Navigation apparatus and navigation method for movable body

• US 6,374,181 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/717,323
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/212, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A navigation apparatus for a movable body which assists in moving with a map while at least displaying the map is provided. A first information storing medium stores map data corresponding to the map thereon. A detecting device detects displayed map data corresponding to the map already displayed at least once from the first information recording medium. Then, a recording device records the displayed map data detected by the detecting device on a second storing medium, which has higher access speed than the first information storing medium.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for a movable body which assists in moving with a map while at least displaying the map, comprising:

a first information storing medium for storing map data corresponding to the map thereon;

a detecting device for detecting displayed map data corresponding to the map already displayed at least once from the first information recording medium; and

a recording device for recording the displayed map data detected by the detecting device on a second storing medium having higher access speed than the first information storing medium.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

4. A navigation apparatus for a movable body which assists in moving with a map while at least displaying the map, comprising:

a first information storing medium for storing map data corresponding to the map thereon;

a detecting device for detecting displayed map data corresponding to the map already displayed at least once from the first information recording medium;

a recording device for recording the displayed map data detected by the detecting device on a second storing medium having higher access speed than the first information storing medium; and

a displaying device for detecting the displayed map data, corresponding to the displayed map to be displayed when the displayed map is displayed again, from the second storing medium and for displaying the displayed map again.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the displaying device extracts the map data, corresponding to an adjacent map which is adjacent to the map currently displayed and is not currently displayed, from the displayed map data stored on the second storing medium when the adjacent map is included in the displayed map, and displays the adjacent map.

8. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a position detecting device for detecting a current position, wherein the displaying device extracts the map data corresponding to the map including the current position detected by the position detecting device from the displayed map data stored on the second storing medium when the map including the current position is included in the displayed map, and displays the map including the current position.

9. The navigation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

10. The navigation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

11. A navigation method for a movable body of assisting in moving with a map while at least displaying the map, comprising the process of:

storing map data corresponding to the map on a first information storing medium;

detecting displayed map data corresponding to the map already displayed at least once from the first information recording medium; and

recording the displayed map data detected by the process of detecting on a second storing medium having higher access speed than the first information storing medium.

12. The navigation method according to claim 11, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

13. The navigation method according to claim 11, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

15. The navigation method according to claim 11, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

16. The navigation method according to claim 11, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

17. The navigation method according to claim 16, further comprising the process of:

extracting the map data, corresponding to an adjacent map which is adjacent to the map currently displayed and is not currently displayed, from the displayed map data stored on the second storing medium when the adjacent map is included in the displayed map; and

displaying the adjacent map.

18. The navigation method according to claim 11, further comprising the process of:

detecting a current position;

extracting the map data corresponding to the map including the current position detected by the process of detecting a current position from the displayed map data stored on the second storing medium when the map including the current position is included in the displayed map; and

displaying the map including the current position.

19. The navigation method according to claim 18, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

20. The navigation method according to claim 18, wherein the displayed map includes at least the map only displayed and not including an area through which the movable body has ever gone.

14. A navigation method for a movable body of assisting in moving with a map while at least displaying the map, comprising the process of:

storing map data corresponding to the map on a first information storing medium;

detecting displayed map data corresponding to the map already displayed at least once from the first information recording medium;

recording the displayed map data detected by the process of detecting on a second storing medium having higher access speed than the first information storing medium; and

detecting the displayed map data, corresponding to the displayed map to be displayed when the displayed map is displayed again, from the second storing medium and displaying the displayed map again.