Abstract: A robotic surface treatment apparatus treats corners of rooms more effectively through intricate guidance of the apparatus through inside and outside corners. In one aspect, contact and/or non-contact sensors provide information to one or more on-board processors on the apparatus to enable selective overriding of obstacle avoidance program code and allow the apparatus to get closer to walls to facilitate treatment. In another aspect, the sensors provide information to the on-board processors to control backup motion of the apparatus to cover previously-missed areas when turning corners. In yet another aspect, the apparatus is shaped to have its treatment mechanism positioned more closely to the front of the apparatus to enable treatment more closely to walls near corners. In one embodiment, the robotic surface treatment apparatus is a robotic vacuum. The vacuum may have its cleaning brush positioned near a flat front portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically assisting the route planning between a starting point and a destination. At least one respective traffic route is ascertained between the starting point and the destination for different means of transport by a traffic route ascertainment unit. The at least one means of transport is associated with the respective traffic route. Emission information is ascertained by an emission ascertainment unit for each traffic route on the basis of the means of transport which are associated therewith and on the basis of the traffic route length of the respective traffic route. The route planning is assisted between starting point and destination on the basis of the emission information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of determining a heading of travel of a navigation device, comprising determining a reference heading for a roadway system and determining a current heading of navigation device travel, wherein the current heading is determined as an integer multiple of a predetermined lock angle in combination with the reference heading.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a path using a limited memory size are provided. An approximate path is generated based on a reduced grid map generated by reducing an original grid map. Then, an approximate path is mapped onto the original grid map, and the mapped path is enlarged and divided into a plurality of sections based on an available memory size used for path calculation. Based on a start point and a destination point set in each of the divided sections, a detailed path in each of the sections is generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of updating an ATC flight plan of an aircraft in real time to take account of the flight directives. A reference flight plan is designated. In tandem with the receipt of the flight directive messages originating from the ground, then verifying validity of the flight directive messages, if the message is validated in the affirmative, the messages are applied successively to the reference flight plan and stored. Managing, in real time, the complete list of these flight directives and the ATC flight plan.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing instructions to a destination that is revealed upon arrival may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of context associated with a user, determine a destination for the user based on the context and user information, provide for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination, and reveal the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

Abstract: In a method for identifying a location of an incident, a computer receives data from a plurality of navigation devices. The computer determines a portion of a determined route between a first point and a second point of at least one navigation device of the plurality of navigation devices, wherein the at least one navigation devices deviated from the determined route. The computer determines that two or more portions contain a sub-portion. The computer identifies a location of an incident, wherein the location is a location of the sub-portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid drive of a vehicle, the hybrid drive having an electric drive and a fuel drive. A database which has assignments between route information and first and second route criteria is provided. The route information represents routes which may be traveled by the vehicle. The first route criterion represents a preferred use of the electric drive on the particular assigned route, and the second route criterion represents a preferred use of the fuel drive on the particular assigned route. Current route information which represents a route traveled by the vehicle is received, and a current route criterion assigned to the current route information is provided from the database, and control information is also provided for using the electric drive if the current route criterion is the first route criterion or for using the fuel drive if the current route criterion is the second route criterion.

Abstract: A low-cost display unit that displays wayfinding information to a traveler in a public travel-related area is disclosed and may include a communication interface that facilitates receiving of travel-related information, a machine-readable marking reader that determines the presence of a travel document having one or more machine readable markings, scans the one or more machine-readable markings, and decodes the scanned one or more machine-readable markings, wherein the one or more machine-readable markings contain encoded traveled-related information pertaining to the traveler; and a display control unit that receives the decoded one or more machine-readable marking, determines the traveler's destination in the public travel-related area from the decoded one or more machine-readable markings, determines the path that the traveler should travel to reach the destination, and displays the determined path to the traveler on the low-cost display unit.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for determining the parking difficulty of segments of a geographic area. A system may include portable computers and vehicle navigation systems traversing segments of a geographic area. Location tracks may be received corresponding to the paths of the vehicles. The location tracks may be evaluated to determine if they are from a vehicle searching for parking. Some segments of the searching-for-parking location tracks may be included in a circle event, and the number circle events that include a segment may indicate the difficulty of parking in that segment. The parking difficulty may be expressed as a parking difficulty index and may be transmitted to a computer for view on an interactive map or for use in determining directions to a destination.

Abstract: A method and a device for providing an electronic appointment scheduler for a vehicle. Appointments are acquired that have associated time data and geographical positions; the residual amount of energy available for driving the vehicle is acquired and data relating to a geographical road network, including the geographical positions of energy-supply devices suitable for said vehicle, are acquired. Taking into account the time data and geographical positions associated with the appointments, the available residual energy amount, and the energy consumption of the vehicle on a potential travel route, a route plan and an energy fill-up plan are produced, with supplemental periods of time being calculated that are associated with the appointments and derived on the basis of the route plan and energy fill-up plan. An appointment schedule is then produced and issued which comprises these appointments as well as the supplemental time periods that are associated with these appointments.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel prediction engine that (1) can formulate predictions about current or future destinations and/or routes to such destinations for a user, and (2) can relay information to the user about these predictions. In some embodiments, this engine includes a machine-learning engine that facilitates the formulation of predicted future destinations and/or future routes to destinations based on stored, user-specific data. The user-specific data is different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the stored, user-specific data includes data about any combination of the following: (1) previous destinations traveled to by the user, (2) previous routes taken by the user, (3) locations of calendared events in the user's calendar, (4) locations of events for which the user has electronic tickets, and (5) addresses parsed from recent e-mails and/or messages sent to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining an emergency recharge in an electric vehicle is provided. The system may leverage a network of electric vehicle owners and drivers to facilitate a peer-to-peer emergency recharge of an electric vehicle unable to reach a charging station before its energy storage device is depleted. A list of potential rescuers willing to provide portable charging assistance may be generated. Out-of-range rescue vehicles may be filtered from the list. The list of potential rescuers may then be sorted based on drive time to an intercept location. Potential rescuers from the list may be sequentially contacted according to the sort order until a request for portable charging assistance is accepted. Drivers of both the soon to be stranded vehicle and the rescue vehicle may receive route guidance from navigation systems to a mutually agreeable intercept location where the peer-to-peer emergency recharge can take place.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel prediction engine that (1) can formulate predictions about current or future destinations and/or routes to such destinations for a user, and (2) can relay information to the user about these predictions. In some embodiments, this engine includes a machine-learning engine that facilitates the formulation of predicted future destinations and/or future routes to destinations based on stored, user-specific data. The user-specific data is different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the stored, user-specific data includes data about any combination of the following: (1) previous destinations traveled to by the user, (2) previous routes taken by the user, (3) locations of calendared events in the user's calendar, (4) locations of events for which the user has electronic tickets, and (5) addresses parsed from recent e-mails and/or messages sent to the user.

Abstract: A lane-level vehicle routing and navigation apparatus includes a simulation module that performs microsimulation of individual vehicles in a traffic stream, and a lane-level optimizer that evaluates conditions along the candidate paths from an origin to a destination as determined by the simulation module, and determines recommended lane-level maneuvers along the candidate paths. A link-level optimizer may determines the candidate paths based on link travel times determined by the simulation module. The simulation may be based on real-time traffic condition data. Recommended candidate paths may be provided to delivery or service or emergency response vehicles, or used for evacuation planning, or to route vehicles such as garbage or postal trucks, or snowplows.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a vehicle's heading system, such as the attitude heading and reference system of an aircraft or the heading system of a ship, positioned along the Earth's surface involves obtaining both actual and theoretical readings for the magnetometer of the heading system, and comparing these values to obtain calibration values for the heading system which are then averaged to obtain a universal average gain and offset for the magnetometer. The vehicle may be repositioned, such as to North, South, East, and west magnetic headings, with the procedure repeated at each of these headings, and the calibration values averaged, further increasing the accuracy.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards resolving an uncertain transportation context by suggesting one or more potential diversions. An automated routing system may generate routing information that includes map data as well as a location of a diversion having an expected cost in compliance with the uncertain transportation context. Such a diversion may be a waypoint that satisfies one or more user needs given an unknown/uncertain destination.

Abstract: A schedule management device includes a processing unit and a storage unit for storing schedule list recording events, each of which includes event content, event date and position information. The processing unit includes a position information acquiring module, a position information comparing module, a date information judging module and a display module. The position information acquiring module acquires position information of the event(s). The position information comparing module determines whether the position information of the event(s) and the schedule management device belong to a same area. The date information judging module judges whether the current date information is a predetermined date before the event date when the position information of the event(s) and the schedule management device don't belong to the same area. The display module displays the event content of the event(s) when the current date information is the predetermined date before the event date.

Abstract: An in-vehicle information system includes: an information terminal; and an in-vehicle apparatus. At least one of the information terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus decides whether or not a vehicle is currently in a traveling state. The in-vehicle apparatus includes a display unit with a display screen, and restricts an image area ranging over part of or all of the display screen to be obscured from view when deciding that the vehicle is currently in a traveling state. The information terminal includes an application stored therein, outputs an image corresponding to the application to the in-vehicle apparatus, and outputs regulatory information pertaining to an image area to be restricted within the image corresponding to the application, to the in-vehicle apparatus. The in-vehicle apparatus sets an image area in the display screen to be restricted by using the regulatory information output by the information terminal.

Abstract: A projectile and associated method are provided for seeking a target that has been laser designated even though the projectile does not include a laser receiver. A projectile includes an aerodynamic body and a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals indicative of a location of the aerodynamic body. The projectile also includes a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals from an offboard laser receiver that provide information relating to a location of the target based upon laser designation of the target. Further, the projectile includes a processor configured to direct flight of the aerodynamic body toward the target based upon the location of the aerodynamic body as determined from the GPS signals and the location of the target based upon the information provided by the offboard laser receiver.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for spontaneously identifying and directing motorists to available parking spaces is provided. Parking spaces are tracked to determine a status of each space. A destination of a user is received. At least one parking space is identified as available and near the destination of the user. An estimated arrival time of the user to the available parking space is determined. An arrival threshold is applied to the estimated arrival time of the user and a reservation offer for the available space is sent to the user when the estimated arrival time satisfies the arrival threshold.

Abstract: The direction display device includes: a wireless communication section to perform near field wireless communication; a barometric pressure measuring section; a converting section to convert barometric pressure into altitude; an orientation measuring section to measure an orientation of a specified direction; an operation section; a display section; a registration controlling section to obtain current positional information from an external positioning device on the basis of a registration instruction of the measured orientation to store the current positional information as registered positional information so as to be correlated to registered orientation information; a registration position extracting section to extract the registered positional information including an altitude value whose difference from the converted altitude is within a predetermined range; and a display controlling section to cause the display section to indicate a direction regarding the registered orientation correlated to the regist

Abstract: A method and system for searching for items is provided. The method includes receiving, from a user, description data describing search requirements associated with a requested physical object to be located. Locations of the user are monitored and a request to locate the physical object is transmitted to video data retrieval devices. In response, video data associated with associated physical objects and location data for associated locations are retrieved. Distances and relative velocities between current locations of the user and each location of each physical object are calculated. In response, recommendations associated with traveling to view each physical object are generated and presented to the user.

Abstract: A method for providing a location service and a mobile terminal are provided. The location service providing method includes determining a positioning method based on location information of the mobile terminal and measurement information used for calculating the location of the mobile terminal, determining a map switch indicator by using at least one of the determined positioning method, the location information, and the measurement information, selecting a global map (i.e., the whole area map) or a local map according to the determined map switch indicator, and indicating the location of the mobile terminal on the selected map.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to generating elevation maps. More specifically, data points may be collected by a laser moving along a roadway and used to generate an elevation map of the roadway. The collected data points may be projected onto a two dimensional or “2D” grid. The grid may include a plurality of cells, each cell of the grid representing a geolocated second of the roadway. The data points of each cell may be evaluated to identify an elevation for the particular cell. For example, the data points in a particular cell may be filtered in various ways including occlusion, interpolation from neighboring cells, etc. The minimum value of the remaining data points within each cell may then be used as the elevation for the particular cell, and the elevation of a plurality of cells may be used to generate an elevation map of the roadway.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling a vehicle with a telematics terminal installed in or on the vehicle. The method includes a) receiving coordinates of a geo-fence area by the telematics terminal; b) determining whether or not the vehicle is located within the geo-fence area or is on a route that will intercept the geo-fence area; and c) if the vehicle is determined to have entered into the geo-fence area, controlling the vehicle to meet predetermined drive requirements previously set for the geo-fence area.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method is provided whereby map-related requests from mobile devices are used to store and aggregate routes. The routes are then used to determine optimum directions in response to subsequent requests.

Abstract: A method to display a registered driving path image upon a transparent windscreen head-up display in a source vehicle includes monitoring an operating environment of the source vehicle, monitoring a driver registration input, determining a registered driving path image based upon the operating environment of the source vehicle and the driver registration input, and displaying the registered driving path image upon the head-up display.

Abstract: An indoor area may be localized to provide end users with a mobile-accessible map to guide the end user in navigating the indoor area. A preliminary version of a map of the indoor area to be localized is processed to identify different navigable routes within the indoor area. A user may access the processed map and collect sensory data using the mobile device while moving along any of the navigable routes. The different sensory data that is collected at the same moment in time may be associated based on the location of the mobile device when the data is collected. The localized map is then generated with visual indications of the locations of the corresponding sensory data. The end user may then access the localized map on a mobile device to navigate the indoor area and to locate specific points of interest corresponding to the sensory data.

Abstract: An information processing device capable of processing navigation information is provided. A touch panel can display images and can receive a user's touch operation. An image generation section generates a navigation image including a map image and a plurality of operation button images for receiving the touch operation, the images being displayed on the touch panel. A plurality of operation button images include a first operation button image related to a navigation function and a second operation button image related to a plurality of functions other than the navigation function. The image generation section generates a first image which is obtained by combining the navigation image and the first operation button image and a second image which includes the second operation button. The first image and the second image are respectively displayed in a first display region and a second display region. The first display region and the second display region are separated by a movable boundary.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a road object detection for monitoring a movement of a device; determining a travel state based on the road object detection; identifying a travel sequence involving the travel state; and determining a condition inducing movement based on matching the travel sequence to a predetermined sequence for displaying on the device.

Abstract: A method, of resolving a location from an ordered list of location reference points being representative of nodes in an encoder digital map and each having attributes representative of a specific line or segment in the encoder digital map emanating from or incident at those nodes, is disclosed.

Abstract: A store routing system for guiding a shopper in a store comprises a storage storing a store product map comprising location information for products available at the store. The system also comprises an analytics engine for identifying one or more recommended products for the shopper based on a set of one or more sought products. The system also comprises a route calculator for calculating a route through the store to a location of each of the sought products based on the store product map and for including a waypoint in the route corresponding to a location of each of the one or more recommended products.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented system for providing guidance information to aid a user in traveling along an off-road route. This system assumes that the route has already been determined. Also, it is assumed that the user's position and orientation can be determined, for example using existing techniques such as the global positioning system (GPS). The present invention uses a Look-Ahead-Point Finder (100) to find a point, which we refer to as a look-ahead point, located on the route ahead of the user's current location. A Guidance Message Constructor (102) and a Guidance Presenter (106) are used to present the user with guidance information directing him towards the look-ahead point. If the user is already headed towards the look-ahead point, then a Turn Analyzer (108) is used to search the route in order to find the next turn location.

Abstract: Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, navigational features of a navigation device are activated or deactivated according to the accuracy of the geographic data. The navigation features may be predictive features related to upcoming portions of a path curve. The path curve is compared to measured data. For example, a first curve is accessed from a map database and a second curve is based on measured position data collected while traversing the path. The first curve and the second curve correspond to the same geographic area. A difference of an attribute between a section of the first curve and a section of the second curve is used to assign a confidence factor to the section of the first polycurve based on the difference. The attribute may be heading, position, curvature, or another aspect of the path curves.

Abstract: A display control unit that causes a display unit to display a front image on which a guide line is superimposed, wherein the guide line has a front end point that indicates a position inside a recommended lane and has a rear end point that indicates a position rearward of the front end point, is provided. When the vehicle is in a lane change state, the display control unit sets a position of the rear end point in the front image such that the rear end point indicates a central position in a width direction of the vehicle, and, when the vehicle is not in the lane change state, the display control unit sets a position of the rear end point in the front image such that the rear end point indicates a central position in a width direction in the travelling lane.

Abstract: Techniques for mixed static and dynamic routing include determining a subset of less than all of a plurality of stopover points of an initial route of ordered stopover points. In the subset, all stopover points are marked as dynamic to indicate that their order is allowed to change. It is also determined whether there are at least two stopover points for which order may be changed. If there are at least two stopover points for which order may be changed, then a computed route is determined in which an order in the computed route of the stopover points of the subset minimizes a metric for the entire route compared to any other allowed order of the stopover points of the subset.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to routing to a destination. An aspect determines a route from an origin to the destination, and recommends a location of interest. The location of interest is a location with a media density score is greater than a threshold and within a range of deviation from the route. The media density score is based on a number of recommendations of a media file related to the media density score.

Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system, which includes an appliance for finding a desired route from a starting point to an end point. The navigation system includes explicit markings discernible by the senses, which are located on the route, and the markings on the route are arranged in the appliance in the order of progression. The invention also relates to a navigation method.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising an environmental waypoint insertion process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the environmental waypoint insertion process. The environmental waypoint insertion process is configured to receive information. The environmental waypoint insertion process determines whether and how to suggest additional waypoints for insertion into a flight plan to a subscriber.

Abstract: A home key of a mobile device is utilized to activate a map object displayed in a virtual template area of the mobile device. The virtual template area is available on a display of the mobile device. The home key is utilized to set the home key as an object home for a user-defined starting place on the map object. Upon the object home being activated, the object home returns to the user-defined starting place on the map object.

Abstract: A method for selecting a route from a departure point to an arrival point includes acquiring information concerning a departure point and an arrival point and information concerning a route from the departure point to the arrival point; generating a plurality of basic routes; calculating a parameter of an evaluation function that yields the selected route as an optimum route; generating a new route using the calculated parameter, determining whether or not the generated new route is identical to the selected route; on a condition that the generated new route is not identical to the selected route, adding the generated new route to the basic routes, recalculating the parameter, generating a new route, and comparing the new route with the selected route; and if the new route is identical to the selected route, storing the parameter when the new data becomes identical to the selected route.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to obtaining information based on directional orientation of a mobile imaging device, such as a camera phone. Visual information is gathered by the camera and used to determine a directional orientation of the camera, to search for content based on the direction, to manipulate 3D virtual images of a surrounding area, and to otherwise use the directional information. Direction and motion can be determined by analyzing a sequence of images. Distance from a current location, inputted search parameters, and other criteria can be used to expand or filter content that is tagged with such criteria. Search results with distance indicators can be overlaid on a map or a camera feed. Various content can be displayed for a current direction, or desired content, such as a business location, can be displayed only when the camera is oriented toward the desired content.

Abstract: There is provided a solution comprising detecting that a positioning device is within a predetermined control area associated with a building, acquiring a first sequence of magnetic field measurements carried out by the positioning device, wherein the first sequence represents at least one of the magnitude and the direction of Earth's magnetic field; determining that an operational environment of the positioning de-vice has changed between an indoor environment and an outdoor environment when a at least one predetermined criterion with respect to the first sequence is met; and causing actuation of a predetermined software function in or with respect to the positioning device when the operational environment of the positioning device has changed.

Abstract: The present specification provides an electronic geolocation device comprising a location sensor and a geolocation application configured to record location data associated with said device. The device further includes a processor configured to receive the location data and to associate the location data with contextual data, and to export the location data and contextual data in a data format native to an external application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a navigation system to detect arrival to a new city and provide information on the city such as dining, lodging, popular sightseeing place, etc. to the user. In addition, it can also provide the user a list of his or her friends in the new city according to an address book or from social networking websites. The navigation includes a detecting unit communicatively coupled with a position measuring device and a map information memory to detect whether the user is entering a new city by determining whether the user is moving across the new city border line. Further, the detecting unit indicates the user is entering a new city when the user is moving a predetermined distance away from an airport. Further, the new city information may not be shown if the user has visited the city before within a predetermined period.

Abstract: A method for supporting location services in a mobile radio communications system, in which method a mobile station receives from at least one network element involved in location services, for the implementation of a position measurement procedure, at least one information element indicating if the method type required for that position measurement procedure is a “Conventional GPS” method type where the mobile station behaves as a conventional satellite positioning system receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating street parking availability for a user is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module and a parking probability generator. The communication module receives data describing a set of traces for a group of vehicles associated with a group of users. The parking probability generator assigns the set of traces to one or more street segments based at least in part on street segment data describing the one or more street segments. The parking probability generator generates one or more parking probabilities for the one or more street segments based at least in part on one or more user densities in the one or more street segments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a computer system and a method for recommending a driving route that reduces parking search time and parking costs. The system is configured to receive information about a current location of a car, a desired destination, and parking preferences, to process this information together with available traffic and parking information in order to calculate a recommended route a car should follow during a parking search, and to communicate the recommended route to the car driver. The driver is instructed to park at the first available spot along selected portions of the recommended route.