Road selecting and editing using shortest path tree

• US 6,311,125 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yonezawa, Takashi, Okano, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/672,259
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/214, 701/225, 340/995, 340/998, 342/357, 342/457, 345/419, 345/434
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

Apparatus, program and method for receiving input and specifying a plurality of junctions on a map, specifying an editing object range, and specifying a predetermined block of a road by inputting modifying data items, in order to modify road attribute data items within a predetermined extent. Coordinates of a starting point and a terminal point on a map are input. Additionally, coordinates of relay points can be input. Junctions closest to the starting point and the terminal point are searched, and identified. A search for a route is performed using the junction data items, and road data items of the editing object block are specified. From the junction data items included in the editing object block, the data items of a road connected to the junction within a predetermined extent are specified, and, at the same time, made to be an editing object. Modification data is received, and road attribute data items of the road that is the modifying object are updated based on the modification data.

Claims

1. A map data editing apparatus which comprises an input apparatus and a display apparatus, and specifies a predetermined road data item having a junction coordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a database having a plurality of road data items, comprising:

(a) said display apparatus for displaying a plurality of road data items located on a predetermined extent;

(b) a coordinates input section for receiving first and second coordinates inputs;

(c) a closest junction searching section for obtaining first and second junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first and second coordinates inputs;

(d) an inter-junction shortest route searching section for specifying at least first and second road data items having said first and second junction coordinates data items;

(e) a road editing range input section for receiving modifying range data; and

(f) a reaching region searching section for specifying at least third and fourth road data items located within an extent specified by said first and second junction data items and said modifying range data.

2. The map data editing apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising:

a selection range display section for displaying in an emphasized manner, a range specified by said modifying range data.

3. A map data editing system which edits a road data item having a junction ordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a map database having a plurality of road data items, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a map display section for displaying a plurality of road data items located on a predetermined extent;

(b) a coordinates input section for receiving first, second and third coordinates inputs;

(c) a closest junction searching section for obtaining first, second and third junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first, second and third coordinates inputs;

(d) an inter-junction shortest route searching section for specifying at least first and second road data items having said first, second and third junction coordinates data items;

(e) a road editing range input section for receiving modifying range data;

(f) a road editing content input section for receiving modifying data of the road attribute data items;

(g) a reaching region searching section for specifying third and fourth road data items located within an extent specified by said first, second and third junction coordinates data items and said modifying range data; and

(h) a road data processing section for updating the road attribute data items of said third and fourth road data items based on said modifying data.

4. The map data editing system according to claim 3,

wherein said road data items further comprise road classification data items, and said map data editing system further comprises a road classification selection section which specifies any of said first and second road data items based on said road classification data items.

5. A computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for specifying predetermined road data items having a junction coordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a map database having a plurality of road data items, said computer program product comprising;

(a) computer readable program code devices for displaying a plurality of road data items located on a predetermined extent;

(b) computer readable program code devices for receiving first and second coordinates inputs;

(c) computer readable program code devices for obtaining first and second junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first and second coordinates inputs;

(d) computer readable program code devices for specifying at least first and second road data items which have said first and second junction coordinates data items;

(e) computer readable program code devices for receiving modifying range data; and

(f) computer readable program code devices for specifying at least third and fourth road data items located within an extent specified by said first and second junction coordinates items and said modifying range data.

6. The computer program product according to claim 5, further comprising:

computer readable program code devices for displaying in emphasized form, the extent specified by said modifying range data.

7. A computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for editing predetermined road data items having a junction coordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a map database having a plurality of road data items, said computer program product comprising;

(a) computer readable program code devices for displaying a plurality of road data items located on a predetermined extent;

(b) computer readable program code devices for receiving first, second and third coordinates inputs;

(c) computer readable program code devices for obtaining first, second and third junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first, second and third coordinates inputs;

(d) computer readable program code devices for specifying at least first and second road data items which have said first, second and third junction coordinates data items;

(e) computer readable program code devices for receiving modifying range data;

(f) computer readable program code devices for receiving modifying data of the road attribute data items;

(g) computer readable program code devices for specifying third and fourth road data items located within an extent specified by said first, second and third junction coordinates items and said modifying range data; and

(h) computer readable program code devices for updating the road attribute data items of said third and fourth road data items based on said modifying data.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein

said road data items further comprise road classification data items, and said computer readable program code devices for specifies said first and second road data items based upon said road classification data items.

9. Method for specifying a predetermined road data item having a junction coordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a map database having a plurality of road data items, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a plurality of road data items located on a specific extent;

(b) receiving first and second coordinates inputs;

(c) obtaining first and second junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first and second coordinates inputs;

(d) specifying at least first and second road data items having said first and second junction coordinates data items;

(e) receiving modifying range data; and

(f) specifying at least third and fourth road data items located within an extent specified by said first and second junction coordinates items and said modifying range data.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying in emphasized form, the extent specified by said modifying range data.

11. A road data editing method which edits a predetermined road data item having a junction coordinates data item and a road attribute data item from a map database having a plurality of road data items, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a plurality of road data items located on a specific extent;

(b) receiving first, second and third junction coordinates inputs;

(c) obtaining first, second and third junction coordinates data items corresponding to said first, second and third coordinates inputs;

(d) specifying at least the first and second road data items having said first, second and third junction coordinates data items;

(e) receiving modifying range data;

(f) receiving modifying data of the road attribute data item;

(g) specifying the third and fourth road data items within an extent specified by said first, second and third junction coordinates data items and said modifying range data; and

(h) updating the road attribute data items of said third and fourth road data items based on said modifying data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said road data items further comprise road classification data items, and the step of obtaining any of the first and second road data items is executed based on said road classification data items.