Satellite navigation system of which map data are partially updateable

• US 6,766,248 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation (Pioneer Corporation), Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Increment P Corporation (Pioneer Corporation), Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Miyahara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/202,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/200, 701/207, 707/10, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

In a satellite navigation system, map data stored in a server is partially updateable. The map data is produced so that they are divided into a plurality of sets of map data mutually independent set by set, and stored in the server. The map data can be updated in the server every set of the divided map data, according to necessities. The map data is formed into a layered structure composed of data of layers, blocks, and objects. Only one or more sets of map data that have been updated are transmitted to a navigating terminal. In the navigating terminal, map data for navigation is updated using the received one or more sets of map data. It is sufficient that only one or more sets of map data that has been updated are delivered from the server to each terminal.

Claims

1. A server for storing map data to be supplied to a terminal for performing navigation, both of the server and the terminal being incorporated in a satellite navigation system, the server comprising:

a storage for storing the map data divided into a plurality of sets of map data that are mutually-independent set by set;

an updating unit configured to update the sets of map data stored in the server; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the navigating terminal, information including a set of updated map data,

wherein the information to be transmitted from the server to the terminal includes information indicating a type of operation to be carried out by the terminal for the update, and

wherein the type of operation to be carried out by the terminal is one selected from a group of operations including replacing the entire map data with new data, partially replacing the map data by new data, partially deleting map data from the map data, and partially adding new map data to the map data, the partially replacing, partially deleting, and partially adding operations being carried out set by set.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the map data consists of different kinds of map data formed into a layered structure of map data.

3. The server of claim 2, wherein the layered structure of map data includes a first layer formed by data of a plurality of objects, a second layer formed by a plurality of blocks, each block consisting of one or more objects of the same kind, and a third layer formed by a plurality of layers, each layer consisting of data of a plurality of blocks for the same type of depiction of map data.

4. The server of claim 3, wherein each set of the map data is composed of one of each layer of map data, each block of map data, and each object of map data.

5. A recording medium for storing map data, which is incorporated in a server of a satellite navigation system, the map data being divided into a plurality of sets of map data that are mutually-independent set by set, updateable for every set of the divided map data, and configured to have different kinds of map data formed into a layered structure of map data,

wherein the layered structure of map data includes a first layer formed by data of a plurality of objects, a second layer formed by a plurality of blocks, each block consisting of one or more objects of the same kind, and a third layer formed by a plurality of layers, each layer consisting of data of a plurality of blocks for the same type of depiction of map data.

6. A navigating terminal for performing navigation based on map data supplied from a server through communication means, both of the server and the terminal being incorporated in a satellite navigation system, the navigating terminal comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive, from the server through the communication means, information including a set of updated map data and selected from the map data divided into a plurality of sets of map data that are mutually-independent set by set; and

an updating unit configured to update map data temporarily stored in the terminal for the navigation, by using the received information including the set of updated map data,

wherein the information to be received from the server includes information indicating a type of operation to be carried out by the terminal for the update, and

wherein the type of operation to be carried out by the terminal is one selected from a group of operations including replacing the entire map data with new data, partially replacing the map data by new data, partially deleting map data from the map data, and partially adding new map data to the map data, the partially replacing, partially deleting, and partially adding operations being carried out set by set.

7. The navigating terminal of claim 6, further comprising:

a voice information generating unit configured to generate voice information which is included in the received information.

8. The satellite navigation system of claim 6, wherein the map data consists of different kinds of map data formed into a layered structure of map data.

9. The satellite navigation system of claim 6, wherein the map data comprises a layered structure of map data and the layered structure of map data includes a first layer formed by data of a plurality of objects, a second layer formed by a plurality of blocks, each block consisting of one or more objects of the same kind, and a third layer formed by a plurality of layers, each layer consisting of data of a plurality of blocks for the same type of depiction of map data.

10. The satellite navigation system of claim 9, wherein each set of the map data is composed of one of each layer of map data, each block of map data, and each object of map data.

11. A satellite navigation system for storing map data to be supplied to a terminal for performing navigation, both of a server and the terminal being incorporated in the satellite navigation system, the system comprising the server and the terminal, wherein the server comprises:

a storage for storing the map data divided into a plurality of sets of map data that are mutually-independent set by set;

an updating unit configured to update the sets of map data stored in the server; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the terminal, information including a set of updated map data,

wherein the information to be transmitted from the server to the terminal includes information indicating a type of operation to be carried out by the terminal for the update, and

wherein the type of operation to be carried out by the terminal is one selected from a group of operations including replacing the entire map data with new data, partially replacing the map data by new data, partially deleting map data from the map data, and partially adding new map data to the map data, the partially replacing, partially deleting, and partially adding operations being out set by set.

12. A server for a satellite navigation system which includes one or more terminals for displaying maps based terminal map data respectively stored therein, the server comprising:

storage for storing server map data, wherein the server map data is divided into a plurality of mutually-independent sets of data;

a processing unit for selectively changing the server map data in the storage on a set-by-set basis and generating, based on the changing of the server map data, map data changing information for changing on a set-by-set basis the terminal map data stored in at least one of the terminals; and

a transmitting unit for transmitting the map data changing information to the at least one terminal,

wherein the map data changing information comprises information indicative of one of a plurality of different types of map data changing operations to be carried out by the terminal, and

wherein the different types of map data changing operations include replacing all of the terminal map data, replacing part of the terminal map data, deleting part of the terminal map data, and adding new terminal map data.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the map data stored in the storage is organized in a data structure comprising:

a plurality of objects;

a plurality of blocks, each block constituted by one or more of the objects; and

a plurality of layers, each layer constituted by one or more blocks.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein each set of data is constituted by one of the objects, blocks or layers.

15. The server of claim 13, wherein the plurality of layers includes one or more of a site layer, a building layer, a road layer and a railroad layer.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the map data changing information is transmitted in response to a communication from the terminal providing version data for the terminal map data.

17. A server for a satellite navigation system which includes one or more terminals for displaying maps based terminal map data respectively stored therein, the server comprising:

means for storing server map data, wherein the map data is divided into a plurality of mutually-independent sets of data;

means for selectively changing the server map data in the storage on a set-by-set basis; and

means for generating, based on the changing of the server map data, map data changing information for changing on a set-by-set basis the terminal map data in at least one of the terminals,

wherein the map data changing information comprises information indicative of one of a plurality of different types of map data changing operations to be carried out by the terminal, and

wherein the different types of map data changing operations include replacing all of the terminal map data, replacing part of the terminal map data, deleting part of the terminal map data, and adding new terminal map data.

18. The server of claim 17, further comprising:

means for transmitting the map data changing information to the at least one terminal.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the map data changing information in response to a communication from the at least one terminal.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the communication from the at least one terminal comprises version data for terminal map data stored therein.

21. A terminal for a satellite navigation system, comprising:

storage for storing map data, wherein the map data is divided into a plurality of mutually-independent sets of data;

a display for displaying maps based on the map data in the storage;

a receiver configured to receive map data changing information for changing on a set-by-set basis the map data stored in the storage, wherein the map data changing information comprises information indicative of one of a plurality of different types of map data changing operations to be carried out by the terminal, and wherein the different types of map data changing operations include replacing all of the terminal map data, replacing part of the terminal map data, deleting part of the terminal map data, and adding new terminal map data; and

a processing unit for changing the map data stored in the storage based on the received map data changing information.

22. A terminal for a satellite navigation system, comprising:

means for storing map data, wherein the map data is divided into a plurality of mutually-independent sets of data;

means for displaying maps based on the map data in the storage;

means for receiving map data changing information for changing on a set-by-set basis the map data stored in the storage, wherein the map data changing information comprises information indicative of one of a plurality of different types of map data changing operations to be carried out by the terminal, and wherein the different types of map data changing operations include replacing all of the terminal map data, replacing part of the terminal map data, deleting part of the terminal map data, and adding new terminal map data; and

means for changing the map data stored in the storage based on the received map data changing information.