Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location.

Abstract: A system logs life experiences using geographic cues. The system variously provides a comprehensive life-logging tool for recording a plurality of different types of life events. In one implementation, the system receives a user's GPS log files and multimedia content at a website. The system segments the GPS log files into geographic routes corresponding to user trips, and tags the multimedia content with geographic cues from the GPS log files. Then, the system indexes the geographic routes so that users can retrieve the geographic routes by browsing or by search techniques. The system displays animations of selected routes on a map, and displays the multimedia content at corresponding locations along the map route, as the route is replayed. The system also provides browsing and spatial and temporal techniques to search a person's travels and can provide graphical displays of the person's activity statistics.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for a map display configuration system are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a map display configuration system is provided. The method includes receiving a search request transferred by a wireless communication device, where the search request indicates at least one search term and a wireless access node identifier for a wireless access node presently serving the wireless communication device. The method also includes processing at least the search request to identify a map display configuration based on the search term and the wireless access node identifier, and transferring the map display configuration for delivery to the wireless communication device, where the wireless communication device generates a geographic map display based on the map display configuration.

Abstract: To display a multimedia presentation together with location-based content, a client device reports its location to a content server. The device receives and displays video content from the content server. The device also receives location-based information related to the multimedia presentation. This location-based information may be textual data in an XML (extensible markup language) format. In some embodiments, the multimedia presentation is video content that includes an advertisement for a good or service, and the location-based content identifies a nearby establishment offering the good or service. The client device renders the video and textual data together.

Abstract: A navigation system including a navigation database provides efficient and accurate database updates. The system receives a modified version of the navigation database. The system identifies data blocks of the modified version that differ from the corresponding data blocks of the navigation database. The system generates an update based on the identified differences. The system updates the navigation database using the generated update.

Abstract: A method of generating an elevation database for selected geographic regions, the method comprising: receiving a location database, a rule database, and an input elevation database, each location in the location database being located within a selected geographic region; constructing, for each location in the location database and using rules from the rule database, a bounding region enclosing a continuous geographic region; applying elevation data from the input elevation database to each bounding region; and compressing the elevation data in each bounding region to provide compressed elevation data; wherein, upon decompressing the compressed elevation data, each point in each bounding region represents a level of elevation at that point in the associated selected geographic region.

Abstract: Techniques for use in a wireless communication device for displaying a map are described. The device receives via a user interface a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message. The object is associated with a URL string which includes a server address and location data corresponding to a location. When a mapping application is installed in the device, the device executes the mapping application for rendering a map of the location in response to receiving the selection of the object. When the mapping application is not installed in the device, the device executes a web browser of the device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location in response to receiving the selection of the object.

Abstract: A database system and method that is compatible with multiple end-use systems, even when changes and/or updates are made to the layout, format, and/or data content in the database. The database includes a structure section and a data section. The data section includes a plurality of stored data records that have one or more features. The structure section includes a feature mask that has data stored therein that indicates whether a particular one of the data records is compatible with one or more end-user systems.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a location of a mobile device, and automatically identifying a point-of-interest (POI) located within a predetermined distance of the location. The method also includes providing, on a user interface of the mobile device, a rating control for allowing the user to rate the identified POI, and receiving the rating for the identified POI from the user, using the rating control.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to the use of electronic maps and providing information about intersecting streets. A given region of interest on a map may include any number of features. Features of interest, including road segments and intersections, can be filtered to remove non-street data. The results may be analyzed according to individual street segments. Each segment may be identified by a feature ID, and the relationship each segment has with a given intersection is analyzed. Thus, the direction of a segment into or out of an intersection is determined, along with the physical locations of the beginning and end of the segment. This information is used to provide robust map information that may be displayed to a user. Heuristics can be applied to the map information to provide coherent address or direction information to the user for a given point of interest.

Abstract: A system and methods for third-party access to a network-based system for providing location-based upcoming event information are described. The location-based upcoming event information may be accessed from the network-based system by a server-side web application implemented by a third party. The server-side web application may be configured to communicate with the network-based system that provides online marketplace and ticket fulfillment services and to generate a query based upon the location of a user and other event criteria. The server-side web application may communicate the query to the network-based system and, in response, receive location-based upcoming event information which may be displayed to a user as a list and/or information on a map. The location-based upcoming event information may comprise an aggregate of ticket inventory available from multiple online marketplaces providing the user with multiple purchasing options. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method to complete partially entered geographical address information. The method receives the partial geographical address information, parses the information to determine the missing portions of the address by locating in a compact data structure offsets to address information corresponding to the missing portions and populates the set of fields for geographic locations, wherein the partial geographical address information is received at the graphical user interface in response to a copy-and paste or drag-and-drop command.

Abstract: A method and system for processing raw address data using a computer device coupled to a database are provided. The method includes receiving, at the computer device, raw data from a first party, the raw data including a raw street address. The method includes formatting the raw street address using the computer device and separating the formatted street address into at least one token using the computer device wherein each token includes one or more characters indicating a portion of the raw street address. The method further includes creating a standardized street address from the at least one token based on one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions facilitate determining at least one of inclusion, exclusion, and position of the at least one token in the standardized street address.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a location of a mobile device, and automatically identifying a point-of-interest (POI) located within a predetermined distance of the location. The method also includes providing, on a user interface of the mobile device, a rating control for allowing the user to rate the identified POI, and receiving the rating for the identified POI from the user, using the rating control.

Abstract: A route searching apparatus includes a travel route accumulation unit, an algorithm selection unit to select route searching algorithms to meet the preference of a user based on the accumulated travel routes, and a route searching unit to perform a route search up to a destination by using the selected algorithms. Preferably, the algorithm searching unit searches for each of the travel routes accumulated in the accumulation unit by means of several algorithms, calculates, for each algorithm, a match rate between the searched route and the actual travel route, and selects an algorithm of the highest match rate. Also, it is preferable that a condition common to roads avoided by the user is extracted from the accumulated travel routes, and a route search is performed by adjusting search costs so as to make such roads less prone to be selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus efficiently assigns the spatial index numbers to map cells that divide an area which is a unit of administrative region into a plurality of small units. The method includes the steps of: establishing a plurality of map cells that divide an administrative region expressed by XML map data which is configured in a multiple-layered structure; determining a layer in the XML map data on which the map cells are established; selecting a type of tracing curve for sequentially indexing the plurality of map cells; assigning index numbers consecutively to the map cells with the sequence of the tracing curve; and repeating foregoing steps for all of the map cells in all of the layers of the XML map data, thereby creating a map database in the XML format with the spatial indexes for all of the map cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location.

Abstract: A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.

Abstract: Systems and methods identify a current location of a user based on a known location of an electronic device including kiosk, beacon, or location-aware camera when the user interacts with the electronic device. The systems and methods automatically create a user status data file based on the known location. The user status data file contains data identifying that the user is currently at the known location and other data captured about the event or venue at that location. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a personal storage account which can then be used to post to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the intersection of roads located at the bottom of a hill. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching an intersection located at the bottom of a hill.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting search information based on search parameters including a specified search region. Input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map are received. The input parameters include a height parameter and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria. A search based on the criteria is caused, at least in part, according to the specified search region to output a search result. Presentation of the search result is caused, at least in part, within the search region.

Abstract: A database of the location based relationships of points of interest within an environment is automatically generated using a digital representation of the environment that includes the points of interest at different locations within the environment. The locations of the points of interest in the environment are identified and the location based relationships between the points of interest are determined. The points of interest are labeled with the determined relationships and the points of interest and labeled relationships are stored. For example, a graph structure may be produced where each node is a point of interest and the edges between nodes is labeled with the determined relationships.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and program for processing temporal data. A spatial query is received specifying a mapping function that identifies a set of temporal values for one or more objects. Geographic positions are automatically extracted from each set of temporal values for each of the one or more objects. Point objects are generated from the geographic positions. One or more spatial objects are generated from the point objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods maintain at least one point of interest data file within a computer-readable storage medium and automatically identify a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from the user. The systems and methods automatically compare the current user location with the point of interest data file to identify whether the user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within the point of interest data file. If the user is within the second predetermined distance of a point of interest, the systems and methods automatically create a user status data file. The user status data comprises data identifying that the user is currently at the point of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods identify a current location of a user based on a known location of an electronic device including kiosk, beacon, or location-aware camera when the user interacts with the electronic device. The systems and methods automatically create a user status data file based on the known location. The user status data file contains data identifying that the user is currently at the known location and other data captured about the event or venue at that location. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a personal storage account which can then be used to post to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

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: A method for representing linear features in a location content management system is disclosed. A linear feature is represented using a sequence of routing points that define a unique path when routed on a map through those points. A routing point consists of latitude, longitude, and optional stack position. Stack position defines an upper or lower level of a double-decker bridge or road. The data representing the linear feature is stored outside of a geographic database.

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 navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to the use of electronic maps and providing information about intersecting streets. A given region of interest on a map may include any number of features. Features of interest, including road segments and intersections, can be filtered to remove non-street data. The results may be analyzed according to individual street segments. Each segment may be identified by a feature ID, and the relationship each segment has with a given intersection is analyzed. Thus, the direction of a segment into or out of an intersection is determined, along with the physical locations of the beginning and end of the segment. This information is used to provide robust map information that may be displayed to a user. Heuristics can be applied to the map information to provide coherent address or direction information to the user for a given point of interest.

Abstract: Techniques for use in a wireless communication device for displaying a map are described. The wireless device receives via a user interface a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message. The hypertext link object is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which includes a server address and location data corresponding to a location. When a mapping application is installed in the wireless device, the wireless device executes the mapping application for rendering a map of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object. When the mapping application is not installed in the wireless communication device, the wireless device executes a web browser of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object.

Abstract: Facility information for a destination facility and facility information for a neighboring facility of the destination facility are accepted as search conditions. The destination facility that neighbors the neighboring facility is identified by using a database that defines a neighboring relationship between the facilities. The facility information for the identified destination facility is outputted.

Abstract: A navigation system written in J2ME MIDP for a client device includes a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer. A navigation program manages the state of the plurality of media players. The plurality of media players are in either one of an acquiring resources state, and a playing and de-allocating state. The use of a plurality of media players each respectively comprising a buffer overcomes the prior art in which navigation system can cut off a voice prompt because of the time-consuming tasks associated with playing a voice prompt.

Abstract: A National Online Parcel-Level Map Data Portal (NPDP) is provided that optimizes online delivery of parcel-level maps and linked attribute data. To do this, the NPDP manages a database of assembled and current vector based parcel data in a spatial format (GIS) that enables geocoded parcel boundaries to be linked to property tax records. A user enters a street address into an appropriate screen window to call up and view road right-of-ways, all parcel boundaries and the “exact” address location as a highlighted parcel area. In addition, a list of property record attributes such as owner, use code, assessed value and year constructed can be displayed. Other on screen parcels can likewise be selected if one wishes to view their linked attributes. Subscribers may customize the NPDP to perform a variety of spatial analysis/reporting functions.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering location dependent information on a communications terminal. A position of the communications terminal is retrieved and presented in a spatial orientation metaphor. A predetermined set of categories comprising objects with location dependent information are retrieved and criteria is determined for the objects to be retrieved. The determined objects associated with the set of categories are retrieved. Location dependent information associated with a first object of the determined objects is retrieved. The first object in the spatial orientation metaphor is presented.

Abstract: To generate appendices which uniquely reference an object geographically, a tree of possible paths is generated. The paths are evaluated in accordance with predefined criteria, which are suited for use as termination criteria, at the time the paths are formed. Of the remaining paths, at least that one is coded as an appendix which best fulfills at least one of the criteria.

Abstract: A method of communicating on a mobile communication terminal. The method includes inputting category information identifying a category of contents, providing a list of content information on a server corresponding to the input category information, wherein a content information indicates a portion of a content that the mobile communication terminal can connect to, selecting at least one of the list of content information, and connecting to the content corresponding to said at least one of the selected content information.

Abstract: Map updating systems, methods, and programs that store map information, including one or more pieces of difference update information, obtain the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information to a new piece of map information, update the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information, and obtain total update information used for updating an entirety of the map information to a new piece of map information. The systems, methods, and programs perform a total update on the map information based on the total update information, update the map information on which the total update has been performed based on the one or more pieces of difference update information, and delete the one or more pieces of difference update information from the memory after the map information is updated by the re-updating means.

Abstract: Map updating systems, methods, and programs that store map information, including one or more pieces of difference update information, obtain the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information, and update the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information. The systems, methods, and programs obtain total update information used for updating an entirety of the memory to a new piece of map information, update the map information based on the total update information, compare a version of the total update information used in the total update with each of versions of the one or more pieces of difference update information stored in the memory, extract any of the one or more pieces of difference update information judged to be newer and update the map information based on the difference update information.

Abstract: An automated form filler and script executor is integrated with a web browser engine, which is communicatively coupled to a web crawler, thereby enabling the crawler to identify dynamic web content based on submission of forms completed by the form filler. The crawler is capable of identifying web pages containing forms that require submission, and JavaScript code that requires execution, respectively, for requesting dynamic web content from a server. The form filler systematically completes the form based on various combinations of search parameter values provided by the web page for requesting dynamic content. Duplicate forms are detected, so that the crawler does not unnecessarily re-process forms that are similar to forms that have already been processed. The crawler may also determine which JavaScript links in a page are relevant for execution, so as to avoid unnecessary execution of irrelevant JavaScript links.

Abstract: A method for establishing a spatial street address data set including: First, in no particular order: (1) providing street address data; (2) providing postal data; (3) providing community translation data; and (4) providing a spatial layer base map. Second, establishing a first data base containing once-translated address entries, each relating to a selected community entry from the street address data or a selected community entry from the community translation data. Third, establishing a second data base containing twice-translated address entries, each relating to a selected street name entry from the postal data or a selected street name entry from the street address data. Fourth, treating the second data base with a geocoder routine to create geocoded address entries in a geocoded data set. Fifth, situating the geocoded data set in a spatial layer. Sixth, orienting the spatial layer with known loci in the spatial layer base map.

Abstract: A method in a computer device for use in displaying a map is described. The computer device includes a memory for storing a mapping application and a user interface having a display. A selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message is received through the user interface. The hypertext link object is associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string comprising a server address and location data corresponding to a location. In response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object, a mapping function of the mapping application is invoked via a URL hook instead of displaying a map of the location based on map data received in response to a request to a server identified by the server address. The mapping function is invoked for rendering, in the display, a map of the location based on alternative map data received in response to a request to a mapping server.

Abstract: A National Online Parcel-Level Map Data Portal (NPDP) is provided that optimizes online delivery of parcel-level maps and linked attribute data. To do this, the NPDP manages a database of assembled and current vector based parcel data in a spatial format (GIS) that enables geocoded parcel boundaries to be linked to property tax records. A user enters a street address into an appropriate screen window to call up and view road right-of-ways, all parcel boundaries and the “exact” address location as a highlighted parcel area. In addition, a list of property record attributes such as owner, use code, assessed value and year constructed can be displayed. Other on screen parcels can likewise be selected if one wishes to view their linked attributes. Subscribers may customize the NPDP to perform a variety of spatial analysis/reporting functions.

Abstract: Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions and apparatuses provide a keyphrase navigation map (KNM) for a document page. Keyphrases are extracted from the document page. Keyphrase clusters are subsequently formed by a measure of relevancy, and a salient keyphrase is determined for each cluster. A thumbnail is formed with tags corresponding to the salient keyphrases. A selected tag is expanded with associated keyphrases. An associated keyphrase may be further selected in order to facilitate the navigation of the document page. The displayed tags on the thumbnail are positioned in accordance with locations of associated keyphrases in the document page.

Abstract: Cartographic data is represented using polynomial splines. To improve representation accuracy and reduce storage requirements, a database storing data points (shape points and nodes) is converted into a database of spline control points. The spline control points are computed by fitting a polynomial spline to the geographic features using a least squares approximation. The control points associated with each geographic feature are stored in a computer-usable database. The geographic features can be displayed by computing the spline functions using the stored control points.

Abstract: A data product that can be read into a computer or a map data processing apparatus contains map data that includes map-related information related to a map. The map data includes: a structure achieved by dividing the map into a plurality of mesh-like subdivisions and dividing the map-related information into units corresponding to the individual subdivisions; and a structure in which the map-related information is managed in units of subdivision sets each containing a plurality of adjacent subdivisions and the map-related information is used in the map data processing apparatus in units of the individual subdivision sets.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an optimized terrain database identify several regions, including test regions that are established from the identified regions. A first set of terrain data is received for a first test region. The first set of terrain data is compared to a second set of terrain data to determine a set of quality attributes. The quality attributes are used to determine a safety margin for the first test region. The safety margin is applied to other regions having the same or similar characteristics to the first test region. Safety margins are either generated for or applied to all other regions. All regions are then compiled into an area-wide terrain database, up to and including a worldwide database.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a method for use in mapping a location in a computer device includes the steps of receiving an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string having a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates; receiving, through a user interface of the computer device, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message; and in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator: if a predetermined type of mapping application is provided in the computer device, invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device (e.g.

Abstract: An information navigation system for supporting browsing of data which are linked mutually includes an starting point determination supporter, a browsing supporter, and a positioning supporter. The starting point determination supporter supports detection of first data being a starting point for an information navigation. The browsing supporter displays the first data and second data linked to the first data as in a virtual space, to allow a user to select data to be browsed next. The positioning supporter displays a current browsing position on a map which indicates a relation between all data.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional spatial index includes at least two dimensions that define physical boundaries of the features represented by the indexed data. In addition, the multi-dimensional spatial index includes at least one additional dimension that represents another property. The other property is an orthogonal, non-spatial property. The other property may be a property of the features represented by the indexed data or the other property may be a property of the data. The other property represented by the additional dimension may include: granularity, distance, altitude, scale bounds within which each spatial entity is significant, or other property. The multi-dimensional spatial index is applicable to the storage, retrieval, visualization and traversal of spatial data sets.