Data architecture of map data, data architecture of update instruction data, map information processing apparatus, and map information providing apparatus

• US 7,330,788 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimotani, Mitsuo, Umezu, Masaharu, Mikuriya, Makoto, Ikeuchi, Tomoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US11/331,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/208, 701/210, 701/201, 701/206, 701/209, 701/25, 701/26, 701/36, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.18, 707/100, 707/103, 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/203
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/387 Organisation of map data, e.g. version management or database structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

In a road data frame for displaying road maps, each node/link data record describing a link corresponding to a road part includes link identification information identifying an original link, and auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. In a route planning data frame for route planning, each connection record describing the interconnection of nodes also includes corresponding link identification information identifying an original link, and corresponding auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. By means of identification information of the original link and auxiliary links, it is facilitated to identify the correlation among links in the road data frame and the route planning data frame having different versions.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium storing a data architecture of map data comprising:

a plurality of node/link data items designating a plurality of links, respectively, each of links corresponding to a specific part of a road constituting in an actual road network,

each node/link data item including;

link identification information identifying the corresponding link;

link validity information identifying whether the corresponding link is valid or invalid; and

interconnection information for indicating interconnections between the corresponding link and other links,

wherein for instances in which the corresponding link is an original link replaced by a plurality of alternative links in the map data, the link validity information identifies that the corresponding link is invalid, and the interconnection information indicates that the original link is associated with the alternative links, whereby a map data processing apparatus recognizes a relationship between the original link and the alternative links and updates the map data individually for each link based on said node/link data.

2. A method of designating instructions to a map data processing apparatus for updating map data having the data architecture according to claim 1, comprising:

providing first update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to modify the node/link data item corresponding to the original link; and

providing second update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to add new node/link data items to the map data, the new node/link data items concerning alternative links which substitute for any of original links in the map data,

wherein the first update-operation information designating an instruction to rewrite the corresponding link validity information so that the link validity information identifies that the corresponding original link is invalid, and another instruction to rewrite the corresponding interconnection information indicates that the corresponding original link is associated with the alternative links, and wherein the second update-operation information causing causes the corresponding new node/link data items to include link validity information identifying that the corresponding alternative links are valid, and interconnection information indicating that the corresponding alternative links are associated with the original link.

3. A map data processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit for storing map data having a plurality of node/link data items designating a plurality of links, respectively, each of links corresponding to a specific part of a road of an actual road network,

each node/link data item including;

link identification information identifying the corresponding link;

link validity information identifying whether the corresponding link is valid or invalid; and

interconnection information for indicating interconnections between the corresponding link and other links,

wherein for instances in which the corresponding link is an original link replaced by a plurality of alternative links in the map data, the link validity information identifies that the corresponding link is invalid, and the interconnection information indicates that the original link is associated with the alternative links, whereby the map data processing apparatus recognizes a relationship between the original link and the alternative links;

a receiving unit for receiving update instruction data including providing first update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to modify individually the node/link data item corresponding to the original link; and

providing second update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to add individually new node/link data items to the map data, the new node/link data items concerning alternative links which substitute for any of original links in the map data,

wherein the first update-operation information designates an instruction to rewrite the corresponding link validity information so that the link validity information identifies that the corresponding original link is invalid, and another instruction to rewrite the corresponding interconnection information to indicate that the corresponding original link is associated with the alternative links, and wherein the second update-operation information causes the corresponding new node/link data items include link validity information identifying that the corresponding alternative links are valid, and interconnection information indicating that the corresponding alternative links are associated with the original link and designating instructions to the map data processing apparatus for updating the map data; and

an update processor for updating the map data in accordance with the update instruction data.

4. A map data providing apparatus comprising:

an update instruction data storage storing update instruction data including first update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to individually modify the node/link data item corresponding to the original link; and

second update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to individually add new node/link data items to the map data, the new node/link data items concerning alternative links which substitute for any of original links in the map data,

wherein the first update-operation information designates an instruction to rewrite the corresponding link validity information so that the link validity information identifies that the corresponding original link is invalid, and another instruction to rewrite the corresponding interconnection information indicates that the corresponding original link is associated with the alternative links, and wherein the second update-operation information causes the corresponding new node/link data items to include link validity information identifying that the corresponding alternative links are valid, and interconnection information indicating that the corresponding alternative links are associated with the original link and designating instructions to a map data processing apparatus for updating map data, data; and

a transmitter for sending the update instruction data to the map data processing apparatus.

5. A computer-readable storage medium in which map data is stored, the map data including a plurality of node/link data items, each node/link data item designating a node and a link corresponding to the node, the link corresponding to a road segment of an actual road network, the node representing an interconnection point between road segments,

the map data comprising:

an original node/link data item representing an original node and an original link, the original link corresponding to the road segment of an original actual road network, the original node corresponding to the interconnection point of the original actual road network;

an new node/link data item representing an alternative node and an alternative link, the alternative link corresponding to the road segment of a new actual road network, the alternative node and the alternative link substituting for the original link and the original node, respectively;

the original node/link data item comprising;

link validity information identifying that the original link is invalid; and

interconnection information representing a relationship between the original node and the alternative node;

the new node/link data item comprising;

link validity intimation identifying that the alternative link is valid; and

interconnection information representing a relationship between the new node and another node connected to the original node;

wherein a map processing apparatus processes the map data representing the new actual road network based on the original node/link data item and the new node/link data item.

6. A computer-readable storage medium in which update instruction data is stored, the update instruction data designating instructions to a map data processing apparatus for updating map data, the map data including a plurality of node/link data items, each node/link data item designating a node and a link corresponding to the node, the link corresponding to a road segment of an actual road network, the node representing an interconnection point between road segments, wherein one of the node/link data items is original node/link data item representing an original node and an original link, the original link corresponding to the road segment of an original actual road network, the original node corresponding to an interconnection point of the original actual road network, wherein the original node/link data item includes link validity information identifying whether the original link is valid or invalid, and interconnection information representing a relationship between the original node and another node corresponding to another link,

the update instruction data comprising:

first update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to modify individually the original node/link data item; and

second update-operation information for causing the map data processing apparatus to add individually new node/link data item corresponding to an alternative link which substitutes for the original link,

wherein the first update-operation information designates an instruction to set the link validity information so that the link validity information identifies that the original link is invalid, and another instruction to set the interconnection information to indicate that the original node is associated with the alternative node, and wherein the second update-operation information causes the new node/link data item to include link validity information identifying that the alternative link is valid, and interconnection information indicating that the alternative node is associated with the another node.

7. A map data providing apparatus comprising:

an accessing unit for accessing the update instruction data from the storage medium according to claim 6;

a designating unit for designating an instruction to a map data processing apparatus for updating the map data.

8. The map data providing apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting the update instruction data to the map data processing apparatus.

9. A map data processing apparatus comprising:

an accessing unit for accessing a storage medium having map data including a plurality of node/link data items, each node/link data item of designating a node and a link corresponding to the node, the link corresponding to a road segment of an actual road network, the node representing an interconnection point between road segments;

a receiving unit for receiving the update instruction data transmitted by the map data providing apparatus according to claim 8; and

an updating unit for updating the map data based on the update instruction data received by the receiving unit.

10. A map data updating method for updating map data including a plurality of node/link data items, each node/link data item designating a node and a link corresponding to the node, the link corresponding to a road segment of an actual road network, the node representing an interconnection point between road segments, wherein one of the node/link data items is original node/link data item representing an original node and an original link, the original link corresponding to a road segment of an original actual road network, the original node corresponding to an interconnection point of the original actual road network, wherein the original node/link data item includes link validity information identifying whether the original link is valid or invalid, and interconnection information representing a relationship between the original node and another node corresponding to another link, the method comprising steps of:

receiving update instruction data including first update-operation information for modifying individually the original node/link data item, and second update-operation information for adding individually new node/link data item corresponding to an alternative link which substitutes for the original link and corresponds to a new actual road network, and

setting the link validity information of the original node/link data item invalid,

modifying the interconnection information so that the interconnection information represents a relationship between the original node and alternative node designated by the new node/link data item.