JP2003195743A - Map display system, map display device, and map display program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to obtain information from an information center after judging whether the information should be obtained or not. <P>SOLUTION: The map display system is constituted of a map display device (15) provided with a selection means to judge whether or not to receive map data from the information center (10) and a requesting means which requests the information center to transmit map data when it is selected to receive the map data, and the information center (10) which transmits map data to the map display device when the map display device requests for transmission of map data. The map display device is provided with a notification means to notify the expense or time required for receiving the map data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map display system, a map display device, and a map display program for receiving and updating map data from an information center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vehicle-mounted map display device having a navigation function, map data stored in a disk of a vehicle-mounted device is used to perform route search, route guidance, etc., which are the functions of the navigation system. But,
Roads are updated year by year when the disk of the vehicle-mounted device becomes old.Therefore, newly opened roads and roads to be abolished are not stored as data in the disk. There were problems such as being unable to provide guidance or being unable to handle the latest tolls on expressways. In order to solve such a problem, it has been proposed to use the latest data on the server via the server on the Internet. Also,
It has also been proposed to limit the data to be acquired in order to improve communication charges and communication time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-84).
493).

In the conventional vehicle-mounted map display device, the data on the vehicle-mounted device side is compared with the data on the server side to determine whether the data on the vehicle-mounted device side is old or new, and the necessary data is acquired, or the user By limiting the amount of data that can be acquired by acquiring data along the route for the set destination, we are trying to reduce the amount of data that is acquired via the network.

[0004]

However, since the user cannot judge the validity of the information to be acquired,
Even if unnecessary data is acquired, there is a problem that the communication cost will be incurred. For example, if the route calculated by the server and the route calculated by the vehicle-mounted device are exactly the same for the destination set by the user, there will be no problem even if the data on the vehicle-mounted device is old. Communication costs will be incurred. Similarly, even if some routes are different, if the routes do not change so much, useless communication costs will be incurred if data is acquired.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to enable information to be acquired after determining whether to acquire the information from an information center. Therefore, when receiving and displaying the map data from the information center, the present invention notifies the cost and time required to receive the map data and can select whether or not to receive the map data from the information center. In this way, the map data is requested to be transmitted to the information center when the reception is selected.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the map display system of this embodiment. The system of the present embodiment includes, for example, a selection unit that selects whether or not to receive map data from the information center, and a request unit that requests the information center to transmit map data when reception is selected. In the map display system including the map display device (in-vehicle terminal device) and the information center that transmits the map data to the map display device when the map display device requests to transmit the map data, Is provided with an informing means for informing the cost or time required for receiving the.

The information center 10 has a control device 11 for performing a route search process, a communication terminal specifying process, etc., a map database 12 containing the latest map data, and a transmission / reception means 13, and is mounted on each vehicle via a network 14. Terminal device 15
It is possible to communicate with, and there is a request from the in-vehicle terminal device,
We provide services that provide the latest map data and search routes upon request. The map database 12 stores all the latest information about roads such as updated roads, newly opened roads, and the latest toll road charges, and the control device 11 allows the control device 11 to respond to a request from the vehicle-mounted terminal device. Is provided by searching for. Further, the control device 11 holds the identification data of the registered in-vehicle terminal, identifies the terminal based on the identification data, and provides the map data.

[0008] The in-vehicle terminal device 15 stores map data in a disk, and when a destination is input, a route search to the destination is performed, and the function of displaying the searched route on the map and guiding the map is provided. It is a display device. In some cases, the route desired by the user cannot be searched because the map data on the disk remains the old data unless replaced with a new one. In such a case, some users will buy a new disk, some users will not want to buy a new disk, and users who do not want to replace a disk but want a better route, for example When the location (the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device or the location input by the user) or the destination is sent to the information center 10 through the network to request the latest map data, the information center 10 searches for a route and the user When the intention to receive is confirmed, for example, the map data and the searched route are downloaded to the vehicle-mounted terminal device 15.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of map data included in the vehicle-mounted terminal device. Map data includes all data management information for managing all data and display data management information, guide data management information, search data management information, search data management information, etc. for referencing data classified by each function. And display data (road data to be displayed on the map display device, etc.), guidance data (intersection name, caution data, road name data, road name voice data, etc.), search data (road network used for search) Data), search data (facility name, telephone number, address, etc.) and other actual data.

Next, since the map data on the disk of the vehicle-mounted terminal device is old, a mode for acquiring new map data from the information center will be described below. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the network data acquisition area. Network data means map data that the information center has, and the actual data unit of the map is, for example,
The data within the range obtained by dividing the real world into rectangular areas is described. Therefore, the in-vehicle terminal device transmits the information of the starting point and the destination to the center side, and the map data (display data, area) including the starting point and the destination (the area surrounded by the solid line in the figure).
If guidance data, search data, search data, etc.) are acquired from the information center, the vehicle-mounted terminal device can search for a route and provide guidance. In this case, for example, it is possible to share the functions such that the search is performed on the information center side, the data is received, and the on-vehicle terminal device side only performs the guidance. That is, by performing a search at the information center, transmitting the searched route to the vehicle-mounted terminal device, and further transmitting only guide data from the information center to the vehicle-mounted terminal device for the data acquisition area shown in FIG. , Can provide guidance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of acquiring the data held by the information center side and the data when the data is already acquired by the vehicle-mounted terminal device side. The already-acquired area A (rectangular area indicated by a broken line) indicates an area in which data has been previously acquired from the information center, and in the in-vehicle terminal device, the road acquired from the information center is stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk or a memory. It is retained along with the version information of the data. Then, when sending the information of the origin and the destination and newly acquiring the information from the information center, the version information (date, model number, etc.) is compared in the in-vehicle terminal device, and the data of the same version and the same area is compared. The map data of the part to be changed is not acquired, and the map data of the different part is updated only when the version is different or the area is different. In the illustrated example, a rectangular area B shown by a solid line that includes a starting point and a destination
Is a candidate for acquisition, and if the version of the data in the area overlapping the area A of the broken line is the same, only the data in the area C where the areas A and B do not overlap, that is, the difference between the data is acquired. With such an acquisition method, the amount of data can be reduced, so that it can be expected that the communication cost is reduced, the communication response is improved, or the search response and the guidance response are improved.

Next, an example will be described in which a means for presenting the communication cost and communication time required for data acquisition to the user and determining whether or not to acquire the data is provided. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for presenting the communication cost and communication time to the user, which is predicted when data is acquired from the information center, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication parameter setting screen. As shown in FIG. 5, the communication cost and the communication time are displayed on the screen of the vehicle-mounted terminal device, and the user knows the charge and the time for the communication. Therefore, whether the data should be acquired in advance by communication or not. A decision can be made. At the same time, since "YES" and "NO" are displayed on the screen together with the message "Are you sure you want to communicate?", It is possible to select whether or not to acquire. In addition, since communication parameters (communication cost, communication speed, etc.) change with the passage of time, communication cost per minute as shown in FIG.
Prepare a screen to set the communication speed. Note that this setting may be performed by the user or may be automatically set by the information center. Then, when this parameter is set, the communication cost and the communication time are obtained from the communication data amount.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining data acquisition when there is a new or abolished road, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining road correspondence between data versions. Since the map data on the information center side is always rewritten with the latest data, there are roads that have been updated or newly installed, but there are no abolished roads.On the other hand, the map data on the in-vehicle terminal device side has been updated or newly installed. There may be abandoned roads. In such a case, the in-vehicle terminal device sends information about the departure point and the destination to the center side, the information center side performs a route search and transmits to the in-vehicle terminal device side, and the in-vehicle terminal device side owns the received route. The roads in the map data are compared, or the route on the in-vehicle terminal device side is compared with the route received and searched by itself, and the road is in the information center but not in the in-vehicle terminal device, or is not in the information center. A certain road is explicitly presented to the in-vehicle terminal device so that the user can select data acquisition from the information center.

That is, the information center side searches from the information on the starting point and the destination sent from the vehicle-mounted terminal device, and transfers the searched route, that is, the road attribute on the route, the road shape, etc. to the vehicle-mounted terminal device via communication. To do. The most suitable road is compared by comparing the data for identifying the road such as road type, attribute, shape, etc. regarding the searched route received from the information center with the road type, attribute, shape, etc. of the map data owned by the in-vehicle terminal device. If there is a corresponding road, if there is no suitable road, it is set as a new or abolished road, or the route searched by the in-vehicle terminal device is compared with the received search route, and a road on a different route is added to the route. It is displayed separately from the root of. Due to such comparison, the new roads are displayed separately in FIG. 7. A search for a matching road can be performed by comparing the shapes and attributes of roads in this way, but if there is a server that manages various data, it is also possible to make an inquiry about the road to that server. . For example, as shown in FIG. 8, if the server side has data such as data A, data B, and data C indicating the correspondence relationship between the disk version number and each road number data, it will be mounted on the road along the route. The road shown in FIG. 7 may be displayed by searching the road that is new or abolished for the data stored in the disk of the terminal device on the server side and communicating the road to the vehicle-mounted terminal device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a route search is performed on both the information center side and the vehicle-mounted terminal device side, the routes of both are compared, and whether or not to acquire data is selected. The starting point and the destination are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted terminal device to the information center, and the route search is performed at the same starting point and destination on both the information center side and the vehicle-mounted terminal device side. Then, characteristics (route outline) such as main routes of both searched routes, toll road charges included in the routes, estimated arrival time, and travel distance are acquired and displayed, and route comparison is performed based on these display data. . In the figure, what is displayed on the net side is the data on the route searched by the information center received on the in-vehicle terminal device side, and what is displayed on the navigation side is the data on the route searched on the in-vehicle terminal device. is there. And with route comparison,
On the screen, "YES" and "NO" are displayed together with the message "Are you sure you want to communicate?", And you can select whether to acquire or not. In this way, in order to notify the route outline as map data, the user compares the charges, time, travel distance, etc.
The merits of communication will become clear, and you will be able to communicate with satisfaction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which necessary conditions and parameters are exchanged between the information center side and the in-vehicle terminal device side in order to unify the search results. In the example shown in the figure, the search conditions include coordinates of the starting point and the destination, toll priority, ferry availability, etc., and the search parameter (link weight) indicates weighting for high speed, toll, prefectural roads, general roads, etc. The coefficient and the search parameter (weighting between links) are signal weights, right turn weights, and left turn weights converted into distances. Since such conditions and parameters may change depending on the function of the vehicle-mounted terminal device and the target user population, it is desirable to set the same conditions as those on the vehicle-mounted terminal device side when performing a search on the information center side. Therefore, by transmitting the search conditions and parameters as shown in FIG. 10 to the information center side, the search on the information center side can be performed under the same conditions as the search on the in-vehicle terminal device side. As a result, it is possible to compare the two search routes. Further, even when only the search route of the information center is shown, it is necessary to have consistency with the in-vehicle terminal device side, and therefore it is indispensable to exchange search conditions and parameters. Note that this exchange communication may be sent not only from the in-vehicle terminal device to the information center side but also from the information center side to the in-vehicle terminal device side so that the in-vehicle terminal device side is aligned with the information center side.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the exchange of conditions and parameters between the vehicle-mounted terminal device and the information center. When transmitting the destination data to the information center, the vehicle-mounted terminal device also transmits the identification information (version information of the program) of the navigation program of the vehicle-mounted terminal device. The information center compares the stored identification information of the navigation program with the received identification information of the navigation program of the vehicle-mounted terminal device to determine whether the search parameters should be the same. When it is determined that the search parameters should be the same, the information center instructs the vehicle-mounted terminal device to transmit the search parameters. Upon receiving this instruction, the vehicle-mounted terminal device transmits the search parameter to the information center. The information center searches for a route using the received search parameter.

The on-vehicle terminal device may determine whether or not the search parameters in the above steps should be the same. That is, the vehicle-mounted terminal device may compare the program identification information received from the information center with the program identification information provided in the vehicle-mounted terminal device. Further, contrary to the case of FIG. 11, the vehicle-mounted terminal device may be adapted to the search parameter or search program of the information center. In this case, the information center transmits the search parameter and the search program to the vehicle-mounted terminal device, and the vehicle-mounted terminal device performs the route search based on the received information. Further, it is not a parameter but a program that makes the information center and the in-vehicle terminal device the same. In the case of a program, it may be transmitted together with the matching program, the map display program, etc., or only the search program may be transmitted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow associated with the map data acquisition described with reference to FIGS. The map disk version in the server (information center) is acquired from the server (step S1), and it is determined whether or not the data of the same version as the server exists in the vehicle-mounted device (vehicle-mounted terminal device) in the data near the origin and destination (Step S
2). If there is the same version of data, the route search is performed only by the vehicle-mounted device (step S3). If there is no data of the same version in step S2, a route search is performed using the server data (step S4), and the vehicle-mounted device side receives the server search route (step S5). Next, acquire the communication volume of the map data used on the server,
The cost when the map data is received by multiplying the unit price is displayed (steps S6 and S7). Next, the server waits for the user to select whether or not to receive the map data (step S8), and if not to receive, the process ends, and if it is selected to receive, the map data used by the server is received. Among them, the part which has not been received by the vehicle-mounted device is received (step S9).

Further, instead of receiving the search route in steps S5 to S9 and determining whether to obtain the map data and receiving the map data when selected, the route outline of the search route (included in the route) The toll road charge, estimated time of arrival, travel distance, etc. are received, and it is judged from the route summary whether or not to receive. If so, the map data of the searched route in the map data (display data of FIG. 2) , Guidance data)
May be received.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow relating to the map data acquisition explained in FIG. The map disk version of the server is acquired from the server (step S11), and it is determined whether or not the data of the same version as the server is present in the vehicle-mounted device in the data near the origin and destination (step S12). If the same version of data is available, the route search is performed only by the vehicle-mounted device (step S1
3). If there is no data of the same version in step S12, a route search is performed using the server data (step S14), and the vehicle-mounted device side receives the server search route (step S15). Then, the distance between the route of the vehicle-mounted device and the route of the server, the traveling time, etc. are displayed (step S16). Note that only the difference may be displayed for the distance and the traveling time. Next, the user waits for the user to select whether or not to receive the map data of the server (step S17), the process ends if the user does not receive the map data, and if the user selects to receive the map data, the map data used by the server is received. Of these, the part which has not been received by the vehicle-mounted device is received (step S1).
8).

Further, instead of receiving the search data in steps S15 to S18 and determining whether to obtain map data and receiving the map data when selected, the route outline of the search route (included in the route) Toll road charges, estimated time of arrival, distance traveled, etc.) are received, it is judged from the route summary whether or not to receive, and if so, route data (Fig. 2).
Display data and guidance data) may be received.

By the way, when the information center side (server side) and the vehicle-mounted terminal device (vehicle-mounted device) side independently conduct route search,
As shown in FIG. 14, the network side route and the vehicle-mounted device side route may be different. The latest data can be updated frequently on the server side, but since the data is acquired from the disk etc. on the in-vehicle device side, only the roads at the time when the disk etc. is subject to the survey (storage time) are considered. This is because it cannot be done. Therefore, both on-board equipment and server side perform a search, and the costs and responses required to acquire new data from the server are compared with the routes calculated independently by both the server and on-board equipment. An example of automatically determining whether or not to acquire data and requesting data when it is determined to acquire data will be described below.

First, the weight of the search route will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 15, a, b, c, d, e,
f is called a node and normally expresses an intersection. The road between a and b is called a link and expresses a road. What is weight
It is based on the distance of roads and is multiplied by a certain multiplication coefficient in consideration of road types such as highways, national roads and prefectural roads, road width, etc. Also, when passing through intersections such as intersection traffic lights and right and left turns. We have added a certain penalty because we need to slow down. In this example, ab has a weight of 10, bc has a weight of 15, bd has a weight of 25, cd has a weight of 12, ce has a weight of 30, and de has a weight of 30. It is 15. The route search is to find the shortest route based on such weighting. Route 1 in the figure is a,
The sum of the weights is 60 because it passes b, c, e, f, and route 2
Passes through a, b, d, e, and f, the sum of weights is 5
5, the route 2 has a smaller weight, and thus the route 2 is selected.

When comparing the weighting (weight S) of the route obtained by searching the server with the weighting (weight C) of the route obtained by the vehicle-mounted device side, the weight of the route obtained on the server is compared. When is much smaller, the merit of communicating is great, so it is preferable to communicate (acquire data) only in this case. Therefore, the disadvantages of communication are converted into weights.

Communication charge conversion weight = A × charge T Communication time conversion weight = B × time T Here, the charge T and time T are determined by the amount of data acquired from the information center, and A and B are conversion factors of weight. The communication parameters can be set on the setting screen of FIG. 6, but the conversion factors such as fee, time, and travel distance when setting the route are set on the route setting screen as shown in FIG. 16, for example. In the example of the figure, 1 yen of the charge is converted into a distance of 0.3 m, 1 second of time is converted into 5.0 m, and 1 m of difference in travel distance is converted into 0.5 m. This conversion factor depends on what the user emphasizes in the route search. In this way, when the communication is actually performed, it is determined by the following equation whether or not the communication is performed.

Communication charge conversion weight + communication time conversion weight <weight C-weight S That is, (weight C-weight S) represents the merit of data acquisition, and if this is greater than the conversion weight of charge and time, communication is performed. It would be better.

Further, it is possible to judge the disadvantage of the communication charge by comparing it with the effect of improving the charge of the toll road. In other words, the route charge (charge S) on the server,
Assuming the route charge (charge C) calculated by the vehicle-mounted device,
The following judgments are possible.

Fee T <Charge C-Charge S (Charge C-Charge S) is a reduction in expenditure for data acquisition, and if this is greater than the data acquisition fee, it is better to communicate.

Further, the disadvantage of the communication time can be judged by comparing with the effect of improving the expected arrival time at the destination. That is, assuming that the estimated arrival time on the server (time S) and the estimated arrival time of the route (time C) obtained by the vehicle-mounted device are as follows:

Time T <time C-time S (time C-time S) is the effect of improving the estimated arrival time,
If this is longer than the communication time for acquiring data, it is better to communicate.

The above judgments can be generalized by the following judgments.

A * ((charge C-charge S) -charge T) + B
* ((Time C-Time S) -Time T) <(Weight C-Weight S) That is, if the merit of the route by data acquisition is greater than the conversion weight of the charge and time, there is an advantage of communicating. If it is determined that this condition is satisfied, data is requested to the information center. Note that instead of automatically requesting when the condition is satisfied, the determination result may be notified and the user may select the data request.

In the above example, the on-vehicle device side determines whether or not to acquire data. However, the information center side is provided with this determination function, and the merit of data acquisition and conversion of charges and time are carried out. The weight may be compared to automatically determine whether or not to acquire data. In this case, since the vehicle-mounted device side automatically determines whether or not there is a merit of data acquisition by simply transmitting the destination data and the searched route, the processing load on the vehicle-mounted device side can be reduced. In addition to the above determination method, the charge of the toll road included in the route of the map display device and the charge of the toll road included in the route of the information center are compared to obtain the improvement charge by the route of the information center, and the improvement charge It may be possible to determine whether or not there is a merit by the acquisition of the map data by comparing the communication fee required for receiving the route of the information center with the communication fee.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle terminal device. Input device 1 for inputting information about route guidance such as origin and destination, current position detection device 2 for detecting information about current position of own vehicle, map data, navigation data necessary for route search, route guidance An information storage device 3 in which necessary display / voice guidance data, a program (application and / or OS) for performing guidance such as map display, route search, and voice guidance are recorded, and a map as a navigator processing means. Display processing, route search processing, display / voice guidance processing required for route guidance, and a central processing unit 4 that controls the entire system, and information relating to vehicle travel, such as road information and traffic information, To detect information about the current position of the vehicle,
Further, it comprises an information transmitting / receiving device 5 for transmitting / receiving information on the current position, and a display, a speaker and other output devices 6 for outputting information on route guidance.

The input device 1 has a function of selecting a map and inputting a destination, or instructing the central processing unit 4 to perform navigation processing according to the driver's intention. As a means for realizing the function, a touch switch or a remote controller such as a jog dial for inputting a destination by a telephone number or coordinates on a map or requesting route guidance can be used. Further, the input device includes a device for dialogue by voice input, and functions as a voice input device. Further, a recording card reading device for reading the data recorded on the IC card or the magnetic card can be added. In addition, an information center that stores data necessary for navigation and provides information via communication lines at the driver's request, and a portable type that has data such as map data, destination data, simple maps, and building shape maps It is also possible to add a data communication device for exchanging data with an information source such as an electronic device.

The present position detecting device 2 obtains the present position information of the vehicle including the height information using the satellite navigation system (GPS), and the traveling direction of the vehicle, for example, the absolute direction by using the geomagnetism. An absolute azimuth sensor that detects the vehicle's traveling azimuth, a relative azimuth sensor that detects the traveling azimuth of the vehicle in the relative azimuth by using, for example, a steering sensor or a gyro sensor, for example, a speed that detects the traveling speed and traveling distance of the vehicle from the rotational speed of the wheels A distance sensor, a sensor that detects the acceleration of the vehicle and detects current position information including height information, and the like.

The information storage device 3 is an external storage device that stores a navigation program and data, and is, for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, or an MO.
Etc. consists of a magneto-optical disk and the like. The program is
A program for performing processing such as route search, a processing program as shown in the flowchart of this embodiment, display output control necessary for route guidance, a program for interactively guiding by voice input, and a program required for it. It stores data, a program for controlling voice output required for voice guidance, and data required for it. The stored data includes map data, road data, place name data including administrative division names and area names, search data, searched route data, guidance data, map matching data, destination data, memory location data, travel data. It consists of files such as history data, facility data, image data of intersections such as intersections, genre data, landmark data, etc., and stores all data necessary for the navigation device. Then, these data can be downloaded and updated from the information center. The information storage device may store only data and the program may be stored in the central processing unit.

The central processing unit 4 stores a CPU for executing various arithmetic processes, a flash memory for reading and storing a program from the information storage device 3, a program for checking and updating the flash memory (a program reading means). ROM, set destination point coordinates, road name code No. A RAM that temporarily stores the route guidance information searched for, etc., and the data being processed.
It consists of In addition to this, a frame memory that stores data to be displayed on an output device such as a display, interactive processing by voice input from the input device 1, or an information storage device based on a voice output control signal from the CPU A voice processor for synthesizing a voice, a phrase, a sentence, a sound, etc. read out from No. 3 and converting them into an analog signal to output to a speaker, a communication interface for exchanging input / output data by communication, and a current position detecting device. It is equipped with a sensor input interface for taking in the two sensor signals, a clock for entering the date and time in the internal diagnostic information, and the like. The program for performing the above-mentioned update processing may be stored in an external storage device.

The programs according to the present embodiment and other programs for executing navigation may be stored in an external storage device, or some or all of these programs may be stored in the ROM on the main body side. Good.
Various navigation functions are realized by inputting data and programs stored in the external storage device as external signals to the central processing unit of the navigation device body and performing arithmetic processing.

The program according to the present embodiment, other programs for executing navigation, and part or all of the map data are transmitted from the information center (Internet server, navigation server) to a plurality of base stations (Internet provider terminals or The central processing unit 4 on the terminal side receives the information sent from the base station by the information transmitting / receiving device, and the information is transmitted / received to / from a communication station that is connected to the vehicle. Various navigation functions may be realized by downloading the program to a flash memory or a hard disk) and executing the program.
Here, the program may be stored in a flash memory and the map data may be stored in a different readable / writable memory like the RAM is stored in the RAM, or may be stored in the same readable / writable memory. May be. Alternatively, a part of or all of the programs and map data can be downloaded from an information center to a removable storage medium (for example, an IC card, a magnetic card or a floppy (registered trademark) disk) with a personal computer in the home, and the storage medium can be centrally processed. Various navigation functions may be realized by connecting to the device 4 and executing a program in a storage medium.

The navigation device of this embodiment reads a program from the external storage device as described above,
It incorporates a relatively large-capacity flash memory for reading a program downloaded from an information center or the like, and a small-capacity ROM for storing a program (program reading means) for performing a CD startup process. The flash memory is a non-volatile storage means that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. Then, as the CD startup processing, the program of the ROM that is the program reading means is activated to check the program stored in the flash memory, and the disk management information and the like stored in the information storage device 3 is read. The program loading process (update process) is performed by judging from this information and the state of the flash memory.

The information transmitting / receiving device 5 is a GPS receiving device which obtains information by utilizing a satellite navigation system (GPS),
By using VICS (road traffic information and communication system) receivers, mobile phones, personal computers, etc. for obtaining information using FM multiplex broadcasting, radio beacons, optical beacons, etc., information can be exchanged with information centers and other vehicles. It is composed of a data transmission / reception device for bidirectional communication.

The output device 6 has a function of outputting guidance information by voice and / or a screen when the driver needs it, and a function of printing out data processed by the central processing unit 4 for navigation. As a means therefor, data processed by the central processing unit 4 and the information storage device 3
The memory for developing and drawing the data stored in the memory for displaying on the screen, the display for displaying the image data drawn in the memory, the data processed by the central processing unit 4 and the data stored in the information storage device 3 are printed out. It is equipped with a printer and a speaker that outputs route guidance by voice.

The display is composed of a simple liquid crystal display or the like, and is expanded and drawn on the basis of the map display data and the guide data processed by the central processing unit 4 and the intersection enlarged view screen, the destination name, the time, The distance, the direction arrow, etc. are displayed. The image data displayed on the display is 2
It is value image data (bitmap data), and the display data of the map and the guide data processed by the central processing unit 4 are received by using the communication line which is also used by serial communication or the like. After being expanded and drawn in the memory in the output device 6, the designated display range is displayed on the screen of the display.

This display is provided in the instrument panel near the driver's seat, and the driver can confirm the current position of the own vehicle and can obtain information on the route from now on by looking at it. . Also,
A head-up display may be provided so that the driver's eyes can be seen without lowering the driver's eyes through the half mirror embedded in the windshield of the automobile. Further, a tablet including a touch panel, a touch screen, or the like on the display screen of the display may be used, and a point input, a road input, or the like may be performed by touching the screen or tracing the screen.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the user acquires information in consideration of the cost and time required to receive new map data from the information center. Since the acquisition is performed, unnecessary data is not acquired and the communication cost is not wastefully generated. Further, by acquiring only the data difference, it is possible to reduce the communication cost and improve the response. At the same time, a search based on new data in the information center can be used, so that a reliable route search can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a map display system of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of map data included in an in-vehicle terminal device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a network data acquisition area.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of acquiring data held by the information center side and data already acquired by the vehicle-mounted terminal device side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that presents a user with communication costs and communication times predicted when data is acquired from an information center.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication parameter setting screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating data acquisition when there is a new road or an abandoned road.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating road correspondence between data versions.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a route search is performed on both the information center side and the vehicle-mounted terminal device side, the routes of the two are compared, and whether or not to acquire data is selected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which necessary conditions and parameters are exchanged between the information center side and the vehicle-mounted terminal device side in order to unify the search results.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the exchange of conditions and parameters between the vehicle-mounted terminal device and the information center.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow related to map data acquisition.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow related to map data acquisition.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing different routes when a route search is independently performed on the server side and the vehicle-mounted device side.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating weights in route search.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a conversion coefficient setting screen.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Information center, 11 ... Control device, 12 ... Map database, 13 ... Transmitting / receiving means, 14 ... Network, 15
… In-vehicle terminal device.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB08 HB22 HB23 HB24                       HB25 HC08 HC14 HC15 HC16                       HC30 HD16 HD21 HD23 HD30                 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC08                       AC14 AC16                 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB05 EE10 FF05                       FF13 FF22 FF27

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A map display device comprising selection means for selecting whether or not to receive map data from an information center, and request means for requesting transmission of map data to the information center when reception is selected. And a map display system comprising an information center for transmitting map data to the map display device when there is a request to transmit the map data from the map display device, wherein the map display device has a cost required for receiving the map data. Alternatively, the map display system is provided with a notifying means for notifying time. 2. A transmitting means for transmitting destination data to an information center, a searching means for searching a route to the destination, a selecting means for selecting whether to receive map data from the information center, and a receiving means. When a selection is made, a map display device equipped with a request means for requesting transmission of map data to the information center, a search means for searching a route based on the received destination data, and a transmission request from the map display device. In a map display system comprising an information center equipped with a transmission means for transmitting map data to the map display device when there is, the map display device is configured so that A map display system characterized by comprising an informing means for comparing and informing. 3. A map display device for receiving and displaying map data from an information center, and an informing means for informing a cost or time required to receive the map data, and whether or not to receive the map data from the information center. 2. A map display device comprising: a selection unit that selects the item, and a request unit that requests the information center to send the map data when reception is selected. 4. The map display device according to claim 3, wherein the map data is difference data between map data of the information center and map data of the map display device. 5. The map display device according to claim 3, wherein the map data is a searched route. 6. The map display device according to claim 3, wherein the map data is map data in an area determined based on a current position and a destination of the vehicle. 7. The cost or time is calculated on the basis of the size of the map data received from the information center and the size of the received map data and the communication parameters of the communication means of the map display device. The map display device according to any one of 3 to 6. 8. A map display device for two-way communication with an information center, transmitting means for transmitting destination data to the information center, route searching means for searching a route to the destination, and map data from the information center. Receiving means for receiving
A map comprising: an informing means for comparing and informing the search map data of the map display device and the received map data; and a selecting means for selecting whether or not to receive the map data from the information center. Display device. 9. The map display device according to claim 8, wherein the map data notified in comparison is a searched route. 10. The map display device according to claim 9, wherein the searched route includes at least one of a toll road charge included in the route, estimated arrival time, and travel length. 11. The map display device according to claim 8, wherein the notified map data is a search route received from the information center and road data of the map display device. 12. A map display program for receiving and displaying map data from an information center, informing of the cost or time required to receive the map data, and selecting to receive the map data from the information center. A program for requesting that map data be transmitted to an information center.