Method of producing traffic signal information, method of providing traffic signal information, and navigation apparatus

An in-vehicle terminal, comprising:

• a controller that:
• produces image data of the traffic signal lamps based on a taken image, the taken image being taken when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal;
• analyzes the image data;
• produces traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps;
• stores traffic signal information in a memory, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information;
• and
• performs a statistical analysis on a correlation in terms of the status of traffic signal lamps among a plurality of traffic signals based on plural pieces of traffic signal information of plural adjacent traffic signals.

An in-vehicle terminal, comprising:

• a controller that:
• produces image data of the traffic signal lamps based on a taken image, the taken image being taken when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal;
• analyzes the image data;
• produces traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps;
• stores traffic signal information in a memory, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information;
• and
• performs a statistical analysis on a correlation in terms of the status of traffic signal lamps among a plurality of adjacent traffic signals based on plural pieces of traffic signal information of plural traffic signals.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of computer-executable program instructions executable on a data processing device and usable to produce traffic signal information, the program comprising:

• instructions for taking, when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal, an image of traffic signal lamps disposed on the traffic signal;
• instructions for producing image data of the traffic signal lamps based on the taken image;
• instructions for analyzing the image data;
• instructions for producing traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps;
• instructions for storing traffic signal information in a memory, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information;
• and
• instructions for performing a statistical analysis on a correlation in terms of the status of traffic signal lamps among a plurality of traffic signals based on plural pieces of traffic signal information of plural adjacent traffic signals.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of computer-executable program instructions executable on a data processing device and usable to produce traffic signal information, the program comprising:

• instructions for taking, when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal, an image of traffic signal lamps disposed on the traffic signal;
• instructions for producing image data of the traffic signal lamps based on the taken image;
• instructions for analyzing the image data;
• instructions for producing traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps;
• instructions for storing traffic signal information in a memory, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information;
• and
• instructions for performing a statistical analysis on a correlation in terms of the status of traffic signal lamps among a plurality of adjacent traffic signals based on plural pieces of traffic signal information of plural traffic signals.