JP2021139811A - On-vehicle unit, map information update system, method for updating map information, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To update map information in a more appropriate position where usage of map information is not interrupted.SOLUTION: The present invention includes: a storage unit for storing map information of a whole map; an update region determination unit for determining an update possible region having update map information for update, which is a region located in a predetermined range from the position of an own vehicle and having the most time to spare for updating the map, as an update region of the map, of a plurality of map regions formed by dividing the whole map; and a communication unit for acquiring update map information of the determined update region; and a map update region for updating the map information in the storage unit by using the update map information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an on-board unit, a map information updating system, a map information updating method and a program.

Patent Document 1 describes the navigation system as follows: "The map acquisition timing determination unit calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle based on the vehicle position measured by GPS. The traveling speed and map information are acquired from the server of the map information distribution device. The distance traveled by the vehicle while the map is being updated is calculated based on the update time required for this purpose, and the direction of travel of the vehicle is calculated based on the vehicle position measured by GPS, and the vehicle travels to the edge of the displayed map. Calculate the road distance to be used. If this road distance and the travel distance are compared and match, new map information is acquired from the server and the map is updated. By this, the map on which the vehicle is displayed is displayed. When you drive to the end, the acquisition of new map information is completed and the map update is completed, so you can update the map without creating blanks while avoiding the acquisition of maps with overlapping areas. " ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-14472

The navigation system of Patent Document 1 displays the range of the map next when the moving distance of the moving object while updating the map and the road distance traveled by the moving object from the current position to the edge of the map match. Is set and the map is to be updated. However, in such a navigation system, since map information is not delivered from the server unless the moving object approaches the target area, there may be a problem that the map cannot be updated in time due to a change in vehicle speed and the map cannot be used.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to update the map information of a more appropriate position that does not interfere with the use of the map information.

The present application includes a plurality of means for solving at least a part of the above problems, and examples thereof are as follows. The vehicle-mounted device according to one aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a storage unit that stores map information of the entire map and updated map information for updating among a plurality of map areas that are subdivided from the entire map. There is an updateable area, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map update time. It includes a communication unit for acquiring updated map information in an updated area, and a map updating unit for updating the map information in the storage unit using the updated map information.

Further, the update area determination unit updates the map information based on the difference between the time required to move from the vehicle position to the updateable area and the transfer time when the update map information is transferred from the predetermined device. You may calculate the time allowance.

Further, the update area determination unit determines the required time based on the distance from the position of the own vehicle to the center point of the updatable area or the position closest to the updatable area of the own vehicle and the average vehicle speed of the own vehicle. May be calculated.

Further, a display unit for displaying predetermined information is further provided, and the update area determination unit can update the map of the area by including the area in which the vehicle is located in the updatable area via the display unit. If a predetermined period has elapsed since then and a predetermined period has elapsed since the vehicle-mounted device was last started, a predetermined message prompting the update of the map of the area may be displayed.

Further, the map information updating system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an in-vehicle device and a mobile terminal, and the in-vehicle device has a storage unit for storing map information of the entire map and the entire map is subdivided. Of a plurality of map areas, the updateable area having updated map information for updating, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin for updating the map, is used to update the map. An update area determination unit that determines an area, a communication unit that acquires the determined update map information of the update area, a map update unit that updates the map information in the storage unit using the update map information, and a map update unit. The mobile terminal includes an updatable area notification unit that notifies the in-vehicle device of information about the updatable area, and the updated map information obtained by acquiring the updated map information corresponding to the updated area from a predetermined device. It includes a communication unit that transmits information to the vehicle-mounted device.

Further, the update area determination unit of the vehicle-mounted device determines the map based on the difference between the time required to move from the position of the own vehicle to the updateable area and the transfer time when the update map information is transferred from the predetermined device. You may calculate the time allowance for updating the information.

Further, in the map information updating method according to one aspect of the present invention, the in-vehicle device updates the entire map among the storage step for storing the map information of the entire map and the plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map. It is determined as an update area determination step that determines the update area with map information, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map update time, as the update area of the map. A communication step for acquiring the updated map information of the updated area and a map updating step for updating the map information stored in the storage step using the updated map information are performed.

Further, the on-board unit is based on the difference between the time required to move from the position of the own vehicle to the updatable area in the update area determination step and the transfer time when the update map information is transferred from the predetermined device. The time allowance for updating the map information may be calculated.

Further, in the program according to one aspect of the present invention, the in-vehicle device has a storage unit for storing map information of the entire map and updated map information for updating among a plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map. An update area determination unit that determines an updatable area that is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin for updating the map as an update area of the map, and the determined update area. It functions as a communication unit that acquires the updated map information of the area and a map updating unit that updates the map information in the storage unit by using the updated map information.

Further, based on the difference between the time required to move from the position of the own vehicle to the updatable area and the transfer time when the updated map information is transferred from the predetermined device to the update area determination unit, the map information is updated. The time allowance may be calculated.

According to the present invention, it is possible to update the map information of a more appropriate position that does not interfere with the use of the map information.

Issues, configurations, effects, and the like other than the above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

It is a figure which showed an example of the schematic structure of the vehicle-mounted device and the mobile terminal which a map information update system has. It is a figure which showed an example of the hardware composition of an in-vehicle device and a mobile terminal. It is a flow chart which showed an example of the update area determination process. It is a figure which showed an example of various information included in the updatable area information schematically. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated distance from the own vehicle position to the representative point of each update area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated required time to move from the own vehicle position to the representative point of each updatable area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated data transfer time of each update map information corresponding to an updatable area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated time margin of map update. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated distance from the own vehicle position to the nearest point of each update area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated required time to move from the own vehicle position to the nearest point of each updatable area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated data transfer time of each update map information corresponding to an updatable area. It is a figure which showed an example of the calculated time margin of map update. It is a flow chart which showed an example of the update proposal processing of an unupdated map.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an on-board unit 100 and a mobile terminal 200 included in the map information updating system 1000 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the on-board unit 100 and the mobile terminal 200 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other by, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) which is one of the short-range wireless communication standards. Further, the mobile terminal 200 is connected to the server device 300 via a predetermined network N so as to be able to communicate with each other. The network N is, for example, a public network such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

The on-board unit 100 is a device mounted on a vehicle and used. Specifically, the on-board unit 100 may be a navigation device that provides so-called navigation functions such as displaying map information, searching for a recommended route, and guiding a route to a destination, or an application program (hereinafter, referred to as an "application"). ) Is read to provide various functions such as an audio function and a navigation function according to the type of application. DA (Display Audio). It is assumed that the vehicle-mounted device 100 also includes a tablet terminal in which an application that provides a navigation function is installed and the user brings it into the vehicle and uses it in the same manner as DA. Further, the mobile terminal 200 is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

The map information update system 1000 according to the present embodiment updates the map information previously held by the vehicle-mounted device 100 by using the updated map information acquired via the mobile terminal 200. Conventionally, the map information is updated by using a CD-ROM or the like in which the updated information for the entire map is stored. Therefore, although the update frequency was limited (for example, once a year), in recent years when wireless communication technology such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) has become widespread, a part of the map is not the whole map but a part of the map. The form of updating has become common, and the frequency of updating has increased dramatically compared to the past.

On the other hand, if there is a problem with the stability and communication speed of wireless communication, or if the on-board unit is not activated for a long period of time, it may take time to download or update the map information. Further, during the update of the map information, since the function using the map information cannot be provided, there is a problem that the convenience of the in-vehicle device is lowered. In order to improve such problems of wireless communication stability and communication speed and prevent deterioration of convenience, the on-board unit according to the present embodiment uses the updated map information once downloaded to the mobile terminal to provide map information. To update.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted device 100 includes an input receiving unit 101, a display unit 102, a storage unit 110, a calculation unit 120, and a communication unit 130.

The input receiving unit 101 is a functional unit that receives various instruction inputs via the input device included in the vehicle-mounted device 100. For example, the input receiving unit 101 receives from the user the input of the setting information of the destination and the input of the instruction regarding the update of the map information via the input device.

The display unit 102 is a functional unit that generates screen information to be displayed on the display device included in the vehicle-mounted device 100. Further, the display unit 102 outputs the generated screen information to the display device.

The storage unit 110 is a functional unit that stores various information. For example, the storage unit 110 stores map information 111 used for the navigation function and an application (not shown) for realizing various functions when the vehicle-mounted device 100 is DA.

The calculation unit 120 is a functional unit that performs various calculation processes executed by the vehicle-mounted device 100. Specifically, the calculation unit 120 has an update area determination unit 121 and a map update unit 122.

The update area determination unit 121 is a functional unit that determines the update area of the map. Specifically, the update area determination unit 121 executes the update area determination process using predetermined information (updateable area information described later) regarding the updatable map area acquired from the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 130. , Determine the update area of the map that should be updated with priority. The details of the update area determination process will be described later.

The map update unit 122 is a functional unit that updates the map information 111. Specifically, the map update unit 122 acquires the update map information 212 corresponding to the map update area determined by the update area determination unit 121 from the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 130. Further, the map updating unit 122 updates the map information 111 in the storage unit 110 by using the acquired updated map information 212.

The communication unit 130 is a functional unit that performs information communication with an external device (for example, a mobile terminal 200). For example, the communication unit 130 acquires predetermined information (updatable area information), which is information about an updatable map area, from the mobile terminal 200. Further, the communication unit 130 acquires the update map information 212 corresponding to the update area of the map determined by the update area determination unit 121 from the mobile terminal 200.

The functional configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 100 has been described above.

The mobile terminal 200 has a storage unit 210, a control unit 220, and a communication unit 230.

The storage unit 210 is a functional unit that stores various information. For example, the storage unit 210 stores the application 211 for executing a predetermined process related to updating the map between the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the server device 300. Further, the storage unit 210 stores the updated map information 212 acquired from the server device 300. The updated map information 212 is the updated information of the map generated for each area in which the entire map is subdivided. For example, the updated map information 212 includes an area ID that identifies the corresponding area, coordinate information (latitude / longitude information) of each point including a representative point in the area, and the data size of the updated map information 212 of the corresponding area. , Updates and are included.

The control unit 220 is a functional unit that controls various functions of the mobile terminal 200. The control unit 220 has an update map acquisition unit 221 and an updateable area notification unit 222.

The updated map acquisition unit 221 is a functional unit that acquires updated map information 212 from an external device (for example, a server device 300). Specifically, the update map acquisition unit 221 periodically (for example, every few minutes or every few hours) transmits a signal inquiring about the presence or absence of the update map information 212 to the server device 300 via the communication unit 230. .. Further, when the updated map information 212 is available, the updated map acquisition unit 221 acquires such information from the server device 300 and stores it in the storage unit 210.

The updatable area notification unit 222 is a functional unit that notifies that there is map update information by generating updatable area information that is information about an updatable map area and transmitting it to the vehicle-mounted device 100. Specifically, the updatable area notification unit 222 extracts the area ID, the coordinate information of each point in the area, and the data size of the updated map information 212 from the updated map information 212 acquired from the server device 300. Generate updatable area information including each extracted information. Further, the updatable area notification unit 222 transmits the updatable area information to the vehicle-mounted device 100 via the communication unit 230.

The functional configuration of the mobile terminal 200 has been described above.

Next, the hardware configurations of the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the mobile terminal 200. As shown in the figure, the on-board unit 100 electrically connects the input device 401, the display device 402, the arithmetic unit 403, the main storage device 404, the auxiliary storage device 405, the communication device 406, and these devices to each other. It has a bus 407 that connects to.

The input device 401 is a hard switch such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad. The display device 402 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic display.

The arithmetic unit 403 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The main storage device 404 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The auxiliary storage device 405 is a non-volatile storage device such as a so-called hard disk (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory capable of storing digital information.

The communication device 406 is a communication module that performs wired communication via a network cable or a communication module that performs wireless communication via an antenna. The communication device 406 performs information communication with the mobile terminal 200 according to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth.

Further, as shown in the figure, the mobile terminal 200 has an input device 501, a display device 502, an arithmetic unit 503, a main storage device 504, an auxiliary storage device 505, a communication device 506, and these devices. It has a bus 507 that is electrically connected. have.

The input device 501 is a hard switch such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad. The display device 502 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic display.

The arithmetic unit 503 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The main storage device 504 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The auxiliary storage device 505 is a non-volatile storage medium such as an SD memory card capable of storing digital information.

The communication device 506 is a communication module that performs wireless communication via an antenna. The communication device 506 performs information communication with the vehicle-mounted device 100 by, for example, Bluetooth. Further, the communication device 506 performs information communication with an external device (server device 300) connected to the network N.

The arithmetic unit 120 of the on-board unit 100 is realized by a program that causes the arithmetic unit 403 to perform processing. This program is stored in the main storage device 404 or the auxiliary storage device 405, is loaded on the main storage device 404 when the program is executed, and is executed by the arithmetic unit 403. Further, the storage unit 110 is realized by the main storage device 404, the auxiliary storage device 405, or a combination thereof. Further, the communication unit 130 is realized by the communication device 406.

Further, the control unit 220 of the mobile terminal 200 is realized by a program (in this example, the application 211 stored in the storage unit 210) that causes the arithmetic unit 503 to perform processing. This program is stored in the main storage device 504 or the auxiliary storage device 505, is loaded on the main storage device 504 when the program is executed, and is executed by the arithmetic unit 503. Further, the storage unit 210 is realized by the main storage device 504, the auxiliary storage device 505, or a combination thereof. Further, the communication unit 230 is realized by the communication device 506.

Further, each of the above-mentioned configurations, functions, processing units, processing means and the like of the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them by, for example, an integrated circuit. Further, the above configuration and functions may be realized by software by the processor interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function.

The hardware configurations of the on-board unit 100 and the mobile terminal 200 have been described above.

[Explanation of operation]
Next, the update area determination process executed by the vehicle-mounted device 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the update area determination process. Such processing is started when the update area determination unit 121 acquires the updateable area information from the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 130.

When the process is started, the update area determination unit 121 extracts the area ID, the coordinate information in the area, and the data size of the corresponding update map information 212 from the updatable area information (step S001).

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of various information included in the updatable area information. As shown, areas 10, 14-16, 20-22 and 26-28 are updatable areas. Further, around the updatable area, areas that are not updatable areas (areas 1-9, 11-13, 17-19, 23-25, 29-36) are conveniently represented. Further, in each updatable area, the coordinate information of the representative point (for example, the mark M1 of the area 14) and the data size of the corresponding updated map information 212 are associated with each other. The mark M2 indicates the position of the own vehicle (the current location of the vehicle on which the on-board unit 100 is mounted). The current location of the vehicle may be calculated using, for example, information output from a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device mounted on the vehicle.

Next, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the distance from the own vehicle position (current location) to each updatable area (step S002). Specifically, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the distance (straight line distance) from the current location to the representative point of each update area using the coordinate information of each point.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated distance from the position of the own vehicle to the representative point of each update area. In the illustrated example, it is shown that the distance from the vehicle position to the representative point of the area ID = 10 is calculated as 2.37 km, and the distance to the representative point of the area ID = 14 is calculated as 1.76 km. ..

Next, the update area determination unit 121 can update each from the own vehicle position (current location), targeting the updatable area within a predetermined range (for example, the distance to the representative point is within 100 km) from the own vehicle position (current location). The time required to move to the representative point of the area is calculated (step S003). For example, the update area determination unit 121 acquires a pulse signal output by the vehicle speed sensor from CAN (Control Area Network) via the communication unit 130, and calculates the vehicle speed using this. The vehicle speed may be determined by the average speed of a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.). Alternatively, the update area determination unit 121 uses the road information (link information) included in the map information 111 to reach each representative point from the link length and legal speed of each link connecting the vehicle position to each representative point. The required time may be calculated. Further, the update area determination unit 121 may calculate the required time to each representative point in consideration of the traffic jam information. The reason why the updatable area within a predetermined range from the own vehicle position (current location) is targeted is that the map of the updatable area closer to the own vehicle position should be prioritized for updating.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated required time required for moving from the position of the own vehicle to the representative point of each updatable area. In the illustrated example, the time required from the vehicle position to the representative point of the area ID = 10 was calculated as 426 (sec), and the time required to the representative point of the area ID = 14 was calculated as 316 (sec). Is shown.

Next, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the data transfer time of each update map information 212 corresponding to the updatable area (step S004). Specifically, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the line speed and the transmission efficiency between the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 by transmitting and receiving test information to and from the mobile terminal 200. Further, the update area determination unit 121 specifies the data size of the update map information 212 corresponding to each updatable area from the updatable area information. Further, the update area determination unit 121 uses a predetermined calculation formula (for example, data transfer time = data size (data capacity) ÷ line speed × transmission efficiency) to update map information between the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the mobile terminal 200. Calculate the data transfer time of 212.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated data transfer time of each updated map information 212 corresponding to the updatable area. In the illustrated example, the data transfer time of the updated map information 212 corresponding to the area ID = 10 is calculated as 120 (sec), and the data transfer time of the updated map information 212 corresponding to the area ID = 14 is 80 (sec). It shows that it was calculated.

Next, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the time margin for updating the map (step S005). Specifically, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the time margin for map update by using the required time and the data transfer time calculated in step S003 and step S004, respectively. More specifically, the update area determination unit 121 maps a value obtained by subtracting the data transfer time of the corresponding update map information 212 of the updateable area from the time required from the vehicle position to the representative point of the updateable area. Calculated as the time allowance for updating.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated time margin of map update. In the illustrated example, it is shown that the time margin for map update in the area ID = 10 was calculated as 306 (sec), and the time margin for map update in the area ID = 14 was calculated as 236 (sec). ing. The time margin for updating the map in the area ID = 28 is -9 (sec). This indicates that the vehicle arrives at the representative point of the area before the data transfer of the updated map information 212 of the area ID = 28 is completed.

Next, the update area determination unit 121 determines the update area of the map (step S006). Specifically, the update area determination unit 121 determines the updateable area having the highest time margin for map update as the map update area. The update area determination unit 121 excludes the updateable area in which the calculated time margin is a negative value from the target. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the area ID = 28 is excluded from the target, and the updatable area of the area ID = 10 having the highest time margin is determined as the update area of the map.

Next, the map update unit 122 updates the map of the determined updatable area (step S007). Specifically, the map updating unit 122 acquires the updated map information 212 corresponding to the determined updatable area from the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 130. Further, the map updating unit 122 updates the corresponding map area of the map information 111 in the storage unit 110 by using the acquired updated map information 212. When the update process is completed, the map update unit 122 returns the process to step S002. In step S002, which is performed again, the already updated area is excluded from the target and processing is performed.

The update area determination process has been described above.

According to this, it is possible to update the map information of a more appropriate position that does not interfere with the use of the map information.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, the time margin for updating the map was calculated using the time required from the position of the own vehicle to the representative point of the updatable area, but in the second embodiment, the update closest to the position of the own vehicle. The point of the possible area is specified, and the time margin for updating the map is calculated using the time required to reach such a point. A detailed description of the same configuration and processing as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and different configurations and processing will be mainly described below.

In step S002 of the update area determination process shown in FIG. 3, the update area determination unit 121 according to the present embodiment sets the coordinate information included in the updateable area information at the point closest to the updateable area from the own vehicle position (current location). It is specified using and the distance to such a point (straight line distance) is calculated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated distance from the position of the own vehicle to the nearest point of each update area. In the illustrated example, it is shown that the distance from the vehicle position to the nearest point of the area ID = 10 is calculated as 60.25 km, and the distance to the nearest point of the area ID = 14 is calculated as 10.74 km. ing.

Further, in step S003 described above, the update area determination unit 121 targets the updatable area within a predetermined range (for example, within 100 km) from the own vehicle position (current location), and each updatable area from the own vehicle position (current location). Calculate the time required to move to the nearest point of.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated required time required for moving from the position of the own vehicle to the nearest point of each updatable area. In the illustrated example, the time required from the vehicle position to the nearest point of the area ID = 10 is calculated as 10800 (sec), and the time required to the nearest point of the area ID = 14 is calculated as 1800 (sec). It shows that.

Further, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the data transfer time of each update map information 212 corresponding to the updatable area in the same manner as in step S004 described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated data transfer time of each updated map information 212 corresponding to the updatable area. In the illustrated example, the data transfer time of the updated map information 212 corresponding to the area ID = 10 is calculated as 4114 (sec), and the data transfer time of the updated map information 212 corresponding to the area ID = 14 is 20571 (sec). It shows that it was calculated.

Further, the update area determination unit 121 calculates the time allowance for map update in the same manner as in step S005 described above.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the calculated time margin of map update. In the illustrated example, the time margin for map update in the area ID = 10 was calculated as 6686 (sec), and the time margin for map update in the area ID = 14 was calculated as -18771 (sec). Shown.

Further, the map update unit 122 determines the updateable area having the highest time margin for map update as the map update area, as in step S006 described above. For example, in the example of FIG. 12, the updatable area of the area ID = 15 having the highest time margin is determined as the update area of the map.

The map update unit 122 updates the map information 111 of the determined update area, and then returns the process to step S002 again, as in the first embodiment.

The update area determination process according to the second embodiment has been described above.

According to this, it is possible to update the map area at a more appropriate position that does not interfere with the use of map information. In particular, in the present embodiment, the time margin for updating the map is calculated using the required time obtained for the point in each updatable area closest to the position of the own vehicle. Therefore, the map information of the determined update area can be updated more reliably without hindering the use of the map information.

The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, when the user operates only in a narrow range such as a neighborhood, the map information 111 in such a range may not be determined as the update area. In such a case, the vehicle-mounted device 100 displays a message prompting the map update of such an area. Specifically, the on-board unit 100 executes the update proposal process of the unupdated map.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of update proposal processing of the unupdated map. As shown in the figure, the update area determination unit 121 uses the updateable area information to include an area in which the vehicle is located (for example, a garage of the vehicle or a map area where the user's address is located) in the updateable area. It is determined whether or not (step S011). As described above, the position of the own vehicle may be calculated using the information output from the GPS receiving device.

Then, when it is determined that a certain area of the own vehicle is not included in the updatable area (No in step S011), the update area determination unit 121 ends the process of this flow. On the other hand, when it is determined that the area is included in the updatable area (Yes in step S011), the update area determination unit 121 waits for a predetermined period (for example, one month to several months) after the area becomes updatable. It is determined whether or not it has passed (step S012). Whether or not the predetermined period has passed may be determined by, for example, the update area determination unit 121 may inquire of the mobile terminal 200 about the date and time when the update map information 212 of the area is acquired from the server device 300, or the predetermined period is specified. Information for this may be included in the updatable area information in advance.

Then, when it is determined that the predetermined period has not elapsed (No in step S012), the update area determination unit 121 ends the processing of this flow. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (Yes in step S012), the update area determination unit 121 has set the update area determination unit 121 for a predetermined period (for example, one month to several) from the previous operation, that is, the previous start-up of the on-board unit 100. It is determined whether or not (months) have passed (step S013). Whether or not the predetermined period has elapsed can be determined, for example, by inquiring the update area determination unit 121 to a predetermined functional unit (not shown) that stores the activation log of the vehicle-mounted device 100 via the communication unit 130. good.

Then, when it is determined that the predetermined period has not elapsed (Yes in step S013), the update area determination unit 121 ends the process of this flow. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (No in step S013), the update area determination unit 121 prompts the update of the map information 111 for such an area via the display unit 102 (for example,). , "There is information to update the map around here. Please press" Yes "to update it.") Is displayed on the display device 402 (step S014).

Further, when the update area determination unit 121 performs the process of step S014, the process of this flow ends.

In this way, it is possible to notify a user who drives only in a narrow area such as a neighborhood that the map near his / her home has not been updated and prompt the user to update the map. In addition, such a message may be displayed on the display device 502 (display) of the mobile terminal 200. For example, the update area determination unit 121 that has detected the above state generates screen information indicating a predetermined message via the display unit 102, and transmits the message to the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 130. A predetermined functional unit (not shown) of the mobile terminal 200 displays the acquired message on the display device 502 and prompts the user to update the map of the area.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 100 acquires the updateable area information and the updated map information 212 from the mobile terminal 200, but these information may be acquired directly from the server device 300. That is, the server device 300 may perform the processing performed by each functional unit of the mobile terminal 200. Even in this case, under the situation where wireless communication can be stably performed, the on-board unit 100 updates the map information of a more appropriate position that does not interfere with the use of the map information, as in the case of acquiring the information from the mobile terminal 200. can do.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and includes various embodiments and modifications in addition to these. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one including all the described configurations. Further, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of a certain embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment or a modification, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of a certain embodiment. Further, it is possible to add / delete / replace other configurations with respect to a part of the configurations of each embodiment.

100 ... In-vehicle device, 101 ... Input reception unit, 102 ... Display unit, 110 ... Storage unit, 111 ... Map information, 120 ... Calculation unit, 121 ... Update area determination Unit, 122 ... Map update unit, 130 ... Communication unit, 200 ... Mobile terminal, 210 ... Storage unit, 211 ... App, 212 ... Update map information, 220 ... Control Unit, 221 ... Update map acquisition unit, 222 ... Updateable area notification unit, 300 ... Server device, 401 ... (In-vehicle device) input device, 402 ... (In-vehicle device) display Device, 403 ... (in-vehicle device) arithmetic device, 404 ... (in-vehicle device) main storage device, 405 ... (in-vehicle device) auxiliary storage device, 406 ... (in-vehicle device) communication Device, 407 ... (on-board device) bus, 501 ... (portable terminal) input device, 502 ... (portable terminal) display device, 503 ... (portable terminal) arithmetic device, 504 ... Main storage device (of mobile terminal), 505 ... Auxiliary storage device (of mobile terminal), 506 ... Communication device (of mobile terminal), 507 ... Bus (of mobile terminal), N. ··network

Claims (10)

A storage unit that stores map information of the entire map,
Among the plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map, the updateable area having updated map information for updating, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map updating time. An update area determination unit that determines the updateable area as the update area of the map,
A communication unit that acquires the updated map information of the determined update area, and
An on-board unit including a map updating unit that updates the map information in the storage unit using the updated map information. The on-board unit according to claim 1.
The update area determination unit
The time margin for updating the map information is calculated based on the difference between the time required to move from the vehicle position to the updateable area and the transfer time when the updated map information is transferred from the predetermined device. A featured in-vehicle device. The on-board unit according to claim 2.
The update area determination unit
The vehicle-mounted vehicle is characterized in that the required time is calculated based on the distance from the position of the own vehicle to the center point of the updatable area or the position of the own vehicle to the nearest point of the updatable area and the average vehicle speed of the own vehicle. vessel. The on-board unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
It also has a display unit that displays predetermined information.
The update area determination unit is via the display unit.
When the map area where the own vehicle is located is included in the updatable area, a predetermined period has passed since the map in the map area can be updated, and a predetermined period has passed since the last start of the on-board unit. , An on-board unit characterized by displaying a predetermined message prompting the update of the map of the map area. A map information update system that has an on-board unit and a mobile terminal.
The on-board unit
A storage unit that stores map information of the entire map,
Among the plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map, the updateable area having updated map information for updating, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map updating time. An update area determination unit that determines the updateable area as the update area of the map,
A communication unit that acquires the updated map information of the determined update area, and
A map update unit that updates the map information in the storage unit using the updated map information is provided.
The mobile terminal
An updatable area notification unit that notifies the in-vehicle device of information about the updatable area, and
A map information updating system including a communication unit that acquires the updated map information corresponding to the updated area from a predetermined device and transmits the acquired updated map information to the vehicle-mounted device. The map information updating system according to claim 5.
The update area determination unit of the vehicle-mounted device is
The time margin for updating the map information is calculated based on the difference between the time required to move from the vehicle position to the updateable area and the transfer time when the updated map information is transferred from the predetermined device. A featured map information update system. It is a map information update method performed by the in-vehicle device.
The on-board unit
A memory step to memorize the map information of the whole map,
Among the plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map, the updateable area having updated map information for updating, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map updating time. The update area determination step that determines the updateable area as the update area of the map, and
A communication step for acquiring the determined update map information of the update area, and
A map information updating method, characterized in that a map updating step of updating the map information stored in the storage step is performed using the updated map information. The map information updating method according to claim 7.
The on-board unit
In the update area determination step, the time required to update the map information is based on the difference between the time required to move from the vehicle position to the updateable area and the transfer time when the updated map information is transferred from the predetermined device. A map information update method characterized by calculating the margin. A program that makes a computer function as an in-vehicle device
The on-board unit
A storage unit that stores map information of the entire map,
Among the plurality of map areas subdivided from the entire map, the updateable area having updated map information for updating, which is within a predetermined range from the position of the own vehicle and has the most margin in the map updating time. An update area determination unit that determines the updateable area as the update area of the map,
A communication unit that acquires the updated map information of the determined update area, and
A program characterized in that it functions as a map update unit that updates the map information in the storage unit by using the updated map information. The program according to claim 9.
In the update area determination unit,
The time margin for updating the map information is calculated based on the difference between the time required to move from the vehicle position to the updateable area and the transfer time when the updated map information is transferred from the predetermined device. Characterized program.

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