JP2006064632A - Map data updating system and navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map data updating system and navigation system that more effectively performs the update of map data. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system 1 sends an inquiry about the presence of a new road including inquiry data with a calculated vehicle position to a map data server 3, when the vehicle position outside a road on map data that a map data storing section 11 holds. An updating service server 31 for a map data server 3 that receives the inquiry about the presence of the new road instructs a corresponding road data searching section 32 to search the road matching to the vehicle position contained in the inquiry data from the map data in a map data base 33, and then sends the searched road data as the updated data to the navigation system 1. The navigation system 1 updates the retaining data by using the updated data received by the map data storing section 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for updating map data held by a navigation device mounted on a vehicle.

In a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, as a technique for updating map data held for use in travel guidance for a user, vehicle travelability indicated by the map data held by the current position calculated by the navigation device can be used. When you are out of the area, access the map server that provides the latest map data via wireless communication, obtain the latest map data of the area to which the current position belongs, and store it in the acquired map data A technique for updating existing map data is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-148051 A

  According to the technology for updating map data in the conventional navigation device, the map data held when the current position calculated in the navigation device is outside the runnable area of the vehicle indicated by the held map data is Although it is assumed that the map data is old, the process of updating the stored map data is performed, but this technique has the following problems.

  That is, even if the calculated current position is outside the driving area of the vehicle indicated by the map data held, the map data held may be the latest map data. For example, there is a case where the calculation of the current position is incorrect, or a case where new map data reflecting a newly established road after creation of the stored map data is not produced. Therefore, it is not efficient to unconditionally update the map data when the calculated current position is out of the vehicle runnable area indicated by the map data held.

  In addition, since the map data is updated in units of regions, the size of the data that must be downloaded from the map server in each update of the map data is large. For this reason, if the map data is frequently updated, the burden on the communication fee is excessive for the user. Further, during the download from the map server, there is a disadvantage that the user cannot perform other communications for a relatively long time, so the degree of inconvenience for the user is large. In addition, the map data for each area downloaded from the map server does not necessarily include data for areas where individual users do not need to update. That is, updating the map data in units of regions in this way has a problem in efficiency from the viewpoint of the user's use of map data and navigation devices.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to update map data more efficiently in a navigation device.

  In order to achieve the object, the present invention holds map data representing a map, which is mounted on each vehicle, as local map data, calculates a current position using the local map data, and represents a map. A map data server that stores map data as master map data and provides update data for updating local map data held by the navigation device to the navigation devices based on the master map data. In the map data update system, communication means for accessing the map data server via wireless communication to the navigation device and whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data. Estimating means for estimating, and the estimating means comprises the local map data. When it is estimated that the vehicle is traveling on a road that is not on the map indicated by, an update request accompanied by inquiry data that is information related to the road on which the vehicle is traveling is transmitted to the map data server via the communication means. Update request issuing means for issuing a map data update for updating the local map data using the update data when update data is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means A vehicle on which a map on the map represented by the master map data when the update request is received by the map data server is mounted on the map data server. A new road estimating means for estimating the road being traveled based on the inquiry data accompanying the update request, and the new road estimating means As road information updating data is obtained by a updating data providing means responsive to the update request issuing navigation device.

  According to such a map data update system, the vehicle equipped with the navigation device is included in the map represented by the master map data of the map data server, and has traveled on a road not included in the map represented by the local map data. Sometimes, information about the road can be downloaded as update data from the map data server to the navigation device, and the local map data held by the navigation device can be updated.

  Therefore, the size of data that must be downloaded from the map server in each update of the map data can be kept small. In addition, the road information downloaded as the update data is information on the road on which the vehicle equipped with the navigation device actually travels, and is not information on the road unnecessary for the user who does not travel on the vehicle. The local map data can be updated efficiently from the viewpoint of the user's map data and the use of the navigation device.

  In order to achieve the object, the present invention holds map data representing a map, which is mounted on each vehicle, as local map data, calculates a current position using the local map data, and a map Map data server is stored as master map data, and a map data server for providing update data for updating local map data held by the navigation device to each navigation device based on the master map data. In the map data update system, communication means for accessing the map data server via wireless communication to the navigation device, and estimating whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data The estimation means, and the estimation means, the local map data is An update request issuing means for issuing an update request for the local map data to the map data server via the communication means when it is estimated that the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map; When update data is received from the map data server as a response to the update request, a map data update unit that updates the local map data using the update data, and a response to the update request via the communication unit As a monitoring target, a road that is not on the map indicated by the local map data that is estimated to be traveling when the update request is issued is received as a monitoring target road when an update data non-existence notification is received from the map data server When the setting means and the monitoring target road are set, and when it is estimated that the vehicle is traveling on the monitoring target road, An update request issuance restraining means for restraining the update request issuing means from issuing an update request even when the estimating means estimates that the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data. Whether the master map data represents a newer map than the local map data of the navigation device that issued the update request when the map data server receives an update request from the navigation device. When the determination is made and it is determined that the map represents a new map, an update for updating at least a part of the roads or areas so that the map represented by the local map data matches the map represented by the master map data. In response to the update request issuing navigation device, in other cases, the update data non-existence notification Is provided with update data providing means for responding to the navigation device that issued the update request.

According to such a map data update system, when a vehicle equipped with a navigation device travels on a road not included in the map represented by the local map data, the map data server requests update data of the local map data. When the update data can be received as a response to the request, the local map data is updated using the received update data. On the other hand, if the update data cannot be received because there is no information to update the local map data in the map data server when the update data is requested, it will run when the update data is requested. Issuance of a request for update data to the map data server when traveling on the road that has been used is not performed.
Therefore, if the road on which the update data was requested is a road on which the user frequently travels, the local map data should be frequently updated in the map data server each time the road travels. Although there is no information, it is possible to suppress issuing a request for update data to the map data server.

Further, such a map data updating system periodically issues the update request to the map data server when the monitoring target road is set in the navigation device, and the update request In response, when update data can be received from the map data server, the update request is sent to the monitoring means for updating the local map data using the received update data and canceling the setting of the monitored road. It may be provided together with the issue suppression unit or instead of the update request issue suppression unit.
As described above, when the update data cannot be received because there is no information to update the local map data in the map data server, a request for the update data is periodically issued to the map data server. By doing so, when information for updating the local map data is generated in the map data server, this information can be automatically downloaded as update data and the local map data can be updated. .

  By the way, in the above map data update system, as in the map data update system described above, in the update request issuing means of the navigation device, as the update request, reference data that is information related to the road on which the vehicle is traveling is displayed. When the update data providing unit of the map data server issues a request for update accompanied by the map and the map on the map can be searched for a road on the map represented by the master map data and matching the query data, the master map It is determined that the data represents a newer map than the local map data of the navigation device that issued the update request, and the estimated road information is used as the update data to respond to the navigation device that issued the update request. You may comprise. In this case, when the navigation device is provided with the monitoring unit, the monitoring unit may issue an update request with inquiry data that is information related to the monitoring target road.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the map data can be updated more efficiently in the navigation device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
In FIG. 1, the structure of the map data update system which concerns on this embodiment is shown.
As shown in the figure, the map data update system updates the map data to each navigation device 1 via the WAN 2 that accommodates the navigation device 1 mounted on each vehicle, each navigation device 1 via wireless communication, and WAN 2. And a map data server 3 that provides update data for the purpose.

The map data server 3 also includes an update service server 31, a corresponding road data search unit 32, a map database 33 storing the latest map data, and a map for performing maintenance such as updating the map data stored in the map database 33. And a data editing unit 34.
Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the navigation device 1 mounted on each vehicle.
As shown in the figure, the navigation device 1 includes a control device 10, an operation unit 21, a display device 22, a vehicle state sensor 23, a GPS receiver 24, and a mobile communication device called a mobile phone or the like. 25. Here, the vehicle state sensor 23 is a sensor group that detects a vehicle state such as an azimuth sensor such as an angular acceleration sensor or a geomagnetic sensor, or a vehicle speed sensor such as a vehicle speed pulse sensor.

  The control device 10 of the navigation device 1 includes a map data storage unit 11, a current state calculation unit 12, a GUI control unit 13, a route search unit, which is a rewritable storage device such as an HDD that stores map data representing a map. 14, a memory 15, a control unit 16, a guidance image generation unit 17, a communication control unit 18, and a map data update processing unit 19. Here, in the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 and the map data stored in the map database 33 of the map data server 3, roads are expressed as a set of links that are straight lines. An end point is a node, and this node is always set for a connection point of a link such as an intersection. In the map data, identification information indicating the identification of the road line formed by the link is set for each link.

  However, the above control device 10 may be a CPU circuit having a general configuration including peripheral devices such as a microprocessor, a memory, and other graphic processors and geometric processors in terms of hardware. In this case, each unit of the control device 10 described above may be realized as a process embodied by a microprocessor executing a program prepared in advance. In this case, such a program may be provided to the control device 10 via a recording medium or an appropriate communication path.

Now, in such a configuration, the current state calculation unit 12 of the navigation device 1 repeatedly performs the following processing.
That is, the current state calculation unit 12 estimates the first temporary current position, which is a position estimated as the current position from the output of the vehicle state sensor 23 and the current position calculated last time, and the current position from the output of the GPS receiver 24. One of the second temporary current positions, which is the position to be set, is selected as the temporary current position. For example, the first temporary current position is selected as the temporary current position if the distance between the first temporary current position and the second temporary current position is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value. 2 Performed by calculating the temporary current position as the temporary current position. Then, the current state calculation unit 12 performs map matching processing between the temporary current position and a map around the current position determined last time indicated by the map data read from the map data storage unit 11, and is most likely as the current position. The coordinates, the most likely direction as the current traveling direction, and the most likely link as the current traveling link are determined as the current position, the current traveling direction, and the traveling link, respectively, and are set in the memory 15. The matching degree of the temporary current position with respect to the current position calculated by the map matching process is also set in the memory 15.

  Here, in the map matching process, for example, the current position is calculated as follows. That is, a link having a direction in which the difference from the temporary traveling direction, which is the traveling direction of the vehicle obtained from the output of the vehicle state sensor 23 or the displacement of the temporary current position, is equal to or less than a predetermined direction threshold value, Of the links whose shortest distance to the link is equal to or less than the predetermined distance threshold, the link having the shortest shortest distance to the temporary current position is selected as the traveling link, and the shortest distance to the temporary current position on the selected link is the minimum. Is the current position, and the direction of the traveling link is the current traveling direction. Further, the degree of matching is determined according to a predetermined calculation formula such that the smaller the difference between the traveling link and the provisional travel direction, the greater the difference, and the greater the difference in the distance between the provisional current position and the current position.

  As a result of such map matching processing, when a vehicle is traveling on a road in which the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 includes a link constituting the road, generally, FIG. As shown in the figure, a position X near the link 301 of the road being traveled is obtained as a temporary current position, and as shown by an arrow, a direction close to the direction of the link 301 is obtained as a temporary traveling direction. As a result of the map matching process, the current position 310 is calculated as the position on the link 301 as shown in FIG. Note that black circles in FIGS. 3A and 3B are nodes, and straight lines between the nodes are links.

  On the other hand, in the map matching process, there is a link having a direction in which the difference from the provisional traveling direction is equal to or less than a predetermined direction threshold value, and the shortest distance to the temporary current position is equal to or less than the predetermined distance threshold value. If there is not, the temporary current position is used as it is, the temporary traveling direction is set as the current traveling direction, and the traveling link is calculated as indefinite. In this case, the matching degree is set to zero.

  Therefore, when a vehicle is traveling on a road (a road indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3c) that does not include a link constituting the road in the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11, generally, As shown in FIG. 3c, a position X that is distant from any link included in the map data held in the map data storage unit 11 is obtained as a temporary current position, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the position outside the link held in the map data storage unit 11 is calculated as the current position 310.

  The control unit 16 accepts a destination setting from the user via the operation unit 21 and the GUI control unit 13 in response to a user destination setting request, and sets the destination setting in the memory 15. Then, the route search unit 14 is made to search for a recommended route to the destination. The route search unit 14 reads out the map data of the necessary geographical range from the map data storage unit 11, and finds the route with the lowest cost that first follows the traveling link from the current position set in the memory 15 to the destination. A recommended route is calculated based on a predetermined cost model using a link length or the like as a cost, and the calculated route data of the recommended route is set in the memory 15.

In addition, when the current position set in the memory 15 becomes near the destination, the control unit 16 determines that the destination has arrived, and also performs processing for clearing the destination and the recommended route set in the memory 15. .
The guide image generation unit 17 then maps the map display range calculated by the control unit 16 according to the current position set in the memory 15 or the point designated by the user with the cursor and the map display scale set at that time. The image is drawn based on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11. Further, a guide image in which a graphic representing the current position, recommended route, and destination set in the memory 15 is drawn on the drawn map image is generated and displayed on the display device 22.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the guide image displayed on the display device 22 in this way. In the example shown, the display range of the map is determined based on the current position. The guide image is a map image 401 around the current position where a current position mark 402 representing the current position is displayed. When the recommended route is set, a route graphic 403 representing the recommended route within the map display range is displayed on the map image 401 as the guide image. Further, when the destination is included in the display range, the destination mark 404 representing the destination is also displayed on the map image 401.

Hereinafter, the update operation | movement of the map data memorize | stored in the map data storage part 11 of such a navigation apparatus 1 is demonstrated.
In the navigation device 1, the map data update processing unit 19 performs a map data update process and a monitoring initial device monitoring process in order to update the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11.
First, map data update processing performed by the map data update processing unit 19 of the navigation device 1 will be described.
FIG. 5a shows the procedure of the map data update process.
As shown in the figure, in this process, if the current state calculation unit 12 calculates the current position (step 502), the matching degree calculated by the current state calculation unit 12 together with the current position is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold Th. Whether or not (step 504), if not below the threshold value Th, return to step 502. On the other hand, if the matching degree is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold Th, it is checked whether or not the temporary current position selected by the current state calculation unit 12 is within the monitoring area (step 506), and the temporary current position is within the monitoring area. If there is, return to Step 502. This monitoring area will be described later.

  On the other hand, if the temporary current position is outside the monitoring area, a new road presence / absence inquiry including inquiry data is transmitted to the map data server 3 via the communication control unit 18 and the wireless communication device 25 (step 508). Here, the inquiry data to be included in the new road presence / absence inquiry includes the provisional current position and provisional travel direction used by the current state calculation unit 12 for the map matching process, and the traveling link calculated by the current state calculation unit 12.

  In the map data server 3, this new road presence / absence inquiry is received by the update service server 31. Upon receiving the new road presence / absence inquiry, the update service server 31 causes the corresponding road data search unit 32 to search for roads that match the inquiry data included in the new road presence / absence inquiry from the map data in the map database 33. That is, the corresponding road data search unit 32 uses the temporary current position, the temporary traveling direction, and the map data in the map database 33 included in the inquiry data to perform map matching processing using the same algorithm as that in the navigation device 1, The current position and the running link are calculated. If the calculated traveling link is a link that forms a route different from the traveling link included in the inquiry data, the map database uses the data of each link forming the same route as the calculated traveling link as update data. If the calculated travel link is a link that forms the same route as the travel link included in the inquiry data, the update data non-existence notification is updated in response to the update service server 31. Responds to the server 31. In addition, when the running link included in the inquiry data represents indefinite, and the traveling ring other than indefinite can be calculated, the calculated running link is different from the running link included in the inquiry data. Assume that the links form

  When the update service server 31 receives the update data from the corresponding road data search unit 32, the update service server 31 transmits the update data to the navigation device 1 that issued the new road presence / absence inquiry, and the update data from the corresponding road data search unit 32 When the non-existence notification is received, an update data non-existence notification is returned to the navigation device 1 that issued the new road presence / absence inquiry.

  As a result of such processing of the map data service server, in the navigation device 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 3c, the map data held in the map data storage unit 11 does not include a road that includes a link constituting the road (see FIG. 3c), the vehicle is traveling, and as shown in FIG. 3d, the position outside the link held in the map data storage unit 11 is calculated as the current position 310, As shown in FIG. 3e, the map data recorded in the map database 33 includes links 321 to 323 that form roads 320 that are not included in the map data held in the map data storage unit 11. In such a case, the map matchon in the road data search unit 32 corresponding to the map data shown in FIG. 3e, the provisional current position X, and the provisional travel direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. As shown in FIG. 3f, the link 322 forming the road 320 is obtained as a traveling link, and the position on the traveling link 322 is calculated as the current position 310. Then, as shown in FIG. 3g, the data of the links 321 to 323 forming the road 320 formed by the traveling link 322 is extracted as update data by the corresponding road data search unit 32 and sent to the navigation device 1. become.

  By the way, in the map data update process of the navigation device 1, the reference data included in the new road presence / absence inquiry is included in the temporary current position calculated by the current state calculation unit 12 and the map data held in the map data storage unit 11. Of these links, the identifiers of the links around the temporary current position selected by the current state calculation unit 12 may be used. Here, the link around the temporary current position may be each link that forms the boundary of the area to which the temporary current position x belongs among the areas divided by the link.

  Further, in this case, the corresponding road data search unit 32 extracts each link around the temporary current position included in the inquiry data from the links included in the map data of the map database 33, and in the extracted links Check for links that are not included in the query data. If there is a link that is not included in the inquiry data among the extracted links, the link data forming the same route as the existing link is extracted as update data from the map data in the map database 33, and the update service Responds to server 31. If there is no link that is not included in the inquiry data among the extracted links, an update data non-existence notification is returned to the update service server 31.

  As a result of such processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 3c, a road (a road indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3c) that does not include a link constituting the road in the map data held in the map data storage unit 11 is In the navigation device 1, as shown in FIG. 3d, the position outside the link held in the map data storage unit 11 is calculated as the current position 310, as shown in FIG. 3e. If the map data recorded in the map database 33 includes links 321 to 323 that form roads 320 not included in the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11, navigation is performed. The identification of the temporary current position X shown in FIG. 3c and the links 301-309 around it is sent from the device 1 to the map data server 3 as inquiry data. Then, the corresponding road data search unit 32 of the map data server 3 includes the link identifier in the inquiry data among the links around the temporary current position from the map data stored in the map database 33 as shown in FIG. The data of the links 321 to 323 that form the road 320 is extracted as update data and sent to the navigation device 1.

  Now, returning to FIG. 5, in the map data update processing of the navigation device 1, if a new road presence / absence inquiry is issued to the map data server 3 (step 508), an update data non-existence notification is returned from the map data server 3. Or, it waits for the update data to be replied (step 510). When the update data is replied, the update data is added to the map data held in the map data storage unit 11 and necessary. In this case, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 is updated by correcting the existing map data accompanying the addition (step 512), and the process returns to step 502.

  On the other hand, when an update data non-existence notification is received from the map data server 3 (step 510, waiting for the matching degree calculated by the current state calculation unit 12 together with the current position to be equal to or less than a predetermined threshold Th (step 514) If the matching degree is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value Th, the area around the traveling locus of the vehicle during the period when the matching degree is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value Th is set as a monitoring area in step 508. It is registered in the memory 15 together with the inquiry data included in the issued new road presence / absence inquiry (step 516), and the process returns to the processing from step 502. Note that the vehicle travel locus is the temporary current calculated by the current state calculation unit 12, for example. Obtained from the locus of the position.

  Here, when the update data non-existence notification is received in response to the new road presence / absence inquiry made to the map data server 3 in this way, the map data storage unit 11 relates to the traveling road at the time of issuing the new road presence / absence inquiry. It is considered that there is no difference in the contents of the map data stored in the map data and the map data recorded in the map database 33 of the map data server 3. Therefore, when the update data non-existence notification is received, the travel section during the period in which the matching degree after the new road presence / absence inquiry is issued is equal to or less than the threshold Th (the road that was being traveled when the new road presence / absence inquiry was issued) For the section estimated to be), the monitoring area is set in step 516, and access to the map data server 3 for updating the map data while traveling in the monitoring area is suppressed in step 506. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of useless access to the map data server 3 each time the vehicle travels in the monitoring area.

  On the other hand, after that, a link about the traveling road at the time when the update data non-existence notification is received may be added to the map database 33 of the map data server 3. Therefore, monitoring of the addition of the road link to the map database 33 when the new road presence / absence inquiry is issued and updating of the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 accompanying the addition will be described in detail later. By performing the monitoring area monitoring process, if a link about the traveling road at the time when the update data non-existence notification is received is added to the map database 33 of the map data server 3, it is automatically stored in the map data storage unit 11. The map data that is held is updated.

The map data update process performed by the map data update processing unit 19 has been described above.
By the way, the comparison between the matching degree and the threshold Th in step 504 in the above map data update process estimates whether the vehicle is currently traveling on the road included in the map data held in the map data storage unit 11. Is to do. Therefore, the value of the threshold Th may be appropriately set according to how severe the condition for estimating that the vehicle is traveling on the road included in the stored map data. For example, the threshold Th may be set to 0 in order to make the conditions for estimating that the vehicle is traveling on a road included in the map data held most severe.

  That is, in this case, in steps 504 and 514 in the above map data update process, it is determined whether or not the degree of matching is 0, that is, whether or not the current position on the link has been obtained by the map matching process. May be. In step 504, the process proceeds to step 506 only when the matching degree is 0. In other cases, the process returns to step 502. In step 514, when the matching degree is 0, the process proceeds to step 516. In other cases, the process may return to step 514.

Next, the monitoring area monitoring process which the map data update process part 19 of the navigation apparatus 1 performs is demonstrated.
This monitoring area monitoring process is performed for each monitoring area registered in the memory 15.
That is, when a monitoring area is registered in the memory 15, a monitoring area monitoring process for the monitoring area is started, and the process shown in FIG. 5 is performed.
As shown in the figure, in this process, a timer having a predetermined timeout time (for example, 24 hours) is started (step 552), and if the timer times out (step 554), the following process is performed.
That is, a new road presence / absence inquiry including inquiry data stored in the memory 15 together with the monitoring area is transmitted to the map data server 3 via the communication control unit 18 and the wireless communication device 25 (step 556). Then, it waits for an update data non-existence notification from the map data server 3 or an update data response (step 558). When the update data non-existence notification is received, the processing from step 552 is performed. Return.

  On the other hand, when update data is returned from the map data server 3, the update data is added to the map data held in the map data storage unit 11, and if necessary, existing data associated with the addition is added. The map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 is updated by correcting the map data (step 560). However, at the time of this update, if the data of the same link as the link indicated by the update data is already included in the map data held in the map data storage unit 11, the map data for that link is displayed. Do not add.

And the registration of the monitoring area corresponding to the said monitoring area monitoring process stored in the memory 15 is erase | eliminated from the memory 15 (step 562), and a process is complete | finished.
The processing for updating map data performed by the map data update processing unit 19 has been described above.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 is included in the map represented by the map data in the map database of the map data server 3 and is held in the map data storage unit of the navigation device 1. When the vehicle travels on a road not included in the map represented by the map data, the information about the road is downloaded as update data from the map data server 3 to the navigation device 1, and the navigation device 1 stores the map data storage unit. The map data held in can be updated.

  Therefore, the size of data that must be downloaded from the map server in each update of the map data can be kept small. Further, the road information downloaded as the update data is information on the road on which the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1 actually travels, and is not information on an unnecessary road on which the vehicle does not travel. The local map data can be updated efficiently from the viewpoint of using the map data and the navigation device.

  However, if it is not necessary to keep the size of data downloaded to the navigation device 1 small in each update, the map held in the map data storage unit 11 in the navigation device 1 for a new road presence / absence inquiry. Map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 by the navigation device 1 that issued the new road presence / absence inquiry in the map data server 3 is accompanied by information such as a version number for specifying the map represented by the data, Data for matching the map data stored in the map database 33 with the map data stored in the map database 33 by the navigation device 1 such as the difference from the map data recorded in the database 33, or Calculated by the navigation device 1 that issued the new road presence / absence inquiry Navigation of the new road presence / absence inquiry issuer, such as the difference between the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 by the navigation device 1 and the map data recorded in the map database 33 for the area to which the location belongs. For the area to which the current position calculated by the device 1 belongs, the navigation device 1 uses the data for matching the map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 with the map data stored in the map database 33 as update data. The map data stored in the map data storage unit 11 may be updated using the update data provided to the navigation device 1 that issued the road presence / absence inquiry.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the map data update system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a structure in the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the map data update which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the navigation apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention performs for the update of map data.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... WAN, 3 ... Map data server, 10 ... Control apparatus, 11 ... Map data storage part, 12 ... Current state calculation part, 13 ... GUI control part, 14 ... Route search part, 15 ... Memory, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... Control part, 17 ... Guidance image generation part, 18 ... Communication control part, 19 ... Map data update process part, 21 ... Operation part, 22 ... Display apparatus, 23 ... Vehicle state sensor, 24 ... GPS receiver, 25 ... Wireless communication device, 31 ... update service server, 32 ... corresponding road data search unit, 33 ... map database, 34 ... map data editing unit.

Claims (6)

A navigation device mounted on each vehicle that holds map data representing a map as local map data and calculates the current position using the local map data;
A map data server that stores map data representing a map as master map data and provides update data for updating local map data held by the navigation device to each navigation device based on the master map data; Map data update system,
The navigation device
A communication means for accessing the map data server via wireless communication;
Estimating means for estimating whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data;
When the estimation means estimates that the vehicle is traveling on a road that is not on the map indicated by the local map data, information relating to the road on which the vehicle is traveling is sent to the map data server via the communication means. An update request issuing means for issuing an update request accompanied by certain inquiry data;
Map data update means for updating the local map data using the update data when update data is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means;
The map data server
When an update request is received from the navigation device, the road on the map represented by the master map data, on which the vehicle on which the navigation device from which the update request is issued is running is used as the update request. New road estimation means to estimate based on the accompanying inquiry data,
A map data update system comprising update data providing means for responding to the navigation device that issued the update request, using the road information estimated by the new road estimation means as update data. A navigation device mounted on each vehicle that holds map data representing a map as local map data and calculates the current position using the local map data;
A map data server that stores map data representing a map as master map data and provides update data for updating local map data held by the navigation device to each navigation device based on the master map data; Map data update system,
The navigation device
A communication means for accessing the map data server via wireless communication;
Estimating means for estimating whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data;
Update that issues an update request for the local map data to the map data server via the communication means when the estimating means estimates that the road is not on the map indicated by the local map data A request issuing means;
Map data update means for updating the local map data using the update data when update data is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means;
When the update data non-existence notification is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means, on the map indicated by the local map data estimated to be running when the update request is issued Monitoring target setting means for setting a non-existing road as a monitoring target road;
When it is estimated that a vehicle is traveling on the monitored road when the monitored road is set, the estimating means travels on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data. Even if it is estimated that the update request issuance means does not issue an update request, the map data server includes
When an update request is received from the navigation device, it is determined whether the master map data represents a new map than the local map data of the navigation device that issued the update request, and represents a new map If determined, update data for updating the local map data so that the map represented by the local map data matches the map represented by the master map data for at least some roads or areas. A map data update system comprising update data providing means for responding to a request issuing navigation device, and responding to the update request non-existence notification to the update request issuing navigation device in other cases. A navigation device mounted on each vehicle that holds map data representing a map as local map data and calculates the current position using the local map data;
A map data server that stores map data representing a map as master map data and provides update data for updating local map data held by the navigation device to each navigation device based on the master map data; Map data update system,
The navigation device
A communication means for accessing the map data server via wireless communication;
Estimating means for estimating whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data;
Update that issues an update request for the local map data to the map data server via the communication means when the estimating means estimates that the road is not on the map indicated by the local map data A request issuing means;
Map data update means for updating the local map data using the update data when update data is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means;
When the update data non-existence notification is received from the map data server as a response to the update request via the communication means, on the map indicated by the local map data estimated to be running when the update request is issued Monitoring target road setting means for setting a non-existing road as a monitoring target road;
When the monitoring target road is set, periodically, the update request is issued to the map data server, and when the update data can be received from the map data server as a response to the update request, Updating the local map data using the received update data, and having monitoring means for canceling the setting of the monitored road,
The map data server
When an update request is received from the navigation device, it is determined whether the master map data represents a new map than the local map data of the navigation device that issued the update request, and represents a new map If determined, update data for updating the local map data so that the map represented by the local map data matches the map represented by the master map data for at least some roads or areas. A map data update system comprising update data providing means for responding to a request issuing navigation device, and responding to the update request non-existence notification to the update request issuing navigation device in other cases. The map data update system according to claim 2,
The navigation device can periodically issue the update request to the map data server and receive update data from the map data server as a response to the update request when the monitoring target road is set. A map data update system comprising: monitoring means for updating the local map data using the received update data and canceling the setting of the monitored road. The map data update system according to claim 3 or 4,
The update request issuing means of the navigation device issues an update request accompanied by inquiry data, which is information related to a road on which the vehicle is traveling, as the update request,
The monitoring device of the navigation device issues an update request accompanied by inquiry data which is information related to the monitored road,
The update data providing means of the map data server is a road on the map represented by the master map data, and when the road matching the inquiry data can be searched, the master map data is the update request issuing source. A map data update system that determines that the map represents a newer map than the local map data of the navigation device and responds to the navigation device that issued the update request as the updated data with the estimated road information. A navigation device that is mounted on each vehicle, stores map data representing a map as local map data, and calculates a current position using the local map data,
Communication means for accessing, via wireless communication, a map data server for providing update data for updating the local map data;
Estimating means for estimating whether the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data;
When the estimation means estimates that the vehicle is traveling on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data, the map data server is requested to provide update data of the local map data via the communication means. Update request issuing means for issuing an update request to be performed;
Map data update means for updating the local map data using the update data when update data is received as a response to the update request via the communication means;
When a notification that update data does not exist is received as a response to the update request via the communication means, the local map data that is estimated to be running when the update request is issued is not on the map Monitoring target setting means for setting a road as a monitoring target road;
When it is estimated that a vehicle is traveling on the monitored road when the monitored road is set, the estimating means travels on a road not on the map indicated by the local map data. Update request issuance restraining means for restraining the update request issuance means from issuing an update request even if it is estimated that
When the monitoring target road is set, periodically, the update request is issued to the map data server, and when the update data can be received from the map data server as a response to the update request, A navigation device comprising: monitoring means for updating the local map data using the received update data and canceling the setting of the monitored road.

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