Method of making update information of map data and differential data of map data updating system

• US 6,453,233 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/649,819
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 340/990, 340/995, 707/10, 707/203, 707/204, 707/101, 707/104, 707/205, 707/530
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems

Abstract

A differential update method for vehicular navigation apparatus, which can precisely update map data stored in a storage medium to up-to-date contents. When a provider of CD generates original map data for each year, the provider puts a permanent identification information (ID) for each graphic data in the CD. When the provider generates the CD for each year from the original map data, the provider generates administration information in which the ID of each graphic data and storage position of the ID in the CD are associated with each other. After that, the provider also prepares a differential data by comparing a 20XX version original map data with a 20XY version original map data, and administration information for year 20XX. The provider generates the update information for updating the 20XX version CD to the 20XY version based on the differential data and the administration information, so that which graphic data in the CD is updated and is how is the graphic data updated. The provider transmits the update information to the vehicular navigation apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of generating update information of old map data to that of new map data, comprising:

generating new original map data including graphic data so that permanent identification information is associated with the graphic data, the permanent identification information being identical between the new original map data and old original map data previously generated;

editing the old original map data to generate map data, and recording the map data into a storage medium, wherein administration information including the identification information of the graphic data in the map data and a storage position of the graphic data in the storage medium is generated, and the identification information and the storage position are associated with each other in the administration information;

comparing the new original map data with the old original map data, and generating differential data indicating which graphic data is being updated and how the graphic data is updated, the graphic data being identified by the identification information; and

generating update information for old map data generated by editing the old original map data, the update information being generated based on administration data and the administration information generated when old map data is generated by editing the old original data, the update information indicating which graphic data in the storage medium is updated and how the graphic data is updated, and the graphic data being identified by the storage position in the storage medium.

2. A method of generating update information according to claim 1, wherein the differential data indicating the identification information of the map data to be updated further indicates at least one of the method of updating the map data and update contents of the map data to be updated.

3. A method of generating update information according to claim 1, wherein the update information indicating the storage position of the map data to be updated in the storage medium further indicates at least one of the method of updating the map data and update contents of the map data to be updated.

4. A method of generating update information of map data for a differential update system comprising an electrical device including a storage medium for storing map data containing plural graphic data sets, each of the graphic data sets being generated as a shape point coordinate train graphic data, and the map data being generated from an original map database, the method comprising:

generating a first original map database including graphic data so that permanent identification information is associated with each graphic data set, the identification information being unique to each graphic data set and permanent;

manipulating the first original map database to generate a first map data, and recording the first map data into the storage medium, wherein a first administration information including the identification information being unique to each graphic data set and permanent;

generating second original map database based on the first original map database so that the same permanent identification information are associated with graphic data located at the same position between the first original map database and the second original map database;

manipulating the second original map database to generate a second map data, and recording the second map data into a storage medium, wherein a second administration information including the identification information of the graphic data set in the storage medium is generated, the identification information and the storage position is associated with each other in the second administration information;

comparing the first original map database with the second original map database, and generating differential data indicating which of the graphic data sets are being updated and how the graphic data sets are being updated, the graphic data sets being identified by the identification information; and

generating update information for the first map data generated by manipulating the first original map database, the update information being generated based on the administration data and the administration information generated when the first map data is generated by manipulating the first original map database, the update information indicating which graphic data sets in the storage medium arc being updated and how the graphic data sets are updated, and the graphic data sets being identified by the storage position in the storage medium.

5. An electronic system having a storage medium that stores map data generated based on original map data stored in an external information provider center and a display device for displaying a map based on the map data stored in the storage medium, the electronic system comprising:

a communication device for retrieving from the external information provider center transmission information including position information of an update subject in graphic data to be stored in the storage medium and update contents of the update subject, the graphic data being selected based on administration information which correlates an identification number and storage position information of graphic data included in the map data in the storage medium, the identification number being assigned to graphic data included in the original map data and unchanging between new original map data and old original map data; and

a control device for updating the graphic data of the update subject stored in the storage medium based on the transmission information retrieved from the communication device, and for driving the display device to display a map based on the map data including the updated graphic data.

6. An electronic system according to claim 5, wherein the control device connects a communication line between the communication device and the external information provider center when a request for an update of the map data is input through an input/output device.

7. An electronic system according to claim 6, wherein the control device transmits at least version information of the map data stored in the storage medium to the external information provider center when the communication line is connected between the communication device and the external information provider center.

8. An electronic system according to claim 7, wherein the update contents included in the transmission information retrieved from the external information provider center through the communication line includes at least one of deletions, alterations and additions to the graphic data in the storage medium.

9. An electronic system according to claim 6, wherein the update contents included in the transmission information retrieved from the external information provider center through the communication line includes at least one of deletions, alterations and additions to the graphic data in the storage medium.

10. An electronic system according to claim 5, wherein the storage medium, the display device, the communication device and the control device form a navigation system.

11. An information provider center having a storage medium that stores map data including graphic data formed from latest available original map data and that is provided to an external side, the information provider center comprising:

a storage device for assigning an identification number unchanging between new original map data and old original map data to data included in at least the original map data, and for generating and storing administration information that correlates storage position information of the graphic data included in the map data and the identification number; and

means for generating and transmitting to the external side transmission information including position information of an update subject in the graphic data stored in the storage medium and update contents of the update subject, the position information being selected based on the administration information stored in the storage device.

12. An information provider center according to claim 11, wherein the transmission information is transmitted when a map data update request is received from the external side.

13. An information provider center according to claim 12, wherein:

the transmission information is formed based on version information of the map data stored in the storage medium, and is transmitted to the external side when the map data update request is received from the external side.

14. An information provider center according to claim 13, wherein the update contents included in the transmission information includes at least one of deletions, alterations and additions to the graphic data in the storage medium.

15. An information provider center according to claim 12, wherein the update contents included in the transmission information includes at least one of deletions, alterations and additions to the graphic data in the storage medium.

16. An information provider center according to claim 11, wherein the original map data is map manufacturer provided information.

17. A method of generating graphic data update information included in map data stored in a map storage medium, comprising steps of:

assigning an identification number unchanging between new original map data and old original map data to graphic data included in original map data that is used as a basis of the map data stored in the map storage medium;

generating administration information that correlates storage position information of the graphic data in the map storage medium and the unchanging identification number, when generating the map data from the original map data; and

generating the update information for the graphic data included in the map data stored in the map data storage medium by using the administration information and differential information between the new original map data and the old original map data.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the map storage medium is used for a navigation system and the update information is transmitted to the navigation system through a communication device.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the update information is transmitted to the navigation system when a map data update request is made from the navigation system.