Navteq B.v.

Here Global B.v.

Navteq North America, LLC

Navigation Technologies Corporation

William N Gale

Joseph P Mays

Peter A Seegers

Matei Stroila

James D Lynch

Frank J Kozak

Lawrence M Kaplan

Ildiko Hegedus

Matthias Thorner

Philip Robare

Bradley Dean Kohlmeyer

Nicholas Sula

Xin Chen

William McDonough

Thomas Huber

Matei N Stroila

Disclosed herein are methods of providing location-based information with respect to a topological map. A method may include (a) receiving a query for location-related information, (b) optionally generating data representing the topological map, (c) accessing the location-related information in a map-to-scale, (d) optionally determining an association between one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale and one or more corresponding points (or links) in a topological map, (e) identifying one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale that relate to the location-related information and that correspond to one or more points (or links) in the topological map, (f) optionally determining a relative position of the location-related information with respect to the identified one or more map-to-scale points (or links), and (g) displaying the location-related information with respect to the corresponding one or more points (or links) in the topological map.

Navigable topological maps

In one embodiment, dynamic natural guidance is generated for a route between an origin and a destination. A controller receives data indicative of a location of the mobile device and data indicative of at least one movable object detected in a vicinity of the mobile device. The data indicative of at least one movable object may be collected by a camera and analyzed. The analysis may include one or more of image processing techniques, temporal measurement, and tracking of movable objects. The controller generates a guidance command based on the location of the mobile device. The guidance command references the at least one movable object detected in the vicinity of the mobile device.

Dynamic natural guidance

Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be 'virtual,' added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset. For some image datasets, the user can virtually navigate through time as well as through space.

System and method for producing multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images in an image dataset

An approach is provided for formulating a positioning extent for map matching. The positioning extent platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of a plurality of position data points acquired by at least one positioning system to determine one or more variations in the plurality of position data points with respect to one or more thoroughfare segments. Next, the positioning extent platform determines one or more positioning extents associated with the one or more thoroughfare segments for the at least one positioning system based, at least in part, on the one or more variations.

Method and apparatus for formulating a positioning extent for map matching

A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. Video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, or other features. A video is presented to a user on the display of a navigation system (or other device). An application associated with the navigation system uses the previously captured video data to create the video shown to the user. The application selects that video data that shows the end user's position from a vantage point. The application further superimposes an indication on the video at a location that corresponds to the position of the end user.

Street level video simulation display system and method

Open area maps as well as related features, systems, and methods are disclosed. For example, one method comprises translating coordinates associated with an open area map into real-world coordinates. The open area map is positioned within a geographic map as a function of the real-world coordinates. The geographic map represents a real-world area around the open area map. The open area map includes an image of a layout representing a pedestrian walkable area, and the open area map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout.

Positioning open area maps

A navigation system utilizes building directories to aid navigation. A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, captures an image of a building directory. The building directory includes information regarding the names and/or locations of tenants. An image recognition algorithm is performed on the captured image to extract information from the building directory. The extracted information is used to access a map database. The mobile device may display directions or a map to guide the user to a selected destination. In addition, the captured image may be used to build the map database or update the map database. Finally, the captured image may be matched with stored images of the building directory to determine the current location of the mobile device.

Building directory aided navigation

Traffic flow is viewed in mapping or navigation. A processor generates a two-dimensional map from a perspective view. The perspective view is at an angle, which is not a normal to the map, looking down on the two-dimensional map. At least one road or pathway represented on the two-dimensional map is identified. Traffic flow information is obtained for a plurality of locations along the at least one road or pathway. A line is projected along a third dimension on the two-dimensional map. The line is above the road or pathway from the perspective view. A height of the line is a function of the traffic flow information for the locations such that the height for a first of the locations is greater than for a second of the locations. The map is displayed with the line.

Three-dimensional traffic flow presentation

Systems and methods associated with an open area map are disclosed. For example, one method comprises obtaining an image of a layout. The layout represents a real-world area in which a person moves about. A grid is applied on the image. The grid may include tiles that fill in a ground area of the image. A routable map is generated as a function of the grid. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout.

Open area maps

An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users. An on-line system is provided that users can access to associate keywords with physical locations. A user accessing the on-line system is presented with a map from which a physical location can be selected. A keyword, which may be selected by the user, is associated with the selected physical location. The keyword is stored in the keyword database along with data indicating the associated physical location.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Park, IL, United States of America

William N Gale