Navigation device, and method for updating map data and navigation

• US 20100125408A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: KANEMATSU, Osamu, SHIKIMACHI, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3844 Data obtained from position sensors only, e.g. from inertial navigation

Abstract

A setting section sets a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data. A generating section generates a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of a navigation device when a current position of the navigation device deviates from an existing road registered in the map data. A new road registering section registers the generated new road in a storing section when a determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road. The navigation device performs the routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

a setting section configured to set a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data, the destination being specified as an object of a routing assistance in the map data;

a generating section configured to generate a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of the navigation device when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data;

a determination section configured to determine whether the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road;

a storing section capable of storing the generated new road; and

a new road registering section configured to register the generated new road in the storing section when the determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road,

wherein the navigation device is configured to perform the routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the course of the routing assistance, the determination region is maintained after a determination of arrival to the destination on the existing road, which is specified by the map data, is made.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a previous determination region, which the setting section sets to a previous destination, is once maintained until a new destination of a new routing assistance is specified, and thereafter the previous determination region is canceled.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination region, which is currently maintained, is canceled when the navigation device is de-activated.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination region of the destination, is canceled when the destination of the routing assistance is canceled in accordance with an instruction of a user.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the setting section is further configured to change the determination region according to a distance between the destination and an existing road, which is closest to the destination, in the map data.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the setting section is further configured to enlarge the determination region, as the distance becomes large.

8. A method for updating map data for a navigation device, the method comprising:

setting a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data;

generating a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of a navigation device when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data;

determining whether the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road; and

registering the generated new road in a storing unit in response to determination that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road.

9. A method for navigation, the method comprising:

the setting according to claim 8;

the generating according to claim 8;

the determining according to claim 8;

the registering according to claim 8; and

performing a routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road.