Tomtom Navigation B.v.

Tom Tom International B.v.

Teun De Haas

Erik Thomassen

Sjoerd Aben

Breght Boschker

A data acquisition apparatus () comprises a processing resource operably coupled to an input unit () and an output unit (). The processing resource () is arranged to provide an execution environment for supporting a user interface. An enquiry module () is provided and supported by the execution environment. The apparatus () also comprises a communications unit () operably coupled to the processing resource for supporting communications over a communications network. The enquiry module () is arranged to generate () a search query relating to a point of interest and receive search results in response thereto via the communications unit (), the enquiry module () also being arranged to use the search results to derive data associated with the point of interest.

Data acquisition apparatus, data acquisition system and method of acquiring data

The present invention provides a method of determining a route between two locations in a navigation device by calculating the cost of paths between the two locations using a cost function. The cost function applies different weighting factors for the same type of attribute to line segments when the line segments are located in different areas of a map. As such, when the cost of a path is being assessed, the same type of attribute may be associated with different levels of penalty or bonus in different areas. This means that the route determined is less likely to avoid line segments that have a certain negative attribute in areas where the attribute has a less adverse affect.

Non-uniform weighting factor as route algorithm input

A data acquisition apparatus includes a processing resource operably coupled to an input unit and an output unit. The processing resource is arranged to provide an execution environment for supporting a user interface. An enquiry module is provided and supported by the execution environment. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a communications unit operably coupled to the processing resource for supporting communications over a communications network. The enquiry module is arranged to generate a search query relating to a point of interest and receive search results in response thereto via the communications unit, the enquiry module also being arranged to use the search results to derive data associated with the point of interest.

A data enrichment processing apparatus () comprises a processing resource () arranged to access, when in use, location data () having temporal data associated therewith, and to group a part of the location data according to a predetermined criterion. The processing resource () is arranged to support an analysis module () capable of inferring temporal access information from the part of the location data grouped, the temporal access information being indicative of ability to access physically a point of interest associated with the part of the location data grouped.

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Utrecht, Netherlands

Teun De Haas