Method and apparatus for communicating map data for vehicle navigation

• US 20040128068A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Chun, Jin-Min
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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 map data transmitting server, interconnected with a vehicle terminal through a wireless network, stores map data including a plurality of cell layers in which cells are linearly aligned, each cell of the cell layer bordering two adjacent cells of another cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer, and the vehicle terminal selectively requests transmission of needed cell data to the server and accordingly receives the requested data from the server.

Claims

1. A system for communicating map data for vehicle navigation comprising:

a vehicle terminal; and

a map data transmitting server, interconnected with the vehicle terminal through a wireless network, for storing map data for vehicle navigation comprising a plurality of cell data, and for transmitting cell data through the wireless network to the vehicle terminal when requested by the vehicle terminal,

wherein the map comprises a plurality of cell layers in which cells are linearly aligned, and each cell of a cell layer borders two adjacent cells of another cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each cell of the map is square.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each cell of the cell layer borders the two adjacent cells of the other cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer by the same amount.

4. A method for communicating map data for vehicle navigation utilizing a server for transmitting the map data through a wireless network, said map comprising a plurality of cells, the method comprising:

determining a current position cell including a current position of a vehicle;

requesting transmission of cell data of one or more cells that are adjacent to the current position cell; and

receiving cell data transmitted from the server correspondingly to the request, wherein the map comprises a plurality of cell layers in which cells are linearly aligned, and each cell of the cell layer borders two adjacent cells of another cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each cell of the map is square.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein each cell of the cell layer borders the two adjacent cells of the other cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer by the same amount.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising calculating a proceeding direction of the vehicle on the map data, wherein said one or more cells are positioned in the proceeding direction from the current position cell.

8. A server for transmitting map data for vehicle navigation, the server being connected with a vehicle terminal through a wireless network and comprising:

a network interface for transmitting data through the wireless network;

a data storage unit for storing the map data for vehicle navigation; and

a processing unit for extracting cell data of cells from the map data and for transmitting the extracted cell data through the wireless network when requested from the vehicle terminal,

wherein the map data stored in the data storage unit comprises a plurality of cell layers in which cells are linearly aligned, and each cell of the cell layer borders two adjacent cells of another cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein each cell of the map is square.

10. The server of claim 8, wherein each cell of the cell layer borders the two adjacent cells of the other cell layer that is adjacent to the cell layer by the same amount.