Navigation apparatus, navigation server, and navigation system

• US 8,224,568 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nogawa, Tadafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US12/668,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/411, 701/412, 701/413, 701/421, 701/423, 701/430, 701/439
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3859 Differential updating map data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means

Abstract

In a navigation system, an index information (idx(d_i(S))) tagged to an objective differential information (d_i(S)) which is a part of the entire differential information (d_i) is transmitted from a navigation apparatus (200) to a navigation server (100). Specifically, the index information (idx(d_i(S))) tagged to the objective differential information (d_i(S)) pertained to an area (S) containing therein a navigation route (r) for guiding an automobile (2) to a destination position (p₂) is transmitted from the navigation device (200) to the navigation server (100). Further, the navigation server (100) determines whether the objective differential information (d_i(S)) is temporally valid or not, and the objective differential information (d_i(S)) is added to a navigation map information on condition that the determination result is affirmative. Furthermore, a new navigation route (r) can be set and output according to the updated navigation map information to which the objective differential information (d_i(S)) has been added.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus configured to guide a mobile object on the basis of communication with a navigation server, comprising:

a navigation map storing element configured to store a navigation map information;

a first processing element configured to recognize a differential information between the navigation map information and a support map information stored in a support map storing element disposed in the navigation server, and an index information tagged to the differential information;

a second processing element configured to recognize a departure position and a destination position of the mobile object, and set and output a navigation route joining the departure position and the destination position on the basis of the navigation map information stored in the navigation map storing element; and

a third processing element configured to recognize an area containing the navigation route set by the second processing element, determine whether or not an objective differential information pertained to the recognized area is present in the differential information recognized by the first processing element, transmit the index information tagged to the objective differential information to the navigation server on condition that the objective differential information is determined to be present to make the navigation server determine the temporal validity of the objective differential information, and receive a determination result on the temporal validity of the objective differential information from the navigation server;

wherein the second processing element adds the objective differential information to the navigation map information on condition that the determination result on the temporal validity of the objective differential information received by the third processing element is affirmative, sets and outputs the navigation route on the basis of the updated navigation map information added with the objective differential information.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second processing element outputs a summary information of the objective differential information on condition that the determination result on the temporal validity of the objective differential information received by the third processing element from the navigation server is affirmative, and adds the objective differential information to the navigation map information further on condition that the navigation apparatus has been operated by a user in a predefined manner.

3. A navigation server configured to support a guidance of a mobile object performed by a navigation apparatus on the basis of communication with the navigation apparatus, comprising:

a support map storing element configured to store a support map information;

a first support processing element configured to receive an index information from the navigation apparatus, and recognize an objective differential information tagged with the index information from a differential information between a navigation map information stored in a navigation map storing element disposed in the navigation apparatus and the support map information; and

a second support processing element configured to determine whether the objective differential information recognized by the first support processing element is valid or not and transmit the determination result to the navigation apparatus.

4. A navigation system, comprising a navigation apparatus and a navigation server,

wherein the navigation apparatus comprises

a navigation map storing element configured to store a navigation map information;

a first processing element configured to recognize a differential information between the navigation map information and a support map information stored in a support map storing element disposed in the navigation server, and an index information tagged to the differential information;

a second processing element configured to recognize a departure position and a destination position of the mobile object, and set and output a navigation route joining the departure position and the destination position on the basis of the navigation map information stored in the navigation map storing element; and

a third processing element configured to recognize an area containing the navigation route set by the second processing element, determine whether or not an objective differential information pertained to the recognized area is present in the differential information recognized by the first processing element, transmit the index information tagged to the objective differential information to the navigation server on condition that the objective differential information is determined to be present to make the navigation server determine the temporal validity of the objective differential information, and receive a determination result on the temporal validity of the objective differential information from the navigation server;

wherein the second processing element adds the objective differential information to the navigation map information on condition that the determination result on the temporal validity of the objective differential information received by the third processing element is affirmative, sets and outputs the navigation route on the basis of the updated navigation map information added with the objective differential information; and

wherein the navigation server comprises

a support map storing element configured to store a support map information;

a first support processing element configured to receive an index information from the navigation apparatus, and recognize an objective differential information tagged with the index information from a differential information between a navigation map information stored in a navigation map storing element disposed in the navigation apparatus and the support map information; and

a second support processing element configured to determine whether the objective differential information recognized by the first support processing element is valid or not and transmit the determination result to the navigation apparatus.