Map display device

• US 20060047420A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiromichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

A map display device includes a display for displaying map data, a position detection means for detecting a position of a subject vehicle, a map data storage means for storing the map data and a map data process means for processing the map data. The map data process means determines whether the subject vehicle is traveling outside of a road on a map displayed on the display based on the current position of the subject vehicle. The map data process means updates the map data upon receiving an affirmative response for confirmation of an update of a portion of the map data including a path of the current position of the subject vehicle on the map.

Claims

1. A map display device comprising:

a display for displaying map data;

a current position detection means for detecting a current position of a subject vehicle;

a map data storage means for storing the map data for the display; and

a map data process means for processing the map data,

wherein the map data process means determines whether the subject vehicle is traveling outside of a road on a map displayed on the display based on the current position of the subject vehicle, and

the map data process means updates the map data upon receiving an affirmative response for confirmation of an update of a portion of the map data including a path of the current position of the subject vehicle on the map.

2. The map display device according to claim 1,

wherein the portion of the map data includes a vehicular swept path of the subject vehicle, and

the vehicular swept path does not belong to the road on the map.

3. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the map data process means issues an inquiry for confirmation to a user when the subject vehicle is determined to be traveling outside of the road either in a distance greater than a predetermined value or for a period greater than a predetermined value.

4. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the map data process means issues the inquiry when the path of the subject vehicle is determined to be rejoining the road on the map.

5. The map display device according to claim 4,

wherein the map data process means displays the inquiry in an input window for a user input when the path of the subject vehicle is determined to be rejoining the road on the map.

6. The map display device according to claim 5,

wherein the map data process means updates the map data upon receiving the affirmative response within a predetermined period after displaying the input window.

7. The map display device according to claim 6 further comprising a path storage means for storing the vehicular swept path,

wherein the path storage means stores the vehicular swept path as a path data when the user does not respond to the inquiry within a predetermined period.

8. The map display device according to claim 7,

wherein the map data process means displays the inquiry in an input window for the user input to update the map data by the path data in the path storage means when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

9. The map display device according to claim 7,

wherein the path storage means stores the vehicular swept path as the path data upon detecting that a speed of the subject vehicle is greater than a predetermined value.

10. The map display device according to claim 9,

wherein the map data process means displays the inquiry in an input window for the user input to update the map data by the path data in the path storage means when the speed of the subject vehicle becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

11. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the map data process means updates the portion of the map data by receiving the map data delivered from a data distribution facility.

12. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the map data process means updates the portion of the map data by incorporating the path data in the portion of the map data.

13. The map display device according to claim 2,

wherein the map data process means distinguishably displays the portion of the map data on the display.

14. A method of displaying a map in an automotive system comprising steps of:

providing a display for displaying the map for a user;

providing a position detection means for detecting a position of a subject vehicle;

providing a path storage means for storing the positions as a path of the subject vehicle;

determining whether the path belongs to a road on the map on the display; and

incorporating the path in the map when the user gives the affirmative response for incorporation of the path that does not belong to the road.

15. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the path that does not belong to the road is incorporated in the map when the user gives the affirmative response for incorporation of the path in an occasion that a length of the path is greater than a predetermined value or in an occasion that an elapsed time since the path of the subject vehicle starts staying away from the road on the map is greater than a predetermined value.

16. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the path that does not belong to the road on the map is incorporated in the map when the user gives the affirmative response for incorporation of the path when the path rejoins the road on the map.

17. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the user allows or prohibits the automotive system to incorporate the path through an input window shown on the display.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the automotive system allows the user to respond to the confirmation of incorporation of the path for a predetermined period.

19. The method according to claim 18,

wherein the automotive system allows the path to be stored in the path storage means when the user does not responds to the confirmation of incorporation of the path for the predetermined period.

20. The method according to claim 19,

wherein the automotive system allows the user to incorporate the path stored in the path storage means after confirmation in a predetermined occasion.

21. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the automotive system stores the path in the path storage means when the path is determined to be staying away from the road on the map in a speed of the subject vehicle greater than a predetermined value.

22. The method according to claim 21,

wherein the automotive system allows the user to incorporate the path in the path storage means after confirmation when the speed of the subject vehicle negatively passes a predetermined value.

23. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the automotive system allows the user to update a portion of the map by using data retrieved from a data distribution facility through a wireless communication.

24. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the automotive system allows the user to update a portion of the map by incorporating the path in an existing map.

25. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the automotive system distinguishably displays a portion of the path that does not belong to the road on the display.