Adoption rate

Referring to in-car navigation, the adoption rate of navigation is measured as the percentage of cars sold that offer a factory-installed navigation system either as a standard or as an option. See also take-rate.

ASN

Assisted Satellite Navigation This is a software feature in a navigation system that simulates and calculates the car movement in case the satellite signal is lost. In more advanced systems, a gyroscope is providing input data for ASN (see GyroGPS). Also known as dead-reckoning feature.

Connected Navigation

See TomTom WORK 

Dedicated Device

See PND

Dynamic Navigation

Dynamic Navigation is the result of combining a navigation system with a real time traffic information service. This enables the navigation system to recalculate and adjust its route planning taking into account real time traffic flow, including accident and roadwork alerts. As a result, the route planning becomes dynamic and calculates the fastest route of that instance, not only the shortest.

E911

E911 stands for Enhanced 911 and is a US mandate to ensure that mobile handsets can be located in an emergency situation. This mandatory situation is also expected to drive development of commercial location based services. By 2006, 95% of all US mobile subscribers must own a handset with automatic location identification (ALI). The European counterpart is E112, which however is not mandatory, but is based on a “best efforts” recommendation.

Galileo

Galileo is the name of a satellite positioning system currently under development by the European Union. The principle is exactly the same as with the current GPS (see GPS), apart from the fact that it will be operated by Europe and not by the USA.

GyroGPS

Hardware component based on a gyroscope that senses motion changes of the vehicle, such as acceleration, braking, and sharp turns. Information gathered with the gyroscope enhances the accuracy of the GPS locator and can help temporarily replacing the GPS receiver’s signal in case reception is subdued by tunnels or tall buildings (“urban canyons”).

GPS

Global Positioning System. The Navstar GPS system is operating since 1973 and is a global system that uses a constellation of 24 satellites operating in 6 orbits at approx. 18,000km above the earth. A navigation device receives the GPS signals (via a GPS chip) and can calculate the exact location of the receiver. The GPS receiver does this by computing the distance of at least four individual satellites by measuring the time it takes for each signal to arrive. This results in latitude, longitude and a height position. The distance is calculated by multiplying the signal duration by the speed of light, and the position is determined by signals from three or more satellites used to perform triangulation calculations. Typical GPS receivers use the signal of up to 12 satellites. Since May 2000, the US government stopped scrambling the satellite signals (previously for military reasons) and as a result the signal became much more accurate (locating is possible on sub-five meter accuracy).

Handheld Devices

Handheld devices are synonymous with Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and are designed to bring a wide range of mobile functionality to the user, but not telephony. The core functionality is to manage data (email, agenda, address book) as well as running applications (e.g. navigation software) and as a consequence, handheld devices are data centric, usually via a keypad or a pen.

HD Traffic

HD Traffic technology uses raw, anonymous GSM signaling data, showing the movement of mobile phones in cars. This data is merged with existing traffic sources and sent to the users in real time. Using the service, the drivers are able to avoid traffic jams and receive more accurate travel and arrival times.

HD Traffic was introduced in The Netherlands during 2007 and is being rolled out in major European countries during 2008 and 2009.

Integrated Device

See PND A PND is a portable electronics device that integrates all hardware and software components necessary for turn-by-turn navigation. A PND is handheld and/or is removable if it is put on a socket in a car, bicycle or motorcycle. An example of a PND is the TomTom GO. -->

IQ Routes

The TomTom IQ Routes™ technology is based on actual average speeds on roads, rather than the sign-posted speed limits. The technology is based on anonymous historical speed profiles of more than 10 billion kilometers of driven roads, gathered over the years by millions of TomTom users. It takes into account all the factors that may influence the time it takes drivers to get to their destination, including traffic lights, roundabouts, steep slopes and speed bumps.

LBS

Location Based Services, describing basically all services that include location as the common denominator. For example, a traffic information service is a location based service. But also emergency locators (E911), stolen vehicle tracking services, operator-based route assistance, or a service that brings a user to the nearest restaurant or other point of interest. All location based services require a digital roadmap and a navigation device in order to operate.

MapShare™

TomTom Map Share™ is a proprietary map improvement technology unique to TomTom, which enables users to easily and instantly improve maps. TomTom users can respond in real time to changes in the road network and correct the maps on their TomTom devices accordingly. Thanks to the smart user interface, it is easy to make improvements, such as blocked or unblocked streets, reversed one way traffic or new street names, which will instantly take effect.

Roads are continually changing. This feature gives TomTom users the option to capture these changes on their device in-between map releases and keep their data as current as they wish. These changes allow the community of TomTom Map Share™ users to always have the most up-to-date maps and inside local knowledge at their fingertips.

Non-integrated software

TomTom is using the term non-integrated (software) to describe sales of navigation software that is used on devices such as a PDA or a Smartphone. These devices are not purely designed for navigation (i.e. not a dedicated device). The “non-integrated” navigation software is sold either separately or as a bundle sale with the device.

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant, see Handheld Devices

Penetration rate

We define the penetration rate of car navigation as the percentage of cars that actually have a navigation system installed. The penetration rate is normally measure based on factory-installed systems, but also can be measured based on all navigation systems divided by the total car park.

PND

Portable Navigation Device. Term used by navigation industry players to describe a portable electronics device that integrates all hardware and software components necessary for turn-by-turn navigation. A PND is handheld and/or is removable if it is put on a socket in a car, bicycle or motorcycle. An example of a PND is the TomTom GO.

PNAV or PNV

Personal Navigation. All navigation that is not fixed into a car, but can be carried on with a person. Compare fixed/car telephony versus mobile telephony.

POI

Points of Interest, i.e. information included in the roadmap not being the roads and streets themselves but additional information such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels etc. In some occasions, additional POIs can be downloaded and included in the map data, such as speed cameras, McDonalds locations and other sponsored information.

Satellite navigation system

A satellite navigation system is defined as the hardware device that is used for navigation (usually car navigation and routing), and that is using a satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver as a locator. Apart from the hardware, a highly accurate digital roadmap is required, for which there are two main suppliers for Western Europe and North America, NavTeq and Tele Atlas. The hardware device and the map together are operated by a navigation software application. This software goes with a user interface (e.g. a three-dimensional picture of the roadmap and an arrow of your current location) and with an engine calculating e.g. the shortest route.

Smartphones

More correctly called Converged Handheld Devices, these are mobile devices that are either voice or data centric, and are capable of synchronizing personal information and/or email. Smartphones are positioned to solve the “multiple device question”, and replace the need to carry a mobile phone and a data-centric handheld device. These devices must match mobile telephony requirements as well as data-centric functionality such as address book and agenda management. As well, they must be capable of running complex applications (e.g. navigation software). Often, Smartphones have an edge in voice-centric capabilities as a result of their evolution from the mobile phone segment (e.g. Nokia Smartphones). Examples include the Nokia 3650, Nokia Communicator 9210, PalmOne Treo, O2 XDA, Orange SPV and SonyEricsson P910.

Take rate

Referring to in-car navigation, the take rate is measured as the percentage of car buyers that actually select a navigation system as an option along with buying the car (see also adoption rate).

TMC

Traffic Message Channel is an application of the widely known Radio Data System (RDS). With TMC, a navigation system can receive traffic information through RDS- encoded radio signals. The information broadcasted mainly consists of traffic information (congestions, road work), weather information etc. TMC is a technology used for enabling dynamic traffic services.

TomTom PLUS

TomTom PLUS services offer you real-time Traffic and Weather information, Safety Cameras, as well as downloadable Voices, Points of Interest and much more. Available on the TomTom website.

TomTom WORK

Connected Navigation helps you to improve management and control of your vehicles and drivers and offers easy two-way communication and navigation for your people on the road and in the office.

TomTom WORK offers Connected Navigation solutions combining plug and play management technology with smart navigation and communication tools. All you need is a mobile navigation system connected to the web-based TomTom WEBFLEET vehicle management and communication service. No special software or interference from IT is needed. Therefore TomTom WORK is for any sort and any size of fleet.

Turn-by-turn navigation

Turn-by-turn navigation is a term originally meant to describe a car navigation device that is capable of displaying required turns (e.g. displayed by arrows) to guide the driver along the correct route. Turn-by-turn also means that the navigation system and its map have to be accurate enough to allow providing precise routing instructions. For example, lane information is among the content required within the map data to enable accurate turn-by-turn navigation.