Tom Tom International B.v.

Tomtom Navigation B.v.

Jose F Santiago Nunez

Pieter Geelen

Felix Godafoss König

Samuel Mark Broadbent

Kees Wesselius

Stanislav Zheltov

Thomas Gerhard Helmut Schickinger

Michael Marte

Stéphane Hareau

William Breen

Felix Godafoss KÖNIG

Stanislav Stanislav

Michael Marta

Pieter Andreas Geelen

A method is disclosed for determining a route taken by a user at a decision point in a navigable network in an area covered by an electronic map. The map comprises a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of the navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. A user is travelling along a main route from an origin to a destination. An upcoming decision point is identified, and one or more alternative routes between the decision point and the destination generated. Data indicative of each route is stored in a route pool, associated with data indicative of the outgoing segment at the decision point that forms part of the route. Each route passes along a different outgoing segment, and which segments are all different to an outgoing segment included in a continuation of the main route. When the user has passed through the decision point, it is determined whether the current position of the user lies on the outgoing segment forming the continuation of the main route. If so, the main route continues to be used as the main route after passing through the decision point. If not, it is determined whether the current position is on an outgoing segment associated with one of the stored alternative routes. If so, then this alternative route is used as the new main route after the decision point. If not, a new alternative route from the decision point to the destination passing along the outgoing segment on which the current position is found is generated, and used as the new main route after passing the decision point.

Alternative routes

A method is disclosed for generating routes in an area covered by an electronic map. The map comprises a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of a navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. A main route from an origin to a destination is generated through the network in a manner which favors segments which are segments of a predefined sub-network. When the user commences travel, the method involves identifying a first decision point along the main route being travelled that is a decision point of the sub-network. An alternative route is generated between the decision point and the destination, in a method involving favoring segments of the sub-network, and in which the outgoing segment of the main route being travelled to the first decision point is blocked.

A method of providing traffic information is described, together with a device for performing the same. The method comprises determining a location of a mobile device, receiving traffic information, and determining, with respect to a trip database storing information indicative of a personal road network of a user of the mobile device, whether traffic information associated with one or more road segments in the personal network within a predetermined distance of the current location has been received. One or more no-jam events are generated for respective road segments in the personal network for which it is determined that no traffic information has been received.

Methods and apparatus for providing travel information

A method of predicting a destination of a user of a mobile device is described, together with a device for performing the same. The method comprises determining a location of the mobile device, and executing a route search algorithm with respect to a trip data-base. The trip database stores information indicative of a personal road network of a user of the mobile device, one or more road segments in the personal road network being associated with a respective destination location, and cost information associated with road segments in the personal network, the cost information being based, at least in part, on traversal information in the trip database.

Method and apparatus for predicting a destination using a route search algorithm

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Jose F Santiago Nunez