JP2007085838A - Map database updating method for navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map database updating method for a navigation system which can update road data where road construction has been conducted, without delays and with ease. <P>SOLUTION: The map database updating method comprises a step (S101) for acquiring road construction information on road construction; steps (S103, 104) for storing a construction section specified by the road construction information; a step (S105) for deciding whether road construction has been completed; a step (S106) for presenting an updating menu indicating a plurality of road types, when it is decided that the road construction has been completed; and steps (S107, 108) for updating link data, corresponding to a construction section stored in a storage means on the basis of a road type selected from the updating menu. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and more particularly to updating a map database.

  The navigation device detects the vehicle position, draws map data around the vehicle position on the display, displays the vehicle mark on the map, and scrolls the map when the vehicle position changes. It has a function to guide the road map. Further, the optimum route to the destination is searched, the searched route is displayed on the display, and the arrival time to the destination by the searched route is also displayed.

  The navigation map database is regularly updated as new roads open and roads are constructed. For example, the existing map database is updated by purchasing map data sold from a manufacturer once a year or downloading a specific area or the entire area via a communication medium such as a network. The following proposals have been made for updating the map database.

  In Patent Document 1, route guidance is enabled by using the latest version data even for an in-vehicle device that does not have the latest version data. The center device that communicates with the navigation device obtains a road ID string that forms a route to the destination by route search. Then, the version of each road ID is compared with the version of the navigation device holding data (DVD or the like). If the version is the same, only the road ID is transmitted. If the data version of the navigation device 100 is old, the center device adds road attribute information in addition to the road ID and transmits it to the navigation device. In this case, the navigation apparatus provides route guidance using the road attribute information added to the road with the received road ID.

  In Patent Document 2, when there is a change in the road map information stored in the road map information storage unit, the stored information can be updated to cope with the change. Specifically, the front of the vehicle is imaged by the imaging means, the captured image is binarized by the image image processing unit, and the white line of the road is derived from the obtained binarized image, Recognizing the presence or absence of lanes adjacent to this, the information on the width of the road on which it is traveling, the number of lanes and the position of the intersection is detected, the stored information in the road map information storage unit is compared with these information, and the result is that they do not match The road map information storage unit is rewritten by the rewriting unit when a predetermined number of times occur during traveling at the same point.

JP 2001-148091 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-230834

  Conventionally, when a new road is opened or the road width changes due to expansion work, etc., and the search conditions are changed, the user waits for the manufacturer to release data containing new road information. If you don't buy a new road, you couldn't use the new road for navigation with the navigation device. For example, a narrow street with a width of 5.5 meters or less is excluded from the route search target, but if the width of the narrow street is expanded to 5.5 meters or more and new road information is not obtained, The road could not be reflected in the route search, and the optimum route guidance could not be provided.

  In addition, the data to be purchased is classified for the whole country or a predetermined wide range, and includes a lot of data unnecessary for the user. Furthermore, even when the road information is updated by data communication as in Patent Document 1, in addition to the database fee, there is a cost due to the communication means, which is not cheap. Also in Patent Document 2, since processing of image data captured by an imaging camera is required, the apparatus configuration becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and a navigation apparatus and a road database update method capable of easily updating road data on a road on which road construction has been performed without delay. The purpose is to provide.

  The navigation device according to the present invention comprises at least storage means for storing road data, means for acquiring road construction information relating to road construction from the outside, storage means for storing construction sections specified by the road construction information, road construction Determining means for determining whether the road construction has been completed, a presentation means for presenting an update menu indicating a plurality of road types when it is determined that the road construction has been completed, and a road type selected from the update menu And updating means for updating road data corresponding to the road construction section stored in the storage means.

  Road construction information includes construction sections and construction periods. Judgment means determine that road construction has been completed after a certain period of time since road construction information has been acquired, or that road construction has been completed when road construction information cannot be obtained again be able to.

  Preferably, the update menu includes a road type indicating the widening of the road. For example, the widening of the road includes an increase in width or an addition of a center line. The update menu also includes a road type indicating an increase in the number of road lanes and a change in road regulations.

  Preferably, the navigation device further includes an update determination unit that determines whether or not to update the road data based on the road type selected from the update menu. The update determination unit is greater than the road width before the construction. When the road width after construction becomes narrow, updating by updating means is prohibited. This prevents the road data from being updated by mistake.

  According to the present invention, when the road construction information is acquired, the construction section is stored, and when the road construction is completed, the road data is updated according to the road condition of the construction section. Thus, it can be performed immediately without delaying the update time of the road data. Furthermore, since the road data is corrected using the update menu, the road data can be updated easily and accurately. Furthermore, since there is no need to acquire update data using data communication as in the prior art, communication costs can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the navigation apparatus 1 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite and measures the current position and current direction of the vehicle, a GPS receiver 10 for self-contained navigation, an antenna 14 and the outside of the vehicle. A VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) -FM multiplex receiver 16 for receiving current road traffic information, an operation panel 22, a user input interface 20 including a voice input unit 24 and a remote control operation unit 26, and a storage device having a large-capacity hard disk 30, a data communication control unit 32 that enables wireless or wired data communication, a sound output unit 40 that outputs sound from the speaker 42, a display control unit 50 that displays an image on the display 52, a program memory 60 that stores a program, Data memory 70 for temporarily storing data, and control unit 80 Which comprise.

  The VICS / FM receiver 16 receives road traffic information edited and processed at the VICS center by beacons and FM multiplex broadcasting. FM multiplex broadcasting provides road traffic information in a wide area, and a beacon provides road traffic information necessary at the place such as detailed information on the most recent road based on the position of the vehicle. There are two types of beacons: radio wave beacons mainly used on expressways and optical beacons used on general roads. The road traffic information includes traffic jam information, road construction information, regulation information, travel time, etc., and the road traffic information is displayed on the display by characters (level 1), figures (level 2), and maps (level 3). be able to.

  The storage device 30 stores a program and a database for executing various navigation functions. The program includes functions necessary for navigation such as route search to the destination, calculation of estimated arrival time to the destination, route guidance, and the like. The database includes map data, facility data, and the like, and the map data includes road (link) data and intersection data related to roads. Link data is data related to roads that connect intersections, node data indicating the coordinates of the start and end points of roads, type data indicating road types (national roads, ordinary roads, prefectural roads, etc.), width, and regulations. (For example, one-way), and data such as the number of lanes.

  The data communication control unit 32 may have a built-in communication function or may connect a mobile communication terminal or the like. The data communication control unit 32 is connected to a network such as the Internet, and can acquire information relating to road traffic information and the like from a desired website or server.

  The program memory 60 loads a program stored in the storage device 30 and stores, for example, a program 62 that searches for a route to a destination, a program 64 that updates link data, a program 66 that performs route guidance, and the like. The data memory 70 is the map data 72 read from the storage device 30, the route data 74 searched for the route, the road traffic information received from the VICS / FM multiplex receiver 16 and the road traffic received via the data communication control unit 32. Information 76, an update menu 78, etc. are stored.

  Next, the update of the map data of the navigation device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following update is executed by the control unit 80 in accordance with the link data update program 64 described above.

  When the road traffic information is received through the VICS / FM multiple receiver 16 while the vehicle is traveling (step S101), the road traffic information 76 is stored in the data memory 70. The control unit 80 determines whether or not construction information is included in the road traffic information 76 from the VICS (step S102). For example, the presence / absence of construction information is determined from character information included in level 1 road traffic information and level 3 map information.

  When construction information is included, the control unit 80 determines a construction section, a construction period, a construction name, and the like included in the construction information (step S103). The construction section is determined from character information, graphic information, and map information, and the construction period and construction name are determined from the character information. Note that the VICS does not necessarily include the construction period and construction name. The control unit 80 creates a construction list based on the determined construction section or the like, and stores it in the storage device 30 (step S104).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the construction list. The construction list includes the acquisition date, construction section, link data corresponding to the construction section, construction period, and construction name from which construction information has been acquired. For example, in the construction list 1, construction information is acquired on March 10, construction sections are P1 to P2, and corresponding link data are L1 to L2. The construction period is from March 1st to 30th. Each time the control unit 80 determines the construction information from the VICS road traffic information, the control unit 80 adds them to the construction list.

  Next, the control unit 80 determines whether there is a construction that has been completed among the constructions included in the construction list (step S105). When the construction period information is included, if the construction period has elapsed from the current time, it is determined that the construction has been completed. When the construction period information is not included, it is determined that the construction is completed when the construction information cannot be acquired again while traveling in the area where the construction is being performed. Alternatively, a certain period may be set in advance, and it may be determined that the construction has been completed when the certain period has elapsed since the construction information was acquired.

  When it is determined that the construction has been completed, the control unit 80 displays an update menu on the display 52 (step S106). FIG. 4 shows the update menu. The update menu 200 is used to select a road type to which a road newly established by construction belongs. A road type 210 with a shoulder means that the shoulder is expanded by the widening work. The road type 220 with a center line means that the width is widened by the widening work and the road has a center line with one lane on one side. For example, when the road before construction was a narrow street with a width of 5.5 meters or less, the width becomes a road with a width of 12 meters. The road type 230 on one side two lanes means that the number of lanes has increased from one lane on one side to two lanes due to the widening work. The one-way canceled road type 240 means that a road that has been one-way due to the widening work can be face-to-face. The other road types 250 mean changes in road conditions other than those described above. For example, the user may designate a specific road type.

  The update menu 200 is displayed on the display, and the user selects a predetermined road type via the input interface 20 (step S107). In response to this selection, the control unit 80 refers to the construction list (see FIG. 3) and updates the link data of the corresponding construction section (step S108). For example, it is assumed that the road type 220 is selected by the user when the construction of the construction sections P1-P2 of the construction list 1 is completed. The control unit 80 reads the link data L1-L2 corresponding to the construction section P1-P2 from the storage device 30, changes the presence / absence of the width data and the center line included in the link data L1-L2, and rewrites the link data. . Similarly, when another road type is selected, the corresponding link data is read out and rewritten according to the selected road type. When the update is completed, the control unit 80 deletes the construction information from the construction list (step S109).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, link data can be updated immediately at the end of the construction period without waiting for the manufacturer to update link data as in the prior art. Thereby, the updated link data can be reflected in the route search without delay. For example, when a narrow street before construction is expanded to a width like a general road, or when a one-way street is expanded to a face-to-face road before construction, the updated link The data is subject to route search, and an optimal route search can be performed.

  Next, another modification of the present embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, in the update menu, the link data is automatically updated based on the road type selected by the user, but it may be determined whether or not to update. That is, when the road width is narrower than the road width obtained from the link data before construction, the update may not be permitted. For example, when the road before construction is two lanes on one side and the user selects the road type 220 with one lane on one side, the user is prompted to input again, or the road type Ignore the 220 input. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the link data from being updated due to an erroneous input or erroneous recognition by the user.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the user is prompted to input using the update menu. However, the user does not perform input and is one level higher than the width data of the link data stored before construction. You may make it update to wide width data. In this case, it is desirable to determine the order for a plurality of wide width data in advance.

  Furthermore, when the link data is automatically updated to the width data that is wider by one step, the user may be able to change the update using a setting menu or the like. For example, when the road construction is aimed at releasing the restriction of one-way traffic, the road width is not necessarily widened, so that correction is necessary.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the construction information is obtained from the VICS road traffic information. However, in addition to this, the construction information can be obtained by data communication from an information center that provides the construction information. it can. In this case, at least construction information that can identify a construction section or a road (link) to be constructed is required.

  Furthermore, the road type of the update menu shown in the above embodiment is an example, and other road types may be included in the update menu. Further, the timing for determining whether or not the construction is completed may be performed at a fixed time or may be performed when road traffic information such as VICS is acquired. Furthermore, the timing for displaying the update menu on the display may be performed when road traffic information such as VICS is acquired or when an instruction from the user is given, in addition to being performed automatically after completion of construction. .

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Deformation / change is possible.

  The navigation apparatus according to the present invention can be used in an electronic apparatus such as a navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle or the like, a navigation system, or a computer including a navigation function.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the update operation | movement of the map database by a present Example. It is a figure which shows a construction list. It is a figure which shows the menu for an update.

Explanation of symbols

1: Navigation device 16: VICS / FM multiplex receiver 30: Storage device 52: Display 60: Program memory 70: Data memory 200: Update menu 210-250: Road type

Claims (14)

A navigation device with a route guidance function to a destination,
Storage means for storing at least road data;
Means for obtaining road construction information on road construction from outside,
Storage means for storing a construction section specified by road construction information;
A judging means for judging whether or not the road construction is completed;
Presenting means for presenting a menu for updating indicating a plurality of road types when it is determined that the road construction is completed;
Updating means for updating road data corresponding to the construction section stored in the storage means based on the road type selected from the update menu;
A navigation device. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road construction information includes construction section information. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road construction information includes construction period information. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the road work has been completed after a certain period of time has elapsed since the road work information was acquired. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the road construction is completed when the road construction information cannot be acquired again. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines that the road construction has been completed based on the construction period information. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the update menu includes a road type representing a road widening. The navigation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the widening of the road includes an increase in width or an addition of a center line. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the update menu includes a road type representing an increase in the number of road lanes. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the update menu includes a road type representing a change in road regulations. The navigation device further includes an update determination unit that determines whether or not to permit the update of road data based on the road type selected from the update menu. The update determination unit is greater than the road width before the construction. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein updating by the updating means is prohibited when the road width of the vehicle becomes narrow. A method for updating a map database in a navigation device, comprising:
Obtaining road construction information on road construction;
Storing a construction section specified by road construction information;
Determining whether or not road construction has been completed;
Presenting a menu for updating indicating a plurality of road types when it is determined that the road construction is completed;
Based on the road type selected from the update menu, reading the road data corresponding to the construction section stored in the storage means from the map database, correcting the read road data, and writing this to the map database;
A method for updating a map database. The map database update method according to claim 11, wherein the update menu includes at least one of a road type representing road widening, a road type representing an increase in the number of lanes, and a road type representing a change in road regulations. . The update method further includes a step of selecting a road type from the update menu when the update menu is presented on the display.

Images