JP2003156343A - Map information processing apparatus and map information supplying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information processing apparatus that can update data for each kind, can update map data having a different data configuration, and can quickly carry out update processing, and to provide a map information supplying apparatus. SOLUTION: There are provided an update operation information acquiring means, and an updating means and acquires updating operation information for indicating the kind to be updated that hierarchically specifies the kind of data to be updated in map information stored, at the map information storing means, and the contents of the updating operation. The updating means allows the order of the updating of data in the map information stored at the map information storing means for referring to the order of the data for updating the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map information processing device and a map information providing device used in a mobile body such as a car navigation system, a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant, and more particularly to this map information processing device and map information. The present invention relates to update of a map handled by providing device map information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional map information updating system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-75967. In FIG. 17, 100 is a map information processing device, 101 is a map data processor, 102 is a map data storage device, 103 is an input device, 104 is an output device, 105 is a receiving device, 106 is a map information providing device,
Reference numeral 107 is a transmission device, and 108 is a distribution server. The map data storage device 102 divides the whole country into several areas,
The map data provided for each area is stored. Figure 1
Reference numeral 8 is map data stored in the map data storage device 102, (V1) is a map of a certain area, VP0 to VP3 are planar geographical entities such as facilities, VR0 to VR3 are linear roads, ( V2) is map data showing the shapes of the entities included in the map of (V1), and is a shape data record having data showing the shapes of the faces VP0 to VP3, roads VR0 to VR3.
Shape data record having data indicating the shape.

Further, FIG. 19 shows a map information providing device 106.
Update information provided to the map information processing device 100 by (W
In (1), the map of (V1) in FIG. 18 is updated to the latest state. The shapes of the surface VP1 and the road VR2 are changed, the surface VP3 disappears, and the road VR4 is newly added. ) Is map data indicating the shape of the entity included in the map of (W1), (W3) is update information for updating the map data of (V2) of FIG. 18 to the map data of (W2), and update information Is a field indicating an update operation, a field indicating a storage position in the map data to be updated,
In an array of update information records including fields indicating update data, an offset indicating the number of bytes of data existing from the beginning of the map data to the beginning of the shape data record to be updated is used as a storage position.

In (W3) of FIG. 19, the update information record 0 indicates that the shape data record of the road VR2 having the offset a6 of the map data of (V2) of FIG. 18 is replaced with the new shape data record of the road VR2, The update information record 1 indicates that the map data offset of (V2) in FIG. 18 replaces the shape data record of the surface VP1 of a1 with the new shape data record of the surface VP1, and the update information record 2 is (V2) of FIG. 18 indicates that the offset of the map data of is to delete the shape data record of the surface VP3 of a3, and the update information record 3 is (V2) in FIG.
The offset of the map data indicates that the shape data record of the road VR4 is inserted at the position a8. Therefore, according to the update information of (W3) in FIG. 19, (V
By updating the map data of 2), the map data of (W2) in FIG. 19 can be obtained.

Next, the operation will be described. The map information processor 101 stores the map data (V2) of FIG. 101 acquired from the map data storage device 102 in the update data area provided in the internal memory of the map information processor 101, and the distribution server 108 of FIG. W3) update information is acquired. Next, the update information records are extracted from the acquired update information in the order of arrangement, and the map data in the update data area is updated according to the extracted update information records. That is, at the time of the update operation by the update information record 0,
The shape data record of the road VR3 in the update data area is moved by the amount by which the data size of the shape data record of the road VR2 is increased / decreased by the update. The new shape data record of the road VR2, which is the update data of the update information record 0, is stored from the head position in the shape data record of. Further, at the time of the update operation by the update information record 1, all the shape data records after the shape data record of the surface VP2 of the update data area are set to the surface V.
When the data size of the shape data record of P1 moves or decreases by an amount corresponding to the increase or decrease due to the update, it moves to the front, and when it increases, it moves to the rear, and the update information record 1 starts from the top position of the shape data record of the surface VP1 in the update data area.
The new shape data record of the surface VP1 which is the update data of Further, at the time of the update operation by the update information record 2, all the shape data records after the shape data record of the road VR0 in the update data area are moved forward by the data size of the shape data record of the surface VP3. Further, at the time of the update operation by the update information record 3, the road VR which is the update data of the update information record 3 is added after the shape data record regarding the road VR3 in the update data area.
4 shape data records are stored. As described above, the data (W2) in FIG. 19 is obtained in the update data area.

[0006]

In the conventional map information processing apparatus, the update target is specified by using the storage position in the map data such as the offset from the beginning of the map data. Since it is not known whether or not the type of data is to be updated, even if only certain data in the map data, such as route calculation data, is needed in the map data composed of other types of data as shown in FIG. It is not possible to update the route calculation data unless you obtain and update the entire map data. Also,
The update operation information specifies the storage location of the update target assuming that all the various types of map data exist, but, for example, map information processing that has different map information, such as no background data or name data, has a different map information configuration. In the device, the storage location of the route guidance data of the map data, the route calculation data, etc. cannot be updated with the update operation information, unlike the storage location in the case where all the various data of the map data exist. Further, in the update processing, since the update order for efficiently performing the update is not taken into consideration, the movement of the shape data record frequently occurs in the update data area and the speed of the update processing decreases. As described above, in the conventional map information processing apparatus, in the update information, the update target is specified using only the storage position in the map data, and the data type cannot be specified. However, there is a problem that map data with a different data structure cannot be updated. Further, there is a problem that the update process cannot be performed quickly because the update order for efficiently performing the update is not considered. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable updating of each data type, updating of map data having a different data structure, and quick updating processing. .

[0007]

In the map information processing apparatus according to the first configuration of the present invention, the type of data to be updated in the map information stored in the map information storage means is hierarchically designated. An update operation information acquisition unit that acquires update operation information indicating the update target type and the content of the update operation is provided.

Further, in the map information processing apparatus according to the second configuration of the present invention, when updating the data in the map information stored in the map information storage means, the update order of the data is set to the map information. The updating means is provided for updating the data in association with the order of arrangement of the data in FIG.

Further, in the map information processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the type of data to be updated in the update information, the arrangement order of the data showing the contents of the update operation, and the map information storage means are stored. The update information acquisition means for acquiring the update information associated with the order of arrangement of the data indicated by the above-mentioned data in the existing map information is provided.

Further, in the map information providing apparatus according to the fourth configuration of the present invention, the map information is provided as update target type for hierarchically designating the type of data to be updated and update operation information indicating the content of the update operation. An update operation information providing means for providing the processing device is provided.

Further, in the map information providing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the map type of the map information processing apparatus is defined by the data type of the update information and the order of arrangement of the data indicating the contents of the update operation. An update information providing unit is provided that provides the map information processing apparatus with update information that is associated with the order of arrangement of the data indicated by the data in the map information stored in the storage unit.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1. 1 is a configuration diagram of a map information updating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, (a) is a map information processing device owned by a moving body such as a vehicle, and (b) is provided with update operation information for updating the map information of the map information processing device to each map information processing device. It is a map information providing device. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a map information processing device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is an input device for operating the map information processing device, and 2 is a vehicle position detection device that detects the position of a vehicle equipped with the map information processing device using a GPS receiver or the like. Is a map information storage device storing map information, and 4 is a map information providing device via a map information providing device and a communication network.
A transmitter / receiver 5 for transmitting / receiving data regarding update operation information to / from (b) performs vehicle position detection along with update processing of map information in the map information storage device 3 based on the update operation information acquired by the transmitter / receiver 4. Map matching processing for identifying the road on which the vehicle is traveling and the position on the road from the vehicle position obtained from the device 2 and the map information of the map information storage device 3 or the updated map information, the map of the map information storage device 3 Various navigation processes such as route calculation that calculates the route from the starting value to the destination using information or updated map information, route guidance that guides you from the starting value to the destination, and display processing of the map around the vehicle position Reference numeral 6 denotes a map information processor which performs a display, a display device for displaying a map, a vehicle position, a route, guidance information, and the like, and an audio output according to the processing of the map information processor 5.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the map information providing device. Reference numeral 10 is a transmission / reception device that transmits / receives data related to update operation information to / from the transmission / reception device 4 via a communication network, 11 is an update information database storing update operation information for updating map information, and 12 is a map information processing device.
An update operation information distribution device that acquires required update operation information from the update information database 11 in response to the request of (a) and provides the acquired update operation information to the map information processing device (a) via the transmission / reception device 10. Is. The transmission / reception device 10 and the update operation information distribution device 12 constitute update operation information providing means.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the map information stored in the map information storage device 3 and the update data storage device 6. The map information includes management information, some map data, guidance search information, and the like. Each map data is provided corresponding to each area when the whole country is divided into several areas, and the map data stores information representing a map of the corresponding area. The management information is data that manages map data, guide search information, etc., and includes location information in each map data, guide search information, etc., version number information for managing the version number of the stored information, etc. is doing. Map data are road data used for map matching and road display, background data for displaying map backgrounds such as rivers and seas, name data for displaying names such as place names, route guidance data for route guidance. , Route calculation data for route calculation, peripheral facility data for searching peripheral facilities, etc., and various attributes related to map data such as information representing the area,
It has a map data header having information for managing whereabouts of the various data.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of route calculation data.
A road network using links that represent roads that connect nodes and nodes corresponding to intersections and the like. FIG. 5C shows the structure of the route calculation data, which includes a route calculation header, a node table, connection information, and a cost table. The node table is an array of fixed-length node records, and the node records are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the nodes that make up the road network of the area. Assign the node record number which is the order of arrangement. The connection information is a sequence of connection records of variable length, and the connection records are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the nodes that make up the road network of the area. Therefore, each connection record corresponds to a one-to-one correspondence with each node record. In order to identify a connection record, a connection record number, which is the order of arrangement of connection records, is given to each connection record. The cost table is an array of fixed-length cost records, and the cost records are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the links that make up the road network of the area. A cost record number, which is the order of arrangement, is given.

FIG. 5 (c1) shows the structure of the route calculation header, showing the offset and the data size indicating the whereabouts of each of the node table, connection information and cost table.
The offset represents the size of the data stored from the beginning of the route calculation data to the beginning of each data. (C2) of FIG. 5 is a node record structure showing various attributes held by the node, such as node coordinates indicating the geographical position of the corresponding node, presence or absence of a traffic light, and whether or not the node is on the boundary of the area. It is composed of a node attribute, the number of connection links indicating the number of links connecting to the node, the number of restriction records indicating the number of restriction records held by the corresponding connection record, and a connection record offset indicating the location of the corresponding connection record by an offset. The offset represents the data size of the data stored from the beginning of the connection information to the beginning of the corresponding connection record. As described above, the node table indicates the position, attribute, location of the corresponding connection record, etc., of each node forming the road network in the area.

FIG. 5C3 shows the structure of the connection record.
It consists of a link table and a regulation table. The link table is an array of link records, and the link records are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the links connecting to the nodes corresponding to the connection records. The restriction table is an array of restriction records, and the restriction link records are provided by the number of traffic restrictions existing between links corresponding to the link records in the link table. Further, in order to identify the link records, each link record is given a link record number, which is the order in which the link records are arranged, and in order to identify the regulation record, each regulation record is in the order in which the regulation records are arranged. Assign a record number. (C4) of FIG.
Is a structure of a link record, which is composed of adjacent node information and link cost information. The adjacent node information has the node record number of the node connected to the node corresponding to the connection record by the link corresponding to the link record. The node indicated by the adjacent node information is called an adjacent node of the node corresponding to the connection record, and there are as many adjacent nodes as there are link records. The adjacent node information may also have adjacent area information indicating the area where the adjacent node exists, because the adjacent node may exist in the adjacent area. The link cost information indicates the location of the information indicating the cost required to run the link from the node corresponding to the connection record to the adjacent node. The link cost record indicates the cost record of the link corresponding to the link record. It expresses using. (C5) is a structure of the restriction record, in which the entering link information indicating the entering side link by the link record number, the leaving link information indicating the leaving side link by the link record number, and the link connecting to the node corresponding to the connection record , An inter-link regulation code indicating a prescribed traffic regulation for traveling from the link indicated by the entry link information to the link indicated by the exit link information. As described above, the connection information is a node constituting the road network in the area, the relationship of links, the location of a cost record indicating the cost required for traveling between nodes,
The traffic regulation between links in a node is shown. (C6) is a structure of the cost record, which is a link attribute indicating various attributes of the link such as the road type of the corresponding link, a link length indicating the length of the link, an average travel time indicating the time required to run the link, It consists of width information indicating the road width of the link. As described above, the cost table indicates various kinds of information necessary for calculating the cost required to travel the links that form the road network in the area.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the update information database 11. The update information database 11 is composed of a list of version number management information and version-specific information. The version-specific information is information for updating the map information of a certain version to the map information of the latest version, and the version-number management information is information for managing version-specific information provided for each version. Indicates the version number, location, data size, etc. The version-specific information is composed of a list of update operation information management information and update operation information.The update operation information management information is information for managing the update operation information provided for each map data, and the location of each update operation information, The data size and the like are shown, and the update operation information is information for updating the map data.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of the update operation information. The update operation information is composed of an update operation information header and an array of update operation segments, and the update operation information header shows the map data to be updated by the update operation information. The update operation segment number indicating the number of update operation segments included in the map data identification information and the update operation information is included. The update operation segment is composed of an update operation segment header, an update target type designation, and an array of update operation records, and the update operation segment header has an update operation record number indicating the number of update operation records included in the update operation segment, The update target type designation designates the data type of the data to be updated, and the update operation record indicates the content of the update operation to be performed on the data of the type designated by the update target type designation. Each update operation segment in the update operation information is arranged according to the order of arrangement in the map information of the data of the type specified by the update target type specification.
(Corresponding to claim 3).

FIG. 8 shows an example of a configuration for designating an update target type, which is composed of a list of update target type designation headers and update target type designation records, and the update target type designation header is the update target type designation record of the update target type designation. It has a number of update target type designation records indicating the number, and the update target type designation record is composed of a target type code and an identification within the target type. The target type code indicates the type of data to be updated, and the in-target type identification specifies which of the types of data indicated by the target type code, if the data is composed of the same data sequence. , Specify using the numbers in the order. However, -1 (which will be described later) is set to indicate the entire data of the type indicated by the target type code. Each update target type specification record updated type specification is intended to further identify the data in the data of the specified type in the update target type specification records arranged in front, updated by the arrangement of the update target type specification record Specify the data type of the target data in a hierarchical manner.

FIG. 9 is an example of the target type code of the update target type designation record, (d) is the target type code indicating each data forming the map data of FIG. 4, and (d1) is the (c) of FIG. 5 is a target type code indicating each data forming the route calculation data, and (d2) is a target type code indicating each data forming the connection record of (c3) of FIG. FIG. 10 is an example of specifying the update target type when the target type code is shown in FIG. 9, and (e1), (e2), and (e3) show the data to be updated in the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer, respectively. It is an example of specifying an update target type that specifies a data type. Figure 1
In (e1) of 0, the update target type code of the update target type specification record 0 indicates that the route calculation data indicates the whole route calculation data, and the update target type designation indicates that the update target is the route calculation data. Show.

In (e2) of FIG. 10, the update target type code of the update target type designation record 0 indicates the route calculation data, the identification within the target type indicates the whole, and the update target type code of the update target type designation record 1 is the node. In the table, the identification within the target type indicates the whole, and the update target type designation indicates that the update target is the node table of the route calculation data. In (e3) of FIG. 10, the update target type code of the update target type specifying record 0 indicates the route calculation data, the identification within the target type indicates the whole, and the update target type code of the update target type specifying record 1 indicates the connection information. , Connection information is a sequence of connection records with the same data structure,
The in-target-type identification indicates 1 or the connection record whose connection record number in FIG. 5C is 1, and the update-target-type code of the update-target-type designating record 2 indicates the link table, and the in-target-type identification indicates the whole. The update target type designation indicates that the update target is the link table of the connection record whose connection record number of the connection information of the route calculation data is 1.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the structure of the update operation record. As shown in (f), the update operation record is composed of an update operation record header and an update record, and the update operation record header has operation type information and update position. The operation type information has a section and is defined as shown in (g1) of FIG. 12, and indicates whether the update operation is to be deleted, replaced, or inserted as a value 0, 1, or 2, and is updated. The position division is defined as shown in (g2) of FIG. 14, and the update position designation indicates the data size of the data stored from the beginning of the data of the type designated by the update target type designation to the update position. It indicates whether the offset type is used or the record type that uses a record number that designates a record forming data designated by the update target type designation. When the update position classification is the record type, the fixed length record type and the variable length record type are indicated depending on whether the record of the data of the type specified by the update target type designation has the fixed length or the variable length.

FIG. 11 (f1) shows the data structure of the update record when the update position classification is the offset type, and the head offset is the head position for performing the update operation designated by the operation type information, that is, the operation position. It is indicated by the offset from the beginning of the data of the type specified by the update target type specification before updating, the update data size indicates the range for performing the update operation specified by the operation type information from the start offset, and the update part data is updated There is as much data as indicated by the data size, it indicates data to be replaced or inserted, and when the operation type information is delete, there is no update part data. When the operation type information is deleted, the offset type update record deletes the data indicated by the update data size from the position indicated by the start offset of the data of the type specified in the update target type specification, and the operation type information is At the time of replacement, the data indicated by the update data size is replaced with the update part data from the position indicated by the start offset of the data of the type specified by the update target type specification, and when the operation type information is inserted, the update target type Indicates that the update part data is to be inserted at the position indicated by the start offset of the data of the type specified by the specification.

FIG. 11 (f2) shows the data structure of the update record when the update position classification is the fixed length or variable length record type, and the first record number performs the update operation designated by the operation type information. The start position, that is, the operation position is indicated by the record number of the data indicated by the data type information before the update, the number of update section records indicates the range in which the update operation specified by the operation type information from the start record number is performed, and the update section record When the update position classification is the variable length record type, the data size exists as many as the number of update section records, and indicates the data size of each update section record.There are as many update section records as there are update section records. When the operation type information is deleted, the update unit record data size and the update unit record do not exist. When the operation type information is deleted, the record type update record deletes the number of records indicated by the update record number from the position indicated by the first record number of the data of the type specified in the update target type specification, and deletes the operation type information. Is replaced, replaces the number of records indicated by the number of updated records from the position indicated by the first record number of the data of the type specified by the update target type with the update section record, and updates the operation type information Indicates that the update part record is inserted before the record indicated by the first record number of the data of the type specified by the target type specification, and if it is added to the end of the data of the type specified by the update target type specification, The value obtained by adding 1 to the record number of the record at the end of the data is the first record number. In the update operation segment, each update operation record is arranged based on the operation position of the update operation record, and the update operation record having an earlier operation position is arranged earlier (corresponding to claim 3). In this way, the update operation information makes it possible to specify any data in the map data as an update target by hierarchically specifying the type of map data, and for any kind of data in the map data, However, the update content to be applied can be instructed. Further, as described above, the update operation information is configured by being associated with the normal order of the arrangement of each data in the map data, and by performing the update operation in the arrangement order of the data forming the update operation information, that is, the arrangement of the update operation segments. By performing the update operation in the order of the update operation records in the update operation segment, the update target can be updated in the normal order of the order of each data in the map information.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of the map information providing apparatus and corresponds to claims 4 and 5. When the map information providing device is activated, in step 100, the update operation information request transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device 4 to the transmitting / receiving device 10 is waited for, and if it is received, the process proceeds to step 101. In step 101, the update operation information request is acquired from the transmission / reception device 10. This update operation information request includes map information processing device identification information indicating the requested map information processing device, map data identification information indicating map data of an area required for navigation processing of the requested map information processing device, and its version number information. have. In step 102, the update operation information distribution device 12 updates version information from the version number indicated by the version number information of the update operation information request acquired in step 101 to the latest version according to the version number management information of the update information database 11. Is obtained, and the update operation information for the map data indicated by the map data identification information of the update operation information request acquired in step 101 is acquired by referring to the update operation information management information of the version-specific information. In step 103, the update operation information acquired in step 102 is transmitted by the transmission / reception device 10 to the map information processing device requested. Next, the process proceeds to step 100 and the same processing as above is repeated.

FIG. 14 shows the structure of an area related to the update of map information in the internal memory of the map information processor 5. The update operation information area stores update operation information and the acquisition indicating the type of data to be acquired in the map data. Data type, original data area for storing updated map data, update data area for storing updated map data, transfer source pointer indicating the position of the transfer source when transferring data from the original data area to the update data area, transfer It has a transfer destination pointer indicating a destination position and a processing map data area for storing map data necessary for navigation processing. The acquired data type indicates the type of data to be acquired by the target type code in (d) of FIG. 9 and indicates -1 when the entire map data is acquired. The data designated by the acquired data type is referred to as designated type data.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the operation of the map information processor 5. When this apparatus is started, first, in step 200, operation information for operating the map information processing apparatus such as a map display scale, a display map scroll instruction, a destination selection instruction, and a route calculation instruction from the input device 1. And the type of data in the required map data is stored in the acquired data type of the map information processor 5. In step 1, the vehicle position detection device 2 acquires the current position of the vehicle. In step 202,
From the operation information obtained in step 200, the current position of the vehicle obtained in step 201, and the like, map data of a region required for navigation processing is determined, and map data identification information, version number information representing those map data, The transmission / reception device 4 transmits an update operation information request including the map information processing device identification information of the map information processing device to the map information providing device, and transmits update operation information for updating these map data to the latest map data. To request.

In step 203, the transmission / reception device 4 receives the update operation information transmitted from the map information providing device in response to the update operation information request in step 202. In step 204, the update operation information received in step 203 is acquired one by one from the transmission / reception device 4 each time this step is reached, and the acquired update operation information is stored in the update operation information area of the map information processor 5 and the process proceeds to step 205. go. However,
If all update operation information has already been extracted and there is no update operation information to be newly extracted, the process proceeds to step 209.
In step 205, the update operation information header of the update operation information obtained in step 204 is referred to, and when the number of update operation segments is 0, it is determined that the map data need not be updated, and the process proceeds to step 208. Otherwise, go to step 206. In step 206, the update operation information header of the update operation information obtained in step 204 is referred to, the designated type data of the map data indicated by the map data identification information is retrieved from the map information storage device 3, and the original data area of the map information processor 5 is retrieved. To store. Step 20
In step 7, the designated type data stored in the original data area of the map information processor 5 in step 206 is processed in step 20.
An update operation is performed according to the update operation information obtained in step 4, and the updated designated type data is stored in the processing map data area of the map information processor 5. This step 207 is claim 1
It corresponds to the first updating means in and the second updating means in claim 2. The first and second updating means have the following relationship. The update operation information in the first updating means is used as an example of the update information used in the second updating means. In Step 208, Step 204
Referring to the update operation information header of the update operation information obtained in step 1, the specified type data of the map data indicated by the map data identification information is retrieved from the map information storage device 3 and stored in the processing map data area of the map information processor 5, Return to step 204. In step 209, predetermined navigation processing is performed using the designated type data of the processing map data area of the map information processor 5. Then return to step 200,
The above process is repeated thereafter.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the details of step 207 of FIG. 15. In step 300, the transfer source pointer and the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5 are initialized, and the transfer source pointer sets the beginning of the original data area. The transfer destination pointer points to the beginning of the update data area.
In step 301, every time this step is reached, one update operation segment is sequentially acquired from the update operation information in the update operation information area of the map information processor 5 in the order of arrangement, and the process proceeds to step 302 to acquire all update operation segments. If there is no update operation segment to acquire, the process proceeds to step 311. In step 302, when the acquired data type of the map information processor 5 is not -1, that is, when the specific type of data is designated, the process goes to step 303, and when the acquired data type of the map information processor 5 is -1, that is, the map data When the whole is designated, the process proceeds to step 304. In step 303, step 301
If the type indicated by the update target type designation of the update operation segment acquired in step S1 and the type indicated by the acquired data type of the map information processor 5 match, the process proceeds to step 305, and if not, the process returns to step 301. In step 304, the data of the type indicated by the update target type designation of the update operation segment acquired in step 301 is changed to step 20 in FIG.
It is checked whether or not it exists in the map data of the original data area of the map information processor 5 obtained in step 6, and if there is, step 305
If there is not, go to step 301. Step 30
In step 5, each time this step is reached, one update operation record is acquired from the update operation segment acquired in step 301, one by one in the order of the arrangement, and the procedure goes to step 306 to finish acquisition of all update operation records and the update to be acquired. If there is no operation record, the process returns to step 301.

In step 306, from the position indicated by the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5, the update position indicated by the update operation record acquired in step 305 of the type data indicated by the update target type specification of the update operation segment acquired in step 301. The data of the original data area in the map information processor 5 up to are transferred to the position indicated by the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5 in the update data area of the map information processor 5, and the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5 is set to the update position. And the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5 indicates the position immediately after the transferred data. By the processing of step 306, the data that does not need to be updated in the original data area of the map information processor 5 is transferred to the update data area of the map information processor 5. In step 307, the operation type information of the update operation record acquired in step 305 is checked, and if it is deleted, go to step 308. If it is inserted, go to step 309.
If it is replacement, the process proceeds to step 310. Step 308
Then, the data for deletion indicated by the update operation record acquired in step 305 is added to the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5, and the process returns to step 305.
By the processing of step 308, the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5 is advanced by the amount of data to be deleted,
The data corresponding to the data to be deleted in the original data area of the map information processor 5 is not transferred to the update data area of the map information processor 5, and the above data is deleted. In step 309, the update part data or the array of update part records of the update operation record acquired in step 305 is stored at the position indicated by the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5, and the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5 is stored as described above. The position immediately after the data is indicated, and the process returns to step 305. The above data has been inserted by the processing in step 309. In step 310,
The update section data of the update operation record or the array of update section records acquired in step 305 is stored at the position indicated by the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5, and the transfer destination pointer of the map information processor 5 is stored immediately after the stored data. The position is indicated, and data corresponding to the replacement indicated by the update operation record acquired in step 305 is added to the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5, and the process returns to step 305. By the processing of step 310, the transfer source pointer of the map information processor 5 advances by the amount of the data to be replaced, and the data corresponding to the data to be replaced is not transferred to the update data area of the map information processor 5, It has been replaced with the stored data. In step 311, the updated designated type data obtained in the update data area of the map information processor 5 is stored in the processing map data area of the map information processor 5, and the processing of step 207 ends. As described above, the update operation segment can be selected by designating the update operation type, and the update operation segment can update the desired type of data in the map data.

Further, the type of data to be updated can be determined by designating the update operation type of the update operation segment,
The corresponding data in the map data can be updated, and the map data having a different structure can also be updated. In addition, since the update operation is performed in the normal order of the arrangement of each data in the map data, the data movement in the update data area does not occur unlike the conventional case, and the update is performed only by transferring from the original data area to the update data area. Therefore, it is possible to update quickly.

Further, since the update operation information is constituted in association with the normal order of the arrangement of each data in the map data, the update operation record is arranged in the update operation segment in the order of the update operation segment related to the update operation information. If the update operation is performed in order, the update operation will be performed in the normal order of the arrangement of each data in the map data.Each time the update operation is performed, the update operation segment arrangement and the update operation record arrangement will be performed before the map data. The process for finding the update operation segment or update operation record relating to the data arranged in is unnecessary, and the update can be performed more quickly. Although the update operation information is acquired from the transmission / reception device 4 in the first embodiment, it may be acquired from a removable storage medium such as a memory card.

Further, although the example of the map data of the map information is shown in the first embodiment, it may be applied to the data other than the map data forming the map information.

Further, in the first embodiment, the update operation information is acquired every time it is necessary for the navigation processing. However, a storage device for storing the update operation information is provided and the acquired update operation information is stored. The update operation information may be stored in the storage device and reused during the update process.

In the first embodiment, the updating process is performed every time the navigation process is required. However, a storage device for storing the updated data is provided, and the updated data is stored in the storage device. Alternatively, the updated data in the storage device may be stored and used during the navigation process.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first configuration of the present invention, in the update operation information for updating the map information stored in the map information storage means, the type of data to be updated is hierarchical. Since the map information processing apparatus is specified, the map information processing apparatus capable of updating each data type and updating map information having a different data structure can be obtained.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when updating the data in the map information stored in the map information storage means, the order of updating the data is the order of the data in the map information. Since the data is updated in association with the order of arrangement, there is an effect that a map information processing device capable of performing update processing quickly can be obtained.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the type of data to be updated in the update information, the arrangement order of the data indicating the contents of the update operation, and the map information stored in the map information storage means. Since the update is performed in accordance with the update information associated with the order of the data arrangement in the above, there is an effect that a map information processing device capable of performing the update processing quickly can be obtained.

Further, according to the fourth configuration of the present invention, the map information processing apparatus is provided with update operation information indicating the update object type for hierarchically designating the data type to be updated and the content of the update operation. As a result, there is an effect that a map information providing device capable of updating each type of data in each map information processing device and updating map information having a different data structure can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the type of data to be updated in the update information and the order of arrangement of data indicating the contents of the update operation are stored in the map information storage means of the map information processing apparatus. Since it is arranged to provide the map information processing device with the update information that is associated with the order of arrangement of the data in the existing map information,
There is an effect that a map information providing device that enables rapid update processing of each map information processing device can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a map information updating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the map information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a map information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing map information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing route calculation data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an update information database according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing update operation information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the contents of designation of an update target type according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a target classification code according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing contents of designation of an update target type according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an update operation record according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing operation type information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of the map information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an internal memory related to updating map information of the map information processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of the map information processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of step 207 in the operation of the map information processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional map information updating system.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing map data by a conventional map information updating system.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing update information by a conventional map information update system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 input device, 2 vehicle position detection device, 3 map information storage device, 4 transmission / reception device, 5 map information processor, 6 output device, 10 transmission / reception device, 11 update information database, 12 update operation information distribution device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 Z 29/10 29/10 A (72) Inventor Masaharu Umezu Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Marunouchi 2-3-2 Sanryo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoya Ikeuchi 2-3-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Sanryo Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB03 HB12 HB22 HC08 HC11 HC24 HC25 HC31 HD03 HD30 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB12 AB13 AC02 AC09 AC14 AC20 5B075 KK07 ND20 ND23 NR02 NR20 UU13 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB13 CC12 FF05 FF13 FF22 FF27 FF32

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A map information storage unit for storing map information, an update target type for hierarchically specifying a data type to be updated in the map information stored in the map information storage unit, and contents of an update operation. The map information processing apparatus comprising: an update operation information acquisition unit that acquires update operation information indicating the above; and a first update unit that updates the map information stored in the map information storage device according to the update operation information. 2. The map information storage means for storing map information, the update information acquisition means for acquiring update information for updating the map information, and the map information based on the update information acquired by the update information acquisition means. When updating the map information data stored in the storage means, the second update is performed by associating the update order of the data with the order of arrangement of the data in the map information to update the data. A map information processing apparatus comprising: 3. The type of data to be updated in the update information, the order of arrangement of data indicating the content of the update operation, and the order of arrangement of data indicated by the data in the map information stored in the map information storage means. 3. The map information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising update information acquisition means for acquiring the update information associated with. 4. An update operation information database that stores update operation types indicating hierarchically the type of data to be updated and update operation information indicating the contents of the update operation, and an update operation information database stored in the update operation information database. A map information providing device, comprising: an update operation information providing means for providing update operation information to a map information processing device. 5. The type of data to be updated in the update information, and the order of arrangement of data indicating the contents of the update operation,
An update operation information database having update information configured to be associated with the order of arrangement of the data indicated by the data in the map information stored in the map information storage means of the map information processing apparatus, and storing this update information; A map information providing device, comprising: update information providing means for providing the map information processing device with the update information stored in the update operation information database.