Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining navigation instructions within a pedestrian navigation environment. For example, a system and method are provided for determining an optimal path to a destination. An optimal path may be determined based at least in part on a measurement of similarity between one or more points of interest and one or more destinations. Such a measurement of similarity may be based at least in part on predefined criteria between the one or more destinations and one or more points of interest.

Abstract: A method and device for streamlining navigation from a point to a visual point of interest by combining the necessary items into a single device incorporating an optical finder such as binoculars which incorporates an optical display into the viewfinder, a rangefinder, GPS, compass, altimeter, inclinometer, microprocessor and memory. The device performs three functions: 1) acquires the POI's coordinates relative to the user by visual indication of the POI by the user; 2) reproduces an updated POI vector on demand; and 3) displays the POI vector information in the device viewfinder. All three functions happen seamlessly and instantaneously with the use of only one compact hand held device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a navigator. The navigator comprises a control unit connecting to a storage unit and a positioning unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of map information. The plurality of map information comprises a plurality of points of interest (POIs). The positioning unit provides the position information. First, the control unit gets the number of the plurality of points of interest in the location of the navigator according to the position information and the plurality of map information. Then, the control unit controls a display unit to show a display scale around maps of the navigator according to the number of the plurality of points of interest and a number threshold value.

Abstract: A capability for prominence-based feature generation and rendering for digital maps is provided. More specifically, embodiments relate to rendering map features such as buildings or landmarks in different rendering styles based on signals for how important a particular feature is to a search context. A search context may be, for example and without limitation, a general view of the map or a user-initiated search request for a particular point of interest or driving directions between different points of interest on the map. For example, the different rendering styles may include, but are not limited to, two-dimensional (2D) footprints, two-and-a-half-dimensional (2.5D) extruded polygons, as will be described further below, and full three-dimensional (3D) models. Furthermore, the style could include color and/or visual texture.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature.

Abstract: Methods, systems and program products provide pictorial information relevant to a geographic location, through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a user, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to a user in association with geographic locations. Characteristic include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs.

Abstract: A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature. The importance rating is adjusted to favor the identified feature closest to the lane in which the vehicle is currently located.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes (a) acquiring a tour start location, a tour constraint, and a first user travel preference for a first user; and (b) determining a tour route, including first and second tour segments, based on the tour start location and the tour constraint. The first tour segment is determined based on the first user travel preference. The tour constraint includes a time constraint that is defined by the first user and includes a maximum allowable time for the tour route. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A method of contextually displaying points of interest (POIs) on a personal navigation device according to a user's travel purpose includes storing a plurality of POIs into a memory of the personal navigation device, the POIs having corresponding POI category labels, entering a destination location into the personal navigation device and providing navigational instructions for a trip to the destination location, associating a travel category with the trip to the destination location, and displaying POIs whose corresponding POI category labels are included in the travel category associated with the trip to the destination location.

Abstract: A remote vehicle management system by video radar includes a camera array installed on the vehicle to capture and generate video data, video recognition units receiving the video data and converting into an object data stream, a vehicle database including static and dynamic data, an environment management unit generating a video radar data stream based on the object data stream and, a wireless transfer unit transmitting the radar data stream in a wireless medium, and a remote device reconstructing an illustrative screen based on the received video radar data stream by using specific icons or symbols, which is used to assist the operator of the vehicle to fully understand the actual situation so as to alleviate the human workload, reduce human mistakes and improve the efficiency of the vehicle management.

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: Architecture that enables location based notifications (e.g., geo-fences) using standard polygons the capture of complex regions. As applied to geo-fencing, it extends geo-fencing beyond the mere representation of the virtual perimeter (fenced) area. More specifically, the architecture takes into consideration geographical and demographical features, such as the layout of the roads and streets, the types of available of transportation (e.g., car, bus, walk, biking, etc.), the traffic conditions, and the dynamic properties of a point of interest (POI) such as opening hours, total wait time, etc.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a three-dimensional map data storage unit for storing three-dimensional map data for use in projecting a three-dimensional space on a map onto a plane, a location information storage unit for storing location information including a type of geographical objects at points spaced at predetermined intervals on the map represented by the three-dimensional map data with the location information in association with the respective point, a geographical object information storage unit for storing geographical object information, the geographical object information including a position of a geographical object on the map and display information relating to the geographic object, and a placement position setting unit for setting a display information placement position indicating a position of a sign pointing to the display information on the map based on the location information present within a predetermined area of the position of the geographical object indicated by the

Abstract: A system and method for a self-service digital photograph processing station user to send data representative of a photographic image to a photograph printing facility located in or near a geographic region remote from the self-service digital photograph processing station, but near an intended recipient of the photographic image. The method includes entering at least a portion of the intended recipients telephone number, which may include the area code and exchange number. An augmented map is displayed showing a map of the geographic area that corresponds with the area code and exchange number, and one or more available photograph printing facilities superimposed on the map. One or more of the available photograph printing facilities are selected and sent the data representative of the photographic image. The intended recipient may then pick up the photograph image after it is printed by the selected photograph printing facility.

Abstract: A real-time point of interest (POI) suggesting method is provided. In the method, present waiting time at several candidate POIs is obtained respectively right when an electronic apparatus is detected leaving an exit of a visited POI. Moving time for heading respectively for the candidate POIs from the visited POI is obtained. A suggested POI is selected from the candidate POIs according to the present waiting time and the moving time. Information of the suggested POI is transmitted to the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus outputs the information of the suggested POI. A computer readable storage medium with a computer program to execute the method and a real-time POI suggesting system are also provided.

Abstract: An augmented reality guiding system for delivery of location-oriented information, including a location server, a database coupled to the location server, and at least one mobile locating device. The database is configured to store target information relating to target points of interest. Each mobile locating device has a positioning module, an imaging module, a spatial orientation detection module, a display module, and at least one wireless communication module. Each mobile locating device is configured to receive target information relating to at least one target points of interest from the location server, and display the target information by visually augmenting at least one image on the display module.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications device for transmitting current location information representing a current location of the wireless communications device. The method entails, from within a communication application executing on a processor of the wireless communications device, causing the wireless communications device to obtain the current location information representing the current location of the wireless communications device, including the current location information in a communication generated from within the communication application, and transmitting the communication that includes the current location information. The method optionally entails a further step of performing a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the communication. Location information, such as maps or URLs to maps can be sent directly from an e-mail application or instant messenger without having to separately launch a mapping application.

Abstract: Automatic map generation is enabled by assigning priorities to each city in a list of cities under consideration for display on a map. A mapping engine determines a reference count for each city, indicating how frequently the city appears in one or more corpora of documents. Based on the reference count, and optionally upon other data such as population and political importance, a priority score is assigned to each city. Each city is then assigned to one of a plurality of categories according to the city's priority score. A map is then generated including cities from a specified highest number of categories. In one embodiment, cities from a higher-scored category are presented in a more significant way, e.g., in capital letters, bold type, etc., than are those in the next-highest scored category.

Abstract: The invention provides a navigation device and a facility image display method, whereby a user can recognize various types of information about a facility from the image corresponding to the facility. The navigation device includes road information, etc., used for drawing map images; facility information including the nodes of the facilities and a plurality of attributes of the facilities; a buffer memory that stores data of icon images corresponding to each of the plurality of attributes of the facilities; a map drawing unit that draws a map image on the basis of the road information, etc., and draws any of the icon images corresponding to the plurality of attributes of the facilities contained in the facility information, at a position in the map image corresponding to the node identified in the facility information; and an image synthesizing unit that causes a display unit to display the drawn image.

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: A navigation apparatus (200) comprises a processing resource (202) arranged to support an operating environment and a route follower (256) supported by the operating environment and arranged to monitor progression, when in use, along a route to be followed. The apparatus also comprises an instruction generator (260) supported by the operating environment and arranged to determine an identity of a location in advance of the location being reached where a manoeuvre has to be executed in order to continue following the route, and to generate manoeuvre data in relation to the manoeuvre. The apparatus further comprises a voice command generator (266) supported by the operating environment and arranged to obtain the manoeuvre data and to generate in response to the manoeuvre data voice instruction data for reproduction by a loudspeaker (276) as an audible voice instruction. The manoeuvre data comprises route manoeuvre instruction component data and supplementary descriptive instruction component data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system automatically assigns or allows a user to assign a brand icon to a particular location. The navigation system displays the assigned brand icon as well as generic icons on a map image. Thus, the navigation system enables the user to quickly distinguish a particular place such as a point of interest (POI) from other similar type of POIs on a map image. The user can identify a particular chain restaurant from other restaurant by the brand icon unique to the particular chain restaurant on the map image so that the user can easily specify the favorite restaurant as a destination.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, path determination includes receiving terrain elevation data comprising elevation values for locations of an area, where each elevation value indicates an elevation at a location. One or more gradient matrices are calculated from the elevation values. Each gradient matrix comprises gradient values corresponding to the locations. Traversable segments are determined from the gradient matrices, and a path is determined from the traversable segments.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a display for displaying at least a part of a digital map. A landmark detected within the digital map is displayed as a three-dimensional graphical object or a two-dimensional graphical object depending on a location of the landmark.

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 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 system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. A selection module is coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor, and the selection module is configured to select a cartographic resolution from a plurality of different cartographic resolutions, resulting in a selected cartographic resolution. The presentation element provides navigation instructions for at least a portion of the proposed route, using the selected cartographic resolution.

Abstract: An approach is provided for recognizing objects in media content. The capture manager determines to detect, at a device, one or more objects in a content stream. Next, the capture manager determines to capture one or more representations of the one or more objects in the content stream. Then, the capture manager associates the one or more representations with one or more instances of the content stream.

Abstract: A system and method for managing maintenance activities such as, for example, aircraft maintenance activities, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, aircraft maintenance requirements are monitored and/or aircraft maintenance resources are assigned.

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: An augmented reality guiding system for delivery of location-oriented information, including a location server, a database coupled to the location server, and at least one mobile locating device. The database is configured to receive, store, customize and send target information relating to target points of interest. Each mobile locating device has a geographical positioning module configured to determine location information for that locating device, an imaging module configured to capture at least one image of at least some of a field of vision for that locating device, a spatial orientation detection module configured to determine spatial information of that locating device, a display module configured to provide visual feedback, and at least one wireless communication module configured to communicate with the location server.

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: A method for automatically creating POI by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device is disclosed. 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 computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle associated computing system, includes receiving a request for display of local refueling points. The method also includes determining current coordinates of vehicle and determining one or more fuel point locations within a defined map range. The method additionally includes displaying a map display containing the current vehicle location and the location of the one or more fuel point locations.

Abstract: A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving spoken input at a computing device from a user of the computing device, the spoken input including a carrier phrase and a subject to which the carrier phrase is directed, providing at least a portion of the spoken input to a server system in audio form for speech-to-text conversion by the server system, the portion including the subject to which the carrier phrase is directed, receiving from the server system instructions for automatically performing an operation on the computing device, the operation including an action defined by the carrier phrase using parameters defined by the subject, and automatically performing the operation on the computing 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: Map information is exchanged between communication devices. A map of a geographical area is received. The map includes embedded interactive links that graphically represent points of interest within the geographical area. An embedded interactive link that graphically represents at least one point of interest is highlighted within the map. Responsive to selection of another embedded interactive link within the map that graphically represents another point of interest within the geographical area, the other embedded link within the map is highlighted. The map is transmitted, with the other embedded interactive link that graphically represents the other point of interest highlighted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a computer implemented method and system for creating a road model. In one embodiment, an identification of an intersection of a first road and a second road is received. At least one designated elevation is received at which the first road and the second road should merge. Finally a united layer is automatically created for the intersection wherein a first plurality of strings defining the first road and a second plurality of strings defining the second road intersect at the at least one designated elevation.

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: A list of places of interest geographically located near a travel route may be generated by accessing a routing database storing shape points capable of defining a travel route, determining a travel route from the shape points stored in the routing database, accessing a place of interest database including geographic centers, selecting from the places of interest database at least one geographic center that is geographically proximate to the travel route, and generating a list of places of interest associated with at least one of the selected geographic centers.

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: A method of advertising to a targeted vehicle involves, via a processor at a service center, determining at least one vehicle navigation route to a point of interest, and identifying a marketing agency that represents an entity that is at least one of i) associated with the point of interest, or ii) offering at least one of goods or services directed toward at least one occupant of the targeted vehicle traveling along the vehicle navigation route(s). The method further involves offering, to the marketing agency, advertisement space on a medium external to the targeted vehicle and located along the vehicle navigation route(s). Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer, via the processor at the service center, a command is submitted to a third party facility to display an advertisement of the marketing agency on the medium, where the advertisement is directed to the targeted vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method that includes (a) receiving a query for one or more areas accessible from a starting location (e.g., a current location) by public transit under one or more trip conditions, (b) identifying one or more areas accessible from the starting location by public transit under one or more trip conditions, and (c) displaying a map that highlights the accessible one or more areas (e.g., a map that depicts only the accessible one or more areas or a map that shades the one or more areas). The one or more trip conditions may include time of day, maximum length of time, maximum travel cost, preferred and/or permitted public transit types, maximum walking distance, maximum number of transfers, etc.

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: In order to notify a user that a facility is present in the neighborhood of a route to a destination, a mobile phone includes a location obtaining portion to obtain a present location (S03, S09), a destination setting portion to set a point of destination (S02), a departure point setting portion to set a point of departure (S04), a facility extraction portion to extract facility information of a facility located in the neighborhood of a route from the point of departure to the destination from among facility information included in map information (S08), and a light emission control portion to give notification at a prescribed timing if at least one facility information is extracted by the facility extraction portion (S14).