JP2004020292A - Map information updating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information updating system that timely updates map data used by a car navigation system or the like, and enables quick distribution to a request from a user. <P>SOLUTION: The user 16 stores the map data into a storage medium such as a CD-RW and a DVD. A map information provider (a base station) 14 receives picture data on the ground 12 that is photographed by an artificial satellite 11 or an aircraft, and allows the picture data to be subjected to image processing for extracting the map information (road information). Then, existing map data are referred to for obtaining updated (added/removed) map data. According to the request from the user 16, the map data of the updated portion are distributed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map information updating system, and more particularly to a map information updating system that updates map information such as a car navigation system (hereinafter referred to as a car navigation system) and provides the updated map information to a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Advances in satellite communication technology and information processing technology have led to the development of new commercial or consumer equipment. One of them is a car navigation system. The car navigation system uses a GPS (Global Positioning System) composed of a plurality of artificial satellites launched in a geosynchronous orbit, finds its own position, and displays it on a display panel together with map information (data) recorded in a recording medium in advance. . Further, the traveling direction and speed of the vehicle or the like are obtained by an angle sensor, a distance sensor, or the like, and the operation or driving to the destination is supported. That is, the vehicle is driven while watching map information such as the current position and the road to the destination displayed on the screen of the display panel or based on a voice instruction.
[0003]
This map information is created by a map maker, stored in a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and provided to the user. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, surveying for creating a map (road map) is performed (step S1). Next, a database of the measured map is created (step S2). Then, a recording medium (media) such as a CD or a DVD is created based on the map data (step S3). Finally, it is provided or distributed to the user (user) (step S4).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional car navigation system, the map information is used by being provided from a map maker in advance by being provided on a recording medium. However, the map information (road map information) may be changed such as closing an existing road or opening a new road. Therefore, although the map information needs to be updated as appropriate, updating the map information using the recording medium as described above requires a relatively long time (for example, one year). As a result, even if a new road is opened or an existing road is closed, it takes a long time to obtain updated map information, and there is a problem that the map information in use is not reflected in a timely manner.
[0005]
[Object of the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a map information updating system that can update map information in a timely and relatively easy manner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a map information updating system according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.
[0007]
(1) In a map information updating system for updating map information stored and used by a user in a storage medium in a car navigation system or the like,
Map information obtained by performing image processing on ground photographs taken from the sky to obtain map information, extracting and updating changed parts by comparing with existing map information, and distributing updated map information at the request of the user system.
[0008]
(2) The map information updating system according to (1), wherein the updating of the map information by the photograph taken from the sky is periodically performed at a predetermined fixed cycle.
[0009]
(3) The map information updating system according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the map information is obtained by performing image analysis such as color temperature analysis on a photograph taken from the sky.
[0010]
(4) The map information updating system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the photograph is taken by an artificial satellite and transmitted by communication means.
[0011]
(5) The map information updating system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the distribution of the updated map information to the user is performed by a communication unit.
[0012]
(6) The map information updating system according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the update of the map information for the user is performed by distributing only a changed portion from the map information of the user.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of a map information updating system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
First, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow from map data creation to distribution in a preferred embodiment of the map information updating system according to the present invention. The map information updating system of the present invention performs image processing on a ground photograph taken periodically from an artificial satellite to extract information on a road portion. The latest map data is created by comparing the information obtained by this image processing with the current map data. Then, the latest map information is promptly distributed to the user by the communication means.
[0015]
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a map information updating system 10 according to the present invention includes an artificial satellite 11, a receiving means (communication means) 13 for receiving information from the artificial satellite, a processing of the received information, and a wireless communication to a user 16. It comprises a map information provider (base station) 14 having a transmitting means (communication means) 15 for transmitting.
[0016]
The artificial satellite 11 has a photographing function for photographing a photograph of a selected area 12 on the ground with high resolution. The receiving unit 13 receives a photograph of the ground 12 transmitted from the artificial satellite 11 by, for example, a microwave. The base station 14 processes the photograph of the ground 12 received from the artificial satellite 11 to extract road information, and creates the latest corrected map information with reference to the current map information. Then, based on the request from the user 16, the corrected map information is transmitted to the user 16 via the transmission unit 15.
[0017]
According to the map information update system 10, the user 16 sends a request to the map information provider (map information update service providing company) 14 every time a user encounters (or discovers) a road different from the map information (road information) used by the user. It is possible to receive provision of corrected map information. The distributed map information is stored in a rewritable recording medium such as a memory or a hard disk drive, which is a recording medium provided by the user 16. At this time, the current map information may be completely rewritten with the distributed corrected map information, but by adding / deleting only the differences from the current map information, a short information amount can be reduced. Updateable on time.
[0018]
Next, FIGS. 2A to 2E show an example of update processing of map data (road map information). In FIG. 2, (A) is a satellite photograph taken by the artificial satellite 11. (B) is a road contour extracted by receiving the satellite photograph of (A) and performing image processing in the base station 14. In this image processing, for example, image analysis based on a color temperature or the like using an infrared photograph or the like can be automatically performed using a computer. (C) is existing map data. (D) is a result of reference comparison of the map data of (B) and (C), and indicates that a portion surrounded by an ellipse is a newly created road. (E) is updated map data, and a newly created road is added to the existing map data shown in (C). The updated map data shown in FIG. 2E is stored in the storage means, and can be distributed at any time via the transmission means 15 in response to a request from the user 16. The above-described map data updating process is performed periodically at the same point, for example, once a month or once every three months.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows another example of the map data updating process. Also in this example, as in the case of FIG. 2, (A) is a satellite photograph taken by the artificial satellite 11, (B) is map data including a road extracted by image processing at the base station 14, (C) is the existing map data, (D) is the result of reference comparison of the (B) and (C) map data, and (E) is the updated map data. In this example, an area enclosed by a broken line in FIG. 3D is newly developed, and indicates that a road has been added. The added road is included in the updated map data shown in FIG.
[0020]
The operation of the above-described map information updating system 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a map information update process, and FIG. 5 shows a delivery process of delivering updated map information to a user.
[0021]
First, in FIG. 4, photograph data is acquired by the artificial satellite 11 (photograph of a selected area 12) (step A1). Next, it is determined whether the receiving means 13 has received the photograph data (step A2). When the photograph data is received (step A2: YES), the photograph data is analyzed, and the current map and the computer of the base station 14 are referred to (step A3). Next, it is determined whether or not the map data has been updated (step A4). If there is an update (step A4: YES), the map data is updated so that it can be delivered to the user (user) at any time (step A5). After step A5 and if NO in steps A2 and A4, the process ends (step A6).
[0022]
Next, a distribution process of the updated map data will be described with reference to FIG. The map data updating process described above with reference to FIG. 4 is performed (step A). At this time, it is assumed that there is a request for updated map data from the user 16 (step B0). It is determined whether or not the map has been updated (step B1). If the map data has been updated (step B1: YES), it is determined whether the map data is more recent than the map data used by the user 16 (step B2). If it is the latest (step B2: YES), the updated map data is distributed to the user 16 (step B3), and the process is terminated (step B5). On the other hand, when there is no update of the map (step B1: NO) and when there is no more recent data than the map data used by the user 16 (step B2: NO), it is unnecessary to update the map data. Is notified to the user 16.
[0023]
The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the map information updating system according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, such an embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention in any way. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in accordance with the particular application without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a photograph of the ground may be taken by an aircraft flying over the sky instead of a satellite. Further, the request and reception of the updated map data can also be performed directly from the base station 14 via the transmitting means 15 wirelessly or via a public line or the Internet.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As understood from the above description, according to the map information updating system of the present invention, the following various remarkable practical effects can be obtained. First, map information updated in a more timely manner than conventional map information provided on a storage medium such as a CD or DVD can be obtained from a map maker. Second, since map information is obtained by performing image processing on information obtained from a satellite photograph or an aerial photograph, accurate map information can be obtained in a short time.
[0025]
Third, since the existing map data and the map data obtained from the satellite or aerial photograph are image-processed by a computer or the like and compared and referenced, update information can be obtained easily and quickly. Fourth, since the latest map data is always prepared in the base station, updated map data can be distributed (provided) at any time in response to a request from the user. Fifth, since the information to be delivered to the user needs only to be updated, the transmission amount and time can be minimized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a preferred embodiment of a map information updating system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a map information update process in the map information update system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the map information updating process in the map information updating system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a map information updating process of the map information updating system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an update information distribution process of the map information update system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a conventional map information creation process.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Map information update system 11 Artificial satellites 13, 15 Communication means 14 Base station (map information provider)
16 users (users of map information)

Claims (6)

In a map information updating system for updating map information used and stored by a user in a storage medium in a car navigation system or the like,
Image processing of ground photos taken from the sky to obtain map information, comparing with existing map information, extracting and updating changed parts, and distributing updated map information at the request of the user Map information update system. 2. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the updating of the map information by the photograph taken from the sky is periodically performed at a predetermined fixed cycle. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the map information is obtained by performing image analysis such as color temperature analysis on a photograph taken from the sky. 4. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the photograph is taken by an artificial satellite and transmitted by a communication unit. 5. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution of the updated map information to the user is performed by a communication unit. The map information updating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the update of the map information for the user is performed by distributing only a changed portion from the map information of the user.

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