Map information updating systems, methods, and programs

• US 20080208451A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Minami, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

Systems, methods, and programs store a plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past, store pre-update map information, and store post-update map information. The systems, methods, and programs compare, for each of the combinations of departure points and destination points, a route retrieved using the pre-update map information and a route retrieved using the post-update map information, and transmit the comparison results to the navigation apparatus so that a user of the navigation apparatus can appreciate the benefits of updating map information.

Claims

1. A map information updating system that updates map information in a navigation apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores;

a plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past;

pre-update map information; and

post-update map information; and

a controller that;

for each of the combinations of departure points and destination points, compares a route retrieved using the pre-update map information and a route retrieved using the post-update map information; and

transmits the comparison results to the navigation apparatus.

2. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

based on the comparisons of the routes, calculates values that will be improved by using the routes retrieved using the post-update map information instead of the routes retrieved using the pre-update map data.

3. The map information updating system according to claim 2, wherein the controller transmits the comparison results for the routes having the most improved values.

4. The map information updating system according to claim 2, wherein the calculated values comprise at least one of:

required travel time;

required travel distance; and

fuel consumption.

5. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

determines whether the map information in the navigation apparatus has been updated; and

transmits the comparison results when the map information in the navigation apparatus has been updated.

6. The map information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

determines whether an update request has been received from the navigation apparatus; and

transmits the comparison results when the update request has been received.

7. The map information updating system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication apparatus that receives, from the navigation apparatus, information including at least one of:

a version of the map data stored in the navigation apparatus;

an ID of the navigation apparatus; and

travel history data including the plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past.

8. A map information distribution center comprising the system of claim 1.

9. A navigation apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores;

map data; and

a plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past;

a communication apparatus that;

transmits at least one of a version of the stored map data, an ID of the navigation apparatus, and the stored plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points; and

receives values that will be improved by using routes retrieved using the updated map information instead of routes retrieved using the stored map data; and

a controller that displays the values on a display.

10. A map information updating method that updates map information in a navigation apparatus, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past;

storing pre-update map information;

storing post-update map information;

comparing, for each of the combinations of departure points and destination points, a route retrieved using the pre-update map information and a route retrieved using the post-update map information; and

transmitting the comparison results to the navigation apparatus.

11. The map information updating method according to claim 10, further comprising:

calculating, based on the comparisons of the routes, values that will be improved by using the routes retrieved using the post-update map information instead of the routes retrieved using the pre-update map data.

12. The map information updating method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting the comparison results for the routes having the most improved values.

13. The map information updating method according to claim 11, wherein the calculated values comprise at least one of:

required travel time;

required travel distance; and

fuel consumption.

14. The map information updating method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether the map information in the navigation apparatus has been updated; and

transmitting the comparison results when the map information in the navigation apparatus has been updated.

15. The map information updating method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether an update request has been received from the navigation apparatus; and

transmitting the comparison results when the update request has been received.

16. The map information updating method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving, from the navigation apparatus, information including at least one of:

a version of the map data stored in the navigation apparatus;

an ID of the navigation apparatus; and

travel history data including the plurality of combinations of departure points and destination points that have been set in the past.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program usable to implement the method of claim 10.