Abstract: A navigation system is able to find an optimum route to a destination even when a large non-digitized area exists between a starting point to the destination. The navigation system produces processing points based on a particular shape and size of the large non-digitized area and determines whether such processing points should be used for route search operations. When it is determined that the route search operation is effective, the navigation system performs A* algorithm search operations with respect to the start point, processing points and the destination and detects an optimum route to detour the large non-digitized area.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing geographic information. The system includes a mobile unit having a first geographic database and a base unit having a second geographic database that is more up-to-date than the first geographic database. The base unit receives a request from a mobile unit for updated geographic data. The base unit identifies a portion of the second geographic database that corresponds to the request and provides a response to the mobile unit comprising the identified portion of the second geographic database.

Abstract: Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs set a first reference point on a driving route, set a second reference point on the driving route, the second reference point being prior to the first reference point along the driving route, and set a third reference point on the driving route, the third reference point being after the first reference point along the driving route. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a triangular area having vertices corresponding to the first reference point, the second reference point, and the third reference point and obtain three-dimensional map data around the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a predetermined translucent ratio for a structure included in the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs generate a moving three-dimensional image which displays the driving route overlapped with the structure set with the predetermined translucent ratio and display the generated three-dimensional motion-image.

Abstract: Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide visually-oriented information to the user, such as driving directions that include visual data points along the way of the driving route, thereby improving the user experience. The user may preview the route associated with the driving directions, where the preview is based on, for example, at least one of satellite images, storefront images, and heuristics and/or business listings. The visually-oriented information can be presented to the user in a textual, graphical, or verbal format, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of generating user-specified information. The method includes receiving a plurality of points selected on a map to form a first continuous line having one or more vertices. The method also includes generating a closed polygon having a plurality of edges, where at least one edge forms a second continuous line substantially parallel to and spaced apart at a distance from the first continuous line. The method also includes determining a plurality of coordinate pairs each associated with a point on the plurality of edges of the closed polygon and retrieving user specified information for an area enclosed by the plurality of coordinate pairs.

Abstract: A land use compatibility software module uses an existing suite of airport management programs to generate exception reports for FAA Part 77 land use compatibly surveys. Land use compatibility management is a manually intensive and time-consuming process. The noise officer may have to compute whether a proposed structure violates FAA's obstruction clearance criteria as set out in FAA's standard for obstacle clearance zones (Part 77). With these three-dimensional zone shapes entered into AirScene™, the user may enter lat/long and height data for potential obstructions, such as cellular telephone towers as mentioned in the above example. The system will plot the potential obstructions on the map and will determine whether or not the height and proposed position of the tower violates the FAA's obstruction criteria for that runway. The system may be used to generate “exception reports” for proposed structures.

Abstract: A point-of-interest display system includes an updateable database which interfaces with a microprocessor which receives data from a GPS receiver providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display provides the operator textural and elemental graphic display information, and easily accessible control switches allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interest, and points of interest and display directions to a selected entry.

Abstract: A point-of-interest display system includes an updateable database which interfaces with a microprocessor which receives data from a GPS receiver providing the system with current vehicle location and direction of travel information. A display provides the operator textural and elemental graphic display information, and easily accessible control switches allow the operator to select upcoming highway exits, categories of points of interest, and points of interest and display directions to a selected entry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted apparatus whereby a user can easily select and use a Web site in accordance with a point associated with information provided by the Web site and a description of the information. According to the present invention, a precache control unit automatically downloads at least one Web page of a Web site associated with each point matching a predetermined condition to a page cache memory and displays site icons at respective points corresponding to the downloaded Web sites on a map image. In addition, the precache control unit displays the predetermined type of extracted information by analyzing the description of the Web page of each Web site in an information window that pops up from the corresponding site icon. When the user selects one of the site icons, a Web browser displays the Web page of the Web site corresponding to the selected site icon.

Abstract: An operation control map of a white line detection apparatus, including a white line detection portion that detects a white line on a road based on a captured image of the road surface, that references the operation control map to determine whether to allow operation of the white line detection portion. The operation control map includes a region in which operation of the white line detection is allowed, and a region in which operation is not allowed, based on the gain of a road surface image signal and the temperature of a road surface imaging portion. The allowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection, due to the thermal noise generated in the solid-state imaging sensor, falls within an acceptable range, and the disallowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection falls outside of the acceptable range.

Abstract: A mechanism of rating, ranking and/or filtering landmarks located in a predefined geographic area is provided. More particularly, the subject mechanisms can facilitate rating landmarks and related criteria (e.g., points of interest (POI)) associated therewith. Thus, the mechanisms can facilitate intelligent rendering of landmark choices to users. The subject innovation facilitates rating the landmarks by analyzing items and entities in proximity to each landmark. A popularity index rating represents a sum of the number of POIs, number of commonly named entities and number of access routes to the landmark. Accordingly, this popularity index rating can allow users to rank, filter and sort landmarks in the order of popularity or interest thus maximizing available sightseeing time.

Abstract: Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide visually-oriented information to the user, such as driving directions that include visual data points along the way of the driving route, thereby improving the user experience. The user may preview the route associated with the driving directions, where the preview is based on, for example, at least one of satellite images, storefront images, and heuristics and/or business listings.

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: A navigation device, method, and program provides output information on service facilities that exist on a road such as an expressway. A display provides a map in a general road display mode that includes facilities such as general roads, family restaurants, and convenience stores, and also can display a highway mode. The highway mode can be a predetermined expressway display mode which displays expressways and facilities on the expressways, and combines a single map focusing mainly on expressways so that the expressways can be easily recognized along with vehicle moving images. A searching and outputting portion searches for a predetermined number of facility information items of a desired type of element facility from the road map data in accordance with a provided predetermined operation, and outputs the information items when the present location is in the expressway display mode, and an element facility exists ahead on the expressway.

Abstract: A routing guide system has memory means provided outside a mobile body for storing data of images at a plurality of guide points. The routing guide system also has distance measuring means for measuring the distance from the current position of the mobile body to the next guide point. The routing guide system also has image request generation means for generating an image request for the next guide point when the distance measured by the distance measuring means is not more than a first predetermined distance. The routing guide system also has transmission means provided outside the mobile body for reading from the memory means an image of the next guide point in response to the image request and for transmitting that image to the mobile body. The routing guide system also has display control means for causing the mobile body to receive the image transmitted from the transmission means and causing a display device to display the image.

Abstract: A substantially transparent windscreen head up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen. A method to display a graphic identifying a point-of-interest upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle includes monitoring the point-of-interest, monitoring a GPS digital map device, determining a graphic describing the location of the point-of-interest based upon data from the GPS digital map device for display upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display, and displaying the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display.

Abstract: A method is proposed for entering place names into a device for processing the place names, in particular into a navigation device in a vehicle, where in the case that a match of a place name is ambiguous, a graphical representation for distinguishing the respective places of the same name is displayed for selection of the particular place.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for displaying a map that includes building symbols representing buildings. The navigation apparatus includes a map-drawing unit that draws the map of an area from map data on shapes and positions of the building symbols at a selected map scale and a displaying unit that displays the drawn map. In the navigation apparatus in a nighttime-map displaying mode, the map-drawing unit draws the entirety of each building symbol in a bright color to generate the map when the map scale exceeds a predetermined threshold and draws part of the building symbol in a bright color to generate the map when the map scale does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for recommending locations keyed to a map database system and providing navigation instructions to the recommended locations to a driver of a vehicle by gathering actual statistics about the preferences of the user and/or by comparing the user to population data to create recommendations in accord with the preferences of the population.

Abstract: A method for displaying map information for a navigation system provides map information which includes areas representing a top view of a map detail, and lines representing a grid of traffic routes. The display of the area information includes additional background information, i.e., the display of the areas in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional view is at least partially generated on the basis of aerial and/or satellite photographs.

Abstract: Provided is a method of using a rotational movement amount of a mobile device including obtaining images at two different points on a path along which the mobile device moves, searching for matching points with respect to the obtained images and obtaining an image coordinate value of each of the matching points, sensing linear movement of the mobile device and obtaining a linear movement amount using a result of sensing, and obtaining the rotational movement amount using the image coordinate values and the linear movement amount.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for providing location-based entertainment. In one embodiment, a device capable of providing location-based entertainment comprises a navigational interface module configured to receive navigational data, an entertainment selection module configured to utilize the navigational data to generate location-based entertainment content for a user, and a presentation module configured to present the location-based content to the user. The system may also include a position finding module and a routing module.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for the output of an information message in a vehicle, whereby an information message is stored, the current location of the vehicle is determined, a driver of the vehicle triggers an assignment of a stored information message to a location, and the information message assigned to a location is automatically emitted when the vehicle is situated at this location.

Abstract: A method for dividing a field into zones with similar crop attributes and developing a mission plan for steering the harvester to selectively harvest crops based on one or more of the attributes. The attributes include protein level, starch level, oil level, sugar content, moisture level, digestible nutrient level, or any other crop characteristic of interest. The method can be applied to selectively harvest and/or segregate according to attribute any crop, including grains such as wheat, corn, or beans, fruits such as grapes, and forage crops. Directed crop sampling provides absolute value and variance information for segregated batches of harvested crop.

Abstract: Situational location dependent information is transmitted from a server data processing system to a receiving data processing system. The server data processing system communicates with the receiving data processing system in a manner by pushing content when appropriate. A candidate delivery event associated with a current positional attribute of the receiving data processing system is recognized and a situational location of the remote data processing system is determined. The candidate delivery event may be a location and/or direction change, device state change, or movement exceeding a movement tolerance. The situational location of the remote data processing system may be its location, direction, location and direction, proximity to a location, state change, or location and/or direction relative to a previous location and/or direction, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: In a navigation system, a current position is designated as a center of a start-point area. A category of a spot, e.g., a point of interest, is designated. Feature information of a spot within the start-point area then appears on a display device as initially provided information to a user with respect to the spot. This feature information allows the user to easily perceive the feature of the spot. The user only needs operation up to designating the category and can easily determine whether the spot is an intended one by perceiving its feature.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting boundary crossings may involve the use of rectangles that approximate a boundary. Data defining the rectangles may be retrieved, and a current location of a monitored device may be identified. The current location may be compared with the rectangles, and a determination that the current location is located within a rectangle may indicate a boundary crossing. To simplify the calculations on the monitored device, certain calculations may be performed in advance. For example, an angle between a selected side of a particular rectangle and an axis of the coordinate system may be determined, and the particular rectangle may be rotated by the angle to orient the rotated rectangle parallel to the axis of the coordinate system. Subsequently, location coordinates for a monitored device may be rotated and compared with a corresponding rotated rectangle to determine whether the monitored device is located within the particular rectangle.

Abstract: A tracking method and system. The method comprises receiving by a tracking apparatus, data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments. The tracking apparatus is moved within a specified proximity of a first location. The tracking apparatus senses the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves a first informational data segment associated with the first location based on a first tracking data segment. The tracking apparatus requests an updated informational data segment associated with the first informational data segment, the first tracking data segment, and the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves the updated informational data segment. The tracking apparatus broadcasts a specified portion of the updated informational data segment. The specified portion is dependent on a specified condition of the tracking apparatus.

Abstract: A routing guide system includes route calculating means for calculating the route of a vehicle to a destination, image providing means for reading from storage means scenery images on the route calculated by the route calculating means, and display means for displaying the scenery images on the calculated route generated by the image providing means. The routing guide system also includes route confirming means for confirming as a set route the route calculated by the route calculating means, according to an operation, during or after display of the scenery images on the calculated route by means of the display means.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing drive test data in conjunction with geographical data such as population distribution, geographical data as to wireless device usage, location of high-value customers, or other geographical data. The results of the analysis are reported to a human operator, such as a manager overseeing the drive test routes in a particular region. The results enable the operator to revise drive test routes, or select new routes, that provide improved measurement data for the wireless network.

Abstract: A method for displaying waypoint information on the screen of a vehicle navigation system. The method includes the steps of displaying a route on the screen and inputting criteria which identify desired waypoints along the route as well as the desired time to reach the waypoint. The location of the desired waypoint along the route as a function of the desired time to reach the waypoint in traffic conditions is determined and that waypoint information is displayed on the screen. The method optionally utilizes two-way communication between the navigation system and waypoint content providers.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus and a driving direction guiding method are capable of clearly indicating a correct direction in which a vehicle should be driven at an exit when the vehicle exits a parking area through the exit. When a position measurement unit detects that the vehicle has entered a parking area based on measured position information, a CPU clearly indicates, on a display, a correct direction in which the vehicle should be driven at an exit of the parking area so that a user can know in advance the correct direction in which to drive his/her vehicle after passing through the exit of the parking area.

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: A system is described that utilizes an imager in a wireless device in a wireless network and tags a digital image with positioning data.

Abstract: A development environment makes it easier to develop and use location aware software applications. Combining the currently separate and complex tasks of location information gathering, analysis, and display and making them integrated such that non-experts can build location services into their applications increases a developer's capability to write rich location-aware software applications. A higher level programming model allows a programmer to use location information as a logical entity rather than just raw location data, such as latitude and longitude. A location data store and map data store may be accessed by different location aware applications on the device. Instead of each location application relying on its own data store, applications may share their location related information.

Abstract: In a facility-guidance apparatus realized in a computer by execution of a program for guiding a visitor to an exhibition place in a facility, character information indicating characters of articles exhibited at each of exhibition places is stored in advance in correspondence with place information indicating each exhibition place, for each of a target facility and a substitute facility. In response to an external input, place information for the substitute facility is designated. Then, the character information corresponding to the designated place information for the substitute facility is referred to, a degree of similarity between the character information referred to for the substitute facility and the character information for each exhibition place in the target facility is determined, and information indicating one or more candidates for the exhibition place in the target facility is outputted in the order of the degree of similarity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for providing voice-based supplementary information service using road map data. The voice-based supplementary information service system includes a content registration server for receiving content for the voice-based supplementary information service, and converting the content into supplementary information data having voice data format. At least one GPS satellite detects a location of the mobile communication terminal and transmits GPS radio waves, including the location information. A mobile communication terminal receives the location information and requests the road guidance service and the supplementary information service. A relay server relays requests for the road guidance service and the supplementary information service. A road search server generates road map data and transmits the road map data to the relay server. A user management server determines whether the request for the supplementary information service exists in the road map data.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map data storage for storing a map data, a picture frame image storage for storing one or more images, a mode-based setting storage for storing mode-based settings required in operating the navigation apparatus in a drive guide mode, a picture frame mode or a combination mode, and a control unit for, based on the mode-based settings, providing a drive guide information using the map data in the drive guide mode, providing drive guide information by use of the map data in the drive guide mode, providing a picture frame image by using the images in the picture frame mode and providing the picture frame image and the drive guide information in the combination mode, the drive guide information being displayed over the picture frame image.

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

Abstract: A system and method for identifying, from a set of geographical areas, a set of target areas that overlap a map view or view port of a map. Target areas are defined as circles having centers and radii, as sets of geographic cells overlaying the areas, or as other polygons of geographic data. Within a view port served or to be served to a user, multiple points are defined and substantially equally spaced within the view port, such that any target area that may significantly overlap the view port (e.g., at least a threshold percentage of the view port) is likely to overlap a minimum number of the points (e.g., one). Some or all target areas are then tested for intersection with some or all of the points, and calculations may be made to determine how much the intersecting areas actually overlap the view port.

Abstract: A navigation system in a subject vehicle includes a display unit for displaying a map, a position detection function for detecting a current position and a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, a storage function for storing map data and facility data for displaying a facility icon on the map, a road recognition function for recognizing a road and a lane of the road where the subject vehicle is traveling, a facility selection function for searching a facility in the facility data and a facility icon control means for controlling the facility icon according to a facility type in the facility data. The facility icon on the map is selectively displayed on the map according to the traveling direction of the subject vehicle based on information calculated by above functions.

Abstract: In a navigation device, a destination waypoint is set by a user through an input section (13), and, when guidance to the destination waypoint is started, a control section (11) stores positional information on the destination waypoint into a destination waypoint history table (21) of a storage section (12) at predetermined timing, the destination waypoint history table (21) storing positional information on destination waypoints. Stored information is displayed on a display section (14) when the user sets a destination waypoint. The user can select a destination waypoint based on the displayed information and set the destination waypoint. After the destination waypoint is set, only the destination waypoint satisfying predetermined conditions is stored.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler.

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: An off-board navigation system includes a remote unit and a supply location. In operation, a navigation system user requests a desired route to a destination. Capability information relating to the user's CPU and storage device capacities are also preferably provided to the supply location. Using the extensive database available at the supply location, the supply location calculates a recommended route to the desired destination in relation to the desired POIs. If the estimated size of the requested route meets the capabilities of the remote unit the supply location creates a filter using the requested parameters and applied to the extensive database at the supply location. In one embodiment, the filtered map area includes a width vector W defined substantially perpendicular to the recommended route R. In another embodiment, the filtered map area is defined in relation to a plurality of nodes N along the recommended route R. A perimeter P is defined around each node N along the recommended route R.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for aurally indicating progress. In one embodiment, a node count module determines a node threshold. A discovery module searches for a plurality of nodes over a communications channel wherein each node is autonomously connected to the communications channel. In addition, the discovery module receives a reply from a node. The node count module may direct an indicator module to modify an aural indicator in response to the node count exceeding the node threshold. The indicator module further emits the aural indicator.

Abstract: A vehicle trip logger is disclosed for recording vehicle location and at least one field as a trip category during travel. The trip logger provides data for a report of miles traveled in categories that may be useful for tax, vehicle maintenance or other reporting. For each trip the user selects a menu item displayed on the trip logger as a trip category. The trip logger may provide fields such as account numbers or trip reasons as additional category fields used in reporting vehicle travel. The trip logger may be configured by the user to customize displays and reports shown by the logger. Vehicle location records and trip records with trip fields are saved to internal memory. A trip record is indexed to a group of location records.

Abstract: A traffic information distribution system includes a distribution device for synthesizing pieces of traffic information supplied from a traffic information center, an output device for outputting pieces of traffic information distributed from the distribution device, and a data communicator that is connected to the output device and that can communicate with the distribution device in a bidirectional manner. The distribution device responds to a request signal transmitted from the output device via the data communicator, effectively synthesizes the pieces of traffic information in consideration not only of a request made by a user, recognizability at the time of output, a state of a map on a display screen and a range of the map, but also of various factors in which actual road conditions are reflected. The pieces of the traffic information that have been synthesized are distributed via the data communicator to the output device.