METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION ON POSITION ON DIGITAL MAP AND DEVICE USED FOR THE SAME

• US 20120065879A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T&M Data Update LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Adachi, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• 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

A method of transmitting position information of a digital map capable of transmitting a position on a digital map efficiently and accurately in which a transmitting side transmits position information including coordinate series information for specifying a vector shape on a digital map and a receiving side execute map matching by the coordinate series information to thereby identify the vector shape on the digital map, the coordinate series information is transmitted by adding azimuth information of a coordinate point included in the coordinate series information thereto. By transmitting shape data by adding the azimuth information thereto, accuracy of matching can be promoted and necessary time for matching can be shortened.

Claims

1. A system comprising a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, the transmitting apparatus storing a first digital map including a first road section and the receiving apparatus storing a second digital map including a second road section,

the transmitting apparatus comprising:

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information to the receiving apparatus; and

the receiving apparatus comprising;

a receiving unit that receives the generated position information; and

an identifying unit that identifies a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifies a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the relative coordinates information.

2. A transmitting apparatus storing a first digital map including a first road section, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes

coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes

relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information.

3. A receiving apparatus storing a second digital map including a second road section, the receiving apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit that receives generated position information, whereby the generated position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section from a first digital map distinct from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

an identifying unit that identifies a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifies a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the relative coordinates information.

4. A method for identifying a second reference point on a second digital map stored at a receiver apparatus, the method comprising:

at a transmitting apparatus which stores a first digital map including a first road section;

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

transmitting the generated position information to the receiving apparatus; and

at the receiving apparatus which stores the second digital map including a second road section;

receiving the generated position information; and

identifying a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifying a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the relative coordinates information.

5. A method for transmitting position information at a transmitting apparatus which stores a first digital map including a first road section, the method comprising:

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

transmitting the generated position information to the receiving apparatus.

6. A method for receiving position information at a receiving apparatus which stores a second digital map including a second road section, whereby the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section from a first digital map distinct from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes relative coordinates information which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes, the method comprising:

receiving the generated position information; and

identifying a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifying a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the relative coordinates information.

7. A system comprising a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, the transmitting apparatus storing a first digital map including a first road section and the receiving apparatus storing a second digital map including a second road section,

the transmitting apparatus comprising:

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates a first target position outside of the first road section by the data of distance and the azimuth from coordinates of the first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information to the receiving apparatus; and

the receiving apparatus comprising;

a receiving unit that receives the generated position information; and

an identifying unit that identifies a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifies a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position.

8. A transmitting apparatus storing a first digital map including a first road section, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes

coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes

data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates the first target position outside of the first road section by the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position from coordinates of the first reference point on the first road section, the reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information.

9. A receiving apparatus storing a second digital map including a second road section, the receiving apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit that receives generated position information, whereby the generated position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section from a first digital map distinct from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates the first target position outside of the first road section by the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position from coordinates of the first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

an identifying unit that identifies a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifies a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position.

10. A method for identifying a second reference point on a second digital map stored at a receiver apparatus, the method comprising:

at a transmitting apparatus which stores a first digital map including a first road section;

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates the first target position outside of the first road section by relative coordinates from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

transmitting the generated position information to the receiving apparatus; and

at the receiving apparatus which stores the second digital map including a second road section;

receiving the generated position information; and

identifying a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifying a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position.

11. A method for transmitting position information at a transmitting apparatus which stores a first digital map including a first road section, the method comprising:

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates the first target position outside of the first road section by the data of distance and an azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position from coordinates of a first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes; and

transmitting the generated position information to the receiving apparatus.

12. A method for receiving position information at a receiving apparatus which stores a second digital map including a second road section, whereby the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section from a first digital map distinct from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes, and further includes data of distance and an azimuth from a first reference point to a first target position which indicates the first target position outside of the first road section from coordinates of the first reference point on the first road section, the first reference point being defined relative to one of the nodes, the method comprising:

receiving the generated position information; and

identifying a second reference point on the second digital map corresponding to the first reference point on the first digital map and identifying a second target position on the second digital map by using the identified second reference point and the data of distance and the azimuth from the first reference point to the first target position.

13. A system for identifying a first event position related to an event on a first road section on a first digital map and a second event position on a second road section on a second digital map which corresponds to the first event position, the first digital map being stored in a transmitting apparatus and the second digital map being stored in a receiving apparatus, the second digital map being different from the first digital map, the system comprising

the transmitting apparatus comprising

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between the first event position and one of the plurality of nodes and further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes;

and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information to the receiving apparatus;

and

the receiving apparatus comprising

a receiving unit that receives the generated position information; and

an identifying unit that identifies the second event position on the second road section on the second digital map corresponding to the first event position on the first digital map and determines the direction of the event.

14. A transmitting apparatus storing a first digital map, the transmitting apparatus comprising;

a position information generating unit that generates position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section on the first digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between a first event position and one of the plurality nodes, whereby the first event position is related to an event on the first road section, and further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes; and

a transmitting unit that transmits the generated position information.

15. A receiving apparatus storing a second digital map, the receiving apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit that receives position information, whereby the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section on a first digital map different from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between a first event position and one of the plurality nodes, whereby the first event position is related to an event on the first road section, and the position information further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes; and

an identifying unit that identifies a second event position on the second road section on the second digital map corresponding to the first event position and determines the direction of the event.

16. A method for identifying a first event position related to an event on a first road section on a first digital map and a second event position on a second road section on a second digital map which corresponds to the first event position, the first digital map being stored in a transmitting apparatus and the second digital map being stored in a receiving apparatus, the second digital map being different from the first digital map, the method comprising

at the transmitting apparatus

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents the first road section, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between the first event position and one of the plurality of nodes and further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes;

and

transmitting the generated position information to the receiving apparatus;

and

at the receiving apparatus

receiving the generated position information; and

identifying the second event position on the second road section on the second digital map corresponding to the first event position on the first digital map, and

determining the direction of the event.

17. A method for transmitting at a transmitting apparatus comprising

storing a first digital map,

generating position information, wherein the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section on the first digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between a first event position and one of the plurality nodes, whereby the first event position is related to an event on the first road section, and further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes;

and

transmitting the generated position information.

18. A method for receiving at a receiving apparatus comprising

storing a second digital map,

receiving position information, whereby the position information includes coordinates information, which represents a first road section on a first digital map different from the second digital map, the first road section including a plurality of nodes and a distance information which indicates a distance between a first event position and one of the plurality nodes, whereby the first event position is related to an event on the first road section, and the position information further includes direction information of the event which comprises a direction identifying flag identifying a forward direction or a rearward direction with regard to an order of aligning of the plurality of nodes;

and

identifying a second event position on the second road section on the second digital map corresponding to the first event position, and

determining the direction of the event.