Abstract: A data product that can be read into a computer or a map data processing apparatus contains map data that includes map-related information related to a map. The map data includes: a structure achieved by dividing the map into a plurality of mesh-like subdivisions and dividing the map-related information into units corresponding to the individual subdivisions; and a structure in which the map-related information is managed in units of subdivision sets each containing a plurality of adjacent subdivisions and the map-related information is used in the map data processing apparatus in units of the individual subdivision sets.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a route setting unit for setting a route from a start point to a destination; an information obtaining unit for obtaining from a memory position information of at least one base point and at least one control point existing in the route set by the setting unit; a base point recognition unit for recognizing that a current position of a vehicle reaches a position of the base point obtained by the obtaining unit; a running situation monitoring unit for determining as a predetermined distance a running distance from the base point most lately recognized by the recognition unit; and a control unit for executing an advanced control to the vehicle if the predetermined distance obtained by the monitoring unit is shorter than any of first and second threshold distances, when the current position reaches a position of the control point obtained by the obtaining unit.

Abstract: A map update system includes: a navigation apparatus that provides guidance from a current position to a destination having been set based upon map data stored therein and downloads various types of information requested by a user; and a providing apparatus that provides the various types of information to be downloaded at the navigation apparatus, and: the providing apparatus transmits the various types of information and update information related to an update of map data to the navigation apparatus in response to a download request transmitted from the navigation apparatus; and the navigation apparatus issues a notice related to the update of the map data based upon the update information transmitted from the providing apparatus, while downloading the various types of information.

Abstract: Route search is performed considering the fact that traffic conditions differ according to lane even for the same road. A navigation device performs route search, using link costs (link travel times) classified by lane. For example, the navigation device searches for a route having the lowest total cost to the destination, using link data that determine cost for each lane of a component link of a road on a map. A cost of a lane on which a vehicle runs to move to a next link, being the cost of any lane of the link, is used as a cost of a link on a route.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus which includes a front image display displaying an image of a front side and a back image display displaying an image of a back side, the each image being one of images stereoscopically overlapped along the line of sight; a front image signal; a measuring unit for measuring a current position of own vehicle; a map storage unit; a controller for controlling each unit, wherein the controller reads map data of a predetermined area and determines if an elevated road exists in the area, wherein when the elevated road exists, the controller checks whether or not the current position of the own vehicle is on the elevated road, and wherein when the current position is not on the elevated road, the front image display draws the image of the elevated road so that an image drawn on the back image display can be visually percepted.

Abstract: A data product that can be read by a computer or a map data processing apparatus, contains map data including map-related information related to a map. And the map-related information includes a compilation of a plurality of information elements of a single type; the map-related information can be updated in units of the individual information elements at the map data processing apparatus; and the map-related information includes management information used to manage the map-related information, which is also updated when the map-related information is updated in units of the individual information elements.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a display control unit that displays a roadmap by using road data and an intersection arrangement at an intersection by using the intersection arrangement data. The intersection arrangement data include intersection coordinate data containing coordinate information corresponding to an intersection as well as display data used to display an intersection arrangement at an intersection.

Abstract: In a center apparatus, a feature space projection processing unit performs a feature space projection process for probe data corresponding to a road section which are stored in a current probe data storage unit to extract the feature data, and a change point detecting unit; an event section partitioning unit and an event assigning unit determine a road section corresponding to the feature data, and assign the event information to the determined road section; and an event information distributing unit distributes the event information assigned to the road section. In a vehicle-installed terminal apparatus, a probe data partitioning unit and an orthogonal component decomposition unit performs processes of partitioning and orthogonal component decomposition of the probe data using a feature score vector obtained from the center apparatus, to thereby reduce the probe data to be uplinked.

Abstract: A navigation device displays predicted traffic information downloaded from a server device and statistical traffic information stored in a storage unit, on the same screen. Both information items may be displayed in such a manner that at least a part of them is overlaid (a superimposed display). The predicted traffic information may be superimposed on the statistical traffic information. When traffic information of the same time band of the same object (link, mesh area) exists in both the information items, one thereof may be selected to be displayed.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system having a processor having access to a map database. An input device enters the destination to the processor and the processor, using data from the map database, calculates a preferred route to the destination. That preferred route is then displayed on a video display. The map database includes a road link database as well as an intersection database which is separate from the road link database which enables a destination to be entered to the input device by an intersection.

Abstract: A method and system to estimate vehicle traffic conditions for use in a vehicle navigation system. The system includes a cellular network which receives position data from a plurality of GPS enabled cellular telephones. A processor in the cellular network is programmed to estimate the traffic conditions or density of traffic on at least one road link based upon the received position data while a transmitter at the base station then transmits that estimated traffic condition to automotive vehicles containing navigation systems. A processor in the navigation system then utilizes the estimated traffic conditions for route and/or arrival time calculations.

Abstract: The on-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention comprises an abridged road generating device that generates abridged roads by abridging a road map based upon map data, a road decision-making device that makes a decision as to whether or not a road is a special shape road having a predetermined special shape based upon the map data, a substituting device for substitutes a specific road shape pattern stored in memory in advance for a road determined by the road decision-making device to have a special shape and a display control device that displays at the display device an abridged map containing specific road shape patterns used to substitute for special shape roads by the substituting device and the abridged roads generated by the abridged road generating device.

Abstract: An on-vehicle navigation apparatus comprises a subject vehicle position detection unit that detects a position of a subject vehicle and a direction along which the subject vehicle is advancing, a road marker line detection unit that detects a road marker line in an image of a road captured with a camera, a map matching candidate identifying unit that identifies a road to be designated as a map matching candidate, a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not the subject vehicle is traveling on the road identified by the map matching candidate identifying unit, a map matching unit that correct the detected subject vehicle position so as to set the subject vehicle position onto the road on which the subject vehicle is determined to be traveling, and a subject vehicle position indicating unit that indicates the subject vehicle position having been corrected.

Abstract: A method for displaying waypoint information on the screen of a vehicle navigation system. The method includes the steps of displaying a route on the screen and inputting criteria which identify desired waypoints along the route as well as the desired time to reach the waypoint. The location of the desired waypoint along the route as a function of the desired time to reach the waypoint in traffic conditions is determined and that waypoint information is displayed on the screen. The method optionally utilizes two-way communication between the navigation system and waypoint content providers.

Abstract: An on-vehicle information terminal includes a current position detection unit that detects the current position of the subject vehicle, a route setting unit that sets a route from the current position of the subject vehicle detected by the current position detection unit to a destination and a display control unit that displays at a display device an enlarged map around the next guidance-requiring intersection on the route having been set by the route setting unit. The display control unit displays the enlarged map by displaying the current position and the next guidance-requiring intersection in a single screen at the display device and rendering the route between the two points as a straight line.

Abstract: When there is an area (chargeable area) that may be avoided, a suitable bypass route is presented with suitable timing. When a retrieved recommended route passes through an area (for example, a chargeable area) that may be avoided, a navigation device searches in advance for a bypass route that starts from a branch point (such as an intersection) on the recommended route before the area and bypasses the area without taking a long way around the area. The navigation device presents the recommended route before the area is approached, and presents the bypass route for the first time when the branch point becomes near.

Abstract: An automobile navigation apparatus, that has a rewritable recording medium and capability to updates the map data base by obtaining latest map data, records the map data in the recording means and comprises updating data acquisition means that acquires updated data of a map to which updating procedure is added, an information interpreting means that interprets the updating procedure information, and a map data updating means that searches over said map data base and updates said map data base on the basis of the results of such interpretation and manages the map data by using attributions that indicates additional information of the map elements which are composed into a table as the records thereof so that the row record of the table is classified by the attribution which indicates the additional information of the map element.

Abstract: A navigation system includes: an intersection enlargement creation unit that creates based upon map data an intersection enlargement over a predetermined map range around a target guidance-requiring intersection present on a recommended route, at which a turn should be made; an intersection enlargement display unit that displays at a display monitor the intersection enlargement having been created by the intersection enlargement creation unit; and a mark display unit that displays an indicator mark indicating an advancing path shape at a next guidance-requiring intersection immediately beyond the target guidance-requiring intersection over the intersection enlargement on display at the display monitor.

Abstract: An on-vehicle information terminal comprises a display control unit that displays a first screen at a display monitor and switches from the first screen to a second screen when a predetermined length of display change-over time elapses after the first screen starts to be displayed and a time control unit that adjusts the length of display change-over time based upon at least one of the volume of information contained in the first screen and a screen selection record indicating past selections of the first screen or the second screen by the user.

Abstract: A photographing system having plural image pickup units for a moving apparatus with enhanced user's visibility of images for a driver of the apparatus. A system control part controls the image pickup units. Image pickup unit picks up images ahead of the moving apparatus. Image pickup unit picks up images aback. System control unit predicts surrounding state of the moving apparatus based on map information or position information and, when the moving apparatus enters a tunnel, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of image pickup device thereof, and then, when level of output image signal of the image pickup unit enters within a specified range, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of the image pickup device thereof.