Abstract: A location information exchange apparatus includes an information acquisition unit 4 for acquiring point information indicating an exchange point whose location is to be exchanged from a map database 6 according to an instruction from outside the apparatus; an information conversion unit 3 for converting this point information into location information comprised of specific point information 3 indicating a specific point which exists in common among map databases and related information 9 indicating a relative location with respect to this specific point; and a communications unit 2 for transmitting point exchange information 29 including the location information to outside the apparatus.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus of the invention includes a display portion that displays a guidance screen and a removably installed recording medium, the navigation apparatus being provided in a vehicle and guiding the vehicle along a guidance path. When candidate site data created in an external apparatus has been stored on the storage medium, a screen for selectively setting the end point of the guidance path based on the candidate site data is displayed in the display portion, and when setting the end point, a guidance path that arrives at the end point is calculated. The candidate site data includes information related to one or a plurality of locations that have been designated in advance by a user of the navigation apparatus, and the end point is selected from the one or plurality of locations.

Abstract: The invention provides an on-vehicle navigation system, route guide method, and computer-readable recording medium capable of setting an optimum guide point corresponding to proposed actions set as destinations or way points, and performing route guidance based on the setting. The on-vehicle navigation system includes a function of searching for a guide route leading to a set destination or the like and displaying the searched guide route on a screen of a display to guide the vehicle.

Abstract: A navigation system and method for resolving discrepancies between a reported position and route data is presented. Based on a reported position, the navigation system identifies prospective road segments within a radius of the reported position. For each road segment, the navigation system generates a series of scores according to various attributes, including the current heading, current speed, proximity of reported location to the prospective road, and the like. Historical scores are also generated based on historical information, i.e., previous navigation device locations. Scores are normalized such that they can be compared, and optionally weighted according to particular implementation details. After scores have been generated for each prospective road, the prospective road, and its determined location, with the best score is selected as the resolved, actual location.

Abstract: A system and method splices into, or replaces routes identified based on road geometry with routes taken by the same user or other users to create alternate routes that may be selected by a user to display, for example, on a map or for which driving directions can be displayed. Communication of routes traveled by different devices may be received from a server or from another device. A naming convention for road segments and ordered paths of road segments is described.

Abstract: A navigation system (500) is provided with: a navigation apparatus (510); a server apparatus (520) and a route information transmittance apparatus (530), which are inter-communicable via a communication network (540). The route information transmittance apparatus is provided with: an input device (531) for inputting route search information indicating an instruction of a route search; and a transmittance device (532) for transmitting the route search information to the server apparatus. The server apparatus is provided with: a server side communication device (521) for receiving the route search information; an authentication device (522) for authenticating whether or not the route search information is available; and a search device (523) for performing the route search on the basis of the authenticated route search information. The server side communication device transmits search result information indicating a searched route to the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a navigation system provides navigation directions within particular locations within a facility, such as within a corporate campus, airport, resort, building, etc. The navigation system may respond to navigation requests for different types of facility target destinations such as a location, a person, a movable item, an event, or a condition. Different location resources can be accessed depending on the type of requested target destination. For example, an employee database may be used to locate an office within the facility associated with navigation request that contains an employee name. A natural voice communication scheme can be used to access to the navigation system through a larger variety of networks and communication devices.

Abstract: A system for determining a route and for warning a driver of a vehicle and corresponding methods are provided. The systems include storage units that store road segment passage restriction data and vehicle passage restriction data. The systems further include a working memory unit and a processing unit that determine a route to be displayed on an output unit or that provide a warning signal output, depending upon both the vehicle passage restriction data and the road segment passage restriction data.

Abstract: A navigation device mounted on an automotive vehicle includes geographical map data, a position detector such as a global navigation system and a device for calculating a driving route from a starting point or a present position to a destination. When the vehicle is going to cross a border such as a national border, the driving route is calculated to include a parking spot close to the border. A driver of the vehicle is guided to temporarily park at the parking spot to obtain local information including traffic regulations in a country he/she is going to enter. Since the local information is given to the driver while he is parking, the driver is able to concentrate on obtaining the local information in detail without sacrificing driving safety.

Abstract: There are provided a navigation system, a route search method and a storage medium which are easily capable of setting a destination even if a telephone number, which is not contained in a storage device, is entered. A route search processing unit, in the case where, for example, positions corresponding to telephone numbers that match the number expressing the area of the entered telephone number are four or more, selects four telephone numbers that are approximate to the entered telephone number, and sets the point of intersection, which is formed when the positions corresponding to the selected telephone numbers are connected diagonally by straight lines, as a destination. The route search processing unit searches for a route from the position of a user's car, which is calculated by a vehicle position measuring unit, to a point that is set as a destination.

Abstract: A method for electronically generating driving directions including: indicating a starting address; indicating an ending address; indicating one or more preferences for the directions to include less than all steps that would otherwise be generated if not for the one or more preferences; and generating driving directions based on the indicated starting address, ending address, and one or more preferences. Also provided is a method for electronically generating driving directions including: indicating a starting address; indicating an ending address; instructing the use of less than all steps that would otherwise be generated if not for the instruction; and generating driving directions based on the indicated starting address, ending address, and instruction. Also provided is a method for electronically generating driving directions by indicating addresses or locations on a map.

Abstract: A destination prediction device having a map information accumulation unit that accumulates map information including at least positions of a plurality of points on a map and routes between the plurality of points; a start position acquisition unit that acquires a start position of the mobile body; a current position acquisition unit that acquires a current position of the mobile body; a destination candidate position acquisition unit that acquires positions of a plurality of destination candidates that may potentially become destinations of the mobile body; a circuitousness calculation unit that calculates a circuitousness which is a deviation of a route from the start position to the position of the destination candidate and a destination prediction unit that predicts, as a destination, a destination candidate whose calculated circuitousness is the smallest among the destination candidates.

Abstract: Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs store path information for a path each time the path is traveled, the path being a segment of the guidance route from a branch point to a junction. The apparatuses, methods, and programs store detour route information for the detour route each time the detour route is traveled. The apparatuses, methods, and programs receive current traffic conditions from an external system and read out, when arriving at the branch point, path information having a same or similar stored traffic condition as a current path traffic condition and detour route information having a same or similar stored traffic condition as a current detour route traffic condition. The apparatuses, methods, and programs determine a difference between a required time for traveling along the path and a required time for traveling along the detour route and output guidance information based on the determined difference.

Abstract: Digital broadcasting content is viewed by a user, such as through a portable terminal having a broadcasting receiver configured to receive digital broadcasting content. An original travel path is obtained based on a travel destination. The portable terminal determines if a broadcasting blind zone exists relative to the original travel path. If the broadcasting blind zone or zones exist, the portable terminal provides navigation instructions for a modified travel path which avoids the broadcasting blind zones.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system is provided with a destination input section, a travel route information section, a historical data input section and an expected travel time reporting section. The travel destination input section is provided for entering a destination point. The travel route information section provides at least one potential travel route to the destination point. The historical data input section provides historical time information based on a plurality of actual motorist travel times to navigate various travel routes. The expected travel time reporting section reports to a user an expected travel times based on the historical time information for a potential travel route.

Abstract: An interactive route guide device capable of providing an appropriate amount of information with an appropriate timing in accordance with a user's desire. In the interactive route guide device, a storage device stores at least one table which defines a type of guide information to be provided for a route from a departure point to a destination point. An arithmetic processing unit generates the guide information according to the table in the storage device, and an output device outputs the generated guide information. The user uses an input device to input a guide request. The arithmetic processing unit manages at least a content of the inputted guide request and the number of times the guide request is inputted, and edits the table stored in the storage device in accordance with the content of the inputted guide request and the number of times the guide request is inputted.

Abstract: An on-vehicle information terminal comprises a route search unit that searches for a plurality of routes connecting a current position to a destination and a characteristics extraction unit that extracts characteristics of each route searched by the route search unit based upon geographic names. The on-vehicle information terminal displays the characteristics of individual routes extracted by the characteristics extraction unit at a display device.

Abstract: A control circuit memorizes identification information of a landmark and a visits count relative to a spot assigned the landmark, in a visits count storing unit. The control circuit updates the visits count stored in the visits count storing unit when the spot assigned the landmark is visited. When a certain landmark becomes included in a map display range on a display unit, the control circuit refers to the visits count storing unit to determine whether a visits count relative to the certain landmark is greater than a predetermined count. The certain landmark is highlighted on the map when the visits count is determined to be greater than the predetermined count.

Abstract: A navigation system (500) is provided with: a navigation apparatus (510); a server apparatus (520) and a route information transmittance apparatus (530), which are inter-communicable via a communication network (540). The route information transmittance apparatus is provided with: an input device (531) for inputting route search information indicating an instruction of a route search; and a transmittance device (532) for transmitting the route search information to the server apparatus. The server apparatus is provided with: a server side communication device (521) for receiving the route search information; an authentication device (522) for authenticating whether or not the route search information is available; and a search device (523) for performing the route search on the basis of the authenticated route search information. The server side communication device transmits search result information indicating a searched route to the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: A method for reminding of entering a target route is disclosed. First, the method provides a Point of Interest (POI) at a conjunction of the present route and the target route and sets the POI as a basic voice reminding point. Next, the method determines whether the actual distance between the present position and the basic voice reminding point is less than or equal to the voice reminding distance. Then, when the actual distance between the present position and the basic voice reminding point is less than or equal to the voice reminding distance, a voice reminding message is sent out as the reminding of entering the target route correctly.

Abstract: A method for navigating in a vehicle includes the steps of identifying navigation information for at least one destination. The navigation information is stored in at least a first memory remote from the vehicle. The navigation information is transferred from the first memory to a navigation device in the vehicle. The vehicle can then be navigated to the destination using the navigation device and the navigation information.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus and method that store route information, the stored route information including, for each of a plurality of routes starting at a first point and ending at a second point, a required travel time and a traffic condition. The apparatus and method determine whether a guidance route includes the first point and the second point of a stored route. The apparatus and method read out, if a guidance route includes the first point and the second point of a stored route, the stored route information for the stored route that shares the first point and the second point with the guidance route. The read out stored route information having a same or similar traffic condition as a current traffic condition. The apparatus and method output the required time to travel the stored route from the read route information.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a memory that stores registered routes, wherein each registered route includes a previously traveled route, a corresponding starting point, and a corresponding destination point. The navigation apparatus includes a controller that searches for a route from a specified starting point to a specified destination point, compares the searched route with the registered routes, and utilizes, if a corresponding starting point is substantially identical to the specified starting point or a corresponding destination point is substantially identical to the specified destination point, a portion of a registered route including the substantially identical starting point or the substantially identical destination point as a navigation route.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing travel information, including a database for storing information regarding a travel area, wherein the information includes at least one of road information, street information, intersection information, and traffic control device information, a processor for processing a request for information regarding an optimal travel route from a present location of a vehicle to a destination, wherein the processor processes the request by utilizing the information stored in the database, and further wherein the processor identifies at least two possible travel routes to the destination, and further wherein the processor identifies an optimal travel route to the destination, wherein the processor generates a message containing travel directions or instructions corresponding to the optimal travel route, and an output device for outputting the information contained in the message.

Abstract: A method and system are described to adapt instructions for performing a task by a user, which includes receiving generalized instructions for the task, selecting a content of the generalized instructions based on user-specific knowledge regarding the task, constructing utterances using the selected content, and conveying the utterances to the user.

Abstract: A navigation device decreasing the frequency at which a user data stored in a data storage section, the navigation device includes a route receiving section for receiving route data, a data selecting section for selecting candidate location data indicating at least one location which exists on the route represented by the route data or in a vicinity of the route, and a location-change designating section for designating a location of change at which a guiding method is to be changed. Further, the navigation device includes a determination section for determining whether a user has arrived at the location of change, and a navigation guidance section for guiding the user to the destination with a relatively detailed method when the determination section determines that the user has arrived at the location of change.

Abstract: A method is provided for improved navigation guidance in a portable navigation device (104) having a first navigation operating mode (302) for requesting (318, 324) and receiving (326, 334) routelet data and navigation route data and operating in accordance with the routelet data (332) and a second operation navigation mode (304) for operating in accordance with the navigation route data (338). The method includes in the first navigation operating mode (302), the steps of transmitting a routelet request (318) comprising location data, speed data and direction data, the location, speed and direction data determined (312, 314 316) in response to a present location, a present speed and a present direction of travel, respectively, of the portable navigation device (104), receiving routelet data (326) and operating in accordance with the received routelet data (332).

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 system and method are disclosed for displaying map information on a portable computing device. When approaching a location at which maneuvering guidance is to be provided by the portable computing device, the portable computing device presents alternating images on a display screen. The alternating images include an overhead view map image and either a perspective view map image or a stylized image. The stylized image can be either a 2D image or a 3D image.

Abstract: A control system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a GPS system (16) that generates a vehicle position for a vehicle relative to a surface, a plurality of driver inputs (40), and a plurality of vehicle inputs (50). A controller (14) is coupled to the GPS system (16), the driver inputs (40) and the vehicle inputs (50). The controller determines a predicted path in response to the plurality of driver inputs and the vehicle inputs and a desired path in response to the GPS system (16). The controller performs a comparison of the predicted path and the desired path and generates a control signal in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A method of providing courtesy notifications from a mobile vehicle including receiving courtesy notification user input at a vehicle telematics unit, receiving a time and a date at the telematics unit, determining whether the courtesy date and the courtesy time correspond respectively to the received date and the received time and initiating a call to the courtesy number based on the determination. The courtesy notification user input includes a courtesy date, a courtesy time, a courtesy location and a courtesy number.

Abstract: The invention provides an on-vehicle navigation system, route guide method, and computer-readable recording medium capable of setting an optimum guide point corresponding to proposed actions set as destinations or way points, and performing route guidance based on the setting. The on-vehicle navigation system includes a function of searching for a guide route leading to a set destination or the like and displaying the searched guide route on a screen of a display to guide the vehicle.

Abstract: A return route search device includes a starting point/destination point setting section which accepts the setting of a starting point on a circuit from which a return current starts accompanied by a signal transmission on the circuit, and a setting of a destination point on the circuit to which the current flows. The return route search device further includes an easiness setting section which accepts a setting of easiness of conduction of the return current through each of portions on the circuit, and a return route search section which searches for a route when the return current flows from the starting point to the destination point on the basis of the easiness of conduction on the circuit.

Abstract: A navigation method and apparatus finds a location and a route to a plurality of destinations with the minimum number of stops or the shortest overall distance. The navigation method includes the steps of: specifying a plurality of destinations in a navigation system; searching a one-stop location where two or more specified destinations exist or searching a location of each destination; displaying results of search for prompting a user to decide whether recommended locations of the destinations in the search result is acceptable; repeating the above steps of searching locations and displaying the search results until the user accepts recommended locations of the destinations; and guiding the user to the destinations accepted by the user.

Abstract: When a vehicle performs route calculation at a current position, the number of lanes at the current position is found. A predetermined correspondence between the numbers of lanes and straight prioritized distances is used to find a straight prioritized distance at the current position corresponding to the number of lanes. A route to a destination from the current position is calculated so as to include, in the route, a road to be followed for the straight prioritized distance from the current position. When there are many lanes, the straight prioritized distance is set to be long. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid calculating a route that causes a guide to sudden right or left turn. When there are a few lanes, the straight prioritized distance is set to be short. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid calculating a roundabout route to the destination.

Abstract: A navigation device in that on each of fixed information having a long update period and update information having a short update period which compose the user service information stored in a navigation device whether or not the user service information is newest, is determined, and the newest information corresponding to at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are determined to be not newest by the determination is acquired from an information supply server, thus, in almost all cases, only the update information is acquired from the information supply server, so it acquires the desired user service information in a short time, and therefore, low communication expenses.

Abstract: A navigation system includes an image search unit for searching across an image database by using image data transmitted from an image data input unit, as a search key, a search-result output unit for displaying at least one piece of image data extracted by the search on a display, and a destination determination unit for reading point information corresponding to image data selected by a user from the display and determining the read point information to be a destination. Where information about the location, name, telephone number, zip code, address, and so forth, of a point which the user wants to determine to be the destination is not provided, the point can be searched by using image data including an image of the building or scenery of the point.

Abstract: An information display system for displaying a map that covers an area around a pre-registered point relevant to a date or a date and time. The position of the pre-registered point on the map is readily and accurately identified using the operator's selection of the date or the date and time. The information display system, include a map information storage in which map information is stored; an input device to input a designated point relevant to a date or a date and time; a schedule information storage unit in which the designated point is stored relevant to a date or a date and time; a display device on which a calendar and a map are displayed; and a display control device by which a map covering a point relevant to a date, or a date and time, either of which being selected from the calendar, is displayed on the display device.

Abstract: The Navigation Apparatus transmits to a server apparatus a current position, a destination, and an area of a geographical information stored in a geographic information memory part. The server apparatus receives them to calculate one or more potential routes from the current position to the destination; sets a potential passing-by point for each potential route in the area of the geographic information stored in the Navigation Apparatus; and transmits those potential passing-by points to the Navigation Apparatus. The Navigation Apparatus receives them to calculate traveling routes from the current position to the potential passing-by points and selects one of the potential passing-by points, thereby deciding the passing-by point as a temporary destination within the area of the geographic information stored in the Navigation Apparatus. In this way, the route navigation can be realized without increasing the memory capacity of the geographic information memory part of the Navigation Apparatus.

Abstract: A preferred route may be determined from an origin location to a destination location. The preferred route avoids a particular maneuver or particular maneuvers identified by a user. The determination is made by processing directed links (e.g., one-way edges) in a graph that includes one or more links and two or more nodes. The determination of a preferred route may include an estimate of the time required at one or more intersections along alternative routes and/or an estimate of the time required to travel the alternative routes based on the day of the week or the day of the year in which travel occurs. Individual routing preferences, such as a preference of a rural over an urban route and avoiding particular maneuvers in a route, also may be considered.

Abstract: A vehicular navigation device includes a control circuit to designate a route to a destination from a start point to be defined. When a route designation instruction is inputted, it is determined whether an intersection being a target for route designation is present close to the current position. When the intersection being the target is present, it is determined whether a lane the vehicle is traveling is a traffic directed lane that includes a traffic direction. When the traveled lane is determined to be the traffic directed lane, a start point is defined as an exit of the intersection reached by following the traffic direction. When the traveled lane is determined to be not the traffic directed lane or when the intersection for the target is determined to be not present, the start point is defined as the current position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to compute a fastest route is described. The method uses the speed of a plurality of informer vehicles as data collection agents to summarize traffic conditions. A central processing point collects the data. Navigation systems in receiving vehicles use the summarized traffic conditions data to generate faster routes from a current location to a destination.

Abstract: For the purpose of making available route data for a navigational device, an overall route is divided up into route segments which each include a part of the overall route. A first route segment is transmitted to the navigational device, upon its request, which around the starting point includes a starting field including a plurality of possible routes, as well as a main route to an intermediate destination. Before the intermediate destination is reached, a further route segment is transmitted to the navigational device, which includes a plurality of possible routes around the intermediate destination as its starting field, as well as a main route to an additional intermediate destination or to the destination itself. The latter step is repeated for route segments for further intermediate destinations until the destination is reached.

Abstract: A route calculation method allowing an optimized route to be drawn up by means of a calculator between a point ? and a point ?, consisting in using digitized data from at least a first and a second source, and consisting of (i) determining a plurality of alpha nodes (N?), referenced in both the first and the second sources, and determining a first optimization value for each of the nodes; (ii) determining a plurality of beta nodes (N?), referenced in both the third and the second sources, and determining a first optimization value for each of the nodes; (iii) determining, for all the pairs of nodes N? and N?, a second optimization value for each of the pairs of nodes (N?, N?); (iv) determining, for the set of alpha-beta route, the optimum nodes between the points alpha and beta. The invention also relates to a device allowing implementation of the present method.

Abstract: A data transmitting and receiving method between a mobile terminal and an information center in a navigation system is disclosed. The present invention is characterized in that if lower items of a destination are not received from the information center in the middle of receiving destination setting items to set the destination after the mobile terminal transmits a destination setting request message to the information center, the mobile terminal sends a reconnection request message and stored destination setting data.

Abstract: A method for providing directions includes receiving at a server, from at least one fixed wireless communication device, information identifying a current location of a portable communication device. The portable communication device has short range wireless communication capability. The at least one fixed wireless communication device is located within a building. The method further includes identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination within the building. The method also includes transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device from the server via a fixed wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method for communicating navigation information includes receiving destination information from a user. The destination information comprises a desired destination of the user. The method includes determining a first route to the destination and communicating the first route to the user. The method includes monitoring position information of a plurality of vehicles and identifying an area causing traffic delay using the position information of the plurality of vehicles. The method also includes determining a second route to the destination to avoid the area and communicating the second route to the user.

Abstract: A database receives location information about a moving object. Using the destination of the object and an electronic map, the database finds a projected path for the moving object. From the projected path, the database computes a trajectory. The trajectory may be used to estimate past and future positions of the moving object. The moving object may send location updates to the database when its actual location differs from its anticipated location by more than an uncertainty threshold.

Abstract: A method of route calculation in an vehicle navigation device is described, whereby a route from a starting location or a current location to a destination location is calculated, so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the route to an alternate destination location which has facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated instead of the original destination location. In addition, a method of navigation of a driver of a vehicle from a starting location to at least one destination location is also described, a trip route from the starting location or a current location to the at least one destination location being determined, and driving instructions being generated as a function of a current location so that in the case of a deficiency in the vehicle or a deficiency impairing the driver of the vehicle, the trip route to an alternate destination location which has the facilities for eliminating the deficiency is calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing travel information, including a database for storing information regarding a travel area, wherein the information includes at least one of road information, street information, intersection information, and traffic control device information, a processor for processing a request for information regarding an optimal travel route from a present location of a vehicle to a destination, wherein the processor processes the request by utilizing the information stored in the database, and further wherein the processor identifies at least two possible travel routes to the destination, and further wherein the processor identifies an optimal travel route to the destination, wherein the processor generates a message containing travel directions or instructions corresponding to the optimal travel route, and an output device for outputting the information contained in the message.