JP6312493B2 - Difference map data creation device, difference map data creation method, and difference map data distribution system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a difference map data creating apparatus for creating difference map data, a difference map list creating apparatus for creating a difference map list for creating difference map data, a difference map data creating method for creating difference map data, and The present invention relates to a difference map data distribution system that distributes difference map data to information terminal devices such as car navigation that uses difference map data created by a difference map data creation device.

Digitized map data for information terminal devices such as car navigation devices is changing due to road laying and new building construction. By reflecting the map data (difference map data) changed by such an event to the map data provided in the information terminal device (map difference update), it is possible to execute route guidance using a newly opened road. . When the difference map data size increases, the processing load on the information terminal device such as data distribution or car navigation system increases, so the difference map data size becomes a problem.
Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 includes update order information that defines the difference map data by dividing the difference map data for each map data type and further defines from which type of map data the difference update is performed. It is disclosed that a difference is updated from necessary map data.

JP 2009-175252 A

  When the difference map data size is large, it takes time for the difference update processing to apply the difference map data in the information terminal device such as a car navigation system to the map database of the information terminal device, and occupies the CPU resource of the information terminal device during that time. This may affect other processes such as music playback and map display. In addition, when the difference map data is distributed using a communication line such as the Internet, there is a problem that a long time is required for data communication when the data size is large or the communication speed is low.

  In order to solve such a problem, the technique such as Patent Document 1 discloses that the difference map data is divided for each map data type as described above. The division unit of the map data type is large such as map drawing data, route search data, and guidance data, and there is a problem that the difference map data size does not become small. Moreover, in order to execute the navigation function, map data that must be stored is determined. For example, when performing route guidance, only the route search data is updated, and the right and left turn locations and names, When the guidance data storing voice and the like is not updated, there is a problem that the route guidance function may not be able to execute the operation assumed by the navigation system.

  The present invention solves such a problem, and provides a differential map data creation device and differential map data for creating differential map data for updating map data in accordance with the priority order of differential updates set as necessary. To provide a difference map list creation device that creates a difference map list for creation, a difference map data creation method, and a difference map data delivery system that delivers difference map data created by the difference map data creation device Objective.

The present invention is a differential map data creation device for creating differential map data when performing differential update to a map database used by an information terminal device based on a new map database and an old map database respectively composed of new and old map data. The difference map data extraction unit that extracts the map data after new and old difference extraction, which is the difference between the old map database and the new map database, and the map data type after the new and old difference extraction extracted by the difference map data extraction unit Based on the map data type classification difference map data classification section, the first priority information indicating the priority of the difference update, and the second priority indicating the difference update priority different from the first priority information based on the priority information, create update unit information to create an update unit information to determine an update unit for performing a difference update And a difference map data generation unit that generates difference map data based on the difference map data after classification by the map data type classified by the difference map data classification unit and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit. Bei example, the second priority information, and characterized by the information terminal apparatus is information that defines a map data type required for each function of the function type or an information terminal device indicating the functions performed by using the map data To do .

  According to the present invention, the difference map data is created based on the priority order of the difference update set as necessary, and the map data is updated based on the difference map data. It can be performed.

It is a block diagram of the difference map data creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The structure of the map data in Embodiment 1 of this invention is shown. It is a figure explaining the structure of the geometric information of a feature. It is a figure which shows the structure of the geometric information list which shows the geometric information of a some feature. It is a figure explaining the structure of the phase information of a feature. It is a figure explaining the structure of the attribute information which shows the characteristic of a feature. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the difference map data creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process of step ST001 of FIG. 7 by a difference map data extraction part in detail. It is a flowchart explaining the process of step ST002 of FIG. 7 by a difference map data classification | category part in detail. It is an example of the block diagram of the category definition information in case map data is a road. In the case of road data, it is a figure which shows an example to which the flag of whether it corresponds to each category for every feature which comprises the map data after new and old difference extraction was provided. It is a flowchart explaining the process of step ST003 of FIG. 7 by an update unit information preparation part in detail. It is a figure which shows an example of priority information. In Embodiment 1, it is a flowchart explaining in detail the process of step ST004 of FIG. 7 by the difference map data generation part. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the difference map data in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the difference map data creation method in Embodiment 1 of this invention. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the information terminal device using the difference map data which the difference map data creation apparatus produced. It is a block diagram of the information terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the difference map data update in the information terminal device of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the difference map data creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the difference map data creation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. In Embodiment 2 of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the difference map data after map data classification classification which a difference map data classification | category part outputs. It is a flowchart explaining the process of step ST003 of FIG. 7 by the update unit information preparation part of Embodiment 2 of this invention in detail. In Embodiment 2 of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the priority information which an update unit information preparation part reads. It is a figure explaining an example of function definition information. It is a figure which shows an example of the update unit information in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining in detail the process of step ST105 of FIG. 21 by the difference map list production | generation part of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the difference map list | wrist in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the difference map data creation method in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the difference map data delivery system which delivers difference map data from an information delivery apparatus to the information terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the difference map data update in the information terminal device of Embodiment 3 of this invention. In Embodiment 4 of this invention, it is a block diagram of the difference map data delivery system which delivers difference map data from an information delivery apparatus to an information terminal device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a difference map data creation device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the difference map data creation device 100 includes an old map DB (database) 101, a new map DB 102, a difference map data extraction unit 103, a category information setting unit 104, and a difference map data classification unit 105. An update unit information creation unit 106, a difference map data generation unit 107, and a difference map DB 108.
Here, the difference map data creation device 100 is configured to include the old map DB 101, the new map DB 102, and the difference map DB 108, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided outside.

The old map DB 101 and the new map DB 102 record map data.
The difference map data extraction unit 103 extracts the difference data (map data after new and old difference extraction) from the old map DB 101 and the new map DB 102.
The category information setting unit 104 refers to category definition information in which map data is defined in advance for each category, sets category information based on the category definition information, and is stored in a memory or a storage device included in the difference map data creation device 100. Store temporarily. The category information includes, for example, classification according to attributes (in this case, road type) of map data such as highways, national roads, prefectural roads, and municipal roads when the map data type is road. The map data is categorized according to the attributes required for the functions of the information terminal device (details will be described later) such as the amount of change in road shape and building data in the area, that is, the amount of difference map data change, route guidance and route search. Information.

The difference map data classification unit 105 classifies the old and new difference extracted map data extracted by the difference map data extraction unit 103 based on the category information set by the category information setting unit 104.
The update unit information creating unit 106 creates update unit information for determining the update unit from the priority information indicating the priority order of the difference update in the information terminal device.
The difference map data generation unit 107 creates difference map data based on the categorized difference map data classified by the difference map data classification unit 105 and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106. The difference map data created by the difference map data generation unit is stored in the difference map DB 108.
The difference map DB 108 stores difference map data.

Here, the configuration of the map data will be described.
FIG. 2 shows the structure of the map data in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The old map DB 101 and the new map DB 102 are a set of map data having the map data configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the old map DB 101 and the new map DB 102 will be collectively described below as a map database (map DB 20).
As shown in FIG. 2, the map DB 20 includes a set of map components (hereinafter referred to as a feature 21), and the feature 21 includes geometric information, attribute information, and phase information.
Geometric information is information in which coordinates indicating position information consisting of latitude and longitude expressing the shape are arranged, attribute information is information indicating the feature of the feature, and phase information indicates the connection between the features. Information, which can be combined. For example, phase information and attribute information are used to indicate a road network, and geometric information and attribute information are used to indicate a road shape. The geometric information and the phase information are managed as an array, and are associated with attribute information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the geometric information of the feature 21.
As shown in FIG. 3, the main types of geometric information (geometric information type 31) include point (point) data representing city points, representative points of place names, lines such as rivers, bus routes, contour lines, etc. There are polyline (line) data that expresses and polygon (surface) data that expresses closed space such as house drawings, parks, and lakes. As attribute information expressing these features, for example, in the case of roads, road types such as national roads, prefectural roads, municipal roads, road widths, road names, and the like are defined as attribute information.
As described above, the geometric information and the attribute information are associated with each other. Note that phase information and attribute information are also associated in the same manner.
The geometric information is composed of an array of coordinate points constituting the shape of the feature, and the coordinates are expressed by numerical information defined by a latitude / longitude or a plane rectangular coordinate system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the geometric information list 41 indicating the geometric information of the plurality of features 21.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the geometric information list 41 includes, in addition to an array of coordinate points indicating geometric information, type information indicating the type of geometric shape, a feature ID for uniquely identifying the feature, and the like. Can be managed. In addition to the contents shown in FIG. 4, the geometric information list 41 may be expressed by encrypting and compressing the array of coordinate values from the security aspect depending on the characteristics of the map data. .

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the phase information of the feature 21.
As shown in FIG. 5, the phase information expresses the connection between features, and is expressed by nodes and links. The phase information manages network data such as a road network and a railway network. A node is a node constituting a network such as an intersection, and a link is a connection between nodes.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of attribute information indicating the characteristics of the feature 21.
As shown in FIG. 6, the attribute information includes a feature ID that identifies the target feature 21 and a plurality of types of attributes that indicate the features of the feature 21. The attribute value type includes various information that characterizes the feature 21 such as a numerical value, a character string, and an image. A set of attribute information for the plurality of features 21 is an attribute information list.

As described above, the map data described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 is a magnetic disk or the like for each map data type such as road data, background map data, road network data, and POI (Point of Interest) data constituting the map data. Are stored in a storage device (HDD: HARD DISK DRIVE).
The new map DB 102 and the old map DB 101 are databases in which map data is stored with the above-described configuration.
In the difference map DB 108, from the new map DB 102 and the old map DB 101, the difference map data creation device 100 has deleted the newly added feature 21, the feature 21 in which the geometry and attributes of the feature 21 have been changed, and the deleted feature map 21. Difference map data, which is data obtained by extracting the difference, is stored for the feature 21. The difference map DB 108 is stored in a storage device (HDD: HARD DISK DRIVE) having a magnetic disk or the like for each map data type such as road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the difference map data. The

Operation | movement of the difference map data creation apparatus 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the difference map data creation device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The difference map data extraction unit 103 extracts difference data (map data after new and old difference extraction) from the old map DB 101 and the new map DB 102 (step ST001).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the processing of step ST001 of FIG. 7 by the difference map data extraction unit 103.
The difference map data extraction unit 103 reads the old map DB 101 in which the old map data is stored (step ST1).
Next, the difference map data extraction unit 103 reads the new map DB 102 in which the new map data is stored (step ST2).
The difference map data extraction unit 103 compares the old map data read in step ST1 and the new map data read in step ST2 in units of features 21 (step ST3).
As a result of the comparison in step ST <b> 3, the difference map data extraction unit 103 calculates the difference for the newly added feature 21, the feature 21 whose feature or attribute has been changed, and the deleted feature 21. Extract (step ST4). Note that the map data extracted by the difference map data extraction unit 103 in step ST4 is assumed to be map data after new and old difference extraction here.

  The difference map data extraction unit 103 outputs new and old difference extracted map data (step ST5). The map data after new and old difference extraction is managed separately for each road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data. The map data after new and old difference extraction is temporarily stored in a memory provided in the difference map data creation device 100 or in a storage device, and used in processing by the difference map data classification unit 105 described later.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG.
In step ST001 of FIG. 7, when the difference map data extraction unit 103 extracts the map data after new and old difference extraction, the difference map data classification unit 105 reads the map data after new and old difference extraction extracted by the difference map data extraction unit 103, Classification is performed based on the category information set by the category information setting unit 104 (step ST002).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the processing of step ST002 of FIG. 7 by the difference map data classification unit 105.
The difference map data classification unit 105 reads the map data after new and old difference extraction that is output from the difference map data extraction unit 103 and temporarily stored in step ST001 of FIG. 7 (step ST11).
Next, the difference map data classification | category part 105 reads category information (step ST12).

Here, the category information will be described.
The category information is categorized by classification according to the attributes of the map data set based on the category definition information set in advance, the amount of data change in the map data after new and old difference extraction, the function of the information terminal device, etc. This is information used when categorizing the map data after new and old difference extraction. The category is set according to any one of the classification according to the attribute of the map data, the data change amount in the map data after extraction of the old and new differences, the function of the information terminal device, etc. set based on the category definition information set in advance. It may be divided, or one or more may be combined and categorized.
The category definition information set in advance may be used as the category information as it is, or the category information setting unit 104 may set the category information as appropriate.
A category can be assigned to a type constituting a map such as road data, background map data, road network data, POI data, and name data constituting map data. For example, if the map data is a road, the type of road such as an expressway, a national road, a prefectural road, the amount of change in road shape and building data in a certain area, and whether the difference is new, changed, or deleted Defined by viewpoint.

A category number is assigned to each category, and the assigned category number is a unique value for the entire map DB (the old map DB 101, the new map DB 102, and the difference map DB 108).
The category information setting unit 104 sets category information as appropriate based on the category definition information in which such categories are defined in advance. The category definition information is stored in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like based on a digital storage system such as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format or a text format.

FIG. 10 is an example of a configuration diagram of category definition information when the map data is a road.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the category definition information is divided into five categories, and in category 1, it is determined whether the road shape change amount is 20% or more by comparing the old and new road shapes.
In category 2, the difference content is determined based on whether the road has been newly established, the shape or attribute has been changed, or has been deleted due to abandoned road.
In category 3, it is determined whether the road type to be subjected to the difference is an expressway, a prefectural road, or a municipal road.
In category 4, it is determined how the regulation information of the road to be subjected to the difference is changed. For example, whether it corresponds to the category 4 is determined depending on whether the maximum speed has been changed, whether the speed has been changed to one-way, or the like, which influences the route search and route guidance.
In category 5, determination is made based on whether or not the priority set in advance based on the attributes of the map data is up to the fifth place.

  Here, an example of categorizing as shown in FIG. 10 is shown, but not limited to this, each category may be further subdivided. For example, the difference contents defined in category 2 in FIG. 10 may be further categorized by either new establishment, change, or deletion, or the road type defined in category 3 in FIG. In addition, highways, national roads, prefectural roads, and municipal roads may be further classified into categories.

The category information setting unit 104 reads out category definition information as shown in FIG. 10 from the storage device, and temporarily stores it as category information on a memory provided in the difference map data creation device 100 or in the storage device.
In step ST12, the difference map data classification unit 105 reads the category information temporarily stored.
Based on the category information read in step ST12, the difference map data classification unit 105 determines which of the categories corresponds to each feature 21 constituting the new and old difference extracted map data read in step ST11. Step ST13).
Based on the determination in step ST13, the difference map data classifying unit 105 assigns a flag indicating whether or not each category corresponds to each feature 21 constituting the new and old difference extracted map data read in step ST11 (step ST13). ST14).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a flag indicating whether or not each category corresponds to each feature 21 constituting the map data after extracting the new and old differences in the case of road data.
The difference feature ID shown in FIG. 11 is a unique ID that uniquely identifies the feature 21 stored in the new and old difference extracted map data. Further, for each feature 21, a flag indicating whether or not the category information set by the category information setting unit 104 corresponds to each category. In FIG. 11, a circle indicates that it corresponds to a category, and a blank indicates that it does not correspond to a category.

The difference map data classification unit 105 outputs the map data after new and old difference extraction (here, the difference map data after categorization) provided with a flag indicating whether or not the feature 21 corresponds to the category in step ST14. (Step ST15).
Although not shown in FIG. 11, the information shown in FIG. 11 is categorized by associating the new and old difference-extracted map data, that is, the component 21 information as described in FIG. The difference map data may be post-difference map data, or the information shown in FIG. 11 is used as difference map data after categorization, the map data after new and old difference extraction is managed separately, and is associated with the difference map data after categorization and the difference feature ID. You may keep it.

In addition, the categorized difference map data output in step ST15 is temporarily stored in a memory provided in the difference map data creation device 100 or in a storage device, and used in processing by the difference map data generation unit 107 described later. Is done.
Also, here, the case of road data has been described as an example with reference to FIG. 11, but the categorized difference map is classified by the difference map data classification unit 105 and is flagged as to whether it corresponds to category information. Data is created and output for each road data, background map data, road network data, POI data, and name data constituting the map data.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG.
When the difference map data extraction unit 103 outputs the categorized difference map data in step ST002 of FIG. 7, the update unit information creation unit 106 determines the update unit from the priority information indicating the priority order of the difference update in the information terminal device. Update unit information for determination is created (step ST003).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the process of step ST003 of FIG. 7 by the update unit information creation unit 106.
The update unit information creation unit 106 reads the priority information in descending order of priority (step ST21).

Here, priority information will be described.
The priority information is information indicating a priority order in applying the difference map data to the information processing apparatus using the difference map data for the difference map data created by the difference map data creating apparatus 100. The priority order can be set as appropriate in advance.
The priority information is composed of a spatial range to which the difference map data is applied, that is, a map range and category contents, and is stored in the storage device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of priority information.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the priority information includes a data range (map range) and a category, and a priority order of difference update is set for each combination. In addition, in FIG. 13, although the data range was illustrated by the target city, you may comprise by the coordinate of the rectangular range which shows a range. The priority information is stored in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like based on a digital storage method such as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format or a text format.

The update unit information creation unit 106 outputs the read priority information as update unit information for determining an update unit in the information terminal device (step ST27).
Here, in step ST27, the priority information is directly used as update unit information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the update unit information creation unit 106 may appropriately set the update unit information.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG.
The difference map data generation unit 107 is based on the categorized difference map data classified by the difference map data classification unit 105 in step ST002 and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106 in step ST003. Difference map data is created (step ST004).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the processing of step ST004 of FIG. 7 by the difference map data generation unit 107 in the first embodiment.
The difference map data generation unit 107 reads the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106 in step ST003 of FIG. 7 (step ST31).
The difference map data generation unit 107 reads the categorized difference map data created by the difference map data classification unit 105 in step ST002 of FIG. 7 (step ST32).

The difference map data generation unit 107, based on the priority order (first priority order) defined in the update unit information read in step ST31, road data, background map data, road network data, POI constituting map data. A priority (second priority) is assigned to the categorized difference map data read in step ST32 corresponding to each data (step ST33). For example, when the update unit information has contents as shown in FIG. 13 and the categorized difference map data has contents as shown in FIG. 11, the feature 21 of the difference feature I D1 in FIG. If it belongs to city A, the differential feature ID1 corresponding to categories 1 and 2 has the first priority. Similarly, if the difference feature ID2 in FIG. 11 belongs to the city B, the difference feature ID2 has the second highest priority. Further, the difference feature I D3 in Figure 11, the difference feature ID4, difference feature ID5 is, D City respectively, C City, when were those belonging to the A-shi, respectively, priorities 4-position, 3-position, 1 It becomes the rank.
The data range to which the difference feature ID belongs is determined from the geometric information and phase information of the constituent elements of the feature 21 as described in FIG. 2 included in the categorized difference map data. do it. When the difference map data after categorization and the component information of the feature 21 as described in FIG. 2 are managed separately, it may be determined from the component information linked by the difference feature ID. .

Thus, in the first embodiment, the priority information that defines the priority of the difference update is the update unit. For example, in the case of road data, roads are ranked according to the standard, such as highways, national roads, prefectural roads, and municipal roads. Therefore, in FIG. 10, highways, national roads, prefectural roads, and municipal roads are classified as Category 3. However, when these are further subdivided into categories and priorities are set for these road standards, the highest rank is obtained. The data in which the map data is updated for the expressway is the update unit of the differential update with the highest priority, and the map data can be updated based on the rank according to the road standard.
Note that the categorized difference map data to which the priority order (second priority order) is assigned in step ST33 is referred to as difference map data.
When the difference map data after categorization and the information of the constituent elements of the feature 21 are managed separately, the difference map data generation unit 107 is associated with the difference map data after categorization and the difference feature ID. What is necessary is just to merge with the information of a component and make difference map data.

The difference map data generation unit 107 is based on the priority information defined in the update unit information for the difference map data corresponding to each of road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data. The difference map data is sorted in descending order of priority (second priority) according to the priority (second priority) assigned in step ST33 (step ST34).
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the difference map data in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The difference map data as shown in FIG. 15 is given a priority (second priority) based on the update unit information shown in FIG. 13 and the categorized difference map data shown in FIG. It is assumed that the items are sorted in descending order of (second priority). Although not shown in FIG. 15, as described above, the difference map data includes the contents shown in FIG. 15 and the information on the constituent elements of the feature 21 as described in FIG.

The difference map data sorted in step ST34 is stored in the difference map DB 108. At this time, the road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data are stored separately in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like. The difference map data is stored in the difference map DB 108 in a state where a priority order (second priority order) is given in order to clearly indicate the priority order.
In this way, by arranging the difference map data in the order of the priority of the difference update, the difference map data can be updated in order from the highest priority, and other functions that require map data with a higher priority are available. It can be executed prior to the function.

As described above, difference map data is created by the difference map data creation device 100.
In FIG. 7, after the difference map data classification unit 105 classifies the map data after new and old difference extraction (step ST002), the update unit information creation unit 106 creates update unit information (step ST003). Not only this but the update unit information should just be created before the difference map data generation part 107 produces difference map data (step ST004).
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing a difference map data creation method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the difference map data creating apparatus 100 creates difference map data based on various information.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information terminal device that uses the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Examples of the information terminal device include a mobile information terminal such as a car navigation device, a mobile phone, or a PDA (PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISANT). The external storage device 206 shown in FIG. 17 includes a data access program for accessing the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100, an application program for executing a desired function using the difference map data, and an application Stores data used in processing. These programs are expanded from the external storage device 206 onto the memory 205 and executed by the CPU 204. The application program is a program for realizing various functions executed by the information terminal device, and for example, realizes a route guidance function, a map display function, and a route search function in the car navigation device.

The data access program is a program for acquiring data necessary for executing the application program from the data set of the external storage device 206.
The external storage device 206 includes a hard disk device (HDD) mounted on the information terminal device, an external storage medium such as a CD or a DVD that can be played back by a drive device, and a USB that can read and write data via a predetermined input / output interface. (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS) can be constructed in a memory or the like.

The calculation result by the CPU 204 is output to the display device 202 via the bus and displayed on the screen. The display device 202 is a device that displays, for example, a map used for route guidance, and is realized by a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like.
The communication device 203 is a device that communicates with an external device (not shown). When the information terminal device is a car navigation device, the communication device 203 also functions as a position detection unit that receives a GPS signal or FM radio wave from a GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) satellite and detects position information.
The input device 201 is a device that accepts an operation input from the outside, and corresponds to a keyboard, operation switches, a touch panel combined with the display device 202, or the like. When the information terminal device is a car navigation device, the input device 201 is used to input route search conditions and the like.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of the information terminal device 300 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The information terminal device 300 includes an input device 201, a map DB 301, a difference map data application unit 302, a navigation function execution unit 303, a position detection unit 304, and a communication device 203.
Since the input device 201 is the same as the input device 201 described with reference to FIG.
The map DB 301 stores map data. Note that the map DB 301 is provided in the information terminal device 300 here, but may be provided outside the information terminal device 300.
In order to execute the function executed by the navigation function execution unit 303, the difference map data application unit 302 updates the map DB 301 to the latest state using a difference update program that applies the difference map data to the map DB 301. For example, the CPU 204 of the information terminal device 300 illustrated in FIG. 17 operates as the difference map data application unit 302 by executing the difference update program.

The navigation function execution unit 303 executes various functions of navigation processing based on the map data acquired from the map DB 301 and the current position detected by the position detection unit 304.
Position detecting unit 304 detects the position information by receiving GPS signals and FM radio waves from GPS satellites.
The communication device 203 receives the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100. The difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 is copied to a media medium such as a CD, DVD, or SD card. At this time, the user can also specify which priority order of the difference map data is to be copied to the media medium.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of difference map data update in the information terminal device 300 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The communication device 203 reads the difference map data from the media medium on which the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 is copied (step ST41).
The difference map data application unit 302 stops the function using the map data having the highest priority among the difference map data read in step ST41 (step ST42). For example, when the map data to be updated is an expressway, the route guidance function using the data cannot be used. When the map range of the difference map data is taken into consideration and the route guidance function does not use the range, the difference map data can be updated without stopping the route guidance function.

In order to execute the function executed by the navigation function execution unit 303, the difference map data application unit 302 uses the difference update program that applies the difference map data to the map DB 301, to the difference map data read in step ST41. Map DB301 is updated with respect to the feature 21 with the highest priority shown (step ST43).
The difference map data application unit 302 determines whether or not the update of the map data in the map DB 301 has been completed (step ST44).
If it is determined in step ST44 that the update of the map data has not been completed (in the case of “NO” in step ST44), the process is repeated and the process waits for the update of the map data to be completed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST44 that the update of the map data has been completed (in the case of “YES” in step ST44), the difference map data application unit 302 resumes the function using the map data stopped in step ST42. (Step ST45).
The difference map data application unit 302 determines whether there is data having the next highest priority for the difference map data read in step ST41 (step ST46).
If it is determined in step ST46 that there is no data having the next highest priority (in the case of “NO” in step ST46), the process ends.
If it is determined in step ST46 that there is data having the next highest priority (in the case of “YES” in step ST46), the process returns to step ST42, and the subsequent processing is performed on the data having the next highest priority.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the difference map data is created based on the priority order of the difference update set as necessary, and the map data is updated based on the difference map data. It is possible to efficiently update the appropriate map data. Moreover, map data can be updated in an order from the data which the information terminal device 300 requires by applying difference map data according to a priority. Furthermore, by subdividing the difference map data by assigning priorities, even if there are restrictions on the capacity of media media such as CDs, DVDs, and SD cards for copying the difference map data, the map data from the one with the highest priority is used. Can be updated. Further, since the priority map is determined for each data range (map range) and the difference map data is applied, it is possible to update the map data with consistency.

In the first embodiment, the difference map data creation device 100 is configured as shown in FIG. 1, but the difference map data creation device 100 includes a difference map data extraction unit 103 and a difference map data classification unit 105. The update unit information creation unit 106 and the difference map data generation unit 107 may be used.
Further, in the first embodiment, the information terminal device 300 is configured as shown in FIG. 19, but the information terminal device 300 is configured to include the difference map data application unit 302 and the communication device 203. Good.
Further, the difference map data creation device 100 may include a storage device that stores the map data after new and old difference extraction, category definition information, category information, difference map data after categorization, priority information, and update unit information. The difference map data creation device 100 may be provided outside.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the difference map data is generated based on the priority order of the update unit information. In Embodiment 2, a difference map list in which a priority order of difference update and a difference feature are associated is created based on update unit information, and difference map data is generated based on the difference map list. explain.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of a difference map data creation device 500 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
About the structure of the difference map data creation apparatus 500 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention shown in FIG. 20, it attaches | subjects the same code | symbol about the thing similar to the difference map data creation apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Therefore, the duplicate description is omitted.
The difference from the configuration of the difference map data creation device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that the category information setting unit 104 is not provided and a difference map list generation unit 109 is newly provided.
Based on the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106 and the map data type-classified difference map data created by the difference map data classification unit, the difference map list generation unit 109 determines the priority order and difference location of the difference update. Create a difference map list in which objects are associated.

Operation | movement of the difference map data creation apparatus 500 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the operation of the difference map data creation device 500 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Note that step ST001 in FIG. 21 is the same as step ST001 in FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted. The difference map data creation device 500 according to the second embodiment is different from the difference map data creation device 100 according to the first embodiment in the difference map data classification unit 105, the update unit information creation unit 106, and the difference map data generation unit 107. The operation is different, and the operation by the difference map list generation unit 109 is increasing (step ST102 to step ST105 in FIG. 21).

In step ST001 of FIG. 21, when the difference map data extraction unit 103 extracts the map data after new and old difference extraction, the difference map data classification unit 105 extracts the map data after new and old difference extraction extracted by the difference map data extraction unit 103. The map data after classification is extracted for each feature 21 and a flag indicating which map data type corresponds to each feature 21 is output (here, it is referred to as map data type classification map difference data). (Step ST102).
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of map data type classified difference map data output by the difference map data classification unit 105 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The difference feature ID shown in FIG. 22 is a unique ID that uniquely identifies the feature 21 stored in the map data after new and old difference extraction. In FIG. 22, a circle indicates that it corresponds to each map data type, and a blank indicates that it does not correspond to a map data type.
At this time, separately from the map data type classified difference map data shown in FIG. 22, the map data after new and old difference extraction, that is, the information of the component 21 information as described in FIG. 2 is managed separately. and, it keeps as Ru tied by the difference map data and the difference feature ID after the map data type classification.

  Further, the map data type classified difference map data output in step ST102 is temporarily stored in a memory provided in the difference map data creating apparatus 500 or in a storage device, and processed by the difference map data generating unit 107 described later. Used in

  In step ST102 of FIG. 21, when the difference map data classification unit 105 outputs the difference map data after the classification of the map data type, the update unit information creation unit 106 includes priority information indicating the priority order of the difference update in the information terminal device, the map Update unit information for determining an update unit is created from two pieces of information including function definition information defined in consideration of the relationship of map data necessary for executing a predetermined function using data (step) ST103).

Figure 23 is a flowchart for explaining the process of Step ST 1 03 in FIG. 21 by the updating unit information creation section 106 of the second embodiment of the present invention in detail.
The operation of the update unit information creation unit 106 shown in FIG. 23 is obtained by adding steps ST22, ST25, and ST26 to the operation of the update unit information creation unit 106 described in FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. is there.
The update unit information creation unit 106 reads the priority information in descending order of priority (step ST21).
The specific operation is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 12 in the first embodiment, but the content of the priority information to be read is different in the second embodiment.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of priority information read by the update unit information creation unit 106 in the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 24, in the second embodiment, the priority information is composed of a data range (map range) and a function type, and the priority order of difference update is set for each combination. In addition, in FIG. 24, although the data range was illustrated by the target city, you may comprise by the coordinate of the rectangular range which shows a range. The priority information is stored in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like based on a digital storage method such as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format or a text format.

The update unit information creating unit 106 determines whether there is priority information read in step ST21, that is, whether reading of priority information is finished (step ST22).
In step ST22, when there is read priority information (in the case of “NO” in step ST22), the update unit information creation unit 106 reads function definition information (step ST25).

Here, the function definition information read in step ST25 will be described.
The function definition information is information that defines a map data type required when the information terminal device executes a certain function using the map data. The definition can be appropriately set in advance.
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of function definition information.
For example, when a route search is executed, a road network indicating road connections and road data storing road traffic regulation information are required. In addition, when performing route guidance, a route search execution result, name data storing intersection names of right and left turn points, and voice data for guidance are also required.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, the map data type required for each function is defined as the function definition information, and the function and the map data type are associated with each other. The function definition information is stored in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like based on a digital storage system such as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format or a text format.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG.
The update unit information creation unit 106 compares the function type data of the priority information read in step ST21 with the information indicated in the function definition information read in step ST25, and the value corresponding to the function definition information. Is set (step ST26). Specifically, for example, when priority information of priority order 1 in FIG. 24 is read in step ST21, route search is set as the function type in the read priority information. Then, when the function definition information shown in FIG. 25 is read in step ST25, “road network, road data” is defined as a necessary map data type for the route search function. Therefore, the update unit information creation unit 106 sets “road network, road data” as the data necessary for the function execution for the priority information of the priority order 1.
As described above, the function can be correctly executed by associating the map data necessary for the function execution.

Then, it returns to step ST21 and repeats the process mentioned above until reading is complete | finished in step ST22.
When it is determined in step ST22 that the reading has been completed, the update unit information creating unit 106 creates information based on the priority information and the function definition information for determining the update unit in the information terminal device (here Then, the update unit information is output (step ST27).
That is, in the second embodiment, the update unit is determined based on the type of map data necessary for executing the navigation function. For example, when performing the shortest route search, road network data, road shape data, and the like are required to execute the function. Therefore, the difference data that has changed between these two types of data is used as the update unit. .

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of update unit information in the second embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 26, the update unit information includes the priority information shown in FIG. 24 and the function definition information shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 26, the update unit information is information indicating the priority order of the difference update by the data range (map range) to which the difference map data is applied and the map data type.
The update unit information is temporarily stored in a memory provided in the difference map data creation device 500 or in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like based on a digital storage method such as an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format or a text format. .

Returning to the flowchart of FIG.
The difference map list generation unit 109 includes the difference map data after the map data type classification classified by the difference map data classification unit 105 in step ST102, and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106 in step ST103. Based on the above, a difference map list is created.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the processing in step ST105 of FIG. 21 by the difference map list generation unit 109 of the second embodiment of the present invention.
The difference map list generation unit 109 reads the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit 106 in step ST103 of FIG. 21 (step ST301).
The difference map list generation unit 109 reads the map data type classified difference map data created by the difference map data classification unit 105 in step ST102 of FIG. 21 (step ST302).

The difference map list generation unit 109, based on the map data type classified difference map data read in step ST302 corresponding to each of road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data, in step ST301. For each priority order (first priority order) defined by the read update unit information, a list to which a differential feature ID is assigned is created (step ST303).
For example, when the update unit information has the contents as shown in FIG. 26 and the map data type classified difference map data has the contents as shown in FIG. 22, the feature 21 of the difference feature I D1 in FIG. However, if it belongs to A city, the difference feature ID1 belonging to A city and corresponding to the road data in the map data type becomes the difference feature corresponding to the first priority. Further, if the feature 21 of the difference feature ID2 in FIG. 22 also belongs to the A city, the difference feature ID2 that belongs to the A city and corresponds to the road data in the map data type also corresponds to the first priority. It becomes a difference feature. Further, if the feature 21 with the difference feature ID 3 in FIG. 22 belongs to C city, the difference feature ID 3 that belongs to C city and corresponds to the road network in the map data type corresponds to the third priority. It becomes a difference feature. Similarly, if the difference feature ID 4 and the difference feature ID 5 in FIG. 22 belong to the city B, the difference feature ID 4 and the difference feature ID 5 are the difference features corresponding to the second priority.
It should be noted that the data range to which the differential feature ID belongs is separately managed at the time of classification of the differential map data after classification of the map data type (step ST102 in FIG. 21), after the extraction of the new and old differences What is necessary is just to judge from the information of the component of the feature 21 of map data.

In addition, the difference feature ID assigned here is for specifying the map data after new and old difference extraction separately managed at the time of classification of the difference map data after classification of the map data type (step ST102 in FIG. 21). It becomes information of.
In this step ST303, a list to which the difference feature ID is assigned for each priority (first priority) is set as a difference map list.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the difference map list in the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 28, the map data type of the feature 21 corresponding to each priority order and the difference feature ID for uniquely identifying the feature 21 are stored as a set. In FIG. 28, the range of differential feature IDs is shown in consideration of reducing the data size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the differential feature IDs are listed and stored one by one. You may do it.

Returning to FIG.
In step ST105, when the difference map list generation unit 109 generates a difference map list, the difference map data generation unit 107 generates difference map data (step ST104).
Specifically, the old and new that are separately managed at the time of classification of the difference map data after the classification of the map data type (step ST102 in FIG. 21) associated with the difference feature ID defined in the difference map list. Priorities (second priorities) are assigned to the information of the map data after difference extraction according to the priorities defined in the difference map list, and the map data after new and old differences are sorted in descending order of the assigned priorities. Here, the new and old difference extracted map data sorted in descending order of priority is referred to as difference map data.
Further, the difference map data generation unit 107 creates difference map data for the difference map data corresponding to each of road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data.

The difference map data sorted in step ST105 is stored in the difference map DB 108. At this time, the road data, background map data, road network data, and POI data constituting the map data are stored separately in a storage device having a magnetic disk or the like. The difference map data is stored in the difference map DB 108 in a state where a priority order (second priority order) is given in order to clearly indicate the priority order.
In this way, by arranging the difference map data in the order of the priority of the difference update, the difference map data can be updated in order from the highest priority, and other functions that require map data with a higher priority are available. It can be executed prior to the function.

  Here, when classifying the difference map data after classifying the map data type, the map data after extracting the old and new differences, that is, information on the constituent elements of the feature 21 as described in FIG. 2 is separately managed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as in the first embodiment, the map data type classified difference map data includes the information of the map data after new and old difference extraction, and the difference map data generation unit 107 includes the update information and the map data type. You may make it produce difference map data based on difference map data after classification.

As described above, difference map data is created by the difference map data creation device 500.
In FIG. 21, after the difference map data classification unit 105 classifies the map data after the new and old difference extraction (step ST102), the update unit information creation unit 106 creates the update unit information (step ST103). Not limited to this, it is only necessary that the update unit information is created before the difference map list generation unit 109 creates the difference map list (step ST105).
FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a difference map data creation method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 29, the difference map data creation apparatus 500 creates difference map data based on various information.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the hardware configuration of the information terminal device using the difference map data created by the difference map data creating device 500 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 17 in the first embodiment. Because of this, redundant explanation is omitted.
The configuration of the information terminal device 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is also the same as that described with reference to FIG.
Further, the difference map data update operation in the information terminal device 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is also the same as that described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the difference map data is created based on the priority order of the difference update set as necessary, and the map data is updated based on the difference map data. It is possible to efficiently update the appropriate map data. Moreover, map data can be updated in an order from the data which the information terminal device 300 requires by applying difference map data according to a priority. Furthermore, by subdividing the difference map data by assigning priorities, even if there are restrictions on the capacity of media media such as CDs, DVDs, and SD cards for copying the difference map data, the map data from the one with the highest priority is used. Can be updated. Further, since the priority map is determined for each data range (map range) and the difference map data is applied, it is possible to update the map data with consistency.

In the second embodiment, the difference map data creation device 500 is configured as shown in FIG. 20, but the difference map data creation device 500 includes the difference map data extraction unit 103 and the difference map data classification unit 105. The update unit information creation unit 106, the difference map data generation unit 107, and the difference map list generation unit 109 may be used.
In the second embodiment, the information terminal device 300 is configured as shown in FIG. 19, but the information terminal device 300 is configured to include the difference map data application unit 302 and the communication device 203. Good.
In addition, the difference map data creation apparatus 100 includes a storage device that stores the map data after new and old difference extraction, category definition information, category information, difference map data after categorization, priority information, function definition information, and update unit information. Or may be provided outside the differential map data creation device 500.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first and second embodiments, the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 is copied to a media medium such as a CD, a DVD, and an SD card, read by the information terminal device, and the map that the information terminal device has Although the difference update is applied to the data, the third embodiment describes an embodiment in which the information terminal device receives the difference map data via an information distribution device that distributes information using Internet communication. To do. At this time as well, the information distribution device distributes the difference map data step by step in descending order of priority.

FIG. 30 is a configuration diagram of a difference map data distribution system that distributes difference map data from the information distribution device 400 to the information terminal device 300 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 30, in the difference map data distribution system, the information distribution device 400 includes a difference map data creation device 100, receives difference map data from the difference map DB created by the difference map data creation device 100, and The difference map data is distributed to the information terminal device 300 via the Internet communication network 402.
The configurations of the difference map data creation device 100 and the information terminal device 300 are the same as those described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. In addition, although demonstrated here when the difference map data creation apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1 is applied, it replaces with the difference map data creation apparatus 100, and difference map data demonstrated using FIG. 20 in Embodiment 2. FIG. Needless to say, the creation apparatus 500 may be applied.

The information distribution device 400 includes a difference map data creation device 100 and a difference map data distribution unit 401.
Differential map data delivery unit 401 receives the differential map data differential map DB 10 8 is stored, via the Internet communication network 402, distributes to the information terminal device 300.
The communication device 203 of the information terminal device 300 receives the difference map data distributed by the information distribution device 400.
Here, as shown in FIG. 30, the information distribution device 400 includes the difference map data creation device 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the difference is generated in the difference map data creation device 100 outside the information distribution device 400. it is also possible to create a map DB10 8.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of difference map data update in the information terminal device 300 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
The communication device 203 reads the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 from the information distribution device 400 via the Internet communication network 402 (step ST51). At this time, the information distribution apparatus 400 distributes the difference map data stored in the difference map DB 108 in order from the highest priority.
Since step ST52 to step ST56 are the same as step ST42 to step ST46 of FIG. 19 describing the operation of the information terminal device 300 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device 100 is given high priority to the difference map data via the Internet communication (Internet communication network 402). An information distribution device 400 having a difference map data distribution unit 401 that distributes in order, a communication unit (communication device 203) that receives difference map data from the information distribution device 400, and a map database (map DB 301) based on the difference map data. Since the information terminal device 300 having the difference map data application unit 302 to be updated is provided, the map data can be updated via the communication medium in the information terminal device 300. The trouble of copying data can be saved, and the application of differential update is made efficient. Also, by distributing the difference map data in order from the highest priority, there is an effect of suppressing the communication load, and at the same time, the load on the information terminal device that receives and applies the difference map data can be suppressed.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the third embodiment, the embodiment in which the difference map data is distributed to the information terminal device 300 using the information distribution device 400 has been described. However, in the fourth embodiment, the difference map data is further accumulated in the information terminal device 300. An embodiment will be described in which the priority order of highly-established map data used by the user is set high, taking into account the user's travel history, registration points, and home surroundings.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram of a difference map data distribution system that distributes difference map data from the information distribution device 400 to the information terminal device 300 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Similar to FIG. 30 described in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32, in the difference map data distribution system, the information distribution device 400 includes the difference map data creation device 100, and the difference created by the difference map data creation device 100 The difference map data is received from the map DB, and the difference map data is distributed to the information terminal device 300 via the Internet communication network 402.
The configurations of the difference map data creation device 100 and the information terminal device 300 are the same as those described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. In addition, although demonstrated here when the difference map data creation apparatus 100 of Embodiment 1 is applied, it replaces with the difference map data creation apparatus 100, and difference map data demonstrated using FIG. 20 in Embodiment 2. FIG. Needless to say, the creation apparatus 500 may be applied.

The information distribution device 400 includes a difference map data creation device 100 and a difference map data distribution unit 401.
The difference map data distribution unit 401 receives the difference map data stored in the difference map DB 10 and distributes the difference map data to the information terminal device 300 via the Internet communication network 402.
The communication device 203 of the information terminal device 300 receives the difference map data distributed by the information distribution device 400.
32 differs from FIG. 30 in that the information terminal device 300 further includes a priority information creation unit 305.
32 differs from FIG. 30 in that the information distribution apparatus 400 further includes a priority information writing unit 403 in FIG.
Other configurations are the same as those described in Embodiment 3 with reference to FIG.

The priority information creating unit 305 of the information terminal device 300 sets the priority order of the highly established map data used by the user in consideration of the user's travel history, registration points, and home surroundings accumulated in the information terminal device 300. to create a priority information.
The priority information writing unit 403 of the information distribution device 400 receives the priority information created by the priority information creation unit 305 of the information terminal device 300 via the Internet communication network 402, and creates the difference map data from the received priority information. Transmit to device 100.
The difference map data creation device 100 creates difference map data in accordance with the priority information received from the information distribution device 400.

The same third embodiment, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3. 2, the information distribution apparatus 400 is intended to comprise the differential map data generation apparatus 100 is not limited thereto, the outside of the difference of the information distribution apparatus 400 The map data creation device 100 creates the difference map DB 10, and the priority information writing unit 403 of the information distribution device 400 creates the difference map data from the priority information received from the information terminal device 300 via the Internet communication network 402. You may make it transmit to the apparatus 100. FIG.

  As described above, the travel history of the user related to the priority order, the registration points, and the location information around the home are transmitted from the information terminal device 300 to the information distribution device 400, and the inside or outside of the information distribution device 400 receiving it By writing the priority information included in the difference map data creation device 100 in FIG. 5A, it is possible to set a higher priority for map data that is highly established for use by the user.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the information terminal device 300 further includes the priority information creation unit 305 that creates priority information in which the priority order of the map data is set, and the information distribution device 400 includes the information terminal The apparatus further includes a priority information writing unit 403 that receives the priority information created by the priority information creation unit 305 of the device 300 and transmits the priority information to the difference map data creation device 100. The communication unit (communication device 203) of the information terminal device 300 The priority information set by the information creation unit 305 is transmitted to the information distribution device 400, and the priority information writing unit 403 of the information distribution device 400 creates the difference map data creation device 100 based on the priority information received from the information terminal device 300. Since the difference map data is configured to be distributed to the information terminal device 300, the map difference update that matches the usage status of the user It can be realized.

In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of the embodiments, or any modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment is possible. .
Moreover, each part used for control of the difference map data creation apparatus in each Embodiment 1-4, an information terminal device, and an information delivery apparatus is performed by the program process using CPU based on software.

  20,301 Map DB, 21 Feature, 31 Geometric Information Type, 41 Geometric Information List, 100,500 Difference Map Data Creation Device, 101 Old Map DB, 102 New Map DB, 103 Difference Map Data Extraction Unit, 104 Category Information Setting Unit, 105 difference map data classification unit, 106 update unit information creation unit, 107 difference map data generation unit, 108 difference map DB, 109 difference map list generation unit, 201 input device, 202 display device, 203 communication device, 204 CPU, 205 memory, 206 external storage device, 300 information terminal device, 302 difference map data application unit, 303 navigation function execution unit, 304 position detection unit, 305 priority information creation unit, 400 information distribution device, 401 difference map data distribution unit, 402 Internet communication network, 403 priority information writing Intrusion part.

Claims (11)

A differential map data creation device that creates differential map data when performing a differential update to a map database used by an information terminal device, based on a new map database and an old map database respectively composed of old and new map data,
A difference map data extraction unit for extracting new and old difference extracted map data which is a difference between the old map database and the new map database;
A difference map data classification unit that classifies the new and old difference extracted map data extracted by the difference map data extraction unit as map data type classified difference map data based on a map data type;
Update unit information for determining an update unit for performing the difference update based on first priority information indicating the priority order of the difference update and second priority information indicating a priority order of the difference update different from the first priority information. An update unit information creation section to be created;
Difference map data generation for creating the difference map data based on the difference map data after the map data type classification classified by the difference map data classification unit and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit and a part,
The second priority information is information defining a function type indicating a function executed using the map data in the information terminal device or a map data type necessary for each function of the information terminal device.
The difference map data creation apparatus characterized by this . A differential map data creation device that creates differential map data when performing a differential update to a map database used by an information terminal device, based on a new map database and an old map database respectively composed of old and new map data,
A difference map data extraction unit for extracting new and old difference extracted map data which is a difference between the old map database and the new map database;
A difference map data classification unit that classifies the new and old difference extracted map data extracted by the difference map data extraction unit as map data type classified difference map data based on a map data type;
Update unit information for determining an update unit for performing the difference update based on first priority information indicating the priority order of the difference update and second priority information indicating a priority order of the difference update different from the first priority information. An update unit information creation section to be created;
Difference map data generation for creating the difference map data based on the difference map data after the map data type classification classified by the difference map data classification unit and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit With
The update unit information creation unit includes a map range to which the difference map data that is the first priority information is applied, and a function that is executed using the map data in the information terminal device that is the second priority information. The update unit information is created from the function type information that defines the type of map data required for each function that the information terminal device has or the function type that the information terminal device has
The difference map data creation apparatus characterized by this . The difference map data creation device according to claim 1, wherein the first priority information is information indicating a priority order according to a map range to which the difference map data is applied. Based on the difference map data after classification of the map data type, a difference map list to which information for specifying the new and old difference extraction map data is assigned for each first priority defined in the update unit information. The difference map data creation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a difference map list generation unit to be created. The difference map data generation unit gives a second priority to information included in the map data after the new and old difference extraction based on the first priority of the difference map list created by the difference map list generation unit. The difference map data creation device according to claim 4 , wherein the map data after new and old difference extraction is rearranged according to the second priority order to obtain the difference map data. A differential map data creation method for creating differential map data when performing a differential update to a map database used by an information terminal device based on a new map database and an old map database respectively composed of old and new map data,
A step of extracting map data after new and old difference extraction, which is a difference between the old map database and the new map database;
A step of classifying the map data after new and old difference extraction extracted by the difference map data extraction unit as difference map data after classification according to map data type, based on the map data type, a difference map data classification unit;
Update unit information creation unit, a first priority information indicating the priority of the difference update, based on the second priority information indicating the priority of the different incremental update from the first priority information performs the difference update update unit Creating update unit information to determine
The difference map data generation unit is configured to generate the difference map data based on the map data type classified difference map data classified by the difference map data classification unit and the update unit information created by the update unit information creation unit. to create and a step,
The second priority information is information defining a function type indicating a function executed using the map data in the information terminal device or a map data type necessary for each function of the information terminal device.
The difference map data creation method characterized by this . In the step of creating the update unit information, the update unit information creation unit uses a map range to which the difference map data is applied as the first priority information, and the map data is used as the second priority information in the information terminal device. Function definition information that defines a function type that indicates a function to be executed by using the map data type that is necessary for each function that the information terminal device has
The difference map data creation method according to claim 6 . The differential map data differential map data generation apparatus has created according to any one of claims 1 to 5, via the Internet communication, distributed in descending order of assigned priorities in the differential map data An information distribution device having a difference map data distribution unit to
A communication unit that receives the difference map data from the information distribution device;
The difference map data delivery system provided with the said information terminal device which has a difference map data application part which updates a map database based on the said difference map data. The information terminal apparatus further comprises a priority information creation unit that creates a third priority information set the priority of the map data,
The information distribution device further includes a priority information writing unit that receives the third priority information created by the priority information creation unit of the information terminal device and transmits the third priority information to the difference map data creation device,
The communication unit of the information terminal device transmits the third priority information set by the priority information creation unit to the information distribution device,
The priority information writing unit of the information distribution device distributes the difference map data created by the difference map data creation device to the information terminal device based on the third priority information received from the information terminal device. The difference map data distribution system according to claim 8, wherein: The information terminal device further includes a navigation function execution unit that executes various functions of navigation processing using the map data,
When the difference map data application unit stops the function of using the map data to be updated using the difference map data before updating the map data and determines that the update of the map data is completed, the map The difference map data distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the function that uses data is resumed. The information terminal device further includes a priority information creating unit that creates third priority information in which the priority order of the map data is set.
The communication unit receives the differential map data from the information distribution apparatus, the difference of claim 10, wherein the third priority information said priority information creation unit is set and transmits to the information distribution device Map data distribution system .

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