Navigation method, processing method for navigation system, map data management device, map data management program, and computer program

• US 7,584,049 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoNavigare LLC
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nomura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/521,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 701/210, 701/200, 701/201, 701/211, 701/209, 717/168, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 715/810
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• 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

A navigation method for providing navigation by using map data includes: displaying a menu with which a user specifies an area of a map over which map data are to be updated, the menu containing a map-based option for area specification and a route-based option for area specification; obtaining update data along a route if the route-based option is selected from the options in the menu on display; and executing processing by using the obtained update data.

Claims

1. A navigation method for providing navigation by using map data, comprising:

displaying a menu with which a user specifies an area of a map over which map data are to be updated, the menu containing a map-based option for area specification and a route-based option for area specification, the map data being managed in units of a mesh;

displaying a route and a map including the route, and displaying along the route one or more meshes including map data judged to be updated based upon the route, when the route-based option is selected from the options in the menu on display;

making a display in which a data update instruction can be inputted;

obtaining update data along the route when the data update instruction is input; and

executing processing by using the obtained update data.

2. A navigation method according to claim 1, wherein:

the meshes are displayed so that a mesh is selectable for updating among the meshes displayed along the route.

3. A computer-readable recording medium on which is stored a program that enables a computer to perform a navigation method according to claim 2.

4. A computer-readable recording medium on which is stored a program that enables a computer to perform a navigation method according to claim 1.

5. A navigation method to be used in a navigation system that uses map data stored in a fixed recording medium and update map data downloaded from a map data management apparatus in combination, comprising:

a step of prompting a selection in a map data update menu prepared in advance, obtaining an input indicating the selection and displaying a specific area for a data update;

a step of prompting an input of at least one selected option in an update category menu prepared in advance and displaying the specific area distinguishably when the specific area is judged to have update map data based upon the input of the selected option;

making a display in which a map data update instruction can be inputted;

obtaining the update map data of the specific area having the update map data when the map data update instruction is input; and

using the obtained update map data.

6. A computer-readable recording medium on which is stored a program that enables a computer to perform a navigation method according to claim 5.

7. A navigation device, comprising:

a control unit that is configured to provide navigation by using map data, wherein

the control unit is configured

to display a menu with which a user specifies an area of a map over which map data are to be updated, the menu containing a map-based option for area specification and a route-based option for area specification, the map data being managed in units of a mesh;

to display a route and a map including the route, and displaying along the route one or more meshes including map data judged to be updated based upon the route, when the route-based option is selected from the options in the menu on display;

to make a display in which a data update instruction can be inputted;

to obtain update data long the route when the data update instruction is input; and

to execute processing by using the obtained update data.

8. A navigation device according to claim 7, wherein:

the control unit is configured to display the meshes so that a mesh can be selected to be updated among the meshes displayed along the route.

9. A navigation device, comprising:

a control unit that is configured to use map data stored in a fixed recording medium and update map data downloaded from a map data management apparatus in combination, wherein

the control unit is configured

to prompt a selection in a map data update menu prepared in advance, obtain an input indicating the selection and display a specific area for a data update;

to prompt an input of at least one selected option in an update category menu prepared in advance and display the specific area distinguishably when the specific area is judged to have update map data based upon the input of the selected option;

to make a display in which a map data update instruction can be inputted;

to obtain the update map data of the specific area having the update map data when the map data update instruction is input; and

to use the obtained update map data.