Showing papers on "Turn-by-turn navigation published in 2007"

System and method for providing a natural language voice user interface in an integrated voice navigation services environment

Abstract: A conversational, natural language voice user interface may provide an integrated voice navigation services environment. The voice user interface may enable a user to make natural language requests relating to various navigation services, and further, may interact with the user in a cooperative, conversational dialogue to resolve the requests. Through dynamic awareness of context, available sources of information, domain knowledge, user behavior and preferences, and external systems and devices, among other things, the voice user interface may provide an integrated environment in which the user can speak conversationally, using natural language, to issue queries, commands, or other requests relating to the navigation services provided in the environment.

Move to improve: promoting physical navigation to increase user performance with large displays

Abstract: In navigating large information spaces, previous work indicates potential advantages of physical navigation (moving eyes, head, body) over virtual navigation (zooming, panning, flying). However, there is also indication of users preferring or settling into the less efficient virtual navigation. We present a study that examines these issues in the context of large, high resolution displays. The study identifies specific relationships between display size, amount of physical and virtual navigation, and user task performance. Increased physical navigation on larger displays correlates with reduced virtual navigation and improved user performance. Analyzing the differences between this study and previous results helps to identify design factors that afford and promote the use of physical navigation in the user interface.

Navigation in 3D virtual environments: Effects of user experience and location-pointing navigation aids

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the results of an experimental study whose objective was twofold: (1) comparing three navigation aids that help users perform wayfinding tasks in desktop virtual environments (VEs) by pointing out the location of objects or places; (2) evaluating the effects of user experience with 3D desktop VEs on their effectiveness with the considered navigation aids. In particular, we compared navigation performance (in terms of total time to complete an informed search task) of 48 users divided into two groups: subjects in one group had experience in navigating 3D VEs while subjects in the other group did not. The experiment comprised four conditions that differed for the navigation aid that was employed. The first and the second condition, respectively, exploited 3D and 2D arrows to point towards objects that users had to reach; in the third condition, a radar metaphor was employed to show the location of objects in the VE; the fourth condition was a control condition with no location-pointing navigation aid available. The search task was performed both in a VE representing an outdoor geographic area and in an abstract VE that did not resemble any familiar environment. For each VE, users were also asked to order the four conditions according to their preference. Results show that the navigation aid based on 3D arrows outperformed (both in terms of user performance and user preference) the others, except in the case when it was used by experienced users in the geographic VE. In that case, it was as effective as the others. Finally, in the geographic VE, experienced users took significantly less time than inexperienced users to perform the informed search, while in the abstract VE the difference was significant only in the control and the radar conditions. From a more general perspective, our study highlights the need to take into specific consideration user experience in navigating VEs when designing navigation aids and evaluating their effectiveness.

Integrating Navigation Systems

Abstract: Vehicle data generated by circuitry of a vehicle is received and functions of a personal navigation device, which are otherwise used to process device navigational data that are generated by navigational circuitry in the personal navigation device, are used to process the vehicle data to produce output navigational information. User interlace commands and navigational data are communicated between a personal navigation device and a media head unit of a vehicle, the user interface commands and navigational data being associated with a device user interface of the device, and a vehicle navigation user interface at the media head unit displays navigational information and receives user input for control the display of the navigational information on the media head unit, the vehicle navigation user interface being coordinated with the user interface commands and navigational data associated with the device user interface.

Navigation system and methods for route navigation

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for improved navigation using the global positioning system (GPS). A method of improved navigation includes transmitting a destination to a navigation server through a wireless communication channel. The method further includes transmitting position information from a GPS-enabled device to the navigation server through the wireless communication channel automatically at a time interval. The method further includes generating navigation information by the navigation server. The navigation information is based on the position information and the destination. The method further includes receiving navigation information on the GPS-enabled device from the navigation server through the wireless communication channel.

Navigation Systems and Services

Abstract: Navigation systems and services are described. The navigation services can include obtaining a route or route segment based on a location of a vehicle and a destination. Based on the route, a current fuel supply of the vehicle, and a number of factors related to fuel consumption, a refueling location can be estimated. A number of locations of fuel stations in proximity to the refueling location can be determined and presented to a user, for example, on a map showing the route.

Environmentally-Friendly Navigation

Abstract: One of the major successes in ITS technology lately has been in the area of advanced traveler information systems (ATIS). In particular, there are now many good navigation systems that can advise drivers on route selection within a roadway network. This type of navigation software is now available on the Internet that can be used for trip planning, as well as in on-board navigation systems that can calculate optimal routes based on current vehicle location. The primary role of these navigation systems is to help drivers find their destinations. More advanced navigation systems can now help drivers avoid congestion on the roadways based on receiving real-time roadway data information. To date, these navigation systems have embedded algorithms that attempt to minimize trip distance and/or travel time. However, many drivers are now becoming increasingly concerned with rising fuel costs and pollutant emissions. Therefore, it is desirable to create new "environmentally-friendly" navigation algorithms. Taking advantage of the latest navigation technology, we have developed new navigation techniques that focus on minimizing energy consumption and pollutant emissions. These methods combine sophisticated mobile-source energy and emission models with route minimization algorithms that are used for navigational purposes. These new methods have been applied in several southern California case studies resulting in significant energy savings compared to standard navigation techniques.

Simplified user interface navigation

Abstract: The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for user interface navigation.

Fusion of Sensor Data in Siemens Car Navigation System

Abstract: Car navigation systems have three main tasks, namely 1) positioning; 2) routing; and 3) navigation (guidance). Positioning of the car is carried out by appropriately combining information from several sensors and information sources, including odometers, gyroscopes, Global Positioning System (GPS) information, and digital maps. This paper describes two sensor-fusion steps implemented in commercial Siemens car navigation systems. The first step is the fusion of the odometer, gyroscope, and GPS sensory information. The dynamic model of the car movement is implemented in a Kalman filter, which relays the GPS signal as a teacher. In the second step, the available digital map is used to find the most likely position on the roads. Contrary to the standard application of the digital map, where the current estimated car position is just projected on the road map, the approach presented here compares the features of the integrated vehicle path with the features of the candidate roads from the digital map. In addition, this paper presents the results of the experimental drives. The developed car navigation system was awarded the best car navigation system among ten competing systems in 2002 by the Auto Build magazine

System and method for using context in navigation dialog

Abstract: Described is a navigation system. The navigation system comprises a route planning module and a route guidance module. The route planning module is configured to receive a request from a user for guidance to a particular destination. Based on a starting point, the route planning module determines a route from the starting point to the particular destination. The route guidance module is configured to receive the route, and based on the route and current location of the user, provide location-specific instructions to the user. The location-specific instructions include reference to specific visible objects within the vicinity of the user.

Linked Local Navigation for Visual Route Guidance

Abstract: Insects are able to navigate reliably between food and nest using only visual information. This behavior has inspired many models of visual landmark guidance, some of which have been tested on autonomous robots. The majority of these models work by comparing the agent's current view with a view of the world stored when the agent was at the goal. The region from which agents can successfully reach home is therefore limited to the goal's visual locale, that is, the area around the goal where the visual scene is not radically different to the goal position. Ants are known to navigate over large distances using visually guided routes consisting of a series of visual memories. Taking inspiration from such route navigation, we propose a framework for linking together local navigation methods. We implement this framework on a robotic platform and test it in a series of environments in which local navigation methods fail. Finally, we show that the framework is robust to environments of varying complexity.

Apparatuses and methods for managing route navigation via mobile devices

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for managing route navigation via mobile devices. A route is calculated between a starting point and a destination point. The route is divided into multiple segments based on the complexity of the calculated route, and navigation features are controlled as a function of the segment that corresponds to the user's current location. The user may opt to identify one or more segments, or one or more route portions independent of whether or not segmentation has occurred, in order to specify a portion(s) of the route where navigation support is not needed.

Gps based fuel efficiency optimizer

Abstract: Routing options for fuel efficient use of a motor vehicle employing a GPS-based navigation system are computed based on travel information and external data. A navigation device receives route input from a driver or by recording a travelled route. External data such as traffic conditions, weather conditions, actual fuel consumption, road blockages, traffic light configurations, and the like is received from one or more networked information sources. A fuel efficient route based on the original route and the received external data is computed for the whole route or individual sections between stops on the route for display to the driver. Fuel efficient route(s) may be recomputed with up-to-date external data upon driver request, predefined intervals, or updates to external data.

Nagivation Provision System and Framework for Providing Content to an End User

Abstract: The invention relates to navigation devices and to the provision of both data and functionality to navigation devices. The invention provides a navigation device running basic navigation framework software, supporting a complete navigation content provision framework, wherein the framework can support a fixed set of plug-in software object types. The supported plug-in software can provide data and additional functionality to the navigation device. Plug-in software objects can be downloaded to the navigation device from a server which is also part of the framework. The download can be via a wireless network, during operation of the navigation device, and in response to user selections on the navigation device.

Learning user preferences of route choice behaviour for adaptive route guidance

Abstract: As the use of navigation systems becomes more widespread, the demand for advanced functions of navigation systems also increases. In the light of user satisfaction, personalisation of route guidance by incorporating user preferences is one of the most desired features. A user model applied to personalised route guidance is presented. The user model adaptively updates route selection rules when it discovers the predicted choice differs from the actual choice of the driver. This study employs a decision tree learning algorithm, the C4.5 algorithm, which has advantages over other data mining methods in terms of its comprehensible model structure. Simulation experiments with a real-world network were conducted to analyse the applicability of the model to adaptive route guidance and the accuracy of its prediction

Algorithms for map-aided autonomous indoor pedestrian positioning and navigation

Abstract: The personal positioning and navigation became a very challenging topic in our dynamic time. The urban canyons and particularly indoors represent the most difficult areas for personal navigation problematic. Problems like disturbed satellite signals make the positioning impossible indoors. Recently developed systems for indoor positioning do not assure the necessary positioning accuracy or are very expensive. Our concept stands for a fully autonomous positioning and navigation process. That is, a method that does not rely on the reception of external information, like satellite or terrestrial signals. Therefore, this research is based on the use of inertial measurements of the human walk and the map database which contains the graphic representation of the elements of the building, created by applying the link-node model. Using this reduced set of information the task is to develop methodology, based on the interaction of the data from both sources, to assure reliable positioning and navigation process. This research is divided in three parts. The first part consists in the development of a methodology for initial localization of the person indoors. The problem to solve is to localize the person in the building. Consider a person equipped with a system which contains set of inertial sensors and map database of the building. Speed, turn rate and barometric altitude are measured and time-stamped on each step of the person. A pre-processing phase uses these raw measurements in order to construct a polyline, thus representing user's trajectory. In the localization approach central place takes the association of the user's trajectory with the graph representation of the building, process known as map-matching. The solution is based on statistical method where the determination of the user's position is entirely represented by its probability density function (PDF) in the frame of Bayesian inference. Initial localization determines the edge of the graph occupied by the person. The second part aims at continuous localization, where user's position is estimated on every step. Besides the application of the classical map-matching techniques, two new methods are developed. Both rely on the similarity of the geometry of the trajectory and the elements of the graph. The first is based on the Bayesian inference, where the estimation is computed considering the walked distance and azimuth. The second method represents a new application of the Frechet distance as degree of similarity between two polylines. The third part is pointed at the pedestrian guidance. Once the user's position is known it is easy to compute the path to his destination and to give him directions. The problem is to assure continuance of the process of navigation in the case when the person has lost his path. In that case the solution consists in either giving instructions to the user to go back on the path or computation of a new path from the actual position of the user to his destination. Based on that methodology, algorithms for initial localization, continuous localization, and guidance were created. Numerous tests with the participation of several persons have been provided in order to validate the algorithms and to show their performance, robustness and limits.

Navigation server, navigation apparatus, and navigation system

Abstract: Provided is a navigation system capable of matching map information used by a navigation apparatus and a navigation server with an appropriate frequency and at an appropriate timing. When there is differential information between the navigation map information and the support map information, index information for identifying the differential information is transmitted from the navigation server to the navigation apparatus and the navigation apparatus outputs preliminary information indicating a brief summary of the differential information generated according to the index information. When a request signal based on a request operation by a user in the navigation apparatus is transmitted from the navigation apparatus to the navigation server, the differential information is transmitted form the navigation server to the navigation apparatus, so that the navigation map information is updated in accordance with the differential information.

System and method for sending destination locations to navigation devices

Abstract: A navigation device receives a destination location to automatically calculate a route to the destination location over a wireless network. The destination location may be generated by a third party at a remote computer or wireless device. The destination location may be entered into the remote computer or wireless device, or may be automatically generated by the device. The destination location is transmitted from the remote computer or wireless device to the navigation device. Once received, the user of the navigation device may have the option of accepting or rejecting the destination location. The navigation device then uses the destination location to calculate a route which is communicated to the user with minimal to no user interaction. Multiple destinations may be sent to the navigation device, thus allowing advanced programming of an entire trip.

Storage and visualization of points of interest in a navigation system

Abstract: A navigation system accepts driver input that extends the navigation capabilities of the navigation system, while permitting the driver to navigate using a digital map that indicates vehicle position. The driver input may identify a new point of interest, an icon for the new point of interest, and location information for the new point of interest. The navigation system supplements a pre-configured navigation database with the driver input. During a subsequent trip, when the vehicle approaches the new point of interest, the navigation system alerts the driver of the new point of interest.

Use of a situational network for navigation and travel

Abstract: A method of obtaining navigation information includes creating a first itinerary for a navigation route corresponding to a travel event for a first individual. Navigation information is searched for related to at least one location along the first itinerary via a situational network established with a plurality of devices corresponding to other individuals searching for navigation information. The navigation information found in the searching is received. The first itinerary is altered based on the received navigation information.

A buddy system for navigation devices

Abstract: A buddy system for navigation systems is disclosed. Further to the buddy system, a user of a navigation device can locate other navigation device users within a select vicinity. The buddy system further includes buddy lists compiled from a number of navigation devices grouped according to a common characteristic. The characteristic may be a relationship among the users of the navigation devices, the location of the navigations, and the like. The navigation systems are listed within buddy lists according to identification and geographical location. The navigation systems, with buddy lists stored therein, may be made to navigate towards a select buddy. In addition, further to the buddy system, one navigation system can communicate with another via text and voice messages.

Navigation system, in-vehicle navigation apparatus and center apparatus

Abstract: In a communication type navigation system, a center apparatus receives a present position and destination from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus and thereby calculates a route by searching map data, which is constantly updated. The in-vehicle navigation apparatus receives the calculated route with course information from the center apparatus. When approaching a passing point included in the route, the navigation apparatus displays the course information in the travel direction in superimposition on a forward image around the passing point. The route guide can be thus appropriately performed to follow an actual road state. The above configuration of the system helps prevent problems in costs and workloads resulting from an in-vehicle navigation apparatus holding map data therein.

Crowds of Moving Objects: Navigation Planning and Simulation

Abstract: This paper presents a solution to interactive navigation planning and real-time simulation of a very large number of entities moving in a virtual environment. From the environment geometry analysis, we deduce a structure called navigation graph, which is the base to our method. After the description of this structure, we introduce a set of algorithms dedicated to answer navigation queries with a set of various solution paths and to execute the planned navigation in an efficient manner. We equally demonstrate method performance and robustness over several examples.

How to Design an Advanced Pedestrian Navigation System: Field Trial Results

Abstract: Location based services are more and more establishing themselves on the market. Various providers of navigation applications are trying to benefit from this development and promote their solutions with the option "suitable for pedestrian navigation". But still these systems use vocabulary and routing only appropriate to car navigation. A key feature of context-aware applications is the ability to connect the current user position to possible activities nearby. Particularly with regard to mobile tourist applications pedestrian navigation systems need to be 100% accurate. This paper describes a field study comparing four different navigational concepts for pedestrians currently available. All of these systems are based on recent state of the art approaches and have been evaluated by real users. At the end this paper will come up with a recommendation for designing mobile pedestrian navigation systems.

Tour generation for exploration of 3D virtual environments

Abstract: Navigation in complex and large-scale 3D virtual environments has been shown to be a difficult task, imposing a high cognitive load on the user. In this paper, we present a comprehensive method for assisting users in exploring and understanding such 3D worlds. The method consists of two distinct phases: an off-line computation step deriving a grand tour using the world geometry and any semantic target information as input, and an on-line interactive navigation step providing guided exploration and improved spatial perception for the user. The former phase is based on a voxelized version of the geometrical dataset that is used to compute a connectivity graph for use in a TSP-like formulation of the problem. The latter phase takes the output tour from the off-line step as input for guiding 3D navigation through the environment.

Navigation server, navigation device, and navigation system

Abstract: Provided are a navigation system and the like capable of improving, in consideration of the position of the user, the use value of a navigation route obtained in response to a present request. According to the navigation system, when a present request (Req(i)) including a present destination position (p2(i)) that is the same as the previous destination position (p2(i-1)), where i > 1, is made from a navigation device (200), a present assistance route (R(i)) is searched that starts from a position (p1(i)) that is on the previous assistance route (R(i-1)) and apart from the user position (p0(i)) included in the request (Req(i)) by a specified distance or more.

Route calculation based on traffic events

Abstract: Based on an origin location and a destination location, a navigation device is configured to provide an initial route. Traffic messages describing traffic events are received by the navigation device. Based on a location code in each of the traffic messages, the navigation device determines a traffic event delay if the location code corresponds to any remaining segment(s) of the initial route. If at least one of the traffic messages corresponds to any remaining segment(s) of the initial route, a travel delay is calculated based on one or more traffic event delays. The navigation device calculates a new route from the current location to the destination location, and, if a new travel time of the new route is less than a remaining travel time of the initial route from the current location to the destination location plus the travel delay, the navigation device outputs the new route.

A new approach for pedestrian navigation for mobility impaired users based on multimodal annotation of geographical data

Abstract: Although much effort is spent in developing navigation systems for pedestrians, many users with special needs are mostly excluded due to a lack of appropriate geographical data such as landmarks, waypoints, or obstacles. Such data is necessary for computing suitable routes which might differ from being the shortest or fastest one. In this paper, the concept of multimodal annotation of geographical data for personalized navigation is described. Direct input by the user is combined with data derived from the observation of the user's LOM-Modality (Location, Orientation, and Movement) to annotate geographical data. Based on this data and data derived from other users of the same user group, suitable routes even in unknown territory can be calculated.

System and method for broadcasting navigation prompts

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for broadcasting navigation prompts to a radio receiver system (14) with an electronic device (12). A message is broadcast to the radio receiver system. The message includes data that invokes a programmed response by the radio receiver system to carry out at least one of increase a volume level or switch audio sources. A navigation prompt is also broadcast for audible playback by the radio receiver system, the navigation prompt providing a direction to a user for traveling to a specified destination.