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

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

Abstract: Methods and computer readable medium for collaborating on geographical maps between two or more computers are disclosed. In particular, sharing a geographical location on a map between two or more computers and co-navigating a map between two or more computers are disclosed. With respect to sharing a geographical location, the geographical location is retrieved to the first computer. The geographical location is added to the map being rendered at the first computer and is sent to a second computer. A map including the geographical location is rendered at the second computer. With respect to co-navigating, a map is displayed from a map perspective at the first computer. The map perspective is sent to the second computer. A map from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer is rendered at the second computer.

Abstract: A navigation device that is mounted in a movable body of the present invention includes a first storing portion that stores a first navigation data; an acquiring portion that acquires a second navigation data from an external second storing portion; a movable body location detecting portion that detects the location of the movable body; a navigation operation executing portion that executes a predetermined navigation operation based on the location of the movable body that is detected by the movable body location detecting portion, and the first navigation data; and an updating portion that updates the first navigation data with the second navigation data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating, deriving, and enhancing drivable road databases are provided. A baseline road in a road network is defined and position and/or trajectory data collected by vehicles traveling the baseline road are compiled and compared to a representation of the baseline road in an existing database. Identity and/or other property information about the road are assigned form the existing database to the new database.

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

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating position location of a mobile device.

Abstract: A method to allocate memory, in response to application requests, for a compact data structure having location data and a trailer section is provided. The trailer section of the compact data structure is checked to determine an offset for listings and indices representing the location data. Upon determining the offset, the listings and indices are loaded into memory and responses to the application requests are generated by utilizing the listings and indices stored in the memory.

Abstract: In a method for visualizing geographic data using at least two-dimensional objects, at least one surface of the objects is covered with at least one texture, which texture is dynamically assigned to the at least one surface of the objects as a function of at least one input factor.

Abstract: A method for establishing a detection map of a dynamically configurable sensor network. This method determines an appropriate set of locations for a plurality of sensor units of a sensor network and establishes a detection map for the network of sensors while the network is being set up; the detection map includes the effects of the local terrain and individual sensor performance. Sensor performance is characterized during the placement of the sensor units, which enables dynamic adjustment or reconfiguration of the placement of individual elements of the sensor network during network set-up to accommodate variations in local terrain and individual sensor performance. The reconfiguration of the network during initial set-up to accommodate deviations from idealized individual sensor detection zones improves the effectiveness of the sensor network in detecting activities at a detection perimeter and can provide the desired sensor coverage of an area while minimizing unintentional gaps in coverage.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a display, a positioning system to receive geographical information, a storage unit for storing the received geographical information and a plurality of applications, and a processor. The processor acquires parameter of the navigation device, and switches the navigation device between a two-dimensional navigation mode and a three-dimensional navigation mode based on a comparison result between the acquired parameters and a preset parameter in the navigation device. A related navigation mode switch method is also provided.

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

Abstract: A storage medium stores map data divided into unit areas. A control circuit indicates a map on an image display unit according to the map data. The map data includes name records, which respectively correspond to names to be indicated in the map. Each of the name records includes information specifying a character string of corresponding one of the names and information specifying an indication range of the character string in the map. An updating unit updates a part of the unit areas of the map data. An extracting unit extracts a pair of the same character strings, which are overlapped and indicated in the map or closely indicated in the map, with reference to the name records, after update of the part of the unit areas of the map data. A prohibiting unit prohibits indication of one of the extracted pair in the map.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus is disclosed. The navigation apparatus is configured to: acquire a trace of a vehicle; produces unregistered road data representative of an unregistered road based on the trace when the vehicle travels on the unregistered road; register the unregistered road data in a storage medium; determine whether the vehicle makes a turn in direction; determine based on the trace whether deviation of the vehicle from a road is greater than or equal to a deviation threshold, when it is determined the vehicle makes the turn in direction; and prohibits the unregistered road data from being registered in the storage medium when it is determined that the deviation of the vehicle from the road is less than the deviation threshold.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus in a navigation system to provide lane complexity information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the navigation system provides guidance information by displaying one or more color indicators on each lane to indicate lane complexity thereon. The lane complexity can be determined by the number of freeways connected at an interchange or how many lane changes the driver has to make before approaching the maneuver point. In another embodiment, each lane on the map is highlighted with the same color as each color indicator which is located on or above the lane. In a further embodiment, a lane and an exit may be highlighted to differentiate from the lane which the vehicle is currently is travelling on to remind the driver of the exit.

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: The latitude/longitude and time acquired at prescribed sampling time intervals by a touring bus 1 which runs a predetermined running route are wireless-transmitted. A user 6 specifies a getting-on/off point on the basis of the latitude/longitude and time provided by the touring bus and acquires a running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point. Therefore, the user can acquire the running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously. The user can specify the getting-on/off point using the speed computed from the latitude/longitude and time acquired. Thus, the user can set his desired notifying point on the running route thus acquired. In such a configuration, there are provided a system for permitting a user of a touring bus to acquire a running route of the touring bus inclusive of a getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously and a system for notifying the arrival of the touring bus which permits the user to set his desired notifying point easily.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is (a) determined for one or more of the street segments and (b) associated with the geofenced area.

Abstract: A map distribution system that implements navigation using desired map data in which the degree of reliability of information about an object, such as a road or a facility, is taken into consideration is provided. A map distribution server 1a creates distribution data including difference map data and a reliance status showing the degree of reliability of the difference map data as a reply to edit request information about an edit request made by a user, and a map information terminal 3 receives the distribution data via a communication network 2 and performs navigation according to the reliance status included in the distribution data.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for road identification includes receiving a request at a vehicle computing system for a crossroad identification. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a crossroad along a route-being-traveled corresponding to the request. The method further includes outputting, from the vehicle computing system to an output, the determined crossroad responsive to the request.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of spline control points representing a two-dimensional geometry of a portion a road segment and obtaining data indicating a road grade of the portion of the road segment. The spline control points and data indicating road grade are obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The method further comprises projecting the spline control points onto a slope provided by the road grade to obtain a representation of a restored true road curvature of the portion of the road segment.

Abstract: A method for displaying a travel route on a display screen in a vehicle includes plotting location names in a linear manner horizontally across the display screen. A travel route is displayed by plotting items of travel route information in a linear manner horizontally across the display screen, wherein the travel route information is a time information or a distance information. Each location name and a respective one of the items of travel route information are aligned in a vertical direction. A graphical symbol for the vehicle is displayed on the display screen such that a position of the graphical symbol for the vehicle indicates a current position of the vehicle along the travel route. The location names and the travel route information are updated as the vehicle travels along the travel route.

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: A navigation device for navigating from one location to another includes a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals, a cellular receiver for receiving cellular signals, a memory, a processor, a display unit and a connection unit for receiving navigation data. The navigation data includes geographic and cellular provider information pertaining to the locations where cellular coverage is available by a particular provider. This information is processed by the processor to display route instructions to a user in which cellular coverage will be maintained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for identifying an activity of a user based on a chronological order of detected movements of a computing device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may include detecting movements of a computing device. The method also includes determining a chronological order of the detected movements. Further, the method includes identifying an activity of a user of the computing device based on the detected movements and chronological order. The method also includes determining a geographic location associated with at least one of the movements. Further, the method includes presenting identification of the activity and the geographic location.

Abstract: The invention purposes to provide a position information transmission method for accurately transmitting a position and a shape on a digital map with a small amount of data.

Abstract: A rewrite apparatus calculates a risk of destruction of data due to data retention in each file. It is determined whether a refresh start condition is satisfied. The refresh start condition is provided in accordance with the calculated risk. When the refresh start condition is satisfied, it is determined that the possibility to completely execute the refresh is high. The refresh is thereby executed. The rewrite apparatus can thus reduce the possibility to interrupt the refresh of the data stored in the storage medium such as a flash memory.

Abstract: The present invention discloses highly accurate driving control of a vehicle using map data. A car information system for controlling a driving control unit group is located in a vehicle. The car information system includes a map database for storing map data, a support area management table in which each kind of attribute data of the map data is associated with information for identifying a field-researched area, and a control unit for estimating an area through which the vehicle travels. The control unit uses a support area management table to judge whether attribute data included in the estimated area is associated with the support area.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes a radio communication unit; a radio environment detector detecting plural types of radio environment data indicating the degree of goodness of radio environment, a comprehensive radio environment data being calculated from results of weighting the plural types of radio environment data with predetermined weights; a self-position detecting unit; a storage for map data of a movement area; the calculated comprehensive radio environment data being written in association with its own position detected.

Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.

Abstract: A map data update system includes a first storage portion that stores road network data that describes a road in terms of a connection relationship between a node and a link; an update portion that receives update data and updates the road network data based on the update data; a data obtaining portion that obtains additional data by a means that differs from a means that receives the update data; a second storage portion that stores the additional data including association information that indicates association between the additional data and the link; and a correcting portion that, when update processing of the road network data is executed by the update portion, the association information in the additional data that is associated with the link that is changed by the update processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for mapping environments containing dynamic obstacles. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for mapping an environment containing dynamic obstacles using a processor including the steps of forming a current instantaneous map of the environment, determining cells which are free space within the current instantaneous map, determining cells which are occupied space within the current instantaneous map, and integrating the current instantaneous map with an old integrated map of the environment to form a new integrated map of the environment.