Abstract: Systems and methods for applying one or more route-based modifications to a map are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a pathfinder module configured to determine a primary route from a beginning point to a destination point on the map. The pathfinder module is further configured to generate one or more primary modifications to the map based on the primary route. The system also includes a restyling module configured to apply the primary route and the one or more primary modifications to the map. The one or more primary modifications include at least one of a) adding a first object to the map that would otherwise be excluded from the map if the primary route is not applied to the map and b) excluding a second object from the map that would otherwise be added to the map if the primary route is not applied to the map.

Abstract: Search criterion information, which indicates a search criterion is transmitted to a search server, destination point information on a destination point, which is a point found by the search server based on the search criterion, is obtained, a candidate point database that stores candidate point information on a candidate point connected to a road in association with the candidate point is searched, the candidate point associated with the candidate point information having a similarity to the destination point information, higher than or equal to a predetermined reference similarity, is identified as an arrival point, and first guidance information that indicates a first route to the arrival point is generated when the arrival point has been identified and second guidance information that indicates a second route to a point closest to the destination point among points on roads is generated when the arrival point has not been identified.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for defining travel paths in parking areas. In one embodiment, travel paths in parking areas can be defined by connecting street networking connection points within the parking areas. In another embodiment, such defined travel paths can be merged with actual paths traveled by vehicles in the parking areas.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a junction node having a junction decision point; identifying an internal segment within the junction node, the internal segment connected to the junction decision point; identifying an external segment outside of the junction node, the external segment connected to the internal segment at the junction decision point; generating a traffic path through the junction node based on eliminating the junction decision point for merging the internal segment and the external segment; updating the junction node based on eliminating the traffic path in violation of a turn restriction; and generating a preferred path with a control unit through the junction node updated for displaying on a device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for generating a navigation chart is provided. The system includes a display device and a computing device coupled to the display device. The computing device is configured to receive at least one of current geographic position data from a navigation instrument and a desired geographic position input by a user and to generate a navigation chart having a geographic area that corresponds to one of the current geographic location and the desired geographic position and that includes at least one navigation aid, the navigation chart includes at least one navigation aid symbol corresponding to a position of the navigation aid within the geographic area. The computing device is further configured to determine whether each navigation aid is visible at a predetermined position within the geographic area and to display the navigation chart on the display device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a speech translation apparatus includes a speech recognition unit, a translation unit, a search unit and a selection unit. The speech recognition unit successively performs speech recognition to obtain a first language word string. The translation unit translates the first language word string into a second language word string. The search unit search for at least one similar example and acquires the similar example and a translation example. The selection unit selects, in accordance with a user instruction, at least one of the first language word string associated with the similar example and the second language word string associated with the translation example, as a selected word string.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to generating turn-by-turn direction previews. In one aspect, one or more computing devices, may receive a request for a turn-by-turn direction preview. The one or more computing devices may generate a set of turn-by-turn directions based on a series of road segments connecting a first geographic location and a second geographic location. Each direction in the set of turn-by-turn directions may be associated with a corresponding waypoint. The one or more computing devices then identify a set of images corresponding the series of road segments between two adjacent waypoints of the set of turn-by-turn directions, and determine a subset of the set of images to include in the turn-by-turn direction preview. Subsequently, the one or more computing devices may generate the turn-by-turn direction preview based on at least in part on the determined subset of the set of images.

Abstract: Route planning for road vehicles is performed taking into account a ride quality that results from the roadway conditions along road segments on a route. A plurality of vehicles equipped with controlled suspensions calculate ride quality indices as the vehicles move over a plurality of road segments. The plurality of vehicles transmit the ride quality indices tagged with respective geographic coordinates to an aggregating server. The aggregating server determines a composite ride quality index for each road segment. A subscriber generates a route planning request identifying an origin and a destination. At least one potential route is identified between the origin and the destination comprised of selected road segments. A route ride quality index is determined in response to the selected road segments, and the potential route and the route ride quality index are presented to the subscriber for selection.

Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for a data processing system to anticipate parking space availability including receiving from the first user a request for a parking space for a first vehicle, obtaining location tracking data of a set of users, each of the set of users associated with one of a set of vehicles, each vehicle located at one of a set of parking spaces, predicting a set of departure times based on the location tracking data for a subset of the set of users away from and associated with vehicles located in parking spaces, determining a subset of departure times that are within an acceptable period of time, and sending to the first user a subset of parking spaces with vehicles associated with users having the subset of departure times.

Abstract: Provided are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for providing alternative trips for a computer-implemented trip search. User may submit a trip request associated with a primary transportation mode between an origin and a destination, such as by submitting a request for directions via an interactive map. The trip price for the primary trip may be determined. Additionally, alternative trip prices for alternative transportation modes may be determined and compared to the primary trip price. If an alternative trip price is lower than the primary trip price, an alternative trip notification may be provided to user with information about the alternative trip, such as a link to further details about the alternative trip.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a mobile device from a head unit using voice control is disclosed. The head unit receives a graphical representation of a current user interface screen of the mobile device. The head unit than scans the graphical representation of the current user interface screen to determine the locations of potential input mechanisms. The potential input mechanisms are scanned using optical character recognition and voice commands are determined for the input mechanisms. The determined voice commands and their respective locations on the user interface screens are stored in a voice recognition database, which is queried with uttered voice commands during voice recognition.

Abstract: ZIP code connection matrices are created for use in insurance ratemaking by identifying common borders of geographically defined regions. ZIP codes and associated cartographic boundaries are read from a database. Pairs of coordinates for the boundaries are stored in a matrix and values are calculated that represent each pair of coordinates in the matrix. The calculated values are stored in an encoded coordinates matrix and used to determine common segments. A connection matrix is formed representing connections among ZIP codes. A neighborhood matrix is then calculated, which stores values that represent an indication of closeness of each ZIP code in the neighborhood matrix to a target ZIP code.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of determining a route using map data comprising a plurality of navigable paths, the map data divided into a plurality of regions. The method comprises using at least one processing apparatus to: receive an origin and a destination on the map data and a selection of one of a plurality of cost functions and determine a route from the origin to the destination using the map data and minimum cost data that identifies minimum cost paths between regions of the map data. The minimum cost data identifies more than one minimum cost path between a pair of the regions if different minimum cost paths exist between the pair of regions for different cost functions and determining a route comprises identifying from the minimum cost paths for the pair of regions comprising the origin and destination, the minimum cost path having a lowest cost for the selected cost function.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus, method, and program store map/road data including information on parking lots, provide position information on a position of the vehicle, and output guidance information. The apparatus, method, and program process the position information and the map/road data to generate guidance information, and make a first determination whether the vehicle enters a first threshold area around a target destination. The apparatus, method, and program make, in response to the first determination, a second determination that the vehicle has not been parked before a parking notification output condition is fulfilled and output parking notification information on the output unit in response to the second determination.

Abstract: A technique is described for correcting digitized map data stored in a map database of a navigation device, wherein the map data comprises routing data in the form of route links and shape points, and wherein each route link is associated with a sequence of shape points representing a course of a road segment that is displayable on a navigation screen. A method aspect comprises the steps of detecting a first user input operation indicative of a selection of a road segment displayed on the screen, detecting at least one second user input operation indicative of a graphical manipulation of the course of the selected road segment on the screen, generating on basis of the detected second user input operation corrected routing data reflecting the manipulated course of the selected road segments and storing the corrected routing data in the map database.

Abstract: A device includes at least one computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor and at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions. The instructions configure the processor for accessing calendar information including scheduled events of a user, accessing map information, accessing location information indicating current location of the user, receiving user input indicating a desire for route information, based at least in part on time constraints indicated from the calendar information, accessing the location information and map information to determine a route, and audibly and/or visually displaying the route on the device. The determining of the route is also based on a current speed at which the user is moving.

Abstract: In one implementation, a contact database stores a list of contacts. One or more of the contacts may be associated with a prerecorded path, which is a set of directions for traveling to a destination specified by the contact. The contact database may be stored as a contact list of a phone. The contact database may be a social networking service. Another user sends a destination request including a destination. The contact database is searched based on the destination request to retrieve the prerecorded path. The prerecorded path may be played for the user. The prerecorded path may be combined with other directions from a geographic database.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route using a route presentation that provides both a context map and one or more detail route maps. Narrative instructions for the route also may be presented. The presentation of the context map and the one or more detail route maps may be interactive. The route presentation also may be user controllable such that a user may control the portions of a route that are printed. The route presentation also may include a re-routing feature that allows a user to request that a new route be identified that avoids a particular maneuver or maneuvers in a route.

Abstract: In some implementations, a user can provide ratings for routes, streets and/or locations. In some implementations, the user can initiate an alert associated with a location. In some implementations, user-specified ratings and alerts can be included in a route determination. In some implementations, route rating and alert information can be transmitted to other users and/or devices.

Abstract: A navigation device and a guide route search method prevents searching for a detour route, and shortens the time required for setting an eventual guide route. A first partial route is extracted from a first guide route found in accordance with map data divided into three hierarchical levels, based on information about a road network. The first guide route is the route from the current location to a destination. A second partial route is obtained by performing a route search between the nodes at opposite ends of the first partial route, based on the map data containing the lowest level. A second guide route is obtained by replacing the first partial route in the first guide route with the second partial route, and is set as the eventual guide route.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for estimating origin and destination locations of users of a transportation system. The origins and destinations of known users are determined during a segment of an analysis period from validation information for all users of the transportation system. The origins and destinations are then mapped to probable locations associated with the transportation network. A destination probability is then computed for each destination location of an individual origin location. A unknown users are then apportioned to each destination, which may be based on the number of unknown users on a vehicle traveling from the origin to the destination, the computed probability, and the validation information, so as to estimate the number of users traveling from an origin location to any corresponding destination location on the transportation system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing navigation information based on a user request and a user-refined search area are discussed. One such system for navigation search area refinement provides an efficient system and method for refining a navigation information search area based on a default search area and an intuitive gesture input marking an area of a map display. Additionally, a method for navigation search area refinement can include receiving a gesture input originating at a default search area and concluding at a user-refined search area.

Abstract: A computing device may execute a routing application to perform operations including identifying a contextual parameter indicative of a quality preference for routing over segments of geographic mapping data, weighing the segments of geographic mapping data according to traffic score information indicative of the presence of the contextual parameter over the respective segments determined based at least in part on vehicle diagnostic data, and determining a suggested route for a vehicle from a current location to a destination location over the weighed segments of geographic mapping data based on the contextual parameter. The device may be further configured to receive a route request including the destination location for the vehicle; and display the route for the vehicle on a map including indications of the quality of the segments along the suggested route. To improve the routing, learning heuristics identify what diagnostic data variables correlate with presence of which contextual parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle has an on-board control device installed therein, and the on-board control device is provided with a movement information learning unit that learns by associating movement information for the vehicle and the like with information specifying corresponding links or nodes. The movement information learned by the movement information learning unit is recorded in a movement information database. During driving assistance performed by a driving assistance unit, an information integration unit integrates movement information corresponding to at least two consecutive links or nodes among the movement information recorded in the movement information database.

Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product automatically generates route directions based on signpost data. A calculated route from an origin to a destination includes multiple decision points where a user has more than one option to take. Geo-stamped images of signposts located at each decision point from the multiple decision points are received, and one or more series of signposts is compiled, where each series has a common signpost content. Conflicts in any overlapping series are resolved by using a measure of relative density of signpost content, and one or more decision points of the calculated route are replaced with instructions referring to the common signpost content of the series of signposts. Geo-stamped images of signposts of the series of signposts having the common signpost content are then displayed in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: For a segment of a route, a navigation data gathering system and method may progressively increment the precision of data analysis in proportion to the number of people actively on a route segment. Navigation data may be anonymized to preclude the possibility of correlating navigation data with personal data to track users or infer private information. Further, the system or method may determine if information for a route segment can be used at all based on the number of users of that segment. If the number of users does not exceed a threshold, the information collected on that route may not be used for other purposes. Thus, the system and method may use navigation data related to a busy section of an interstate highway at the level of precision with which the data is gathered, but reduce the level of precision of data available for a rarely used road segment.

Abstract: Embodiments for determining a route a consumer takes while traversing a retail store are disclosed. The embodiments include determining a store location of a retail store and a map corresponding to the layout of the retail store, receiving waypoint data including a plurality of positions within the map corresponding timestamps, determining a route in response to the waypoint data, and providing the route and the map for display.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of constructing a transit transfer network from transit data comprises processing transit data to define a plurality of transfer endpoints; determining a set of acceptable transfer durations for each of a plurality of transfers associated with the transfer endpoints; determining one or more groups of endpoints to be merged, each group comprising two or more endpoints, wherein transfers associated with the endpoints in each said group have one or more common acceptable transfer durations; and merging the endpoints in each group to form one or more merged endpoints.

Abstract: Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance apparatus includes a power supplying parameter acquisition device, a power receiving parameter storage device, a charge efficiency calculator, and a display processing device. The power supplying parameter acquisition device is configured to acquire in a electric vehicle a power supplying parameter which corresponds to a specification of a power supplier. The power receiving parameter storage device is configured to store a power receiving parameter corresponding to a specification of a power receiver. The charge efficiency calculator is configured to calculate a charge efficiency according to a relative position between the power supplier and the power receiver based on the power supplying parameter and the power receiving parameter. The display processing device is configured to display on a display a range of the charge efficiency with respect to a center of the power receiver to guide the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle's driving personality is adapted to a driver by determining a driver's ability to operate the vehicle by monitoring the driver's operation. The driver's operation, such as vehicle speed, lane usage, and braking, is compared to known characteristics of the road segment on which the vehicle is being driven. The driver's competency is evaluated by comparing how the driver operates a vehicle on a segment of roadway to how the vehicle could be operated and stay within limits imposed by law. A driver's ability to operate the vehicle can also be obtained from sensors that monitor a driver's heart rate, respiration rate, eye movement, and other health-indicating autonomic responses. After the driver's capabilities are determined, navigation instructions provided to the driver thereafter are modified to route the driver over roads that are either preferred or appropriate for the driver's physical abilities.

Abstract: To provide remote services, including dynamic, interactive assistance to electric vehicle (EV) users, a central server is arranged for electronic communications with EVs (15) and with client devices (11). The server also communicates with at least one EV charging station network, which in turn communicate with individual charging stations (30). Remote services may include trip planning, locating charging stations, checking availability and suitability of charging stations, making reservations at charging stations, and updating plans en route. The server collects data from the EV and analyzes the data to determine various statistics. The system advises a user on readiness of the EV to complete a proposed trip before recharging the EV batteries. Client devices may include smart phones, computers, or a head unit in the EV. Application software programs are executable on the client devices to provide user interfaces for accessing the remote services and for communicating with the central server.

Abstract: An incoming call answering and rejecting method, an electronic device, and a digital data storage media are provided. The method is applied to an electronic device having a touch screen and has the following steps. A request of an incoming call is received. A dragging signal is generated on the touch screen. When the dragging signal is an answering signal, the incoming call is answered. When the dragging signal is a rejecting signal, the incoming call is rejected.

Abstract: A route search method includes: a step in which the computer generates a first network by, for each of nodes and each of links, generating a plurality of duplicates thereof; a step in which the computer generates a second network by adding first additional links to the first network; and a step in which the computer searches for a route from a duplicate of a node corresponding to the departure point to a duplicate of a node corresponding to the destination point, using the second network. The first additional links are links for which predetermined non negative link costs are set, and in each of which a node of an end point of a duplicate of each of the links is changed to a node of an end point of another duplicate of the each of the links.

Abstract: A user terminal device is provided. The user terminal device includes a display configured to display a map screen, a detector configured to sense a user manipulation, and a controller configured to, when a location and a direction are determined by the user manipulation on the map screen, display at least one photo image corresponding to the location and the direction of the user manipulation on the map screen.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for producing a representation of a ground-transportation network from timetable information of transportation services. By means of a computer, routing locations are determined from the timetable information. The routing locations include end points of the transportation services. Tuples of directly-connected routing locations are formed. Network paths are generated by linking the directly-connected routing locations. The entirety of these paths forming the representation of the ground-transportation network.

Abstract: A system for identifying a fastest possible travel route is disclosed. A traveler data processor collects traffic speed data and associates the traffic speed data with road segments. The road segments collectively represent one or more possible travel routes from a start point to an end point. A forecast engine determines a predicted travel time for each of the road segments based on, for example, the traffic speed data for each of the road segments. A routing engine determines the fastest possible travel route from the start point to the end point. The fastest possible travel route is the possible travel route from the one or more possible travel routes with the shortest predicted travel time.

Abstract: A method and a system for easily managing an itinerary are provided. The method includes generating, by an electronic device, a trip route, selecting a trip item for recommendation information searching, searching for recommendation information of the selected trip item based on the generated trip route, displaying the searched recommendation information at a corresponding location on the generated trip route, modifying the generated trip route based on selected recommendation information from the displayed recommendation information, and storing the modified trip route.

Abstract: The present technology proposes techniques for managing indoor geolocation conversions based on a user's intent in an indoor location. An advertiser may determine the intent of a user of a mobile device and transmit advertisements to the mobile device related to the determined intent. The intent may be determined based on events that include a location of the mobile device, network browsing history, and a transaction made using the mobile device. The advertisement may provide the user with directions to an item based on location information from the mobile device. The advertisements may also load balance geolocation conversions in order to manage a number of users at a particular location.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining whether an autonomous vehicle should be driven in an autonomous or semiautonomous mode (where steering, acceleration, and braking are controlled by the vehicle's computer). For example, a computer may maneuver a vehicle in an autonomous or a semiautonomous mode. The computer may continuously receive data from one or more sensors. This data may be processed to identify objects and the characteristics of the objects. The detected objects and their respective characteristics may be compared to a traffic pattern model and detailed map information. If the characteristics of the objects deviate from the traffic pattern model or detailed map information by more than some acceptable deviation threshold value, the computer may generate an alert to inform the driver of the need to take control of the vehicle or the computer may maneuver the vehicle in order to avoid any problems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing and presenting schematic maps, which are maps that present information in a format that presents only information that is most relevant to a given situation in order to provide a simple and clear representation sufficient to aid a user in guidance or orientation. The schematic maps as described herein can be formatted based on the attributes of a display on which they are presented so that the map layout and presentation can be optimized for the particular display. The schematic maps can be “distorted” to better illustrate important maps areas in greater detail and using a relatively larger display area while deemphasizing less important map areas by illustrating them in less detail and using a relatively smaller display area, and thus the schematic maps can be devoid of adherence to a particular scale.

Abstract: A navigation system, in particular for a motor vehicle, for determining a route to a destination, wherein the navigation system includes an input device for alphanumeric input of the destination and a display for displaying changing information and includes a processing unit for displaying potential destinations in a representation of a map by means of the display during input of the destination.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.

Abstract: This document describes systems and techniques that may be used to aggregate information about open parking spots from various different parking providers or organizations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which receives location information of a mobile terminal of a single user. One or more journeys are extracted from the location information of the single user. The corresponding journey data is stored in a journey database. From the journey data in the journey database, journey patterns for the single user are extracted. A journey pattern indicates at least the regularity of a particular journey in time, i.e. over a number of days. The journey patterns are stored in the pattern database. The journey patterns of the single user are matched with patterns of other users. If a match is found, at least one match based on the journey patterns is sent to the single user. These features enable the carpool service to find a match which takes into account the regularity across a period of days. By identifying the regularity, a better match can be made with users which travel the same route, as also the days on which the users travel are taken into account.

Abstract: A navigation server (100) evaluates a transition cost ?k from a reference line to each kth (k=1˜n) link via one node on the basis of a deviation of a first movement cost c1k per unit length of the kth link from the minimum value of the first movement cost c1k per unit length of all kth links. Furthermore, a second movement cost c2k corresponding to a net movement cost in each link can be evaluated on the basis of the first movement cost c1k in each link and the transition cost from the reference link to each link. When an evaluation result or a road traffic information based on the evaluation result is provided, a navigation apparatus can be make to guide a vehicle (2) according to a proper navigation route in view of real road traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method is presented for obtaining emission and/or fuel consumption data associated with a road segment.

Abstract: A handle bar route extension mechanism for creating or modifying a flight route. The handle bar route extension mechanism can allow a user to create or modify a flight route using a destination point. The handle bar route extension mechanism can be automatically rendered in a display in response to a touch input. In some configurations, the handle bar route extension mechanism may be rendered in a display in various directions or various lengths based on different inputs. In further configurations, more than one handle bar route extension mechanism may be rendered in a display.

Abstract: A system and method for suggesting alternative travel destinations is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may generally include receiving, at a computing device, a query from a client device associated with a requested travel destination. The requested travel destination may be at a first geographic location. The method may also include analyzing travel pattern data for at least one user that previously requested travel directions to the requested travel destination to identify at least one second geographic location that is associated with the requested travel destination. The travel pattern data may include information associated with a location of the at least one user after requesting the travel directions. In addition, the method may include transmitting to the client device a suggestion for at least one alternative travel destination based on the at least one second geographic location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying navigational information are provided. An exemplary navigational device can include a processor, a memory, a user interface, a positioning system, and a network interface. The processor can adjust a scale of a map displayed on the display to reflect the minimum of a first distance that can be travelled over a period of time at a current speed, a second distance between the current position of the navigational device and a first location at which a driving maneuver should be performed, and a third distance between the current position of the navigational device and a second location at which a traffic condition exists. An exemplary method includes adjusting a map based on a comparison of a plurality of horizons respectively providing distances beyond which navigational information is less useful.