JP2010164492A - Navigation apparatus and navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus capable of updating map information stored in the navigation apparatus, using map information obtained from a predetermined map data server providing the map information, by way of a communication network. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation apparatus communicating with the predetermined map data server providing the map information, by way of the communication network, includes: a communicating section for receiving first map information to be provided by the map data server; a storage section for storing second map information to be displayed in a display; a difference extracting section for comparing the first map information with the second map information to extract difference data thereof, and an updating section for generating updating map data for updating the second map information from the difference data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a navigation device capable of updating map information stored in a navigation device using map information obtained via a communication network from a predetermined map data server that provides map information, and the navigation device. The present invention relates to a navigation system that cooperates with a predetermined server.

  Conventionally, in order to update the map information stored in the navigation device, the vehicle user provides a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM provided by the manufacturer of the navigation device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “navigation maker”). Update map information is obtained via the storage medium. In recent years, a method has also been proposed in which map information for update is obtained by downloading directly from a server provided at a navigation manufacturer to a navigation device via a communication network such as the Internet.

  However, the map information held by the navigation manufacturer is updated less frequently than the map information held by the telecommunications carrier that provides map information to general users of the Internet. It is updated twice or three times a year. Therefore, even if there is a change in the actual road network, in order to update the map information stored in the navigation device, it is necessary to wait for the navigation manufacturer to update the map information. It is very inconvenient and confusing for the vehicle user that the actual road network and the map information displayed on the display of the navigation device are different.

  The objective of this invention provides the navigation apparatus which can update the map information memorize | stored in the navigation apparatus using the map information acquired via the communication network from the predetermined map data server which provides map information. That is.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system that includes the navigation device and a server that provides update map information to the navigation device, and updates the update map information in the server in cooperation with the navigation device. It is to provide a navigation system that can be performed.

The present invention (1) communicates via a communication network with a predetermined map data server that provides map information, and receives a first map information provided by the map data server;
A storage unit for storing second map information used for display on the display;
A difference extraction unit for comparing the first map information and the second map information and extracting the difference data;
The navigation apparatus includes an update processing unit that generates update map data for updating the second map information based on the difference data.

The present invention (5) is a navigation system including the navigation device and a server that provides the map information for update to the navigation device,
The communication unit in the navigation device has a function of transmitting update map data to the server,
The server
A communication unit for receiving update map data;
It is a navigation system characterized by including the memory | storage part which memorize | stores the frequency | count of receiving about the same update map data.

  According to the present invention (1), the navigation device communicates via a communication network with a predetermined map data server that provides map information to general users of the Internet, and is obtained from the predetermined map data server. The difference data can be extracted by comparing the one map information with the second map information stored in the storage unit. Then, update map data for updating the second map information can be generated based on the extracted difference data. In this way, the first map information that is frequently updated without waiting for the update of the update map information in the map data server of the navigation manufacturer that provides the update map information to the navigation device. Map data for updating can be generated based on this, so it is possible to quickly reflect changes in road conditions in map information for navigation, which is convenient for vehicle users and prevents confusion during driving. can do.

  According to the invention (5), the navigation system receives the update map data and the navigation device configured to be able to transmit the update map data, and manages the number of times the same update map data is received. Therefore, the navigation maker can efficiently create update map information corresponding to a change in road conditions. In addition, since the map information for update can be acquired promptly in response to a change in road conditions, the navigation device user can improve convenience and prevent confusion during driving. be able to.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the map information update process by the navigation apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the vehicle on which the navigation device 1 is mounted is referred to as “own vehicle”. The “vehicle user” refers to the driver of the vehicle and its passengers.

  The navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a host vehicle position detection unit 11 that detects the current position of the host vehicle, a storage unit 12 that can write data and stores predetermined data and programs, and an image display. A display unit 13 for displaying various types of information to the vehicle user, an operation unit 14 for receiving an input operation by the vehicle user, and an audio output unit 15 for outputting audio such as voice guidance related to route guidance. A communication unit 16 that communicates with an external server via a communication network such as the Internet, and a processing unit 17 that performs various arithmetic processes. Although not shown, the processing unit 17 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor that detects the traveling speed of the host vehicle.

Hereinafter, each component which comprises the navigation apparatus 1 is demonstrated.
The own vehicle position detection unit 11 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) 21 and an orientation sensor 22 and can detect the current position and orientation of the own vehicle. Specifically, the GPS 21 detects the current position of the vehicle on the earth by receiving radio waves from an artificial satellite. In addition, the direction sensor 22 includes a geomagnetic sensor, a gyro sensor, or an optical rotation sensor attached to the rotating portion of the steering wheel, and detects the direction of the host vehicle.

  The storage unit 12 stores a control program, a navigation map database (hereinafter referred to as “navigation map DB”), and the like. The navigation map DB stores navigation map information including road data, facility data, and the like, and the processing unit 17 calculates the navigation map information and displays it on the display of the display unit 13 described later. The navigation map information is stored for each of a plurality of different scales, and for each of a plurality of rectangular areas (for example, 1.0 km square) obtained by dividing a predetermined geographical range (for example, the whole of Japan) with respect to one scale. Stored in

  The map information for navigation in each rectangular area (hereinafter referred to as “mesh data”) includes a unique identifier corresponding to the mesh data for identification from other mesh data, and the geographical coordinates indicated by the mesh data. Stored are mesh coordinates to be represented, update information indicating the date and time when the mesh data was generated, and map data representing roads and facilities in a rectangular area corresponding to the mesh data.

  The mesh coordinates are data representing latitude and longitude, and latitude and longitude information is added to each road data and each facility data in the map data. Each facility data is added with information indicating a landmark name.

  The storage unit 12 includes a rewritable storage device such as a semiconductor memory and / or a hard disk device, and may further include a reading device as an external storage device. The reader is configured to be able to insert a computer-readable storage medium. When using the storage medium storing the navigation map DB and the control program, the processing unit 17 reads the data and the program stored in the storage medium by inserting the storage medium into the reader. it can. Such a storage medium may be, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

  The display unit 13 includes a display for displaying an image and a drive circuit for displaying the image. In the present embodiment, the display unit 13 is provided with a liquid crystal panel and a backlight, but an organic EL display panel, a plasma display panel, a cold cathode flat panel display, or the like may be provided.

  The operation unit 14 is configured so that various instructions from the vehicle user can be given to the navigation device 1 from the outside. Mechanical operation buttons provided around the display of the display unit 13, a display of the display unit 13, It is composed of an integrally configured touch panel, a remote control transmission / reception unit, and the like. The touch panel is provided on the surface portion of the display, and can detect a touch position on the display surface by the vehicle user. The remote control transmission / reception unit can detect a signal transmitted from the remote control by the operation of the remote control button by the vehicle user.

  The audio output unit 15 includes a speaker and a circuit that performs signal processing such as volume adjustment, and outputs a signal-processed audio signal from the speaker. For example, voice guidance regarding route guidance is output.

The communication unit 16 can communicate with an external mobile terminal 2 such as a mobile phone and a DCM (Date Communication Module), and is connected to a communication network such as the Internet via the mobile terminal 2 to Can communicate with the server. Therefore, the communication part 16 can communicate with the map data server which provides map information so that it may mention later, and can receive the map information provided by the map data server. The communication unit 16 may be, for example, an infrared communication device or a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication device, and the communication between the communication unit 16 and the portable terminal 2 is a wireless transmission system of infrared and 2.4 GHz band. Bluetooth or the like may be used. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 16 is configured to connect to a communication network via the mobile terminal 2, but WiMAX (
In accordance with communication standards such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), it may be configured to connect directly to a communication network.

  The processing unit 17 is an arithmetic device that performs overall control of the navigation device 1 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control device, and is used as a working memory when the CPU performs various arithmetic processes, and a route is searched for. RAM (Random Access Memory) in which route data is stored, a control program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a map information update processing program for updating navigation map information is stored, read out from the ROM An internal storage device such as a flash memory for storing the program is provided. A semiconductor memory, a magnetic core, or the like is used as the RAM, ROM, and flash memory. Further, as the arithmetic device and the control device, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or the like may be used instead of the CPU.

  Next, in the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, a map executed to update the navigation map information stored in the storage unit 12 of the navigation device 1 based on the map information provided by a predetermined map data server. The information update process will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of map information update processing by the navigation device 1.

In step s10, the map information update process is started.
In step s11, the CPU of the navigation device 1 communicates between the navigation device 1 and a predetermined map data server when the vehicle user inputs an instruction to update navigation map information via the operation unit 14. In order to enable this, a connection with the map data server is established via the communication unit 16, the portable terminal 2, and the communication network.

  Here, the map data server includes a map data server (hereinafter referred to as “general”) provided to a telecommunications carrier that provides map information (hereinafter referred to as “web map information”) to general users of the Internet. Map information server ”and map information for updating navigation map information stored in the storage unit 12 of the navigation device 1 for the user of the navigation device 1 (hereinafter referred to as“ update map information ”). A map data server (hereinafter referred to as a “dedicated map data server”) provided in the manufacturer of the navigation device 1 that provides the above. The map data server in the present invention corresponds to the general map data server.

  The web map information corresponds to the first map information in the present invention, and the navigation map information corresponds to the second map information in the present invention.

  When the connection with the general map data server is established, the web page image related to the map information providing service provided by the communication carrier having the general map data server is displayed on the display of the display unit 13. . A vehicle user uses a search expression input field provided in the web page via the operation unit 14 to display web map information including an area in which navigation map information is desired to be updated on the display. In addition, the latitude and longitude of an arbitrary point in the area or around the area, or the name of a landmark existing in or around the area is input. As a landmark, in addition to facilities such as a station, a school, a police station, a city hall, a convenience store, etc., if there is an intersection with a name, the name of the intersection may be used.

  When a search based on this input is executed, web map information including the area is displayed on the display with the latitude and longitude or the landmark being input as the center. At this time, if the web map information displayed on the display can be displayed with a further reduced scale, the vehicle user displays the web map information at the smallest displayable scale. Note that the minimum scale that can be displayed differs depending on the communication carrier that provides the web map information. When the web map information is displayed on the display at the minimum scale that can be displayed, the process proceeds to step s12.

  In step s12, when an instruction for executing the image recognition process is input by the vehicle user, the CPU outlines roads, buildings, and the like with respect to the minimum scale web map information displayed on the display. Image recognition processing for extraction is executed. The image recognition process is performed by a commonly used method. For example, the outline may be extracted by converting the web map information displayed on the display to black and white using a high-pass filter. The extracted image information is referred to as “contour extraction information”.

  In step s12, the CPU calculates the scale of the web map information based on the characters described in the web map information displayed on the display using a character recognition technique. The calculated scale is referred to as “web map scale”.

  In the present embodiment, the web map scale is configured to be automatically acquired by the character recognition technology, but may be configured to be input by the vehicle user via the operation unit. When the contour extraction information and the web map scale are acquired, the process proceeds to step s13.

  In step s13, the CPU determines whether it is necessary to execute processing for enlarging or reducing the contour extraction information based on the web map scale. Here, the navigation device 1 displays the navigation map information stored in the storage unit 12 on a display at a plurality of preset scales (hereinafter referred to as “navigation map scale”). It is configured to be able to. If the web map scale matches one of the navigation map scales, it is determined that it is not necessary to execute the enlargement / reduction process on the contour extraction information, and the process proceeds to step s15. On the other hand, if the web map scale does not match any of the navigation map scales, it is determined that the enlargement / reduction process needs to be executed on the contour extraction information, and the process proceeds to step s14.

  In step s14, the CPU executes a calculation to calculate a magnification in order to match the web map scale which is the scale of the contour extraction information with any of the navigation map scales, and expands the contour extraction information based on the magnification. Alternatively, the process of reducing is executed. When the enlargement / reduction process is executed, the process proceeds to step s15. In the present embodiment, the contour extraction information is configured to be enlarged or reduced, but the navigation map information may be enlarged or reduced.

  In step s15, when an instruction for executing the difference extraction processing by the difference extraction unit is input by the vehicle user, the CPU indicates the contour extraction information that matches the navigation map scale and the contour extraction information. The navigation map information indicating a region that matches the region is collated, and a process of extracting a difference from the contour extraction information is executed. At this time, the contour extraction information and the navigation map information are collated based on the latitude and longitude input by the vehicle user in step s11 or the landmark name. When the difference extraction process is executed, the process proceeds to step s16.

  In step s16, it is determined whether or not there is data indicating a difference (hereinafter referred to as “difference data”). That is, if it is determined that there is difference data, the process proceeds to step s17. If it is determined that there is no difference data, the process proceeds to step s20 to end the map information update process.

  In step s17, the CPU displays the extracted difference data on the display of the display unit. The display of the difference data on the display may be performed by, for example, displaying the portion representing the difference in the contour extraction data by changing the display color from the other portions. When the difference data is displayed on the display, the process proceeds to step s18.

  In step s18, the CPU displays a selection screen on the display in order to make the vehicle user select whether to update the navigation map information based on the difference data. When it is determined that the difference data matches the road condition at that time, the vehicle user can select to update the navigation map information. Conversely, when it is determined that they do not match, it is possible to select not to update the navigation map information. When an instruction to update is input via the operation unit, the process proceeds to step s19. When an instruction not to update is input, the process proceeds to step s20.

  In step s19, the CPU executes a process of generating update map data for updating the navigation map information based on the difference data. The update map data generation process is performed in the update processing unit. The generated map data for update is stored in the navigation map DB of the storage unit. The update map data and the navigation map information are read from the navigation map DB of the storage unit, and the update map data is superimposed on the navigation map information and displayed on the display to reflect the road conditions at that time. A map will be displayed. When the update map data is generated, the process proceeds to step s20.

  In step s20, the map information update process is terminated. The difference extraction unit and the update processing unit are realized by executing a map information update process by the CPU.

  As described above, the navigation device 1 communicates with the general map data server via the Internet, and obtains the web map information acquired from the general map data server and the navigation map information stored in the storage unit 12. By comparing, the difference data can be extracted. Based on the extracted difference data, update map data for updating the navigation map information can be generated. In this way, the update map data can be generated based on the frequently updated web map information without waiting for the update of the update map information in the dedicated map data server. It is possible to quickly reflect the information in the navigation map information, improving convenience for the vehicle user and preventing confusion during driving.

  The navigation device 1 is configured to collate the web map information with the navigation map information based on the latitude and longitude, or the landmark name, and extract the difference data. It is possible to efficiently collate with the map information.

  Further, the navigation device 1 is configured to collate the web map information with the navigation map information based on the web map information corresponding to the minimum scale within a predetermined range, and extract the difference data. The change in road conditions can be accurately reflected in the navigation map information.

  Next, a navigation system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The navigation system includes the navigation device 1a and the dedicated map data server described above.

  Since the navigation device 1a has substantially the same configuration as that of the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the same reference numerals are given to the overlapping configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. The communication unit 16a in the navigation device 1a further has a function of transmitting the update map data generated in the navigation device 1a to the dedicated map data server.

  As described above, the dedicated map data server is a server that provides the navigation device 1a with update map information for updating the navigation map information stored in the storage unit 12 of the navigation device 1a. For example, only mesh data corresponding to a rectangular area that needs to be updated is configured to be transmitted to the navigation device 1a.

  The dedicated map data server in the present embodiment includes a communication unit that receives the update map data transmitted from the navigation device 1a, and a storage unit that stores the number of times the same update map data is received. The same update map data is update map data corresponding to the same region. By managing the number of times this same update map data is received, a navigation manufacturer having a dedicated map data server It can be recognized that the user of the navigation device 1a desires to update the update map data. The dedicated map data server may be configured to include an output unit that outputs a display on the display screen or outputs a sound when a predetermined number of receptions is exceeded, thereby promptly responding to the update of the update map information. be able to.

  As described above, the navigation system of the present embodiment receives the update map data and the navigation device 1a configured to be able to transmit the update map data, and manages the number of times the same update map data is received. Thus, the navigation maker can efficiently create update map information corresponding to a change in road conditions. In addition, since it becomes possible for the user of the navigation device 1a to quickly obtain the update map information in response to a change in road conditions, convenience is improved and confusion during driving is prevented. can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Portable terminal 11 Own vehicle position detection part 12 Memory | storage part 13 Display part 14 Operation part 15 Audio | voice output part 16 Communication part 17 Processing part 21 GPS
22 Direction sensor

Claims (5)

A communication unit that communicates with a map data server that provides map information via a communication network, and that receives first map information provided by the map data server;
A storage unit for storing second map information used for display on the display;
A difference extraction unit for comparing the first map information and the second map information and extracting the difference data;
The navigation apparatus characterized by including the update process part which produces | generates the map data for an update for updating 2nd map information based on difference data. The storage unit stores a plurality of second map information having different scales,
The difference extraction unit performs an enlargement or reduction process on the first map information or the second map information when the scale of the first map information does not match the scale of any second map information. Item 4. The navigation device according to Item 1.   3. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the difference extraction unit collates the first map information and the second map information based on latitude and longitude, or a landmark, and extracts difference data. 4. apparatus.   The difference extraction unit is configured to collate the first map information with the second map information based on the first map information corresponding to a minimum scale within a predetermined range, and extract difference data. Item 3. The navigation device according to Item 1 or 2. A navigation system including the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a server that provides update map information to the navigation device,
The communication unit in the navigation device has a function of transmitting update map data to the server,
The server
A server-side communication unit that receives the update map data;
The navigation system characterized by including the server side memory | storage part which memorize | stores the frequency | count of receiving about the same update map data.

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