Map information delivery system, method, and program

Abstract

A map information delivery system, including a navigation apparatus, is capable of preferentially receiving map updating information based on a host vehicle's state. The updating information may be preferentially received based on whether a destination has been set, a location of the updating information relative to an updating position or a destination, and/or the size of the updating information.

1 . A navigation apparatus for a vehicle, the navigation apparatus useable in a map information delivery system, the navigation apparatus comprising: 
 a memory that stores map data;    a communication unit that communicates with a map information delivery center; and    a controller that: 
 determines an updating position;  
 detects a state of the vehicle;  
 determines a first area having the updating position at a center;  
 when the state of the host vehicle detected by the host vehicle state detection unit is an engine start-up state, transmits a first area updating request requesting entire first area road segment updating information corresponding to the first area to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the first area road segment updating information;  
 updates map information based on the first area road segment updating information as it is received;  
 after updating the map information, transmits a high-standard road segment updating request requesting high-standard road segment updating information corresponding to an entire area of the map information to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the high-standard road segment updating information; and  
 updates the map information based on the received high-standard road segment updating information.  
   
   
   
       2 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the updating position is the current position of the vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller: 
 divides the first area into a center segment and an outer peripheral segment, the center segment containing the updating position and the outer peripheral segment surrounding the center segment;    receives the first area road segment updating information in order based on priority, according to the priority a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the center section is received before a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the outer peripheral segment is received; and    updates the map information based on the priority.    
   
   
       4 . The map information delivery system according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 when a data size of the portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the center section is greater than a maximum data size, the portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the center section is received in a plurality of data portions, each of the plurality of data portions being smaller than the maximum data size; and    each of the plurality of portions is received in an order such that a data portion containing a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to a location closest to the updating position among unreceived ones of the plurality of portions is received first.    
   
   
       5 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the maximum data size corresponds to an amount of data that can be received in about 20 seconds to about 35 seconds.  
   
   
       6 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 when a data size of the portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the outer peripheral section is greater than a maximum data size, the portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the outer peripheral section is received in a plurality of data portions, each of the plurality of data portions being smaller than the maximum data size; and    each of the plurality of portions is received in an order such that a data portion containing a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to a location closest to the updating position among unreceived ones of the plurality of portions is received first.    
   
   
       7 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the maximum data size corresponds to an amount of data that can be received in about 20 seconds to about 35 seconds.  
   
   
       8 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center section is about 30 meters by 30 meters.  
   
   
       9 . A navigation apparatus for a vehicle, the navigation apparatus useable in a map information delivery system, the navigation apparatus comprising: 
 a memory that stores map data;    a communication unit that communicates with a map information delivery center; and    a controller that: 
 sets a destination  
 determines a second area having the destination at the center;  
 transmits a high-standard road segment updating request requesting high-standard road segment updating information corresponding to an entire area of the map information to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the high-standard road segment updating information;  
 updates the map information based on the received high-standard road segment updating information;  
 transmits a second area updating request information requesting entire road segment updating information with respect to the entire road segment corresponding to the second area to the map information delivery center;  
 receives, after the high-standard road segment updating information, the second area road segment updating information; and  
 updates the stored map information based on the received second area road segment updating information received from the map information delivery center.  
   
   
   
       10 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 when a data size of the second area road segment updating information is greater than a maximum data size, the second area road segment updating information is received in a plurality of data portions, each of the plurality of data portions being smaller than the maximum data size; and    each of the plurality of portions is received in an order such that a data portion containing a portion of the second area road segment updating information corresponding to a location closest to the destination among unreceived ones of the plurality of portions is received first.    
   
   
       11 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the maximum data size corresponds to an amount of data that can be received in about 20 seconds to about 35 seconds.  
   
   
       12 . A navigation apparatus for a vehicle, the navigation apparatus useable in a map information delivery system, the navigation apparatus comprising: 
 a memory that stores map data;    a communication unit that communicates with a map information delivery center; and    a controller that: 
 if no destination is set: 
 determines an updating position;  
 detects a state of the vehicle;  
 determines a first area having the updating position at a center;  
 transmits a first area updating request requesting entire first area road segment updating information corresponding to the first area to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the first area road segment updating information;  
 updates map information based the first area road segment updating information as it is received;  
 after updating the map information, transmits a high-standard road segment updating request requesting high-standard road segment updating information corresponding to an entire area of the map information to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the high-standard road segment updating information; and  
 updates the map information based on the received high-standard road segment updating information; and  
 
 if a destination is set: 
 determines a second area having the destination at the center;  
 transmits the high-standard road segment updating request requesting the high-standard road segment updating information corresponding to the entire area of the map information to the map information delivery center;  
 receives the high-standard road segment updating information; and  
 updates the map information based on the received high-standard road segment updating information;  
 transmits a second area updating request information requesting entire road segment updating information with respect to the entire road segment corresponding to the second area to the map information delivery center;  
 receives, after the high-standard road segment updating information, the second area road segment updating information; and  
 updates the stored map information based on the received second area road segment updating information received from the map information delivery center.  
 
   
   
   
       13 . The navigation apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein, if no destination is set, the controller: 
 divides the first area into a center segment and an outer peripheral segment, the center segment containing the updating position and the outer peripheral segment surrounding the center segment;    receives the first area road segment updating information in order based on priority, according to the priority a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the center section is received before a portion of the road segment updating information corresponding to the outer peripheral segment is received; and    updates the map information according to the priority.