JP2005010060A - Map data distribution method in communication type navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a map data distribution method capable of shortening the time until the start of guidance in a communication type navigation system for downloading a map.
A map distribution server searches a travel route connecting a departure point corresponding to current position information received from an in-vehicle terminal and a destination corresponding to destination information, and generates guidance information on the searched travel route. ,
When delivering a plurality of map information blocks obtained by dividing the travel route information composed of the travel route and the guidance information and the map information on the travel route along the travel route, and delivering the plurality of map information blocks, After the delivery priority information is set and the travel route information is delivered, the map information block is delivered according to the delivery priority.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map data distribution method in a navigation system and an in-vehicle terminal that receives a map by communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A communication-type navigation system has appeared that transmits various useful information, including map data, to the vehicle navigation device through data communication between the navigation device mounted on the vehicle and the server device using the mobile phone network. ,Attention has been paid.
[0003]
In recent years, a map information distribution system capable of efficiently distributing partial map information has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This Patent Document 1 receives departure information and destination information from an in-vehicle terminal, searches for a route for selecting a departure point corresponding to the departure information and a destination corresponding to the destination information, and determines map information corresponding to the route. By distributing the map information to the in-vehicle terminal, the in-vehicle terminal can obtain necessary information without having a map in advance.
[0004]
Furthermore, with regard to the distribution of guidance information, a system has also been proposed that first distributes a travel route for a predetermined distance from the current position, and then sequentially distributes the travel route (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). ). In this case, the next travel route distribution point is determined on the travel route distributed in advance, and when the distribution point is reached, the travel route for the next predetermined distance is distributed, and the travel route information is obtained according to the route guidance to the destination. It will be downloaded. In this method, since only the travel route for a predetermined section is downloaded first, the communication time is shortened and the waiting time until the start of operation is shortened as compared with the case of downloading the data of all travel routes.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-48573 A
[0006]
[Patent Document 2]
International Publication No. 00/66975 Pamphlet
[0007]
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-28371 A
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since such a communication type navigation device is a map download type car navigation device that does not use a medium storing map data such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, the route is displayed by displaying the route on the map. When performing, it is necessary to download the map data for displaying the route to guide. This communication type navigation apparatus starts navigation guidance after downloading all the map data necessary for displaying the route. Currently, there is a long waiting time until guidance starts.
[0009]
Also, when a map is downloaded by dividing it at a plurality of points on the route, the map cannot be acquired in an area where a communication device such as a mobile phone is out of the communication range or communication failures occur frequently.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a map data distribution method and a vehicle-mounted terminal for receiving a map that reduce the time until the start of guidance in a map download type navigation system.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The map distribution server searches for a travel route connecting the departure point corresponding to the current position information received from the in-vehicle terminal and the destination corresponding to the destination information, and generates guidance information on the searched travel route. And the travel route information which consists of a travel route and guidance information, and the several map information block which divided | segmented the map information on a travel route along the travel route are delivered. When distributing a plurality of map information blocks, the distribution priority order is set, and after the travel route information is distributed, the map information blocks are distributed according to the distribution priority order.
[0012]
In the in-vehicle terminal, when the travel route information is received, the direction of the next guidance point, the road name related to the next guidance point, the intersection name related to the next guidance point, the name of the point related to the next guidance point, or the next The navigation to display or voice-guide the distance to the guidance point or the distance to the destination is started.
[0013]
Further, in order to shorten the waiting time until the map is displayed, the map distribution server divides the map information into road information and background information, and distributes the road information first. The in-vehicle terminal receives the road information first, starts guidance, and displays the road map when the road information is received. Furthermore, when the background information is received, the background information is superimposed on the road map and a complete map is displayed.
[0014]
Furthermore, in order to shorten the waiting time until the road marking, the map distribution server divides the map information into freeway information, main road information, and narrow road information, and distributes the freeway information first, followed by the main road information, Then, narrow road information is distributed. The in-vehicle terminal receives the freeway information first, then receives the main road information, then the narrow road information, and immediately displays the freeway map when the freeway information is received, and further receives the main road information. At the time, the freeway + main road map with the main road information superimposed on the freeway map is displayed, and when the narrow road information is received, the complete road map with the narrow road information superimposed on the freeway + main road map is displayed. indicate. Then, a complete map is displayed by receiving and superimposing background information.
[0015]
In addition, even if there is a reception failure part, the in-vehicle terminal can receive the driving route information including the presence / absence of the map data block and the guidance information so that the guidance can be continued using the already received data. If the travel route information including guidance information has been received and the map data block near the vehicle position has not been received, guidance is performed using only the travel route information including the received guidance information. If the driving route information including guidance information has been received and the map data block near the vehicle position has been received, the mode is changed to the mode for guiding while displaying the map data near the vehicle position. To do.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a communication navigation system using a cellular phone network to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the map distribution center 100 distributes map information, traffic information, and other information to the mobile body 200. The map distribution center 100 includes a map distribution server 110 that searches for a route in accordance with a request from the moving body 200 and distributes a map based on the route search result. The mobile unit 200 transmits its own vehicle position or destination to the map distribution server 110, issues a travel route calculation request, receives a map distributed from the map distribution server 110, and displays it on the screen. A terminal 210 is provided. The map distribution server 110 and the in-vehicle terminal 210 communicate with each other via the mobile phone network 300. Here, it has been described that the communication between the map distribution server 110 and the in-vehicle terminal 210 uses the mobile phone network 300, but in addition to the mobile phone network, a hot that enables Internet access in a specific area by a PHS network, a satellite communication line, and a wireless LAN. It may be a spot.
[0017]
The map distribution server 110 uses the server communication unit 115 that communicates with the in-vehicle terminal 210 and the own vehicle position information and the destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal, so that the departure point and destination information corresponding to the own vehicle position information A route search / guidance information generation unit 120 that searches for a travel route between destinations corresponding to the route, or generates guidance information between the travel routes, and road types such as freeways, main roads, narrow roads, and the like Stores background data consisting of road data such as road names and road shapes, names other than road names such as place names and landmark names, or shape data of features other than roads such as rivers, seas, golf courses, and airfields. The map database 145 is stored in the map database 145 based on the travel route information or the guidance information calculated by the route search / guidance information generation unit 120. The map information of a part of the region / region is extracted from the map information (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as cutout), and the map information cut out by the map cutout unit 125 is extracted from the mobile phone network 300. Distribution format conversion unit 130 that converts data into a format (distribution format) that reduces the amount of data as much as possible, and the distribution order of map information areas or information types such as roads and backgrounds, Based on the set distribution order, a distribution priority order management unit 135 that issues a cutout command to the map cutout unit 125, issues a format conversion request to the distribution format conversion unit 130, and issues a communication request to the server communication unit 115. And a server control unit 140 that controls the overall processing flow of the map distribution server 110. . Here, the map database 145 is described as storing the map information as a database, but in addition to the map information, congestion information such as restaurants, parking lots, GS (gas stations) that change in real time, Traffic information such as traffic closed during construction or heavy traffic on the date of the event may be stored in a database. In road data, it is assumed that freeways are highways, main roads are general national and prefectural roads, and narrow roads are narrow roads in residential areas.
[0018]
The in-vehicle terminal 210 is a terminal communication unit 215 that communicates with the map distribution server 110, and a map data that is converted into the distribution format received by the terminal communication unit 215 and combines the map data so that the in-vehicle terminal handles the distribution. Stored in the format restoration unit 220, the map data restored by the distribution format restoration unit 220, the map data storage / management unit 225 for storing and managing the travel route including the guidance information, and the map data storage / management unit 225 A terminal display unit 230 that displays map data, an input unit 235 that inputs a destination setting, a map scale setting, and a scroll instruction, a position positioning unit 240 that measures the position of the vehicle of the moving body 200, and a reception Near the vehicle position based on the running route information including the map data and guidance information and the vehicle position acquired by the position measurement unit 240 When the map data has been received, the map is displayed. When the guide information has been received but the map data has not been received, the map information is not used but the guide information is used for the guide (for example, the guide direction and arrow display). And direction of travel by voice).
[0019]
If the road data near the vehicle location has been received but the background data near the vehicle location has not been received, a map showing only the road information is displayed, and the map display content or guidance content is set according to the received content. The map display / guidance management unit 245 and the terminal control unit 250 that controls the overall processing flow of the in-vehicle terminal 210.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the position measuring unit 240 is a device that measures the position using GPS radio waves received by a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. However, a vehicle speed pulse, a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor, or the like is used. Alternatively, positioning may be performed by combining these. The input unit 235 is assumed to be a remote controller, a touch panel, a voice recognition input, or the like.
[0021]
Next, map data distribution processing using a distribution format between the map distribution server 110 and the in-vehicle terminal 210 will be described. The map distribution server 110 converts the map data stored in the map database 145 into a distribution format in the distribution format conversion unit 130 and distributes the converted map data from the server communication unit 115 toward the in-vehicle terminal 210.
[0022]
In the in-vehicle terminal, the map data converted by the terminal communication unit 215 is received, the map data of the distribution format received by the terminal communication unit 215 is restored to the state of the map data that can be handled by the in-vehicle terminal by the distribution format restoration unit 220, The map data restored in the map data storage / management unit 225 is stored.
[0023]
2, 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of a map data distribution method and a map information receiving terminal (in-vehicle terminal) in a communication type navigation system. In the present embodiment, in the in-vehicle terminal 210, the position measurement unit 240 measures the current location information of the moving body 200, and the driver sets a destination via the input unit 235, and the current location information and the destination information are obtained. The data is transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 210 to the map distribution server 110.
[0024]
In the map distribution server 110, the route search / guidance information generation unit 120 searches for the travel route 11 that connects the departure point corresponding to the current location information and the destination corresponding to the destination information. The searched travel route is the optimum travel route connecting the departure point 5 and the destination 6, for example, the route that minimizes the travel time, the route that uses the toll road the least, or a wide road / curve. The route may be easy to drive. Based on the searched travel route, the map cutout unit 125 extracts the map information 10 near the travel route 11 from the map database 145.
[0025]
The distribution order of map data will be described with reference to FIG. In the map distribution server 110, the distribution format conversion unit 130 converts the format of the travel route information including the guidance information searched by the route search / guidance information generation unit 120. Data of the route information block 21 including the travel route information including the converted guidance information is distributed from the server communication unit 115 to the in-vehicle terminal 210.
[0026]
Next, the map distribution server 110 repeats the map cut-out process, the distribution format conversion process, and the distribution process for each area from the area near the departure point to the vicinity of the destination according to an instruction from the distribution priority management unit 135. Therefore, first, the map data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the map data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130, and the next Then, the map data (first area map information data block 22 near the departure point) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115.
[0027]
Subsequently, the map data cut out for the second area 13 adjacent to the destination near the departure point is converted into a distribution format, and then the map data converted into the distribution format (second area map information data block 23). ) Is distributed from the server communication unit 115. Next, the third area map information block 24 adjacent to the destination side of the second area map information block 23 is distributed. In this way, the blocks in the area adjacent to the destination side are sequentially distributed, and finally the Nth area map information block 25 that is a block of the destination area 16 is distributed. A series of processing relating to distribution of route information and distribution of map data is instructed by the distribution priority management unit 135. Further, the distribution priority management unit 135 also sets the area of map data to be cut out.
[0028]
Here, the area setting method of the distribution priority management unit 135 may be selected based on any of the following.
[0029]
(1) A cut-out area is set so that the amount of map data for each area is substantially uniform. That is, the area of the cut-out area is reduced in an area where the data amount is dense such as a city, and the area of the cut-out area is increased in an area where the data amount is coarse such as a suburb.
[0030]
(2) Evaluate the map cut-out processing, distribution format conversion processing, and distribution processing calculation time for each area, and set the area so that the sum of these times is substantially constant.
[0031]
(3) The area is set so that the route length of the travel route included in the area is substantially constant.
[0032]
By setting the area in this way, the map data can be sent out at almost constant intervals. In addition, it is possible to minimize the play time during the transmission of the map data of each area (the time during which the map data corresponding to the area is cut out and the data is not transmitted).
[0033]
As a result, the in-vehicle terminal 210 can sequentially download in the order from the first map in the vicinity of the departure point to the destination, so even if the travel route is long, the map data can be obtained during the travel without waiting for the reception of the entire travel route data. Guidance can be performed while receiving.
[0034]
On the other hand, the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives map data according to the distribution order of the map distribution server 110. That is, first, the route information block 21 including travel route information including guidance information is received, and then the first area map information block 22 near the departure point is received, and then the block of the area adjacent to the destination side is received. After receiving sequentially, the Nth area map information block 25 which is the block of the destination area is received finally.
[0035]
The in-vehicle terminal 210 receives travel route information including map data or guidance information sent from the map distribution server 110 at the terminal communication unit 215. Then, the travel route information including the map data or guidance information received by the terminal communication unit 215 is restored to data in a format that can be handled easily by the in-vehicle terminal 210 in the distribution format restoration unit 220, and the restored map data or guidance information is stored in the format. The travel route information is stored in the map data storage / management unit 225. The travel route information and the map data including the stored guidance information are displayed on the terminal display unit 230 according to the vehicle position information measured by the position measurement unit 240 in the vicinity of the vehicle position of the moving body 200. The map displayed on the terminal display unit 230 is scrolled so that the vehicle is displayed on the screen according to the vehicle position information measured by the position measurement unit 240.
[0036]
Here, guidance start and map display timing will be described.
[0037]
The first guidance start and map display timing will be described with reference to FIG. First, as Step 1, after the in-vehicle terminal 210 has received the route information (route information block 21) and the data of the map information (first area map information block 22) near the departure point (near the vehicle position), Without waiting for the reception of the second area map information block 23, the map near the vehicle position is displayed on the terminal display unit 230, and guidance is started. In this case, the map screen 1020 is displayed on the terminal display unit 230. That is, guidance is performed in the map display mode. Thereby, the guidance using the map can be started without waiting for the completion of the reception of the map data on all routes.
[0038]
Next, a description will be given of a guidance method when reception of map data in the vicinity of the vehicle position is not completed after guidance starts. Here, the case where the reception of the map data in the vicinity of the vehicle position has not been completed means, for example, that the communication speed of the mobile phone network is slow due to congestion of the mobile phone network or poor radio wave conditions, It is assumed that there are frequent errors due to poor performance, and retransmissions occur many times.
[0039]
In this case, as step 2, it is assumed that the moving body 200 has moved to the Xth area and the reception of the map data of the Xth area (Xth area map information block 1030) has not been completed. The presence / absence of the Xth area map information block 1030 is determined by the map data storage / management unit 225, and if it is determined that there is no Xth area map information block 1030, the already acquired route information of the route information block 21 Is used to display and guide the guidance screen 1010 on the terminal display unit 230. That is, the map display / guidance management unit 245 switches to the turn-by-turn guidance mode.
[0040]
On the other hand, in the situation where the reception of the map data (X area map information block 1030) in the vicinity of the vehicle position (X area) is completed, the terminal display unit 230 uses the received X area map information block 1030 as step 3. A map screen 1020 near the Xth area is displayed. That is, the map display / guidance management unit 245 switches to the map display mode guidance.
[0041]
By doing so, the guidance can be continued even if the reception of the map data near the vehicle position is not in time for the guidance. That is, it is possible to prevent the route from deviating due to interruption of guidance.
[0042]
In the above description, it is assumed that reception of the Xth area has not been completed. However, a case where a map of the Xth area cannot be received due to a communication error can also be assumed. In that case, guidance is performed in a turn-by-turn guidance mode while passing through the Xth area.
[0043]
Next, the second guidance start and map display timing will be described with reference to FIG. As the second guidance start and map display timing, after the in-vehicle terminal 210 completes the reception of the route information block 21, it does not wait for the reception of the first area map information block 22, and the reception of the route information block 21 that has already been completed. Using the guidance information, the guidance direction at the next guidance point, the name of the intersection, and the name of the road to be bent are displayed on the terminal display unit 230 (guidance screen 1000), and the distance to the next intersection and the road to be bent are displayed. The name and the turning direction are output and guidance (turn-by-turn guidance) is started. Next, in step 2, the map data near the vehicle position is displayed on the terminal display unit 230 using the first area map information block 22 received immediately after reception of the first area map information block 22 is completed. That is, the turn-by-turn guidance mode displayed in step 1 is switched to the map display mode. In this switching determination, the map data storage / management unit 225 determines the presence / absence of map data, and based on the result of the presence / absence, the map display / guidance management unit 245 sets the map display mode when there is map data. If there is no map data, set to turn-by-turn guidance mode.
[0044]
By doing this, you can start guidance quickly without waiting for all data acquisition, and you can not display a map around the departure point to the driver, but start guidance before receiving map data near the location of the vehicle can do. That is, guidance can be started earlier than the first guidance start timing.
[0045]
In addition, although it demonstrated that the guidance screen 1000 was displayed on the terminal display part 230 here, guidance may be started only by an audio | voice without displaying the guidance screen 1000 on the terminal display part 230. FIG.
[0046]
5 and 6 show a second embodiment of a map data distribution method and a map information receiving terminal (vehicle-mounted terminal) in a communication navigation system. The second embodiment is an example in which the map information distributed as the map information block in the first embodiment is divided into road information and background information and distributed as road data blocks and background data blocks.
[0047]
According to the present embodiment, since the map information block is divided into the road data block and the background data block, the map display can be performed when the road data block to be acquired first is received, and the background data block is received. The map can be displayed without waiting. When a background data block acquired after receiving a road data block is received, complete map data is displayed by overwriting the background data on a map on which only road data is displayed. By displaying the road data and the background data on the map step by step (progressively) in this way, it is possible to use the map from a state in the middle of receiving the map data.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the travel format information including the guidance information searched by the route search / guidance information generation unit 120 in the map distribution server 110 is converted in format by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The converted data (route information block 21) 2 is distributed from the server communication unit 115 to the in-vehicle terminal 210. Then, the map distribution server 110 repeats the map cut-out process, the distribution format conversion process, and the distribution process for each area from the area near the departure point to the vicinity of the destination in accordance with an instruction from the distribution priority management unit 135. However, the map cutout process is different from the first embodiment in that map information for each area is cut out by dividing road data and background data.
[0049]
The distribution order of this map data will be described with reference to FIG. First, the map distribution server 110 distributes the route information block 21 including travel route information including guidance information. Next, the road data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the road data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The road data (first area road data block 22A) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115. Subsequently, the background data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the background data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130, and then The background data (first area background data block 22B) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115.
[0050]
Further, road data of the second area 13 adjacent to the destination side of the first area near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the road data of the second area 13 is cut by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The data is converted into a distribution format, and then the road data (second area road data block 23A) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115. Then, the background data of the second area 13 adjacent to the destination side of the first area near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and the background data of the second area 13 is then cut by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The server communication unit 115 distributes the background data (second area background data block 23B) converted into the distribution format and then converted into the distribution format.
[0051]
Such road data and background data are cut out for each block in the area adjacent to the destination side, and the distribution format conversion and distribution processing are performed. This process is repeated until the Nth area road data block 25A, which is a block of the destination area 16, is distributed, and then the Nth area background data block 25A, which is a block of the destination area, is distributed.
[0052]
A series of processing related to the distribution of route information and the distribution of road data and background data is instructed by the distribution priority management unit 135. The distribution priority order management unit 135 also sets the area of road data / background data to be cut out.
[0053]
Note that this area setting method is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0054]
Next, the in-vehicle terminal 210 side will be described. The difference from the first embodiment is the order of receiving map data.
[0055]
That is, the in-vehicle terminal 210 first receives the route information block 21 including travel route information including guidance information, and thereafter, for each block in the area adjacent to the destination side in order from the first area near the departure point. The road data block and the background data block are alternately received, and finally the Nth area road data block 25A and the Nth area road data block 25B, which are the blocks of the destination area, are received.
[0056]
Next, the guidance start and map display timing in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The guidance start and the map display timing in the second embodiment are as follows: the in-vehicle terminal 210 completes the reception of the route information block 21 and the 112th first area road data block 22A near the departure place, and then the first area background data block Without waiting for the completion of reception of 22B, a road map in which road data near the vehicle position is drawn is displayed on the terminal display unit 230, and guidance is started. After that, when reception of the first area background data block 22B is completed, the background data is superimposed on the road map already drawn on the terminal display unit 230, and a map in a complete state (a state where the road and the background are aligned) is displayed. To do.
[0057]
Therefore, first, in step 1, the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the first area road data block 22A. Using the received first area road data block 22A, a road map is displayed on the terminal display unit 230 (road map screen 1100). In step 1, guidance is started. Next, in step 2, the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the first area background data block 22B. Using the received first area background data block 22B, the background data is superimposed on the road map screen 1100 displayed on the terminal display unit 230, and a complete state map (a state in which the road and the background are aligned) is displayed. (Map screen 1010). This series of map display switching processing is instructed by the map display / guidance management unit 245.
[0058]
By performing map display and guidance in this way, map display can be performed when the road data block acquired first is received, and map display can be performed without waiting for reception of the background data block. Further, by displaying the road data and the background data in a step-by-step map, the map can be used from a state in the middle of receiving the map data. The driver can view the map without waiting for acquisition of map data for the entire route, and can quickly start the guidance.
[0059]
Also in the second embodiment, it is possible to realize the same processing as the second guidance start and map display timing in the first embodiment. That is, after the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the route information block 21, the terminal display unit 230 starts the turn-by-turn guidance using only the guidance information without waiting for the next road data block to be sent. Is possible.
[0060]
7 and 8 show a third embodiment of a map data distribution method and a map information receiving terminal (vehicle-mounted terminal) in a communication navigation system. In the third embodiment, the map information is divided into road data and background data in the second embodiment, but the road data is further divided into freeway data, main road data, and narrow road data for distribution. It is an example.
[0061]
The distribution order of map data when divided into freeway data, main road data, narrow road data, and background data will be described with reference to FIG. First, the map distribution server 110 distributes the route information block 21 including travel route information including guidance information. Next, the freeway data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the freeway data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The server communication unit 115 distributes the freeway data (first area freeway data block 22AA) converted into the distribution format. Then, the main road data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the main road data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130, and the next The server communication unit 115 distributes the main road data (first area main road data block 22AB) converted into the distribution format. Subsequently, the narrow road data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the narrow road data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130, Next, narrow road data (first area narrow road data block 22AC) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115. Subsequently, the background data of the first area 12 near the departure point is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the background data of the first area 12 is converted into the distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The server communication unit 115 distributes the background data (first area background data block 23) converted into the distribution format.
[0062]
In addition, the same processing as in the vicinity of the departure point is performed on the freeway data, main road data, narrow road data, and background data related to the second area 13 adjacent to the destination side of the first area near the departure point. The data is distributed in the order of the 2-area freeway data block 23AA, the second area main road data block 23AB, the second area narrow road data block 23AC, and the second area background data block 23B. This process is repeated up to the Nth area 16, and finally the Nth area freeway data block 25AA which is a block of the destination area, the Nth area main road data block 25AB, and then the Nth area narrow road data block 25AC. Then, the Nth area background data block 25B is distributed. A series of these processes is instructed from the distribution priority management unit 135.
[0063]
Next, the in-vehicle terminal 210 side will be described. The difference from the second embodiment is the order of receiving map data. That is, the in-vehicle terminal 210 first receives the route information block 21 including the travel route information including the guidance information, and receives the first area freeway data block 22AA, the first area main road data block 22AB, the first area near the departure point. The area narrow road data block 22AC and the first area background data block 22B are received in this order, and then the second area freeway data block 23AA adjacent to the destination side of the first area freeway data block 22AA and the second area main road data block 23AB, the second area narrow road data block 23AC, and the second area background data block 23B are received in this order. Thus, after sequentially receiving the blocks of the area adjacent to the destination side, the Nth area freeway data block 25AA which is the block of the destination area is finally received, and further, the Nth area main road data block 25AB, The N area narrow road data block 25AC and the Nth area background data block 25B are sequentially received.
[0064]
Next, guidance start and map display timing in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The guidance start and map display timing in the third embodiment are as follows. First, in step 1, after the vehicle-mounted terminal 210 completes reception of the route information block 21 and the 112th first area freeway data block 22AA near the departure place, Without waiting for the completion of the reception of the one-area main road data block 22AB, the freeway map in which the freeway data near the vehicle position is drawn is displayed on the terminal display unit 230 using the received first area freeway data block 22AA. Start (freeway map screen 1200).
[0065]
Next, in step 2, the in-vehicle terminal 210 uses the received first area main road data block 22AB after the reception of the first area main road data block 22AB and uses the received first area main road data block 22AB in the vicinity of the vehicle position. The freeway / main road map drawn by superimposing the main road data on the freeway map screen 1200 is displayed (freeway / main road map screen 1210).
[0066]
Next, in step 3, after the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the first area narrow road data block 22AC, using the received first area narrow road data block 22AC, the vicinity of the vehicle position displayed on the terminal display unit 230 A road map in a complete state (a state where freeways, main roads and narrow roads are aligned) is displayed (road map screen 1100).
[0067]
Next, in step 4, after the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the first area background data block 22B, the road map screen 1100 already drawn on the terminal display unit 230 using the received first area background data block 22B. The background data is superimposed on the map to display a map in a complete state (a state where the road and the background are aligned) (map screen 1010).
[0068]
By performing map display and guidance in this way, map display can be performed when the freeway data block acquired first is received, and map display can be performed without waiting for reception of all road data or background data. it can. Further, the map can be used in the middle of receiving the map data by displaying the map in steps from the freeway data to the main road data, the narrow road data, and the background data. This series of map display switching processing is instructed by the map display / guidance management unit 245.
[0069]
By doing so, the driver can view the map without waiting for the acquisition of all map data. Moreover, guidance can be started quickly.
[0070]
9 and 10 show a fourth embodiment of a map data distribution method and a map information receiving terminal (vehicle terminal) in a communication navigation system. The fourth embodiment is a map distribution example in the case where the cutout area of the map information is divided along the shape of the route from the vicinity of the searched traveling route toward the far side of the route. Here, the map information of the area near the route is first distributed, and then the map information of the outer donut-shaped area adjacent to the area near the route is distributed. In this way, the map information cut out in a donut-shaped area is distributed sequentially from the inside to the outside.
[0071]
In the present embodiment, map data extraction processing, distribution format conversion processing, and distribution processing are performed for each area in the map distribution server 110 in accordance with an instruction from the distribution priority management unit 135 from the area near the travel route toward the outer periphery. repeat.
[0072]
Next, the distribution order of map data will be described with reference to FIG. First, the map distribution server 110 distributes the route information block 21 including travel route information including guidance information. FIG. 9 shows the area of the fourth embodiment. Next, the map data of the first area 76 in the vicinity of the route is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the map of the first area 76 is displayed. The data is converted into a distribution format by the distribution format conversion unit 130, and then the map data (first area map information data block 72) converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115. Subsequently, the map data of the second area 73 adjacent to the outside of the first area 72 near the travel route is cut out by the map cutout unit 125, and then the map data of the third area 73 is sent by the distribution format conversion unit 130. The map data (second area map information data block 73) converted into the distribution format and then converted into the distribution format is distributed from the server communication unit 115. In this way, these processes are sequentially performed on the blocks in the area adjacent to the outside, and the Nth area map information block 75 is distributed to the outermost area 79 on the outermost side. A series of processing related to the distribution of route information and the distribution of map data is instructed by the distribution priority management unit 135. Further, the distribution priority management unit 135 also sets the area of map data to be cut out.
[0073]
In addition, here, the distribution priority order management unit 135 sets an area as in the other embodiments.
[0074]
Next, the guidance start and map display timing in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 1, the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the route information block 21 and the first area map information block 72 near the route. Using the received first area map information block 72, a map of the vicinity of the travel route is displayed on the terminal display unit 230, and guidance is started. Here, when the first area map information block 72 is drawn, the first area map information block 72 is displayed at a scale of 50 m, which is a scale that fits well so as not to see a blank with respect to the screen size of the terminal display unit 230 (50 m scale map screen 1400).
[0075]
Next, in step 2, when the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the second area map information block 73, the received second area map information block 73 and the first area map information block 72 already received in step 1 are used. The map including the first area map information block 72 and the second area map information block 73 can be drawn on the terminal display unit 230, and the map data of the first area map information block 72 and the second rear map information block is displayed. On the other hand, a scale map up to a scale of 200 m, which is a scale that fits well in the screen size of the terminal display unit 230, can be selected by the driver using the input unit 235. When the driver selects a 200 m scale from the input unit 235, a 200 m scale map is displayed on the terminal display unit 230 (200 m scale map screen 1410).
[0076]
In this way, the map information of the adjacent outer peripheral areas is sequentially received, and the driver can select a scale that allows the maps of those areas to fit well within the screen size of the terminal display unit 230.
[0077]
In step 3, the in-vehicle terminal 210 receives the Nth area map information block 75 related to the outermost area. Using the received Nth area map information block 75 and the already received map information block in the inner periphery, a scale map up to a scale of 10 km that is a scale that fits in the screen size of the terminal display unit 230 without a margin. When the driver selects the 10 km scale from the input unit 235, a 10 km scale map is displayed on the terminal display unit 230 (10 km scale map screen 1420). Here, the scale designated by the driver is 10 km. However, for example, a map such as a scale of 5 km, a scale of 2 km, a scale of 1 km, a scale of 500 km, etc. which can be seen in more detail may be selected. The map display switching process of these series of processes is instructed by the map display / guidance management unit 245.
[0078]
By performing map display and guidance as described above, map display can be performed when a map of the area near the route acquired earlier is received, and map display can be performed without waiting for reception of all map information Can do. In addition, by gradually displaying the map from the vicinity of the route toward the outside, it is possible to use the map from a state where the map data is being received. The driver can view the map without waiting for the acquisition of all map data. Moreover, guidance can be started quickly.
[0079]
Also in the fourth embodiment, by dividing the map information into road data and background data, road data in the vicinity of the route can be obtained without waiting for the reception of all map information, as in the second embodiment. Guidance can be started as soon as it is received. Furthermore, by dividing the road data into freeway data, main road data, and narrow road data, as in the third embodiment, immediately after receiving freeway data near the route without waiting for the reception of all road data. Guidance can also be initiated.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the communication time can be shortened, the responsiveness can be increased, and the map is displayed even when the map data is incomplete. Therefore, the time until the start of guidance after selecting the destination in the communication type navigation system Can be greatly shortened.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication navigation system using a mobile phone network to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment of a map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining map display / guidance start timing in the first embodiment of the in-vehicle terminal in the communication type navigation system.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining map display / guidance start timing in the first embodiment of the in-vehicle terminal in the communication type navigation system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing distribution data and areas in a second embodiment of a map data distribution method in a communication navigation system.
FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining map display / guidance start timing in the second embodiment of the in-vehicle terminal in the communication navigation system.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing distribution data and areas in a third embodiment of a map data distribution method in the communication navigation system.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating map display / guidance start timing in the third embodiment of the in-vehicle terminal in the communication navigation system.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing distribution data and areas in the fourth embodiment of the map data distribution method in the communication navigation system.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating map display / guidance start timing in the fourth embodiment of the in-vehicle terminal in the communication navigation system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Map delivery center, 110 ... Map delivery server, 115 ... Server communication part, 120 ... Route search and guidance information generation part, 125 ... Map extraction part, 130 ... Delivery format conversion part, 135 ... Delivery priority order management part, 140 ... server control unit 140 ... map database, 210 ... moving body, 210 ... in-vehicle terminal, 215 ... in-vehicle communication unit, 220 ... distribution format restoration unit, 225 ... map data storage / management unit, 230 ... terminal display unit, 235 ... input , 240 ... Position positioning part, 245 ... Map display / guidance management part, 250 ... Terminal control part, 300 ... Mobile phone network.

Claims (12)

In the map data distribution center server in the communication type navigation system,
Receives current location information and destination information from the in-vehicle device,
Searching for a travel route connecting the departure point corresponding to the current location information and the destination corresponding to the destination information, and generating guidance information on the searched travel route,
When distributing the travel route information including the travel route or the guidance information and a plurality of map information blocks obtained by dividing the map information on the travel route based on the travel route, the distribution priority order of each map information block is set. A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, wherein map information blocks are distributed according to the priority order. The map information block of claim 1 is divided along the searched travel route,
The distribution priority of the map information block is set so that the map information block near the departure point is high and the map information block around the destination is low,
The delivery priority of the route information is set to the same priority as the map information block near the departure point or higher than the map information block near the departure point,
A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, wherein map information blocks are distributed according to distribution priority. In the map data distribution center server in the communication type navigation system,
Receive current location information and destination information from the in-vehicle device,
Searching for a travel route connecting the departure point corresponding to the current location information and the destination corresponding to the destination information, and generating guidance information on the searched travel route;
Distribution priority of each map information block when distributing the travel route information composed of the travel route or the guidance information and a plurality of map information blocks obtained by dividing the map information on the travel route based on the distance from the travel route A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, characterized in that ranks are set and map information blocks are distributed according to the priorities. The map information block of claim 3 is divided according to the distance from the travel route along the shape of the searched travel route,
The distribution priority of the map information block is set so that the map information block close to the driving route is the highest and the map information block far from the driving route is low,
The delivery priority of the route information is set to the same priority as the map information block near the departure point or higher than the map information block near the departure point.
A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, wherein map information blocks are distributed according to distribution priority. The map information block according to claim 1 or 3 is a road data block including information relating to roads in map information, name data such as place names / landmark names in map information or rivers, seas, golf courses, airfields in map information Is divided into background data blocks containing background data such as
A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, wherein a distribution priority order of road data blocks is set higher than that of a background data block. The road data block according to claim 5 is divided into a freeway data block including information on freeways, a main road data block including information on main roads other than freeways, and narrow road data including information on narrow roads such as residential roads,
Distribution priority within the same map information block is determined in the order of freeway data block, main road data block, narrow road data block, name data block,
A map data distribution method in a communication type navigation system, wherein map information blocks are distributed according to distribution priority. For in-vehicle terminals in communication-type navigation systems,
Send current location information and destination information to the map data distribution center server.
A plurality of routes obtained by dividing the travel route information connecting the departure point corresponding to the current location information searched for by the map data distribution center server and the destination corresponding to the destination information, and the map information on the travel route along the travel route Receive the map information block,
When the travel route information is received, the direction of the next guidance point, the road name related to the next guidance point, the intersection name related to the next guidance point, the name of the point related to the next guidance point, or the next guidance point An in-vehicle terminal characterized by starting navigation to display a screen or voice guide a distance or a distance to a destination. For in-vehicle terminals in communication-type navigation systems,
Send current location information and destination information to the map data distribution center server.
Receiving travel route information connecting the departure point corresponding to the current location information searched by the map data distribution center server and the destination corresponding to the destination information,
Furthermore, the map information block near the departure point is received before the map information block other than the map information block near the departure point,
An in-vehicle terminal characterized by displaying a map near a departure point and starting navigation when a travel route information and a map information block near the departure point are received. The map information block received by the in-vehicle terminal according to claim 8 is a road data block including information related to a road in map information, name data such as a place name / landmark name in map information, or a river, sea, or golf course in map information Are classified into background data blocks including background data such as airfields,
When the road data block near the departure point is received before the data block other than the road data block near the departure point, and the road data block near the departure point is received, the road and route near the departure point are An in-vehicle terminal characterized by displaying a drawn map and starting navigation. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 9 is characterized in that after receiving the road data block, the background data block is received, and when the background data block is received, the background data is superimposed and displayed on the road map already displayed. In-vehicle terminal. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 9 receives the main road data block or the narrow road data block after receiving the freeway data block, and superimposes the main road data on the display map when the main road data block is received. An on-vehicle terminal characterized in that narrow road data is superimposed and displayed when a narrow road data block is received. The in-vehicle terminal according to claim 9 determines whether or not the map data block near the vehicle position is received and whether or not the travel route information including guidance information is received
If the driving route information including the guidance information has been received and the map data block near the vehicle position has not been received, the mode is set to guide using only the driving route information including the received guidance information,
When driving route information including guidance information has been received and a map data block in the vicinity of the vehicle position has been received, the mode is such that guidance is performed while displaying map data near the vehicle position. In-vehicle terminal.

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