Computer product having distribution map data, distribution map data creation method, distrubution map data creation device, and terminal device

• US 20060155462A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Sumizawa, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

Distribution map data for distributing a map by communication includes road data representing position information on the roads contained in a plurality of compartments and integrating name data for integrating name information for the same roads contained in the plurality of compartments without duplicating them.

Claims

1. A computer product having stored therein distribution map data used to distribute a map through communication, the distribution map data comprising:

road data set in correspondence to each of specific map area blocks to provide position information indicating positions of roads within the map area blocks; and

integrated name data each set of which provides common name information for a road passing through a plurality of map area blocks in common with the plurality of map area blocks.

2. A computer product according to claim 1, wherein:

the distribution map data include the road data in each of a plurality of map layers set in correspondence to different specific scaling factors; and

each set of the integrated name data provides the common name information for a road in common with the plurality of map layers as well.

3. A distribution map data generating method for generating distribution map data used to distribute a map through communication, comprising:

extracting road data and name data over a plurality of map area blocks to indicate a route passing through the plurality of map area blocks, from road map data that includes road data set in correspondence to each of specific map area blocks to provide position information indicating positions of roads in the map area block and name data set in correspondence to each of the map area blocks to provide name information indicating names of the roads in the map area block;

generating integrated name data by integrating name information in the extracted name data, which is set in correspondence to a plurality of map area blocks to indicate a single road, so as to provide common name information for indicating name of a road in common with the plurality of map area blocks; and

generating the distribution map data by using the extracted road data and the integrated name data.

4. A distribution map data generating method according to claim 3, wherein:

the distribution map data include the road data in each of a plurality of map layers set in correspondence to different specific scaling factors; and

each set of the integrated name data provides the common name information for a road in common with the plurality of map layers as well.

5. A distribution map data generating method according to claim 3, wherein:

the route is determined as a road from a start point to an end point based upon the road data; and

when extracting the road data and the name data indicating the route, road data and name data contained in an area ranging over a predetermined width along the route are extracted based upon the road map data.

14. A distribution map data generating method according to claim 4, wherein:

the route is determined as a road from a start point to an end point based upon the road data; and

when extracting the road data and the name data indicating the route, road data and name data contained in an area ranging over a predetermined width along the route are extracted based upon the road map data.

19. A terminal device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device based upon road types of the roads on the route.

6. A distribution map data generating apparatus that generates distribution map data used to distribute a map through communication, comprising:

a storage device that stores road map data that includes road data set in correspondence to each of specific map area blocks to provide position information indicating positions of roads in the map area block and name data set in correspondence to each of the map area blocks to provide name information indicating names of the roads in the map area block;

an extraction device that extracts road data and *name data over a plurality of map area blocks to indicate a route passing through the plurality of map area blocks based upon the road map data;

an integrating device that generates integrated name data by integrating name information set in the name data extracted by the extraction device in correspondence to individual map area blocks to indicate a single road, so as to provide common name information for indicating name of the road in common with the plurality of map area blocks; and

a generating device that generates the distribution map data by using the road data extracted by the extraction device and the integrated name data.

7. A distribution data generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the distribution map data include the road data in each of a plurality of map layers set in correspondence to different specific scaling factors; and

each set of the integrated name data provides the common name information for a road in common with the plurality of map layers as well.

8. A distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the route is determined as a road from a start point to an end point based upon the road data; and

when extracting the road data and the name data indicating the route, the extraction device extracts road data and name data contained in an area ranging over a predetermined width along the route based upon the road map data.

9. A terminal device that displays a map by using distribution map data generated at a distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 6, comprising:

a reception device that receives the distribution map data transmitted from an external source; and

a display device that displays at least part of a route on a monitor based upon road data in the received distribution map data and displays names of roads attached to the roads on the route based upon the integrated name data in the received distribution map data.

10. A terminal device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a first position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device based upon road types of the roads on the route.

11. A terminal device according to claim 910, further comprising:

a second position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device so as to orient the names paralleled to inclinations of the route.

15. A distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the route is determined as a road from a start point to an end-point based upon the road data; and

when extracting the road data and the name data indicating the route, the extraction device extracts road data and name data contained in an area ranging over a predetermined width along the route based upon the road map data.

16. A terminal device that displays a map by using distribution map data generated at a distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:

a reception device that receives the distribution map data transmitted from an external source; and

a display device that displays at least part of a route on a monitor based upon road data in the received distribution map data and displays names of roads attached to the roads on the route based upon the integrated name data in the received distribution map data.

17. A terminal device that displays a map by using distribution map data generated at a distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 8, comprising:

a reception device that receives the distribution map data transmitted from an external source; and

a display device that displays at least part of a route on a monitor based upon road data in the received distribution map data and displays names of roads attached to the roads on the route based upon the integrated name data in the received distribution map data.

20. A terminal device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device based upon road types of the roads on the route.

21. A terminal device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a first position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device based upon road types of the roads on the route.

22. A terminal device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a second position determining device that determines display positions at which the names of the roads on the route are displayed by the display device so as to orient the names paralleled to inclinations of the route.

12. (cancelled)

13. (cancelled)

18. A terminal device that displays a map by using distribution map data generated at a distribution map data generating apparatus according to claim 13, comprising:

a reception device that receives the distribution map data transmitted from an external source; and

a display device that displays at least part of a route on a monitor based upon road data in the received distribution map data and displays names of roads attached to the roads on the route based upon the integrated name data in the received distribution map data.