Abstract: A method for accessing information on an electronic version of an navigation information display is described. The method includes displaying navigation information on a display of a device, the device incorporating a touch screen, sensing a user touch on the touch screen, determining, by the device, a location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred, correlating the location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred with a location on the navigation information display, and displaying a magnified area of a portion of the navigation information proximate the location on the touch screen where the user touch occurred.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are described for providing navigation assistance when there are multiple turns in succession in a short period of time or distance. In one embodiment, the route information can be reviewed to determine multiple turns in sequence that are less than a predetermined distance apart. These so-called “tight turns” can be handled differently than other turns by announcing the tight turns in a single combination instruction. Additional lane guidance can also be provided. In another embodiment, an audio feedback can be used to indicate that a user completed a successful turn. Such audio feedback can be in combination with the identified tight turns or independently for other turns or events. The audio feedback can also be an indication for the user to tap the display, wherein the tapping results in an immediate indication of the next turn.

Abstract: A map navigation tool presents directions using a map navigation user interface that simplifies navigation in various ways. In particular, the map navigation tool uses a destination icon that directs the user towards an end location of a route when the user is close to the end location. For example, the map navigation tool obtains multiple list items of a list of directions. Based at least in part on current location, the tool determines that a destination icon is to be displayed. For example, the tool checks whether the current location is within a threshold distance from or past the end location. The tool then renders the destination icon, which indicates direction towards the end location. The tool can further adjust the destination icon depending on current location, for example, rotating the destination icon or switching between multiple destination icons representing left, right, ahead and behind directions.

Abstract: A method can include, for a predetermined route, automatically processing a first set of machine instructions to create a visual travel guide for the predetermined route, the visual travel guide comprising a second set of machine instructions adapted to cause an information device to render: an identification of a destination of the predetermined route; a plurality of videos, each video corresponding to a road intersection located approximately on the predetermined route, each video adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of an automobile approaching the road intersection; a plurality of textual descriptions associated with the plurality of videos; at least one of an identification of an origin of the predetermined route and an identification of an approach to the destination; and an advertisement associated with at least a portion of the predetermined route.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a map database 5 that holds map data; a location and direction measurement unit 4 that measures the current location and direction of a vehicle; a route calculation unit 12 that, based on map data read from the map database 5, calculates a route from the current location measured by the location and direction measurement unit to a destination; a camera 7 that captures video images ahead of the vehicle; a video image acquisition unit 8 that acquires the video images ahead of the vehicle captured by the camera; a road width acquisition unit 16 that, based on road width data included in the map data read from the map database, calculates the width of a road segment that enters last into an intersection to which the vehicle is to be guided from among road segments that make up the route calculated by the route calculation unit; a video image composition processing unit 14 that limits the length of a portion that indicates a turning direction of a route guide arrow to the road width ca

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a movable display device having a display panel, a voice output device, a navigation screen determining portion, and a voice guidance control portion. The navigation screen determining portion determines whether a route guidance is being performed by displaying a navigation screen on the display panel when the part of the display panel is housed. When the navigation screen determining portion determines that the route guidance is being performed by displaying the navigation screen on the display panel, the voice guidance control portion controls the voice output device so that the voice output device performs the route guidance with a voice output.

Abstract: Situational Awareness and Guidance Reference (SAGR) and associated methods and systems are disclosed. A system in accordance to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a display system utilized for a traffic application and an SAGR associated with the own-ship symbol providing longitudinal and lateral guidance reference. In a manual implementation, the SAGR aids human operators achieve required longitudinal and lateral spacing from selected traffic by depicting a small operating region on a navigational map display within which an aircraft will have achieved the required spacing. Such depiction of the deviation guidance may be with respect to time or distance relative to selected traffic aircraft or to fixed structure, and engaged in an automatic or manual mode.

Abstract: Even if a detailed map being displayed is continuously scrolled, the place of the detailed map being displayed is kept to a wide-area map. A map display system having a map display for displaying a plurality of maps and an information distribution server which is connected to the map display through a communication means and distributes map data to the map display comprises a display means for displaying a first map capable of being scrolled and a second map including the scope of the first map, a scroll control means for scrolling the first map, a condition judging means for judging whether or not to control the display form of the second map according to the result of the scroll of the first map by the scroll control means and a condition for controlling the display form of the second map set in advance, and a reduced scale control means for controlling the display form of the second map.

Abstract: A driving directions system loads into memory a limited subset of prerecorded, spoken utterances of geographic names from a mass media storage. The subset of spoken utterances may be limited, for example, to the geographic names within a predetermined radius (e.g., a few miles) of the driver's present location. The present location of the driver may be manually entered into the driving directions system by the driver, or automatically determined using a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver. As the vehicle moves from its present location, the driving directions system loads into memory new names from the mass media storage and overwrites, if necessary, those which are now geographically out of range. Based on the current location of the driving, the driving directions system can audibly output geographic names from the run-time memory.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: providing travel modes of a current travel community; checking current power levels of the travel modes; and generating a navigation instruction based on the current power levels for displaying on a device.

Abstract: A route guiding apparatus includes a subtraction distance calculating unit 18 for calculating a distance from an entrance of a guidance intersection determined by a route guidance unit 16 to a center of the guidance intersection according to the width of a road going out of the guidance intersection in a direction along a route to define the distance as a subtraction distance, a notification distance calculating unit 19 for subtracting the subtraction distance calculated by the subtraction distance calculating unit from the distance from a current position detected by a current position detecting unit 12 to the center of the guidance intersection determined by the route guidance unit to calculate a notification distance to be notified, and a display unit 20 for displaying the notification distance calculated by the notification distance calculating unit.

Abstract: There is provided a personal navigation system, including a head-mounted orientation sensor, a coordinate position sensor, a head-mounted display, and a processor receiving an input from the head-mounted orientation sensor and an input from the coordinate position sensor and providing a visually sensible output for displaying on the head-mounted display.

Abstract: There is provided a method for displaying traffic information, a navigation system, and a program for displaying the traffic information. A data processing unit receives a specified time 1203, which is a future or current time, through an operation input unit, specifies an area of a map to be displayed, and then obtains map data of the specified area from a map data storage unit. The data processing unit obtains traffic information 1201 of the specified time from a traffic information storage unit, and then makes the display unit show links in association with the traffic information 1201. It is, therefore, possible to display the traffic information of an arrival time at each point on a route in a user-friendly manner.

Abstract: One embodiment accesses two or more photos taken by one or more travelers at one or more destinations and one or more points-of-interest located within the destinations; constructs one or more photo streams for each unique traveler-destination combination, wherein each one of the photo streams comprises two or more of the photos taken by the corresponding traveler at the corresponding destination; maps each one of the photos to one of the points-of-interest; constructs one or more timed paths for each unique traveler-destination combination based on the photo streams and the mapping between the photos and the points-of-interest, wherein each one of the timed paths comprises one or more of the points-of-interest located within the corresponding destination and visited by the corresponding travel; and constructs an itinerary based on a start point-of-interest, an end point-of-interest, a time constraint, and the timed paths.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is an information terminal device includes a widget management unit for managing execution of a widget being a monofunctional program for performing display on the display part of a display device. The widget management unit includes a policy determination unit for determining the operation policy, including operation restriction and priority, concerning a display state at the display device in the widget, and a reliability determining unit for determining the reliability representing the reliability of the widget in the widget. When the state of the movement calculated by a navigation unit becomes a preset state, the widget management unit regulates the display state of the widget according to the operation restriction and the reliability, and performs display, while preferentially displaying guidance state and positional information calculated by the navigation unit.

Abstract: A navigation system may display a map element represented by a spline including a plurality of vertices. Label coordinate values derived from coordinate values of the plurality of vertices may be retrieved from a database. A label assigned to the map element may be displayed based on the stored label coordinate values. The assigned label may be adapted to the geometric form of at least a portion of the map element.

Abstract: A method of controlling a navigation apparatus, and which includes measuring, via a sensor, an environmental characteristic including at least one of an altitude of the navigation apparatus and an atmospheric pressure of an atmosphere the navigation apparatus is operating in; extracting, via a controller, a hearing characteristic including a degree of hearing impairment for a user operating the navigation apparatus from a memory based on the measured environmental characteristic; and compensating, via the controller, audio output by the navigation apparatus using the extracted degree of hearing impairment for the user operating the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: A visual display system includes a monitor for displaying a visual display; a memory having a user application definition file containing information related to the visual display; and a processor coupled to the monitor and the memory, the processor configured to receive runtime parameters from a flight management system and provide the visual display to the monitor based on the runtime parameters and the user application definition file. The visual display includes at least one hotkey.

Abstract: A music configuration menu shortcut is provided in a PND by software which interacts within a music menu display device. In one embodiment, A PND having a display, memory, processing capability, one or more speakers, and at least one signal reception device by which the PND can determine its approximate position globally by way of software installed on the device is disclosed. The PND performs one or more primary navigation and/or route calculation functions, as well as one or more secondary functions including the audible reproduction of digital content stored in the memory. The software also causes the display of changing graphical map information during route navigation and is capable of being caused to display one or more configuration menus to enable a user to configure various primary or secondary device operation options.

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: Disclosed is a map data creating device including an average travel speed calculating unit for calculating an average travel speed in each link included in searched route data showing a route which is searched for by a route searching unit according to infounation which is included in map data acquired from a map database and which is assigned to the link, a control unit for dividing the route which is searched for by the route searching unit into sub-routes according to the average travel speed from the average travel speed calculating unit to acquire map data about a map having a scale according to an average travel speed assigned to each of the sub-routes into which the route is divided from the map database, and a searched route data storage unit for storing the map data acquired by the control unit while bringing the map data into correspondence with the sub-route.

Abstract: An optimal path search system, which optimizes a travel path of a moving object, comprising: a path information database; and a path search unit that searches for an optimal path that exhibits a minimum travel cost borne by the moving object, from among travel paths of the moving object, wherein: the path search unit is configured to: determine destination points on the path network; search for at least one nearest node to each of destination points, search for a second travel path along which the moving object travels by passing through the at least one nearest node and all of the at least one destination point, determine the second travel path for which a travel cost is minimum; and search for the travel paths followed by using each of a plurality of moving means, respectively, in a case where the moving object travels along the optimal path.

Abstract: A navigation system presents and updates information that allows the driver to determine an appropriate vehicle speed and a steering angle depending on a condition or a feature of a road. The navigation system includes storage means for storing map data, a display for displaying information, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a controller for determining the shape of a road section being approached by a vehicle, based on the map data and the vehicle speed, and controlling the display to display the shape of the road.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle travelling on a roadway. The method has at least determining a position of the motor vehicle. In addition, a selection takes place of a dataset from map data deposited in a memory device such that the selected dataset contains the determined position of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, a determining takes place of a lane of the roadway travelled along by the motor vehicle by means of data determined from an optical camera of the motor vehicle. Moreover a selection takes place of the determined lane in the dataset as own lane of the motor vehicle.

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

Abstract: A system for providing a manipulatable graphical display comprising a user input device responsive to a user input, a cursor control device operably coupled to the user input device, and a menu engine operably coupled to the cursor control device. The cursor control device is further configured to process an output received from the user input device and generate a cursor image positioned on a display in response to the user output suitable for locking onto and tracing a path on the display.

Abstract: A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.

Abstract: A method for automatically creating points of interest by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device. A first geographic information is retrieved from an information page shown in the screen of the portable navigation device and recognized by comparing with the first geographic information with a geographic information of landmarks stored in a map database of the portable navigation device. It is determined whether the first geographic information is in the map database. If the geographic information is in the map database, a first GPS coordinate corresponding to the first geographic information is obtained and stored as a first POI.

Abstract: A navigation system capable of enabling a user to use navigation functions such as route guidance without setting a destination. It includes an information recording unit for storing a driving history, a destination estimating unit for estimating a destination from the driving history stored in the information recording unit, a route computing unit for calculating a route to the destination estimated by the destination estimating unit, and an information display unit for causing the route calculated by the route computing unit to be displayed.

Abstract: Navigation devices, methods, and programs acquire a vehicle location, access stored map information including road width information, and set a destination. The devices, methods, and programs search for a route to the set destination based on the stored map information, perform route guidance based on the searched route, and acquire a last branch point on the searched route. The devices, methods, and programs determine a road width of an entering link entering the acquired last branch point, and determine a distance from the last branch point to the destination. Based on the determined road width and the determined distance, the devices, methods, and programs determine a last communication point on the searched route at which last guidance to the destination is to be communicated to a user.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for utility meter reading. The present disclosure provides inexpensive, easy to install, devices that can collect and report utility usage data from a remote location automatically, or on-demand. The disclosed systems may be used to monitor up to sixty-four meters per system, wherein each of the sixty-four meters is monitored at least once per second. Methods for using the disclosed systems also are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described that allows a first mobile device to persistently lock onto a second mobile device, thereby allowing the first mobile device to not only constantly monitor the dynamic location of the second mobile device but also to adaptively navigate in real-time to the dynamic location associated with the second mobile device. The dynamic location may include a current location of the second mobile device or a final destination for travel of the second mobile device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indoor navigation utilize a smartphone equipped with various sensors. When a person whose initial position is unknown, and in some circumstances whose sight has been impaired, specifies a destination, the navigation system will calculate the coordinates of his/her present location from the sensor readings. It will then calculate the distance to be traveled to the destination and form routes to direct him/her towards the desired location. These steps are carried out using sensor readings and in some cases magnetic maps of the interiors of buildings stored on the smartphone. In some cases dynamic time warping (“DTW”) is used to align a recorded signature of the person's movement through the building with a stored magnetic map in order to identify the person's location within the building.

Abstract: A self-position detecting unit detects a self-position. A time calculating unit calculates a time of a time zone where the self-position detected using the self-position detection unit exists. A time display unit displays the time calculated using the time calculating unit. A display control unit causes the time display unit to display time of the first time zone where the self-position exists continually in an area in a second time zone, which is adjacent to the first time zone, when determining that the self-position moves into the second time zone. The area has a predetermined width from a boundary between the first time zone and the second time zone. The display control unit further causes the time display unit to display time of the second time zone when determining that the self-position moves beyond the area.

Abstract: A movable-body navigation information display unit is provided. In the movable-body navigation information display unit, a driver can intuitively and accurately recognize a relation between navigation information and a real picture or a real landscape. In addition, it is possible to avoid a state that visibility of a caution-needed picture such as a pedestrian in the real picture and a real picture of a road construction site is inhibited by an image of the navigation information. An image data creating section (405) matches road shape data with a road shape model to estimate posture data. In addition, the image data creating section creates picture (image) data for accurately compositing and displaying the image of the navigation information in an appropriate position in a real picture (or in a real landscape) of a road ahead of a movable body, and displays the navigation information as a three-dimensional icon or the like. A picture display section (5) performs display based on the picture data.

Abstract: A visual aid determination module (VADM) is described for presenting a visual aid that helps a user in interpreting a digital map. Namely, the visual aid helps the user in interpreting the relation of a currently-displayed map bounding region (MBR) to a center point of an inaccurate location region (ILR). The ILR, in turn, conveys a range of indeterminacy associated with a currently-assessed location of the user. In one case, the visual aid corresponds to a series of concentric circles. The curvature, placement, and spacing of the circles help the user determine his or her bearing with respect to the center point of the ILR.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus is provided that is highly convenient for a user to view a map screen and a menu window. A display controller 15 determines a view mode of each of a map screen and a menu window, based on information about a travel condition of a moving object from a route search unit 12 and an own-vehicle location identification unit, when the menu window is displayed according to information entered from an input unit 10. A display map generator 16 generates a map screen according to information about the view mode from the display controller 15. A display menu generator 17 generates a menu window according to information about the view mode from the display controller 15. A display unit 21 displays the map screen from the display map generator 16 and the menu window from the menu generator 17.

Abstract: A mobile phone includes: a first housing having a first display part; a second housing having a second display part; acquisition means for obtaining image data and position information associated with the image data; position information acquisition section for obtaining current position information concerning a current position; a guide information acquisition section for generating a guide map showing a route from the current position to a spot that is indicated by the position information associated with the image data, based on the position information associated with the image data and the current position information; and a display control section for controlling display contents in the first display part and the second display part. The display control section causes the first display part to display the guide map and causes the second display part to display an image based on the image data.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request for the pedestrian route between a first location inside a building and a second location inside the building is obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing a plurality of pedestrian paths. A solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths between the first location and the second location is determined. A guidance message that identifies a feature visible from at least one of the pedestrian paths is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a traffic information service to a vehicle. Traffic information is broadcast through an external network to the vehicle, wherein the traffic information is based on a first map. Data within the broadcasted traffic information and based on a the first map is compared to a second map provided in a vehicle navigation unit, wherein the second map is different than the first map. A traffic information service is provided to the vehicle navigation unit, wherein the vehicle navigation unit is configured for displaying the traffic information with the second map.

Abstract: There is provided a personal navigation system, including a head-mounted orientation sensor, a coordinate position sensor, a head-mounted display, and a processor receiving an input from the head-mounted orientation sensor and an input from the coordinate position sensor and providing a visually sensible output for displaying on the head-mounted display.

Abstract: In a route guiding system equipped with a route guiding server (30) and terminal devices (20), a reference point is set as a base point in a travel direction to guide a moving body in a direction that should be taken on route, the direction the moving body should take from the aforementioned reference point is determined based on information relating to the aforementioned route, a specific target object is selected from among target objects used to specify the direction to be taken by the moving body that is near the aforementioned reference point, attribute information relating to the selected target object is obtained, and the travel direction from the aforementioned determined reference point is specified for the moving body based on the attribute information obtained, in order to guide the moving body in the direction that should be taken on the route.

Abstract: A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.