Map data processing apparatus and method, and map data processing system

• US 6,230,098 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Toru, Ando, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/144,262
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/212, 701/211, 701/210, 340/995, 340/990
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

On a vehicle side, map data storage section stores map data, which is to be updated by using the latest map data transmitted from an information center. The map data includes map data of a number of types, such as landmark information, drawing data, route calculation data. For drawing data and route calculation data, the information center sends differential data indicative of difference between the latest data held by the center and the map data held by the vehicle. The differential data of the drawing data is stored separately from extant data in the storage section by generating processing section. The differential data of the route calculation data is combined with extant data by restructure processing section to thereby restructure route calculation data. On the other hand, for landmark data, the center transmits full data, which is data corresponding to the entire latest map data, rather than only the difference. The full data is used to overwrite the extant data. As described above, an appropriate update process is performed according to the type of map data.

Claims

1. A map data update apparatus, comprising:

map data storage means for storing map data including a plurality of information types;

input means for inputting differential data with respect to map data of at least one type, the differential data comprising a difference between latest map data and corresponding map data stored in said map data storage means; and

updating means for updating the map data stored in said map data storage means using the differential data,

said updating means including

processing means for storing the differential data separately from extant map data in said map data storing means; and

restructuring means for combining extant map data read from said map data storage means with the differential data, restructuring the map data, and storing restructured map data in said map data storage means.

2. A map data update apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means includes a data receiving device so as to input data externally supplied via data communication.

3. A map data update apparatus, comprising:

map data storage means for storing total map data including map data of a number of types;

input means for inputting differential data with respect to map data of at least one type, the differential data comprising a difference between latest map data and corresponding map data stored in said map data storage means; and

updating means for updating the map data stored in said map data storage means using the differential data,

said updating means including;

processing means for storing the differential data separately from extant map data in said map data storing means; and

restructuring means for combining extant map data read from said map data storage means with the differential data, restructuring the map data, and storing restructured map data in said map data storage means;

wherein said updating means selects either said processing means or said restructuring means for updating according to a type of map data corresponding to the differential data.

4. A map data update apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said processing means updates drawing data for use in route guidance, and said restructuring means updates route calculation data for use in route guidance.

5. A map data update apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processing means updates also map matching data of a GPS device for use in positional correction, and said restructuring means updates also place name searching data for use in setting a destination for route guidance.

6. A map data update apparatus, comprising:

map data storage means for storing total map data including map data of a number of types having different purposes and embodiments for use;

input means for inputting differential data with respect to map data of at least one type, the differential data comprising a difference between latest map data and corresponding map data stored in said map data storage means; and

updating means for updating the map data stored in said map data storage means using the differential data,

wherein said map data storage means stores map data of at least two types including drawing map data and route calculation data both for use in route guidance,

said updating means includes processing means for storing, when supplied with differential data of drawing data, the differential data separately from extant map data in said map data storing means when said updating means is supplied with differential data comprising drawing data; and

restructuring means for combining, when supplied with differential data of route calculation data, extant route calculation map data read from said map data storage means with the differential data, restructuring route calculation map data, and storing restructured route calculation map data in said map data storage means when said restructuring means is supplied with differential data comprising route calculation data.

7. A map data update method for updating map data stored in map data storage means using latest map data, comprising:

an input step of inputting differential data indicative of a difference between latest map data and corresponding map data stored in said map data storage means;

a processing step of storing the differential data separately from extant map data in said map data storage means;

a restructuring step of reading extant map data from said map data storage means, combining the extant map data with the differential data to restructure the map data, and storing restructured map data in said map data storage means;

wherein either the processing step or the restructuring step is selected according to a type of map data subjected to updating.

8. A map data update method according to claim 7, wherein the map data includes drawing map data and route calculation map data both for use in route guidance, the drawing data being processed in the processing step, the route calculation map being processed in the restructuring step.

9. A map data update system for updating map data held by an on-vehicle terminal device, using the latest map data transmitted from an information center to said on-vehicle terminal device, comprising:

selection means mounted on said information center, for selecting transmission of either differential data or full data with respect to each of map data of a number of types which constitute total map data, the differential data comprising a difference between latest map data and corresponding map data held by said onvehicle terminal device, the full data comprising the entire latest data;

map data storage means mounted on said on-vehicle terminal device for storing map data; and

updating means mounted on said on-vehicle terminal device, for updating the map data stored in said map data storage means, using the differential data or full data transmitted from the information center,

said updating means having full data updating means for replacing map data stored in said map data storage means corresponding to the full data with the full data and differential data updating means for performing update processing using the differential data.

10. A map data update system according to claim 9, wherein said selection means selects transmission of either differential data or full data according to a type of map data.

11. A map data update system according to claim 10, wherein said differential data updating means has processing means for storing the differential data separately from extant map data in said map data storing means, and restructuring means for combining extant map data read from said map data storage means and the differential data to thereby restructure map data so that restructured map data is stored in said map data storage means, and selects either the processing means or the restructuring means according to a type of map data corresponding to the differential data transmitted from the information center.

12. A map data update system according to claim 11, wherein said selection means selects differential data with respect to drawing data and route calculation data for use in route guidance, and full data with respect to landmark information, which is map data including sales outlet information for use in route guidance.

13. A map data update system according to claim 12, wherein said full data updating means updates the landmark information, said processing means updates the drawing data, and said restructuring means updates the route calculation data.

14. A map data update apparatus for updating map data held using latest map data transmitted from an information center comprising:

map data storage means for storing total map data including map data of a number of types having different purpose and embodiments for use;

receiving means for receiving either differential data or full data from said information center according to types of map data, the differential data indicating difference between latest map data and map data stored on a vehicle side, the full data being equivalent to the latest map data; and

updating means for updating the map data stored in said map data storage means using either the differential data or the full data.