Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation – Employing position determining equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-31
2001-05-08
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
Employing position determining equipment
C701S211000, C340S990000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230098
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a map data processing apparatus and method for updating map data stored in a map data storing means using the latest map data. The present invention also relates to a map data processing system including the map data processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic apparatuses using map data are well known. A typical example of such an apparatus is a vehicle-use navigation system. In a conventional navigation apparatus, map data is stored in a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, and the entire storage medium is generally exchanged for a new one in order to update the map data stored therein when the use of newer map data is required for accurate navigation.
Meanwhile, a vehicle information system proposal has attracted attention as part of what is known as ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). In this vehicle information system, various useful information is supplied from an information center to a vehicle via data communication. The offer of the latest map data via communication is also proposed with an expectation such that it may facilitate map data updating.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-305282 discloses an example of a system in which map data is updated using communication. In this system, an information system has the latest map data, and data communication is carried out between the information center and an on-vehicle navigation apparatus. In the navigation apparatus, map data is stored so as to be read/written in a storing means. For updating the map data stored on the vehicle side, whether or not the stored map data is the latest is determined based on the detected version number. If the data is not the latest version, the latest map data is transmitted from the information center.
The above JP laid-open No. Hei 8-305282 also discloses transmission of differential data from an information center to a vehicle to achieve map data updating in a shorter time. Differential data is data indicative of difference between the latest map data held by the center and older map data held by a vehicle. As differential data has a significantly smaller volume compared to the whole of original map data, it can be transmitted in a shorter time.
In map data updating, it is desirable that processing be completed within the shortest time as possible. Utilizing the above mentioned differential data is one of effective means to increase the update-processing speed. Further, in an updating process, it is important to ensure ease with which updated map data is used in a navigation-related process. That is, it is desirable that an updating process does not result in complicating a process using map data. It is expected that an updating process can be optimized by achieving high-speed update-processing while ensuring ease in using updated map data.
However, at the present stage, map data transmission to a vehicle via communication is still being studied, and none of the conventional technologies takes into consideration compatibility between high-speed update-processing and ease in using updated map data. Therefore, it has been difficult to carry out truly efficient map data updating.
In particular, map data used in a navigation apparatus consists of map data in a number of types. In other words, such total map data is a collection of map data of a number of types. Various map data, such as map data for drawing, for route calculation, and for map matching, may often have different purposes and uses.
In view of high-speed processing and ease in using updated map data, optimum update-processing may differ for every map data. That is, application of similar map data processing may result in significant difference in processing speeds or ease in using map data depending on the type of map data. However, the difference in the nature of respective map data has not conventionally been taken into consideration. As a result, ease in using updated map data may be damaged through application of inappropriate processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceived to overcome the above problems and aims to provide a map data processing apparatus and method for optimizing an update process through employment of a process most suitable for each type of map data.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a differential data is used and stored in a storage means in different methods determined so as to accord each type of map data. According to a second aspect, whether or not to use differential data or general data is selected. According to a third aspect, combination of the first and second aspects will result in more favorable updating processing.
(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map data processing apparatus comprising map data storage section for storing total map data comprising map data of a number of types, input means for inputting differential data with respect to map data of at least one type, in which differential data indicates difference between the latest map data and corresponding map data stored in the map data storage means, and updating means for updating map data stored in the map data storage means using the differential data.
The updating means has a general processing means and a restructure processing means. The general processing means stores differential data separately from extant map data in the map data storing means. The restructure processing means reads map data from the map data storing means, combines the read data and the differential data to thereby restructure map data, and stores restructured map data in the map data storage means. Restructured map data contains the last data and is still usable in the same method as with the map data before updating.
According to the present invention, either general processing means or restructure processing means is selectable in an updating process using differential data. General processing means would complete updating processing easily in a short time, though it would result In separately stored map data. Therefore, data to be preferably processed through general processing are those which can be easily processed despite separately filed differential data and pre-updating map data. Specifically, drawing data for navigation is preferably processed through general processing.
On the other hand, updating processing through restructure processing is more complicated and takes a longer time than through general processing. However, it ensures ease in using data as updated data can be used similarly before the updating process. Therefore, data to be preferably processed through restructure processing are those which cannot be easily used when differential data and map data before updating are separately filed. Route calculation data for navigation is an example of such data.
As described above, according to the present invention, positive employment of general processing can increase the update-processing speed, while employment of restructure processing if necessary can ensure ease in using updated data. In short, it is possible to achieve a high-speed updating while ensuring ease of map data use.
Preferably, differential data is obtained using a communication means, which may include radio or cable means. A communication device dedicated to data communication, a telephone capable of data communication, or a receiver capable of receiving transmitted data via broadcasting, may be used. Also, data communication may be performed with a connected computer.
In this invention, it is preferable to predetermine whether general processing or restructure processing is used according to the type of map data, though the present invention is not limited to this structure. Map data of the same type may be processed by either a general processing means or a restructure processing means depending on the status where data is stored in the storage means. The user may instruct which means to use. This is similarly applicable to th
Ando Kouichi
Ito Toru
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Hernandez Olga
Toyota Jidosha & Kabushiki Kaisha
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