Navigation device, and method for updating map data and navigation

• US 8,315,798 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shikimachi, Takeshi, Kanematsu, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/585,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 701/450
• US Class Current: 701/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3815 Road data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3844 Data obtained from position sensors only, e.g. from inertial navigation

Abstract

A setting section sets a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data. A generating section generates a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of a navigation device when a current position of the navigation device deviates from an existing road registered in the map data. A new road registering section registers the generated new road in a storing section when a determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road. The navigation device performs the routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising:

a storage configured to store a generated new road; and

a processor, the processor being configured to

set, in a setting section, a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data, the destination being specified as an object of a routing assistance in the map data;

generate, in a generating section, a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of the navigation device from a point where a vehicle leaves an existing road registered in the map data to a point where the vehicle returns to the existing road in the map data, when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data;

determine, in a determination section, whether the set determination region includes at least a part of a generated new road; and

register, in a new road registering section, the generated new road in the storage when the determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road,

wherein the navigation device is configured to perform the routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road,

wherein a previous determination region, which the setting section sets to a previous destination, is once maintained until a new destination of the routing assistance is set, and

the processor cancels the previous determination region of the previous destination, when a new destination of the routing assistance is set.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the course of the routing assistance, the determination region is maintained after a determination of arrival to the destination on the existing road, which is specified by the map data, is made.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination region, which is set by the setting section to the previous destination, is maintained until a new destination of the routing assistance is set, and

the determination region of the previous destination is canceled when a new destination of the routing assistance is set.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination region of the destination, is canceled when the destination of the routing assistance is canceled in accordance with an instruction of a user.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to not register the generated new road in the storage until the determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road.

6. A navigation device comprising:

a storage configured to store a generated new road; and

a processor, the processor being configured to

set, in a setting section, a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data, the destination being specified as an object of a routing assistance in the map data;

generate, in a generating section, a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of the navigation device when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data;

determine, in a determination section, whether the set determination region includes at least a part of a generated new road; and

register, in a new road registering section, the generated new road in the storage when the determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road,

wherein the navigation device is configured to perform the routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road,

wherein the setting section is further configured to change the determination region according to a distance between the destination and an existing road, which is closest to the destination in the map data.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the setting section is further configured to enlarge the determination region, as the distance becomes large.

8. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the setting section is further configured to enlarge the determination region, as the distance between the destination and an existing road, which is registered in the map data and which is closest to the destination, becomes large.

9. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein, in the course of the routing assistance, the determination region is maintained after a determination of arrival to the destination on the existing road, which is specified by the map data, is made.

10. The navigation device according to claim 6,

wherein the determination region, which is set by the setting section to the previous destination, is maintained until a new destination of the routing assistance is set, and

the determination region to the previous destination is canceled when a new destination of the routing assistance is set.

11. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the determination region of the destination, is canceled when the destination of the routing assistance is canceled in accordance with an instruction of a user.

12. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to not register the generated new road in the storage until the determination section determines that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road.

13. A method for updating map data for a navigation device, the method comprising:

setting a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data, the destination being specified as an object of a routing assistance in the map data;

generating a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of a navigation device from a point where a vehicle leaves an existing road registered in the map data to a point where the vehicle returns to the existing road in the map data, when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data;

determining whether the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road; and

registering the generated new road in a storing unit in response to determination that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road,

wherein a previous determination region to a previous destination, is once maintained until a new destination of the routing assistance is set, and

the previous determination region to the previous destination is canceled when a new destination of the routing assistance is set.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the generated new road is not registered in the storage until the determination is that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road.

15. A method for navigation, the method comprising:

setting a determination region, which is a certain geography range around a destination in a map specified by map data;

generating a new road, which is not registered in the map data, based on a moving track of a navigation device from a point where a vehicle leaves an existing road registered in the map data to a point where the vehicle returns to the existing road in the map data when a current position of the navigation device deviates from a region of an existing road registered in the map data

determining whether the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road;

registering the generated new road in a storing unit in response to determination that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road; and

performing a routing assistance to the destination using both the existing road registered in the map data and the registered new road,

wherein a previous determination region to a previous destination, is once maintained until a new destination of the routing assistance is set, and

the previous determination region to the previous destination is canceled when a new destination of the routing assistance is set.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the generated new road is not registered in the storage until the determination is that the set determination region includes at least a part of the generated new road.