Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives a digital broadcast signal, which consists of layers each obtained by dividing a transmission bandwidth into a plurality of segments and combining some of the segments, and outputs images and/or sound from one of the layers constituting the received digital signal. This apparatus is characterized by comprising broadcasting format retention means (channel to broadcasting format correspondence table database) for retaining the broadcasting format, for each layer, of each broadcast station and switching means (layer switching means) for switching the output layer based on the broadcasting format, for each layer, of each broadcast station retained in the broadcasting retention means. Thus, this apparatus can output images and sound without interruption.

Abstract: An update information providing server for providing data of an updated portion in map data composed of plural kinds of the data includes: a map data storage unit configured to store incremental update data of a difference between the data at a predefined time and newest data, and a data size of the incremental update data; an update request receiving unit configured to receive from a user terminal a map data update request including a capacity of a recording medium, and priority information for specifying a data kind of the data to be preferentially updated; an update order information making unit configured to make update order information; an update information transmission unit configured to extract the incremental update data from the storage unit, to make update information including the extracted incremental update data and the update order information, and to transmit the made update information to the user terminal.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver (mobile's receiver terminal) 1 for receiving a digital broadcast signal DS carrying many contents and also outputting the content based on thus received digital broadcast signal DS, including a content accumulation portion (database) 1c for accumulating received contents, a reception state detection portion for detecting whether the digital broadcast signal DS can be received normally, and a switch-over portion (reproduction/switch-over portion) 1b for switching from output of the content received to reproduction of the content accumulated in the content accumulation portion 1c if the reception state detection portion detects that the digital broadcast signal cannot be received normally.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a car navigation system, a unit of notifying a user of the update contents of map data prior to the downloading of the map data. A vehicle-mounted terminal sets a difference update area in accordance with a selection made by a user and sends a difference update request to a map updating server. If an update mode in this case is “update after outline display”, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads an outline update map from the map updating server. The outline update map is displayed on a display unit of a display. Here, when a download start button displayed on the display unit is depressed, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads a detailed update map from the map updating server. The detailed update map is then displayed on the display unit of the display. Furthermore, an updating process is performed on the map data stored in a terminal DB.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a car navigation system, a unit of notifying a user of the update contents of map data prior to the downloading of the map data. A vehicle-mounted terminal sets a difference update area in accordance with a selection made by a user and sends a difference update request to a map updating server. If an update mode in this case is “update after outline display”, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads an outline update map from the map updating server. The outline update map is displayed on a display unit of a display. Here, when a download start button displayed on the display unit is depressed, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads a detailed update map from the map updating server. The detailed update map is then displayed on the display unit of the display. Furthermore, an updating process is performed on the map data stored in a terminal DB.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the highly accurate control can be realized in a system for performing the driving control of a vehicle using map data. A car information system 10 for controlling a driving control unit group 50 is located in a vehicle so that the driving control of the vehicle is performed. The car information system includes, a map DB 100 for storing map data, a support area management table 110 in which each kind of attribute data of the map data is associated with information for identifying a field-researched area (support area), and a control unit 200 for estimating an area through which the vehicle travels. The control unit uses a support area management table 110 to judge whether or not attribute data included in the estimated area is associated with the support area.

Abstract: A route information supply system comprises a reception module which receives information on a current position and a destination from a terminal device by communication, a map data storage module storing at least detailed map data and summary map data, a traffic information storage module which stores traffic information, a route search module which searches for a guidance route based on the current position and the destination, a map information generation module which generates map information on an area containing the searched route by use of the map data storage module, and an output module which outputs the generated map information to the terminal device. When an event satisfying a prescribed condition regarding the traffic information exists in the area, the map information generation module generates map information on an area in the vicinity of a point where the event has occurred by use of the detailed map data.

Abstract: A route information supply system comprises a reception module which receives information on a current position and a destination from a terminal device by communication, a map data storage module storing at least detailed map data and summary map data, a traffic information storage module which stores traffic information, a route search module which searches for a guidance route based on the current position and the destination, a map information generation module which generates map information on an area containing the searched route by use of the map data storage module, and an output module which outputs the generated map information to the terminal device. When an event satisfying a prescribed condition regarding the traffic information exists in the area, the map information generation module generates map information on an area in the vicinity of a point where the event has occurred by use of the detailed map data.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying traffic information in an automotive navigation system having a display, memory and a data receiver. The method includes the first step of storing in a traffic speed table in memory at least two speed threshold limits wherein each speed threshold limit represents a different traffic flow category. The receiver receives data representative of the vehicle speed on at least one road segment and compares that received vehicle speed data with the traffic speed table to determine the traffic flow category corresponding to the received speed data for the road segment. A visual indicator is then displayed on the display which corresponds to the traffic flow category for the road segment. The user is able to customize the speed threshold limits through a GUI. These speed threshold limits are further user modifiable as a function of weather, day of the week, road conditions, type of road, as well as other factors.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver (mobile's receiver terminal) 1 for receiving a digital broadcast signal DS carrying many contents and also outputting the content based on thus received digital broadcast signal DS, including a content accumulation portion (database) 1c for accumulating received contents, a reception state detection portion for detecting whether the digital broadcast signal DS can be received normally, and a switch-over portion (reproduction/switch-over portion) 1b for switching from output of the content received to reproduction of the content accumulated in the content accumulation portion 1c if the reception state detection portion detects that the digital broadcast signal cannot be received normally.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus wherein a plurality of operating systems operate on a single processor and a framework (shared object) enabling reliable and quick sharing of correct information between the plurality of operating systems is provided. The apparatus has a function the plurality of operating systems can create, register and refer to the shared object which provides an interface for registration and reference of information. The shared object is operated so that, while one of the operating systems is registering information or referring thereto, the other operating system is inhibited from registering the information and referring thereto. When one operating system finished the registration or reference of the information, one operating system informs the other operating system of the fact.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver (mobile's receiver terminal) 1 for receiving a digital broadcast signal DS carrying many contents and also outputting the content based on thus received digital broadcast signal DS, including a content accumulation portion (database) 1c for accumulating received contents, a reception state detection portion for detecting whether the digital broadcast signal DS can be received normally, and a switch-over portion (reproduction/switch-over portion) 1b for switching from output of the content received to reproduction of the content accumulated in the content accumulation portion 1c if the reception state detection portion detects that the digital broadcast signal cannot be received normally.

Abstract: The invention provides an input support method and apparatus having the following merits in a communication-type navigation system. That is, when at least one character relevant to, for example, a destination is inputted from a navigation apparatus to make a search in a server system, it is possible to minimize time spent in waiting for a response from the server system. Accordingly, communication time is shortened, and a pleasant environment for input operation is realized by making the most of information inputted by a user. In the input support method in a communication-type navigation system, a navigation apparatus (1) and a server system (4) are connected via a communication network (3).

Abstract: In a communication type navigation system that downloads maps, the present invention provides a map data transmission method that can reduce time before guiding is started. A map provision server searches for a traveling route connecting a starting place corresponding to current position information received from an on-vehicle terminal and a destination corresponding to destination information. The server generates guidance information for guiding the vehicle along the searched traveling route and generates a route vicinity map along the traveling route. The server generates traveling route information comprising the searched traveling route and the guidance information, and plural map information blocks into which the route vicinity map containing map information is divided along the traveling route, assigns transmission priority levels to the map information blocks, and transmits the map information blocks according to the transmission priority levels after transmitting the traveling route information.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a car navigation system, a unit of notifying a user of the update contents of map data prior to the downloading of the map data. A vehicle-mounted terminal sets a difference update area in accordance with a selection made by a user and sends a difference update request to a map updating server. If an update mode in this case is “update after outline display”, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads an outline update map from the map updating server. The outline update map is displayed on a display unit of a display. Here, when a download start button displayed on the display unit is depressed, the vehicle-mounted terminal downloads a detailed update map from the map updating server. The detailed update map is then displayed on the display unit of the display. Furthermore, an updating process is performed on the map data stored in a terminal DB.

Abstract: A broadcast content that is at least a part of an original content is broadcasted, and a differential content, which is at least a part of the original content, is transmitted in response to a request from a reception terminal. The differential content and the broadcast content are merged with each other to reproduce a perfect original content. Therefore, the perfect original content can be obtained at low price and in short time even when the original content contains a large amount of data.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying traffic information in an automotive navigation system having a display, memory and a data receiver. The method includes the first step of storing in a traffic speed table in memory at least two speed threshold limits wherein each speed threshold limit represents a different traffic flow category. The receiver receives data representative of the vehicle speed on at least one road segment and compares that received vehicle speed data with the traffic speed table to determine the traffic flow category corresponding to the received speed data for the road segment. A visual indicator is then displayed on the display which corresponds to the traffic flow category for the road segment. The user is able to customize the speed threshold limits through a GUI. These speed threshold limits are further user modifiable as a function of weather, day of the week, road conditions, type of road, as well as other factors.

Abstract: Ordinary data groups and index information indicating data names and memory locations of broadcasted data are transmitted in multiplex mode from the data broadcasting station 101, and received by the onboard terminal 103 and/or the information service station 104 through the data distribution part 102. The onboard terminal 103 detects the information which it does not hold by referring to the index information, and presents a list of data names at the onboard display part 133. The service station 104 stores separately the data groups and the index information provided from the broadcasting station 101, and in response to the download request from the onboard 103, it examines whether the required data is located in SS memory part 147 by referring to the index data, and captures the required data from external memory locations defined in the index information if the required data is not stored.

Abstract: A route information supply system comprises a reception module which receives information on a current position and a destination from a terminal device by communication, a map data storage module storing at least detailed map data and summary map data, a traffic information storage module which stores traffic information, a route search module which searches for a guidance route based on the current position and the destination, a map information generation module which generates map information on an area containing the searched route by use of the map data storage module, and an output module which outputs the generated map information to the terminal device. When an event satisfying a prescribed condition regarding the traffic information exists in the area, the map information generation module generates map information on an area in the vicinity of a point where the event has occurred by use of the detailed map data.

Abstract: An adaptive information display apparatus is provided for simultaneously displaying a plurality of kinds of display information on a display screen in an optimal display form. The information display apparatus includes a work processing unit for executing a plurality of kinds of work processing based on each of data inputted from a sensor input unit and a character/coordinate input unit and outputting the results of the work processing, and a display unit for displaying the results of the plurality of kinds of work processing outputted from the work processing unit. The information display apparatus further includes a display form detector unit detecting display form data for the display unit, an arrangement rule storage unit storing an arrangement rule defining display forms corresponding to each of the plurality of kinds of work processing, and a display arrangement control unit comparing the display form data and the arrangement rule for each work to output a predetermined display arrangement instruction.