Method of processing positioning data

1. A method of processing map data comprising a plurality of the navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by the map data, wherein at least some of the navigable segments have speed data associated therewith representative of a measured speed profile, said measured speed profile comprising a plurality of average speeds of a plurality of navigation devices through the segment for different recurring time periods, the method comprising:

receiving position data from a plurality of navigation devices by wireless telecommunication, the position data for each of the navigation devices being representative of the position of the navigation device over time;

generating, by at least one processor, at least one updated speed profile indicative of current traffic behavior for a plurality of segments by processing the position data from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each updated speed profile comprising data representative of an average speed of travel through the segment for a time period that has recently passed;

comparing, by the at least one processor, each updated speed profile with a respective average speed of the measured speed profile for the segment to determine if the average speed difference is above a predetermined threshold;

identifying, by the at least one processor, for each navigation device, the segments within a predetermined distance of a current position of each of the navigation devices; and

sending the at least one updated speed profile determined to have an average speed difference above the predetermined threshold for any identified segments to each navigation device by wireless telecommunications.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data representative of an average speed of travel through the segment for a time period that has recently passed of each updated speed profile comprises: (i) an average speed; or (ii) a speed differential to be added to the respective average speed of the measured speed profile for the segment.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for processing map data comprising a plurality of the navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in an area covered by the map data, wherein at least some of the navigable segments have speed data associated therewith representative of a measured speed profile, said measured speed profile comprising a plurality of average speeds of a plurality of navigation devices through the segment for different recurring time periods, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving position data from a plurality of navigation devices by wireless telecommunication, the position data for each of the navigation devices being representative of the position of the navigation device over time;

generating at least one updated speed profile indicative of current traffic behavior for a plurality of segments by processing the position data from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each updated speed profile comprising data representative of an average speed of travel through the segment for a time period that has recently passed;

comparing each updated speed profile with a respective average speed of the measured speed profile for the segment to determine if the average speed difference is above a predetermined threshold;

identifying for each navigation device, the segments within a predetermined distance of a current position of each of the navigation devices; and

sending the at least one updated speed profile determined to have an average speed difference above the predetermined threshold for any identified segments to each navigation device by wireless telecommunications.

4. A server arranged to process map data comprising:

a memory comprising map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments which may be selected to define a navigable route in an area covered by the map data, at least some of the navigable segments having speed data associated therewith representative of a measured speed profile, said measured speed profile comprising a plurality of average speeds of a plurality of navigation devices through the segment for different recurring time periods; and

a processor arranged to:

receive position data from a plurality of navigation devices, the position data for the plurality of navigation device being representative of the position of each navigation device over time;

generate at least one updated speed profile indicative of current traffic behavior for a plurality of segments by processing the position data from at least two of the plurality of navigation devices, each updated speed profile comprising data representative of an average speed of travel through the segment for a time period that has recently passed

compare the updated speed profile with the respective average speed of the measured speed profile for the segment to determine if the average speed difference is above a predetermined threshold;

identify, for each navigation device, the segments within a predetermined distance of a current position of the navigation device; and

subsequently cause the transceiver to send the at least one updated speed profile determined to have an average speed difference above the predetermined threshold for any identified segments to each of the navigation devices.

5. The server of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance is determined based on a current speed of travel for the navigation device.

6. The server of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance is determined based on a bandwidth for a transmission of signals between the navigation device and a server.

7. The server according to claim 4 , wherein the data representative of an average speed of travel through the segment for a time period that has recently passed of each updated speed profile comprises: (i) an average speed; or (ii) a speed differential to be added to the respective average speed of the measured speed profile for the segment.