Tom Tom International B.v.

Tomtom Traffic B.v.

Tomtom Navigation B.v.

Rory Jones

Pieter Geelen

Sven Jurgens

Edwin Neef

Sven-Erik Jurgens

David Silsbury

Dionysius Nicolaas

Vladislav Dmitrev

Mareije Roosen

Sergei Kucheiko

Erik Thomassen

Geert Hilbrandie

Harold Goddijn

Vlad Dmitrev

Dion Nicolaas

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing data associated with a point of interest (POI), comprising determining, based on a location of a POI, a portion of digital map data of a geographic region, said digital map data comprising a plurality of segments representing navigable elements of a navigable network within the geographic region, and generating POI-map data associated with the POI indicative of at least some segments within the portion of digital map data.

Method and apparatus for providing point of interest information

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing information associated with a point of interest (POI), comprising: communicating location information indicative of a determined geographic location of a portable device to a server computer; receiving at least one POI-map from the server computer based on the location information, wherein each POI-map is associated with at least one POI and comprises segments representative of navigable elements of a navigable network; determining a segment of a received POI-map corresponding to the determined geographic location of the portable device; and outputting a notification associated with a POI of the received POI-map based on the navigable segment.

A method of operating a PND or navigation system is described, together with a PND or navigation system for performing such a method. The PND or navigation system includes memory storing map data consisting of base map data files and supplemental corrective data files. In at least one embodiment, the method includes correlating the current location with the map data, and in the event that the current location and derived map data are seemingly at odds with one another, performing at least one secondary action. In at least one embodiment, the secondary action may be the issuing of an approve/reject prompt to the user, or the automatic creation, modification or deletion of a new or pre-existing correction. In a further aspect, at least one embodiment of the invention also provides for a PND or navigation system storing an indication of a home location, and prompting a user to visit nearby locations for which corrections exist, followed by prompted or automatic confirmation or rejection thereof.

Navigation device and method using map data correction files

A method and apparatus for determining the manner in which a processor-enabled device should produce sounds from data is described. The device ideally synthesizes sounds digitally, and reproduces pre-recorded sounds, together with an audible delivery thereof, a memory in which is stored a database of a plurality data at least some of which is in the form of text-based indicators, and one or more pre-recorded sounds. The device is further capable of repeatedly determining one or more physical conditions, e.g. current GPS location, which is compared with one or more reference values provided in memory such that a positive result of the comparison gives rise to an event requiring a sound to be produced by the device.

Apparatus for text-to-speech delivery and method therefor

An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates&#x2014;a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.

Method of generating improved map data for use in navigation devices

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining, in a navigation device, at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold; and placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine at least one of, when an instruction for travel along a route of travel is not due to be output for a distance exceeding a distance threshold, and when no instruction for travel along the travel route is output for a period of time exceeding a time threshold, the processor placing the navigation device in a power conserving mode upon the determination being made.

Navigation device and method for conserving power

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a route of travel, in a navigation device, based upon at least a received destination location; determining whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and prompting, upon determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine a route of travel based upon at least a received destination location and to determine whether or not travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed a first threshold; and an output device to prompt, upon the processor determining that travel along the determined route will at least one of meet and exceed the first threshold, a user of the navigation device to enable output of a warning to break from driving a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, during travel along the determined route.

Navigation device and method for driving break warning

In one embodiment of the present invention, an end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates&#x2014;a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.

Method of generating improved map data for use in navigation devices, map data and navigation device therefor

A method and apparatus for determining the manner in which a navigation device should produce sounds from data is described. One embodiment, includes a device for synthesizing sounds from digital sound files, and re-producing pre-recorded sounds from a database of text-based indicators. The invention can be further capable of repeatedly determining physical conditions, e.g. current GPS location, which are compared to reference values such that a positive comparison gives rise to an event requiring a sound to be produced. The method includes a user selection of what events or physical conditions trigger a sound, and the type of sound to be audibly delivered which can be digitally synthesize sounds or pre-recorded sounds stored on the device or a combination of the two.

An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates&#x2014;a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.

Growing community of inventors

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rory Jones