Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a positioning device which can more reliably and frequently correct a own vehicle position earlier, reliably detect an error matching state or a straying state earlier and correct the position to a correct position. The positioning device according to the present invention includes a GPS receiver, a GPS position calculating unit which calculates pseudo distances to the GPS satellites based on the transmission signals, and calculates a re-calculated GPS position which is the own vehicle position based on the pseudo distances, and a multipath influence evaluating unit which evaluates a multipath influence on the GPS position based on a difference between the GPS position calculated by the GPS receiver and the re-calculated GPS position calculated by the GPS position calculating unit.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are disclosed herein to describe a range marker for a navigation system. The range marker may delineate a bounded area within a navigation map that a vehicle may travel based on the amount of fuel remaining. As the fuel continues to decrease during operation of the vehicle, the range marker may become smaller and smaller indicating a shrinking range since the fuel remaining decreases, thereby allowing the driver to easily identify which gas stations may be within a range of the vehicle (based on a current vehicle fuel level) and which gas stations might not be within the range of the vehicle.

Abstract: Traffic information readings corresponding to a vehicle are received, the readings including at least a location. The traffic information readings are compared to information already within a map database, and are used to derive additional map information augmenting or correcting that already within the database, the additional map information subsequently being stored in the database. Additional information that is derived includes the presence of stop signs and traffic lights at intersections, the legality of turns at certain times of day, and the connectedness or non-connectedness of road segments.

Abstract: A method of localizing a mobile robot includes receiving sensor data of a scene about the robot and executing a particle filter having a set of particles. Each particle has associated maps representing a robot location hypothesis. The method further includes updating the maps associated with each particle based on the received sensor data, assessing a weight for each particle based on the received sensor data, selecting a particle based on its weight, and determining a location of the robot based on the selected particle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for displaying a geographic location. The method comprises providing a terminal device to a user, wherein the terminal device includes a processor and a screen. Through a processor of the terminal device, the method comprises receiving a positioning instruction from the user; acquiring a first location based on the positioning instruction; acquiring information of at least one point of interest (POI) associated with the first location; displaying the first location on a map displayed in a first display area on the screen; and displaying a first POI list in a second display area on the screen, wherein the first POI list includes at least one entry being displayed in a first order, each entry includes the information of a POI in the at least one POI.

Abstract: Vehicle-mounted device includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) having at least one accelerometer or gyroscope, a GPS receiver, a camera positioned to obtain unobstructed images of an area exterior of the vehicle and a control system coupled to these components. The control system re-calibrates each accelerometer or gyroscope using signals obtained by the GPS receiver, and derives information about objects in the images obtained by the camera and location of the objects based on data from the IMU and GPS receiver. A communication system communicates the information derived by the control system to a location separate and apart from the vehicle. The control system includes a processor that provides a location of the camera and a direction in which the camera is imaging based on data from the IMU corrected based on data from the GPS receiver, for use in creating the map database.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided to determine optimal locations at which it is suggested that a mobile device download portions of a map corresponding to an initial location and a destination location. A navigation server receives an indication of an initial location and a destination location from the mobile device and retrieves a map corresponding to a route between the two locations. A first download location is determined based on one or more of signal strength, a time of day that the map is likely to be downloaded, periods of known high saturation, a battery level of the mobile device, and/or a cost associated with roaming. Using one or more of these factors, the first download location is determined and is communicated to the mobile device.

Abstract: An electronic device offers acquired location information to a point-of-interest (POI) management server when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The POI management server offers POI identification information to the electronic device when the location information is matched to one of registered POIs. When the POI identification information is received from the POI management server, the electronic device performs a certain action.

Abstract: At the first scale size, a predetermined first arrangement position is determined as the arrangement position of an image to be arranged on a map. At the second scale size larger than the first scale size, the second arrangement position closer to the shooting location of the image than at a position corresponding to the first arrangement position on the map at the second scale size is determined as the arrangement position.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for hybrid off-board vehicle navigation are disclosed. In the system, a multi-stop route package is created and sent from a route server to a navigation device. The route package can include a collection of vehicle attributes and corresponding road restrictions for guiding the vehicle towards its destination. The server can optionally push the route package to the vehicle in an email message or other stored communication. When an off-route condition is detected, the navigation device can send a route request to the server that includes the vehicle attributes and the corresponding road restrictions. The server can respond with a partial route correction that is determined based on the vehicle attributes and road restrictions.

Abstract: If a destination set on a display 3 is a facility not having connection relation between facilities stored in a facility information DB 84, a scroll direction detecting unit 92 that detects a scroll direction of a map 31 detects a direction instructed for scroll as the scroll direction and a display controlling unit 94 performs scroll of the map 31 in the scroll direction. In addition, if the set destination is a facility having the connection relation between the facilities, the scroll direction detecting unit 92 that detects a scroll direction of the map 31 detects the scroll direction based on the connection relation of the destination and the direction instructed for scroll and the display controlling unit 94 performs the scroll of the map 31 to a position of a facility connected to the destination in the scroll direction.

Abstract: A driver assist system for a vehicle includes a camera and a control having an image processor, which processes image data captured by the camera. At least one non-visual sensor is operable to detect objects external of the vehicle and to provide non-visual sensor data to the control. During at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver and (ii) a parking maneuver, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the camera are displayed by a video display screen that is viewable by the driver to assist the driver in operating the vehicle. The control provides an indication to the vehicle driver, with the indication including at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed by the video display screen and (ii) an audible indication. The indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by the non-visual sensor of an object external of the vehicle.

Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine outputting driving power; an electric motor outputting driving power; an electrical storage device storing electric power; and a controller. The controller is configured to learn an electric power consumption rate by calculating the electric power consumption rate when the vehicle has traveled on the electric power stored in the electrical storage device using only the electric motor as a driving force source and to control travel of the vehicle using at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor as the driving force source. The controller is configured to, when a driving frequency of the internal combustion engine that is driven as the vehicle travels on at least one of an uphill and a downhill is higher than a predetermined frequency, invalidate the calculated electric power consumption rate or information acquired to calculate the electric power consumption rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a housing, a processor unit, a display, a navigation module, and a number of modules. The navigation module is configured to guide an airdrop system to a target location. The number of modules is configured to provide functions for use by a number of operators to perform a mission in addition to an airdrop.

Abstract: A navigation environment establishing method for an intelligent moving-assistance apparatus moving in a movement area having a plurality of regions includes steps of: a navigation map is set, and the content of the navigation map including the relative locality of the regions. A current data indicating a current region is set. At least one target data indicating an available target region is set. Then, a navigation data is generated. The content of the navigation data includes the current region and a first target region, wherein the region where the intelligent moving-assistance apparatus first arrive when moving from the current region to the first target region according to a predetermined path is in a first direction with respect to the current region. Subsequently, the navigation data is recorded into an image identification tag. Finally, the image identification tag is placed in the current region.

Abstract: A system for determining material characteristics of a material of a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a first estimate of the material characteristics and utilizes a planning system to determine an expected profile. The expected profile is based at least in part upon the first estimate of the material characteristics. The controller determines an actual profile of the work surface, compares the expected profile to the actual profile, and determines a second estimate of the material characteristics based at least in part upon the difference between the expected profile and the actual profile.

Abstract: A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a desired operating parameter and a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. The controller determines a plurality of target profiles corresponding to different cut locations. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller further determines an optimized target profile relative to the desired operating parameter and the optimized target profile defines an optimized cut location.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method associated with a location based service, and an apparatus for integrated positioning that may sense positioning-associated information that is in proximity to a user. The apparatus may hierarchically classify the sensed positioning-associated information into multiple categories of accuracy based on a predetermined criterion, and estimate the location of the user in order of low accuracy information to more precise accuracy information.

Abstract: A computer aided dispatch (CAD) center operator can view a displayed location indicator indicative of a last location of a public safety (PS) device on a geographic information system (GIS) map, together with a displayed confidence indicator indicative of the likelihood that the displayed last location of the PS device is accurate, for use in dispatching a PS person to an incident scene, or locating the PS person.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for generating a navigation chart is provided. The system includes a display device and a computing device coupled to the display device. The computing device is configured to receive at least one of current geographic position data from a navigation instrument and a desired geographic position input by a user and to generate a navigation chart having a geographic area that corresponds to one of the current geographic location and the desired geographic position and that includes at least one navigation aid, the navigation chart includes at least one navigation aid symbol corresponding to a position of the navigation aid within the geographic area. The computing device is further configured to determine whether each navigation aid is visible at a predetermined position within the geographic area and to display the navigation chart on the display device.

Abstract: An apparatus, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: provide at least one marker to indicate the required current position in a planned journey to reach a destination of the planned journey according to a predetermined time criterion.

Abstract: A light indicating device includes a plurality of light sources located in at least two positions, and at least one driving unit configured for driving the light sources to flash. Light sources at a same position flash at a same frequency, and light sources at different positions flash at different frequencies. A positioning device and method are also provided.

Abstract: Place description information acquisition method, terminal, server and system are provided. First location information of a first location where a first user is located and second location information of a second location where a second user is located are acquired. Third location information and place description information of selectable meeting places are acquired according to the first and second location information. The place description information is presented on a map of a city where the first user is located according to the third location information, so that the first user can select a meeting place from the selectable meeting places. The selected meeting place is close to the other user(s) to be met and/or between the user and the other user(s) to be met. As a result the acquired place description information is more pertinent, and the place description information can be acquired intellectually.

Abstract: A noise pattern acquisition device includes: a geomagnetic sensor; a coordinate estimation unit configured to estimate current position coordinates; and a geomagnetic noise pattern management unit configured to, when an abnormality occurs in a magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor during movement of the noise pattern acquisition device, store in a geomagnetic noise pattern storage unit a geomagnetic noise pattern which is a pattern representing a time-series change of the magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor. This makes it possible to not only acquire a geomagnetic noise pattern but also detect a proper position with a simple structure and process at reduced cost.

Abstract: ZIP code connection matrices are created for use in insurance ratemaking by identifying common borders of geographically defined regions. ZIP codes and associated cartographic boundaries are read from a database. Pairs of coordinates for the boundaries are stored in a matrix and values are calculated that represent each pair of coordinates in the matrix. The calculated values are stored in an encoded coordinates matrix and used to determine common segments. A connection matrix is formed representing connections among ZIP codes. A neighborhood matrix is then calculated, which stores values that represent an indication of closeness of each ZIP code in the neighborhood matrix to a target ZIP code.

Abstract: Vehicle range projection is implemented by a host system having logic executable thereon. The logic identifies a starting location of a vehicle and identifies destination locations for the vehicle. The logic also builds routes from the starting location to the destination locations based on routing objectives and travel constraints. The logic further outputs at least a portion of at least one route and travel cost information associated with the at least a portion of at least one route.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for a safe taxi service. The method for a safe taxi service in a mobile device includes: transmitting input information regarding a destination to a vehicle information system; periodically receiving information regarding a current location of a vehicle from the vehicle information system; comparing the current location with an expected path to the destination; and transmitting state information to an external system when it is determined, according to the comparing, that the current location deviates from the expected path to the destination to an extent equal to or greater than a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A software product for easy-to-use naming, coding, and sharing of locations, including those with no addresses.

Abstract: To provide navigation data to a head unit installed in a vehicle, an indication of a current location and a current orientation of the vehicle are received. Map data for generating a digital map of a geographic area including the current location is received from a network device via a first communication link. A digital map image is generated using the map data, such that the digital map is oriented in accordance with the current orientation.

Abstract: An identification unit identifies a departure point of a travel locus of a vehicle. The vehicle departs through the departure point from a departure road stored beforehand in map data. The map data has map link information including multiple links. An exit point set unit sets an exit point on a link included in the map link information. The link corresponds to the departure point of the departure road identified by the identification unit. A learning unit learns a new road based on the exit point set by the exit point set unit and the travel locus of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route. Navigation systems can also use the relation to service skyline queries and responsively generate skyline graphs of points of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a search item in a portable terminal is disclosed. When an item (for example, a particular place, a route to a destination place, particular content, etc.), for which the user requests to search, is searched and displayed, the location information regarding the search item can be displayed, in steps, from a wide range (i.e., upper information) to a narrow range (i.e., lower information), thereby the user can intuitively and easily recognize the location of the search item.

Abstract: A system for driver identification comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a driving maneuver signature and to determine a driver identification based at least in part on the driving maneuver signature. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: A method of coordinating a plurality of road vehicles includes obtaining information related to a first vehicle that is relevant to a road trip with which the first vehicle and at least a second vehicle are involved, uploading the information to a server wirelessly, and downloading the information from the server wirelessly to at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for geo-locating images may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a request to geo-locate an image on a map and, in response to the request, providing for display a user icon on the map. In addition, the method may include determining a current geographic location of the user icon on the map, providing for display a textual representation of the current geographic location, receiving data indicative of the user icon being moved across at least a portion of the map and updating the textual representation of the current geographic location as the user icon is moved across the at least a portion of the map.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a map information storage section for storing map information on an area by area basis formed in meshes; a positioning section for measuring its own present location; a new road detecting section; a new road registration decision section for deciding that the new road is additionally registerable to the map information stored in the map information storage section when the road density in the area including the new road detected by the new road detecting section is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a new road registration section for making additional registration of the new road, as to which the new road registration decision section makes an additionally registerable decision, to the map information stored in the map information storage section.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus, including a map data acquiring means 11a, 11, 12, and 5 for acquiring map data including car pool lane data, a current position determining means 13, 14, 15, and 10 for determining a current position, and a display unit 2 for generating and displaying a map of an area in a neighborhood of the determined current position on the basis of the acquired map data, is provided with a road information receiving means 16 for receiving road information in real time from outside the apparatus, a control unit 10 for, when the road information received by the road information receiving means shows that a traffic congestion has occurred in a highway in a traveling direction, judging whether a car pool lane is also provided in the highway on the basis of the map data acquired by the map data acquiring means, and an output means 2 and 4 for outputting a message showing whether or not there exists a car pool lane according to the result of the judgment by the control unit.

Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of methods for three-dimensional conformal representation of a terrain. The method is used in a piloting and navigation assistance system of an aircraft. The assistance system comprises a navigation system, a cartographic database, electronic calculation means (CE) a meteorological database and a display system allowing the superimposition of synthetic images on the exterior. The method comprises the following steps: Step 1: Calculation, for a determined position of the vehicle, of the terrain perceptible through the display system; Step 2: Selection of a part of the said terrain as a function of a distance or of an altitude or of a range of altitudes; Step 3: Calculation of a three-dimensional conformal cartographic representation of the said selected part of the terrain; and Step 4: Display of the said cartographic representation by the display system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining geographical location data from multiple sources and aggregating the geographical location data are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving geo-location data from a plurality of geo-location data collectors, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with an in-vehicle geo-location data source, at least one of the plurality of geo-location data collectors being in data communication with a geo-location data source in a mobile device; collecting reliability data corresponding to one or more of a plurality of geo-location data sources corresponding to the plurality of geo-location data collectors; collecting map data including information related to geographical features associated with the geo-location data; and aggregating, by use of a data processor, the geo-location data from the plurality of geo-location data collectors based on the reliability data and the map data to produce a resulting geo-location fix.

Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation system and displaying method thereof, which controls the level of protrusion for each piece of indication data displayed on a 3-D screen of the navigation system based on its criticality so as to maximize the legibility of the driver. More specifically, the navigation system includes a GPS receiving member which receives GPS location information, a map data storage member which stores map data including a plurality of indication data, a controlling member which requests a display scope of the map data, corresponding to the received GPS location information, and at least one set of indication data within the display scope, and 3-D data-processes said indication data so that it can be displayed so that the most important data is protruding the most to the driver, and a display member which displays the map data containing the 3-D data-processed indication data.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can facilitate setting of an object, such as a favorite team. An information output device includes a database that associates and stores a region on a map and a sport team related to the region, a position acquisition unit that acquires a position of a self-vehicle, and a favorite team setting processing unit that sets a favorite team from among sport teams. Moreover, the information output device includes a determination processing unit that specifies the region corresponding to the self-vehicle position acquired by the position acquisition unit and determines the sport team associated with the specified region in the database as an object to be set by the favorite team setting processing unit or a candidate for the object.

Abstract: Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.

Abstract: An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed by adopting a desired speed vset for the vehicle; determining a horizon for the intended itinerary made up of route segments, effecting the following during each of a number of simulation cycles (s) each comprising a number N of simulation steps conducted at a predetermined frequency f: first predicting the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the horizon with conventional cruise control when vset is presented as reference speed, comparing the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc in a range vmin to vmax, making a second prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—Tnew along the horizon based on the vehicle's engine torque T; determining a reference value for how the vehicle's speed is to be influenced on the basis of at least one of the comparisons and the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew; controlling the vehicle by the reference value. A module for the foregoing controls a vehicle's speed.

Abstract: A method for determining the length of the route travelled by a vehicle using a position measuring device that records positions of the vehicle and a digital road map, which is composed of road segments of known segment lengths. The method including recording positions of the vehicle on the route by means of the position measuring device, matching the recorded vehicle positions to a sequence of road segments, and determining the route length from the segment lengths of these road segments, wherein from the angle between at least two consecutive road segments and an assumed road width of the two road segments, a turn-off route of the vehicle from the one road segment into the other road segment is calculated. The calculated turn-off route is taken into consideration in the determination of the route length.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing navigation guidance to vehicles are disclosed. In some implementations, a navigation device can be configured to determine a dynamic speed limit for a vehicle based on the location of the vehicle in a road segment, and displays the dynamic speed limit in a display of the navigation device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include radio frequency identification location systems and methods. In one embodiment, RF signals are transmitted from one or more RFID readers, and in accordance therewith, backscattered signals are received from a tag to be located. A plurality of measured position parameters are used to determine a location of the tag. In one embodiment, one reader may transmit and three readers may receive signals to determine the position of a tag. In other embodiments, multiple readers may transmit and receive. In another embodiment, one reader may transmit from different positions to locate a tag. Embodiments of the invention may be used to track a moving tag. A reader's position may be determined using GPS, reference tags, or the reader may be positioned in a known location. A map may be provided to a user to display the location or movement of a tag or a corresponding item.

Abstract: A method for transferring data from an image-data-based map service for use in an assistance system of a vehicle includes the following: ascertaining the position and/or orientation of the vehicle, retrieving image data of the vehicle surroundings from the image-data-based map service, extracting items of information from the image data of the map service, and transferring the items of information into the assistance system.

Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.

Abstract: A server arranged to process GPS data to generate enhanced map data is disclosed. The enhanced map data includes a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by a map. In at least one embodiment, the server is connected with a wireless telecommunications transceiver arranged to receive GPS fixes by wireless telecommunication from a plurality of navigation devices and send the received GPS fixes to the server, the server includes a processor arranged to generate at least one speed profile for each segment from the GPS fixes from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each speed profile comprising an expected speed of travel through the segment, and the server is arranged to subsequently cause the transceiver to send the speed profiles to the navigation devices.