Abstract: An electronic apparatus refers to location measurement information measured in the past at each time when the latest location measurement information is output from a location measurement module with a predetermined measurement period, if measurement accuracy is good and it is regarded that a direction change has been made, determines the latest location measurement information as saving “necessary” and stores the information. If the measurement accuracy is no good or it is regarded that a positioning point shown by the latest location measurement information is an intermediate point during linear traveling, the latest location measurement information is not saved. Therefore, a data size to be saved is made smaller than that in related art and draining of a battery taken for writing of data is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides the simple operation for displaying the information that is expected to be necessary for the user and the simplified procedure of the hands-free operation when displaying the map information on the screen. The display device 20 in which an arrangement state of the screen can be selected between a first state and a second state displays on the screen the detailed information of a destination or its surrounding area such as parking lot information, an access route guide to the transportation facilities, and information of the facility of the destination is displayed on the screen if a change of the arrangement of the screen is detected, if the destination has been set in advance, and if a distance between a current position and the destination is within a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for conserving power in a GPS-based navigation system. The navigation system receives input from the driver selecting a portion(s) of the route (route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination) where the driver requests guidance. For those portions of the route not selected by the driver to receive guidance, the navigation system implements a low detail mode of operation. In such a mode of operation, the navigation system reduces its update frequency as well as displays less detailed graphics so as to consume less power. For those portions selected by the driver to receive guidance, the navigation system implements a high detail mode of operation, where the navigation system is capable of audio-visually communicating to the driver instructions for reaching a given destination. In this manner, the power consumed by the navigation system will be more efficiently utilized.

Abstract: A combination headband and tracking device that includes: a headband with a snap attachment mechanism, an elastic band and a camera lens; an ankle bracelet that includes a locking mechanism, an on and off switch and a GPS locator; a charge cord that includes a cord and an electrical plug; and a monitor that includes a volume control, a charge port and a visual display that displays a desired GPS location or a desired video.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus, a method and a system for setting up a destination and providing information are provided, in which the terminal apparatus includes a communicator which is configured to communicate with other terminal apparatuses, an input unit which is configured to receive a user command, a display which is configured to display a list including at least one item which corresponds to at least one of the other terminal apparatuses, and a controller which is configured to control the communicator to transmit destination information to a first terminal apparatus which corresponds to a selected item that is selected from among the at least one item included in the displayed list via the input unit. Accordingly, a user is provided with routes to the destination, without having to input address or name of the intended destination on his own terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A service providing method of a user terminal device connected to a display apparatus mounted on a moving means includes displaying a stored contact list and guiding one or more routes which displays a route guide screen to selected address information by utilizing a display apparatus if the address information is selected from personal information recorded on the displayed contact list. Accordingly, various services can be provided based on the personal information.

Abstract: A host application on a host computer system receives annotations made by drivers of respective navigation information displayed to the drivers by GPS devices in vehicles of the respective drivers. The host application saves the annotated navigation information for the respective drivers on a computer readable memory accessible by the host application. The host application receives a request from a first one of the drivers for annotated navigation information made by one or more of the other drivers. Responsive to the request, the host application selects one or more items of the saved annotated navigation information. The host application sends the selected one or more items of the saved annotated navigation information to the GPS device of the first one of the drivers.

Abstract: A system and method and system flow for processing GPS event data to identify frequent stop location in accord with embodiments as described herein. The method comprises identifying a stop location for a vehicle. The method comprises recording vehicle stops for an entity associated with the vehicle over a predetermined period of time. For example, stops are collected or processed for a predetermined time period. If the number of stops meets the threshold number of stops, the area is identified as a frequent stop location.

Abstract: A location-based service (LBS) system and a wishing service method thereof, including a user's equipment end, a server and a merchant's equipment end. The user equipment receives current location information of the user's equipment end and a user's wishing message and transmits them to the server. The server analyzes a wishing category of the user's wishing message and issues the user's wishing message to a region range of the corresponding current location information. The merchant's equipment end receives the user's wishing message in the region range according to the wishing category, and transmits a merchant's feedback message to the server according to the user's wishing message. Wherein, the server receives the merchant's feedback message to be transmitted to the user's equipment end, and the user's equipment end receives the merchant's feedback message through the server to automatically guide to a position corresponding to merchant's location.

Abstract: A possibility for simplifying the inputting of the destination in a motor vehicle navigation system by providing the user with useful additional items of information for the specification of ambiguous destination indications. Such a navigation system includes means for destination input, a navigation module for route planning, and means for displaying information, in particular indications of location, additional items of information concerning the indications of location, and route information, the means for destination input supporting a hierarchical, interactive inputting of the destination, by providing the user, in the case of ambiguous textual destination indications, with a choice of destination alternatives, including additional items of specifying information, until an unambiguous destination indication is made. The textual destination indications are stored together with corresponding geographic coordinates.

Abstract: In an information processing device, when a positional information acquiring unit acquires positional information calculated from GPS signals and the like, a movement area setting unit sets a movement area with a size corresponding to a distance between a current location and a destination. When the positional information acquiring unit acquires positional information indicating a current location after setting this movement area, a judgment unit judges whether the positional information is within the movement area. Then, as a result of this judgment, in a case of being within the movement area, a display control unit executes display control of a display unit so as to display on a map the positional information, and in a case of being outside of the movement area, so as not to display on the map the positional information.

Abstract: A system and method for identification of a particular one device from an array of networked devices. Each of the devices are individually addressable by a controller on the network, and a technician preferably identifies a particular one device by use of a handheld remote control. Pointing one of transmitter/receiver pair at a device including the complementary component allows remote disambiguation based upon ranging and signal strength, particularly when using a pair of orthogonal antennas to discriminate and confirm which particular device is being pointed to by the remote. Optional confirmation helps improve identification robustness, and then the properly identified device may be configured/commissioned.

Abstract: A method for controlling a map is provided. The method comprises displaying a map on a display module of a mobile terminal and registering a point on the map, selected by using at least one of a user input unit and a sensing unit, as a shortcut point and displaying a shortcut icon on the map.

Abstract: Songs titles and song artists or other content received on an HD-radio are cross-referenced to one or more geographic locations where they were heard on the radio by identifying a song title or artist in the HD radio data stream and instructing a global positioning system navigation unit to contemporaneously determine its location. The determined location and song title and/or artist are cross-referenced to each other in a list or database. A touch-sensitive display device is configured to display the location or portion of a route where a listened-to song was heard. Song titles and/or artists can be determined by tactile selection of portions of a route displayed on the map.

Abstract: A routing module identifies POIs that can be reached from a route with a cost less than distance m. A routing engine performs a reverse exploration on nodes in the planned route to locate POIs from which the route can be reached with a cost of less than a second cost n. POIs identified as being reachable from the route with a cost of less than m, and from which the route is reachable with a cost less than n are then further filtered to identify a subset of the POIs for which the sum of the time or distance from the route to the POI and the time or distance from the POI back to the route is less than a threshold time or distance, t.

Abstract: An approach for generating optimal itineraries based on network connectivity is presented. A computer receives a first message from which a current position of a vehicle on a trip, destination, a service being requested for a mobile device in the vehicle, service providers and network(s) are extracted. Network connectivity measures are retrieved and signal qualities in respective cells are determined based on the network connectivity measures. Based on the signal qualities, an itinerary is determined as paths and a hop indicating a position on one of the paths at which a connectivity change from a first to a second service provider is to occur. A response to the first message indicates the itinerary. Sending the response results in the mobile device making the connectivity change when the vehicle reaches the position indicated by the hop.

Abstract: An approach for generating optimal itineraries is presented. As a response to a first message sent to a remote computer system by a global positioning device transported by a vehicle on a trip, the device receives a second message indicating optimal itineraries of the trip. The device receives a selection of an optimal itinerary indicating a path, a hop, an updated service provider to provide a service to a mobile device transported by the vehicle, and an updated network for providing the service. The device detects the vehicle at a position indicated by the hop, and in response, generates a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network. The global positioning device sends the third message to the mobile device and as a result, the mobile device makes a connectivity change to the updated service provider and/or to the updated network.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a touch screen for receiving a touch input and displaying a navigation map, mode-switching means for issuing a mode-switching command to switch the navigation system into an input mode, a memory for storing a database, and a controller to recognize a handwriting input or a gesture input to acquire an input information, search the database for a facility information corresponding to the input information, and show facilities represented by the facility information in the navigation map.

Abstract: A route finding system comprising a memory, GPS device, library of maps, an optimization algorithm and means for capturing user input and outputting data. The user input includes points, goals, constraints and relative preferences. Goals and constraints include characteristics of the route such as the type of road, number of turns, and traffic. The relative preferences are converted into numerical weights, positive or negative. In addition, the system integrates social networks' ratings and comments to further enhance route selection.

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: Methods and systems for positional communication are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of electronic communications for a user may be accessed. Positional information associated with the user may be accessed. User interface data for the plurality of electronic communications may be provided based on the positional information.

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 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: Where destination candidates that are selected by a search are arranged in a specified display order, the candidates are divided into two subgroups, based on a median value, and a first destination candidate, a median destination candidate, and a last destination candidate are displayed. Where a desired candidate is included among the three displayed candidates, a user chooses the desired candidate. Where the desired candidate is not displayed, the user selects one of a first subgroup button and a second subgroup button to display the destination candidates in the subgroups before and after the median value, respectively. If two-hundred-fifty-three candidates are displayed in a sequential list in five candidate display spaces, a maximum of fifty operations are required to view all of the candidates. In contrast, the divided display arranges the two-hundred-fifty-three candidates into six levels, so the desired candidate can be selected in a maximum of six operations.

Abstract: Techniques are described for displaying or otherwise providing information to users regarding various types of road traffic condition information in various ways. The information may be provided, for example, as part of a user interface (or “UI”), which may in some situations further include one or more types of user-selectable controls to allow a user to manipulate in various ways what road traffic condition information is displayed and/or how the information is displayed. A variety of types of road traffic condition information may be presented to users in various manners, including by presenting information on graphically displayed maps for geographic areas to indicate various information about road conditions in the geographic area. In addition, provided controls may allow users to select particular times, select particular routes, indicate to perform animation of various types of changing traffic conditions over a sequence of multiple successive times, etc.

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

Abstract: A system and method for an integrated lane positioning monitor with locational information systems is provided. The system and method gather and process information and data to assist an automobile operator in selecting and changing driving lanes. Further, the system and method is integrated with a locational information system to inform the operator of upcoming congestion and traffic issues as well as an appropriate distance to change lanes before a highway exit or entrance.

Abstract: A method for a GPS mobile phone to accomplish navigation on a PC and a system thereof are disclosed. The method comprises: the GPS mobile phone acquires a current GPS signal, transforms the GPS signal into NMEA data, and then transmits the NMEA data to the PC driving module through communication with the PC driving module; the PC driving module receives the NMEA data and transmits the NMEA data to the virtual serial port driving module; the virtual serial port driving module transforms the NMEA data into serial data, generates a second virtual serial port, and transmits the serial data to the navigation module via the second virtual serial port; and the navigation module reads the serial data for displaying. In this way, the navigation function of the GPS mobile phone can be achieved on the PC, which brings about great convenience to the user.

Abstract: A method of processing location data at a portable computing device is provided and includes receiving information associated with a user defined location at the portable computing device. The information includes a central point and an entry indication perimeter. An entry alert associated with the user defined location is received at the portable computing device. The location of the portable computing device is monitored to determine when the portable computing device crosses the entry indication perimeter associated with the central point of the user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to the user defined location. The method further includes switching the portable computing device from a roaming state to an entry state indicating that the portable computing device is about to enter the user defined location. An indication can be provided to the user that the portable computing device has switched to the entry state.

Abstract: At least one inertial sensor is configured to sense movement of a telephone (or other portable device such as a personal digital assistant, portable computer, portable game device, portable audio player, or portable video player). Information derived at least in part from data output by the inertial sensor is used as input to software executing on the telephone.