JP2017134251A - Map information update system, map information update device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information update system, map information update device and computer program that can preferentially update point-of-interest (POI) information necessary for users when updating the POI information included in map information.SOLUTION: When retrieval of point-of-interest (POI) information is performed in a navigation device, a map information update system is configured to count: the number of times in which a point of interest is appointed as a retrieval condition for each segment partitioning the POI information; and, when updating the POI information included in the map information to information on a new version, update the POI information on the segment in which the number of counted times is many in preference to the segment in which the number of counted times is less (S11 to S15).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a map information update system, a map information update device, and a computer program that update point information included in map information in units of sections.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily arrive at a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle by a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map information corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or HDD or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. It is a device that can do. In addition, the navigation device has a route search function for searching for an optimum route from a departure point (for example, the current position of the host vehicle) to the set destination when a desired destination is set. It also has a travel guidance function for guiding travel according to the route (guide route). It also has a facility information guidance function that provides information about facilities in various parts of the country. In recent years, some mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, personal computers, and the like have functions similar to those of the navigation device.

  Here, in Japan, new facilities (new facilities) may be constructed or closed every year. At this time, there is a problem that information regarding a new facility newly created after the map information of the navigation device or the like is not registered in the map information. As a result, these new facilities are not included in the search target when the user searches for the facility, and cannot be set as the guidance target. On the other hand, problems such as a non-existing facility being displayed on the map image also occur.

  In order to avoid such inconveniences, it is necessary to update information (hereinafter referred to as point information) regarding points such as facilities included in the map information possessed by the navigation device or the like. In addition, when updating point information, in order to reduce the communication cost and processing burden related to the update, not all of the point information possessed by the navigation device is replaced with new point information, but only the point information of the necessary points So-called differential update is performed.

  However, even if it is a difference update, performing a difference update of the corresponding part every time there is a facility addition or the like in the country has a large communication cost and processing burden. Therefore, the difference update of the spot information is performed by giving priority to the area required by the user such as the vicinity of the home or the guidance route. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-114422, the number of POI update rates and the number of new POIs are guided by prompting the user to update the POI update rate and the number of new POIs by area. There has been proposed a technique for updating point information by giving priority to areas with a large amount of information.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-114422 (pages 12-14, FIG. 6)

  Here, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since it is a condition for preferentially updating point information that the area has a low POI update rate or an area with a large number of new POIs, It was not considered whether such point information was required. As a result, point information that the user does not need, for example, point information about a point that is very unlikely to be selected as a search target or a guidance target is updated to new information, while the point information that the user needs, For example, there is a problem that point information regarding a point that is likely to be selected as a search target or a guidance target is not updated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and when updating the spot information included in the map information, the spot information required by the user is appropriately prioritized and updated. It is an object to provide a map information update system, a map information update device, and a computer program that are made possible.

In order to achieve the above object, a map information update system according to the present invention is a facility for searching for point information corresponding to a search condition input by a user from among the point information related to a facility or a point included in map information from the map information. Search means; map update means for updating point information included in the map information to a new version of information in units of divisions that classify facilities or points; and the facility search means for each division that classifies the point information And the map updating means updates the point information by giving priority to a section having a large number of times counted by the search counting means over a section having a small number of times. I do.
“Updating with priority” includes updating only a section with a large number of counted times, and updating a section with a large number of counted times at an earlier timing than a section with a small number.

  Further, the map information update device according to the present invention includes a facility search means for searching for point information corresponding to a search condition input by the user from the map information, among the point information related to facilities or points included in the map information, Map update means for updating the point information included in the map information to a new version of information in units of divisions that divide facilities or points, and the search conditions by the facility search means for each division that divides the point information Search map means for counting the designated number of times, and the map update means updates the point information by giving priority to a section having a large number of times counted by the search count means over a section having a small number.

  In addition, the computer program according to the present invention is a program that updates the difference by giving priority to the spot information of the classification required by the user. More specifically, the computer searches the map information for point information corresponding to the search condition input by the user from the point information related to the facilities or points included in the map information, and the map information. Map update means for updating the included point information to a new version of information for each facility or point classification unit, and the number of times specified as a search condition by the facility search unit for each category for dividing the point information The map update means is a computer program for functioning as a search counting means that counts the number of times counted by the search count means and prioritizes a section that is counted more frequently than a smaller section. I do.

  According to the map information update system, the map information update device, and the computer program according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the point information included in the map information is updated to new point information, the user has previously installed a facility or a point. Since the point information of the category that frequently corresponds to the search condition when the search is performed is preferentially updated, it is possible to appropriately update the point information of the category required by the user.

It is the schematic block diagram which showed the map information update system which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the genre of the point hierarchized into plurality. It is the figure which showed an example of point information. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control system of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the search count number for every area memorize | stored in search count DB. It is the figure which showed an example of the search count number for every genre memorize | stored in search count DB. It is the figure explaining the update process of the map information memorize | stored in the navigation apparatus. It is a flowchart of the search count process program which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the map information update process program which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, based on one embodiment which materialized the map information update system concerning the present invention, it explains in detail, referring to drawings.
First, a schematic configuration of the map information update system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a map information update system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a map information update system 1 according to this embodiment includes a map distribution server 3 arranged in an external center such as a map distribution center 2 and a navigation device 5 (map information update) installed in a vehicle 4. Device). In the present embodiment, the map information is stored and the navigation apparatus 5 installed in the vehicle 4 is used as a terminal for updating the stored map information based on the data distributed from the map distribution server 3. Although described, a terminal other than the navigation device 5 may be used as long as the terminal has a storage medium storing map information. For example, instead of the navigation device 5, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like may be used.

  Here, the map distribution server 3 updates the old version of the map information stored in the navigation device 5 to a new version of map information reflecting newly established or abolished roads and facilities ( Hereinafter, it is a server that performs generation of map update information) and distribution of the generated map update information. In addition, as the update method of map information, all the map information memorize | stored in the navigation apparatus 5 is rewritten and updated (henceforth all update), and only the required part of map information is rewritten and updated (henceforth, There is a method called differential update. In addition, the map information includes information on points (POI) such as facilities (hereinafter referred to as point information), and it is possible to update the entire map information including the point information, or only the point information. It is also possible to update the target. And this embodiment demonstrated below demonstrates the example which updates the spot information contained in map information especially by difference update.

  The navigation device 5 is installed in the vehicle 4 that travels on each road in the country, displays a map around the vehicle position based on the stored map information, and searches and guides points that meet the conditions specified by the user. It is an in-vehicle device that performs a search for a route to a set destination, and travel guidance based on the searched route. Note that the map distribution server 3 may be configured to search for a route instead of the navigation device 5. Here, the map distribution server 3 and the navigation apparatus 5 use a vehicle communication module 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as a communication module 6) such as a mobile phone or a DCM mounted in advance on the vehicle 4, and thereby via the network 7. It is configured to be able to communicate in both directions, and transmits and receives various information such as a map update information distribution request and map update information to be described later.

In addition, the navigation device 5 sends the map distribution server 3 to the map distribution server 3 when a specific condition is satisfied (for example, when an ACC (accessory power supply) power supply is turned on or a guide route to the destination is set). Then, a map update information distribution request for updating the map information of a specific category (for example, a genre or area where the frequency of searching for point information in the navigation device 5 is high) is updated to a new version of map information.
Further, when the navigation apparatus 5 receives the map update information from the map distribution server 3 in response to the transmitted distribution request, the navigation apparatus 5 updates the map information to be stored based on the received map update information. The details of the map information update process will be described later.

Next, the map distribution server 3 included in the map information update system 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the map distribution server 3 includes a server control ECU 11, a server side map DB 12 as an information recording unit connected to the server control ECU 11, and a server side communication device 13.

  The server control ECU 11 (electronic control unit) is an electronic control unit that performs overall control of the map distribution server 3. The CPU 21 as an arithmetic device and a control device, and a working memory when the CPU 21 performs various arithmetic processes. In addition to the RAM 22 to be used and the control program, there are provided an internal storage device such as a ROM 23 in which a map information update processing program (see FIG. 9) described later is recorded, a flash memory 24 for storing a program read from the ROM 23, and the like. Yes.

  The server-side map DB 12 has basic map information 25, which is the latest map information that is registered based on input data and input operations from the outside and is updated when the map information stored in the navigation device 5 is updated. It is a storage means that is divided and stored for each version and each area (for example, administrative division unit or mesh unit). Furthermore, the point information regarding the point (POI) such as a facility included in the map information is also classified for each genre as described later. Here, the version is creation time information for specifying the time when the map information is created, and the time when the map information is created can be specified by referring to the version. In addition to the latest version of the basic map information 25, the old version of the basic map information 25 is stored in the server-side map DB 12 separately for each version and area.

  Here, the map information stored in the navigation device 5 and the basic map information 25 have basically the same configuration, and are used for route search, point search, route guidance, and map display including the road network. It has various necessary information. For example, link data relating to roads (links), node data relating to node points, intersection data relating to each intersection, point (POI) data relating to points such as facilities, map display data for displaying a map, search for searching for a route It consists of data, search data for searching points, etc.

  Here, as the point data, information related to a point serving as a departure point, a destination, a guidance target, and the like in the navigation device 5 is stored. For example, accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, refueling facilities such as gas stations, commercial facilities such as shopping malls, supermarkets, shopping centers, entertainment facilities such as theme parks and game centers, dining facilities such as restaurants, bars and taverns, and public facilities Information on parking facilities such as parking lots, transportation facilities, religious facilities such as temples and churches, public facilities such as museums and museums, and the like. In the following description, “point” is a superordinate concept including “facility”, and information related to a point to be set as a guidance target or destination is stored as point data in addition to the facility.

  The point data includes, for each point, a point number that is an identifier of the point, a point name that indicates the name of the point, a genre that indicates the genre of the point (such as “parking lot”, “post office”, “restaurant”), The position coordinates indicating the position of the location, the address of the address, the code number (for example, map code (registered trademark)) for specifying the position of the point on the map, and the like are included.

Note that the genres of points are hierarchized into a plurality of layers. Specifically, there are an upper genre, an intermediate genre, and a lower genre, and the intermediate genre is divided into a plurality of upper genres. The lower genre is divided into a plurality of middle genres. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a list of upper genres, middle genres, and lower genres defined as point types in the present embodiment.
Here, the higher genre is a higher concept genre, for example, “meal”, “store”, “car”, “accommodation”, “play”, “public”, “transport”, “culture”, “other”. Etc. On the other hand, the middle genre is a genre in the lower concept of the upper genre. For example, as the middle genre of “meal”, “restaurant”, “family restaurant”, “fast food”, “udon / soba”, etc. There is. In addition, the “general store” category includes “convenience store”, “super discount store”, “department store”, “home center”, and the like. Further, the lower genre is a genre in a lower concept of the middle genre. For example, as the lower genre of “fast food”, there are “hamburger”, “gyudon”, and the like. In addition, “convenience store” subordinate genres include “convenience store chain” and “convenience store Δ chain”.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of point data.
For example, in the example of point data shown in FIG. 3, a convenience store A store (genre: store / convenience store / convenience store chain) corresponding to the point number: “10001” is installed at the point of coordinates (x1, y1). It shows that. Further, it is shown that a parking lot (genre: car / parking lot / coin parking) corresponding to the facility number: “10002” is installed at the point of coordinates (x2, y2). Similarly, information on other points is also stored.

  Then, as will be described later, when there is a navigation device 5 that performs update of map information, the server control ECU 11 is a classification (area or genre of point information, etc.) to be updated in the navigation device 5, Hereinafter, the update target section) is specified, map update information for updating the map image of the update target section is generated, and distributed to the target navigation device 5. The map update information is data for differentially updating the map information of the update target classification among the map information stored in the navigation device 5 to a new version of map information.

  The server side communication device 13 is a communication device for communicating with the navigation device 5 via the network 7. Here, as the network 7, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, a mobile phone network, a telephone network, a public communication network, a dedicated communication network, a communication network such as the Internet Etc. can be used. A communication system using CS broadcasting, BS broadcasting, terrestrial digital television broadcasting, FM multiplex broadcasting, or the like by a broadcasting satellite can also be used. Furthermore, a communication system such as a non-stop automatic fee payment system (ETC) or a narrow area communication system (DSRC) used in an intelligent road traffic system (ITS) can also be used.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 5 mounted on the vehicle 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the navigation device 5 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the navigation device 5 according to the present embodiment includes a current position detection unit 31 that detects the current position of the vehicle 4 on which the navigation device 5 is mounted, and a data recording unit 32 that records various data. A navigation ECU 33 that performs various arithmetic processes based on the input information, an operation unit 34 that receives operations from the user, a liquid crystal display 35 that displays a guide route to a map and a destination for the user, Communication that communicates between the speaker 36 that outputs voice guidance related to route guidance, the DVD drive 37 that reads a DVD that is a storage medium, and the map distribution server 3 or a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center. Module 6.

Below, each component which the navigation apparatus 5 has is demonstrated in order.
The current position detection unit 31 includes a GPS 41, a vehicle speed sensor 42, a steering sensor 43, a gyro sensor 44, and the like, and can detect the current vehicle position, direction, vehicle traveling speed, current time, and the like. . Here, in particular, the vehicle speed sensor 42 is a sensor for detecting a moving distance and a vehicle speed of the vehicle, generates a pulse according to the rotation of the driving wheel of the vehicle, and outputs a pulse signal to the navigation ECU 33. And navigation ECU33 calculates the rotational speed and moving distance of a driving wheel by counting the pulse which generate | occur | produces. In addition, it is not necessary for the navigation device 5 to include all the four types of sensors, and the navigation device 5 may include only one or a plurality of types of sensors.

  Further, the data recording unit 32 reads out an external storage device and a hard disk (not shown) as a recording medium, a navigation side map DB 45, a version management DB 46, a search count DB 47, a predetermined program, etc. recorded on the hard disk and a hard disk And a recording head (not shown) which is a driver for writing predetermined data. The data recording unit 32 may be configured to include a memory card, an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD, instead of the hard disk.

  Here, the navigation side map DB 45 is a storage means for storing navigation map information 48 used for travel guidance in the navigation device 5.

  Here, the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation-side map DB 45 has various information necessary for route search, route guidance, and map display including the road network, similar to the basic map information 25 described above. For example, link data relating to roads (links), node data relating to node points, intersection data relating to each intersection, point (POI) data relating to points such as facilities, map display data for displaying a map, search for searching for a route It consists of data, search data for searching points, etc.

  And the navigation apparatus 5 can search a spot using especially spot data among navigation side map DB45. Specifically, the user designates an area (prefecture or city), genre, name, address, code number, postal code, telephone number, etc. as search conditions, and uses the point data shown in FIG. A point corresponding to the specified search condition is searched, and point data regarding the point corresponding to the search condition is extracted from the navigation map information 48. Then, by displaying a list of the name of the point that matches the search condition, the distance from the current position, the required time, etc., information on the point is guided to the user. In addition, when the user performs an operation of setting a point where the user is guided as a destination or waypoint, it is also possible to set a guide route where the point is set as a destination or waypoint.

  In particular, when selecting a genre as a point search condition, the user basically first selects a higher genre to which guidance is desired, and further requests guidance from medium genres belonging to the selected higher genre. The middle genre to be selected is selected, and then the lower genre desired to be guided is selected from the lower genres belonging to the selected middle genre. However, it is not always necessary to select a lower genre, and only a higher genre or a middle genre can be selected.

  Then, the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation side map DB 45 is updated to a new version of map information by rewriting the data of the corresponding location to new data based on the map update information distributed from the map distribution server 3. Is done. The specific update process of the navigation map information 48 will be described later in detail.

  The version management DB 46 is a storage means for recording the version of the navigation map information 48 currently stored in the navigation side map DB 45 for each area (for each area and each genre with respect to the spot information). The version management DB 46 is updated as the navigation map information 48 is updated to a new version of map information based on the map update information distributed from the map distribution server 3. Further, the version management DB 46 may be configured to be provided in the map distribution server 3.

  In addition, the search count DB 47 is a storage unit that stores the number of times (hereinafter referred to as a search count number) designated as a search condition when a user searches for a point for each point category. In the present embodiment, the number of search counts is specifically counted in area units and genre units. In the present embodiment, the area unit is counted in units of prefectures (upper category) and municipalities (lower category). On the other hand, the genre unit count is performed in the upper genre unit, the middle genre unit, and the lower genre unit.

  Specifically, when the user designates an area such as a prefecture or a municipality as a search condition, the designated area is counted up. For example, A city is counted up when A city is designated as the search condition, and B prefecture is counted up when B prefecture is designated as the search condition.

  Further, when the user designates an address, a code number, and a zip code as a search condition, an area including a point or area specified by the address, code number, and zip code is counted up. In this embodiment, when an address, a code number, and a postal code are designated as search conditions, the count is incremented in units of municipalities, but may be in units of prefectures.

  On the other hand, when the user designates a genre as a search condition, the designated genre is counted up. For example, if “restaurant” is specified as a medium genre as a search condition, “restaurant” is counted up, and “hamburger” is specified as a low genre as a search condition. Up.

  Here, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams showing an example of the search count number for each section stored in the search count DB 47. FIG. 5 shows the search count number in area units and FIG. 6 shows the search count number in genre units. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the search count DB 47 stores the search count number of each section in association with each section. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, “A city” is designated twice as a search condition when searching for a point, and “B city” has not been designated so far. Note that the search count number of each section stored in the search count DB 47 is initialized at regular intervals. For example, the navigation map information 48 is initialized every time the difference is updated or every three months.

  On the other hand, the navigation ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 33 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire navigation device 5, and includes a CPU 51 as an arithmetic device and a control device, and a working memory when the CPU 51 performs various arithmetic processes. As well as a RAM 52 for storing route data when a route is searched, a control program, a later-described search count processing program (see FIG. 8), and a map information update processing program (see FIG. 9). ) Etc. are recorded, and an internal storage device such as a flash memory 54 for storing a program read from the ROM 53 is provided. Further, the navigation ECU 33 has various means as processing algorithms. For example, the facility search means searches the map information for point information corresponding to the search condition input by the user among the point information included in the map information. The map updating means updates the point information included in the map information to a new version of information in units of divisions that classify facilities or points. The search counting means counts the number of times specified in the search condition for each section for classifying the spot information.

  On the other hand, the operation unit 34 is operated when inputting a starting point as a travel start point, a destination as a travel end point, a search condition for a point search, and the like, and a plurality of operation switches such as various keys and buttons (see FIG. Not shown). Then, the navigation ECU 33 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. The operation unit 34 may have a touch panel provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 35. Moreover, you may have a microphone and a speech recognition apparatus.

  The liquid crystal display 35 also includes a map image including roads, traffic information, search results for point information, operation guidance, operation menu, key guidance, guidance route from the departure point to the destination, and guidance information along the guidance route. News, weather forecast, time, mail, TV program, etc. are displayed. Instead of the liquid crystal display 35, HUD or HMD may be used.

  In addition, the speaker 36 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route based on an instruction from the navigation ECU 33 and traffic information guidance.

  The DVD drive 37 is a drive that can read data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or a CD. Then, music or video is reproduced based on the read data. In addition, it is good also as a structure provided with HDD and a memory card reader instead of the DVD drive 37. FIG.

  The communication module 6 is a communication device for receiving information such as map update information, route information, and traffic information transmitted from the map distribution server 3, VICS (registered trademark) center, probe center, and the like. For example, a mobile phone or DCM is applicable.

Next, update processing of the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation device 5 having the above configuration will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation device 5 is updated when the map information of a predetermined update target section is updated, and the navigation stored in the navigation-side map DB 45 of the navigation device 5 is used. The case where the version of the update target section of the map information 48 is “4” and the latest version of the update target section of the basic map information 25 owned by the map distribution server 3 is “5” will be described.
In this case, the map distribution server 3 generates the map update information 55 by comparing the basic map information 25 of the version “4” and the version “5” stored in the server-side map DB 12. The map update information 55 may be generated after a request for distribution of the map update information 55 is received from the navigation device 5, but the map update information 55 for updating the map information in units of sections is generated in advance. It is good also as a structure stored in server side map DB12. When the map update information 55 is stored in the server-side map DB 12 in advance, the map update information 55 of the update target category is sent to the server-side map after the navigation device 5 requests distribution of the map update information 55. It is set as the structure extracted from DB12. Note that the map update information 55 generated or extracted in this case is the map information of the update target classification from the version “4” to the version “5” in the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation-side map DB 45 of the navigation device 5. Is the data to be updated.
Then, the map distribution server 3 distributes the generated or extracted map update information 55 to the navigation device 5 that is the distribution request source. On the other hand, the navigation device 5 that has received the map update information 55 updates the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation-side map DB 45 using the received map update information 55. As a result, among the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation side map DB 45 of the navigation device 5, the navigation map information 48 of the update target category is updated from the version “4” to the version “5”.

  Next, a search count processing program executed by the navigation device 5 in the map information update system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the search count processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the search count processing program is executed after the ACC power supply (accessory power supply) of the vehicle 4 is turned on, and the number of times specified as a search condition when the user searches for a point in area units or genre units. It is a program that counts. The programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9 below are stored in the RAM and ROM provided in the navigation device 5 and the map distribution server 3, and are executed by the CPU 21 or the CPU 51.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, the CPU 51 searches for the search conditions input by the user based on the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation-side map DB 45 and the search conditions input by the user. A point search process is performed for searching for point information corresponding to the from the navigation map information 48. Search conditions that can be input by the user include area (prefecture and city), genre, name, address, code number, postal code, telephone number, and the like. It is also possible to input a plurality of search conditions as AND conditions or OR conditions. In the point search process of S1, the CPU 51 extracts the point information related to the point corresponding to the search condition from the navigation map information 48 and guides it using the liquid crystal display 35 and the speaker. For example, a list of the name of the spot, the distance from the current position, the required time, etc. is displayed on the liquid crystal display 35. Thereafter, when the user performs an operation of setting the guided point as the destination or waypoint, it is possible to set a guide route in which the point is set as the destination or waypoint.

  Subsequently, in S2, the CPU 51 determines whether or not any of an area, an address, a code number, and a postal code is included as a search condition input by the user in the spot search process of S1.

  If it is determined that any of the area, name, address, code number, and postal code is included as a search condition input by the user in the point search process of S1 (S2: YES), the process proceeds to S3. And migrate. On the other hand, when it is determined that any of the area, name, address, code number, and postal code is not included as the search condition input by the user in the point search process of S1 (S2: NO), The process proceeds to S4.

  In S3, the CPU 51 counts up the number of search counts in the section corresponding to the search condition input by the user in the spot search process in S1. Specifically, when the user designates an area such as a prefecture or a municipality as a search condition, the designated area is counted up. On the other hand, when the user designates an address, a code number, and a zip code as a search condition, an area including a point or area specified by the address, code number, and zip code is counted up. In the present embodiment, when an address, code number, and postal code are designated as search conditions, the count is incremented in units of municipalities. When a plurality of search conditions are input, the number of search counts for a plurality of sections corresponding to each search condition is counted up.

  The current search count number is divided into area units hierarchized by prefectures and municipalities, and is managed in the search count DB 47 (FIG. 5).

  Next, in S4, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the genre of the spot is included as a search condition input by the user in the spot search process of S1.

  If it is determined that the genre of the spot is included as a search condition input by the user in the spot search process of S1 (S4: YES), the process proceeds to S5. On the other hand, when it is determined that the genre of the spot is not included as the search condition input by the user in the spot search process of S1 (S4: NO), the search count process program is terminated.

  In S <b> 5, the CPU 51 counts up the search count number of the section corresponding to the search condition input by the user in the spot search process of S <b> 1. Specifically, the genre designated as a search condition by the user is counted up. In the present embodiment, any one of the upper genre, middle genre, and lower genre can be designated as a search condition, and the count is also divided into the upper genre, middle genre, and lower genre. When a plurality of search conditions are input, the number of search counts for a plurality of sections corresponding to each search condition is counted up.

  The current search count number is divided into genre units that are hierarchized by upper genre, middle genre, and lower genre, and is managed in the search count DB 47 (FIG. 6).

  Then, the CPU 51 performs the difference update of the navigation map information 48 by a map information update processing program (see FIG. 9) described later based on the search count number counted in S3 and S5. Note that the search count number of each section stored in the search count DB 47 is initialized at regular intervals. For example, the map information update processing program (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, initializes the navigation map information 48 at a difference update timing or every several months.

  Next, a map information update processing program executed by the map distribution server 3 and the navigation device 5 in the map information update system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the map information update processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the map information update processing program is executed when the map information is updated in the navigation device 5 (for example, when an ACC (accessory power supply) power source is turned on or a guide route to the destination is set). This is a program for updating the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation side map DB 45 based on the map update information distributed from the map distribution server 3. In the following description, an example in which the spot information included in the map information is updated by differential update will be described.

  First, a map information update processing program executed by the CPU 51 of the navigation device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S <b> 11, the CPU 51 reads the search count number for each section from the search count DB 47. The search count DB 47 stores the search count number (number of times specified as the search condition by the point search) classified by area or genre by the above-described search count processing program (FIG. 8) (FIG. 5). , FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the number of search counts is counted in each genre unit that constitutes an area unit, upper genre, middle genre, and lower genre of prefectures and municipalities.

  Next, in S <b> 12, the CPU 51 specifies an update target category to be updated of the navigation map information 48 based on the search count number for each category read from the search count DB 47 in S <b> 11. At that time, the CPU 51 specifies the update target category in preference to the category with the large search count number. Specifically, a predetermined number (for example, 10) of categories is specified as the update target category in descending order of the search count.

  In S <b> 12, the CPU 51 also identifies the higher-level category in which the total number of search counts of the lower-level category is a predetermined number or more (for example, 50 times or more) as the update target category. In other words, a category with a large number of subordinate categories is specified as an update target category with priority over a small category. For example, in the example of the area classification shown in FIG. 5, when the total number of search counts of A city, B city, etc. included in A prefecture is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the entire A prefecture, which is the upper classification, is set as the update target classification. To do. In the example of the genre category shown in FIG. 6, when the total number of search counts such as “restaurant” and “hamburger” included in “meal” is a predetermined number or more, the genre of “meal” that is the upper category The whole is the update target category.

  In addition, if the update target category is given priority over the category with a large number of search counts, the update target category may be specified based on other criteria. For example, all the sections whose search count number is greater than or equal to a threshold (for example, 10 times or more) may be specified as the update target section. In addition, if the area around the user's home or a guidance route is set, the area around the destination or the area around the guidance route may be included in the update target classification.

  Subsequently, in S <b> 13, the CPU 51 transmits a map update information distribution request to the map distribution server 3. The map update information distribution request includes a user ID for identifying the user who has transmitted the distribution request, information on the update target classification identified in S12, and information for identifying the current version of the navigation map information 48. included. The current version of the navigation map information 48 is managed by the version management DB 46.

  Next, in S14, the CPU 51 receives the map update information transmitted from the map distribution server 3 in response to the distribution request. The map update information is data for updating the point information of the update target classification from the current version to the new version among the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation side map DB 45 of the navigation device 5 (see FIG. 7). ).

  Thereafter, in S15, the CPU 51 updates the navigation map information 48 stored in the navigation side map DB 45 based on the map update information received in S14. As a result, in the navigation map information 48, the point information of the update target classification is rewritten with new data contents and updated to a new version of the point information.

  Next, a map information update processing program executed by the CPU 21 of the map distribution server 3 will be described.

  First, in S <b> 21, the CPU 21 receives a distribution request for map update information transmitted from the navigation device 5. The distribution request for map update information includes a user ID that identifies the user who is the transmission source of the distribution request, information about the update target classification that is the classification target of the location information, and the navigation apparatus 5 that is the distribution request source. Information specifying the current version of the stored navigation map information 48 is included.

  Next, in S <b> 22, the CPU 21 extracts point information included in the update target segment from the latest version of the basic map information 25 stored in the server-side map DB 12. When there are a plurality of update target sections, the point information is extracted for each of the plurality of update target sections, and the extracted pieces of point information are merged.

  Thereafter, in S23, the CPU 21 generates map update information for updating the spot information of the update target section based on the spot information extracted in S22. The map update information may be generated at the timing of S23 when the map update information is requested from the navigation device 5, but map update information for updating the map information in units of segments is generated in advance. It is good also as a structure stored in server side map DB12. In that case, in S23, the CPU 21 is configured to extract the map update information of the update target category from the server-side map DB 12. Since the map update information generation process is already known, the details are omitted.

  Subsequently, in S24, the CPU 21 transmits the map update information generated in S23 to the navigation device 5 that is the transmission source of the map update information distribution request. As a result, in the navigation device 5 that has received the map update information, the navigation map information 48 that the navigation device 5 has is updated (S15).

  As explained in detail above, in the map information update system 1 according to the present embodiment, the navigation device 5 constituting the map information update system 1 and the computer program executed by the map information update system 1, the navigation device 5 When a search is performed, the number of times specified in the search condition is counted for each section for classifying the spot information (S3, S5), and the spot information included in the map information is updated to a new version of information. Since the point information is updated by giving priority to the division with a large number of counts over the division with a small number (S11 to S15), it is possible to appropriately update the point information of the division required by the user. Become. For example, it is possible to preferentially update the spot information related to the area where the user frequently travels and the genre that the user is interested in.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the navigation device 5 performs the process of counting the search count number (S3, S5), but the map distribution server 3 may perform the process. In that case, the information which specifies the division corresponding to the search condition input in S1 is transmitted from the navigation device 5 to the map distribution server 3, and the map distribution server 3 sets the search count number for each division for each user. It is desirable to be configured to manage. Furthermore, in that case, it is desirable that the map distribution server 3 also performs the update target segment identification processing (S12).

  In this embodiment, the search count is counted and the point information is updated in units of prefectures and municipalities. However, in units of meshes, narrower or wider area units (for example, Kanto region, town or street unit) ), The number of search counts may be counted and the location information may be updated. In this embodiment, the area is divided into two layers of prefecture units and municipalities. However, the area may be divided into three or more layers by adding narrower and wider area units. Is also possible.

  In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the navigation device 5 is used as a terminal that stores map information and updates the map information stored based on data distributed from the map distribution server 3. Instead of the navigation device 5, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like may be used.

  Moreover, although the Example which actualized the map information update system which concerns on this invention was demonstrated above, the map information update system can also have the following structures, and there exists the following effect in that case.

For example, the first configuration is as follows.
Of the point information related to the facility or point included in the map information (48), the facility search means (51) for searching for point information corresponding to the search condition input by the user from the map information, and included in the map information Map update means (51) for updating point information to a new version of information in units of facilities or points that categorize points, and for each category that divides the point information specified by the facility search means as a search condition And a search counting means (51) for counting the number of times, and the map updating means updates the spot information by giving priority to a section having a large number of times counted by the search counting means over a section having a small number.
According to the map information update system having the above configuration, when the point information included in the map information is updated to new point information, it often corresponds to the search condition when the user has searched for a facility or a point in the past. Since the point information of the section to be updated is preferentially updated, it is possible to appropriately update the point information of the section required by the user.

The second configuration is as follows.
The division unit for dividing the point information is an area unit including a facility or a point.
According to the map information update system having the above-described configuration, it is possible to update the point information appropriately for an area where the user frequently travels and an area where the user is interested.

The third configuration is as follows.
In the facility search means (51), an address, a code number specifying a position on the map, or a zip code is input as a search condition, and the search count means (51) is an address, code number or The area including the point or area specified by the zip code is counted as the area designated as the search condition by the facility search means (51).
According to the map information update system having the above configuration, when an address, a code number specifying a position on the map, or a zip code is input as a search condition, the area corresponding to the input search condition is preferentially updated. It becomes possible to target.

The fourth configuration is as follows.
The division unit for dividing the point information is a genre unit of the facility or the point.
According to the map information update system having the above-described configuration, it is possible to update the spot information appropriately for the genre of the spot or facility in which the user is interested.

The fifth configuration is as follows.
The point information division is hierarchized into a plurality of layers, and the point information is updated with priority given to a division with a large number of subordinate divisions over a small division.
According to the map information update system having the above-described configuration, the point information is updated for a broader category including a similar category for a segment with a particularly large number of times specified as a search condition. It becomes possible to update the location information appropriately without omission.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Map information update system 2 Map distribution center 3 Map distribution server 4 Vehicle 5 Navigation apparatus 11 Server 12 Server side map DB
21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
25 Basic map information 33 Navigation ECU
45 Navi side map DB
47 Search count DB
48 Navi Map Information 51 CPU
52 RAM
53 ROM

Claims (7)

A facility search means for searching for point information corresponding to a search condition input by the user from among the point information related to facilities or points included in the map information,
Map update means for updating the point information included in the map information to a new version of information in a unit of division for classifying facilities or points;
Search count means for counting the number of times specified as a search condition by the facility search means for each section for classifying the point information,
The map update unit is a map information update system in which the point information is updated by giving priority to a division with a large number of times counted by the search counting unit over a division with a small number.   The map information update system according to claim 1, wherein the division unit for dividing the point information is an area unit including a facility or a point. In the facility search means, an address, a code number specifying a position on a map or a zip code is input as a search condition,
3. The search counting unit counts an area including a point or a region specified by an address, a code number, or a zip code input as a search condition as an area designated by the facility search unit as a search condition. The map information update system described.   The map information update system according to claim 1, wherein the division unit for dividing the point information is a genre unit of a facility or a point. The point information is divided into a plurality of layers,
The map information update system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the point information is updated by giving priority to a division having a large count number of divisions belonging to lower ranks over a division having a small number. A facility search means for searching for point information corresponding to a search condition input by the user from among the point information related to facilities or points included in the map information,
Map update means for updating the point information included in the map information to a new version of information in a unit of division for classifying facilities or points;
Search count means for counting the number of times specified as a search condition by the facility search means for each section for classifying the point information,
The map update device is a map information update device that updates the point information by giving priority to a segment with a large number of times counted by the search counting unit over a segment with a small number. Computer
A facility search means for searching for point information corresponding to a search condition input by the user from among the point information related to facilities or points included in the map information,
Map update means for updating the point information included in the map information to a new version of information in a unit of division for classifying facilities or points;
A computer program for functioning as a search counting unit that counts the number of times specified as a search condition by the facility search unit for each section that classifies the point information,
The map update unit is a computer program for updating the point information by giving priority to a segment with a large number of times counted by the search counting unit over a segment with a small number.

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