509results about "Vehicle position indication" patented technology

A mobile station (1) of a mobile communication network system (2), comprising a GPS / GSM or UMTS based geographical position localising module (3) for localising the geographical position (24c) of the mobile station, which has storage means for storing geographical related base data, and display means (4) for displaying geographical related base data as a map (24) or as a text string, is characterised in that the geographical related base data displayed has been at least partly provided by wireless transmission from the network system and is limited to a predetermined extent depending on the geographical position, travel modus and speed of the mobile station, and the mobile station itself calculates the geographical position which can be presented to others during call set-up or with SMS services and the mobile station can do routing using a navigational algorithm implemented in location finder module (31) of the mobile station.

A vehicle charging allocation managing system containing plural charging stations each having a battery charger to charge a vehicle, a charging station managing server for managing the charging stations, and a vehicle charging allocation managing server that is connected to the charging station managing server through a communication network, and instructs vehicle allocation to allocate each of the vehicles to an appropriate one of the charging stations for charging. The vehicle charging allocation managing server has a controller for setting a vehicle charging allocation schedule for specifying a charging station and a charting time zone to charge each of the vehicles on the basis of a battery residual capacity and a battery capacity consumption plan, thereby performing vehicle allocation for charging.

A system and method for providing position information of a transit object to a computing device is provided. Global positioning satellite (GPS) information of a transit object can be periodically received. For each of some of the GPS information, one or more candidate points of a transit system can be identified based on the GPS information. Using the one or more candidate points, a most likely path of travel can be determined. Additional position points along the most likely path of travel can be extrapolated and transmitted to a computing device.

A tracking system (10) for tracking movable assets (16) and several methods for using the system are provided. The tracking system includes a monitoring device (22), a tracking information network (20), a data communication network (18), a tracker tag (12), and a tracking information server (14). The tracker tag uses GPS technology. The tracking information server provides programmed instructions to the tracker tag in messages via a messaging system. The tracker tag selectively retrieves the messages from the messaging system. The tracking information server provides tracking information and related information to a subscriber. In one embodiment, the tracker tag is in communication with an Iridium satellite constellation (28) and tracking information is displayed to the subscriber when the asset is substantially anywhere in the world. In another embodiment, the monitoring device is in communication with the Iridium satellite constellation and tracking information is displayed to the subscriber when the subscriber is substantially anywhere in the world, preferably via the Internet (36).

An information center provides a control program which is usable by a vehicle within its effective area. The control program may be transmitted to a vehicle in conjunction with the effective area through a broadcast antenna. According to the detected result of the current location, a control apparatus on a vehicle applies a control program to device control when the current location sites within the effective area. The vehicle can take possession of a control program fits to a region at any places to which it moves and can utilize those. It is possible to substitute an effective period for the effective area.

A novel method of and system for enabling the use of one portable cellular phone only, in voice communication with a cellular network control center for voice-requesting position or location data services, and, with the aid of a vehicle GPS-transponder activated in response to signaling from the control center over cellular network channel control paths, to receive and process at the vehicle GPS location data from satellites, and to transmit the data over the said channel control paths to the control center, for then sending therefrom to the user of the portable cellular phone.

An emergency call device has an emergency call-sending button and a disconnection button. The emergency call device carries out an emergency call to a service center when an emergency condition occurs. The emergency call device can terminate the emergency call in response to a disconnection request from the disconnection button only after a connection request signal, a user ID, and a current location data of the vehicle are transmitted to the service center. As a result, the service center can recognize the occurrence of the emergency call even when the disconnection is requested before originating the emergency call.

An advance notification system and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit for each vehicle and a base station control unit for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle is a certain predefined time period and / or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU compares elapsed time and / or traveled distance to the programmed scheduled time and / or traveled distance to determine if the vehicle is on schedule. If the vehicle is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU calls the BSCU, which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.

A traffic information prediction system, including a traffic information prediction apparatus, of the present invention comprises travel status measuring means for measuring a travel status of a vehicle and accumulating it as travel record information, and traffic information predicting means for predicting traffic information on a route on the basis of the travel record information and statistical traffic information to predict an arrival time to any place on a route containing the destination. The traffic information predicting means compares a traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information and the traveling trace based on the travel record information to calculate the degree of progress of the travel record based on the statistical traffic information, and correct the traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information on the basis of the degree of progress.

Provided is a mobile terminal including a movement sensor that detects a movement of a user and outputs movement information, acquires information on a building existing at a current location or information on buildings existing in a vicinity of the current location, analyses the movement information output from the movement sensor, and detects a first behaviour pattern corresponding to the movement information from multiple first behaviour patterns obtained by classifying behaviours performed by the user over a relatively short period of time, and analyses the information on a building or buildings and the first behaviour pattern, and detects a second behaviour pattern corresponding to the information on a building or buildings and the first behaviour pattern from multiple second behaviour patterns obtained by classifying behaviours performed by the user over a relatively long period of time.

A display method and apparatus for navigation system enables a user easily see a list of points of interest (POIs) along a route to a destination. The navigation system shows a list of distance ranges of the route where each range shows a number of POIs searched. The current user position is marked in the corresponding distance range. The navigation system displays a list of POI names in the selected distance range where the POI names are arranged in the order that the user sees the POIs along the route. For determining the listing order, the navigation system uses a plurality of region circles having their centers on the route to the destination, and retrieves POIs contained in the region circles and calculates a modified distance of each POI.

An ongoing driving habit monitoring system used by insurance companies to more accurately determine the driving habits of their policyholders or authorized drivers to more accurately determine their risk of loss. The system uses a monitoring device located in the insured party's motor vehicle. Each monitoring device is coupled to a GPS receiver, that provides physical location information, and to a wireless modem capable of connecting to a wireless communication network. The system also includes a central computer connected to a wide area network that is able to continuously or intermittently receive movement information from the monitoring device as it travels in a specific region covered by the wireless communication network. The central computer uses a driving monitoring software program and several ancillary databases containing roadway information for a region, route information, and traffic pattern information. Insurance companies or other authorized users of the system are able to log onto the central computer to the information in the database.

A shared vehicle system includes a central facility, at least one vehicle distribution port facility and a plurality or fleet of vehicles, each having a vehicle subsystem. In general, the central station and port facility and the vehicle subsystems communicate in a manner to allow a user to enter information at a port facility. That information is then communicated to the central facility, where the information is processed to select a vehicle from the fleet to allocate to the user at the port facility. Selection of a vehicle for allocation to a user may be based on selecting an available or soon to be available vehicle according to various algorithms that take into account the vehicles state of charge. The central station also communicates with the port facility and the vehicle subsystem to notify the user of the selected vehicle, to provide secure user access to the selected vehicle, to monitor the location and operating status of vehicles in the fleet, to monitor the state of charge of electric vehicles and to provide other functions. The vehicles communicate with the central station to notify the central station of the PIN number of the individual attempting to use the vehicle, and of vehicle parameters such as state of charge and location of the vehicle.

Techniques and tools are described for rendering views of a map in which map metadata elements are layered in 3D space through which a viewer navigates. Layering of metadata elements such as text labels in 3D space facilitates parallax and smooth motion effects for zoom-in, zoom-out and scrolling operations during map navigation. A computing device can determine a viewer position that is associated with a view altitude in 3D space, then render for display a map view based upon the viewer position and metadata elements layered at different metadata altitudes in 3D space. For example, the computing device places text labels in 3D space above features associated with the respective labels, at the metadata altitudes indicated for the respective labels. The computing device creates a map view from points of the placed labels and points of a surface layer of the map that are visible from the viewer position.

Images are efficiently collected or delivered so that uncomfortable feeling given to users who view picked images picked up at vehicles and delivered by an image server is lessened. An image server is so constructed that the following operation is performed: the picked image of the surroundings of a vehicle, picked up with a camera mounted on the vehicle, and the image pickup information of the picked image, including information about the image pickup point, are stored on a storing medium; and picked images stored on the storing medium are delivered to users who view received picked images. One is selected from among picked images inputted from a vehicle with respect to each of areas to which the image pickup points of those picked images belong based on the image pickup information and a predetermined selection condition. The selected picked image is stored on the storing medium.

An object of the invention is to predict energy consumptions of a vehicle, using geographic characteristic values which are independent from particular driving patterns and vehicle parameters and unique to respective links. A navigation server predicts energies which are consumed when a vehicle runs on links. The navigation server calculates geographic characteristic values of respective links, the geography of the each link affecting the consumption energy with the geographic characteristic values, the calculation being based on energy consumptions collected from probe vehicles, and calculates predicted energy consumption of each link selected as a processing target, based on the geographic characteristic values. A navigation terminal obtains these predicted energy consumptions and performs route search with the obtained predicted energy consumptions as costs.

A mobile device (MS) is disclosed comprising a GPS receiver (14) and an audible alarm (13, 15) configured to sound, during operation of the GPS receiver, in response to either adverse performance of the GPS receiver or to an event which is adverse or likely to be adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver. The alarm may sound in response to the inability of the GPS receiver to either acquire or track a GPS signal, or obtain or maintain a position fix. Also, the alarm may sound in response to movement of the GPS receiver, including acceleration and higher order movement of the GPS receiver, in so far as that movement is adverse to the performance of the GPS receiver.

An automatic vehicle location (AVL) system where vehicles are provided with navigation devices (104) for which destination data may be transmitted from the AVL base computer system (102).

A vehicle emergency call device includes a position information receiving unit (9), a positioning unit (8), a position information storing unit (7), and a control unit (4). The position information receiving unit (9) obtains first position information from a navigation system (3). The positioning unit (8) obtains second position information by performing computation using positioning assist information received from a GPS satellite. The control unit (4) causes the positioning unit (8) to receive the positioning assist information while the navigation system (3) is activated. The control unit (4) causes the position information storing unit (7) to store one of the first and second position information sets. The control unit (4) transmits the one of the first and second position information sets stored in the position information storing unit (7) through a transmitting unit (5) to a service center (13) for use as an emergency call when a start trigger for starting an emergency call occurs.

The invention relates to a system and a method for intelligently dispatching and managing urban public transports. A GPS subsystem acquires traffic data in real time, and the data is transmitted to a central server through a radio communication subsystem; the central server transmits a dispatching scheme to a control terminal through a computer network subsystem; vehicles execute the dispatching of the control terminal; and the control terminal displays the operation state of the vehicles on electronic maps based on a GIS geographic information subsystem, the automatic acquisition and transportation of operation information, passenger traffic volume and operation and production process information of the vehicles are realized through a computer network central database, the objectivity and the trueness of basic production information records of enterprises are improved, the checking requirements of different levels and different ranges are met, and the operation quality is detected. The system and the method can perform real-time optimum dispatching on operating vehicles and emergency repair vehicles under the assistance of a computer-based intelligent dispatching system, and strengthen the commanding capability and the response capability on the operation state.

A navigation device mounted in a vehicle determines a traffic condition when the vehicle travels in a road zone along a facility, and determines whether a payment terminal mounted in the vehicle has made a payment through communication with a facility terminal installed in the facility. If it is determined that a payment has been made through communication, then probe data is generated that associates the traffic condition in the road zone with a payment service of the facility.

A gradient information calculating system includes a first calculating unit (14) that detects three-dimensional location information through autonomous navigation, and calculates a first gradient value (θb, B), based on a distance (m) traveled, and an on-plane distance (L1) obtained by projecting the distance (m) traveled on a horizontal plane, a road map information storing unit (17) that stores road map information that represents each road by nodes of which the location information is known, and a link that connects the nodes, a second calculating unit (16) that estimates elevations of the nodes from previously measured elevation data, and calculates a second gradient value (A), based on a difference in elevation between the nodes and the length of the link, and a gradient data selecting unit (19) that selects one of the first and second gradient values to be adopted as a gradient value of the link, according to a difference between the first and the second gradient values.

A physical response record system includes a main unit and various sensors for recording driver's conditions and vehicle operations by a driver. The driver's conditions in combination with the vehicle operations are used to determine a risky situation of the vehicle based on an averaged driver's condition and the like. The risky situation is further analyzed for detecting a risky object and stored as a record for later use.

The invention discloses a parking position visual navigation system based on indoor precise real-time localization, comprising an indoor precise real-time localization system, an indoor wireless communication system, a navigator and a parking lot management server. An automobile driver receives a hand-hold navigator when entering a parking lot or directly enters the parking lot by using an onboard navigator; the indoor precise real-time localization system determines the precise position of the driver according to a localization label arranged in the navigator and transmits the precise position to the parking lot management server by the indoor wireless communication system; the parking lot management server determines the optimal parking position according to the position of the driver and the vacancy situation of the parking lot, and then the optimal parking position navigating route is transmitted to the navigator by the indoor communicating system and is displayed on the screen of the navigator. The invention does not need to install a parking position detector at each parking position and can carry out precise visual navigation on the parking position, thereby ensuring that a parker can quickly and accurately find the parking position. The invention is especially suitable for the management of large-sized parking lots.

In a mobile communication network, a controlling node receives capability information from a mobile terminal, indicating positioning methods supported by the mobile terminal and selectability of the positioning methods. In response to a location request message from a client terminal requesting the location information of a target mobile terminal, the controlling node transmits a first control message via a wireless node to the target mobile terminal, containing a copy of requested accuracy of the location information, if the capability information indicates that the target mobile terminal is capable of selecting positioning methods. The mobile terminal performs measurement according to a positioning method that satisfies the requested accuracy. Otherwise, the controlling transmits a second control message to the mobile terminal, specifying a positioning method. In this case, the mobile terminal performs measurement according to the specified positioning method.

Techniques are described for facilitating delivery and adjustments of customer orders at a customer delivery site. A delivery courier is assigned a mobile field computing device for facilitating delivery and order adjustments of customer orders associated with that courier's delivery route. The mobile field computing device includes memory for storing customer order history data and delivery route data downloaded from a server system. The delivery route data stored in the mobile field computing device may be used by the delivery courier to facilitate delivery of the customer orders. Further, the delivery courier may use the mobile field computing device to process a variety of different order adjustment transactions at a customer delivery site.

If acquisition of measured position and time data (position / time) from a position detection unit fails, a “GPS OFF mode” is set, and the latest position and time data is stored as start data. Thereafter, when the position and time data is obtained successfully, and the operation is recovered from the “GPS OFF mode”, the “GPS OFF mode” is cancelled. Also, the obtained position and time data (restoration data) is stored. Monitor data is formed from the start data and the restoration data. The monitor data is transmitted to a management center through road-vehicle communication. Also, history data of the position and time stored in the position detection unit during the “GPS OFF mode” is read. If the history data satisfies the toll charging condition, the toll charging data is formed and is transmitted to the management center.

A system and method are disclosed for collecting data that relate addresses to map-referenced locations. A fleet of delivery trucks delivers items to locations throughout a geographic region. Each item to be delivered includes a tracking code. An electronic code reader device is used to record the tracking code of an item when the item is being delivered. A position determining device, such as a GPS unit, is used to determine a geographic position associated with the delivery of each item. Data indicating the tracking code of an item and the corresponding geographic position associated with the delivery are stored. Then, using data that indicate an address associated with each tracking code, each address is associated with a geographic position. This information is used to revise a geographic database, e.g., to relate addresses to map-referenced locations.

A method and system for obtaining desired times from intended recipients of items is provided. The method provides each recipient with a plurality of time windows that overlap with one another in time from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery of an item and receives choices made by recipients from the plurality of overlapping windows. One aspect of the invention includes applying predetermined parameters to the time windows to determine which time windows to offer to the recipients as available times from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery. Such parameters may include, among others, which time windows have associated with them the least cost of service in making the delivery, whether the cost of delivering within a time window is less than a monetary threshold, and whether a maximum number of orders to be delivered within one time window has been reached.