Method for transmitting location information on a digital map, apparatus for implementing the method, and traffic information provision/reception system

Abstract

Location information transmission apparatus for exchanging information about the on-road location on a digital map, characterized in that apparatus at an information provider comprises a location information converter for converting transmit on-road location information to road shape data including the on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section having a length that depends on the situation and relative data indicating the on-road location in the road section, and that apparatus at a party receiving the on-road location information comprises a shape matching section for performing shape matching by using the road shape data, identifying the road section on a digital map and identifying the on-road location in the road section by using the relative data. This makes it possible to correctly exchange information about the location on a digital map without defining node numbers or link numbers on a road network.

1 . A location information transmission method for reporting on-road location on a digital map, 
 characterized in that an information provider transmits on-road location information by using road shape data including said on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section and relative data indicating said on-road location in said road section; and    that a party receiving said on-road location information performs shape matching using said road shape data to identify said road section on the digital map and uses said relative data to identify the on-road location in said road section.    
     
     
         2 . A location information transmission according to  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that said method uses a string of coordinates arranging latitude/longitude data of the raod point per predetermined distance interval as a string of coordinates representing said road shape.    
     
     
         3 . A location information transmission method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said method uses distance data from a specific point in the road section as said relative data.  
     
     
         4 . Location information transmission apparatus for exchanging information about the on-road location on a digital map, 
 characterized in that apparatus at an information provider comprises a location information converter for converting transmit on-road location information to road shape data including said on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section and relative data indicating said on-road location in said road section; and    that apparatus at a party receiving the on-road location information comprises a shape matching section for performing shape matching by using said road shape data, identifying said road section on a digital map and identifying the on-road location in the road section by using said relative data.    
     
     
         5 . Location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said apparatus uses a string of coordinates arranging latitude/longitude data of the road point per predetermined distance interval as a string of coordinates representing said road shape.  
     
     
         6 . Location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said apparatus uses distance data from a specific point in said road section as said relative data.  
     
     
         7 . A traffic information provision/reception system, characterized in that said system comprises location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         8 . A traffic information provision/reception system according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said information provider is a center for collecting traffic information in the area and that said party receiving the on-road location information is a center for collecting traffic information in other areas.  
     
     
         9 . A traffic information provision/reception system according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said information provider is an infrastructure for providing traffic information and that said party receiving the on-road location information is a car-mounted navigation apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . A location information transmission method for reporting on-road location on a digital map, 
 characterized in that an information provider transmits on-road location information by using road shape data including said on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section and    that a party receiving said on-road location information performs shape matching using said road shape data to identify said road section on the digital map.    
     
     
         11 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 10 , 
 characterized in that said method uses a string of coordinates arranging latitude/longitude data of the road point per predetermined distance interval as a string of coordinates representing said road shape.    
     
     
         12 . A location information transmission apparatus for exchanging information about the on-road location on a digital map, 
 characterized in that:    an apparatus at an information provider comprises a location information converter for converting transmit on-road location information to road shape data including said on road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section; and    an apparatus at a party receiving the on-road location information comprises a digital map and shape matching section for performing shape matching by using said road shape data and identifying said road section of the digital map.    
     
     
         13 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 12 , 
 characterized in that said apparatus uses a string of coordinates arranging latitude/longitude data of the road point per determined distance interval as a string of coordinates representing said road shape.    
     
     
         14 . A traffic information provision/reception system, 
 characterized in that said system comprises location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 12 .    
     
     
         15 . The traffic information provision/reception system according to  claim 14 , 
 characterized in that said information provider is a center for collecting traffic information in the area and that said party receiving the on-road location information is a center for collecting traffic information in other areas.    
     
     
         16 . The traffic information provision/reception system according to  claim 14 , 
 characterized in that said information provider is an infrastructure for providing traffic information and that said party receiving the on-road location information is a car-mounted navigation apparatus.    
     
     
         17 . A receiving device for receiving on-road location information on a digital map from a device of an information provision side, said receiving device comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving road shape data including said on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section, from the device of an information provision side;    a digital map; and    a shape matching section for performing shape matching by using said road shape data and identifying said road section on the digital map.    
     
     
         18 . An information provision apparatus for providing on-road location information on a digital map by using a location information transmission method according to  claim 10 , said information provision apparatus comprising: 
 a location information converter for converting transmission on-road location information to a road shape data including said on-road location consisting of a string of coordinates representing the road shape of a road section.    
     
     
         19 . A location information transmission method for reporting location information on a digital map, characterized in that: 
 an information provider transmits location information using a shape data including a coordinate string; and    a party of receiving side identify said location using said shape data.    
     
     
         20 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19 , 
 wherein said coordinate string represents a geometrically pattern on a digital map.    
     
     
         21 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19  or  20 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating a region including a position on which an event occurs.  
 
     
     
         22 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19  or  20 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating a border of a region in which an event occurs.  
 
     
     
         23 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19  or  20 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating points at predetermined intervals.  
 
     
     
         24 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19  or  20 , 
 wherein content of said shape data is changeable in accordance with a situation of a region indicated by said shape data.  
 
     
     
         25 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 19  or  20 , 
 wherein said party of receiving side implements shape matching using said shape data in order to identify the location.  
 
     
     
         26 . A location information transmission apparatus for exchanging location information on a digital map, characterized in that: 
 an apparatus at an information provider includes a location information converter which converts a location information to be transmitted to a shape data having a coordinate string; and    an apparatus at receiving side identifies said location using said shape data.    
     
     
         27 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating a region including a position on which an event occurs.    
     
     
         28 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating a border of a region in which an event occurs.    
     
     
         29 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein said shape data includes a coordinate string indicating points at predetermined intervals.    
     
     
         30 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein content of said shape data is changeable in accordance with a situation of a region indicated by said shape data.    
     
     
         31 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 26 , 
 wherein said apparatus of receiving side implements shape matching using said shape data in order to identify the location.    
     
     
         32 . A system for providing and/or receiving location information on a digital map, comprising the location information transmission apparatus according to any one of  claims 26  to  31 .  
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , 
 wherein said apparatus at an information provider is a center for collecting traffic information in a first area, and    wherein said apparatus of receiving side is a center for collecting traffic information in a second area.    
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 32 , 
 wherein said apparatus at an information provider is an infrastructure for providing traffic information, and    wherein said apparatus of receiving side is a car-mounted navigation apparatus.    
     
     
         35 . A receiving device for receiving location information on a digital map, comprising: 
 a receiving section for receiving shape data including a coordinate string from an apparatus at an information provider;    a digital map; and    location identification section for identifying the location on said digital map using said shape data.    
     
     
         36 . The receiving device according to  claim 35 , 
 wherein said location identification section implements shape matching in order to identify the location.    
     
     
         37 . An information provision apparatus for providing location information on a digital map, by using the method according to any one of  claims 19  to  25 , said apparatus comprising: 
 a location information converter for converting a location information to be transmitted to said shape data; and  
 a transmission section for transmitting said shape data.  
 
     
     
         38 . An information transmission method for transmitting location information to a device having a digital map, characterized in that: 
 said location information includes a shape data having a coordinate string.    
     
     
         39 . The information transmission method according to  claim 38 , 
 wherein coordinates included in said coordinate string are absolute coordinates.    
     
     
         40 . The information transmission method according to  claim 38 , 
 wherein a part of coordinates included in said coordinate string is relative coordinate.    
     
     
         41 . The information transmission method according to any one of  claims 38  to  40 , 
 wherein said coordinate string is a coordinate chain.  
 
     
     
         42 . A coding method for cording an object when information regarding said object on a traffic rout network is transmitted between an information provider and a party of receiving side, characterized in that: 
 said object includes at least a coordinate string;    said coordinate string includes a coordinate on a road, wherein at least a part of said road is included in a digital map data of said party of receiving side, and coordinates indicating a shape whose location is capable of being identified at said party of receiving side.    
     
     
         43 . The location information transmission method according to  claim 21  or  22 , 
 wherein said information provider transmits information indicating a type and level of said event, adding to said shape data.  
 
     
     
         44 . The location information transmission apparatus according to  claim 27  or  28 , 
 wherein said apparatus at an information provider transmits information indicating a type and level of said event, adding to said shape data.