JP2014235056A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device for solving the problem in which a route guidance function cannot be used until map data update is completed.SOLUTION: A navigation device comprises: a storage part for storing first map information covering a prescribed area; a map information selection part which, included in a connected device, selects either the first map information or second map information covering an area shared by the first map information on the basis of prescribed criteria; and an information reading part for reading out either the first or the second map information selected by the map information selection part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device technology.

  Conventionally, there is a technique in which map update data is received and stored in advance in a mobile phone and transferred when the car navigation system is activated, and the car navigation system updates the map data with the received data. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 describes a technique regarding such a device.

JP 2009-93080 A

  With the technology as described above, the reception time of the map data can be shortened, but the route guidance function cannot be used until the update of the map data with the received map data is completed, and there are cases where the departure cannot be made.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for avoiding a situation in which a route guidance function cannot be used to wait for the update of map data to end.

  The present invention includes a plurality of means for solving at least a part of the problems described above. Examples of the means are as follows. In order to solve the above-described problem, a navigation device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores first map information that is map information in a predetermined range, a connected device, and the first map information Selected by the map information selection unit for selecting any one of the map information of the second map information having the common range information and the first map information based on a predetermined standard, and the map information selection unit A map information reading unit for reading map information.

  Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of embodiments.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for avoiding a situation in which the route guidance function cannot be used to wait for the update of the map data to end.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of map information. It is a figure which shows the data structure of an external device table. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a connection priority table. It is a functional block diagram of the control part of a navigation apparatus. It is a figure which shows the flow of a use map selection process. It is a figure which shows the flow of a map update process. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection apparatus confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a usage map information list screen.

  Hereinafter, a navigation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a navigation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 100 mounted on the mobile body can communicate with a communication device 150 that can communicate with the storage device 160 via a communication device 13 described later by either a wired or wireless method. The communication device 13 of the navigation device 100 and the communication device 150 capable of communicating with the storage device 160 are, for example, wireless networks such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and WiFi (registered trademark). , Bluetooth (registered trademark) and other short-range wireless communication, and USB (registered trademark) cable and other wired communication methods.

  In addition, the navigation device 100 is detachably mounted on the moving body. In the present embodiment, the navigation apparatus 100 is an information processing apparatus that can acquire current position information and the like. However, the navigation device that is the subject of the present invention is not limited to the navigation device 100 shown in FIG. For example, various control devices incorporated in the moving body may be used.

  The communication device 150 is a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone device possessed by a driver or passenger of a mobile body, and is, for example, a smartphone, a feature phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a notebook computer, or the like. The communication device 150 may be connected to the storage device 160 via an internal interface, or may be connected to the storage device 160 as a separate device via an external interface.

  In the present embodiment, the communication device 150 and the navigation device 100 of the mobile occupant establish a connection for communication when instructed by the occupant or in a communicable state.

  Here, the communication device 150 can read out map information 200 (to be described later) stored in the storage device 160 and transmit it to the navigation device 100, or can instruct the storage device 160 to write.

  The navigation device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 1, a display 2, a storage device 3, a voice input / output device 4 (including a microphone 41 as a voice input device and a speaker 42 as a voice output device), an input device 5, and a ROM. (Read Only Memory) device 6, vehicle speed sensor 7, gyro sensor 8, GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device 9, FM multiplex broadcast receiving device 10, beacon receiving device 11, network communication device 12, And a communication device 13.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 is a central unit that performs various processes. For example, the current location is calculated based on information output from the various sensors 7 and 8, the GPS receiver 9, the FM multiplex broadcast receiver 10, and the like. Further, map data necessary for display is read from the storage device 3 or the ROM device 6 based on the obtained current location information.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 develops the read map data in graphics, and displays a mark indicating the current location on the display 2 in a superimposed manner. Also, an optimal route that connects the current location or the departure location instructed by the user and the destination (or waypoint or stopover location) using map data or the like stored in the storage device 3 or the ROM device 6 The recommended route that is is searched. Further, the user is guided using the speaker 42 and the display 2.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 of the navigation device 100 has a configuration in which each device is connected by a bus 25. The arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that executes various processes such as numerical calculation and control of each device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores map data, arithmetic data, and the like read from the storage device 3. ) 22, a ROM 23 for storing programs and data, and an I / F (interface) 24 for connecting various types of hardware to the arithmetic processing unit 1.

  The display 2 is a unit that displays graphics information generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1 or the like. The display 2 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and the like.

The storage device 3 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid).
(State Drive) and a non-volatile memory card, at least a readable / writable storage medium.

  The storage medium includes map information 200 which is map data necessary for a normal route search device (including link data of links constituting roads on the map), and a communication device that is an external device of the navigation device 100. 13 stores an external device table 300 that records the state of the device connected via 13, and a connection priority table 400 that prioritizes map information to be used according to the connection path of the external device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the map information 200. The map information 200 is divided for each area ID 201 which is a partitioned area on the map. The area 202 includes a version 202 for specifying new and old information constituting the map, and information of the information constituting the map for each area. A permission 203 for specifying authority such as copying permission and reference permission is associated. The area ID 201 includes a mesh identification code (mesh ID) 210 that is an area partitioned for each area ID 201 on the map. Each mesh ID 210 includes link data 220 including each link constituting a road included in the mesh and a node which is a connection point thereof.

  The link data 220 includes, for each link ID 221 which is a link identifier, coordinate information 222 of two nodes (start node and end node) constituting the link, a road type 223 indicating the type of road including the link, and the link length. A link travel time 225 stored in advance, a start connection link and an end connection link 226, a speed limit 227 indicating a speed limit of the road including the link, and the like. The start connection link and the end connection link 226 are information for specifying a start connection link that is a link connected to the start node of the link and an end connection link that is a link connected to the end node of the link. .

  In this case, by distinguishing the start node and the end node for the two nodes constituting the link, the upward and downward directions of the same road are managed as different links. Not limited to. For example, the start node and the end node may not be distinguished between the two nodes constituting the link.

  In addition to the link data 220, the map information 200 includes incidental information such as the presence, location, service content, etc. of facilities such as POI (Point Of Interest).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the external device table 300. In the external device table 300, a device ID 301 that identifies an external device that is another device different from the navigation device 100 is associated with a connection path 302 that identifies a connection means between the external device and the navigation device 100. Provide information. For each device ID 301, a set of information in which a map data provider 311, a map data region ID 312, a map data version 313, a permission 314, a usage state 315, and an in-use process 316 are associated with each other is provided. Multiple sets are associated.

  The map data provider 311 is information for specifying a provider that provides map information specified by the map data region ID 312 and the map data version 313. For example, the map data provider 311 is information for specifying a map trader that creates and sells map data. In addition, since map data differs in a data format, contained information, etc. according to a provider, in principle, if a provider differs, it is incompatible.

  The map data region ID 312 is information for specifying one of regions obtained by dividing a predetermined range on the map according to a predetermined rule. The map data version 313 is information for specifying the newness of the map information for the area specified by the map data area ID 312 using a numerical value or the like numbered according to a predetermined rule. The map data version 313 is uniquely numbered by the map information provider. If the map information provider in a certain region is the same entity, the map data version 313 is basically the same numbering system. Moreover, it can be said that it is the map information created based on new information, so that the numerical value which shows a version is large.

  The permission 314 is information for specifying the access authority to the map information specified by the map data area ID 312 and the map data version 313. For example, information such as “readable”, “readable as read and update source”, and the like.

  The use state 315 is information for specifying a state in which the map information specified by the map data area ID 312 and the map data version 313 is used (read or the like). For example, it is information for specifying a status such as “Read” indicating that data is being read, “Update” indicating that data is being updated, and “Idle” indicating that the data is not being used.

  The in-use process 316 is information for specifying a process (process) that uses (reads out) the map information specified by the map data area ID 312 and the map data version 313. For example, when the functional unit that updates the map information is updating the map information, it is information that identifies the functional unit that performs the update.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the connection priority table 400. The connection priority table 400 specifies a priority order for preferentially acquiring map information for each connection path 401 that specifies a connection means between an external device that is another device different from the navigation device 100 and the navigation device 100. 402 is provided with information associated therewith. The priority order 402 is determined in advance so as to give priority to the connection path 401 having the highest communication speed according to the standard, but is not limited thereto. For example, the communication speed through the connection path 401 may be actually measured by predetermined sampling, and may be tuned at a predetermined timing so that the priority order is determined in the order of standards with the highest communication speed. This is because when the Internet or the like is used as a connection means, the communication speed may vary greatly depending on the environment and communication status.

  Returning to FIG. The voice input / output device 4 includes a microphone 41 as a voice input device and a speaker 42 as a voice output device. The microphone 41 acquires sound outside the navigation device 100 such as a voice uttered by a user or another passenger.

  The speaker 42 outputs a message to the user generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1 as voice. The microphone 41 and the speaker 42 are separately arranged at predetermined portions of the moving body. However, it may be housed in an integral housing. The navigation device 100 can include a plurality of microphones 41 and speakers 42.

  The input device 5 is a device that receives an instruction from the user through an operation by the user. The input device 5 includes a touch panel 51, a dial switch 52, and other hardware switches (not shown) such as scroll keys and scale change keys. In addition, the input device 5 includes a remote controller that can perform operation instructions to the navigation device 100 remotely. The remote controller includes a dial switch, a scroll key, a scale change key, and the like, and can send information on operation of each key or switch to the navigation device 100.

  The touch panel 51 is mounted on the display surface side of the display 2 and can see through the display screen. The touch panel 51 specifies a touch position corresponding to the XY coordinates of the image displayed on the display 2, converts the touch position into coordinates, and outputs the coordinate. The touch panel 51 includes a pressure-sensitive or electrostatic input detection element. Note that the touch panel 51 may be capable of multi-touch capable of detecting a plurality of touch positions at the same time.

  The dial switch 52 is configured to be rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise, generates a pulse signal for every rotation of a predetermined angle, and outputs the pulse signal to the arithmetic processing unit 1. The arithmetic processing unit 1 obtains the rotation angle from the number of pulse signals.

  The ROM device 6 includes at least a readable storage medium such as a ROM such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card. In this storage medium, for example, moving image data, audio data, and the like are stored.

  The vehicle speed sensor 7, the gyro sensor 8, and the GPS receiver 9 are used by the navigation device 100 to detect the current location (for example, the vehicle position). The vehicle speed sensor 7 is a sensor that outputs a value used to calculate the vehicle speed. The gyro sensor 8 is composed of an optical fiber gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like, and detects an angular velocity due to the rotation of the moving body. The GPS receiver 9 receives a signal from a GPS satellite and measures the distance between the mobile body and the GPS satellite and the rate of change of the distance with respect to three or more satellites to thereby determine the current location, travel speed, and travel of the mobile body. It measures the direction.

  The FM multiplex broadcast receiver 10 receives an FM multiplex broadcast signal transmitted from an FM broadcast station. FM multiplex broadcasting includes VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) information, current traffic information, regulatory information, SA / PA (service area / parking area) information, parking lot information, weather information, and FM multiplex general information. As text information provided by radio stations.

  The beacon receiving device 11 receives rough current traffic information such as VICS information, regulation information, SA / PA (service area / parking area) information, parking lot information, weather information, emergency alerts, and the like. For example, it is a receiving device such as an optical beacon that communicates by light and a radio beacon that communicates by radio waves.

  The network communication device 12 is a control device in another mobile body connected to the network by connecting the navigation device 100 to a network corresponding to CAN (Controller Area Network) which is a control network standard in the mobile body (not shown). It is a device that performs communication by exchanging CAN messages and the like with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

  The communication device 13 starts, continues, and ends communication with the communication device 150 that can communicate with the storage device 160. The communication device 13 is, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a wireless network such as WiFi (registered trademark), a short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), a USB, etc. Connection is made by various wired communication methods such as (registered trademark) cables. Further, the communication device 13 tries to find and connect to the communication device 150 periodically or at a predetermined timing, and establishes communication with the connectable communication device 150.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the arithmetic processing unit 1. The arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a basic control unit 101, an input receiving unit 102, an output processing unit 103, a map information selection unit 104, an external device connection unit 105, a map information reading unit 106, and a map information updating unit. 107 and a route guiding unit 108 are included.

  The basic control unit 101 is a central functional unit that performs various processes, and controls operations of other functional units in accordance with the processing content. In addition, information on various sensors, the GPS receiver 9 and the like is acquired, and a map matching process is performed to identify the current location. Moreover, the movement history is memorize | stored in the memory | storage device 3 for every link by matching the date and time which moved, and a position at any time. Further, the current time is output in response to a request from each processing unit.

  In addition, the basic control unit 101 searches for a recommended route that is an optimal route that connects the current location or the departure location instructed by the user and the destination (or a stopover or stopover location). In the route search, a route having the minimum link cost is searched based on a link cost preset for a predetermined section (link) of the road using a route search logic such as Dijkstra method.

  The input receiving unit 102 receives an input instruction from the user input via the input device 5 or the microphone 41, and performs a process corresponding to the requested content together with the touch coordinate position and audio information which are information related to the input instruction. The information is transmitted to the basic control unit 101 to be executed. For example, when the user requests a recommended route search, the basic control unit 101 is requested for the request. That is, it can be said that the input receiving unit 102 is a contact instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction by a touching operation. It can also be said that the input receiving unit 102 is a voice instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction by a voice operation.

  The output processing unit 103 receives information constituting a screen to be displayed, such as polygon information, for example, converts the information into a signal for drawing on the display 2 and instructs the display 2 to draw.

  The map information selection unit 104 selects map information to be used from a storage device including an external device. Specifically, the map information selection unit 104 selects a suitable map from the storage device 160 and the storage device 3 of the connected external device when specifying the map information used by the basic control unit 101 for route search / guidance. Identify the information and select it as the map information reading source.

  The external device connection unit 105 performs a process of connecting an external device different from the navigation device 100 and the navigation device 100 in a communicable manner. Specifically, the external device connection unit 105 establishes a communication path for reading the map information selected by the map information selection unit 104 with the communication device 150 that is an external device, and stores information stored in the storage device 160. Make it possible to acquire

  The map information reading unit 106 reads the map information selected by the map information selecting unit 104 from the external device connected by the external device connecting unit 105.

  The map information update unit 107 uses the map information read from the external device connected by the external device connection unit 105 to update the map information that the navigation device 100 has in the storage device 3.

  The route guidance unit 108 uses the map information read from the external device connected by the external device connection unit 105 to prevent the current location of the mobile body from deviating from the recommended route based on the recommended route searched by the basic control unit 101. The user is guided using the speaker 42 and the display 2 while displaying the recommended route.

  Each functional unit of the arithmetic processing unit 1 described above, that is, the basic control unit 101, the input receiving unit 102, the output processing unit 103, the map information selecting unit 104, the external device connecting unit 105, the map information reading unit 106, and the map information updating unit 107. The route guiding unit 108 is constructed by the CPU 21 reading and executing a predetermined program. Therefore, the RAM 22 stores a program for realizing the processing of each functional unit.

  In addition, each above-mentioned component is classified according to the main processing content, in order to make an understanding easy the structure of the navigation apparatus 100. FIG. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the way of classifying the components and their names. The configuration of the navigation device 100 can be classified into more components depending on the processing content. Moreover, it can also classify | categorize so that one component may perform more processes.

  Each functional unit may be constructed by hardware (ASIC, GPU, etc.). Further, the processing of each functional unit may be executed by one hardware or may be executed by a plurality of hardware.

  The map information 200 stored in the storage device 160 is substantially the same map information 200 as the map information 200 stored in the storage device 3 of the navigation device 100, and has at least information in a common range.

  [Description of Operation] Next, the operation of the use map selection process performed by the navigation device 100 will be described. The use map selection process shown in FIG. 6 is performed when an instruction is received from an occupant of a moving body via the input device 5 or the voice input / output device 4 of the navigation device 100, or when the communication device 150 is newly connected. The process is started when the connection of 150 is released and at the timing of any one of the predetermined cycles or a combination thereof.

  First, the map information selection unit 104 specifies a region ID of a map to be used (step S001). Specifically, the map information selection unit 104 specifies an area on the map including a point or range designated by the user as an object for displaying a map, and specifies an ID of the area. Or the map information selection part 104 specifies ID of the area to which the present location belongs, when the user has not specifically instructed as an object to display a map.

  And the map information selection part 104 specifies the version of map information to hold, a provider, and a utilization state (step S002). Specifically, the map information selection unit 104 identifies information associated with the region ID 201 that matches the region ID identified in step S001 in the map information 200 included in the storage device 3, and the version 202 Information on a predetermined provider and usage status are specified. The predetermined provider is information included in the meta information of the map information, and is information indicating the provider of the map information. The usage state is information for specifying whether or not access to the map information is possible, for example (access is not possible in the usage state and access is possible in the usage state).

  Next, the map information selection unit 104 specifies the permission, the provider, the version, and the usage state for each map information of the external device (step S003). Specifically, the map information selection unit 104 refers to the external device table 300 for each device ID 301 of the connected communication device 150, and corresponds to the map data region ID 312 that matches the region ID specified in step S001. The attached information is specified, and the permission 314, the map data version 313, the information of the map data providing source 311 and the use state 315 are specified.

  Then, the map information selection unit 104 identifies the latest version of the map information that is not in use and “updating” among the map information that is the same provider and is not in use (step S004). Specifically, the map information selection unit 104 has the same map information provider as the map information provider stored in the storage device 3 of its own device, and the map information is not in use. Identify the latest version of the map whose usage status is not “Update”.

In other words, the map information selection unit 104 specifies renewed and usable map information among the map information having data consistency. Note that the map information selection unit 104 determines that the device ID 301 of the external device is present when there are a plurality of candidate map information to be specified, that is, when there are a plurality of external devices having the same version of map information. In accordance with the connection path 302 that is a means for connecting to the navigation device 100, the priority is assigned to the external device connected by the connection means having a higher priority using the priority order 402 associated with the connection priority table 400. Is identified.

  Then, the external device connection unit 105 starts connection with the identified map information (step S005). Specifically, the external device connection unit 105 establishes a connection to the external device that stores the map information specified in step S004. Then, the map information reading unit 106 starts connection with the map information specified by the specified area ID.

  The above is the processing flow of the usage map selection processing. By performing the used map selection process, the map information selection unit 104, including external devices, selects reusable and usable map information from map information with consistent data, and enables connection. be able to.

  The map update process illustrated in FIG. 7 is a process of updating the map information of the navigation device 100 using the map information of the external device when the connected external device satisfies a predetermined condition. In the map update process, when an instruction is received from an occupant of a moving body via the input device 5 or the voice input / output device 4 of the navigation device 100, or when the communication device 150 is newly connected, the connection of the communication device 150 is released. And at any of a predetermined period or timing of the combination or a combination thereof.

  First, the map information update unit 107 determines whether the map information that has started the connection is map information of an external device (step S101). Specifically, the map information update unit 107 refers to the external device table 300 to determine whether or not the map information that has started connection in the used map selection process is the map information that the device outside the navigation device 100 has. The determination is made based on the device ID 301 to which the map data area ID 312 to be connected belongs. If it is not the map information of the external device, the map information update unit 107 ends the map update process.

  If it is map information of the external device (“Yes” in step S101), the map information update unit 107 determines whether or not the map information that has started connection can be copied (step S102). Specifically, the map information update unit 107 refers to the external device table 300 to determine whether or not the map information that has started connection in the use map selection process can be duplicated, in the map data region ID 312 to be connected. The determination is made based on the associated permission 314. If the copy is not possible, the map information update unit 107 ends the map update process.

  If duplication is possible (in the case of “Yes” in step S102), the map information update unit 107 starts reading the map information for which connection has been started for duplication (step S103).

  And the map information update part 107 is updated using the read map information (step S104). Specifically, the map information update unit 107 compares the information read from the map information that has started connection in the used map selection process with the map information 200 stored in the storage device 3, and extracts the difference. . Then, the map information updating unit 107 updates the information of the corresponding part of the map information 200 stored in the storage device 3 by using the information read from the map information that has started connection in the used map selection process for the difference part. To do. At that time, the map information updating unit 107 sets the usage state of the updated map information to “Update”. By setting the usage status to “Update”, it is possible to prevent the selected map from being selected as a connection destination in the used map selection process. It is possible to prevent reading of map information that may include matching.

  Then, when the update is completed, the map information update unit 107 changes the use state of the updated map information to “Idle” (step S105). In this way, after the update is completed, the map information can be read by another processing unit such as the route guidance unit 108.

  The above is the flow of the map update process. By performing the map update process, the map information can be read from the external device and the map information of the navigation device 100 can be updated. In addition, since the map information to be updated can be controlled so as not to be connected during the update, the control for using the map information that is low in priority but consistent is used without using the map information that is not consistently being updated. It can be carried out.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen 500 displayed on the navigation device 100 that enables the use of map information from an external device. Screen 500 shows a locator 501 that graphically indicates the current location and the traveling direction thereof, a link 502, and a map device confirmation input area 503 that receives an instruction indicating a device having connected map information.

  When an input instruction for the map device confirmation input area 503 is received via the input device 5, the map information selection unit 104 acquires the device ID 301 for the connected external device from the external device table 300.

  Then, the output processing unit 103 displays the device ID 301 for the connected external device in the map providing device display area 510 on the screen after touching shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen 600 displayed on the navigation device 100 that enables the use of map information from an external device. On the screen 600, display areas 601, 602, and 603 are displayed for each device connected to the navigation apparatus 100, and the region having the latest version of map information and its version are displayed for each device. For example, for areas such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, etc., if the navigation device 100 has the latest map information and the versions are 1.01, 1.00, 1.00, this is the case. It is displayed in the display area 601 of the navigation device 100. On the other hand, the Hokkaido area is displayed in the display area 602 of the external device A when the external device A has the latest map information and the version is 1.02. For the external device B having different map information from the map provider, an indication that the map provider is inconsistent and a sign 610 indicating that fact are displayed in the display area 603 of the external device B.

  The above is the configuration and processing content of the navigation device 100 according to the first embodiment. According to the first embodiment, when another device connected to the navigation device 100 has newer map information and satisfies a predetermined condition, the map information is acquired from the other device and used. can do. Therefore, the situation where map information cannot be used in order to perform map update can be avoided.

  If the map information is permitted to be copied, the map information of the navigation device 100 can be updated. It is impossible to access the updated map information during the update, but it is possible to access the map information of the external device that is the update source. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The first embodiment described above can be variously modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, modifications according to the present invention will be described. For example, if the map information held by the external device requires a usage fee such as a pay-as-you-go system that is charged according to the amount of use, the map information selection unit 104 may use the external information even if it is the latest map information. You may make it restrict | limit so that the map information of an apparatus may not be used. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the possibility of unexpectedly paying a large amount of usage fee to the owner of the external device.

  For example, the external device connection unit 105 may terminate the connection and connect to another map information even if the map information has been connected once, and subsequent difficulties in continuous use occur. Good. The difficulty in this case is, for example, when the power supply environment from the power source of the external device deteriorates, when the communication speed decreases, thermal runaway, or when the external device is a smartphone etc. This is the case where an increase in load is observed.

  Further, for example, the target to which the external device connection unit 105 is connected is not limited to map information. For example, it may be information indicating traffic conditions such as traffic jams, construction, and travel restrictions delivered by VICS, or information such as parking lot availability information. Moreover, the information of facilities, such as a store, the information of business hours, etc. may be sufficient.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the first embodiment. Note that the present invention can be applied not only to the navigation device but also to all devices capable of information processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Navigation apparatus, 101 ... Basic control part, 102 ... Input reception part, 103 ... Output processing part, 104 ... Map information selection part, 105 ... External apparatus connection part, 106 ... Map information reading unit, 107 ... Map information update unit, 108 ... Route guidance unit, 150 ... Communication device, 160 ... Storage device, 200 ... Map information, 300 ... External device table, 400 ... connection priority table

Claims (9)

A storage unit for storing first map information which is map information in a predetermined range;
Either one of the map information included in the connected device and having the same range of information as the first map information and the first map information is selected based on a predetermined criterion. Map information selection department,
A map information reading unit for reading the map information selected by the map information selecting unit;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 1,
The map information selection unit selects map information including newer information from either the first map information or the second map information.
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the information included in the first map information and the second map information is new as well, the map information selection unit responds to a communication path with the device including the second map information. To select the first map information or the second map information,
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The map information selection unit selects map information that is not in use;
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The map information selection unit selects map information that is not being updated,
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The map information selection unit selects and excludes map information charged for use,
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The map information selection unit reselects other map information in the case where difficulty in continuous use occurs in the connected device including the selected map information.
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The map information selection unit selects any one of the map information of the first map information and the second map information according to a predetermined criterion for each predetermined area.
A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
When newer information than the first map information is added to the second map information, the new information included in the second map information is applied to the first map information. Map information update unit for updating,
A navigation device comprising:

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