MAP DATA STORAGE DEVICE, MAP DATA UPDATING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

• US 20160061615A1
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKAHATA, Seiji, SAWAI, Kimiyoshi, NAKAMURA, Motohiro, KODAN, Tomoki, NOMURA, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

A map data storage device, a map data updating method, and a computer program that can shorten the time required for a map data updating process. In the case where map data stored in a navigation-side local DB of a navigation apparatus are to be updated, the navigation apparatus updates the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB on the basis of map updating data received from a map distribution center, and prepares a data reference index that associates a PID (universal identification information) included in the map data with a record number (internal identification information) included in the map data on the basis of the updated map data. After that, in the case where an application is executed by the navigation apparatus, the prepared data reference index is referenced to access the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB.

Claims

1. A map data storage device comprising:

map data storage medium for storing map data; and

map data updating code unit for updating the map data stored in the map data storage medium on the basis of map updating data acquired from a server, wherein;

the map data stored in the map data storage medium include universal identification information which is identification information commonly used by the server and the map data storage device, and internal identification information which is identification information used by a plurality of types of applications executed by the map data storage device;

the map data storage device further comprises index data preparation code unit for preparing a plurality of types of index data that associate the universal identification information included in the map data with the internal identification information included in the map data in the case where the map data stored in the map data storage medium are updated by the map data updating code unit; and

in the case where an application is executed, the plurality of types of index data corresponding to the executed application are referenced to access the map data stored in the map data storage medium.

2. The map data storage device according to claim 1, wherein

the index data include:

connection index data for specifying a link connected to an intersection on the basis of the intersection; and

intersection index data for specifying intersections positioned at a start point and an end point of a link on the basis of the link.

3. The map data storage device according to claim 2, wherein

the index data further include display index data for specifying a link included in a link string on the basis of the link string.

4. The map data storage device according to claim 1, wherein

the index data referenced as an origin point is set from the plurality of types of index data corresponding to each application.

5. The map data storage device according to claim 1, wherein:

the map data are composed of a plurality of pieces of map configuration data in which a relationship between a plurality of constituent elements is specified by the universal identification information;

the plurality of pieces of map configuration data are stored in the map data storage medium in correlation with different pieces of the internal identification information; and

the index data are data that associate the universal identification information included in the map configuration data with the internal identification information for each of the plurality of pieces of map configuration data.

6. The map data storage device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of types of index data correspond to each of the plurality of types of applications.

7. A map data updating method for updating map data stored in a map data storage device on the basis of map updating data acquired from a server, wherein:

the map data stored in the map data storage device include universal identification information which is identification information commonly used by the server and the map data storage device, and internal identification information which is identification information used by a plurality of types of applications executed by the map data storage device;

a plurality of types of index data that associate the universal identification information included in the map data with the internal identification information included in the map data are prepared in the case where the map data stored in the map data storage device are updated;

the plurality of types of index data correspond to each of the plurality of types of applications; and

in the case where an application is executed, the map data storage device references the plurality of types of index data corresponding to the executed application to access the map data stored in the map data storage device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that is executable by a computer program for causing a computer to function as map updating code unit for updating map data stored in a map data storage medium on the basis of map updating data acquired from a server, wherein:

the map data stored in the map data storage medium include universal identification information which is identification information commonly used by the server and the computer, and internal identification information which is identification information used by a plurality of types of applications executed by the computer;

a plurality of types of index data that associate the universal identification information included in the map data with the internal identification information included in the map data are prepared in the case where the map data stored in the map data storage medium are updated by the map updating code unit;

the plurality of types of index data correspond to each of the plurality of types of applications; and

in the case where an application is executed, the plurality of types of index data corresponding to the executed application are referenced to access the map data stored in the map data storage medium.