Abstract: A vehicle can include a navigation unit configured to determine a position of the vehicle. A detection unit can be configured to recognize position and features of objects external to the vehicle. An identification unit can be configured to identify objects expected to be detected based on a determined position of the vehicle, by comparing the recognized features to feature data of object reference data stored in a local database. When the identification unit is unable to identify an object, the identification unit can compare recognized or stored object features to the additional feature data received from a remote database. A navigation unit can update the position of the vehicle based on position data of identified objects and more accurate and safe autonomous operation of a vehicle can be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for location correction are provided. In one exemplary method, a first routing identifier of a first location associated with a location correction may be identified. The first location and the first routing identifier may be stored. A second routing identifier associated with a location request may be identified. A second location based at least in part on a comparison of the first routing number and the second routing number may be predicted. Finally, the location request may be responded to with the second location.

Abstract: A computerised method of creating map data from a plurality of trips where each trip comprises position data derived from the positions of at least one navigation device 200 over a period of time, the method comprising using a processing circuitry to perform the following steps: i. processing the position data; ii. determining from the processing the believed accuracy of the position data constituting a trip; iii. reducing the weight applied to and/or removing position data in which the belief is below a predetermined threshold to generate filtered position data; iv. deriving information about the road 700 based upon the filtered position data; and v. generating further map data.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving an entry for a destination; identifying a category of interest for the destination; generating a route to the destination; recognizing a traveling context for traveling along the route to the destination; and generating an en-route notification based on matching a delivery profile to the category of interest for traveling within the traveling context for displaying on a device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store a first address and a longitude, latitude, and altitude associated with the first address. The processor can receive a second address and determine that a user device associated with the second address is not located at the second address. In response to the determination that the user device is not located at the second address, the processor can approximate the geocoordinates of the second address based at least in part upon the longitude, latitude, and altitude associated with the first address.

Abstract: Initial trajectory data that provides an initial description of an approximate trajectory of a device during a time period, and correction data that indicates a location of the device outside the approximate trajectory of the device within the time period, are received. A modified trajectory data that provides a modified description of a corrected trajectory of the device is generated. In particular, terms to express (i) location constraints that limit deformation of the approximate trajectory of the device and (ii) a modification constraint that limits departure of the corrected trajectory of the device from the location indicated by the correction data are generated, and the initial description of the approximate trajectory of the device is modified using the generated terms.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a GNSS position engine (GPE) that uses GNSS satellite measurements to compute a first position and velocity of a vehicle and a first quality metric associated with the position and velocity. The system also includes a dead reckoning engine (DRE) that operates parallel with the GPE that computes a second position and velocity and a second quality metric associated with the dead reckoning. The GPE is configured to use the second position and velocity to detect a set of outliers in an incoming GNSS measurement; use the second position and velocity as an initial estimate of its position and velocity for a particular time instant, which is then refined by GNSS measurements received at that particular time instant; and to replace the first position and velocity with the second position and velocity.

Abstract: A user device is equipped with one or more sensors that collect data relating to a movement of a user having the user device. An estimated area within which a starting location of the user device is located is determined based on one or more signals received from adjacent signal sources. A plurality of candidate locations is identified within the estimated area as the potential starting location of the user device. Map information of surrounding area that covers the estimated area is also obtained. One or more candidate locations are filtered out depending on whether they could have experienced the movement based on the map information. When one or more re-starting conditions have met during the movement, a then starting location of the user device needs to be determined.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for determining a mobile device location. An example of a method for determining a mobile device location includes receiving signals from a transmitter, measuring signal characteristics of the received signals, and downloading data from a database corresponding to a defined region associated with the transmitters. The downloaded data includes a set of position points, a classification of each position point, and expected signal characteristics for each position point. The method further includes comparing the measured signal characteristics with the expected signal characteristics for each position point, assigning a weight to position points based on the compared signal characteristics, and determining the mobile device location by selecting one position point from the set as a position point solution corresponding to the mobile device location based on the assigned weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a three-dimensional (3D) digital map system for implementing a navigation and ground collision preventing method using 3D terrain information. The 3D digital map system includes a terrain referenced navigation module configured to receive data from EGI (Embedded GPS/INS), a radio-altimeter (RALT) and a map database, corrects the data to perform accurate navigation computation, and outputs the corrected data, a collision avoidance warning module configured to generate a warning against collision of an aircraft with the ground or an obstacle using the corrected data, a 3D terrain database and an obstacle database, a terrain following module configured to generate a terrain following trajectory of the aircraft using the same information, and a Passive Ranging module configured to receive the 3D terrain database and line-of-sight (LOS) information of a target and calculate distance and position information of the target located on the ground.

Abstract: A running condition detection device includes a GPS receiving unit configured to receive a GPS signal and output a current position, a geomagnetic sensor configured to detect geomagnetism, a direction determination unit configured to obtain a current moving direction based on current positional data and last positional data from the GPS receiving unit, a first bend determination unit configured to compare current moving direction data obtained by the direction determination unit and reference direction data to determine passage of a street corner, a second bend determination unit configured to compare geomagnetic data detected by the geomagnetic sensor and reference geomagnetic data to determine passage of a street corner, and a determination prohibition unit which prohibits the first and second bend determination units from determining passage of a street corner during a given period of time when passage of a street corner is determined by one of the first bend determination unit and the second bend deter

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing a position of a moving object includes a sensor information collector to collect sensor information associated with movement of the moving object, a camera to capture a front image based on the movement of the moving object, and a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS position of the moving object. Further, the apparatus includes a location recognizer to display N number of particles, each of which indicates a candidate position of the moving object, in a certain region about a GPS location of the moving object on a map. The location recognizer then updates a location of the particles based on the movement of the moving object, and progressively reduces number of particles on the basis of accuracy of the position-updated particles, thereby recognizing the position of the moving object.

Abstract: A system includes a transformation module, alignment module and aligned localization module. The transformation module is configured to receive first and second pose estimates of a mobile platform movable within an environment. The first and second pose estimates are relative to different, respective first and second digital maps of the environment in different, respective first and second coordinate systems. The transformation module, then, may be configured to calculate a geometric transform between the first and second digital maps based on the first and second pose estimates. The alignment module may be configured to align the first and second digital maps based on the geometric transform, and thereby generate an aligned digital map. And the aligned localization module may be configured to localize the mobile platform relative to the aligned digital map, and thereby calculate an aligned pose estimate of the mobile platform.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to positioning and mapping based on virtual landmarks. A space may include a plurality of signal sources (e.g., wireless access points (APs), cellular base stations, etc.). The space may be virtually divided into a plurality of regions, wherein each region in the space may be associated with a virtual landmark. Virtual landmarks may be identified by a signature comprised of measurements of wireless signals received from the plurality of access points when at the associated region. A device position may be approximated based on signal power magnitude and variance measurements for wireless signals received at the virtual landmark. Devices may employ an algorithm such as, for example, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) for positioning and map creation in the space without the need for GPS signals, specialized signaling equipment, pre-navigation device training, etc. Navigation/mapping may also account for space changes, signal source position changes, etc.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing a location of an individual are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to concurrently provide a location of an individual at least two different points in time, a time identifier for each of the at least two different points in time, and an uncertainty associated with the location of the individual at each of the at least two different points in time to a user.

Abstract: A voice recognition method that is used for finding a street uses a database including information about a plurality of streets. The streets are characterized by respective street names and street types. A user provides a voice input for the street that the user tries to find. The voice input includes a street name and a street type. The street type is recognized by processing the voice input. Streets having the recognized street type are then selected from the database and a street name of at least one of the streets selected from the database is recognized by processing the voice input.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining location offset information. A correction manager determines to present, at a device, a location-based display including one or more representations of one or more location-based features. Next, the correction manager receives an input for specifying offset information for at least one of the one or more representations with respect to the location-based display. Then, the correction manager determines to present the one or more representations in the location-based display based, at least in part, on the offset information.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for updating digital maps and for matching global navigation devices to a digital map. Such navigation devices rely upon GPS signals (20, 24) from satellites (22, 26). One well-documented cause of position error in navigation devices arises from the phenomenon of GPS multi-path. It has been observed that GPS multi-path errors in the latitude/longitude direction are highly correlated with errors in altitude. By comparing altitude value of GPS probe data with reference specifications for altitude, unreliable probe data (outliers) can be easily identified and culled. Such techniques can be used as well by a mobile navigation device to confirm a match to a particular road segment and if not revert to other positioning techniques such as inertial guidance systems and the like. If the local altitude is not reliably known, an estimation can be derived directly from the collected probe data.

Abstract: A method for ensuring continuity of service of a portable navigation device (10) in the event of insufficient reception of GNSS satellite signals, wherein the user provides the portable navigation device (10) with first data relating to the current position of the device (10) through data input (115), and wherein the personal navigation device (10), in order to calculate its own position, uses the first data entered by the user and second data coming from localization tools (105,110,127,170,180,190) associated with the portable navigation device (10) and not using GNSS satellite signals.

Abstract: A system and method for locating, tracking, and/or monitoring the status of personnel and/or assets (“trackees”), both indoors and outdoors, is provided. Tracking data obtained from various sources utilizing any number of tracking methods may be provided as input to a mapping application. The mapping application generates position estimates for trackees using a suite of mapping tools to make corrections to the tracking data. The mapping application further uses information from building data, when available, to enhance position estimates. Indoor tracking methods including sensor fusion methods, map matching methods, and map building methods may be implemented to take tracking data from one or more trackees and compute a more accurate tracking estimate for each trackee. Outdoor tracking methods may be implemented to enhance outdoor tracking data by combining tracking estimates such as inertial tracks with magnetic data, compass data, and/or with GPS, if and when available.

Abstract: A non-time of flight or time of arrival position location system for accurate determination of a user's location in an enclosed, indoor, or covered environment can include a number of beacons mounted in an arrangement within the environment. Each of the beacons is mounted in a known location and transmits a broadcast signal containing a unique identifier that identifies the originating beacon. A handheld electronic device including a receiver and a communicably coupled processor can receive broadcast signals from at least some of the number of beacons, iteratively determine a vector quantity corresponding to each of the received signals, and sum the resultant vector quantities to determine an updated position. The iterative process can be repeated until consecutive iterations yield an updated position that falls within a defined threshold.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to localizing mobile devices. In one example, a first location method associated with a first accuracy value may be used to estimate a location of the mobile device. A confidence circle indicative of a level of confidence in the estimation of the location is calculated. The confidence circle may be displayed on a mobile device. When other location methods become available, the size of the displayed confidence circle may be expanded based on information from an accelerometer of the client device or the accuracy of the other available location methods. This may be especially useful when the mobile device is transitioning between areas which are associated with different location methods that may be more or less accurate.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer program and user interface wherein the method comprises: a controller configured to determine locations of interest within a predetermined distance of a first location; a display configured to simultaneously present a map, a first bounded area of the map and a list of the determined locations of interest within the first bounded area; a user input device configured to enable a user to make a user input, wherein; the controller is configured to detect a user input and, in response to the detection of the user input, control the display to present a second bounded area of the map and update the list of the determined locations of interest so that locations of interest within the second bounded area are presented in the list.

Abstract: Calculating a highly accurate locus is a goal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for navigating with the use of correlation within a select area are provided. One method includes, storing data required to reconstruct ranges and associated angles to objects along with statistical accuracy information while initially traversing throughout the select area. Measuring then current ranges and associated angles to the objects during a subsequent traversal throughout the select area. Correlating the then current ranges and associated angles to the objects to reconstructed ranges and associated angles to the objects from the stored data. Determining at least one of then current location and heading estimates within the select area based at least in part on the correlation and using the least one of the then current location and heading estimates for navigation.

Abstract: A system comprises a delivery application executing on a processor of a delivery device. The application communicates a message indicating a problem associated with locating a destination site for a user. The system further comprises a vendor server communicatively coupled to the processor of the delivery device. The vendor server receives the message indicating the problem associated with the first location, determines that the first location is associated with a second location that is within a predetermined distance of the first location, approximates geocoordinates associated with the first location based at least in part upon geocoordinates associated with the second location, and communicates the approximated geocoordinates to the delivery application.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the length of a path traveled by a vehicle using an onboard unit that generates a sequence of position readings and a related position quality index for each position reading. A set of consecutive position readings is extracted from the sequence. Position readings are discarded having position quality indices falling below a threshold. A set quality index is determined based on the number of position readings of the set or on the position quality indices. If the set quality index exceeds a threshold, the path length is determined based on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the set. Otherwise, the path length is determined using a digital road map composed of road segments by associating the position readings of the set with at least one road segment, and determining the path length based on the segment length of the at least one road segment.

Abstract: Methods, systems and applications for updating, enhancing, organizing, and utilizing geographic maps, for locating points of interest and places of businesses, or POI's. Embodiments provide a method for collecting geo-coordinate data on POIs by eliciting participation of the business owners or designated employees to identify the specific locations of POI's on a map; a map program which synchronizes to a centralized database where POI and other more frequently changing and time-dependent map information is downloaded to individual users; a map program, where in addition to the standard contact information, “qualitative” information and website links are included in an POI information box to aid in pre-qualifying a POI before selection and in booking a reservation; a method for locating markers on an Internet-based search engine map; and an improved contact management system that allows locations of contacts to be viewed on a map while minimizing address geocoding.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to localizing mobile devices. In one example, a first location method associated with a first accuracy value may be used to estimate a location of the mobile device. A confidence circle indicative of a level of confidence in the estimation of the location is calculated. The confidence circle may be displayed on a mobile device. When other location methods become available, the size of the displayed confidence circle may be expanded based on information from an accelerometer of the client device or the accuracy of the other available location methods. This may be especially useful when the mobile device is transitioning between areas which are associated with different location methods that may be more or less accurate.

Abstract: A system stores reference data generated by associating image feature point data with an image-capturing position and a recorded vehicle event. The system generates data for matching by extracting image feature points from an actually-captured image. The system generates information on an actual vehicle event, extracts first reference data whose image-capturing position is located in a vicinity of an estimated position of the vehicle, and extracts second reference data that includes a recorded vehicle event that matches the actual vehicle event. The system performs matching between at least one of the first reference data and the second reference data, and the data for matching, and determines a position of the vehicle based on the matching.

Abstract: A method and system for searching an information retrieval system for items of interest that are in proximity to geographical locations provided by the user. The information retrieval system can perform a search for specified types of businesses or items of interest that surround or are in close proximity to the user's present geographical location, or a geographical location that the user has pre-configured in a database. The system receives geographical location information concerning the user's position from the wireless network carrier, which tracks the location of the user's mobile communications device. When the user desires to store a geographical location and geographical name for a future search, the information is entered into the pre-configured database. When conducting an information search at a later time, the user can narrow a search request to a geographical area in the vicinity of the stored geographical location.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a display control unit for causing a display unit to display a map, a first operation obtaining unit for obtaining a first operation for moving a center of a designated area on the map, a second operation obtaining unit for obtaining a second operation different from the first operation for moving the center, and a size setting operation obtaining unit for obtaining a size setting operation for setting a size of the designated area.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a method for displaying a map comprising a location estimate on a mobile device. The method includes displaying an interface specifying a correction to the location estimate. The method also includes determining a revised location based on the correction. Additionally, the method includes displaying the map comprising the correction.

Abstract: The present invention provides system and method for creation of a road map, the system comprising a plurality of navigation devices; and an application server to receive from the plurality of navigation devices time series of location points, and to create a road map based on the time series of location points. The method comprising receiving location points from plurality of navigation devices, along with respective time stamps indicating the time of recordation of each of the location points; identifying at least one route according to the location points and respective time stamps; and creating a road map based on the at least one route.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for fusion of sensor and map data using constraint based optimization. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method may include obtaining tracking data for a tracked subject, the tracking data including data from a dead reckoning sensor; obtaining constraint data for the tracked subject; and using a convex optimization method based on the tracking data and the constraint data to obtain a navigation solution. The navigation solution may be a path and the method may further include propagating the constraint data by a motion model to produce error bounds that continue to constrain the path over time. The propagation of the constraint data may be limited by other sensor data and/or map structural data.

Abstract: A neighborhood creating device includes: a memory; and one or more processors that execute a procedure in the memory, the procedure including a position acquiring process that acquires position information representing a position of a mobile object; a data creating process that creates mobile object data representing a condition associated with a movable range of the mobile object based on the position information; a data acquiring process that acquires obstacle data representing a condition associated with a place through which the mobile object is not able to move; and an information creating process that creates neighborhood information satisfying both conditions represented by the mobile object data and the obstacle data and continuously representing a movable range of the mobile object around the mobile object.

Abstract: Initial trajectory data that provides an initial description of an approximate trajectory of a device during a time period, and correction data that indicates a location of the device outside the approximate trajectory of the device within the time period, are received. A modified trajectory data that provides a modified description of a corrected trajectory of the device is generated. In particular, terms to express (i) location constraints that limit deformation of the approximate trajectory of the device and (ii) a modification constraint that limits departure of the corrected trajectory of the device from the location indicated by the correction data are generated, and the initial description of the approximate trajectory of the device is modified using the generated terms.

Abstract: A navigation filter for a navigation system using terrain correlation delivering an estimation of the kinematic state of a carrier craft using a plurality of data includes the measurements returned by at least one terrain sensor, the model associated with the terrain sensor, the data from an onboard map, an error model for the onboard map, the measurements returned by an inertial guidance system, and a model of the inertial guidance system. The navigation filter also includes a first filter referred to as convergence filter, for example of the Kalman filter type, and a second filter referred to as tracking filter, for example of the particle filter type.

Abstract: A satellite and/or dead-reckoning navigation integrated positioning device with improved accuracy including position, velocity, etc. is disclosed. A tracking processing module performs, based on a GPS signal, acquisition and tracking thereof and demodulation of a navigation message. A GPS calculation module calculates position, velocity, and the like based on pseudo-range and Doppler frequency observations, and ephemeris data and gives the calculations to output judgment and tracking processing modules. Based on external support information including inertial sensor output, map information or information about differences between map position and measured position , along with the pseudo-range and Doppler observations, an integrated positioning calculation module estimates position, velocity, and the like, and gives the estimates to the output judgment module.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for estimating position information in a portable terminal are provided. A position estimation method includes estimating position information of the portable terminal; firstly compensating for an estimation error of the position information of the portable terminal according to motion information of the portable terminal; secondarily compensating for the firstly compensated position information according to a map matching scheme; and storing the position information of the compensated estimation error as the position information of the portable terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing a position of a moving object includes a sensor information collector to collect sensor information associated with movement of the moving object, a camera to capture a front image based on the movement of the moving object, and a GPS receiver configured to receive a GPS position of the moving object. Further, the apparatus includes a location recognizer to display N number of particles, each of which indicates a candidate position of the moving object, in a certain region about a GPS location of the moving object on a map. The location recognizer then updates a location of the particles based on the movement of the moving object, and progressively reduces number of particles on the basis of accuracy of the position-updated particles, thereby recognizing the position of the moving object.

Abstract: A navigation system includes: an angular velocity sensor 1 for detecting a change in an advancement direction of a vehicle; a vehicle azimuth calculation unit 13 for calculating a vehicle azimuth on the basis of angular velocity sensor information obtained from the angular velocity sensor; an on-board camera 2 for shooting a periphery of the vehicle; an image recognition unit 19 for recognizing an image obtained from the on-board camera; and an offset voltage correction unit 21 for performing a drift correction on the angular velocity sensor in accordance with an angle error between the vehicle azimuth calculated by the vehicle azimuth calculation unit and a vehicle azimuth determined from a white line on a road recognized by the image recognition unit.

Abstract: A navigation device is provided that includes a processor configured to track a path of the navigation device based on a first signal received by the navigation device, and calculate a calculated position of the navigation device based on a second signal different from the first signal. The navigation device may further include a graphical user interface configured to display a calculated position graphical element representing the calculated position determined based on the second signal and display a tracked position graphical element representing the path of the navigation device determined based on the first signal, the tracked position graphical element and the calculated position graphical element being distinguishable in appearance.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a speed calculating section configured to calculates a traveling speed of a user based on a signal received from a positioning signal transmitter, a walking tempo acquiring section configured to acquire a walking tempo of the user, and an evaluating section configured to evaluate, based on the walking tempo and the traveling speed, reliability of information calculated by using the signal received from the positioning signal transmitter.

Abstract: A driving support device includes a maximum measurement range determination unit adapted to calculate a distance to a plurality of points on a surface of an object present at surroundings of a vehicle. A distance sensor such as a laser range finder or a stereo camera that measures a distance is used in order to estimate bias of an acceleration sensor with high accuracy upon correction of the bias by use of the distance sensor such as the stereo camera or the LRF in a GPS non-receiving section. A sensor parameter estimation unit is adapted to estimate a parameter of the acceleration sensor based on a behavior of an own vehicle obtained from a vehicle translation and rotation angle calculation means adapted to count backwards the vehicle behavior based on distance variation and also based on a measurement value of the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: detecting an accelerometer acceleration, having a magnitude and a direction, for monitoring a device; receiving a first location reading for locating the device with a remote location system; determining the first location reading as being invalid; and updating a device-location from the first location reading with the accelerometer acceleration for displaying on the device.

Abstract: A route retrieval apparatus is disclosed. The route retrieval apparatus includes a storage component, a first correction component, a second correction component and a retrieval component. The storage component stores therein probe information to specify fuel consumption in each section, the probe information having been collected from probe vehicles. The first correction component corrects gradient information of each section based on the specified fuel consumption in the each section. The second correction component corrects a fuel cost of each section based on the gradient information corrected by the first correction component. The retrieval component retrieves, by using the fuel cost of the each section corrected by the second correction component, a route with a lowest total of the fuel costs from a departure point to a destination point.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display displaying a first map representing a position of the apparatus obtained as a result of a first positioning, and further displaying a second map representing the position of the apparatus and being obtained as a result of a second positioning which is started before displaying the first map, the second map being displayed without responding to a request for displaying the position of the apparatus obtained as a result of the second positioning.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for validating a correction to map data for a geographic location, the system including: a processing resource; and a navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource includes: a user request generator that is configured to generate a user request for transmission to the navigation device; a transmitter for transmitting the generated user request to the navigation device; and a receiver for receiving a user response from the navigation device; and the navigation device includes: a receiver for receiving the user request transmitted from the processing resource; a user request module configured to present the received user request to a user of the navigation device; a user response module for capturing a user response to the presented user request, and a transmitter for transmitting the captured user response to the processing resource.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product are provided for determining points of interest using intelligent agents and semantic data. The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable for receiving a media data comprising a location data comprising where media was captured. The instructions are also operable for determining at least one point of interest based on the media data, tying the media data to the at least one point of interest, and providing the media data tied to the at least one point of interest to an end user.