Smart storage and transmission of navigation information

• US 20050159880A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route

Abstract

A method for sending navigation information is disclosed. The method can gather various items of navigation information and send those items of navigation information in a certain order. In some cases, the order is established by information that has been received. In other cases, the order has been predetermined. This can assist in making navigation information more readily available and in some cases, users can use parcels of navigation information while other parcels are being still delivered.

Claims

1. A method for storing navigation information comprising the steps of:

retrieving a map;

defining at least one map feature associated with the map;

dividing the map feature into segments;

defining a route associated with the map;

determining which segments of the map feature are associated with the route, and defining those segments as route segments;

storing route segments first in a sequence before storing other non-route segments.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the map feature includes a road.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a second map feature, wherein the second map feature is a second road.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second map feature is divided into second segments.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the route includes second segments defined as second route segments.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein second route segments are stored after the first route segments, but before the non-route segments.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a separation character placed between the route segments and the non-route segments.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a header including information related to and end of the route information and the start of the non-route information.

9. A method for sending navigation information comprising the steps of:

creating a map;

defining at least one map feature associated with the map;

dividing the map feature into segments;

defining a route associated with the map;

determining which segments of the map feature are associated with the route, and defining those segments as route segments; and

sending route segments first before sending other non-route segments.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a separation character placed between the route segments and the non-route segments.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the separation character indicates a division between the route segments and the non-route segments.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein a header indicates a division between the route segments and the non-route segments.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the header is sent before the route segments and includes information related to a number of route segments.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a second map feature, wherein the second map feature is a second road, and wherein the second map feature is divided into second segments.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the route includes second segments defined as second route segments.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein second route segments are sent after the first route segments, but before the non-route segments.

17. A method for receiving and decoding navigation information comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of parcels of information, wherein each parcel corresponds to a segment;

determining which segments are associated with a route;

using those segments to define a route; and

using the remaining segments to define map features.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a separation character is used to determine which segments are associated with the route.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a header is used to determine which segments are associated with the route.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the segments associated with the route are received before other segments are received.