Navigation apparatus for receiving delivered information

• US 7,383,127 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Katsuaki, Sumitomo, Yoshitaka, Endo, Yoshinori, Matsuo, Shigeru, Nakamura, Kozo, Machii, Kimiyoshi, Morioka, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US11/238,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/210, 701/211, 701/208, 340/995.18, 340/995, 340/990, 340/995.2, 705/5
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

In a communication-type navigation system for downloading map data according to the present invention, a reduction in the amount of map information to be transferred, correction of a position measured by a GPS, and delivery of advertisements are effected. In this system, a terminal 5 stores rough map data in advance. Then, when detailed map data is required, it is downloaded from a map data delivery center to the terminal 5. Further, together with the map data, GPS correction information is delivered to the terminal 5 from the map data delivery center 80. Still further, coupon information associated with an advertisement is displayed and an electronic mail on the coupon information is issued, by the map data delivery center.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for providing route guidance, comprising:

a communication unit which obtains map data delivered through communication;

a first memory area which stores detailed map data obtained by sending information of a starting position and a destination to a server, and downloading a detailed map of predetermined area around the starting position and the destination through the communication unit from the server;

a second memory area which stores a nationwide simplified map in advance;

a route guidance controller which requests a search to the server for a guidance route from the starting position to the destination by the communication unit, downloads information of the guidance route, and provides route guidance based upon the information of the guidance route by displaying the detailed map which has been downloaded and stored in the first memory area, when the route guidance is being provided on the predetermined area around the starting position and the destination, and by displaying the simplified map which has been stored in the second memory area, when running out of the predetermined area,

wherein map data stored in the second memory area shows a much simplified map than a map shown by map data downloaded and stored in the first memory, and

wherein the first memory area and the second memory area are provided by different memory devices.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the map data stored in the second storage area represents the map that is more simplified than the map represented by the map data delivered and then stored in the first storage area.