JP2001141490A - Navigation method, navigation apparatus and its information-providing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation method, a navigation apparatus and a navigation information-providing apparatus of a high reliability whereby the present position of a vehicle can be confirmed irrespective of a communication state. SOLUTION: According to the navigation system, when an information center 10 first transmits to an onboard apparatus 100 divided route information for guiding a route from a departure position of the vehicle to a destination, the center transmits simple map data which plots the whole of the route. When first receiving the divided route information from the information center 10, the onboard apparatus 100 can receive also the simple map data including the entire route. Even when the vehicle runs, e.g. a region of weak electric waves such as inside a tunnel or the like where the electric waves of a radio communication means cannot reach, the onboard apparatus 100 can receive a route guide based on the first received simple map data and therefore can confirm the present position of the vehicle irrespective of a communication state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation method, a navigation apparatus, and an information providing apparatus suitable for providing data required for route guidance from a center side to a mobile side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for providing route data and guidance data from a center side to a mobile side, for example, there is a "navigation system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-19588. This navigation system is configured to transmit a map image and route data required for guiding a vehicle (user) to a destination from a navigation information transmission system (center side) to a vehicle side (moving side). I have.

According to this navigation system, the navigation information transmission system reads necessary data from various databases based on each request issued from the vehicle-side navigation device and transmits the data to the navigation device, or the vehicle-side navigation device. The result of the route search performed based on the route search request issued from is transmitted to the navigation device. On the other hand, the navigation device displays the map image created from the received predetermined data and the searched optimum route on a display unit such as a CRT to guide the user to the destination.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-334374 discloses an "in-vehicle route guidance device" in which the latest recommended route is transmitted from the center to the vehicle when the vehicle deviates from the recommended route due to a driving operation error. Is disclosed. According to this system, the vehicle transmits the departure place and the destination to the control center as necessary, and receives the recommended route.
It is determined whether the vehicle is traveling on the recommended route. If the vehicle deviates from the recommended route, the departure point is set again and transmitted to the control center together with the destination. The information center searches for a route from the departure place after resetting to the destination received from the vehicle, and transmits data of the searched recommended route to the vehicle.

[0005]

[0005] By the way, vehicles are weak in radio waves such as in tunnels, mountains, and shadows of buildings where radio waves of communication means such as radio telephones do not reach (hereinafter referred to as "radio wave insensitive zone"). ) Etc., it is not possible to communicate well with the center side,
Guidance data may not be obtained. The technology disclosed in each of the above publications does not take such radio wave conditions into consideration and has a disadvantage that route guidance cannot be received with security.

[0006] On the other hand, when a road to be route-guided is a single route, such as an expressway, for example, the user can follow the road without being guided by navigation. By driving you can approach the destination. Therefore, in reality, for a vehicle traveling on a single route such as an expressway, that is, a so-called “single road”, it is not necessary for the route guidance by navigation to be detailed. If the vehicle has already acquired the necessary map images and the like, route guidance can be performed using the acquired data, and there is no need to receive the same data again.

[0007] As described above, when "the road to be route-guided is a single road" or "when the vehicle has already acquired the necessary map image, etc." That is, the vehicle receives the route search result from the center side. Specifically, for example, the vehicle side collectively receives route guidance data including unnecessary data from the center side. Such exchange of unnecessary data directly leads to a problem of increasing communication cost for the user, and also leads to a problem of causing a communication failure due to an increase in communication traffic for the navigation system. .

The present invention focuses on the above points, and provides a highly reliable navigation method, a navigation device, and a navigation information providing device capable of confirming a current position of a vehicle regardless of a communication state. That is the purpose. Another object of the present invention is to
An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation method, a navigation device, and a navigation information providing device capable of reducing communication costs.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the navigation method according to the first aspect, drawing data and guidance data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination are divided and the center side is divided. To the moving side from
A navigation method for performing route guidance on the moving side based on the data, wherein when the divided drawing and guidance data are first sent to the moving side, all route drawing data for drawing the entire route is transmitted. Characteristic.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation method according to the first aspect, wherein a route search and a guide data extraction unit for performing a route search and a guide data extraction based on the latest data every time the divided drawing and the guide data are sent. Is a technical feature.

Further, in the navigation method according to the third aspect, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are provided from the center side at different geographical positions or at different times from the center side. The entire route based on the transmitted all route drawing data is displayed on the mobile side when the communication status with the center side is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. Characteristic.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the navigation method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the all route drawing data is map drawing data including a starting point and a destination. I do.

Further, according to the navigation method of the present invention, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the route from the departure position of the vehicle to the destination are divided and sent from the center side to the moving side, and based on the data, A navigation method for providing route guidance on the moving side by hand, wherein drawing data and guidance data for guiding the divided route are transmitted from the center side to the moving side at different geographical positions or at different times. In addition, the communication status of the specific position expected to transmit the data is determined, and if it is determined that the communication status of the specific position is communication failure or communication failure, the entire route drawing data for drawing the entire route is determined. Transmission is a technical feature.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus, wherein drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and data obtained by dividing guidance data are received from a center. A navigation device for performing route guidance based on received data, wherein when first receiving the divided drawing and guidance data, receiving a whole route drawing data for drawing the entire route. I do.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are received at different geographical positions or at different times. I do.

Further, in the navigation device according to the present invention, the whole of the transmitted route may be transmitted to the mobile side if the communication status with the center side is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. The display is a technical feature.

Further, in the navigation device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the navigation device according to the sixth aspect further includes a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle, and the current position detected by the detecting means is used for the whole of the received route. It is a technical feature to display together with the display.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation information providing device for dividing drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and sending the divided data to a moving side. An apparatus is characterized in that, when all of the guide routes included in one divided drawing data among the divided drawing data are formed by a single route, the divided drawing data is not sent. Here, a single route is a so-called "single road" for which a course can be uniquely determined, and a typical example is a highway without branches.

The navigation information providing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect is a navigation information providing apparatus which divides drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and sends the divided data to a moving side. When one of the divided drawing data is already present on the moving side, a technical feature is that the divided drawing data is not sent.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the center side divides the drawing data and the guide data for guiding the route from the departure position of the vehicle to the destination and sends the divided data to the moving side first, the center side transmits the entire route. Is transmitted. Thus, when the moving side first receives the divided drawing data and guidance data from the center side, it can also receive the entire route drawing data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the first aspect, each time the divided drawing and guidance data are sent, the route search and guidance data for performing the route search and the guidance data extraction based on the latest data. Including extraction means. Thus, on the center side, route search and guidance data extraction can be performed by the route search / guidance data extraction means based on the latest data, and the latest drawing data and guidance data can be sent to the mobile side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the first or second aspect, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are provided at different geographical positions or different times from the center side. When transmitted to the mobile side and it is determined that the communication status with the center side is communication failure or communication failure, the entire route based on the all route drawing data transmitted first is displayed on the mobile side. . Thereby, the mobile side can receive the drawing data and the guidance data from the center side at different geographical positions or at different times, and when the communication status with the center side is a communication failure or the like, the displayed data is displayed. The entire route can be referenced on the mobile side.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to any one of the first to third aspects, all route drawing data is map drawing data including a departure place and a destination. The moving side can display the starting point and the destination on a map.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the drawing data and the guidance data transmitted from the center side to the moving side are transmitted corresponding to different geographical positions or different times on the moving side, and the center side transmits the drawing data and the guidance data. If it is determined by the communication status determination that the communication status of the specific position expected to transmit such data is a communication failure or the like, the entire route drawing data is transmitted to the mobile side. Thus, the mobile side can receive the entire route drawing data when the center side determines that the communication status of the specific position is a communication failure or the like by the communication status determination.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, from the center side,
When first receiving the divided drawing and guidance data,
All route drawing data for drawing the entire route is received. Thus, for example, even when the vehicle is traveling in a tunnel or mountainous area where radio waves of the wireless communication means do not reach, or in an area where radio waves are weak such as a shadow of a building, the mobile side receives the radio wave first. Route guidance can be provided based on all route drawing data.

According to the present invention, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are received at different geographical positions or at different times. Accordingly, route guidance can be performed based on road traffic conditions that change according to different geographical positions or different times.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the entire route transmitted from the center side is displayed on the mobile side when the communication status with the center side is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. Thus, when the communication status with the center side is a communication failure or the like, the entire displayed route can be referred to.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and the current position detected by the detecting means is displayed together with the display of the entire received route. Thus, the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed on the display of the entire received route.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when all the guide routes included in one divided drawing data among the divided drawing data for guiding the route are formed by a single route,
The divided drawing data is not sent. Thereby, even if the moving side cannot receive the divided drawing data,
When all of the guide routes included in the divided drawing data consist of a single route, it is possible to approach the destination by going straight along the route without route guidance, so that unnecessary data transmission is omitted. Can be.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, of the divided drawing data for guiding the route, one of the divided drawing data is
If it already exists on the moving side, the divided drawing data is not sent. Thereby, even if the moving side cannot receive the divided drawing data, the route guidance can be performed using the existing divided drawing data, so that unnecessary data transmission can be omitted.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a navigation method, a navigation device and an information providing device thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. A navigation system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an information center (center side) that divides and transmits route / guidance data for a route search from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination, and receives the transmitted divided data. And an in-vehicle device (mobile side) that provides route guidance to the user based on the divided data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information center 10 mainly includes a transmitting / receiving unit 12, an arithmetic processing unit 14, and a database 30.
And an external information collecting unit 40. Transceiver 1
2 is a wireless communication device including a transmitting device and a receiving device,
This is for transmitting and receiving data to and from the in-vehicle device 100 via a wireless line. For example, a wireless communication system such as an automobile telephone, a mobile telephone, or a PHS is used, and the communication form employs, for example, a packet communication system.

The arithmetic processing unit 14 is a CP for performing arithmetic processing.
U16 and a memory 18 in which various programs and data are stored. The memory 18 includes a route search program 20 for searching for a route from the current position (departure position) of the vehicle to the destination, a segment processing program 22 for setting a segment length of the searched route and a road length to be transmitted to the vehicle, A guidance data extraction program 24 for searching for, extracting and editing guidance data corresponding to the set road length, a communication determination program 25 for determining whether data transmission is appropriate, a system control program 26 for controlling and managing the entire operation, and the like And various programs executed by the information center 10. The memory 18 also has a predetermined work area used for executing these programs.

The database 30 includes route search data 32 for searching for a recommended route, guidance data 34 storing route guidance data, communication area data 36 storing data relating to communication areas, and a telephone for setting a destination. Data necessary for route search and route guidance such as destination setting data 38 such as numbers and addresses are stored. The route search data 32 includes data on intersections, data on roads, data on node points, and the like. The guidance data 34 includes various types of guidance data such as map data of each intersection and road, landmark data indicating major facilities, and voice guidance data. The communication area data 36 includes data relating to a communication status that is previously known on the information center 10 side, such as a zone where radio waves are insensitive, a zone where radio waves reach but radio waves are weak, and the like.

Further, an external information collecting unit 40 is connected to the database 30. This external information collecting unit 40
Collects the latest road / traffic information and communication information, such as road works, traffic regulations, new roads and facilities, and changes in communication areas, using telephone lines and updates the data stored in the database 30 as needed. It is for doing.

Next, the vehicle-mounted device 100 will be described.
In the in-vehicle device 100, the arithmetic processing unit 101 mainly includes a CPU, and mainly includes a memory 102, a position measuring unit 104, and an input unit 1.
05, a display unit 106, an audio output unit 107, and a transmission / reception unit 108, and the memory 102 is further comprised of a program storage area 102A (for example, ROM) and a data storage area 102B (for example, RAM).

The program storage area 102 of the memory 102
A displays a route and a landmark on the display unit 106 based on the route data and the guidance data transmitted from the information center 10.
A route guidance program 150 for displaying the route guidance voice from the voice output unit 107, comparing the current vehicle position with the received route / guide data, and requesting the route / guide data for the next route. 152, a control program 154 for controlling the entire operation
For example, a program executed by the arithmetic processing unit 101 is stored.

On the other hand, the data storage area 10 of the memory 102
2B is used as a work area when executing the program, and further includes, for example, route / guidance data (route data and guidance data) 160 transmitted from the information center 10,
It stores vehicle-specific ID data 162, vehicle position data (longitude / latitude) 164 measured by the position measurement unit 104, or a simplified map database 166 such as a raster map acquired by download described later.

The vehicle position data 164 includes a plurality of past position data in addition to the current position data measured at predetermined time intervals by the position measuring unit 104.
For example, position data of measurement points included in a certain distance or position data of a certain number of measurement points are stored. When the position is newly measured by the position measurement unit 104, the latest position data is stored and the oldest stored position data is deleted. By connecting these plurality of position data, the traveling locus of the vehicle can be obtained. This traveling locus is used for so-called map matching for specifying the road on which the vehicle is traveling.

The position measuring unit 104 measures the position of the vehicle using a so-called GPS or the like, and outputs the current vehicle position data based on longitude and latitude.
G that receives the signal from the satellite and measures the absolute position of the vehicle
It has a PS receiver, a speed sensor and a direction sensor for measuring the relative position of the vehicle, and the like. Speed sensors and direction sensors are used for autonomous navigation. The relative position measured by these sensors can be used to obtain the position in a tunnel where the GPS receiver cannot receive radio waves from satellites,
It is used for correcting the positioning error of the absolute position measured by the S receiver.

The input unit 105 includes various switches, a touch panel attached to the display surface of the display unit 106, a remote controller, a data input device using voice recognition, and the like.
In the touch panel, when a user touches an icon or the like displayed on the display unit 106 with a finger, corresponding data or a command is input. In a data input device using voice recognition, when a user utters a voice, data or a command corresponding to the voice is input.

The display unit 106 is a display such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT, and has the above-mentioned touch panel. The transmission / reception unit 108 is a communication device for transmitting / receiving data to / from the information center 10 and is configured by communication devices including a transmission device and a reception device. This is also the information center 10
As well as the side, for example, car phone, mobile phone, PHS
And the like.

Next, the operation of the information center 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on. FIG. 2 shows a flow of the route search processing by the information center 10. This process starts with the process (S10) of determining whether or not a route acquisition request from the in-vehicle device 100 has been received.
The transmission of the route acquisition request at 00 will be described. The transmission of the route acquisition request is performed in step 5 shown in FIG.
It corresponds to 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control program 15 stored in the memory 102 is
4 is executed by the arithmetic processing unit 101. In this state,
When the data request program 152 stored in the memory 102 is executed based on a user's input operation, each information such as the current vehicle position and the destination measured by the position measuring unit 104 is transmitted to the information center 10 by the transmitting / receiving unit 108. To send by. At this time, an ID for identifying the own vehicle and the other vehicle is also transmitted at the same time. Thus, in the information center 10, the transmission / reception unit 12 receives the route acquisition request and each information transmitted from the vehicle.

In the information center 10, when the transmission / reception unit 12 receives a route acquisition request or the like transmitted from the vehicle, the information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 12 to the arithmetic processing unit 14. In the arithmetic processing unit 14 that has acquired these pieces of information, since the route search processing by the route search program 20 stored in the memory 18 is performed as described above, the flow of the processing will be described again with reference to FIG. .

As shown in FIG. 2, in the route search process, when it is determined in step 10 that a route acquisition request has been received (Yes in S10), the process proceeds to step 12, where it is determined whether or not a destination has been input. to decide. That is, by extracting destination information from each piece of information obtained together with the route acquisition request, it is determined whether or not a destination has been input. Accordingly, if it is determined that there is a destination input (Yes in S12), the destination is determined from the destination information, and a route to the destination is searched in the next step 14. For example, when information such as a telephone number and an address is received as the destination information, the destination is determined using the destination setting data 38 of the database 30. On the other hand, if it cannot be determined that there is a destination input (S
At No. 12, the route search cannot be performed without the destination, so the route search process is terminated and the process is shifted to the control program 26.

In the route search at step 14, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched. This route search is performed by the route search program 20 stored in the memory 18 with reference to the route search data 32 of the database 30, that is, intersection data, road data, and node data. Algorithms for this route search are known, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-173297 and 1-173.
This method is performed by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 298, and a recommended route is set under conditions such that the route having the shortest overall route is determined as the optimal route. In this route search, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched each time a route acquisition request is received from the vehicle, that is, from the vehicle-mounted device 100. Information center 10
Here, road information, traffic information, and the like are acquired from the outside by the external information collecting unit 40, and are updated, for example, every predetermined time so that the latest information can be extracted from the database 30. Thus, since the route is searched for each route acquisition request from the vehicle, a recommended route based on the latest data, such as avoiding traffic congestion due to construction or accident, and guidance data for the route can be provided to the vehicle. This step 14
Is equivalent to “route search / guidance data extracting means” described in the claims.

The recommended route found in step 14 is divided into divided routes in step 16. That is, the route searched by the segment processing program 22 stored in the memory 18 is divided into segments each having a predetermined length (for example, 2000 meters) as a unit of navigation. When the route searched in the route example shown in FIG. 4 is divided, the route is divided into, for example, seven segments, that is, divided routes from the first section to the seventh section. Note that these divided routes include a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, and the like. The segment division unit may be set in units of time (for example, in units of one hour) or in units of data (for example, in units of 512 bytes). In addition, segment division may be performed in consideration of geographical or temporal conditions. The unit may be set. This allows
Since the data can be transmitted to the vehicle at different geographical positions or at different times in step 30 described later, route guidance can be performed based on road traffic conditions that change according to different geographical positions or different times. .

When the route is divided in step 16, it is determined in step 18 whether most of the searched routes include a single road. Here, "mostly include a single road" means, for example, a case where a single road is included in 80% or more of the entire route, and the ratio of the included single road can be appropriately changed by an arbitrary condition setting by a user or the like. Things. The “single road” here is a road whose route can be uniquely determined, for example, an expressway without branches. When a road targeted for such route guidance is based on a single route, the user can approach the destination by driving the vehicle along the route, even if the route is not guided by navigation. Therefore, in such a case (Yes in S18), the process proceeds to step 26 without creating (S22) and transmitting (S24) the simplified map data including the entire route. On the other hand, if most of the route does not include a single road (N in S18)
o), and proceed to the next step 20.

In step 20, it is determined whether or not the vehicle, that is, the vehicle-mounted device 100 has a map including the entire searched route. This determination may be made by extracting the acquired map information from the information obtained together with the route acquisition request described above, so that the vehicle side can make a determination from the map information that has already been acquired, or the center side can transmit the map information to the vehicle side before transmitting it. The determination may be made from the transmission map information stored as the information of the map. A specific example of the map information is represented by, for example, the mesh numbers of the southwest corner and the northeast corner of the map (the map information [A1D in the map shown in FIG. 7 described later).
Four]).

If it is determined that the vehicle has a map including the entire route by the determination processing in step 20 (Yes in S20), simple map data including the entire route is created (S22) and transmitted (S24). Without performing the process, the process proceeds to step 26. On the other hand, if it can be determined that the user has such a map (N in S20)
o), creation of simplified map data including the entire next route (S2)
Go to 2). Accordingly, when the first route acquisition request is received, since the map does not include the entire route in principle, the divided route information created in step 26 except for the exception in step 18 (No in S18) is stored in the vehicle-mounted device 1.
When the data is first sent to the 00 side, simplified map data for drawing the entire route is transmitted.

Step 22 is a process to be performed when the vehicle does not have simplified map data (all route drawing data) including the entire searched route, and is to create the simplified map data. This simplified map draws, as a simplified diagram, road information including predetermined national roads (eg, a national road number of up to two digits) such as a main arterial road and expressways and topographical information such as rivers. Data obtained as data (bitmap data), that is, a raster map, or data obtained by taking terrain information as a simplified map of road information and river and other terrain information as vector data, that is, a vector map, etc. That is. Note that this map data includes map drawing data including a starting point and a destination, that is, the entire searched route.
For example, it does not include the whole of Japan, but only the minimum data necessary to include the route. As a result, unnecessary map data of the area can be removed, so that the amount of data transmitted to the vehicle can be reduced, but the communication cost can be reduced. Further, if map data is compressed and transmitted according to a predetermined algorithm as needed, further reduction in communication cost can be expected.

In step 24, the simplified map data created in step 24 is transmitted to the vehicle.
This transmission process is performed via the transmission / reception unit 12, and the simplified map data is wirelessly transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 via a predetermined wireless line.

In the creation of the divided route information at step 26, the divided route divided by the above-mentioned route division at step 16 and the accompanying drawing data and guidance data are provided for guidance by the guidance data extraction program 24 stored in the memory 18. Divided route information (divided data) extracted from the data 34 and added with drawing data and guidance data is created and edited. This completes the creation of the divided route information to be transmitted to the vehicle, that is, to the in-vehicle device 100, and transmits a reception instruction of the divided route information to the in-vehicle device 100 in the next step. Subsequently, in step 30, the divided route information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 100 side. These transmission processes are also performed via the transmission / reception unit 12, similarly to the transmission of the simplified map data in step 24 described above.
The guidance data extraction program 24 corresponds to "route search / guidance data extraction means" described in the claims.

Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the flow of the split route receiving process by the vehicle-mounted device 100. This processing is for acquiring the divided route information of the section next to the divided section in which the moving vehicle is currently located, so that the control program 154 by the arithmetic processing unit 101 Depending on the current position, in the case of the route example shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle is located at a predetermined distance point (for example, 200 meters) from just before each of the divided route switching points P12, P23, P34, P45, P56, and P67, which are section boundaries. Fired when it is determined that it has arrived.

First, in step 50, the position measuring unit 10
The current position of the vehicle at 4 is confirmed, and it is determined whether the current position of the vehicle is located around the destination. If it is determined that the current position of the vehicle is located in the vicinity of the destination (Yes in S50), there is no need to request the divided route information any more, so the divided route receiving process is terminated and the control program 26 is terminated. Transfer processing to In the case of the route example shown in FIG. 4, this is a case where the vehicle is located in the seventh ward closest to the destination.
On the other hand, if it is not determined that it is located around the destination (No in S50), the process proceeds to step 52, and a route acquisition request is transmitted to the information center 10.

In step 52, the route request is transmitted to the information center 10 by executing the data request program 152 stored in the memory 102 (R1 to R7 shown in FIG. 4). The description of the processing in step 52 will be omitted because it has already been described as a premise when describing the processing in step 10 of the information center 10 described above. Upon completion of the transmission of the route acquisition request in step 52, the process proceeds to step 54.

In step 54, the simple map data transmitted from the information center 10 in response to the first route acquisition request R1 from the vehicle-mounted device 100 is received, that is, the simple map data is downloaded. This simplified map data
This is transmitted in step 24 of the route search processing by the center side described above, and is transmitted when a simplified map including the entire route is created in step 22. Therefore, even in the case of the first route acquisition request R1, if the majority of the entire route includes a single road (Yes in S18) or if the vehicle-mounted device 100 already has a map including the entire route (Yes in S20). Does not transmit the simplified map data, and thus does not perform the processing in step 54.
When the simplified map data is received in this manner, the simplified map database 166 of the memory 102 described above is used.
And is referred to by display processing in step 66 described later.

Next, at step 56, whether or not there has been an instruction to receive the divided route information from the information center 10, that is, an instruction to receive the divided route information (S28) performed by the above-described route search processing of the information center 10 (S28). Side determines whether it has been received. If a receiving instruction has been received (S
Since the divided center information is transmitted from the information center 10 at a subsequent time (Yes in 56), the process shifts to the next step 58 to receive the divided route information, and shifts to receiving the divided route information.
On the other hand, if the receiving instruction has not been received (No in S56),
Despite the fact that the information center 10 has transmitted the instruction to receive the divided route information, the vehicle side, that is, the in-vehicle apparatus 100 cannot receive the instruction due to a communication failure or the like. The simplified map data thus read is read out from the simplified map database 166 and displayed (M5 in the fifth section shown in FIG. 4).

In step 58, the divided route information transmitted from the information center 10 is received, and it is determined in step 6 whether or not the reception is completed before reaching the divided route switching point.
Judge at 0,62. This determination may be caused by a case where a part or all of the divided route information does not reach the vehicle due to a sudden communication failure such as an increase in communication traffic over time or an artificial or natural phenomenon of radio wave propagation. This is based on the assumption that That is, until the vehicle arrives at the next divided route switching point in step 60, the process stands by in preparation for receiving the next divided route information (No in S60). (Yes in S60), since it is highly probable that the vehicle will enter the next section immediately after that, if the reception of the next divided path information has not been completed by then (No in S62), the acquisition of the divided path information is obtained. Then, at step 66, the simplified map data downloaded at step 54 is read out from the simplified map database 166 and displayed.

On the other hand, if all of the next divided route information can be received before reaching the divided route switching point in step 62, the arithmetic processing unit 101 stores the received divided route information as route guidance data 160 in the memory 102 and receives it. Is completed (Yes in S62). Thereby, step 64
When the route guidance program 150 stored in the memory 102 is executed, guidance display using the received route guidance data 160 is performed by the display unit 106 and the voice output unit 107. That is, the map and the landmark of the divided route are displayed on the display unit 106, and the corresponding voice guidance is output by the voice output unit 10 when the vehicle turns right or left at an intersection.
7 is output.

Each process of the information center 10 and the vehicle-mounted device 100 described above is illustrated as a communication procedure based on the example of the route shown in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 will be described. Note that S ** (** is a number) in parentheses indicates each processing step shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 described above. First, the route acquisition request R1 is transmitted to the information center 10 by activating the split route information receiving process on the in-vehicle device 100 located at the departure position (S52). Then, upon receiving the route acquisition request R1 (Yes in S10), the information center 10 searches for a route from the current location to the destination (S14) and divides the route (S16). Then, whether most of the searched route includes a single road (S18), or whether the vehicle-mounted device 100 has a map including the entire route (S20).
Judge. Here, the searched route from the first ward to the seventh ward does not include a single road such as an expressway, and does not have the map because it is the first route acquisition request R1. No for 20
Branch in the direction of. Then, after creating the divided path information D1 (S22), an instruction to receive the divided path information is issued (S2).
8) Further, the divided route information D1 is transmitted (S30).
On the other hand, the in-vehicle device 100 that has transmitted the route acquisition request R1 to the information center 10 receives the simplified map data (S5).
4), and further waits for an instruction to receive split path information (S)
56). Then, when the divided route information D1 is received (S5
8, S60, S62), the route guidance S1 based on the divided route information D1 is displayed on the display unit 106 (S64). The simple map data received here is stored in the simple map database 16.
6 is stored.

When the vehicle continues to travel in accordance with the route guidance S1, the current position of the traveling vehicle (vehicle-mounted device 100) will soon become the boundary between the traveling first section and the next traveling second section,
In other words, the vehicle reaches 200 meters before the split path switching point P12. Then, the split route information receiving process on the in-vehicle device 100 is started again, and the route acquisition request R2
Is transmitted to the information center 10 (S52). Then, after the information center 10 searches for a route from the current location to the destination (S14) and divides the route (S16), the in-vehicle device 100 already has the simplified map data (S14).
20; No), and then create the divided route information D2 (S26)
Is performed, and after the instruction to receive the divided path information (S28), the divided path information D2 is transmitted (S30). The in-vehicle device 100 having received the instruction to receive the divided route information receives the next divided route information D2 before reaching the divided route switching point P12 in the first and second wards (S58, S60, S6).
2) The route guidance S2 based on the divided route information D2 is displayed on the display unit 1.
06 (S64).

Similarly, the vehicle-mounted device 100 receives the next divided route information D3 before the vehicle traveling according to the route guidance S2 reaches the divided route switching point P23 in the second and third wards (S58, S60). , S62), the route guidance S3 based on the divided route information D3 is displayed on the display unit 106 (S64). When the vehicle continues to travel further in accordance with the route guidance S3 and S4 sequentially displayed in this manner, shortly after the divided route switching point P45 between the fourth ward that is traveling and the fifth ward that is to be traveled is located 200 meters before the point. To reach. Here, the in-vehicle device 1 is again
The split path information receiving process on the 00 side is activated, and transmits a path acquisition request R5 to the information center 10 to obtain the next divided path information D5 (S52). Then, the information center 10
On the side, upon receiving the route acquisition request R5 (Yes in S10), the route search (S14), the route division (S16), and the creation of the divided route information D5 (S26) are sequentially performed in the same manner as described above. After receiving the division path information reception instruction (S28), the division path information D5 is transmitted (S30).

However, here, as shown in FIG. 4, since the position where the divided route information D5 is transmitted corresponds to a communication failure or an impossible zone, the divided route information D5 transmitted by the information center 10 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 100. Does not reach the side. Therefore, the in-vehicle device 100 cannot receive the divided route information D5 (No in S62), and reads the simplified map data from the simplified map database 166 stored in the memory 102 to generate the simplified map M including the entire route. Display unit 106
(S66). As a result, even if the divided route information D5 to be sent from the information center 10 cannot be obtained, the current position of the vehicle is displayed on or near the route from the departure position shown in the simplified map M to the destination. Since it can be shown, the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed regardless of the communication status with the information center 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The information center 10 transmits simplified map data for drawing the entire route when first transmitting divided route information for guiding the route from the departure position of the vehicle to the destination to the vehicle-mounted device 100 side. Thus, when the in-vehicle device 100 first receives the divided route information from the information center 10, it can also receive simplified map data including the entire route.
Therefore, for example, even when the vehicle is traveling in a weak radio wave area such as a tunnel, a mountainous area, or a shadow of a building, where the radio wave of the wireless communication means does not reach, the in-vehicle device 1
Since the 00 side can provide route guidance based on the simplified map data received first, there is an effect that the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed regardless of the communication status.

In the information center 10 described above, if it is not determined in step 20 that the in-vehicle device 100 has a map including the entire route, a simplified map including the entire route is created (S22). Is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 side, but in the present invention, the communication area data 36 is determined by the communication determination program 25 stored in the memory 18 based on the communication status of the specific position expected to transmit the divided path information created in step 26. When it is determined that the communication status of the specific position is communication failure or communication failure, a simplified map including the entire route is created (S22), and the simplified map data is stored in the in-vehicle device 1.
It may be transmitted to the 00 side. Thus, a simplified map is created only when the simplified map data is needed on the vehicle side, and the simplified map data is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100 side. Therefore, unnecessary data transmission from the information center 10 side Can be avoided as much as possible. Therefore, further reduction in communication cost can be expected.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the navigation according to this embodiment, similarly to the navigation according to the above-described embodiment, an information center 110 (center side) that divides and transmits route / guidance data for a route search from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination.
The in-vehicle device 200 that receives the transmitted divided data and provides route guidance to the user based on the divided data.
(Moving side). The information center 11
0 and the on-vehicle device 200 have substantially the same configuration as the information center 10 and the on-vehicle device 100 (FIG. 1) according to the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

First, the operation of the information center 110 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the information center 1
10 shows the flow of the route search process by the CPU 10. This process starts with a process (S110) of determining whether or not a route acquisition request from the in-vehicle device 200 has been received. This is the same as the request transmission (S52).

That is, as shown in FIG.
On the side, the control program 154 stored in the memory 102 is executed by the arithmetic processing unit 101. In this state, when the data request program 152 stored in the memory 102 is executed based on the input operation of the user, each information such as the vehicle current position and the destination measured by the position measuring unit 104 is transmitted to the information center 10 side. Transmitting and receiving unit 108
To send by. At this time, an ID for identifying the own vehicle and the other vehicle is also transmitted at the same time. Thus, in the information center 10, the transmission / reception unit 12 receives the route acquisition request and each information transmitted from the vehicle. On the other hand, in the information center 110, when the transmission / reception unit 12 receives a route acquisition request or the like transmitted from the vehicle, the information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 12 to the arithmetic processing unit 14.
Send to In the arithmetic processing unit 14 that has obtained these pieces of information,
As described above, the route search processing by the route search program 20 stored in the memory 18 is performed.

If it is determined in step 110 of the route search process that a route acquisition request has been received (Y in S110)
es) Then, the process proceeds to step 112, and it is determined whether or not a destination has been input. That is, by extracting destination information from each piece of information obtained together with the route acquisition request, it is determined whether or not a destination has been input. Accordingly, if it is determined that there is a destination input (Yes in S112), the destination is determined from the destination information, and a route to the destination is searched in the next step 114. For example, when information such as a telephone number and an address is received as the destination information, the destination is determined using the destination setting data 38 of the database 30.
On the other hand, if it cannot be determined that there is a destination input (S112)
No), the route search cannot be performed without the destination, so this route search process is terminated and the process is shifted to the control program 26.

In the route search at step 114, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched. This route search is performed by the route search program 20 stored in the memory 18.
With reference to the route search data 32 of the database 30, that is, intersection data, road data, and node data. The algorithm of this route search is known,
For example, JP-A-1-173297, JP-A-1-17
This is performed by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3298, and a recommended route is set under such a condition that the shortest distance of the entire route is set as the optimum route. In this route search, a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched each time a route acquisition request is received from the vehicle, that is, from the vehicle-mounted device 200. Information Center 1
In 10, road information, traffic information, and the like are acquired from the outside by the external information collecting unit 40, and are updated, for example, every predetermined time so that the latest information can be extracted from the database 30. Thus, since the route is searched for each route acquisition request from the vehicle, a recommended route based on the latest data, such as avoiding traffic congestion due to construction or accident, and guidance data for the route can be provided to the vehicle. This step 1
The route search processing by 14 corresponds to “route search and guidance data extraction means” described in the claims.

The recommended route searched in step 114 is then divided into divided routes in step 116.
That is, the route searched by the segment processing program 22 stored in the memory 18 is divided into segments each having a predetermined length (for example, 2000 meters) as a unit of navigation. When the route searched in the route example shown in FIG. 7 is divided, for example, it is divided into five segments, that is, the first to fifth divided routes indicated by to in FIG. Note that these divided routes include a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, and the like. The segment division unit may be set in units of time (for example, in units of one hour) or in units of data (for example, in units of 512 bytes). In addition, segment division may be performed in consideration of geographical or temporal conditions. The unit may be set. Thus, the vehicle can be transmitted to the vehicle at a different geographical position or at a different time in step 30 described later, so that route guidance is performed based on a road traffic situation that changes according to a different geographical position or a different time. be able to.

When the route is divided in step 116, in step 118, the divided route and the accompanying guidance data are extracted from the guidance data 34 by the guidance data extraction program 24 stored in the memory 18.
Create and edit divided route information (divided data) to which the guidance data is added. The guidance data extraction program 24
Corresponds to “route search / guidance data extraction means” described in the claims.

In the following step 120, the map data for drawing including the route of the created divided route information and its surroundings is searched. This search is based on the guidance data extraction program 2
4 is performed by selecting a corresponding map from a group of drawing map data stored in the guidance data 34 by a predetermined algorithm. Also, "around"
For example, it refers to a belt-shaped area having a predetermined width (5 km or the like) centered on the route, and all drawing map data included in this range is a search target.

Next, in step 122, step 12
It is determined whether or not the drawing map data searched for at 0 includes the route and all of its surroundings. That is, for example, in the case of the search route (the thick line from the circle S to the circle G) included in the map shown in FIG. 7, the route of the first ward is determined only by the drawing map data [A-1] searched in step 120. Since all of them cannot be included, search for drawing map data including another route and its surroundings is also performed in step 124. Thus, in the route example shown in FIG. 7, the map data for drawing [B-1]
Are retrieved, and the map data for drawing [A-1] and the map data for drawing [B-1] shown in FIG. 8 (A) are obtained.
The transmission instruction of the division path information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 by 6.

Then, at step 128, the on-vehicle device 2
At 00, it is determined whether or not there is the same drawing data as the retrieved map data. This determination is made by recording the drawing map data that the information center 110 has already transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 and comparing the record with the retrieved drawing map information. In addition, a procedure may be adopted for checking whether or not the drawing map data exists on the vehicle-mounted device 200 side each time. If the same is found on the in-vehicle device 200 side by this determination processing (Yes in S128),
The map data for drawing that is already present is removed from the map data for drawing searched in steps 120 and 124, and other map data for drawing is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 200 side. Subsequently, the divided route information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 in step 134.

On the other hand, if the same data is not found on the on-vehicle device 200 (No in S128), the process shifts to step 130, and all the drawing map data retrieved in steps 120 and 124 are transmitted to the on-vehicle device 200. I do. Subsequently, the divided route information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 in step 134. These transmission processes are performed via the transmission / reception unit 12, and the map data for drawing and the divided route information are wirelessly transmitted to the in-vehicle device 200 via a predetermined wireless line.

Here, the retrieval of the drawing map data by the route search processing described above (S120, 122, 124)
And selection of map data for drawing to be transmitted (S128, 1
32) will be described with reference to FIG. 8 using a specific route example (FIG. 7). FIG. 7 shows a route (thick line) from the circle S to the circle G, and this route is divided into five sections of ~. The drawing map transmitted from the information center 10 to the in-vehicle device 200 is also divided into five parts (see FIG. 8).
(A) to (E)).

The drawing map data (FIG. 8A) transmitted first (first) to the on-vehicle apparatus 200 is the drawing map data [A-1] retrieved in step 120 shown in FIG.
And the drawing map data retrieved in step 124
[B-1]. The search is performed in this way because the divided route straddles both drawing maps.

The second drawing map data (FIG. 8B) transmitted to the on-vehicle apparatus 200 is only the drawing map data [B-2] retrieved in step 120. The drawing map data [B-1] is also searched in step 124, but since this drawing map data [B-1] already exists on the in-vehicle device 200 side, the processing is performed according to the determination No in step 128. 132, only the drawing map data [B-2] is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 200 side.

Third, the drawing map data (FIG. 8C) transmitted to the on-vehicle apparatus 200 includes drawing map data [B-3] retrieved in step 120 and step 124.
Is the map data for drawing [C-3] retrieved by. The drawing map data [B-2] is also searched in step 124, but since this drawing map data [B-2] already exists on the vehicle-mounted device 200 side, the processing is performed according to the determination No in step 128. 132, the map data for drawing [B-3] and the map data for drawing [C-3] are
Sent to the 00 side.

The fourth drawing map data (FIG. 8D) transmitted to the on-vehicle apparatus 200 is only the drawing map data [D-3] retrieved in step 124. At step 120, the map data for drawing [C-3] is also searched. However, since this map data for drawing [C-3] already exists on the side of the on-vehicle apparatus 200, the step to be processed according to the determination No at step 128. 132, only the drawing map data [D-3] is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 200 side.

The last (fifth) drawing map data (FIG. 8E) transmitted to the on-vehicle device 200 is the
4 is only the map data for drawing [D-4] retrieved by [4]. At step 120, the map data for drawing [D-3] is also searched. However, since this map data for drawing [D-3] already exists on the side of the on-vehicle device 200, the determination N of step 128 is made.
o excluded by step 132 processed by o
Only the drawing map data [D-4] is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 200 side.

If the latest map data already exists on the vehicle-mounted device 200 side in any of the above-described drawing map data, the data is transmitted and replaced with the old data, so that such old map data is used. Nothing is sent.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When the drawing map data, which is one of the divided drawing data among the divided drawing map data for guiding the route, already exists on the vehicle-mounted device 200 side, the drawing map data is not sent. As a result, even if the in-vehicle device 200 cannot receive the drawing map data, it can provide route guidance using the existing drawing map data, so that unnecessary data transmission can be omitted. Can be. Therefore, there is an effect that the communication cost can be reduced.

In step 128, the vehicle-mounted device 20
It was determined whether the drawing map data retrieved on the 0 side is the same or not. In this step, it is determined whether or not all of the guidance routes included in the retrieved drawing map data consist of a single route. It is also possible to perform processing to transmit the other drawing map data by excluding the corresponding drawing map data from step 132. This allows
Even if the in-vehicle device 200 cannot receive the drawing map data, if all of the guidance routes included in the drawing map data are formed by a single route, the road may be routed without the route guidance. If you go straight to the destination, you can approach the destination, so that unnecessary data transmission can be omitted. Therefore, there is an effect that the communication cost can be further reduced.

[0088]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the center side is
When the drawing data for guiding the route from the departure position of the vehicle to the destination and the guidance data are divided and sent to the moving side for the first time, the entire route drawing data for drawing the entire route is transmitted. Thus, when the moving side first receives the divided drawing data and guidance data from the center side, it can also receive the entire route drawing data. Therefore,
For example, even when the vehicle is traveling in a weak radio wave area such as a tunnel or mountainous area where a radio wave of the communication means does not reach, or a shadow of a building, the mobile side draws the entire route received first. Since the route guidance can be performed based on the data, there is an effect that the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed irrespective of the communication state, so that a highly reliable navigation method can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the first aspect, each time the divided drawing and guidance data are sent, the route search and guidance data for performing the route search and the guidance data extraction based on the latest data. Including extraction means. Thus, on the center side, route search and guidance data extraction can be performed by the route search / guidance data extraction means based on the latest data, and the latest drawing data and guidance data can be sent to the mobile side. Therefore, on the mobile side, the latest divided drawing data and guidance data can be received from the center side. In addition to the effect of being able to confirm the current position of the vehicle regardless of the communication status, if communication is possible, Since there is an effect that it is possible to receive route guidance corresponding to road traffic conditions that change from moment to moment, a more reliable navigation method can be provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to the first or second aspect, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are provided at different geographical positions or at different times from the center side. When transmitted to the mobile side and it is determined that the communication status with the center side is communication failure or communication failure, the entire path based on the all route drawing data transmitted first is displayed on the mobile side. . Thereby, the mobile side can receive the drawing data and the guidance data from the center side at different geographical positions or at different times, and when the communication status with the center side is a communication failure or the like, the displayed data is displayed. The entire route can be referenced on the mobile side. Therefore, on the mobile side, route guidance can be performed based on road traffic conditions that change according to different geographical positions or different times, and if communication with the center side is not possible, the entire displayed route In addition to the effect of being able to confirm the current position of the vehicle regardless of the communication status, in addition to the effect of being able to confirm the current position, if communication is possible, road traffic that changes according to different geographical positions or different times Since there is an effect that route guidance based on the situation can be received, a more reliable navigation method can be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation method according to any one of the first to third aspects, all route drawing data is map drawing data including a departure place and a destination. The moving side can display the starting point and the destination on a map. Therefore, on the moving side,
The current position of the vehicle can be confirmed on a map displaying the starting point and the destination.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the drawing data and the guidance data transmitted from the center side to the moving side are transmitted corresponding to different geographical positions or different times on the moving side, and the center side transmits the drawing data and the guidance data. If it is determined by the communication status determination that the communication status of the specific position expected to transmit such data is a communication failure or the like, the entire route drawing data is transmitted to the mobile side. Thus, the mobile side can receive the entire route drawing data when the center side determines that the communication status of the specific position is a communication failure or the like by the communication status determination. Therefore, for example, even when the vehicle is traveling in a weak radio wave area such as a tunnel, a mountainous area, or a shadow of a building, where the radio wave of the wireless communication means does not reach, the mobile side receives the signal from the center side in advance. Although the route guidance can be performed based on the entire route drawing data, the present position of the vehicle can be confirmed irrespective of the communication status, so that a highly reliable navigation method can be provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, from the center side,
When receiving the divided drawing and guidance data for the first time,
All route drawing data for drawing the entire route is received. Thus, for example, even when the vehicle is traveling in a tunnel or mountainous area where radio waves of the wireless communication means do not reach, or in an area where radio waves are weak such as a shadow of a building, the mobile side receives the radio wave first. Route guidance can be provided based on all route drawing data. Therefore, regardless of the communication status,
Since the present position of the vehicle can be confirmed, a highly reliable navigation device can be provided.

In the present invention, the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are received at different geographical positions or at different times. Accordingly, route guidance can be performed based on road traffic conditions that change according to different geographical positions or different times. Therefore, in addition to the effect of confirming the current position of the vehicle regardless of the communication status, if communication is possible, route guidance based on different geographical positions or road traffic conditions that change according to different times is received. Since there is an effect to be obtained, a more reliable navigation device can be provided.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the entire route transmitted from the center side is displayed on the mobile side when the communication status with the center side is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. Thus, when the communication status with the center side is a communication failure or the like, the entire displayed route can be referred to. Therefore, when communication with the center is not possible, the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed from the entire displayed route. A high navigation method can be provided.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and the current position detected by the detecting means is displayed together with the display of the received route as a whole. Thus, the current position of the vehicle can be confirmed on the display of the entire received route. Therefore, there is an effect that the current position of the vehicle can be clearly confirmed irrespective of the communication state, so that a more reliable navigation method can be provided.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when all the guide routes included in one divided drawing data among the divided drawing data for guiding the route are formed by a single route,
The divided drawing data is not sent. Thereby, even if the moving side cannot receive the divided drawing data,
When all of the guide routes included in the divided drawing data consist of a single route, it is possible to approach the destination by going straight along the route without route guidance, so that unnecessary data transmission is omitted. Can be. Therefore, there is an effect that the communication cost can be reduced.

According to the eleventh aspect, of the divided drawing data for guiding a route, one of the divided drawing data is
If it already exists on the moving side, the divided drawing data is not sent. Thereby, even if the moving side cannot receive the divided drawing data, the route guidance can be performed using the existing divided drawing data, so that unnecessary data transmission can be omitted. Therefore, there is an effect that the communication cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a route search process in the information center according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a divided route information receiving process in the vehicle-mounted device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a complementary relationship between divided route information sequentially received by the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment and a simplified map referred to in an area where communication failure is impossible.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a communication procedure between the information center and the vehicle-mounted device in the navigation system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a route search process in an information center according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of drawing map data retrieved in a route search process according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an example of drawing map data sequentially transmitted by the route search processing according to the other embodiment, and (A) to (E) show the order.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Information center (center side) 100 In-vehicle device (moving side) 104 Position measuring unit (current position detecting means) D1 to D7 Divided route information (divided data)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoki Ushiki 2--19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Equos Research Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Kitano 2-19 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 12 Inside Equos Research Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Yamakawa 2-19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term within Equos Research Co., Ltd. 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC08 AC09 AC14 AC18 AC19 AC20 AD03 5H180 AA01 BB05 CC12 DD04 EE02 EE07 EE15 FF04 FF05 FF07 FF12 FF13 FF23 FF25 FF27 FF35

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A navigation system in which drawing data and guidance data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination are divided and sent from a center side to a moving side, and route guidance is performed on the moving side based on the data. A navigation method, wherein, when the divided drawing and guidance data are first sent to the moving side, all route drawing data for drawing the entire route is transmitted. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a route search / guidance data extracting means for performing a route search and a guide data extraction based on the latest data every time the divided drawing and guidance data are sent. Navigation method. 3. The drawing data and guidance data for guiding the divided route are transmitted from the center side to the moving side at different geographical positions or at different times, and the transmitted whole route is transmitted. 3. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the entire route based on the drawing data is displayed on the mobile side when the communication status with the center side is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. 4. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the all route drawing data is map drawing data including a starting point and a destination. 5. A navigation system in which drawing data and guidance data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination are divided and sent from the center side to the moving side, and route guidance is performed on the moving side based on the data. It is expected that the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are transmitted from the center side to the mobile side at different geographical positions or at different times, and the data is expected to be transmitted. Determining a communication status of a specific position, and transmitting all route drawing data for drawing an entire route when the communication status of the specific position is determined to be communication failure or communication failure. . 6. A navigation device that receives drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and data obtained by dividing guidance data from a center side, and performs route guidance based on the received data. A navigation apparatus, wherein, when the divided drawing and guidance data are first received, the whole route drawing data for drawing the entire route is received. 7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the drawing data and the guidance data for guiding the divided route are received at different geographical positions or at different times. 8. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the whole transmitted route is displayed on the mobile side when it is determined that the communication status with the center side is communication failure or communication failure.
Or the navigation device according to 7. 9. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle, wherein the current position detected by the detecting means is displayed together with the display of the received route as a whole. Navigation device. 10. A navigation information providing device for dividing drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and sending the drawing data to a moving side, wherein one of the divided drawing data is divided An information providing apparatus for navigation, wherein the divided drawing data is not sent when all of the guide routes included in the drawing data consist of a single route. 11. A navigation information providing apparatus for dividing drawing data for guiding a route from a departure position of a vehicle to a destination and sending the drawing data to a moving side, wherein one of the divided drawing data is divided An information providing apparatus for navigation, wherein the drawing data is not sent when the drawing data already exists on the moving side.