JP2013210547A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of quickly updating road data.SOLUTION: Road map data which represents road networks in a recording region hierarchically in accordance with road ranks is stored as initial map data in a navigation device. The initial map data includes area data representing road networks of specific road ranks with respect to each road rank and each area. Differential road data for updating the initial map data includes differential area data in respective road ranks and respective areas, for updating area data in respective road ranks and respective areas included in the initial map data. The differential map data is provided to the navigation device by broadcasting or the like. Each time a readout request is received, the navigation device combines area data and differential area data in the same rank and the same area to generate updated map data of an area data unit, where information of a new road network is reflected on the initial map data, per road rank (S150) and provides the updated map data to a readout request source (S160).

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system.

  Conventionally, as an electronic device that executes processing using map data, a car navigation device that displays a road map for a user, searches for a route to a destination, or guides a route to a destination, Electronic devices such as smartphones are known. Further, as this type of electronic device, one that updates map data stored in its own device based on data received from a distribution center is known.

  In addition, as map data, map data having a hierarchical structure having data of a plurality of layers is known, and the lowest layer data includes highways, national roads, main local roads, prefectural roads, narrow streets, and the like. It has detailed road network information, and upper layer data is known to have information on only the main road network (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-315051 A

  By the way, according to the map data having the hierarchical structure as described above and having the information on the road network such as the expressway and the national road overlapping with the data of a plurality of layers, the map data is newly provided. The process when updating the map data is complicated. That is, when a change occurs in the type of road described in multiple layers, the data of each layer must be corrected.

  In other words, when providing the difference map data for updating the map data from the distribution center to the user-owned electronic device, the difference map for the lowest layer data having detailed road network information in order to reduce the traffic. It is conceivable that only the data is transmitted from the distribution center to the electronic device. In this case, the change in the road network is identified from the difference map data for the lowest layer data, and this is used to update the upper layer data. This information may need to be converted into the above information, and this may adversely affect the processing load and processing time related to the update.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of updating map data at a higher speed than in the past.

  The information processing system of the present invention made to achieve the above object comprises storage means (13) for storing road map data, acquisition means (19), and generation means (15A, S110 to S170). . The storage means stores road map data obtained by hierarchically expressing a road network in a specific area by a road case. This road map data includes layer data representing a road network of a specific road case in a specific area for each road case.

  On the other hand, an acquisition means acquires the difference layer data for every road case from an external storage device (100). Each difference layer data is configured as data representing a new road network of the road case by a difference from the road network represented by the corresponding road case layer data.

  Then, the generating unit combines the layer data of the corresponding road case stored in the storage unit with the difference layer data of the same road case acquired by the acquiring unit for each road case, thereby updating the update map for each road case. Generate data. The updated map data for each road case is equivalent to the corresponding layer data reflecting the information on the new road network of the corresponding road case.

  According to this invention, the road map data stored in the storage means is constituted by a group of data (layer data) for each road case. That is, in the conventional road map data, a road network of a road type such as an expressway is described in multiple layers, but according to the road map data of the present invention, such Duplicate description of the road network is suppressed.

  Moreover, data for each road case (difference layer data) is provided from the external storage device as the difference map data. Therefore, in the generation means of the present invention, it is applicable to the extent that the data (layer data) stored in the storage means and the data (difference layer data) acquired from the external storage device are combined for each layer (for each road case). The road map data (layer data) of the layer (road case) to be updated can be updated, and new road map data (updated map data) can be generated.

  That is, according to the present invention, when the road map data is updated, the difference information written in the data acquired from the external storage device such as a server device is interpreted as before, and the difference information is converted into information corresponding to each layer. Even without conversion, independent data updating can be performed for each layer. Further, according to the present invention, since redundant description of the road network is suppressed, it is not necessary to repeat the same update process for a plurality of layers as in the prior art.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to update layer data for each road case at high speed and generate updated map data. As a result, services such as map display using the updated map data can be provided to the user at high speed. Can be provided. In other words, according to the present invention, the user does not have to wait for a long time to update the map.

  By the way, according to the present invention, taking advantage of the fact that the road map data can be updated at high speed, the generating means can be configured as follows. That is, each time a read request for road map data is issued, the generation unit combines the layer data and the difference layer data to generate update map data for each road case, and the generated update map data for each road case Can be provided to the read request source. In addition, the generation unit may be configured to provide integrated map data obtained by integrating updated map data for each road case to the read request source.

  If the generation means is configured to combine the layer data and the difference layer data to generate updated map data each time a read request is issued, for example, according to the type of the read request, the layer data and It is determined whether or not it is necessary to combine with the difference layer data, and only when necessary, the updated map data for each road case can be generated by combining the layer data and the difference layer data. In other words, if not necessary, the layer data and the difference layer data are not combined, and the layer data for each road case stored by the storage means or the layer data for each road case is integrated. The integrated map data can be provided to the read request source.

  Therefore, according to this generation means, for example, in the environment where the difference layer data is provided for a fee, it is updated in response to the read request on the condition that the read request source has the authority to use the difference layer data. For example, map data can be generated and provided to a read request source.

  The difference layer data can be composed of difference data for each version. The difference data of the initial version represents a new road network by the difference from the layer data, and the difference data of each version other than the initial version is A new road network can be represented by the difference from the version.

  When the difference layer data has such a data structure, the generation unit determines a range of versions to be combined with the layer data according to the type of the read request, and configures the layer data and the difference layer data. It can be set as the structure which couple | bonds with the difference data of each version which belongs to the determined range among the difference data groups, and produces | generates the update map data for every road case. According to such a configuration of the generation unit, for example, whether or not the difference data is used can be switched according to the presence or absence of the use authority of the difference data at the read request source. Therefore, this configuration is useful, for example, when the difference data of each version is sold separately for a fee.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a navigation device 10. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a control unit 15. FIG. It is a figure showing the structure of the initial map data which the memory | storage unit 13 memorize | stores. It is a figure showing the relationship of the division of each layer. It is a figure showing the relationship of the area data of each layer. It is a figure showing the detailed structure of area data. It is a figure showing the relationship of a link / segment / route. It is a figure showing the structure of difference map data. It is a flowchart showing the map provision process which 15A of arithmetic units perform. It is a figure explaining the production | generation aspect of update map area data. It is a figure explaining the production | generation aspect of integrated map data. It is the figure which described an example of the road network expressed by integrated map data.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The navigation device 10 of this embodiment is an in-vehicle navigation device that executes processing using road map data (hereinafter simply referred to as “map data”). As shown in FIG. A storage unit 13, a control unit 15, an input unit 17, a display unit 18, and a receiving unit 19.

  The position detection unit 11 detects the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 10 is mounted, and has a configuration including a known gyroscope, a distance sensor, a GPS receiver, and the like, for example.

  On the other hand, the storage unit 13 is constituted by a hard disk device, a flash memory, or the like, and stores a program group used by the control unit 15 and various data. Specifically, the storage unit 13 stores, as map data, initial map data installed at the beginning of shipment of the navigation device 10 and also stores difference map data. The initial map data represents the road network of the map recording area (for example, all over Japan) at the beginning of shipment, and the difference map data is based on the road network indicated by the initial map data, and the new road is based on the difference from this road network. This is map data representing a net. This difference map data is composed of a group of difference data for each version, the difference data of the initial version represents a new road network by the difference from the initial map data, and the difference data of each version other than the initial version is the previous version The new road network is represented by the difference from

Difference data up to the latest version included in the broadcast signal received by the receiving unit 19 from the broadcasting station 100 is stored in the storage unit 13, so that difference map data including a group of difference data from the initial version to the latest version is stored. Is memorized. The broadcast station 100 stores the difference map data, and the broadcast station 100 sequentially distributes the difference data of each version constituting the difference map data to the navigation device 10 by a broadcast signal. The

  Further, the control unit 15 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes an arithmetic unit 15A and a RAM 15B as a work memory, as shown in FIG. The arithmetic unit 15A executes various processes based on the program stored in the storage unit 13.

  For example, the arithmetic unit 15A displays the road map around the current position detected by the position detection unit 11 or the area specified by the user through the input unit 17 according to the program at the scale specified by the user at the scale specified by the user. Map display processing displayed on the screen, route search processing for searching for a route to the destination designated by the user, route guidance to the destination according to the current position, image display and voice output through the display unit 18 The route guidance process realized by the above is executed.

  In addition, the arithmetic unit 15A reads the data of the section designated by the read request from the initial map data and the difference map data in response to the read request from the map display process, the route search process, the route guidance process, and the like. Using the read data, a map providing process (details will be described later) for providing map data for this section to the read request source is executed.

  The input unit 17 includes a touch panel provided on the screen of the display unit 18 and various key switches provided in the vicinity thereof, and functions as a user interface for receiving a user's operation on the navigation device 10. On the other hand, the display unit 18 includes a liquid crystal display, a speaker, and the like, displays various images on the screen, and outputs sound together. In addition, the receiving unit 19 is configured to be able to receive the broadcast signal from the broadcast station 100 that distributes the difference map data by a digital broadcast signal.

Then, the structure of the initial map data and difference map data which the memory | storage unit 13 memorize | stores is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 3, the initial map data has map data for each section obtained by dividing the map recording area into a plurality of sections. Hereinafter, this section is expressed as “main section”, and map data for each main section included in the initial map data is referred to as main section data. A group of these main section data is configured as a data group in which corresponding main section data is arranged in an order according to the geographical arrangement of the sections. In FIG. 3, the K-th main section data in the arrangement order is expressed as K-th main section data.

  The main section data is configured as map data obtained by hierarchically expressing the road network in the corresponding main section using a road case. Specifically, the main division data includes the third layer data representing the road network with the higher road rank in the corresponding main division, the second layer data representing the road network with the middle road rank, and the lower rank of the road case. It consists of the first layer data representing the road network. Examples of road types include highways, national roads, prefectural roads, ordinary roads, and narrow streets. Road types are classified into these types of roads for long-distance travel, medium-distance travel, and short-distance travel. Can be classified into any of the three categories. For example, highways and national roads can be defined as high-order roads, prefectural roads as medium-level roads, general roads and narrow streets as low-grade roads. However, it is arbitrary by the designer which kind of road is classified as upper, middle or lower.

The main partition data is configured as a data group in which third layer data, second layer data, and first layer data are arranged in order from the top.
In addition, the second layer data is composed of area data for each section (hereinafter referred to as “medium section”) obtained by dividing the corresponding main section into a plurality of parts. The area data for each middle section is configured as map data representing the road network of the middle road grade in the corresponding middle section. Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the main section is divided into four parts by dividing the main section into four parts in the vertical and horizontal directions to determine the middle part. The main section corresponds to the section surrounded by the thick line in FIG. 4, and the middle section corresponds to each square of the second layer in FIG. Therefore, the second layer data is composed of 16 area data. A group of these area data (second layer data) is configured as a data group in which the area data of the corresponding middle sections are arranged in the order according to the geographical arrangement of the middle sections. In FIG. 3, the area data of the Kth middle section in the arrangement order is expressed as Kth middle section data.

  The first layer data is composed of area data for each partition (hereinafter referred to as “small partition”) obtained by dividing the corresponding main partition into a plurality of partition sizes smaller than the second layer data. The area data for each subdivision is configured as map data representing the road network of the lower road grade in the corresponding subdivision. Specifically, in this embodiment, the main section is divided into 256 parts by dividing the main part into 16 parts vertically and horizontally, thereby defining the small parts. The small sections correspond to the cells in the first layer in FIG. For this reason, the first layer data is composed of 256 area data. A group of these area data (first layer data) is configured as a data group in which area data of corresponding subsections are arranged in an order according to the geographical arrangement of the subsections. In FIG. 3, the area data of the K-th small section in the arrangement order is expressed as the K-th small section data. Corresponding to the expression “area data” in the first layer and the second layer, hereinafter, the third layer data is also expressed as “area data” in the third layer.

  That is, the layer data (third layer data, second layer data, and first layer data) for each road case in this embodiment is an area for each section that is smaller as the layer data is lower in the road case as shown in FIG. The main partition data has a configuration in which a group of area data having different partition sizes for each road case is arranged in the order corresponding to the arrangement order of the sections in descending order of the road case.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the area data will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the configuration of the area data adopted here is the same as that described in the prior application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-026064, etc.) of the same applicant, and therefore the configuration will be briefly described here.

  The area data represents the connection relationship of the roads constituting the road network of the corresponding road class of the corresponding section by link connection, and has a link record for each link as shown in FIG. The link record includes detailed information about the link indicating the link length, connection relationship with other links, and the like, and reference information to the coordinate record. A group of coordinate records represents the coordinates of a node (a connection point with another link) or a point in the link for each link indicated by the group of link records. That is, each of the coordinate records is configured as a record representing the coordinates of one of these points and the type of the point (node or coordinate holding point). The reference information to the coordinate record that the link record has is configured as information for referring to a coordinate record group representing the coordinates of the link and the end point corresponding to the link record.

  In addition, the area data includes a segment record for each segment having a link string as a unit at least at a crossing with a link having a road case other than the lower rank for a link having a road case other than the lower rank. Therefore, the segment record is provided for the area data of the third layer and the second layer, and is not provided for the area data of the first layer whose road case is lower. This segment record has reference information to the link record corresponding to each link constituting the corresponding segment.

The segment (see FIG. 7) replaces the link of the main road expressed in a layer higher than the lowest layer in the conventional map data. Conventional map data can be handled efficiently in response to changes in the scale of the map to be displayed, such as layer data representing a detailed road network and layer data representing a main road network with a road case thinned out. It was configured with map data. On the other hand, in this embodiment, layer data for each road case is provided without adopting a conventional map data configuration in which main road information is duplicated in a plurality of layers. For this reason, the concept of segment is used to express the link of the upper-level main roads in the conventional map data in a format that refers to the link record.

  The area data has a route record (see FIG. 6) for each link row belonging to the same route. The “route” referred to here is a concept larger than the segment, and is defined by, for example, a link string of the same road name and the same road number connected to one line in the corresponding section. Each route record includes route attribute information including information indicating whether the corresponding route is a toll road or a non-toll road, reference information to a segment record or link record, and reference information to a coordinate record. Reference information to the segment record or link record included in the route record refers to the segment record corresponding to each segment constituting this route when the link string constituting the corresponding route has the concept of segment. In the case where the link sequence constituting this route does not have the concept of segment, it is constituted as information for referring to the link record corresponding to each link constituting this route. Further, the reference information to the coordinate record included in the route record is configured as information for referring to a coordinate record group representing the coordinates of the inside of the route and the end point corresponding to the route record.

  In this embodiment, by adopting such a configuration of area data, it is possible to reduce the scale without adopting a map data structure in which main road information overlaps in multiple layers as in conventional map data. It is possible to refer to the information related to the connection relationship of the links (segments) by thinning out the information.

  On the other hand, the difference data for each version constituting the difference map data is also configured to have the same data structure as the initial map data. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, each difference data is composed of a data group for each main section. Below, the data for every main division which difference data has are expressed as main division difference data. A group of these main section difference data is arranged in the difference data in the same order as the initial map data.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the main section difference data is a third-layer difference data representing a new road network having a higher road rating in the corresponding main section by a difference from the difference data of the previous version. 2nd layer difference data representing the new road network with the middle road grade in the section by the difference from the previous version difference data, and the new road network with the lower road grade in the corresponding main section It consists of the 1st layer difference data represented by the difference from the difference data. That is, the main partition difference data is configured as a data group in which the third layer difference data, the second layer difference data, and the first layer difference data are arranged in order from the top.

  However, the definition of the road case and the section in the difference data is the same as the initial map data. Further, the “previous version difference data” with respect to the initial version difference data expressed in the present specification indicates initial map data. For example, the 3/2/1 layer difference data constituting the difference data of the initial version represents a new road network having a road case of upper / middle / lower in the corresponding main section by the difference from the initial map data.

In addition to this, the second layer difference data is composed of difference area data for each middle section, similarly to the second layer data constituting the initial map data. The difference area data for each middle section represents the new road network of the middle road grade in the corresponding middle section by the difference from the difference data of the previous version. These difference area data are arranged in the second layer difference data in the same order as the initial map data. In FIG. 8, the difference area data of the Kth middle section corresponding to the Kth middle section data is expressed as the Kth middle section difference data.

  Further, the first layer difference data is composed of difference area data for each small section, like the first layer data constituting the initial map data. The difference area data for each subsection represents the new road network of the lower road case in the corresponding subsection by the difference from the difference data of the previous version. These difference area data are arranged in the first layer difference data in the same order as the initial map data. In FIG. 8, the difference area data of the Kth small section corresponding to the Kth small section data is expressed as the Kth small section difference data. In the following, the third layer difference data is also expressed as “difference area data” of the third layer, corresponding to the expression “difference area data” in the first layer and the second layer.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the difference map data in this embodiment has difference data for each version, each difference data has main section difference data for each main section, and each main section difference data has , Having third-layer difference data, second-layer difference data, and first-layer difference data classified by road case, each layer difference data having difference area data for each section having a smaller road case Made up.

  However, each difference area data (including the 3rd layer difference data) is different from the initial map data, the road change from the previous version difference data in the corresponding section, the difference data up to the previous version as the initial map The update map data obtained by combining with the data has a configuration represented by a command group indicating a correction location and correction content. In particular, each difference area data constituting the initial version of the difference data has a configuration in which the amount of change in the road from the initial map data is represented by a command group indicating a correction location and correction contents for the initial map data. Furthermore, if there is no correction location, the difference area data can be configured as empty data.

  Next, details of the map providing process executed by the arithmetic unit 15A will be described with reference to FIG. When there is a read request from other processing (such as map display processing, route search processing, and route guidance processing), the arithmetic unit 15A executes this map provision processing.

  When the map providing process is started, the arithmetic unit 15A reads area data of each section to be read designated by the read request (hereinafter referred to as “designated section”) from the initial map data (S110). However, depending on the read request, the area data group of the main section, the middle section, the small section, and a combination thereof is designated as a reading target. Here, when the area data of the main section / medium section / small section is specified by the read request, it is interpreted that the area data of the corresponding section of the third layer / second layer / first layer is requested. Read the corresponding area data. That is, in S110, when the area data of the main partition is designated from the read request source, the third layer area data (third layer data) of the designated main partition is read from the storage unit 13 and read from the read request source. When the area data of the section is specified, the area data of the specified medium section in the second layer data is read from the storage unit 13, and when the area data of the small section is specified from the read request source, The area data of the designated small section is read from the storage unit 13.

  When this process is finished, the arithmetic unit 15A then determines whether or not the difference map data needs to be read based on the type of read request (S120). Here, for example, when the read request is a request to use the difference map data, it is determined that the difference map data needs to be read, and the read request does not request the use of the difference map data. In addition, it can be determined that it is not necessary to read the difference map data.

The read request source issues the above read request for requesting the use of the difference map data when the user has the authority to use the difference map data, for example, by purchasing the difference map data, and when the user has no authority to use the difference map data. The above-described read request that does not require use of the difference map data can be configured. For example, if the usage authority for the difference map data is with an expiration date, the read request source requests the use of the difference map data if the usage authority for the difference map data purchased by the user is within the validity period. In other cases, a read request that does not require the use of the differential map data is issued.

  If it is determined that it is necessary to read the difference map data (Yes in S120), the arithmetic unit 15A determines the version range of the difference data to be read out of the difference data for each version constituting the difference map data. Determine (S130). Here, for example, the range from the designated version to the initial version can be determined as the version range of the differential data to be read based on the version designated by the read request source at the time of the read request. In other words, each difference data included in the range from the designated version to the initial version can be determined as a reading target (S130). As a case where the read request source specifies a version older than the latest version, for example, the user purchased the difference data up to the old version but did not purchase the latest version difference data. There may be cases where the user does not have usage rights.

  When the processing in S130 is completed, the arithmetic unit 15A, for each difference data to be read included in the version range determined in S130, from among a group of difference area data constituting the difference data, A group of difference area data of the same layer and section is read (S140).

  In S110, each of the area data of the third layer / second layer / first layer corresponding to the main partition / medium partition / small partition specified by the read request source is read in response to the read request, but in S140, For each difference data of the version to be read, the difference area data constituting the difference data, and the third layer / second layer / second layer corresponding to the main partition / medium partition / small partition specified by the read request source Read the difference area data of one layer.

  After that, the arithmetic unit 15A, for each layer and section from which area data is read in S110, the area data of the layer and section and the difference area data of each version for the same layer and section read in S140, A merge process, which is a process of combining the two, is executed to generate new area data for this layer and section (S150). Hereinafter, new area data obtained by combining a group of area data of the same section and difference area data of each version in the same layer is expressed as “updated map area data”. The updated map area data is generated by referring to the difference area data of each version in order and correcting the corresponding area data according to the command group indicating the correction location and the correction content indicated by the difference area data. Can do.

  For example, in S150, the third layer area data (third layer data) read in S110 is changed to the corrected portion indicated by the third layer difference area data (third layer difference data) in the same main section read in S140. Modify according to the command group that represents the modification. As a result, the above-mentioned difference area data of each version is combined with the area data of the third layer, the road case indicated by the area data is added to the upper road network, and the new road having the road case indicated by the difference area data is higher. Update map area data reflecting the network information is generated.

  As shown in the left column of FIG. 10, the third layer area data of the α-th main section is read in S110 in response to the read request, and the third α-th section of the α-th main section from version 1 to version X, which is the initial version, is read in S140. When the layer difference area data is read out, these are combined to generate the updated map area data of the third layer for the α-th main section.

  In S150, the second layer area data of the specific middle section read in S110 is corrected according to the command group indicating the correction location and the correction content indicated by the second layer difference area data of the same middle section read in S140. As a result, the difference area data of each version is combined with the second-layer area data of the specific middle section, and the road case indicated by the difference area data is intermediate in the road network indicated by the area data. The updated map area data reflecting the information of the new road network is generated.

  As shown in the middle column of FIG. 10, when the second layer area data of the β middle section is read in S110, and the second layer difference area data of the β middle section from version 1 to version X is read in S140. Are combined to generate the updated map area data of the second layer for the β middle section.

  In addition, in S150, the first layer area data of the specific small section read in S110 is corrected according to the command group indicating the correction location and the correction content indicated by the first layer difference area data of the same small section read in S140. As a result, the difference area data of each version is combined with the first layer area data of the specific subdivision, the road case indicated by this area data is in the lower road network, and the road case indicated by the difference area data is lower. Update map area data reflecting new road network information is generated.

  As shown in the right column of FIG. 10, when the first layer area data of the γth small section is read in S110, and the first layer difference area data of the γth small section from version 1 to version X is read in S140. Are combined to generate the updated map area data of the first layer for the γ-th subsection.

  In S150, for each road case, the area data of the same section is combined with the difference area data of each version of the same section to generate updated map area data for each layer (road case) and for each section. .

  When this processing is completed, the arithmetic unit 15A proceeds to S160, and provides the generated update map area data for each layer (road case) and each section to the read request source, and performs the map providing processing. finish.

  However, in S160, all road cases in which the road network for each road case is integrated by generating map data (hereinafter referred to as "integrated map data") obtained by integrating the updated map area data of each layer in the same region. It is also possible to provide the read request source with integrated map data representing the road network.

  When such integrated map data is generated, the read request source is caused to specify a partition size (main partition, medium partition, small partition) for generating the integrated map data in response to the read request. Accordingly, the integrated map data may be generated with the partition size specified by the read request.

  For example, when a small block is designated as a unit for generating integrated map data, for each small block designated by the read request, the first-level updated map area representing a road network with a lower road rating in this small block Data, updated map area data in the second layer representing a road network with a medium road grade in the middle section surrounding this small section, and a road network in the main section surrounding this small section represents the upper road network By combining with the updated map area data of the third layer, the integrated map data of the corresponding subsection can be generated.

  Similarly, when the middle section is designated as the unit for generating the integrated map data, for each middle section designated by the read request, the update of the second layer representing the road network having the middle road grade in this middle section The map area data can be combined with the updated map area data in the third layer representing the road network having a higher road rating in the main section surrounding the middle section, and the integrated map data of the corresponding middle section can be generated. .

  In S150, the updated map area data of the third layer for the α main section as shown in FIG. 10, the updated map area data of the second layer for the β middle section, and the updated map of the first layer for the γ small section FIG. 11 shows a case where the area data is generated and the β-th middle section is a section surrounding the γ-th small section and the α-th main section is a section surrounding the β-th middle section. In addition, among the updated map area data of the first layer for the γth small section and the updated map area data of the second layer for the β middle section, the part corresponding to the γth small section, and the αth main section In the updated map area data of the third layer, the portion corresponding to the γth small section is combined to generate integrated map data representing the road network of all roads in the γth small section.

  FIG. 12 shows a road network represented by integrated map data when the updated map area data of the third layer (main section) / second layer (medium section) / first layer (small section) as shown in the upper part is integrated. Is indicated by a thick solid line at the bottom. However, in FIG. 12, in the second layer updated map area data of the middle section, when the road network having the upper road case is marked, and in the first layer updated map area data of the small section If the road network having the upper and middle road grades is described, the upper and middle road networks are indicated by thick broken lines. Also, the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12 indicates that the edge of the area data at both ends of the alternate long and short dash line is the same edge.

  In addition, when the arithmetic unit 15A determines that it is not necessary to read out the difference map data (No in S120), the process proceeds to S170, and the area data for each layer (road case) and each section read from the initial map data in S110. Is provided to the reading request source, and the map providing process is terminated. However, the arithmetic unit 15A, in S170, similarly to the processing in S160, integrated map data obtained by integrating area data of each layer in the same region, that is, roads of all road cases in which the road network for each road case is integrated. It is also possible to provide integrated map data representing the network to the read request source.

  The map display processing, route search processing, route guidance processing, and the like of the read request source are performed using the map data (updated map area data, unupdated area data, or integrated map data) thus provided. A road map around the area designated by the user and the current location is displayed on the screen of the display unit 18 at a scale designated by the user, a route to the destination designated by the user is searched and displayed, and the display unit The route guidance to the destination according to the current position is performed by image display through 18 and sound output.

  The configuration of the navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above. According to the navigation device 10, the initial map data stored in the storage unit 13 is a hierarchical representation of the road network in the map recording area by the road case. Road map data including data for each road case (third layer data, second layer data, and first layer data) representing a road network of a specific road case. In addition, according to the navigation device 10, from the broadcasting station 100, which is an external storage device, data for each road case (third layer difference data, second layer difference data, and first layer difference data, as with the initial map data). ) Is obtained.

And according to the conventional road map data, the road network such as the expressway is described redundantly among the plurality of layers, but according to the present embodiment, according to the configuration of the initial map data, a plurality of layers Overlapping descriptions of the road network between them are suppressed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as shown in S150 and the like, for each road case (layer), the area data of each layer constituting the initial map data and the difference area data of each layer constituting the difference map data are combined. With the degree, the area data of each layer can be updated, and new road map data (updated map area data) can be generated.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, when the updated map area data is generated by reflecting the information of the new road network indicated by the difference map data in each area data constituting the initial map data, it is externally applied as before. Even if the difference information written in the acquired difference map data is interpreted and this difference information is not converted into information corresponding to each layer, independent data update can be performed for each layer. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since redundant description of the road network is suppressed, it is not necessary to repeat the same update process for a plurality of layers as in the prior art.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the updated map area data can be generated by updating the area data for each road case at high speed.
Further, according to the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment, every time a read request is issued, the updated map data is generated by combining the initial map data and the difference map data in units of area data. That is, according to the present embodiment, every time a read request is issued, the area data of the same road case and the same section and the difference area data are combined to generate updated map area data for each road case and section. Alternatively, integrated map data formed by integrating these updated map area data is generated and provided to the read request source.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, assuming that the read request source has the use authority, for example, immediately after receiving the latest version of the difference data, the latest version of the difference data is used in response to the read request. The new updated map area data can be quickly provided to the read request source. According to the prior art, update map data could not be dynamically generated in response to a read request in the first place, but if update map data is dynamically generated in response to a read request as in this embodiment, Accordingly, the map data reflecting the latest road network information can be quickly provided to the read request source, and the latest road network information can be quickly provided to the user.

  Further, according to the map providing process of the present embodiment, the initial map data and the difference map data are determined by determining whether or not the difference map data needs to be read according to the type of the read request (S120). It is determined whether or not the connection is necessary. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in the environment where the difference map data is provided to the user for a fee, when the user purchases the difference map data and the read request source has the authority to use the difference map data. For example, updated map data in which information of a new road network is reflected in initial map data can be generated using difference map data.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, updated map data is generated every time a read request is made, and therefore, even if the user has not purchased the difference map data, the updated map is used using the difference map data only for the trial period. When the data is generated and the user has not purchased the difference map data at the end of the trial period, the provision of the updated map data using the difference map data can be stopped. Therefore, it can be said that the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment is a navigation device that is particularly suitable for a case where the difference map data is widely distributed through a broadcast network or the like and the difference map data is sold for a fee.

Further, according to the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment, the version range of the difference data to be combined with the initial map data is determined based on the version information specified by the read request (S130), and the determined range The update map data (update map area data group) is generated by combining the difference data and the initial map data of each version belonging to each area data unit. Therefore, it can be said that the navigation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is a navigation apparatus suitable for a case where the difference map data is divided into difference data for each version and individually sold for pay. That is, according to the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment, only the version difference data for which the user is authorized to use is combined with the initial map data to generate updated map data, which is provided to the read request source. it can.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the initial map data is configured to include area data for each road case and each section, and the difference data is also configured to include difference area data for each road case and each section. Has been. The navigation device 10 combines the area data and the difference area data for each section specified by the read request, and generates updated map area data for each road case and each section. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is only necessary to execute merge processing for the area data and the difference area data in the map recording area, particularly the area required by the read request source, and the updated map can be efficiently and quickly performed. Data can be generated and provided to the read requester.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms. According to the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 has been described. However, as a matter of course, the present invention is applied to other electronic devices having a navigation function such as a smartphone. It is also possible. In addition, according to the above embodiment, the difference map data is provided to the navigation device 10 by the digital broadcast signal. However, the difference map data is stored in a wireless communication network such as a cellular network, a USB memory, an SD card, or the like. It may be provided to the navigation device using media. That is, the difference map data can be provided to the navigation device through various media.

  In the above embodiment, each time a read request is issued, the initial map data and the difference map data are merged in units of area data to generate updated map data. The map data (updated map area data group) may be cached in the RAM 15B or the like, and the cached updated map data (updated map area data group) may be read out as necessary at the next and subsequent reading requests. In other words, the expression “combined every time a read request is issued” includes an operation of generating updated map area data every time a read request is generated, but repeatedly generates updated map area data although not every time. The operation to perform is also included.

  In addition, in the above embodiment, the update map area data is generated every time a read request is issued. However, the same update map area data is not generated repeatedly every time a read request is issued, but is generated once. The navigation device 10 may be configured to store the map area data in the storage unit 13.

  In the above-described embodiment, the initial map data and the difference map data are not separately merged in the same storage unit 13 such as a hard disk device or a flash memory as a non-volatile memory. However, the difference map data is stored in a storage device (such as a hard disk device or a flash memory) different from the initial map data, and is stored separately from the initial map data. It may be stored as data. As a storage device for storing the difference map data, a storage device (medium) that can be attached to and detached from the navigation device 10 such as a memory card in addition to a storage device fixed to the navigation device 10 can be adopted.

  Finally, the correspondence between terms will be described. The navigation device 10 of the present embodiment corresponds to an example of an information processing system, the storage unit 13 corresponds to an example of a storage unit, and the reception unit 19 corresponds to an example of an acquisition unit. Further, the map providing process executed by the arithmetic unit 15A corresponds to an example of the process realized by the generating unit, and the process realized by S120 corresponds to an example of the process realized by the determining unit, and is executed by S130. The realized process corresponds to an example of a process realized by the determining unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Navigation apparatus, 11 ... Position detection unit, 13 ... Memory | storage unit, 15 ... Control unit, 15A ... Arithmetic unit, 15B ... RAM, 17 ... Input unit, 18 ... Display unit, 19 ... Reception unit, 100 ... Broadcasting station

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing road map data that is a road map data in which a road network of a specific area is hierarchically expressed by a road case, and that includes layer data representing a road network of a specific road case in the specific area for each road case ( 13)
For each road case, the difference layer data is acquired from an external storage device (100) that stores difference layer data representing a new road network of the road case by a difference from the road network represented by the layer data of the road case. Acquisition means (19) to perform,
For each road case, the layer data of the road case stored by the storage unit and the difference layer data of the same road case acquired by the acquisition unit are combined for each road case. Generation means (15A, S110 to S170) for generating updated map data reflecting information of a new road network of the corresponding road case in the layer data;
An information processing system comprising: The generation means combines the layer data and the difference layer data each time a request for reading the road map data is issued, generates the updated map data for each road case, and generates the generated road case. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the updated map data for each of the updated map data or the integrated map data obtained by integrating the updated map data for each of the road cases is provided to a read request source. . The difference layer data for each road case is the same as the storage means for storing the road map data including the layer data for each road case, or the road map data in a non-volatile memory separate from the storage means. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information is stored in a different area from the road map data. The generating means includes
Judgment means (15A, S120) for judging whether or not the layer data and the difference layer data need to be combined according to the type of the read request.
With
If it is determined by the determination means that it is necessary, the updated map data for each road case is generated by combining the layer data and the difference layer data, and the generated update for each road case is generated. While providing each of the map data or integrated map data obtained by integrating the updated map data for each road case to the read request source,
Integrated map data obtained by integrating the layer data for each road case stored in the storage unit or the layer data for each road case when the determination unit determines that it is not necessary The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the information is provided to the read request source. The difference layer data is composed of difference data for each version, the difference data of the initial version represents a new road network by the difference from the layer data, and the difference data of each version other than the initial version is It represents the new road network by the difference from the version,
The generating means includes
Determination means (15A, S130) for determining the range of the version to be combined with the layer data according to the type of the read request for each read request
With
The updated map data for each road case is obtained by combining the layer data and each version of the difference data belonging to the range determined by the determining means in the difference data group constituting the difference layer data. Each of the generated updated map data for each road case or integrated map data obtained by integrating the updated map data for each road case is provided to the read request source. The information processing system according to claim 2 or 4, wherein: Each of the layer data and the difference layer data is constituted by a group of area data for each section obtained by dividing the specific area,
The generation means, in response to the read request, the difference between the area data constituting the layer data and the difference for one or a plurality of the sections corresponding to the region designated by the read request constituting the layer data Combining the area data of the same section constituting layer data for each road case, and generating the updated map data for each road case for the one or more sections corresponding to the designated area The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

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