JP2005227430A - Navigation system and map data updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system for grasping the condition, while considering the reliability of information notified from a navigation system, and to provide a map data updating method. <P>SOLUTION: An updating information collecting server 34 receives notification of the information of facilities which are not included in map data which the user of each navigation system 1 has discovered. A map data updating system 37 determines priority of the facilities, in consideration of the number of notifications of the information concerning the facilities and the degree of reliability of each user registered to a user management database 35 of the user notifying the information of the facilities in each notified facility, and processes, in accordance with the determined priority so as to be reflected on the map data of a map database 36 by the information concerning each facility notified. The server increases the degree of reliability of the users, registered to the user management database 35 with respect to the users notifying the information concerning the facilities reflecting the information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a technique for processing information collected from each navigation device in order to update map data used by the navigation device.

  As a technique for updating the map data used by the navigation device mounted on the automobile, the travel is performed when the travel locus calculated by each navigation device is not on the road indicated by the map data held by the navigation device. A technique is known that transmits a trajectory to an information center, detects the occurrence and position of a new road based on a travel trajectory collected from each navigation device in the information center, and updates map data (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, as a technique for collecting information by using each navigation device in this way, the user of each navigation device notifies the center of traffic events such as road construction discovered during traveling, and the information notified in the center Based on the above, it is possible to grasp the traffic situation of each road, provide traffic situation information to other users, and give points that can be used to use a predetermined service to the user who has made the notification Is also known (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-54934 A JP 2002-189792 A

  According to each of the conventional techniques, the map data is updated and the traffic situation is grasped on the assumption that the information notified from each navigation device and the user is similarly reliable. However, in reality, there is a difference in the reliability of information notified from each navigation device or user. For example, the reliability of the travel history calculated in the navigation device differs depending on the setting of the navigation device, the current calculation accuracy of the navigation device, and the like. In addition, information notified by a user who easily misunderstands things may be based on misunderstanding, and the reliability is not sufficiently high.

And since the update of map data and the grasp of traffic conditions were performed based on information with low reliability, the update of map data and the grasp of traffic conditions with high reliability cannot be performed. Also, for example, after investigating all the objects indicated by the notified information, whether or not the contents indicated by the notified information is true, whether the object indicated by the notified information is the notification contents, If you update the map data based on the survey results, the reliability will be improved, but if you do this, the probability that survey work on the object indicated by untrue information will increase, The efficiency of the map data update work is significantly degraded.
Therefore, it is appropriate to grasp the new road and the traffic situation based on the information notified from each navigation device or user in consideration of the reliability of the notified information.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system capable of grasping the situation based on the information while considering the reliability of the information notified from the navigation device or the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible to the navigation device via wireless communication. Or a new object information notifying means for notifying the center system as new object information of position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by the user of the navigation device, User management information storage means storing user management information in which the reliability of the user of the navigation device is registered, and the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information notified from each navigation device The reliability registered in the physical information is set as the reliability of the new object information, and the new object information notified from each navigation device corresponds to the object with the priority corresponding to each object representing the position information. And a new object information processing means for processing the information of each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority. Is.

  According to such a navigation system, for example, the new object information is notified in the priority order according to the priority in consideration of the reliability of the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information notified from the navigation device. It becomes possible to process information of each object. Therefore, among the objects notified by the new object information, it is effective or highly reliable to preferentially process objects that are more reliable that the content notified by the new object information is true. It becomes possible to realize the processing of the information of each object provided.

  Note that the processing of the new object information processing means may present information on each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority. In this case, the worker of the center system confirms the existence of the object according to the information of each presented object, and also notifies the new object information indicating the position information of the object confirmed to exist. You may make it increase the reliability registered into the said user management information with respect to this user. In this way, the reliability of each user can be set appropriately in the user management information.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication. New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as new object information position information of an object which is an actual road traffic-related element newly discovered by a navigation device or a user of the navigation device is provided in the center system. The base address acquisition means for acquiring the base address of the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information, and the relevance of the new object information for each new object information notified from each navigation device, Relevance calculation means for calculating so that the location indicated by the position information of the new object information is closer to the base address of each navigation user who is the notification source of the new object information, and notification from each navigation device For each object in which the new object information is represented as position information, the priority is given such that the higher the sum of the relevance calculated for each new object information corresponding to the object, the higher the priority, New object information processing means for processing information of each object to which priority is given according to the given priority is provided. Note that the processing of the new object information processing means may present information on each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority.

  According to such a navigation device, when the base of the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information notified from the navigation device is around the object notified by the new object information, the new object information It is possible to perform processing on the information of each object notified by the notified new object information according to the priority in consideration of the reliability estimated as the relevance. . That is, for example, when an object is a facility, whether or not the facility is a new facility can be accurately grasped by a user having a base in the vicinity. Further, more correct information can be notified as new object information. Therefore, it can be considered that the reliability of the new object information notified from such a user for notifying a new facility is high.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication. New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by a navigation device or a user of the navigation device as new object information, A travel history acquisition unit that acquires a travel history of a vehicle on which the navigation device that is a notification source of the new object information is mounted, and each new object information that is notified from each navigation device, The travel history of the vehicle on which the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information is mounted indicates that the travel around the position represented by the position information of the new object information has traveled in the past or frequently. Relevance calculation means for calculating so as to increase, and for each object in which the new object information notified from each navigation device represents position information, a priority is calculated for each new object information corresponding to the object And a new object information processing means for processing the information of each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority. Note that the processing of the new object information processing means may present information on each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority.

  According to such a navigation device, a vehicle equipped with a navigation device that is a notification source of new object information notified from the navigation device travels around the object notified by the new object information more or less frequently. The new object information is estimated to have high reliability, and the information of each object notified by the notified new object information according to the priority in consideration of the reliability estimated as the relevance is obtained. Processing can be performed. That is, for example, when the object is a facility, whether or not the facility is a new facility can be accurately grasped by a user who is well traveling around the facility. Further, more correct information can be notified as new object information. Therefore, it can be considered that the reliability of the new object information notified from such a user for notifying a new facility is high.

  The present invention also provides a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication, and the navigation device or the navigation device is connected to the navigation device. New object information notifying means for notifying the center system of new object information, which is position information of an object that is a real road traffic related element newly discovered by the user, is provided in the center system. User management information storage means storing user management information in which the frequency of available coupons is registered, and at least a part of each object in which the new object information notified from each navigation device represents position information For the object, the number of added coupons of each user who has notified the new object information indicating the position information of the object is calculated so that the earlier the order of notification of the new object information indicating the object position information is, the larger the number is. Coupon providing means for adding the number of added coupons to the number of coupons registered in the user management information of the user who has calculated the number of added coupons is provided.

According to such a navigation device, the user can be motivated to discover a new object quickly, and as a result, information about the new object can be quickly collected. .
Here, in the above navigation system, the object is a road, and the new object information notifying means of the navigation device can use a map that can be used in the navigation device on the basis of the travel locus of the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted. A road that does not include information in the data may be detected, and position information about the detected road may be notified to the center system as the new object information.

  Further, the above navigation system uses the object as a facility, and the map data usable by the navigation device discovered by the user based on a user operation of the navigation device in the new object information notification means of the navigation device. The center system may be notified of the position information about the facility that does not contain information as the new object information.

  In the navigation system described above, the object is a traffic event, and the new object information notification unit of the navigation device uses the new object information notifying the location information regarding the traffic event discovered by the user based on a user operation of the navigation device. You may make it notify to the said center system as object information. In this case, the processing of the new object information processing means may present the information of each object to which the priority is given to the user of the navigation device according to the given priority.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a navigation system that can grasp the situation based on the information while considering the reliability of the information notified from the navigation device or the user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a navigation system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the navigation system includes a navigation device 1 mounted in each automobile, and a center system 3 disposed on a WAN 2 accessible by the navigation device 1 via a wireless communication network such as a mobile telephone network. .
The center system 3 is provided with an additional service providing server 31, a traffic information collecting and providing server 32, a map data providing server 33, an update information collecting server 34, a user management database 35, a map database 36, and a map data updating system 37. . However, the center system 3 is a general-purpose computer including a CPU, a main memory, an external storage device, a display device, an input device, a communication device, and the like in terms of hardware. Supplied as

Next, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the navigation device 1 mounted on each vehicle.
As shown in the figure, the navigation device 1 includes a control device 10, a hard disk drive 12 storing map data, a GPS receiver 13, a running state sensor 14 for detecting the running state of the vehicle such as an angular acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed sensor, A wireless communication device 17 such as a remote controller 15 (remote controller) for receiving input, a display device 16 and a mobile phone for connecting to the WAN 2 is provided.

  The control device 10 also includes an HDD interface 101 that processes input / output of data with the hard disk drive 12, a current state calculation unit 102, a map matching processing unit 103, a route search unit 104, a navigation image generation unit 105, and a memory 106. A main control unit 107, a GUI control unit 108 that controls a graphic user interface provided to the user, and a communication device interface 109 that processes input / output to / from the wireless communication device 17. Here, a thin line connected to the GUI control unit 108 indicates a route of operation information and image information input / output with the user using the remote controller 15 or the display device 16.

  However, the above control device 10 may be a CPU circuit having a general configuration including peripheral devices such as a microprocessor, a memory, and other graphic processors and geometric processors in terms of hardware. In this case, each unit of the control device 10 described above may be realized as a process embodied by a microprocessor executing a program prepared in advance. In this case, such a program may be provided to the control device 10 via a recording medium or an appropriate communication path.

Next, FIG. 3 a shows the contents of the map data stored in the map database 36 of the center system 3 and the hard disk drive 12 of the navigation device 1.
As shown in the figure, the map data is a set of area map data provided for each geographical area, and each area map data includes the identification information of the corresponding area, the version of the area map data, and the last update date and time. Area map information describing the location, road network data representing the shape, position and connection of roads in the corresponding area, and POI data representing the type and position of each facility in the corresponding area are stored. .

  Then, the main control unit 107 of the navigation device 1 sends the map data providing server 33 of the center system 3 via the wireless communication device 17 periodically or when a predetermined user operation is performed via the remote controller 15. Access and issue an area map data update request with the area map information of each area map data stored in the hard disk drive 12. As a response to the area map data update request, the area map data transmitted from the map data providing server 33 and stored in the hard disk drive 12 as area map data of the area corresponding to the area map data. Update. On the other hand, when the map data providing server 33 of the center system 3 receives the area map data update request from the navigation device 1, the map data providing server 33 performs the following processing for each area. That is, whether or not the area map information accompanying the area map data update request matches the area map information of the area map data stored in the map database 36 is checked. Since the stored area map data is newer, the area map data is transmitted to the navigation device 1.

Next, FIG. 3 b shows the contents of the user management database 35 of the center system 3.
As shown in the figure, the user management database 35 stores user management records provided for each user of the navigation apparatus 1. In each user management record, a user ID, user authentication information for authenticating the authenticity of the user in the center system 3, and a user address are registered in advance. The user management record also stores user reliability and user coupons.

  And the additional service provision server 31 is an apparatus which provides a service to the user of the navigation apparatus 1 in exchange for a user coupon. That is, for example, when the additional service providing server 31 is a server that provides a music data download service with 10 coupons per song, the additional service providing server 31 manages the user when there is an access from the user. Authentication is performed using the user ID and user authentication information of the record, and when the authentication is successful, the music data requested by the user is transmitted to the request source. Then, the value of the user coupon registered in the user management record is reduced by 10 for each transmitted music piece. The main control unit 107 of the navigation device 1 accesses such an additional service providing server 31 according to a user operation via the remote controller 15 and stores music data from the additional service providing server 31 in the hard disk drive 12. Further, the music data stored in the hard disk drive 12 is also reproduced from a speaker (not shown).

  Now, in such a configuration of the navigation device 1, the current state calculation unit 102 repeats the process of obtaining the current vehicle position estimated from the output of the traveling state sensor 14 and the GPS receiver 13 as the temporary current position. The map matching processing unit 103 also maps the temporary current position calculated by the current state calculation unit 102 and the road network indicated by the road network data of the area map data around the current position previously determined read from the hard disk drive 12. By performing matching processing and the like, the process of calculating the most probable coordinate as the current position as the current position and calculating the most probable direction as the current travel direction as the current travel direction is repeated.

The main control unit 107 receives a destination setting from the user via the remote controller 15 and the GUI control unit 108 in response to a user destination setting request, and sets the destination setting in the memory 106.
Then, the route search unit 104 is searched for a guidance route to the destination. The route search unit 104 reads the required area map data from the hard disk drive 12, and calculates the route from the current position determined by the map matching processing unit 103 to the destination as a guidance route based on the road network data of the area map data. The calculated route data of the guide route is set in the memory 106.

The main control unit 107 repeats the following navigation image generation process.
That is, the main control unit 107 determines a predetermined range around the current position set in the memory 106 as a road map display range. Then, the navigation image generating unit 105 is caused to generate a road map image based on the road network data of the area map data of the area corresponding to the display range in the map data of the hard disk drive 12. In addition, the navigation image generation unit 105 is caused to draw the current position mark facing the direction corresponding to the current traveling direction at the position on the road map image corresponding to the current position. In addition, the navigation image generation unit 105 causes the POI mark representing the type and position of each facility in the area by a graphic corresponding to the type of facility on the road map image. Here, the POI mark is drawn by the navigation image generation unit 105 based on the POI data of the area map data of the area corresponding to the display range in the map data of the hard disk drive 12.

  In addition, when a guidance route is set, the main control unit 107 further displays a guidance route on the destination side from the current position indicated by the guidance route data in the determined display range in the navigation image generation unit 105. The guide route figure to be represented is drawn on the road map image. In addition, when the route is being guided and the destination is included in the display range, the main control unit 107 causes the destination mark indicating the position of the destination to be drawn on the road map image.

The navigation image generation unit 105 generates the navigation image by performing each drawing described above under the control of the main control unit 107 and displays it on the display device 16 via the GUI control unit 108.
FIG. 4a shows an example of the navigation image displayed in this way. As shown in the figure, the navigation image is composed of a current position mark 402, a guidance route on a road map image 401 representing a road network. A figure 403, a POI mark 404, and a destination mark 405 are represented. However, when the guide route data is not set and the route is not being guided, the guide route graphic 403 is not drawn as described above. Further, when the destination is not included in the display range, the destination mark 405 is not displayed.

Hereinafter, the map data update operation in such a navigation system will be described.
First, the main control unit 107 of each navigation device 1 performs processing for storing the history of the current position calculated by the map matching processing unit 103 in the hard disk drive 12 as a travel history.
Further, the main control unit 107 monitors the difference between the temporary current position calculated by the current state calculation unit 102 and the current position calculated by the map matching processing unit 103, and the difference between the temporary current position and the current position is a predetermined value or more. During the large period, and during the period when the map matching processing unit 103 fails to match the temporary current position on the road, the travel locus indicated by each temporary current position calculated by the current state calculating unit 102 is used as the new object notification information. Including the update information transmission server. Here, the new object notification information includes a user ID, object type, object information, related information, and notification date and time. When the main control unit 107 transmits new object notification information including the above-described travel locus, the main control unit 107 sets the user ID of the user of the navigation device 1 as the user ID, and sets the object type of the new object notification information. "Road" is set in the object information, the travel locus indicated by the temporary current position is stored in the object information, the travel history stored in the hard disk drive 12 around the travel miracle included in the object information is stored in the related information, and the notification date The new object notification information storing the current date and time is transmitted to the update information collection server 34.

  Next, when receiving a new object notification request from the user via the remote controller 15, the main control unit 107 first designates the position of the object on the road map image 401 with the cursor 410 as shown in FIG. 4b. Accept. When the designation of the object position is received, the notification object reception window 411 is displayed on the display device 16 via the GUI control unit 108. In the area 412 of the notification object reception window 411, the type of the object that the user wants to notify the update information collection server 34 is received, and the designation of the type of the object to be notified in the area 413 is received.

  Here, in the notification object reception window 411, a POI and an event are received as the object type. When the user discovers a new facility that is not included in the POI data of the area map data of the map data, the user wants to notify the update information collection server 34 of the type and position of the facility. The object type to be specified. When POI is designated as the object type, the object type accepts designation of a type such as a gas station or a store of the facility. In this case, the position received on the road map image 401 with the cursor 410 first is the facility position.

  On the other hand, the event is an object type specified by the user when the user discovers a traffic event such as a traffic accident or road construction and the user wants to notify the traffic information collection and provision server 32 of the type and position of the traffic event. is there. When an event is designated as the object type, the object type accepts designation of a traffic event type such as a traffic accident or road construction. In this case, the position that is first received on the road map image 401 with the cursor 410 is the position on the road where the traffic event occurs.

  As described above, if the object position is received by the cursor 410 and the object type and object type are received by the notification object reception window 411, and the “OK” button of the notification object reception window 411 is operated, The main control unit 107 closes the notification object reception window 411. Then, when the object type that has received the designation is “POI”, new object notification information is transmitted to the update information collection server 34, and when the object type that has received the designation is “event”, the new object The notification information is transmitted to the traffic information collection and provision server 32. Here, in these new object notification information, the main control unit 107 sets the ID of the user of the navigation device 1 as the user ID, sets the object type received in the notification object reception window 411 as the object type, and sets the object In the information, the object type received in the notification object reception window 411 and the position of the object received with the cursor 410 are set, and the travel history around the position of the object received with the cursor 410 stored in the hard disk drive 12 is set as related information. And the current date and time are stored in the notification date and time.

  The update information collection server 34 that has received the new object notification information as described above creates and stores a new object notification information record for each received new object notification information, as shown in FIG. 3C. In the new object notification information record, an entry for registering a handle ID is provided in addition to registering the user ID, object type, object information, related information, notification date and time of the new object notification information.

Next, a survey object list display process performed by the map data update system 37 of the center system 3 will be described.
FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the survey object list display process.
Here, the survey object list display process is a process that the map update system operator causes the map data update system 37 to acquire a list of candidate spots for the field survey. The field survey is a field survey conducted in the field to update the map data to match the current situation.

As shown in the figure, in this process, first, designation of the type of object to be processed is received from the operator (step 502). Here, a road or POI is accepted as designation of the type of object to be processed.
Next, designation of the area to be processed is received from the operator (step 504).
In the new object notification information record stored in the update information collection server 34, the object type of the processing target specified in the object type is stored, and the traveling miracle or facility in the processing target area specified in the object information is stored. The new object notification information record stored as the position of is acquired (step 506).

  Next, the acquired new object notification information record is classified into a set for each object notification information record presumed that the object information represents the same object (step 508). That is, if the object type to be processed is “road”, each new object notification information record that approximates the travel locus stored in the object information is set as a new object notification information record belonging to the same set. Further, if the object type to be processed is “POI”, the facility type indicated by the object type stored in the object information is the same, and the facility position indicated by the object position stored in the object information is approximated. The object notification information record is a new object notification information record belonging to the same set.

Then, for each set classified in this way (steps 510, 520, 524), the following processing is performed.
That is, first, a unique handle ID is assigned to the set (step 512), and the assigned handle ID is registered in each new object notification information record belonging to the set (step 514). Here, if there is a new object notification information record in which a handle ID is already registered among the new object notification information records belonging to the set, in addition to the handle ID of the new object notification information record. The handle ID assigned this time is described.

  The number of new object notification information records belonging to the set is set as the number of notifications (step 516). Further, the relevance level of the new object notification information record is calculated with reference to the related information of each new object notification information record belonging to the set. Then, the relevance calculated for each new object notification information record is added to the reliability registered in the user management record of the user management database 35 in which the user ID of the new object notification information record is registered. The accuracy of the new object notification information record. Then, the sum of the accuracy obtained for each new object notification information record belonging to the set is set as the accuracy of the set (step 518).

  Here, when the object type to be processed is “road”, the degree of relevance indicates that the travel history stored in the related information of the new object notification information record indicates the past of the travel locus indicated by the object information in the past. The degree of relevance is calculated so as to indicate that the vehicle is traveling more or more frequently. In addition, as the address of the user of the user ID of the new object notification information record, when the address in the vicinity of the travel locus indicated by the object information is stored in the user management record of the user management database 35, the relevance is increased. Set.

  Further, when the object type to be processed is “POI”, the travel history stored in the related information of the new object notification information record has a lot in the past around the facility position indicated by the object position of the object information, or The degree of association is calculated so as to indicate that the vehicle is traveling at a high frequency. In addition, as the address of the user with the user ID of the new object notification information record, the relevance is large when the address near the facility position indicated by the object position of the object information is stored in the user management record of the user management database 35. Set as follows.

  When the above processing is completed for each set (step 520), the sets are ordered in descending order of set accuracy, and the set ID, object information, number of notifications, and accuracy are determined in the order of order. A list display in which the new object candidate information is arranged is output to the operator by display or printing (step 522). Here, any object information stored in each new object notification information record belonging to the set is displayed as the object information of each set. However, when the object type to be processed is “road”, the running trajectory is the average value, mode value, or center value of each traveling trajectory indicated by the object information stored in each new object notification information record belonging to the set. A representative value obtained as a value or the like may be used. Further, as the facility position when the object type to be processed is “POI”, the average value, mode value, or center value of each facility position indicated by the object information stored in each new object notification information record belonging to the set A representative value obtained as a value or the like may be used.

The survey object list display process has been described above.
FIG. 6 a shows a list display output by such a survey object list display process when “road” is designated as the object type to be processed. In this list display, the area to be processed is displayed. The travel history that is the object information of each set obtained with respect to is shown as road coordinates in the descending order of accuracy along with the handle ID of the set, the number of notifications, and the accuracy.

  FIG. 6B shows a list display output by such a survey object list display process when “POI” is designated as the object type to be processed. In this list display, The facility position and the facility type, which are object information of each set obtained for each area, are represented as POI coordinates and POI type, together with the handle ID of the set, the number of notifications, and the accuracy, in descending order of accuracy. .

  Now, from such a list, the operator of the map data update system 37 selects a point for the field survey and arranges the field survey. When the field survey is completed and a new road is confirmed, the map data update system 37 is used to check the road network data of the corresponding area map data of the map data in the map database 36. Is updated so that the version of the area information and the date and time of the last update are updated. When the field survey is completed and a new facility is confirmed, the map data update system 37 is used to confirm the POI data of the corresponding area map data of the map data in the map database 36. Update to include and update the version and last update date of the zone information. When a new road or facility can be confirmed based on the information shown in the list, the map data update system 37 is caused to perform a reliability coupon addition process for the confirmed facility or set of roads.

In FIG. 7, the procedure of this reliability coupon addition process which the map data update system 37 performs is shown.
As shown in the figure, in this process, designation of a handle ID to be processed is first accepted (step 702). Here, the operator designates the handle ID of the set corresponding to the new facility or road that has been confirmed.
Next, a new object notification information record including the specified handle ID as a handle ID is acquired (step 704), and a set of user ID and notification date and time registered in the acquired new object notification information record is acquired (step 704). Step 706). The acquired user IDs are ordered from the oldest notification date and time acquired as a set with the user ID. If a plurality of the same user IDs are acquired, the notification date and time acquired as a set together with the user ID is excluded from the following processing targets other than the user ID.

  Next, the addition reliability and the number of added coupons for each acquired user ID are determined (steps 710 and 712). Here, the addition reliability may be a fixed number, for example, 1, or may be set by receiving a number as the addition reliability from the operator. Further, the number of added coupons is determined so as to increase as the order becomes earlier (as the notification date / time becomes older) according to the order ordered by the notification date / time.

Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 6c, a list of the addition reliability determined for each user ID, the number of added coupons, and the notification date and time is displayed in the order ordered by the notification date and time (step 714), and the operator's approval is displayed. Wait (step 716).
If the operator's approval is obtained by the operation of the OK button, the user coupon of the user management record of the user management database 35 having the acquired user ID is increased by the number of added coupons determined for the user ID. . Further, the reliability of the user management record in the user management database 35 having the acquired user ID is increased by the added reliability determined for the user ID (step 718).

Then, the new object notification information record including the specified handle ID as the handle ID is deleted (step 720), and the process is terminated.
The reliability coupon addition process has been described above.
Next, processing performed by the traffic information collection / providing server 32 of the center system 3 will be described.
When receiving the new object notification information, the traffic information collection / providing server 32 creates and stores a new object notification information record shown in FIG. 3C for each received new object notification information, similarly to the update information collection server 34. The new object notification information record registers an entry for registering a handle ID in addition to registering the user ID, object type, object information, related information, and notification date and time of the new object notification information.

In addition, the traffic information collection and provision server 32 performs an event information generation process for each area. Here, the area-specific event information generation processing is periodically performed for each area.
FIG. 8 shows the procedure of the area-specific event information generation process.
As shown in the figure, in this process, first, a new object notification information record whose notification date and time is older than a predetermined period is deleted from the accumulated new object notification information records (step 802). Then, among the accumulated new object notification information records, the new object notification information record in which the coordinates in the processing target area specified in the object information are stored as the object position, that is, the traffic event occurrence position is acquired. (Step 804).

  Next, the acquired new object notification information records are classified into sets for each object notification information record presumed that the object information represents the same object (step 806). That is, each new object notification information record in which the traffic event type indicated by the object type stored in the object information is the same and the traffic event occurrence position indicated by the position of the object stored in the object information is approximated is the same set. New object notification information record belonging to.

Then, for each set classified in this way (steps 808, 818, 826), the following processing is performed.
That is, first, a unique handle ID is assigned to the set (step 810), and the assigned handle ID is registered in each new object notification information record belonging to the set (step 812). Here, if there is a new object notification information record in which a handle ID is already registered, the handle ID assigned this time is described in addition to the handle ID of the new object notification information record.

  The number of new object notification information records belonging to the set is set as the number of notifications (step 814). Further, the relevance level of the new object notification information record is calculated with reference to the related information of each new object notification information record belonging to the set. Then, the relevance calculated for each new object notification information record is added to the reliability registered in the user management record of the user management database 35 in which the user ID of the new object notification information record is registered. The accuracy of the new object notification information record. Then, the sum of the accuracy obtained for each new object notification information record belonging to the set is set as the accuracy of the set (step 816).

  Here, the degree of relevance indicates that the travel history stored in the relevant information of the new object notification information record has traveled around the traffic event occurrence position indicated by the object position of the object information in the past or frequently. The degree of relevance is calculated so as to indicate that it is present. In addition, when an address near the traffic event occurrence position indicated by the object position of the object information is stored in the user management record of the user management database 35 as the user address of the user ID of the new object notification information record, Set to be larger.

  When the above processing is completed for each set, the event information display screen that defines the event information display screen in which the sets are ordered in descending order of the probability of the set and the object information of each set is arranged in the ordered order. Information is generated (step 820). The traffic information collection and provision server 32 generates event information display screen information generated last for the designated area in response to the traffic information transmission request designating the area from each navigation device 1 for each area. Send to. Here, any object information stored in each new object notification information record belonging to the set is used as the object information of each set. However, the object position, that is, the traffic event occurrence position is a representative value obtained as an average value, mode value, or median value of each object position indicated by the object information stored in each new object notification information record belonging to the set. The representative value may be converted to the name of the road corresponding to the coordinate represented by the representative value or the name representing the road section corresponding to the coordinate represented by the representative value. May be. When the name of a road or road section is used as the object position, it is preferable to transmit the coordinates corresponding to the object position as object coordinates to the navigation apparatus 1 together with the event information display screen information.

  Then, only the handle ID of the set having a large accuracy obtained is a predetermined number of reliability and user coupons of the user management record of the user management database 35 having the user ID registered in the new object notification information record registered as the handle ID. The number is increased (steps 822 and 824), and the process is terminated. However, when there are a plurality of new object notification information records in which the same handle ID and the same user ID are registered and the accuracy of the set of handle IDs is large, the user management with the user ID related to the set The addition of the reliability and the user coupon to the user management record in the database 35 is performed only once. In addition, as for the addition of user coupons, only the handle IDs of a set having a high accuracy obtained are such that the older the notification date and time registered in the new object notification information record registered as the handle ID, the larger the number of user coupon additions. You may go to

The area-specific event information generation process performed by the traffic information collection and provision server 32 has been described above.
When the main control unit 107 of each navigation device 1 receives a traffic information requesting operation from the user via the remote controller 15, the main control unit 107 determines the current position via the wireless communication device 17 to the traffic information collection / providing server 32. Issue a traffic information transmission request specifying the area to be included. In response, the event information display screen represented by the event information display screen information sent from the traffic information collection and provision server 32 is displayed on the display device 16 via the GUI control unit 108.

FIG. 4c shows an example of the event information display screen displayed in this way.
In this example, the traffic information collection and provision server 32 uses the name of the road section as the object position of the object information corresponding to each set, and transmits the object coordinates together with the event information display screen information. In this example, the event information display screen is displayed in the event information display window 420. In addition, the event information display screen includes, in descending order of accuracy of the corresponding set, the type of traffic event that is object information corresponding to the set and the object position indicated by the road section name, that is, the occurrence position of the traffic event. Is displayed as an event, location. In addition, a map confirmation button 421 is provided beside the object information corresponding to each set. When the map confirmation button 421 is operated, the main control unit 107 deletes the event information display window 420, and receives the event information display screen information as the object coordinates of the set corresponding to the operated map confirmation button 421. The position indicated by the coordinates is shown marked on the road map image 401.

The event information display window 420 is deleted in response to an operation of a display deletion button 422 provided in the event information display window 420.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The above-described survey object list display process is performed periodically, and in step 522, a list display in which object candidate information including the handle ID, object information, the number of notifications, and the accuracy of each set is arranged. Instead of the process of outputting to the operator by displaying or printing, the area map in the map database 36 of the area indicated by the position information of the object information is the information about the object indicated by the set of object information whose accuracy is greater than a predetermined level. You may make it perform the process which updates the said area map data so that it may be added to the road network data and POI data of data. In this case, the reliability coupon addition process is automatically performed when the area map data is updated by the survey object list display process, and the handle ID received from the operator in step 702 is set. Instead, the processing after step 704 may be performed with the handle ID of the set used in the survey object list display processing for updating the area map data as a processing target. By doing in this way, the automatic update of the map data based on new object notification information, and the automatic addition process of reliability and a coupon are implement | achieved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, priority is given to the reliability of each user of the navigation device 1 that is the notification source of the new object notification information, and the relevance between the user and the road or facility represented by the new object notification information. It is possible to perform reflection work on map data of objects such as new roads and facilities collected by the new object notification information at a priority, that is, a priority that is given priority to those estimated to be more reliable. In addition, it is estimated that the reliability of each user of the navigation device 1 that is the notification source of the new object notification information and the order considering the relevance between the user and the traffic event represented by the new object notification information, that is, the reliability is higher. The traffic event information collected by the new object notification information can be provided to the user in the order in which they are ordered.

  In addition, by giving a larger number of user coupon additions to a user who has notified a new object earlier by new object notification information, the early notification of the new object is motivated. It is possible to collect information on various objects.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the various data which the center system which concerns on embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the investigation object list display process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an output of the center system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the reliability coupon addition process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the event information generation process according to area which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 2 ... WAN, 3 ... Center system, 10 ... Control apparatus, 12 ... Hard disk drive, 13 ... GPS receiver, 14 ... Running condition sensor, 15 ... Remote control, 16 ... Display apparatus, 17 ... Wireless communication apparatus 31 ... Additional service providing server, 32 ... Traffic information collecting / providing server, 33 ... Map data providing server, 34 ... Update information collecting server, 35 ... User management database, 36 ... Map database, 37 ... Map data updating system, 101 ... Map data read processing unit 102 ... Current state calculation unit 103 ... Map matching processing unit 104 ... Route search unit 105 ... Navigation image generation unit 106 ... Memory 107 ... Main control unit 108 ... GUI control unit 109 ... communication device interface.

Claims (8)

A navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication,
The navigation device
New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by the navigation device or a user of the navigation device as new object information,
The center system is
User management information storage means for storing user management information in which the reliability of the user of each navigation device is registered;
The reliability registered in the user management information for the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information notified from each navigation device is set as the reliability of the new object information, and is notified from each navigation device. The priority is assigned to each object for which the new object information represents position information so that the priority becomes higher as the sum of the reliability of the new object information corresponding to the object is larger. A navigation system comprising: new object information processing means for processing information of each object to which priority is given according to priority. A navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication,
The navigation device
New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by the navigation device or a user of the navigation device as new object information,
The center system is
Base address acquisition means for acquiring the base address of the user of the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information,
For each new object information notified from each navigation device, the relevance of the new object information is represented by the location address of each navigation user who is the notification source of the new object information and the position information of the new object information. Relevance calculating means for calculating so as to increase as the distance between
For each object for which the new object information notified from each navigation device represents position information, the priority is higher as the sum of the relevance calculated for each new object information corresponding to the object is larger. And a new object information processing means for processing information of each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority. A navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication,
The navigation device
New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by the navigation device or a user of the navigation device as new object information,
The center system is
A travel history acquisition means for acquiring a travel history of a vehicle on which the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information is mounted;
For each new object information notified from each navigation device, the relevance of the new object information is indicated, and the travel history of the vehicle on which the navigation device that is the notification source of the new object information is mounted is the position information of the new object information. Relevance calculating means for calculating so as to be larger as it represents that the vehicle has traveled more or more frequently around the position represented by;
For each object for which the new object information notified from each navigation device represents position information, the priority becomes higher as the sum of the relevance calculated for each new object information corresponding to the object is larger. And a new object information processing means for processing information of each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority. A navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle, and a center system that the navigation device can access via wireless communication,
The navigation device
New object information notifying means for notifying the center system as position information of an object which is an actual road traffic related element newly discovered by the navigation device or a user of the navigation device as new object information,
The center system is
User management information storage means for storing user management information in which the number of coupons available to each navigation device user is registered;
The number of added coupons of each user who has notified the new object information representing the position information of the object for at least some of the objects in which the new object information notified from the respective navigation devices represents the position information, The coupon registered in the user management information of the user who calculated the number of added coupons is calculated so that the earlier the order of notifying the new object information representing the object position information becomes larger, the calculated number of added coupons A navigation system comprising a coupon giving means for adding to the frequency. The navigation system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,
The object is a road;
The new object information notifying means of the navigation device detects and detects a road whose information is not included in the map data usable in the navigation device, based on the travel locus of the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted. A navigation system that notifies position information about a road to the center system as the new object information. The navigation system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,
The object is a facility;
The new object information notifying means of the navigation device obtains location information about a facility that is discovered by a user based on a user operation of the navigation device and does not include information in map data usable in the navigation device. A navigation system that notifies the center system as new object information. The navigation system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,
The object is a traffic event;
The new object information notifying means of the navigation device notifies the center system of position information about a traffic event discovered by a user as the new object information based on a user operation of the navigation device. Navigation system. A map data updating method for updating map data in a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on each vehicle and a center system accessible by the navigation device via wireless communication,
From the navigation device, new location information of an object which is an actual road traffic-related element newly discovered by the navigation device or a user of the navigation device that is not included in the map data usable in the navigation device Notifying the center system as object information;
In the center system, the user management information registered with the reliability of the user of each navigation device is referred to, and the user management is performed for the user of the navigation device that is notified of the new object information notified from each navigation device. The reliability registered in the information is set as the reliability of the new object information, and the priority for each object in which the new object information notified from each navigation device represents position information corresponds to the object. Giving the priority to be higher as the sum of the reliability of each new object information is larger, and presenting information of each object to which the priority is given according to the given priority;
Checking the presence of the object according to the information of each presented object, and updating the map data to include the information of the object whose existence is confirmed;
In the center system, the map includes a step of increasing a reliability registered in the user management information for a user who is a notification source of new object information indicating position information of an object whose existence is confirmed. Data update method.

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