Data structure of feature guidance information, recording medium storing feature guidance information, navigation device, navigation system, navigation method, navigation program and recording medium storing the navigation program

• US 20040153238A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation
• Original Assignee: Increment P Corporation
• Inventors: Miyahara, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A feature guidance information that provides guidance on a feature has a data structure where a unique information representing a feature position and a guidance position are associated with respective sub-areas so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position to represent the feature or the guidance position. When it is recognized that a vehicle reaches a position indicated by the unique mesh information of the guidance position with respect to a current position of the vehicle, guidance on the feature corresponding to the guidance position is provided. Thus, an amount of information, load for sending/receiving data and processing can be largely decreased compared to that coordinates are used for representing the feature position and the guidance position of the feature guidance information, thereby providing smooth navigation.

Claims

1. A data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information;

and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data.

2. The data structure of a feature guidance information according to claim 1,

wherein the sub-areas are divided in a matrix, and

wherein the unique mesh information corresponds to the measure of the sub-areas each constituting a cell of the matrix in vertical and horizontal directions.

3. The data structure of a feature guidance information according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information of the guidance is recorded being associated with each data.

4. A recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section.

5. A recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising:

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs.

6. A recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising:

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information.

7. A navigation device, comprising:

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information based on a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information for a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature guidance information based on the acquired feature guidance information and the acquired current position information.

12. The navigation device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a guidance information acquiring section that acquires the guidance information of the guidance on the feature while being associated with the feature position or the guidance position,

wherein the guidance providing section provides the guidance based on the guidance information corresponding to the guidance position by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position.

8. A navigation device, comprising:

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information for a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature guidance information based on the acquired feature guidance information and the acquired current position information.

13. The navigation device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a guidance information acquiring section that acquires the guidance information of the guidance on the feature while being associated with the feature position or the guidance position,

wherein the guidance providing section provides the guidance based on the guidance information corresponding to the guidance position by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position.

9. A navigation device, comprising:

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs,

the navigation device, further comprising;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information for a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature guidance information based on the acquired feature guidance information and the acquired current position information.

14. The navigation device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a guidance information acquiring section that acquires the guidance information of the guidance on the feature while being associated with the feature position or the guidance position,

wherein the guidance providing section provides the guidance based on the guidance information corresponding to the guidance position by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position.

10. A navigation device, comprising:

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information, the navigation device, further comprising;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information for a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature guidance information based on the acquired feature guidance information and the acquired current position information.

15. The navigation device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a guidance information acquiring section that acquires the guidance information of the guidance on the feature while being associated with the feature position or the guidance position,

wherein the guidance providing section provides the guidance based on the guidance information corresponding to the guidance position by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position.

11. A navigation device for providing guidance on a feature by a computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the navigation device comprising:

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information of a current position of the movable body;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information including;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on the corresponding feature associated with the guidance position, by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area, when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information, based on the current position information and the feature guidance information.

16. The navigation device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a guidance information acquiring section that acquires the guidance information of the guidance on the feature while being associated with the feature position or the guidance position,

wherein the guidance providing section provides the guidance based on the guidance information corresponding to the guidance position by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position.

17. A navigation system, comprising:

a server unit provided with a storage that stores a feature guidance information based on a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data; and

a terminal unit connected to the server unit in a manner capable of communicating over network, the terminal unit including;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information associated with a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

22. The navigation system according to claim 17, wherein the guidance providing section recognizes that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information.

18. A navigation system, comprising:

a server unit provided with a storage that stores a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section; and

a terminal unit connected to the server unit in a manner capable of communicating over network, the terminal unit including;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information associated with a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

23. The navigation system according to claim 18, wherein the guidance providing section recognizes that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information.

19. A navigation system, comprising:

a server unit provided with a storage that stores a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs,

the navigation system, further comprising a terminal unit connected to the server unit in a manner capable of communicating over network, the terminal unit including;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information associated with a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

24. The navigation system according to claim 19, wherein the guidance providing section recognizes that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information.

20. A navigation system, comprising:

a server unit provided with a storage that stores a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information,

the navigation system, further comprising a terminal unit connected to the server unit in a manner capable of communicating over network, the terminal unit including;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information associated with a current position of the movable body; and

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

25. The navigation system according to claim 20, wherein the guidance providing section recognizes that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information.

21. A navigation system for providing guidance on a feature by a computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the navigation system comprising:

a server unit provided with a storage that stores feature guidance information, the server unit including;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information; and

a terminal unit connected to the server unit in a manner capable of communicating over network, the terminal unit including;

a feature guidance information acquiring section that acquires a feature guidance information;

a current position information acquiring section that acquires a current position information associated with a current position of the movable body;

a guidance providing section that provides guidance on a feature by recognizing that a movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

26. The navigation system according to claim 21, wherein the guidance providing section recognizes that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position represented by the unique mesh information associated with a predetermined sub-area when the movable body is moved to a position corresponding to the predetermined sub-area of the feature guidance information.

27. A navigation method for providing guidance on a feature by a computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a feature guidance information including;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information; and

providing guidance on the feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

28. A navigation method, comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information based on a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

29. A navigation method, comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

30. A navigation method, comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

31. A navigation method, comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

32. A navigation program executing a navigation method for providing guidance on a feature by a computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the program being executed by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a feature guidance information including;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information; and

providing guidance on the feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

33. A navigation program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information based on a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

34. A navigation program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

35. A navigation program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

36. A navigation program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from the recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

37. A recording medium storing a navigation program in a manner readable by a computing section, the program executing a navigation method for providing guidance on a feature by a computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the program being executed by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a feature guidance information including;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information; and

providing guidance on the feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at the guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

38. A recording medium storing a navigation program in a manner readable by a computing section, the program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information based on a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

39. A recording medium storing a navigation program in a manner readable by a computing section, the program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a data structure of a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of position in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature,

wherein an area representing the position of the feature and the guidance position according to a positional relationship shown in a map is divided into a plurality of sub-areas each of which includes at most one of the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-areas respectively being associated with unique mesh information, and

wherein a plurality of records including a unique feature information associated with the respective features and a unique guidance position information on the feature respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature, the records being further associated with the unique mesh information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information, is stored as one data in a manner readable by a computing section,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

40. A recording medium storing a navigation program in a manner readable by a computing section, the program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from a recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section for providing guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a feature data area that stores a unique feature information associated with the feature;

a guidance position data area that stores a unique guidance position information associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a mesh data area that stores a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position in pairs,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.

41. A recording medium storing a navigation program in a manner readable by a computing section, the program executing a navigation method by a computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

reading a feature guidance information readable from the recording medium storing a feature guidance information readable by a computing section to provide guidance on a feature by the computing section when a movable body is moved to a predetermined guidance position located ahead of the position of the feature in a moving direction of the movable body toward the feature, the recording medium comprising;

a unique feature information associated with the respective features;

a unique guidance position information respectively associated with the guidance position of the feature; and

a unique mesh information associated with a sub-area representing the feature position and the guidance position, the sub-area being divided from an area representing the feature position and the guidance position according to the positional relationship shown in a map so that each sub-area includes at most one of the feature and the guidance position, the unique mesh information associated with the unique feature information or the unique guidance position information to represent the position of the feature or the guidance information,

wherein the unique feature information, the unique guidance position information and the unique mesh information are recorded as the single feature guidance information,

the method, further comprising the steps of;

acquiring a current position information associated with a current position of a movable body; and

providing guidance on a feature by recognizing that the movable body is positioned at a guidance position of the feature based on the feature guidance information and the current position information.