Map distributing device, map acquiring device, map processing system, map distributing method, map acquiring method, map processing program and recording medium storing the map processing program

• US 7,930,099 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation, Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Increment P Corporation, Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Iwahori, Yasufumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kyung J
• Application Number:
  US11/332,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 340/995.1
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

The map updating system (100) includes a server unit (400) and a terminal unit (300, 300A, 300B). The server unit (400) has an updated contents recognizer that recognizes updated contents of updated map information and generates updated contents information, a user recognizer that recognizes distribution request information and also recognizes user information containing the distribution request information when determining that the updated contents information contains request contents of the distribution request information, and an information transmitter that transmits the updated map information to the terminal unit (300, 300A, 300B) corresponding to the user information such that the map information can partially be rewritten with a part of the updated map information. The terminal unit (300, 300A, 300B) includes a terminal map updating section that acquires the transmitted updated map information and stores the part of the updated map information in a terminal storage section in a rewritable manner.

Claims

1. A map distributing device, comprising:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map recognizer that recognizes updated map information for updating the map information;

an updated contents information recognizer that compares the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

a map update request acquirer that acquires map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from a map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored; and

a map distributor that compares the updated contents information with the map update request information, and distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information, wherein

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map distributor distributes that updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

2. The map distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the map distributor distributes notice information related to the updated map information corresponding to the predetermined updated contents requested by the map update request information such that the map acquiring device can notify the notice information.

3. The map distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device such that the updated contents of the updated contents information can be displayed on a display, section of the map acquiring device in an expression different from a not-updated area of the updated map information.

4. The map distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the map distributor distributes the updated map information corresponding to the contents requested by the map update request information such that the updated map information is processed with a predetermined processing restriction in the map acquiring device.

5. The map distributing device according to claim 4, wherein the map distributor distributes the updated map information corresponding to the request of the map update request information, or distributes unlock information to unlock the processing restriction when recognizing purchase information related to purchase of the updated map information.

6. A map acquiring device, comprising:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map update request information generator that generates map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

a map acquirer that transmits the map update request information to a map distributing device for distributing updated map information for updating the map information, and acquires the updated map information having the updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

a map storing processor that rewrites the map information with the updated map information and stores the updated map information, wherein

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

7. The map acquiring device according to claim 6, wherein the map acquiring device includes a display controller that allows a display section to display the updated contents of the updated contents information in an expression different from a not-updated area of the updated map information.

8. The map acquiring device according to claim 6, wherein the map acquirer acquires the updated map information corresponding to the contents requested by the map update request information such that the updated map information has been processed with a predetermined processing restriction.

9. A map processing system, comprising:

a map distributing device; and

a map acquiring device, wherein

the map distributing device includes;

a storage section that stores map information;

a map recognizer that recognizes updated map information for updating the map information;

an updated contents information recognizer that compares the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

a map update request acquirer that acquires map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from the map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored;

a map distributor that compares the updated contents information with the map update request information, and distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information, and

the map acquiring device includes;

a map acquirer connected to the map distributing device via a network and acquiring the updated map information distributed from the map distributing device; and

a storage section that stores the map information and rewrites the map information with the updated map information distributed from the map distributing device,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map distributor distributes that updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

10. A map processing system, comprising:

a map acquiring device; and

a map distributing device connected to the map acquiring device via a network and receiving map update request information from the map acquiring device to distribute the updated map information corresponding to the map update request information, the map distributing device including a map recognizer that recognizes map information, updated contents information related to updated contents of the map information, and updated map information representing updated map information representing an updated map, wherein

the map acquiring device includes;

a storage section that stores map information;

a map update request information generator that generates map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

a map acquirer that transmits the map update request information to a map distributing device for distributing updated map information for updating the map information, and acquires the updated map information having the updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

a map storing processor that rewrites the map information with the updated map information and stores the updated map information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

11. A map processing system, comprising:

a map distributing device; and

a map acquiring device connected to the map distributing device via a network, wherein

the map distributing device includes;

a storage section that stores map information;

,

a map recognizer that recognizes updated map information for updating the map information;

an updated contents information recognizer that compares the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

a map update request acquirer that acquires map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from the map acquiring device in which, the map information is beforehand stored; and

a map distributor that compares the updated contents information with the map update request information, and distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information,

the map acquiring device includes;

a storage section that stores the map information;

a map update request information generator that generates the map update request information for requesting distribution of the predetermined updated contents of the map information;

a map acquirer that transmits the map update request information to the map distributing device for distributing the updated map information related to updated contents of the map information, and acquires the updated map information having the updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

a map storing processor that rewrites the map information with the updated map information and stores the updated map information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map distributor distributes that updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

12. A map distributing method, comprising:

storing map information in a storage section;

recognizing the map information and updated map information for updating the map information;

comparing the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

acquiring map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from a map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored; and

comparing the updated contents information with the map update request information to distribute the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information;

wherein

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the updated map information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has beer changed,

the updated man information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the updated map information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

13. A map acquiring method, comprising:

storing map information in a storage section;

generating map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

transmitting the map update request information to a map distributing device that distributes updated map information related to updated contents of the map information;

acquiring the updated map information having updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device by a map acquiring device; and

storing the map information after rewriting the map information with the updated map information, wherein

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map update request contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

14. A map processing program instructing a computing unit to function as a map distributing device, wherein

the map distributing device includes:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map recognizer that recognizes updated map information for updating the map information,

an updated contents information recognizer that compares the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

a map update request acquirer that acquires map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from a map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored; and

a map distributor that compares the updated contents information with the map update request information, and distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map distributor distributes that updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

15. A map processing program instructing a computing unit to function as a map acquiring device, wherein

the map acquiring device includes:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map update request information generator that generates map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

a map acquirer that transmits the map update request information to a map distributing device for distributing updated map information for updating the map information, and acquires the updated map information having the updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

a map storing processor that rewrites the map information with the updated map information and stores the updated map information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information, and

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information; and

the updated contents of the updated map information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed.

16. A map processing program instructing a computing unit to perform a map distributing method, wherein

the map distributing method includes:

storing map information in a storage section;

recognizing the map information and updated map information for updating the map information;

comparing the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

acquiring map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from a map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored; and

comparing the updated contents information with the map update request information to distribute the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information;

the map update request information one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the updated map information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the updated map information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the updated map information is distributed to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

17. A map processing program instructing a computing unit to perform a map acquiring method, wherein

the map acquiring method includes:

storing map information in a storage section;

generating map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

transmitting the map update request information to a map distributing device that distributes updated map information related to updated contents of the map information;

acquiring the updated map information having updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

storing the map information after rewriting the map information with the updated map information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map update request contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the updated map information is acquired by the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

18. A recording medium readably storing a map processing program, wherein

the map processing program instructs a computing unit to function as a map distributing device,

the map distributing device includes:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map recognizer that recognizes updated map information for updating the map information;

an updated contents information recognizer that compares the map information with the updated map information to recognize updated contents information that is updated contents of the updated map information;

a map update request acquirer that acquires map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated from a map acquiring device in which the map information is beforehand stored; and

a map distributor that compares the updated contents information with the map update request information, and distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when the updated contents information corresponds to the contents specified by the map update request information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information but does not contain the locality information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed,

the map distributor distributes the updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map distributor distributes that updated map information to the map acquiring device when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.

19. A recording medium readably storing a map processing program, wherein

the map processing program instructs a computing unit to function as a map acquiring device,

the map acquiring device includes:

a storage section that stores map information;

a map update request information generator that generates map update request information that specifies contents of the map information to be updated;

a map acquirer that transmits the map update request information to a map distributing device for distributing updated map information for updating the map information, and acquires the updated map information having the updated contents corresponding to the contents of the map update request information from the map distributing device; and

a map storing processor that rewrites the map information with the updated map information and stores the updated map information,

the map update request information contains any one of;

facility type information indicating a type of a predetermined facility of the map information;

locality information indicating a predetermined locality of the map information; and

road information indicating a predetermined road of the map information,

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information reflecting a change in a facility when;

the map update request information contains the facility type information; and

the updated contents of the updated map information is contents indicating that the facility corresponding to the predetermined facility of the facility type information has been changed;

the map acquirer acquires the updated map information when;

the map updated request information contains the locality information but does not contain the facility type information and the road information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that a locality corresponding to the predetermined locality of the locality information has been changed, and

the map acquirer acquires that updated map information when;

the map updated request information contains the road information but does not contain the facility type information and the locality information; and

the updated contents information is contents indicating that at least one of a road corresponding to the predetermined road of the road information and a vicinity of the road has been changed.