JP4238708B2 - Map information distribution system, map information display device, and map information distribution center - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a map information distribution system configured such that a map information distribution center distributes map information to a map information display device, a map information display device used in the map information distribution system, and a map information distribution center.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is provided a map information distribution system configured such that an in-vehicle device updates map information by the map information distribution center distributing the latest map information to the in-vehicle device, for example (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).
JP 2000-258176 A

  However, in what is described in Patent Document 1 described above, after the vehicle travels a route obtained by route search, the latest map information related to the route is distributed from the map information distribution center to the in-vehicle device. Therefore, when the user travels the route obtained by the route search, the user is forced to travel while looking at the route displayed on the old map, which is inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to travel while looking at the route displayed on the latest map when the user travels the route obtained by route search. It is possible to provide a map information distribution system, a map information display device, and a map information distribution center that can improve convenience.

According to the invention described in claim 1, immediately after executing the route search, the map information display device transmits the version number of the map information related to the route obtained by the route search to the map information distribution center, and When the information distribution center receives the version number of the map information transmitted from the map information display device, the version number of the received map information is compared with the version number of the latest map information, and the two do not match. When the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center is received, the map information display device updates the map information. When the user confirms that he / she intends to update the map information, a distribution request signal for requesting the distribution of the map information is transmitted to the map information distribution center. When the distribution request signal transmitted is received, it delivers the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search on the map information display device. Then, when the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center is received, the map information display device executes the route search again using the received latest map information.

Thus, if the map information display device is an in-vehicle device that can be mounted on a vehicle, for example, the version number of the map information used when the in-vehicle device executes the route search matches the version number of the latest map information. Otherwise, the map information distribution center distributes the latest map information to the in-vehicle device, and the in-vehicle device performs the route search again using the latest map information received from the map information distribution center. When traveling on the route obtained by route search, it is possible to travel while looking at the route displayed on the latest map instead of traveling while looking at the route displayed on the old map. Can be increased. In addition, the user can select whether or not to receive the latest map information from the map information distribution center, and for example, by performing a key operation or voice confirmation to indicate that there is an intention to update the map information. The latest map information can be received from the information distribution center, and the route search can be executed again using the latest map information.

According to the invention described in claim 2 , the map information display device transmits the route search condition and the route search result to the map information distribution center immediately after executing the route search, and the map information distribution center displays the map information display. When the route search condition and the route search result transmitted from the device are received, the route search based on the received route search condition is executed using the latest map information, and the route search result and the map information display device If the route search result received from the map does not match, the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search is delivered to the map information display device, and the map information display device delivers from the map information delivery center. When the latest map information received is received, the route search is executed again using the received latest map information.

  Thereby, if the map information display device is an in-vehicle device that can be mounted on a vehicle, for example, the route search result obtained by the in-vehicle device performing the route search and the route information based on the route search condition received from the in-vehicle device by the map information distribution center If the search result does not match the route search result, the map information distribution center distributes the latest map information to the in-vehicle device, and the in-vehicle device uses the latest map information received from the map information distribution center. Since the search will be executed again, the user sees the route displayed on the old map when traveling on the route obtained by the route search in the same manner as described in claim 1 above. It is possible to travel while looking at the route displayed on the latest map instead of traveling while improving convenience.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , the map information distribution center does not match the route search result based on the route search condition received from the map information display device and the route search result received from the map information display device. When the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center is received, the map information display device updates the map information. When the user confirms that he / she intends to update the map information, a distribution request signal requesting distribution of the map information is transmitted to the map information distribution center, and the map information distribution center When the distribution request signal is received, the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search is distributed to the map information display device.

Thus, in the same manner as described in claim 1 , the user can select whether or not to receive the latest map information from the map information distribution center, and has an intention to update the map information. For example, by performing a key operation or voice confirmation, the latest map information can be received from the map information distribution center, and the route search can be executed again using the latest map information.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment in which a map information display device of the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle device that can be mounted on a vehicle will be described below with reference to FIGS. The first embodiment corresponds to the invention of claim 1 in the present invention.

  The in-vehicle device 2 includes a communication device 4 that receives map information distributed from the map information distribution center 3, and a navigation device 5. The navigation device 5 includes a control unit 6, a current position detection unit, and the like. 7, an operation unit 8, a display device 9, a vehicle information input unit 10, and a map information storage unit 11.

  The control unit 6 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O bus, and the like, and controls the overall operation of the navigation apparatus 5 and outputs a control signal to the communication device 4 to control the operation of the communication device 4. The current position detector 7 includes a GPS receiver that calculates various parameters included in a GPS signal received from a GPS satellite, a distance sensor that detects a distance, a gyroscope, and the like. Complement to detect the current position.

  The operation unit 8 includes, for example, a mechanical key disposed on an operation remote controller (not shown), a touch key displayed on the display device 9, and the like. The operation unit 8 receives an operation by the user and sends an operation signal to the control unit 6. Output. The display device 9 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a map, or displays a current position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle, a route obtained by route search, and the like on the map. The vehicle information input unit 10 inputs vehicle information such as the travel speed and travel distance of the vehicle and outputs the vehicle information to the control unit 6. The map information storage unit 11 stores the map information input from the communication device 4. In the above configuration, the communication device 4 and the navigation device 5 may be integrally configured.

  The map information distribution center 3 includes a control unit 12, a communication unit 13, a map information database 14, and a distribution history database 15, and is configured to function as a distribution server that distributes map information. The control unit 12 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O bus, and the like, and controls the overall operation of the map information distribution center 3. The communication unit 13 controls a communication operation through the base station 16 with the in-vehicle device 2. The map information database 14 stores the map information as a database, and the distribution history database 15 stores the map information distribution history as a database. The map information distribution center 3 can always hold the latest map information by connecting to a map information providing server managed by, for example, an organization that creates maps.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, it is assumed that both the map information distribution center 3 and the navigation device 5 are configured to be able to update the map information in units of meshes of a predetermined distance (for example, “10 kilometers”).

  In the in-vehicle device 2, when the control unit 6 detects that the user has performed an operation for setting the destination using the operation unit 8, the control unit 6 sets the destination according to the user's operation (step S <b> 1). A route search from the current position to the destination is executed (step S2). Next, the control unit 6 determines whether or not the automatic access mode is set (step S3), and when detecting that the automatic access mode is set ("YES" in step S3), from the route search The version number of the map information related to the obtained route is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3.

  More specifically, the control unit 6 obtains a route indicated by “P” in FIG. 3A as a result of executing the route search, and the version number of each mesh at that time is shown in FIG. ), The map information version number related to the route obtained from the route search is “(mesh 1: version number 1), (mesh 2: version number 1), ( Mesh 7: Version number 1), (Mesh 12: Version number 1), (Mesh 13: Version number 2), (Mesh 14: Version number 2), (Mesh 9: Version number 2), (Mesh 10: Version number) 1) "is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3.

  When the control unit 6 detects that the automatic access mode is not set ("NO" in step S3), the user performs an operation for transmitting the version number of the map information using the operation unit 8. When the effect is detected (“YES” in step S4), the version number of the map information related to the route obtained from the route search is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3.

  In the map information distribution center 3, when the version number of the map information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 is received by the communication unit 13, the control unit 12 displays the map information corresponding to the mesh of the received map information as map information. The version number of the map information read out from the database 14 and received from the in-vehicle device 2 is compared with the version number of the map information read out from the map information database 14, and it is determined whether or not the version numbers of all meshes match. Determination is made (step T1).

  More specifically, assuming that the version number of the map information read from the map information database 14 is set as shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 12 determines the route obtained from the route search. For each of the related mesh 1, mesh 2, mesh 7, mesh 12, mesh 13, mesh 14, mesh 9, and mesh 10 (mesh shown by hatching), it is determined whether the version numbers of the map information match. .

  Here, when detecting that the version numbers of all the meshes do not match (“NO” in Step T1), the control unit 12 specifies the meshes whose version numbers do not match (Step T2). More specifically, in this case, the control unit 12 specifies the mesh 7, the mesh 12, and the mesh 10 as meshes whose version numbers do not match. And the control part 12 transmits the update inquiry signal which inquires the update of map information to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 2 from the communication part 13. FIG.

  When the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center 3 is received by the communication device 4 in the in-vehicle device 2, for example, as shown in FIG. The display device 9 is displayed on the display device 9 to inquire about the update of the map information, “There is the latest map? When the control unit 6 detects that the user has performed an operation for responding to the update of the map information using the operation unit 8 (“YES” in step S6), the control unit 6 requests the distribution of the map information. A signal is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3.

  In the map information distribution center 3, when the distribution request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 is received by the communication unit 13, the control unit 12 confirms the user's intention to respond to the update of the map information (step T3). The latest relevant map information is distributed from the communication unit 13 to the in-vehicle device 2. In this case, the control unit 12 updates the distribution history database 15 with the latest map information being transmitted.

  Then, in the in-vehicle device 2, when the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center 3 is received by the communication device 4, the control unit 6 stores the received latest map information in the map information storage unit 11. The map information is updated by storing (overwriting) (step S7), and the route search is executed again using the latest map information (step S8).

  By performing the series of processes described above, the user can receive an update inquiry signal from the map information distribution center 3 when the version number of the map information related to the route obtained by the route search is not the latest. Will be received by the in-vehicle device 2 and the latest map information is received from the map information distribution center 3 by performing an operation for responding to the update of the map information, and the received latest map information is received. Route search can be performed again.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 5, in the map information distribution center 3, the control unit 12 determines the version number of the map information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 and the version number of the map information read from the map information database 14. If it is detected that all the mesh version numbers are the same (“YES” in step T1), the map displayed on the in-vehicle device 2 becomes the latest map, so that it is not necessary to update the map information. An update unnecessary notification signal to be notified is transmitted from the communication unit 13 to the in-vehicle device 2

  In the in-vehicle device 2, when the communication unit 4 receives the update unnecessary notification signal transmitted from the map information distribution center 3, for example, as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to update the map. ”A display screen notifying that it is not necessary to update the map information is displayed on the display device 9 (step S9).

  In the above-described configuration, the map information distribution center 3 and the navigation device 5 are not limited to the configuration in which the map information is updated in units of meshes. It may be configured to update in units of a predetermined radius at the center, or may be configured to use both updating in units of meshes and updating in units of intersections. Further, the operation for setting the destination and the operation for responding to the update of the map information may use voice recognition.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the map information distribution system 1, the in-vehicle device 2 performs the version number of the map information related to the route obtained by the route search immediately after executing the route search. Is transmitted to the map information distribution center 3, and the map information distribution center 3 determines that the route obtained by the route search if the version number of the map information received from the in-vehicle device 2 does not match the version number of the latest map information. Since the latest map information related to is distributed to the in-vehicle device 2, and the in-vehicle device 2 is configured to execute the route search again using the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center 3, When the user travels a route obtained by route search, the user can travel while looking at the route displayed on the latest map, and convenience can be improved.

  In addition, the map information distribution center 3 transmits an update inquiry signal for inquiring update of map information to the in-vehicle device 2, and the in-vehicle device 2 receives the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center 3. If the user is asked to update the map information and confirms that the user intends to update the map information, a distribution request signal for requesting the distribution of the map information is transmitted to the map information distribution center 3, and the map information distribution center 3 is configured to distribute the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search to the in-vehicle device 2 when the distribution request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 is received. It is possible to select whether or not to receive the latest map information from the information distribution center 3, and by performing an operation indicating that there is an intention to update the map information, the map information distribution center From it is possible to receive the latest map information, it is possible to execute the route search by using the latest map information again.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the same part as above-mentioned 1st Embodiment, and a different part is demonstrated. This second embodiment corresponds to the invention of claims 2 and 3 according to the present invention. In the first embodiment described above, the case where the in-vehicle device 2 transmits the version number of the map information to the map information distribution center 3 is described. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the in-vehicle device The device 2 performs route search and transmits route search conditions and route search results to the map information distribution center 3.

  That is, in the in-vehicle device 2, when the control unit 6 detects that the user has performed an operation for setting the destination using the operation unit 8, the control unit 6 sets the destination according to the user's operation (step S <b> 11). When the route search is executed (step S12) and it is detected that the automatic access mode is set ("YES" in step S13), the route search condition is changed from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3 in this case. Then, the route search result is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3.

  Also in this case, when the control unit 6 detects that the automatic access mode is not set ("NO" in step S13), the user transmits the route search condition and the route search result using the operation unit 8. When it is detected that an operation has been performed ("YES" in step S14), the route search condition is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the map information distribution center 3, and then the route search result is transmitted from the communication device 4. It is transmitted to the map information distribution center 3.

  In the map information distribution center 3, when the route search condition transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 is received by the communication unit 13, the control unit 12 performs route search based on the received route search condition with the latest map information. (Step T11). Then, when the route search result transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 is received by the communication unit 13, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the own route search result matches the route search result received from the in-vehicle device 2. (Step T12), and if it is detected that the two do not match ("NO" in step T12), the mesh that does not match the route search result is identified (step T13), and the update that queries the update of the map information An inquiry signal is transmitted from the communication unit 13 to the in-vehicle device 2, and thereafter, the same processing as that described in the first embodiment is performed (steps S15 to S18, step T14).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the map information distribution center 3, the control unit 12 detects that its own route search result matches the route search result received from the in-vehicle device 2 (in step T12). “YES”), since the map displayed on the in-vehicle device 2 is the latest map, the communication unit 13 transmits an update unnecessary notification signal to notify that the update of the map information is unnecessary. In this case, the same processing as that described in the first embodiment is performed thereafter (step S19).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the map information distribution system 1, the in-vehicle device 2 transmits the route search condition and the route search result to the map information distribution center 3 immediately after executing the route search. When the route search condition and the route search result transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 are received, the map information distribution center 3 executes the route search based on the received route search condition using the latest map information. If the route search result and the route search result received from the in-vehicle device 2 do not match, the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search is distributed to the in-vehicle device 2, and the in-vehicle device 2 When the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center 3 is received, the route search is executed again using the received latest map information. As described above, when the user travels on the route obtained by the route search, the user travels while viewing the route displayed on the latest map in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. Can improve convenience.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The map information display device is not limited to an in-vehicle device that can be mounted on a vehicle, and may be a portable terminal that can be carried by a person.

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. Sequence Diagram Figure showing an example of map information Figure showing an example of the display screen 2 equivalent diagram Sequence diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention 6 equivalent diagram

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a map information distribution system, 2 is an in-vehicle device (map information display device), and 3 is a map information distribution center.

Claims (5)

A map information distribution system configured to distribute map information to a map information display device by a map information distribution center,
The map information display device transmits the version number of the map information related to the route obtained by the route search to the map information distribution center immediately after executing the route search,
When the map information distribution center, when the version number of the map information transmitted from the map information display device is received, where the version number of the version number and latest map information of the received map information does not match the map An update inquiry signal for inquiring information update is sent to the map information display device,
When the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center is received, the map information display device inquires the user about the update of the map information and confirms that the user has an intention to update the map information. Send a distribution request signal requesting the distribution of to the map information distribution center,
The map information distribution center distributes the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search to the map information display device when the distribution request signal transmitted from the map information display device is received ,
When the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center is received, the map information display device performs a route search again using the received latest map information. . A map information distribution system configured such that a map information distribution center distributes map information to a map information display device,
The map information display device transmits the route search condition and the route search result to the map information distribution center immediately after executing the route search,
When the route search condition and the route search result transmitted from the map information display device are received, the map information distribution center executes a route search based on the received route search condition using the latest map information, When the route search result and the route search result received from the map information display device do not match, the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search is distributed to the map information display device,
Map information display device, the latest map information distributed from the map information distribution center is received, the map information delivery system and executes the route search again using the latest map information that received . In the map information distribution system according to claim 2,
The map information distribution center, when the map information display device or we received route route search results based on the search condition and the route search is received from the map information display device results do not match, query the update of the map information The update inquiry signal to match is sent to the map information display device,
When the update inquiry signal transmitted from the map information distribution center is received , the map information display device inquires the user about the update of the map information, and confirms that there is an intention to update the map information. Send a distribution request signal requesting the distribution of to the map information distribution center,
The map information distribution center distributes the latest map information related to the route obtained by the route search to the map information display device when the distribution request signal transmitted from the map information display device is received. Map information distribution system. A map information display device used in the map information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A map information distribution center used in the map information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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