehicle surrounding monitoring system includes an image-capturing portion, a storage portion, a display-image generation portion, and a display portion. The image-capturing portion captures the image of at least a portion of the area surrounding the vehicle. The storage portion stores the image captured by the image-capturing portion. The display-image generation portion generates a synthesized image for display using a latest image that is captured by the image-capturing portion, and a previous image that is captured before the latest image is captured. The synthesized image is displayed on the display portion. The display-image generation portion decreases the level of visibility of an image region relating to the previous image, according to an elapsed time after the previous image is captured.

Abstract: A vehicular communication system comprises a wireless communication link from the vehicle to an external provider of information or service. Data pertaining to at least one of the location and the direction heading of the vehicle is communicated to the external provider from the vehicle via the conimunication link. This data is derived at least in part from a global positioning system that determines the geographic location and/or the direction heading of the vehicle. The external provider wirelessly provides information or service back to the vehicle via the communication link that is at least in part customized to the geographic location and/or direction heading of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mapping program includes an overlay grid of intersecting lines represented by two series of numbers. An origin is defined and an area of interest is defined. The origin corresponds to a location on a map. One series of numbers relates to longitude; while the other series of numbers relates to latitude. Each series of numbers are represented by two or more digits. Each digit represents up to 35 different numerals or letters. When two digits are used to represent a location, the combined number of lines for each series of number may comprise up to 1225 lines. Thus, the total number of lines represented by each series of number corresponds to a power of the base number of possibilities up to 35; the power being represented by the number of digits used in each series of numbers. These numbers are overlaid onto a map having points corresponding to actual longitudinal and latitudinal locations. A device for converting between the latitude and longitude is provided.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable media are disclosed for displaying images corresponding to a path. The method can include downloading a path and one or more images corresponding to positions along the path, wherein the downloaded images are actual images of an environment near the corresponding positions. Additionally, the method can include detecting a position of a mobile device, and providing the downloaded images as the mobile device moves to the corresponding detected positions along the path.