Specifying possible arrival point

A method for specifying a possible arrival point comprising the steps of:

• storing, in a probe information storing unit, destination points set by a navigation system in association with link deviation points corresponding to the respective destination points;
• referring to the probe information storing unit and grouping the destination points located adjacent to each other to generate a destination point group by using a destination point group generating unit;
• setting a target area based on the generated destination point group by using a target area setting unit;
• referring to the probe information storing unit and specifying, as target link deviation points, link deviation points associated with the destination points included in the generated destination point group by using a target link deviation point specifying unit;
• grouping the specified target link deviation points located adjacent to each other to generate a link deviation point group by using a link deviation point group generating unit;
• setting a reference coordinate for the generated link deviation point group by using a reference coordinate setting unit;
• and
• specifying the set reference coordinate as a possible arrival point of the target area and/or a possible arrival point of a facility or an address located within the target area by using a possible arrival point specifying unit.

A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a processor of a computing system implements a method for specifying a possible arrival point, the computer program product configured to cause a computer to function as:

• probe information storing means for storing therein destination points set by a navigation system in association with link deviation points corresponding to the respective destination points;
• destination point group generating means for referring to the probe information storing unit and for grouping the destination points located adjacent to each other to generate a destination point group;
• target area setting means for setting a target area based on the generated destination point group;
• target link deviation point specifying means for referring to the probe information storing means and for specifying, as target link deviation points, link deviation points associated with the destination points included in the generated destination point group;
• link deviation point group generating means for grouping the specified target link deviation points located adjacent to each other to generate a link deviation point group;
• reference coordinate setting means for setting a reference coordinate for the generated link deviation point group;
• and
• possible arrival point specifying means for specifying the set reference coordinate as a possible arrival point of the target area and/or a possible arrival point of a facility or an address located within the target area.