Abstract: A navigation device N1 at least includes a CPU 11 and a detector 19 generating a detection signal S2 for determining whether a main device 1 is used inside a vehicle or not. If determining, based on the detection signal S2 from the detector 19, that the main device 1 is used inside the vehicle, the CPU 11 operates in on-vehicle mode to carry out first navigation (present position estimation and route search) suitable for vehicles. Otherwise, the CPU 11 operates in off-vehicle mode to carry out second navigation (present position estimation and route search) suitable for pedestrians. Thus, the navigation device N1 can automatically switch its operation mode between on-vehicle mode and off-vehicle mode.

Abstract: In order to implement a navigation device in which landmarks are much less monotonous, and the applicability thereof is wider, the navigation device of the present invention operates as follows. A landmark 803 is displayed in either normal display (still) and emphatic display (animated) by referring to landmark information 802. Specifically, referring to for normal display is shape information 815 and positional information 816 in the landmark information 802, and for emphatic display, an emphatic display execution file 817 therein is referred to. For emphatic display, a group of instruction described in the emphatic display execution file 817 are interpreted and executed so that the landmark is animated.

Abstract: A command control device is provided for enabling a user to specify or select an address through intuition and with one touch, instead of an address displayed in text form such as a complicated command string or bookmark, which cannot be selected intuitively. An information processing section includes an image capture section, a central processing section, and a command control section. The information processing section carries out a process according to a program stored in a program storage. The information processing section carries out the process first by receiving a user's instruction provided through an input section. Then, the information processing section makes an output section present image display corresponding to command control information stored in a command control information storage. Then, the information processing section executes a command that corresponds to the image display.

Abstract: In areas where composite intersection traffic regulation exits, nodes and links for use in the conventional network are separated into a plurality of nodes and links, respectively. For example, one node is separated into N1a to N1c, and one link is separated into L1a to L1c. Then, the whole road network is represented by separating the network into a road network (L1a, L2a, L3a, L4a, L5a, N1a, N2a) in view of entering links (L1a, L3a) which the composite intersection traffic regulation does not affect, and road networks .alpha. (L1b, L2b, L3b, L4b, N1b, N2b) and .beta. (L1c, L2c, L3c, L5c, N1c, N2c) in view of entering links (L4b, L5c) which the composite intersection traffic regulation affects, and one-way traffic regulations are set on suitable links to allow for a representation of the composite intersection transfer regulation.

Abstract: A route selection data storage unit 7 stores route selection data which are created from original data describing a detailed road system. When a plurality of crossings and a plurality of roads which are expressed on the road system in the original data satisfy prescribed conditions, these crossings and roads are integrated with each other respectively and recorded in the route selection data. The route selection data include a passage link table, so that links which are deleted by integration of the crossings are not missed. The passage link table records links which are deleted due to the integration of the crossings but passed in practice with reference to approach and escape links as to the respective crossings integrated with each other. An optimum route search unit 6 searches for the optimum route between a starting place and a destination which are designated by a position detection unit and/or a spot input unit 5 through the route selection data.

Abstract: Road network data is divided into a plurality of road network areas and one or a plurality of routes are obtained between the divided road network areas. The obtained routes are stored into a route data storage device 1. When a starting point and a destination are specified from a point input device 2, an area investigating device 3 investigates two road network areas to which the points belong. A route retrieving device 4 retrieves the route data corresponding to the combination of the obtained two road network areas from the route data storage device 1. A peripheral route searching device 8 searches for connecting routes in the road network areas to which the starting point and the destination belong, on the basis of the road network data stored in the road network data storage device 7.

Abstract: An optimum route searching device 5 conducts a search in a predetermined area on road network data on a lower hierarchical level to obtain minimum arrival costs to individual nodes in the search area and then selects a node located on an upper hierarchical level existing in from the search area. Then the optimum route searching device 5 obtains a remaining cost to a node common with the upper hierarchical level which first appears on the upper hierarchical level existing link. Then the optimum route searching device 5 obtains a minimum arrival cost from the starting point of the search to the common node on the basis of the minimum arrival cost to the selected node and the remaining cost to the common node. The minimum arrival cost to the common node obtained at this time is used as initial conditions for a route search performed on the road network data on the upper hierarchical level.

Abstract: A correct vehicle position is detected even when the road data to be used in the map match computation includes errors of partial shape. When the matching computing operation of a running locus and the road data obtained from the outputs of a bearing sensor and a distance sensor and a non-match region has been effected by the map match computing means, the non-matching region of the road data and the running locus is detected. The positional error detection caused by errors of the road data is effected by prohibiting map integration.

Abstract: A route connecting a point and another point on a network is derived in advance with respect to entire pairs of two points, and the route is stored with a transit point placed on the route in a memory. When a route between two points is retrieved, the route is divided by the transit point, and a route in each division is retrieved. Subsequently, plural routes of the divisions are connected and thus the route between the two points is derived.

Abstract: The present invention involves road network recording device for recording positions and connection relation of intersection and roads, location setting device for setting departure point and destination point, search start and endpoint setting device for setting a plurality of search start points or search end points, by using a specific range on a map on the basis of the departure point or destination point set by the location setting device, search device for searching a recommended route from the search start point to the search end point set by the search start and end, point setting device from the information in the road network recording device according to a specific rule, and output device for putting out the route obtained by the search device.

Abstract: A correct vehicle position is detected even when the road data to be used in the map match computation includes errors of partial shape. When the matching computing operation of a running locus and the road data obtained from the outputs of a bearing sensor and a distance sensor and a non-match region has been effected by the map match computing means, the non-matching region of the road data and the running locus is detected. The positional error detection caused by errors of the road data is effected by prohibiting map integration.

Abstract: The direction of a terrestrial magnetism is detected by a terrestrial magnetism sensor mounted on a vehicle, and an output circle is generated on an X-Y coordinate by turning the vehicle on the ground, when the vehicle passes through a foreign magnetic fields the direction of the foreign magnetic field is detected by the terrestrial magnetism sensor, and the course thereof is determined on the basis of former output circle before passing through the foreign magnetic field and the output of an angular velocity sensor of the vehicle after passing it, then a new center of the output circle is determined by evaluating an intersection of the line representing the foreign magnetic field and the line representing the course of the vehicle on the X-Y coordinate.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a running distance sensor, a heading direction sensor based on terrestrial magnetism, and a map data base for identifying the road on which the vehicle is running. In implementing map matching for collating running data with map data, the difference between the heading direction and the road direction on the map is calculated so that it is underestimated on the basis of the angle with respect to magnetic north for specific sections memorized as map data or for all sections. The probability of erroneous matching is lowered and the vehicle is located accurately even in such places as bridges, elevated roadways, tunnels and slopes where the terrestrial magnetic azimuth deviates.