Communicative Navigation System, Information Distribution Server, and Mobile Navigation Terminal

• US 20080201070A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Shin
• Application Number:
  US11/629,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

There are provided a mobile navigation terminal and an information distribution server that includes a geographical database for route searching and a mesh database storing therein meshes into which images produced from aerial photographs have been divided. The mobile navigation terminal includes GPS means; matching means for matching a measured location with a route to determine a current location; and a mesh data requesting part for calculating mesh data for which to request the information distribution server anew in connection with the current location. The mobile navigation terminal transmits a route search request and/or a mesh data distribution request to the information distribution server. The information distribution server, which includes a route searching part and a mesh dada distributing part, uses the geographical database to search for a route. If there exists a guide route in the mesh data as requested for, then the information distribution server adds the guide route data to the mesh data and distributes them to the mobile navigation terminal. The mobile navigation terminal displays the guide route on the distributed mesh data.

Claims

1. A communicative navigation system comprising:

an information distribution server having a cartographic database for storing cartographic data for route searching, and a mesh database whereby images produced from aerial photographs or satellite photographs are partitioned and stored in meshes for each prescribed region; and

a mobile navigation terminal connected to the information distribution server via a network;

wherein the system is characterized in that the mobile navigation terminal has a GPS processing means for determining a current location, a matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data wherein a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters, and which sends distribution requests for route search parameters and/or mesh data to the information distribution server;

wherein the information distribution server is provided with a route search unit and mesh data distribution unit, and searches routes using the cartographic database for route searching, and, when the route guidance requested for distribution is in the form of mesh data, adds the route guidance data to the mesh data and sends the integrated data to the mobile navigation terminal; and

the mobile navigation terminal displays the route guide on the distributed mesh data.

2. The communicative navigation system of claim 1, characterized in that the mobile navigation terminal sends a mesh data code representing, at least, a starting location, target location, search conditions, and requested mesh data to the information distribution server;

and

the information distribution server searches routes each time the mesh data code for representing the starting location, target location, search conditions, and requested mesh data is received, and adds the route guide data to mesh data when the route guide is contained in the mesh data that has been requested for distribution, and sends the data to the mobile navigation terminal.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mesh data distribution unit writes and distributes route guide data displayed on a mobile navigation terminal to an extended region of the distributed mesh data in distribution format to the mobile navigation terminal.

4. An information distribution server connected, via a network, to a mobile navigation terminal having a GPS processing means for determining a current location, a matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data when a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters;

and which sends requests for distribution of route search parameters and/or said mesh data to the information distribution server;

the information distribution server specifically comprises a cartographic database for storing map data for route searching, a mesh database whereby images produced from aerial photographs or satellite photographs are partitioned and stored in meshes for each prescribed region;

a route searching unit, and a mesh data distribution unit;

wherein the mesh data distribution unit adds the distributed route guide data to the mesh data distributed to the mobile navigation terminal.

6. The server of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the mesh data distribution unit writes and distributes route guide data displayed on a mobile navigation terminal to an extended region of the distributed mesh data in distribution format to the mobile navigation terminal.

5. An information distribution server connected, via a network, to a mobile navigation terminal having GPS processing means for determining a current location, a matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data wherein a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters;

and which sends a mesh data code for representing, at least, a starting location, target location, search conditions, and requested mesh data to the information distribution server;

the information distribution server characterized in that whenever it conducts route searches it receives the mesh data code representing the starting location, target location, search conditions, and requested mesh data; and

adds the route guide data to mesh data when the route guide is contained in the mesh data that has been requested for distribution, and sends the integrated data to the mobile navigation terminal.

7. A mobile navigation terminal connected, via a network, to an information distribution server which has a cartographic database for storing map data for route searching, a mesh database whereby images produced from aerial photographs or satellite photographs are partitioned and stored in meshes for each prescribed region, a route searching unit, and a mesh data distribution unit;

wherein the mesh data distribution unit adds the distributed route guide data displayed on the mobile navigation terminal to the mesh data and sends the integrated data to the mobile navigation terminal;

the mobile navigation terminal characterized in that it comprises GPS processing means for determining a current location, a matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data wherein a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters;

and where the mobile navigation terminal sends the route search parameters and distribution requests for mesh data as needed to the information distribution server; and

displays the route guide over the mesh data that has been distributed by the information distribution server.

8. A mobile navigation terminal connected, via a network, to an information distribution server which has a cartographic database for storing map data for route searching, a mesh database whereby images produced from aerial photographs or satellite photographs are partitioned and stored in meshes for each prescribed region, a route searching unit, and a mesh data distribution unit;

which searches routes each time a mesh data code representing a starting location, target location, search conditions, and requested mesh data is received from the mobile navigation terminal; and

in which the mesh data distribution unit adds the distributed route guide data displayed on the mobile navigation terminal to the mesh data distributed to the mobile navigation terminal;

the mobile navigation terminal characterized in that it comprises GPS processing means for determining a current location, a matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data wherein a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters;

and where the mobile navigation terminal sends the route search parameters and distribution requests for mesh data as needed to the information distribution server; and

displays the route guide over the mesh data that has been distributed by the information distribution server.

9. A mobile navigation terminal connected, via a network, to an information distribution server which has a cartographic database for storing map data for route searching, a mesh database whereby images produced from aerial photographs or satellite photographs are partitioned and stored in meshes for each prescribed region, a route searching unit, and a mesh data distribution unit;

and in which the mesh data distribution unit writes and distributes route guide data displayed on the mobile navigation terminal to an extended region of the distributed mesh data in distribution format to the mobile navigation terminal;

the mobile navigation terminal characterized in that it comprises GPS processing means for determining a current location, matching processing means for matching a measured location with a route to determine the current location, a mesh data request processor for computing mesh data wherein a new distribution request for mesh data containing the current location is sent to the data distribution server, and an operating unit for inputting route search parameters;

and where the mobile navigation terminal sends the route search parameters and distribution requests for mesh data as needed to the information distribution server; and

displays the route guide over the mesh data that has been distributed by the information distribution server.