Apparatus and method for providing map data and system thereof

Abstract

A system and a method are provided that are capable of providing map data for supporting a variety of user network environments and selecting data zones freely. A navigation terminal includes a reception unit adapted to receive a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server; and an execution unit adapted to execute a navigation function on the specific zone using the file. The file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size. The size of the mesh unit is decided according to the amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A navigation terminal comprising:
 a reception unit adapted to receive a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server; and   an execution unit adapted to execute a navigation function on the specific zone with the file,   wherein the file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size, and   wherein the size of the mesh unit is decided according to amount of information included in the geographic area such that the size of the file is leveled;   wherein the specific zone is selected by a user;   wherein the reception unit is further adapted to receive files of areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user, from the divided geographic areas in a lump; and   wherein the files of the areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user are stored in an internal memory, and files of additional areas corresponding to zones other than the specific zone selected by the user are temporarily stored in a cache;   wherein the execution unit executes the navigation function for areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user upon the files stored in the internal memory, when the reception unit does not communicate with the map provision server;   wherein the execution unit executes the navigation function for the addition areas not selected by the user with the files temporarily stored in the cache, when the reception unit communicates with the map provision server; and the execution unit is configured to perform routes search, display the routes on a display device, and provide the route guidance.   
     
     
       2. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the reception unit is further adapted to additionally receive files of areas included in a moving route in a lump when the moving route gets out of the specific zone selected by the user. 
     
     
       3. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the specific zone is automatically set on the basis of a current position, and
 wherein the reception unit is further adapted to receive files of both an area, corresponding to the current position, and an area, adjacent to the current position along a translocation direction, from the divided geographic areas in real time.   
     
     
       4. The navigation terminal of  claim 3 , wherein files received with respect to some areas, predicted according to a reception frequency, from the divided geographic areas are stored in an internal memory. 
     
     
       5. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the specific zone is set with a searched route up to a destination, and
 wherein files of areas, included in the route, from the divided geographic areas are received in a lump.   
     
     
       6. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein map data of areas divided in a form of tile map according to the mesh unit is stored in the files in a vector way, respectively. 
     
     
       7. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein information needed for a map screen display, a route search, and a route guidance is stored in the file, and
 wherein when a reception of the file is completed, the execution unit is further adapted to hold applying the navigation function on the specific zone with the file, regardless of the communications with the map provision server.   
     
     
       8. The navigation terminal of  claim 1 , wherein files produced by the individual unit are associated with one another such that the navigation function is connected among the geographic areas divided by the mesh unit. 
     
     
       9. A navigation providing method of a navigation terminal which provides a navigation function and includes a reception unit and an execution unit, the navigation providing method comprising:
 receiving, by the reception unit, a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server; and   executing, by the execution unit, a navigation function on the specific zone with the file,   wherein the file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size, and   wherein the size of the mesh unit is decided according to amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size;   wherein the s specific zone is selected by a user:   wherein the reception unit is further adapted to receive files of areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user, from the divided geographic areas in a lump; and   wherein the files of the areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user are stored in an internal memory, and files of additional areas corresponding to zones other than the specific zone selected by the user are temporarily stored in a cache;   the execution unit executing the navigation function for areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user on the files stored in the internal memory, when reception unit does not communicate with the map provision server;   the execution unit executing the navigation function for the additional areas not selected by the user with the files temporarily stored in the cache when reception unit communicates with the map provision server; and the execution unit performing routes search, displaying the routes on a display device, and proving the route guidance.   
     
     
       10. The navigation providing method of  claim 9 , wherein the specific zone is automatically selected on the basis of a current position, and
 wherein in the receiving, files of both an area, corresponding to the current position, and an area, adjacent to the current position along a translocation direction, from the divided geographic areas are received in real time.   
     
     
       11. The navigation providing method of  claim 9 , wherein the specific zone is set with a searched route up to a destination, and
 wherein in the receiving, files of areas, included in the route, from the divided geographic areas are received in a lump.   
     
     
       12. The navigation providing method of  claim 9 , wherein map data of each of areas divided in a form of tile map according to the mesh unit is stored in the file in a vector way. 
     
     
       13. The navigation providing method of  claim 9 , wherein information needed for a map screen display, a route search, and a route guidance is stored in the file, and
 wherein in the executing, when a reception of the file is completed, the navigation function on the specific zone is held from being applied on the file, regardless of communications with the map provision server.   
     
     
       14. The navigation providing method of  claim 9 , wherein files produced by the individual unit are associated with one another such that the navigation function is connected among the geographic areas divided by the mesh unit. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which includes an instruction enabling a computer system to provide a navigation function, the computer system being controlled by a method comprising receiving a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server; and executing a navigation function on the specific zone with the file,
 wherein the file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size,   wherein the size of the mesh unit is decided according to amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size, and   wherein information needed for a map screen display, a route search, and a route guidance is stored in the file;   wherein the specific zone is selected by a user;   wherein the computer system is further adapted to receive files of areas corresponding to the specific zones selected by the user, from the divided geographic areas in a lump; and   wherein the files of the areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user are stored in an internal memory, and files of addition areas corresponding to zones other than the specific zone selected by the user are temporarily stored in a cache;   the computer system executing the navigation function for areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user on the files stored in the internal memory, when a reception unit does not communicate with the map provision server;   the computer system executing the navigation function for the additional areas not selected by the user with the files temporarily stored in the cache, when the reception unit communicates with the map provision server; and the computer system performing routes search, displaying the routes on a display device, and proving the route guidance.   
     
     
       16. A navigation data providing method of a map provision server, the navigation data providing method comprising:
 storing entire map data for providing a navigation service;   connecting a user terminal through a wireless network;   while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, receiving, from a user terminal, a request for downloading a navigation data file among the entire map data associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by the user using a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for the navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data; and   transmitting, to a storage associated with the user terminal, the navigation data file in response to the request,   wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected areas of the displayed map,   wherein the navigation data file transmitted to the storage includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with the navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network, and   wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.   
     
     
       17. The navigation data providing method of claim 16, wherein the entire map data associated with the areas is divided by at least one mesh unit to produce the tile maps and stored in a database of the map provision server. 
     
     
       18. The navigation data providing method of claim 16, wherein the navigation data file includes a plurality of files, each of the plurality of files associated with at least one of the tile maps, and the transmitting comprises transmitting the files to the storage in a lump. 
     
     
       19. The navigation data providing method of claim 16, wherein the storage is a memory or a SD card included in the user terminal. 
     
     
       20. A navigation service providing method of a user terminal, the method comprising:
 connecting a map provision server through a wireless network;   while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, transmitting, to the map provision server, a request for downloading a navigation data file among entire map data stored in the map provision server associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by the user using a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for a navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data, wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected area of the displayed map;   receiving, from the map provision server, the navigation data file and storing the navigation data file in a storage associated with the user terminal, the navigation data file being transmitted to the storage from the map provision server in response to the request for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the navigation data file includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with a navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network;   receiving the request for the navigation service including a destination selected by the user after the navigation data file is stored in the storage; and   providing, based on a previously downloaded navigation data file including the navigation data file, the navigation service for a route including the departure without the network communication with the map provision server,   wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal, and   wherein, while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.   
     
     
       21. The navigation service providing method of claim 20, wherein the navigation data file includes the entire map data associated with the areas divided by at least one mesh unit to produce the tile maps. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20, wherein the navigation data file includes a plurality of files, each of the plurality of files associated with at least one of the tile maps, and the receiving comprises receiving the files in a lump. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 19, wherein the storage is a memory or a SD card included in the user terminal. 
     
     
       24. A map provision server for providing a navigation data file comprises:
 a memory; and   at least one processor connected to the memory, and configured to execute computer readable instructions included in the memory,   wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 store an entire map data for providing a navigation service; 
 connect a user terminal through a wireless network; 
 while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, generate a navigation data file in response to receiving, from a user terminal, a request for downloading the navigation data file among the entire map data associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for the navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data; and 
 transmit the generated navigation data file to a storage associated with the user terminal, 
   wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected area of the displayed map,   wherein the navigation data file transmitted to the storage includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with the navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network, and   wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.   
     
     
       25. The navigation data providing method of claim 16, the navigating data providing method further comprising:
 in response that the user terminal is located out of the specific zone while the navigation service is provided to the user terminal, receiving, from the user terminal, a request for downloading additional navigation data associated with an area including a current location of the user terminal when the map provision server and the user terminal is connected through the wireless network; and   transmitting, to the user terminal, the additional navigation data file,   wherein the transmitted additional navigation data is temporarily stored in a cache associated with the user terminal when a reception frequency of the additional navigation data file for the user terminal is less than a predetermined number, and the transmitted additional navigation data is stored in the storage associated with the user terminal when the reception frequency is equal to or more than the predetermined number.   
     
     
       26. The navigation data providing method of claim 25, wherein the transmitting of the additional navigation data file comprises:
 transmitting, to the user terminal, additional navigation data file associated with at least one area adjacent to the area including current location.   
     
     
       27. The navigation service providing method of claim 20, the navigation service providing method further comprising:
 in response that the user terminal is located out of the specific zone while the navigation service is provided to the user terminal, transmitting, to the map provision server, a request for downloading additional navigation data associated with an area including a current location of the user terminal when the map provision server and the user terminal is connected through the wireless network; and   receiving, from the map provision server, the additional navigation data file,   wherein the received additional navigation data is temporarily stored in a cache associated with the user terminal when a reception frequency of the additional navigation data file is less than a predetermined number, and the received additional navigation data is stored in the storage associated with the user terminal when the reception frequency is equal to or more than the predetermined number.   
     
     
       28. The navigation service providing method of claim 27, wherein the receiving of the additional navigation data file comprises:
 receiving, from the map provision server, additional navigation data file associated with at least one area adjacent to the area including current location.   
     
     
       29. The map provision server of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 in response that the user terminal is located out of the specific zone while the navigation service is provided to the user terminal, receive, from the user terminal, a request for downloading additional navigation data associated with an area including a current location of the user terminal when the map provision server and the user terminal is connected through the wireless network; and   transmit, to the user terminal, the additional navigation data file,   wherein the transmitted additional navigation data is temporarily stored in a cache associated with the user terminal when a reception frequency of the additional navigation data file for the user terminal is less than a predetermined number, and the transmitted additional navigation data is stored in the storage associated with the user terminal when the reception frequency is equal to or more than the predetermined number.   
     
     
       30. The map provision server of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit, to the user terminal, additional navigation data file associated with at least one area adjacent to the area including current location.