Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/38—Electronic maps specially adapted for navigation; Updating thereof
  • G01C21/3804—Creation or updating of map data
  • G01C21/3859—Differential updating map data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/38—Electronic maps specially adapted for navigation; Updating thereof
  • G01C21/3863—Structures of map data
  • G01C21/387—Organisation of map data, e.g. version management or database structures
  • G01C21/3878—Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/38—Electronic maps specially adapted for navigation; Updating thereof
  • G01C21/3885—Transmission of map data to client devices; Reception of map data by client devices
  • G01C21/3896—Transmission of map data from central databases
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
  • G08G1/096805—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
  • G08G1/096827—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route where the route is computed onboard
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
  • G09B29/00—Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram
  • G09B29/10—Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
  • Y10S707/912—Applications of a database
  • Y10S707/918—Location
  • Y10S707/919—Geographic
  • Y10S707/92—Navigation

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a map updating system that updates a part of, or the entirety of, map information stored in a navigation apparatus or the like to new map information, based on difference update information or total update information.
• the present invention relates to a map updating system that keeps difference update information that has been used in an update process stored therein until later and, when performing a total update on map information, updates the map information again based on the stored difference update information.
• the navigation apparatus denotes an apparatus that is operable to detect a current position of the vehicle with the use of a GPS receiver or the like, obtain map data that corresponds to the current position from a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or an HDD or via a network, and display the obtained map data on a liquid crystal display monitor.
• the map data that contains the current position of the vehicle is read from the recording medium or the like, and a map image of the surrounding of the current position of the vehicle is rendered based on the map data and displayed on the display apparatus.
• a vehicle position mark (i.e., the location) is displayed by being superimposed on the map image.
• the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, or the vehicle position mark is moved while the map image is fixed on the screen, so that, the navigation apparatus allows the driver to understand, at a glance, where the vehicle is traveling at any given moment.
• map data is updated by buying a new DVD and replacing an old DVD with the new one, or rewriting the contents of the HDD based on map data distributed from a map information distribution center or the like.
• the map information distribution center creates difference update data used for updating only the changed part.
• the map data is updated to new map data with the use of the difference update data (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-198841).
• the map information distribution center creates total update data used for collectively updating, at regular intervals (for example, once every year), the nationwide map data to new map data that reflects the present road state, so that the map data is completely updated to the new map data by using the created total update data.
• Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-198841 (page 5 - page 8 and FIG. 9).
• the update based on the difference update data and the update based on the total update data are performed in parallel with each other.
• the map data is constantly updated to new map data by using the difference update data, and together with that, at a predetermined period of, the nationwide map data is collectively updated.
• total update used for collectively updating the nationwide map data
• FIG. 9 is a drawing that shows an example of a schedule for performing total updates and difference updates. [0005] As shown in FIG. 9, total updates are performed at predetermined times of the year, which are at the end of December and at the end of June, to create the total update data which is in correspondence with the changes of the roads and the like, up to those points in time.
• the created total update data is released for sale on April 1st and on October 10th, so that it is possible to perform a total update on the map data at retail stores (i.e., dealers). It will be explained according to an example in which a user performs a total update on the map data at a retail store at the end of September.
• the total update data released for sale on April 1st is used in the update process, so the map data owned by the user is updated to the map data created at the end of December, which is nine months before the total update is performed. In this situation, as shown in FIG.
• the present invention is provided to solve the problems of the related art described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map updating system with which there is no need to obtain difference update information again even in a case where it is necessary to perform an update again with difference update information when a total update has been performed on the map information, and with which it is also possible to shorten the time period it takes to perform the update and to reduce the processing load.
• the map updating system is a map updating system (1) that includes: a map information storage means (32) for storing therein map information; a difference update information obtaining means (33) for obtaining one or more pieces of difference update information (17) used for updating a part of the map information stored in the map information storage means to a new piece of map information; a difference updating means (33) for updating the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information obtained by the difference update information obtaining means; a total update information obtaining means (33) for obtaining total update information (18) used for updating an entirety of the map information stored in the map information storage means to a new piece of map information; and a total updating means (33) for performing a total update on the map information based on the total update information obtained by the total update information obtaining means.
• the map updating system (1) is characterized by: a difference update information storage means (32) for storing therein the one or more pieces of difference update information; a re-updating means (33) for updating, when the total update is performed on the map information by the total updating means, the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information stored in the difference update information storage means; and an information deleting means (33) for deleting the one or more pieces of difference update information from the difference update information storage means after the map information is updated by the re-updating means.
• the map updating system is the map updating system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by including: a comparing means (33) for comparing, when the total update is performed by the total updating means (33), a version of the total update information (18) used in the total update with each of versions of the one or more pieces of difference update information (17) stored in the difference update information storage means (32); and an information extracting means (33) for extracting, from the difference update information storage means, any of the one or more pieces of difference update information of which the version is judged to be newer by the comparing means, wherein the re-updating means (33) updates the map information based on said any of the difference update information extracted by the information extracting means.
• the map updating system is the map updating system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by: a time storage means (32) for storing therein a time of creation at which each of the one or more pieces of difference update information (17) was created or a time of obtainment at which each of the one or more pieces of difference update information was obtained; a lapse of period judging means (33) for judging whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the time of creation or the time of obtainment; and a lapse of period information deleting means (33) for deleting, from the difference update information storage means (32), any of the one or more pieces of difference update information for which the lapse of period judging means has judged that the predetermined period of time has elapsed. [0010]
• the map updating method is a map updating method that includes: a difference update information obtaining step for obtaining one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of map information stored in a map information storage medium to a new piece of map information; a difference updating step for updating the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information obtained in the difference update information obtaining step; a total update information obtaining step for obtaining total update information used for updating an entirety of the map information stored in the map information storage medium to a new piece of map information; and a total updating step for performing a total update on the map information based on the total update information obtained in the total update information obtaining step, the map updating method characterized by: a difference update information storing step for storing the one or more pieces of difference update information obtained in the difference update information obtaining step into a difference update information storage medium; a re-updating step for updating, when
• the total update is performed on the map information in the total updating step, the map information based on the one or more pieces of difference update information stored in the difference update information storage medium; and an information deleting step for deleting the one or more pieces of difference update information from the difference update information storage medium after the map information is updated at the re-updating step.
• the one or more pieces of difference update information used for updating a part of the map information stored in the map information storage means to a new piece of map information are stored, so that when the total update is performed on the map information, the map information is updated again based on the stored one or more pieces of difference update information.
• the difference update information is deleted.
• the difference update information is deleted whenever it has become unnecessary, it is possible to ensure that there is sufficient storage area. Consequently, it is possible to improve the processing speed related to searching for and extracting the difference update information.
• the version of the total update information used in the total update is compared with each of the versions of the stored one or more pieces of difference update information, so that the map information is updated based on any of the one or more pieces of difference update information of which the version is newer than that of the total update information.
• the map updating system it is judged whether or not the predetermined period of time has elapsed since the time of creation at which each of the one or more pieces of difference update information was created or since the time of obtainment at which each of the one or more pieces of difference update information was obtained. Any of the one or more pieces of difference update information for which it has been judged that the predetermined period of time has elapsed is deleted. Thus, it is possible to ensure that there is sufficient storage area by deleting old difference update information that has become unnecessary. Consequently, it is possible to improve the processing speed related to searching for and extracting the difference update information.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration drawing of a map updating system according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram that shows configurations of the map updating system according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing for explaining a mechanism that manages versions of the map data in the map updating system according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram that shows a configuration of a navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a map data difference update processing program according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 6 shows drawings each of which shows an update target area that is used when a difference update is performed.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a map data total update processing program according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 8 presents schematic charts that show, for each of the areas, versions of navigation map data before a total update is performed and versions of navigation map data after the total update is performed.
• FIG. 9 is a drawing that shows an example of a schedule for performing total updates and difference updates.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration drawing of the map updating system 1 according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram that shows configurations of the map updating system 1 according to the present embodiment.
• the map updating system 1 basically includes: a map distribution center 2, a retail store 3, and a navigation apparatus 5 (see FIG. 4) installed in a vehicle 4.
• the map distribution center 2 is a distribution center that creates update data used for updating an old version of map data to a new version of map data and distributes the created data.
• the retail store 3 is a supply facility that saves the pieces of update data distributed from the map distribution center 2 and supplies the pieces of update data to users who visit the retail store.
• the navigation apparatus 5 is installed in each vehicle 4 that is driving or being parked on a road somewhere in the country.
• the navigation apparatus 5 is an in-vehicle device that displays a map of the surrounding of a position of the vehicle based on the map data stored therein and also searches for a route and provides guidance to a specified destination. [0017]
• the map distribution center 2 and the retail store 3 are configured so as to be able to communicate with each other bi-directionally, via a network 7 for satellite communication or the like.
• the map distribution center 2 and the retail store 3 transmit and receive various types of information such as total update data therebetween.
• the total update data is update data used for collectively updating the total area of the map data that has been created by the map distribution center 2 and stored in the navigation apparatus 5 (hereinafter, referred to as "total update").
• a retail store HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 6 which is a storage medium connected to a retail store PC (Personal Computer) 20, is configured so as to be removable.
• the retail store HDD 6 has been removed and is newly connected to the navigation apparatus 5 by using the IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394) standard or the like, so as to the retail store 3 and the navigation apparatus 5 are able to transmit and receive various types of information such as the total update data to and from each other.
• IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394
• the map distribution center 2 and the navigation apparatus 5 are configured so as to be able to communicate with each other bi-directionally by using a communication device such as a mobile phone, a wireless LAN card, or the like.
• the map distribution center 2 and the navigation apparatus 5 transmit and receive various types of information such as difference update therebetween.
• the difference update data is update data used for updating only a specific area of the map data that has been created by the map distribution center 2 and stored in the navigation apparatus 5 (hereinafter, referred to as "difference update"). It is acceptable to have an arrangement in which the communication between the map distribution center 2 and the navigation apparatus 5 is performed via a recording medium such as a CD-R.
• the navigation apparatus 5 is configured so as to be able to perform the total update and the difference update on the stored map data, by using the total update data and the difference update data obtained from the map distribution center 2 or the retail store 3. Further, the navigation apparatus 5 is able to search for a route and provide guidance based on the stored map data.
• the configuration of the navigation apparatus 5 will be explained in detail later, with reference to FIG. 4. [0020] Next, the map distribution center 2 included in the map updating system 1 will be explained further in detail, with reference to FIG. 2.
• the map distribution center 2 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a server 10; a center-side map information DB 14 that is connected to the server 10 and serves as an information recording unit; a version management DB 19; and a center-side communicating apparatus 15.
• the server 10 includes a CPU 11 that exercises overall control of the server 10 and serves as a computation device and a controlling device as well as internal storage devices such as: a RAM 12 that is used as a working memory when the CPU 11 performs various types of computation processes; and a ROM 13 that has recorded therein various types of control program used for performing an update data creation process to create the total update data and the difference update data based on an old version of map data and a new version of map data and a map data distribution process to distribute the created total update data and the created difference update data to the retail store 3 and the navigation apparatus 5. It is also acceptable to use an MPU or the like, instead of the CPU 11. [0021]
• the center-side map information DB 14 has stored therein basic map data 16 that has been created based on input data and input operations from the outside and is used as a base when the map data stored in the navigation apparatus 5 is updated, while the basic map data 16 is divided into sections according to the versions thereof.
• each of the versions is creation time information used for identifying a time at which the map data was created. By referring to the versions, it is possible to identify a time at which each piece of map data was created.
• the center-side map information DB 14 has stored therein difference update data 17 that has been created by the server 10 based on the basic map data 16 and is used for performing a difference update to update a part of the map data stored in the navigation apparatus 5 to a new version of map data as well as total update data 18 that has also been created by the server 10 based on the basic map data 16 and is used for performing a total update to update the entirety of the map data stored in the navigation apparatus 5 to a new version of map data, while the difference update data 17 and the total update data 18 are divided into sections according to the versions thereof.
• the version management DB 19 has recorded therein information related to the versions of the map data stored in each navigation apparatus 5.
• the map data various types of information that are required in providing route guidance and displaying maps are recorded.
• the map data includes map display data used for displaying maps, intersection data related to intersections, node data related to node points, link data related to roads (links), search data used for searching for a route, facility data related to facilities, and retrieval data used for retrieving a location point.
• the versions of the map data are managed for each of 2.5 km squared areas.
• these 2.5 km squared areas are further classified into three types according to a road standard.
• FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining a mechanism for managing the versions of the map data used by the map updating system 1 according to the present embodiment.
• a section ID is assigned to each of the 2.5 km squared areas (Al to D4 are assigned to sixteen areas in the example shown in FIG. 3). Further, each of the areas is managed by bringing versions into correspondence with the three distribution road classification types defined according to the road standard. More specifically, inter-urban expressways, urban expressways, toll roads, and national routes identified with one-digit and two-digit numbers are classified as a distribution road classification type called "nationwide”. National routes identified with a three-digit number, major local roads, prefectural roads, and general roads are classified as a distribution road classification type called "general”. Small streets are classified as a distribution road classification type called "small streets”. Accordingly, for any single area, there are three versions of map data that respectively correspond to different target road types.
• the map data for the distribution road classification type "nationwide” has a version number "1"
• the map data for the distribution road classification type "general” has a version number "0”
• the map data for the distribution road classification type "small streets” has a version number " 1 ".
• the center-side communicating apparatus 15 is a communicating apparatus used for communicating with the retail store 3 or the navigation apparatus 5 via a network 7 or 8.
• each of the networks 7 and 8 may use a communication system of communication networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, a mobile phone line network, a telephone line network, a public communication network, a private communication network, or the Internet.
• a communication system such as a non- stop automatic toll collection system (ETC) or a dedicated short range communication system (DSRC), both of which are used in the intelligent transport systems (ITS).
• ETC non- stop automatic toll collection system
• DSRC dedicated short range communication system
• the retail store 3 includes the retail store PC 20, the retail store HDD 6 that is connected to the retail store PC 20 and serves as an information recording unit, and a retail store-side communicating apparatus 21.
• the retail store PC 20 is a controlling unit that manages, and performs communication with the map distribution center 2 about, license information and billing information that are necessary for obtaining the total update data.
• the retail store HDD 6 has stored therein the total update data 18 that has been distributed from the map distribution center 2. Further, the retail store HDD 6 is configured so as to be removable from the retail store PC 20. When the removed retail store HDD 6 is connected to the navigation apparatus 5, it is possible to forward the total update data 18 stored in the retail store HDD 6 to the navigation apparatus 5. Thereby, the navigation apparatus 5 is able to perform a total update on the map data, based on the total update data 18 stored in the retail store HDD 6, as explained later. [0027]
• the retail store-side communicating apparatus 21 is a communicating apparatus that communicates with the map distribution center 2 via the network 7 described above.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram that shows the configuration of the navigation apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment.
• the navigation apparatus 5 includes: a current location detection processing unit 31 that detects a current position of the vehicle in which the navigation apparatus 5 is installed; a navigation HDD (i.e., the map information storage means, the difference update information storage means, the time storage means) 32; a navigation controlling unit (i.e., the difference update information obtaining means, the difference updating means, the total update information obtaining means, the total updating means, the re- updating means, the information deleting means, the comparing means, the information extracting means, the lapse of period judging means, and the lapse of period information deleting means) 33 that performs various types of computation processes based on input information; an operating unit 34 that receives an operation from an operator; a liquid crystal display 35 that displays information such as a map to the operator; a speaker 36 that outputs audio guidance related to route guidance; and a communicating apparatus 37 that communicates with a traffic information center such as a VICS center or the map distribution center 2.
• a vehicle speed sensor 38 that detects the driving speed
• the current location detection processing unit 31 includes a GPS 41, a geomagnetic sensor 42, a distance sensor 43, a steering sensor 44, a gyro sensor 45 that serves as a direction detecting unit, and an altimeter (not shown in the drawing), so as to be able to detect the location and the direction of the vehicle as well as a distance to a target object (e.g. an intersection) from the vehicle at the current moment.
• a target object e.g. an intersection
• the GPS 41 detects a current location of the vehicle on the earth and a current time by receiving a radio wave generated by an artificial satellite.
• the geomagnetic sensor 42 detects an orientation direction of the vehicle by measuring geomagnetism.
• the distance sensor 43 detects a distance between predetermined positions on a road, or the like. As the distance sensor 43, for example, it is possible to use a sensor that measures a rotation speed of the wheels (not shown in the drawing) of the vehicle and detects a distance based on the measured rotation speed, or a sensor that measures acceleration and detects a distance by integrating the measured acceleration twice. [0032]
• the steering sensor 44 detects a steering angle of the vehicle.
• the steering sensor 44 for example, it is acceptable to use an optical rotation sensor or a rotational resistance sensor attached to a rotating part of a steering wheel (not shown in the drawing), or an angle sensor attached to a wheel.
• the gyro sensor 45 detects a gyration angle of the vehicle.
• the gyro sensor 45 for example, it is acceptable to use a gas-rate gyro or an oscillation gyro. Also, by integrating the gyration angle detected by the gyro sensor 45, it is possible to detect an orientation direction of the vehicle. [0034]
• the navigation HDD 32 stores therein navigation map data 39 used by the navigation apparatus 5 for providing driving guidance and searching for a route and the difference update data 17 as well as predetermined programs.
• the difference update data 17 distributed from the map distribution center 2 to the navigation HDD 32 is kept being recorded for one year at the maximum since the date on which the data was created.
• a hard disk is used as an external storage device and a storage medium for storing the navigation map data 39 and the difference update data 17 therein.
• a magnetic disc such as a flexible disk as the external storage device.
• the navigation map data 39 stores various types of information that are required in providing route guidance and displaying maps, which are, for example, the navigation map data 39 includes map display data used for displaying maps, intersection data related to intersections, node data related to node points, link data related to roads (links), search data used for searching for a route, facility data related to facilities, and retrieval data used for retrieving a location point.
• the navigation map data 39 is updated by either performing a total update for collectively updating the map data of total area in the country or performing a difference update for updating the map data of only a specific area. The specific updating processes performed during the total update process and the difference update process will be explained in detail, with reference to flowcharts.
• the navigation controlling unit 33 included in the navigation apparatus 5 includes a CPU 51 that exercises overall control of the navigation apparatus 5 and serves as a computation device and a controlling device as well as internal storage devices such as: a RAM 52 that is used as a working memory when the CPU 51 performs various types of computation processes and stores therein route data obtained when a route has been found in a search or the like; a ROM 53 that has recorded therein control programs as well as a route guiding processing program used for searching for a route and providing guidance based on the navigation map data 39 stored in the navigation HDD 32, a map data difference update processing program (FIG. 5) used for performing a difference update on the navigation map data 39 based on the difference update data, and a map data total update processing program (FIG.
• a CPU 51 that exercises overall control of the navigation apparatus 5 and serves as a computation device and a controlling device as well as internal storage devices such as: a RAM 52 that is used as a working memory when the CPU 51 performs various types of computation processes and stores therein route data obtained when
• ROM 53 used for performing a total update on the navigation map data 39 based on the total update data; and a flash memory 54 that records therein a program read from the ROM 53.
• RAM 52, the ROM 53, and the flash memory 54 it is acceptable to use a semiconductor memory, a magnetic core, or the like. It is also acceptable to use an MPU or the like as the computation device and the controlling device, instead of the CPU 51.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the map data difference update processing program according to the present embodiment
• the map data difference update processing program is a program used for updating a specific area in the navigation map data 39 stored in the navigation apparatus 5 to a new version of map data, based on difference update data that is newly distributed from the map distribution center 2.
• the program shown in the flowchart in FIG. 5 is stored in the RAM 52 or the ROM 53 included in the navigation apparatus 5 or in the RAM 12 or the ROM 13 included in the map distribution center 2, and is repeatedly executed by the CPU 51 or the CPU 11 at predetermined intervals.
• step (hereinafter, simply expressed as "S") 1 the CPU 51 judges whether or not any of the following conditions under which a difference update process can be started is satisfied: the accessory is turned on; one's home has been registered (or the registration of one's home is changed) by using the operating unit 34; and a destination for which a route search is to be conducted has been specified by using the operating unit 34.
• NO in Sl the processing program is ended.
• YES in Sl the process proceeds to S2.
• the CPU 51 transmits navigation information used for performing a map update to the map distribution center 2.
• the information transmitted as the navigation information includes an identification ID that identifies the navigation apparatus 5, coordinates of the registered home, and coordinates of the destination if any destination has been specified.
• the CPU 51 receives the difference update data 17 transmitted from the map distribution center 2 via the communicating apparatus 37.
• the received difference update data 17 contains a version information used for identifying the version of the difference update data 17.
• a difference update process is performed on the navigation map data 39 stored in the navigation HDD 32 by using the difference update data 17 received in S3.
• the process in S3 corresponds to the process performed by the difference update information obtaining means, whereas the process in S4 corresponds to the process performed by the difference updating means.
• the difference update process performed in the map updating system 1 according to the present embodiment will be explained.
• the particular update targets are the map data of the nationwide area (see FIG. 3) classified as the distribution road classification type called "nationwide" and the map data of 100 km squared area centered around the home (see FIG. 6) regardless of the distribution road classification type.
• the particular update targets are the map data of the nationwide area (see FIG. 3) classified as the distribution road classification type called "nationwide" and the map data of 100 km squared area centered around the home (see FIG. 6) regardless of the distribution road classification type.
• the particular update targets are the map data of the nationwide area (see FIG. 3) classified as the distribution road classification type called "nationwide" and the map data of 10 km squared area centered around the destination (see FIG. 6) regardless of the distribution road classification type.
• the map data for the corresponding area is updated to a new version of map data, based on the difference update data transmitted from the map distribution center 2.
• each of the pieces of difference update data 17 contains, in advance, data that identifies the date on which the piece of difference update data 17 was created. The current date and time is detected by the GPS 41.
• the process in S6 corresponds to the process performed by the lapse of period judging means.
• the CPU 11 receives navigation information used for performing a map update from the navigation apparatus 5.
• the navigation information is transmitted from the navigation apparatus 5, when the electric power of the navigation apparatus 5 is turned on, when one's home is registered, or when a destination is specified.
• the CPU 11 obtains the information of the version of the navigation map data 39 that is currently stored in the navigation HDD 32 included in the navigation apparatus 5.
• the CPU 11 identifies the navigation apparatus 5 that is an update target, based on the identification ID received as the navigation information in SlOl and extracts, from the version management DB 19, the information of the version of the navigation map data 39 in the identified navigation apparatus 5, for each of the areas.
• the CPU 11 compares, for the update target areas of the navigation apparatus 5 that has transmitted the navigation information, the version of the map data that is currently stored in the navigation apparatus 5 with the newest version of the map data stored in the map distribution center 2 and judges if there is any area that needs to be updated (S 104).
• the update target areas are different depending on the condition under which the navigation apparatus 5 starts performing the difference update process on the map data, the registered position of the home, and the position of the specified destination.
• any of the pieces of difference update data 17 that is required in performing an update on the area is extracted out of the center-side map information DB 14 (S 105). Then, the extracted piece of the difference update data 17 is transmitted to the navigation apparatus 5 (S 106).
• the transmitted piece of difference update data 17 contains version information used for identifying the version of the piece of difference update data 17.
• NO in S 104 the process is ended without transmitting any of the difference update data 17 to the navigation apparatus 5.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the map data total update processing program according to the present embodiment, hi this situation, the map data total update processing program is a program used for updating the total area of the navigation map data 39 stored in the navigation apparatus 5 to a specific version of map data, based on the total update data supplied from the retail store HDD 6.
• the program shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7 is stored in the RAM 52 or the ROM 53 included in the navigation apparatus 5 and is repeatedly executed by the CPU 51 at predetermined intervals after the ignition is turned on.
• the CPU 51 judges whether or not an operation to start performing a total update on the map data is performed by using the operating unit 34.
• the CPU 51 further judges whether or not the retail store HDD 6 is connected to the navigation apparatus 5 (S 12).
• the CPU 51 obtains the total update data 18 by reading from the retail store HDD 6 being connected and collectively updates the total area of the navigation map data 39 to a version of map data that corresponds to the total update data (more specifically, the newest version for each area at a point in time when the total update data is created), by using the obtained total update data 18.
• the total update data 18 contains version information used for identifying the version of the total update data 18.
• the process in S 13 corresponds to the process performed by the total update information obtaining means and the total updating means.
• the CPU 51 compares the version of the total update data used in the total update process with each of the versions of the pieces of difference update data 17 that have already been updated and stored in the navigation HDD 32 in S5.
• FIG. 8 presents schematic charts that show, for each of the areas, versions of the navigation map data 39 before the total update is performed and the versions of navigation map data 39 after the total update is performed. As shown in FIG.
• the map updating system 1 is configured, as explained above, so that after the navigation apparatus 5 performs the difference update on the navigation map data 39, the difference update data 17 used in the difference update is stored for one year at the maximum since the date of creation (S4 to S7).
• the storing period is arranged to be one year at the maximum because the period of time between when a version of total update data 18 is created at the map distribution center 2 and when a following version of the total update data 18 is put up for sale is shorter than one year at the maximum.
• the contents of the updates in the difference update data 17 for which one year has elapsed since the date of creation are already reflected in the contents of the updates in the total update data 18 that is currently for sale.
• the CPU 51 judges whether or not the navigation HDD 32 stores therein any piece of difference update data 17 of which the version is newer than that of the total update data 18.
• the process in S15 corresponds to the process performed by the comparing means.
• a piece of difference update data 17 is extracted from the navigation HDD 32 (S 16).
• a difference update process is performed on the navigation map data 39 by using the extracted piece of difference update data 17 (S 17).
• the CPU 11 deletes the pieces of difference update data 17 that have been stored up to that point in time in S 17 from the navigation HDD 32.
• the process in S 16 corresponds to the process performed by the information extracting means, whereas the process in S 17 corresponds to the process performed by the re-updating means.
• the process at S 18 corresponds to the process performed by the information deleting means.
• the difference update data 17 used in the difference update is stored into the navigation HDD 32 (S5).
• a difference update is performed again (S 17) by using such a piece of difference update data stored in the navigation HDD 32 of which the version is newer than that of the total update data.
• the pieces of difference update data 17 that have been stored up to that point in time are deleted from the navigation HDD 32 (S 18).
• the pieces of the difference update data 17 whenever they have become unnecessary it is possible to make sure that the navigation HDD 32 has sufficient storage area. As a result, it is possible to improve the processing speed related to searching for and extracting the difference update data 17.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Needless to say, it is possible to apply various types of improvements or modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• the total update is performed after the retail store HDD 6 is removed from the retail store PC 20 and connected to the navigation apparatus 5.
• the piece of difference update data 17 is deleted from the navigation HDD 32.

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• 2006
  • 2006-06-09 JP JP2006160889A patent/JP4682089B2/ja active Active
• 2007
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