Abstract: A landmark-based method of estimating the position of an AGV (autonomous ground vehicle) or conventional vehicle, which has an onboard database of landmarks and their locations coordinates. During travel, the AGV looks for and identifies landmarks. It navigates according to position estimations that are based on measured yaw rate and speed. When a landmark s encountered and recognized, its true location coordinates are looked up from the database. These true coordinates are then used to enhance position estimation accuracy between landmarks.

Abstract: Searching and retrieving location information associated with one or more points of interests (POI). Search criteria can be dependent upon preferences or search restrictions selected by the user device, e.g., rating information about the POI, as well as location of a POI with respect to the real-time position of the user device. Upon selecting a POI from the search result, the user device is then given further information regarding the selected POI, e.g., directions for traveling to the POI. The user device provides a proximity notification once the user device is within a certain distance from the POI. While at a POI, the user device can provide to the system information regarding the POI, such as a rating of the establishment, without having to specifically identify the POI as the system can self-identify the POI by using the position information of the user device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.

Abstract: A suggestive mapping device may predict, suggest, and/or provide potential destinations to a user. Additionally, the device may store historical location data of the user, determine a travel vector of the user, and predict the destination of the user based at least in part on the historical location data and/or the travel vector. Further, the device may provide hands-free maps to destinations when the user does not know the address at least by receiving contextual data of the user and/or contextual data of the user's contacts. Such hands-free, suggestive mapping devices may facilitate more effective navigation.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and conveying point of interest (POI) information is disclosed. The system detects when a vehicle is at a previously unknown POI, gathers information related to the new POI, and updates a central server with the new POI location information. In this context, a POI may be any type of location including roads, gas stations, strip malls, retail establishments, eating establishments, hospitals, police stations, etc. POI information may include a variety of data including new road locations, new entrances to roads, toll amounts, gas station names, gas prices, strip mall names, retail establishment names, eating establishment names, sales and specials, hospital names, emergency room entrance locations, police station entrances, etc.

Abstract: An approach for providing mapping information and route information based on exception information received from various users travelling within a common area is described. A navigation system processes travel information associated with one or more devices for comparison against predetermined route information. The navigation system also determines one or more exceptions based, at least in part, on the comparison. The predetermined route information, mapping information, or a combination thereof it then caused to be updated based, at least in part, on the processing of the one or more exceptions.

Abstract: In a position history analysis unit for analyzing a position history to acquire movement history information such as places of stay, a speed history computation unit refers to the position history to determine a speed occurring at each point of time and to obtain a speed history. A categorization unit organizes a time axis in the position history, and, ultimately, data for position coordinates occurring at respective points of time, into segments of stay and segments of movement, by checking the speed history against a threshold value. A merge unit detects segments of stay which occur at different points of time but which are identified as indicating stays in the same place, by feeding the time flow, categorized into segments of stay and segments of movement by the categorization unit based on the speed, back to the position coordinates in the respective segments. The merge unit merges the segments of stay as needed.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: extracting navigation-related web documents having a point of interest; generating formatting sequences of the navigation-related web documents; selecting a user-defined percentile representing reciprocal fraction of an expected number of clusters; calculating a threshold value for a first cluster with the threshold value to be equal to the user-defined percentile of a first normalized distribution of sample comparison values between the first cluster and formatting sequence samples from the formatting sequences, the first cluster is from the clusters; computing an associated comparison value between a first formatting sequence from the formatting sequences and the first cluster; grouping the first formatting sequence with the first cluster when the associated comparison value exceeds the threshold value for the first cluster; and generating a travel route for the point of interest related to the first cluster for displaying on a device.

Abstract: A weather alert manager is used to provide real-time, site specific information to a user regarding weather and possibly other hazards. The weather alert manager compares meteorological data, a user profile including information on points of interest to the user, and geographical data to determine if weather will impact one or more of the user's points of interest. The user's points of interest include at least one mobile point of interest, which periodically transmits its location. The weather alert manager transmits a user alert message if one is needed, and a remote receiver notifies the user that a message has been received.

Abstract: A navigation device is described that includes a processing device, a memory communicatively coupled to the processing device, the memory including a database of cartographic navigation map data, a first sensor operable to provide location data to the processing device, a display operatively coupled to the processing device, and an image acquisition device operatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to, when in a first mode of operation, to cause the display to display a portion of the cartographic navigation map data, the displayed portion based on the location data received by the processing device.

Abstract: A navigation device that can easily select information matched with user's favorite or intention from information on many stores and facilities is provided. In a car navigation device 1 for performing a route guidance of a moving object, plural symbols featured by individualities are displayed on a display panel 2, and when any one of the plural displayed symbols is selected, sightseeing information relevant to the individuality of the selected symbol is selected from the sightseeing facilities data base 31, and the selected sightseeing information is displayed on the display panel 2.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a navigation route; generating an initial recommendation related to a search keyword for a point of interest upcoming along the navigation route; calculating an acquisition cost for the initial recommendation; and generating a message with the acquisition cost for the initial recommendation related to the point of interest and for displaying on a device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically updating information on favorite places upon change of home address. The method includes the steps of: checking data received by the navigation system to detect whether the old home address of a user has been changed to the new home address; searching for favorite places around the new home address equivalent to that around the old home address; determining whether the updating of the favorite places should be conducted automatically or upon instruction by the user; updating the favorite places by replacing the favorite places for the old home address with the equivalent favorite places for the new home address; and repeating the above steps every time when there is a change in the home address.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a position and a heading of a mobile device, defining a zone of interest based on the position and heading of the mobile device, identifying one or more points of interest (POIs) that are located within the zone of interest, determining, for each of the identified POIs, a distance between the mobile device and the respective POI, selecting one or more of the identified POIs based on the distances, and displaying information identifying the selected POIs on a user interface of the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, defining a search area when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the search area including boundaries, calculating, using a processor, a points of interest (POI) density of the search area, comparing the POI density with a first density threshold and a second density threshold, adjusting the boundaries of the search area based on a result of comparing the POI density with the first density threshold and the second density threshold, identifying POIs in the adjusted search area, and providing POI information for an electronic map display, the POI information being associated with one or more POIs identified in the adjusted search area.

Abstract: A mobile device communicates with an in-vehicle system to provide a network-based calendar and related features for viewing and/or editing within a vehicle. The mobile device executes a specialized application that retrieves calendar data from one or more calendar sources in a native calendar format, and converts the calendar data to a customized vehicle format designed specifically for convenient transfer and viewing within the vehicle. The user may record spoken voice notes that can be processed to automatically create new calendar entries. An alert feature schedules visual and/or audio alerts to notify the user in advance of scheduled calendar events. When a scheduled calendar event time is reached, the in-vehicle system may automatically place a call to an event invitee or generating a route to an event destination.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more search terms at a mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is located at a particular location. A search query that includes the one or more search terms and a location history of the mobile computing device is transmitted to a server. The method also includes receiving one or more search results in response to the search query, where the one or more search results include content identified based on a predicted destination of the mobile computing device. An interface identifying the one or more search results is displayed at the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Adaptive mobile device navigation system, methods, and apparatus provide location information for a mobile device performing location estimation using dead reckoning. Multiple estimation modes can be selected including a mode for restricting measured movements to surrounding streets. Updated location fixes can be obtained through turn comparison with surrounding map information and user feedback. User feedback prompts can include photographs having geographic tag information corresponding to locations near an estimated location of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point of interest (POI) information of a mobile terminal are disclosed to extract and provide POI information and/or road information included in an image captured by a camera. Location information of an image capture place and image capture direction information are read from the digital photo image, the POI information corresponding to the location and image capture direction information is extracted from map data, and the extracted POI information is displayed on the digital photo image.

Abstract: A method for operating a virtual marketplace is disclosed. The method includes generating an administration interface for a user configured to manage a product inventory, incentivizing user interactions with the virtual marketplace by granting user credits to a user based upon predetermined categories of user input into the virtual marketplace, maintaining the product inventory, identifying product information based upon user input including a physical location of the user, generating a user interface configured to receive user input and navigate among a plurality of informational modules in response to a user request, selectively sending the administration interface to a user in response to a request by the user, and sending the user interface to a user in response to a request by the user.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to presenting a map to a user that comprises graphical icons that are representative of retail stores. The user has performed a search for a product, wherein the product has a parameter corresponding thereto, and the parameter has a constraint corresponding thereto. Inventories of multiple retail stores can be searched over by relaxing the constraint, thereby allowing a recommended product to be located. A graphical icon representative of a retail store that has the recommended product in stock is included in the map together with data indicative of the price of the recommended product at the retail store.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to presenting a map to a user that comprises graphical icons that are representative of retail stores. The user has provided a shopping list, wherein the shopping list includes a plurality of products that are desirably purchased by the user. Inventories of retail stores in a geographic region of interest to the user are searched, and a map is generated that includes graphical icons representative of the retail stores, data that indicates that product(s) in the shopping list are available at the retail stores, and price data that indicates prices of product(s) in the shopping list at the respective retail stores.

Abstract: Provided is a system for providing point of interest (POI) information includes a database configured to store the POI information corresponding to a name and identification information of each POI; a data communication module configured to extract the name and the identification information of the POI, which is extracted from a particular website by a first terminal and stored in a user designated path; and a control module configured to extract, from the database, the POI information corresponding to the name and the identification information of the POI extracted by the data communication module and transmit the POI information to the first terminal or a second terminal that is pre-defined.

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: A graphic user interface method and apparatus for a navigation system graphically shows parking information which vary depending on conditions such as time ranges or days, etc. The method includes the steps of: examining a location specified by a user for retrieving data associated with the specified location from data storage medium; displaying a screen of parking information graphic interface upon request by the user; and examining whether there is a time-related parking restriction on the specified location and retrieving the time-related parking information if any. The parking information graphic interface illustrates a map image, a time table of a day, a time range indicator on the time table, and a text message regarding the time-related parking restriction, thereby graphically displaying the parking information on the specified location.

Abstract: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) routing apparatus and methods are presented for routing to a charging station, in which a vehicle navigation system obtains current utilization and compatibility information from a live database and uses this to selectively route the vehicle to a charging station having available chargers compatible with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving an entry for a point of interest; locating a review on an original webpage for the point of interest; generating an identical segmentation shared by a field in the review from a display format of the original webpage; selecting the field based on identifying the identical segmentation shared for grouping the field; generating a revised webpage based on aligning the field; and generating a travel route based on selecting the point of interest for displaying on a device.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for creating and taking a driving tour using information derived from crowd sourcing are disclosed herein. A method includes, but is not limited to accessing an Internet website that is configured to enable a user to compose a driving tour based in part on the information derived from crowd sourcing and in part on a user-specified criterion. The method further includes inputting the user-specified criterion into the Internet website. The method further includes creating the driving tour using the Internet website, the driving tour having a point of interest. The method further includes obtaining an electronic file from the Internet website containing the driving tour. The method further includes loading the electronic file into a mobile device. The method still further includes utilizing the mobile device and the electronic file to take the driving tour.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes displaying a plurality of selectable point of interest entries on an integrated input and display of a navigation device; and displaying, upon receipt of an indication of a selection of one of the point of interest entries, an informational screen including display of a location of the selected point of interest entry relative to a current location of the navigation device, at least a phone number of the selected point of interest entry, and a prompt to dial the phone number of the selected point of interest entry.

Abstract: A tracking and guidance system is provided. The system comprises a first device configured to transmit a location of the first device. The system further comprises a second device configured to receive the location from the first device, to display the location on a common map view, to receive inputs comprising a drawn directional data and a verbal directional data, and to transmit the drawn and verbal directional data to the first device, wherein the drawn and verbal directional data is received by the first device and the drawn directional data is displayed on the common map view displayed by the first device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a navigation system for an electric vehicle and a navigation method for the same. The navigation system searches for the location of a charging station and paths where traveling of an electric vehicle is possible; provides the charging station location information and information of the searched paths to a navigation terminal, thereby improving usability and traveling stability of an electric vehicle, resulting in increased road efficiency.

Abstract: A selection item display device allows the user to select a desired selection item in the case where a surrounding situation changes, with improved operability. The device includes: storage element for storing a selection item; retrieval element for retrieving a selection item to be displayed based on a surrounding situation from the storage element; generation element for generating an image of the retrieved selection item; display element for displaying the generated image of the selection item on a display screen; designation element for designating a selection item to be maintained from the displayed selection item; and holding element for holding the designated selection item. Even if the surrounding situation changes, and the retrieval element changes the selection item to be displayed, the generation element leaves the image of the selection item to be maintained on the basis of an instruction from the holding element on the display screen.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described for providing customized trip plans. Based on information provided by a user, geo-tagged photographs, and/or travelogues, one or more travel destinations are identified. Travel paths typically taken by tourists within each of the travel destinations and stay times within those travel destinations may be determined. A customized trip plan including a travel route plan among the one or more travel destinations and recommended internal paths within each travel destination are provided to the user. A revised customized trip plan may also be provided in response to changes made to information associated with the user.

Abstract: A navigation device is provided herein comprising an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a camera, and a processor. The IMU provides an inertial measurement to the processor and the camera provides at least one image frame to the processor. The processor is configured to determine navigation data based on the inertial measurement and the at least one image frame, wherein at least one feature is extracted from the at least one image frame based on the navigation data.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying map sections and point of interest (POI) data to a user and a database for storing POI data. A retrieval unit is provided to retrieve from the database POI data for the map section to be displayed. The POI database includes POIs and substitute POIs representing a number of POIs in a map region. It may then depend on the map scale with which the map section is to be displayed whether a substitute POI or a POI which it represents is retrieved from the database.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing automated social routing. In general, a starting point and a stopping point are obtained from a requesting user. A desired number of recommended routes from the starting point to the stopping point are then programmatically generated for the requesting user by dynamically selecting physical waypoints for the recommended routes based on one or more routing factors including one or more social routing factors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented navigation method for identifying one or more points of interest (POI) in a geographic location includes calculating a navigation route and receiving a reference point input. The reference point input may be unrelated to the navigation route and usable for identifying one or more POIs. The method further includes receiving one or more search parameters for searching for one or more POIs with respect to the reference point and identifying the one or more POIs based on the search parameters and reference point. The method also includes presenting the one or more POIs on a vehicle computer display.

Abstract: The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance.

Abstract: A system for visually indicating receipt of a radio communication directed to a user having an associated unique identification code. The system includes a radio transponder having an audio output, means for obtaining and storing the unique identification code; a speech recognition circuit operably connected to the radio transponder audio output and the stored identification code; and a visual indicator operably connected to an output of the speech recognition circuit, such that when the stored identification code and said audio input are substantially the same the visual indicator is driven to activation. A method is similarly disclosed.

Abstract: A control process for controlling the driving stability of a motor vehicle is provided. The difference between the actual value of the yaw rate and the desired value is measured in a control process to form the additional yawing moment for stabilizing the vehicle. Instead of using yaw sensors for the direct measurement of the yaw rate (yaw angular velocity), two lateral acceleration meters are provided in the sensor. Advantageous variants include the use of the yaw acceleration and/or its derivative as the controlled variable, instead of the yaw rate.