Navigation system

• US 6,738,710 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Nagaki, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/735,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207-213, 701/25, 701/26, 701/35, 340/988-990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.17, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.03
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures

Abstract

A navigation system is provided with: a present position detecting device (16, 17) for detecting a present position; a first memory device (14) for reading map data from a record medium (1) in which the map data is recorded; a second memory device (15) of non-volatile type, to which the map data can be written and from which the map data can be read; a navigation controlling device (11) for controlling a navigation operation in correspondence with the detected present position by using the map data, and sending a transfer command to transfer the map data from the first memory device to the second memory device at a predetermined timing; and a transfer interface (30) for controlling an operation of reading the map data from the record medium by the first memory device and an operation of transferring the map data to the second memory device, in accordance with the sent transfer command.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a present position detecting device for detecting a present position;

a first memory device for reading map data from a record medium in which the map data is recorded;

a second memory device of non-volatile type, to which the map data can be written and from which the map data can be read;

a navigation controlling device for controlling a navigation operation in correspondence with the detected present position by using the map data, and sending a transfer command to transfer the map data from said first memory device to said second memory device at a predetermined timing; and

a transfer interface for controlling an operation of reading the map data from said record medium by said first memory device and an operation of transferring the map data to said second memory device, in accordance with the sent transfer command,

wherein the operation of reading the map data from said record medium by said first memory device and the operation of transferring the map data to said second memory device are performed through an exclusive bus which is not utilized by said navigation controlling device, and

wherein said transfer interface comprises;

a command converting device for converting a type of the sent transfer command to thereby generate a command, which is identifiable by said first memory device and said second memory device; and

a transfer controlling device for controlling the operation of transferring the map data from said first memory device to said second memory device, on the basis of the generated command.

2. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map data read from said record medium by said first memory device is sent through said transfer interface to said second memory.

3. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

said transfer interface further comprises a buffer memory device for transiently storing the map data, and

said transfer controlling device controls the operation of transferring the map data from said first memory device to said buffer memory device and an operation of transferring the map data from said buffer memory device to said second memory device, on the basis of the generated command.

4. A navigation system according to claim 3, wherein said transfer interface further comprises an address generating device for generating an address for said transfer controlling device to access said buffer memory device.

5. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said transfer controlling device divides the map data into a plurality of unit data each comprising a predetermined unit data amount and transfers the map data by repeating an operation of transferring the unit data by a plurality of times.

6. A navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined unit data amount is substantially equal to a storage capacity of said buffer memory device.

7. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said command converting device generates a plurality of commands by converting a type of the sent transfer command.

8. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said transfer controlling device outputs a signal, which is to identify an end of the operation of transferring the map data, to said navigation controlling device.

9. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said second memory device is capable of writing and reading the map data at an access speed faster than that of said first memory device.

10. A navigation system according to claim 9, wherein said second memory device comprises a hard disc device.

11. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of block map data, which are obtained by dividing a whole map for each unit block, are recorded in said record medium, and

said transfer interface reads the block map data and transfers the read block map data to said second memory device.

12. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein said transfer interface further comprises a buffer memory device, which has a storage capacity capable of storing at least one block map data, for transiently storing the block map data.

13. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein said navigation controlling device judges whether or not each block map data to be transferred is already stored in said second memory device, and controls said transfer interface to transfer the block map data which is not judged to be stored in said second memory device yet.

14. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein said navigation controlling device controls said transfer interface to transfer a plurality of block map data corresponding to a plurality of peripheral unit blocks with respect to one unit block including the present position as a standard.

15. A navigation system according to claim 11, wherein said navigation controlling device controls said transfer interface to transfer a plurality of block map data corresponding to a plurality of unit blocks including an optimal route from the present position to a destination.

16. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said navigation controlling device controls said transfer interface to transfer the map data corresponding to a predetermined area defined in accordance with the detected present position.

17. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said navigation controlling device sends the transfer command each time when a movable body, the present position of which is detected, is moved for a predetermined distance.

18. A navigation system according to claim 1, wherein

said navigation controlling device sends a read command to read the map data as the transfer command, and

said transfer interface reads the map data from said first or second memory device in accordance with the sent read command.

19. A navigation system comprising:

a present position detecting device for detecting a present position;

a first memory device for reading map data from a record medium in which the map data is recorded;

a second memory device of non-volatile type, to which the map data can be written and from which the map data can be read;

a transfer interface for controlling an operation of reading the map data from said record medium by said first memory device or said second memory device, in accordance with a read command to read the map data; and

a navigation controlling device for controlling a navigation operation in correspondence with the detected present position by using the map data, which is read under a control of said transfer interface, and sending the read command at a predetermined timing,

wherein the operation of reading the map data from said record medium by said first memory device or said second memory device is performed through an exclusive bus which is not utilized by said navigation controlling device, and

wherein said transfer interface comprises;

a command converting device for converting a type of the sent read command to thereby generate a command, which is identifiable by said first memory device and said second memory device; and

a transfer controlling device for controlling the operation of transferring the map data from said first memory device to said second memory device, on the basis of the generated command.

20. A navigation system according to claim 19, wherein the read command is appended with identification information, which identifies whether or not the map data is to be read from said record medium by said first memory device or said second memory device.