Map distribution system and terminal device used in the same

• US 20040054465A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Arakawa, Takeharu, Hamaguchi, Yoshihide
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A map distribution system, includes an information center that stores the latest map information and a terminal device including a communication unit, a map storing unit, and a map storing unit. The communication unit transmits information to the information center and receives information from the information center. The map storing unit stores map information. The control information storing unit stores control information associated with the map information. The terminal device transmits the control information to the information center every prescribed timings. The information center transmits the latest control information to the terminal device in response to the transmitted control information. The terminal device rewrites the control information stored in the control information storing unit to the latest control information.

Claims

1. A terminal device in a map distribution system, comprising:

a communication unit configured to transmit information to an information center and to receive information from the information center;

a map storing unit configured to store map information received by the communication unit; and

a control information storing unit configured to store control information associated with the map information and received by the communication unit;

wherein the control information is transmitted to the information center every prescribed timings;

the communication unit receives latest control information which the information center transmits in response to the transmitted control information; and

the control information stored in the control information storing unit is rewritten to the latest control information.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a map updating unit configured to update the map information stored in the map storing unit;

wherein the map updating unit refers to the control information stored in the control information storing unit to determine information included in the map information to be updated.

3. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a map updating unit for updating the map information stored in the map storing unit;

wherein the map updating unit updates the map information with a map update unit including at least one of minimum unit map group capable of being updated.

4. The terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the control information is administered with a file for each map update unit.

5. A map distribution system, comprising:

an information center that stores the latest map information; and

a terminal device including a communication unit, a map storing unit, and a map storing unit;

wherein the communication unit transmits information to the information center and receives information from the information center;

the map storing unit stores map information received by the communication unit;

the control information storing unit stores control information associated with the map information and received by the communication unit;

the terminal device transmits the control information to the information center every prescribed timings;

the information center transmits the latest control information to the terminal device in response to the control information transmitted from the terminal device; and

the terminal device rewrites the control information stored in the control information storing unit to the latest control information.

6. A computer program product in a terminal device of a map distributing system, comprising:

means for storing map information;

means for storing control information associated with the map information;

means for transmitting the control information to an information center every prescribed timings;

means for receiving latest control information which the information center transmits in response to the transmitted control information; and

means for rewriting the stored control information to the latest control information.

7. An updating method of map control information for a terminal device in a map transmitting system, wherein the terminal device comprises:

a measuring unit for measuring and determining the current position of a vehicle, a communication unit for transmitting information to and receiving information from an information center, a map storing unit for storing map information received by the communication unit, and a control information storing unit for storing control information associated with the map information received by the communication unit, the updating method comprising;

transmitting the control information stored in the control information storing unit to the information center every prescribed timings,

receiving latest control information transmitted from the information center; and

rewriting the control information stored in the control information storing unit to the latest control information.