Methods and systems for providing information indicative of a recommended navigable stretch

A navigation device comprising data storage means for storing digital map data including data representative of a plurality of navigable segments of a navigable network, each navigable segment having attribute data representative of one or more attributes associated therewith, the navigation device being capable of communicating with a server and being arranged to be able to determine a route through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments, the navigation device comprising one or more processors arranged to:

• receive, from the server, data indicative of modified attribute data for the or each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch, wherein the modified attribute data is determined so as to make the segment more favourable when a route is determined through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments;
• and
• use the received modified attribute data in determining a route through the navigable network, wherein:
• (i) the recommended navigable stretch is at least a portion of a route to a destination determined by the server in response to a request by the navigation device;
• or
• (ii) the recommended navigable stretch is a navigable stretch that provides an alternative route around one or more navigable segments that are to be avoided;
• or
• (iii) the recommended navigable stretch is a navigable stretch that a user wishes to share with other users, the server having received an indication of the recommended navigable stretch from a user, and wherein the navigation device is a member of a predefined group of navigation devices for receiving information indicative of recommended navigable stretches suggested by other users;
• or
• (iv) the recommended navigable stretch is at least a portion of a path being followed by a lead vehicle of a group of two or more vehicles wishing to travel in a convoy, and wherein the navigation device that receives the modified attribute data from the server is associated with one or more following vehicles.

A navigation device comprising data storage means for storing digital map data including data representative of a plurality of navigable segments of a navigable network, each navigable segment having attribute data representative of one or more attributes associated therewith, the navigation device being capable of communicating with a server and being arranged to be able to determine a route through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments, the navigation device comprising one or more processors arranged to:

• receive, from the server, data indicative of modified attribute data for the or each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch, wherein the modified attribute data is determined so as to make the segment more favourable when a route is determined through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments;
• use the received modified attribute data in determining a route through the navigable network, said route including at least one navigable segment of the recommended navigable stretch;
• and
• use the existing unmodified attribute data for the at least one navigable segment of the recommended navigable stretch in determining a property of the determined route.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by the navigation device, cause the navigation device to perform a method of operating a navigation device in communication with a server, the navigation device comprising digital map data including data representative of a plurality of navigable segments of a navigable network, each navigable segment having attribute data representative of one or more attributes associated therewith, and the navigation device being further arranged to be able to determine a route through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the server, data indicative of modified attribute data for the or each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch, wherein the modified attribute data is determined so as to make the segment more favourable when a route is determined through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments;
• using the received modified attribute data in determining a route through the navigable network, said route including at least one navigable segment of the recommended navigable stretch;
• and
• using the existing unmodified attribute data for the at least one navigable segment of the recommended navigable stretch in determining a property of the determined route.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions which, when executed by a navigation device including a data storage means for storing digital map data including data representative of a plurality of navigable segments of a navigable network, each navigable segment having attribute data representative of one or more attributes associated therewith, the navigation device being capable of communicating with a server and being arranged to be able to determine a route through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments, cause the navigation device to perform a method comprising:

• receiving, from the server, data indicative of modified attribute data for the or each navigable segment of a recommended navigable stretch, wherein the modified attribute data is determined so as to make the segment more favourable when a route is determined through the navigable network using the attribute data associated with the navigable segments;
• and
• using the received modified attribute data in determining a route through the navigable network, wherein:
• (i) the recommended navigable stretch is at least a portion of a route to a destination determined by the server in response to a request by the navigation device;
• or
• (ii) the recommended navigable stretch is a navigable stretch that provides an alternative route around one or more navigable segments that are to be avoided;
• or
• (iii) the recommended navigable stretch is a navigable stretch that a user wishes to share with other users, the server having received an indication of the recommended navigable stretch from a user, and wherein the navigation device is a member of a predefined group of navigation devices for receiving information indicative of recommended navigable stretches suggested by other users;
• or
• (iv) the recommended navigable stretch is at least a portion of a path being followed by a lead vehicle of a group of two or more vehicles wishing to travel in a convoy, and wherein the navigation device that receives the modified attribute data from the server is associated with one or more following vehicles.