Abstract: A regional information providing method comprises the steps of: retrieving and obtaining regional information on a desired area from a regional information database site S2 stored with the regional information via the Internet, using a terminal unit T; transmitting the regional information on the desired area thus obtained to an electronic mail site S3 together with the electronic mail address of a portable information terminal unit E to be carried into the area as well as preserving the regional information therein; and making the portable information terminal unit carried into the desired area receive the regional information preserved in the electronic mail site S3 and also display regional information images on the display unit of the portable information terminal unit E.

Abstract: A communication navigation system includes a server that transmits items of route guidance information to terminal units via a communication network such as the Internet, a processing subsystem, provided in each terminal unit, for determining whether or not the items of route guidance information from the server are necessary, a display subsystem for performing guidance using only one or more items of route guidance information determined to be necessary by the processing subsystem, and a speech output subsystem.

Abstract: In a satellite navigation system, map data stored in a server is partially updateable. The map data is produced so that they are divided into a plurality of sets of map data mutually independent set by set, and stored in the server. The map data can be updated in the server every set of the divided map data, according to necessities. The map data is formed into a layered structure composed of data of layers, blocks, and objects. Only one or more sets of map data that have been updated are transmitted to a navigating terminal. In the navigating terminal, map data for navigation is updated using the received one or more sets of map data. It is sufficient that only one or more sets of map data that has been updated are delivered from the server to each terminal.

Abstract: A map information providing method, a map information providing system, and a recording medium on which the method programed is recorded is provided, wherein a client terminal unit 3 including a display monitor accesses a map information site (a Web-server 1) through a communication line (the Internet 2). An institution or its related information is inputted, and the Web-server 1 calculates azimuth information consisting of a direction and a distance to the institution from an arbitrary position around a present position, decides a surrounding area to be displayed, and transmits a map of the surrounding area along with the azimuth information to the terminal unit to display them.

Abstract: In a satellite navigation system, map data stored in a server is partially updateable. The map data is produced to be divided into a plurality of sets of map data mutually-independent set by set, and stored in the server. The map data is updated every set of the divided map data, according to necessities. Such update operations are addition of a new set of map data, deletion of a certain set of map data, and replacement of a certain set of map data with a new set of map data. The map data is formed into a layered structure composed of data of layers, blocks, and objects. For reloading the map data, it is sufficient that only one or more sets of map data that has been updated are delivered from the server to each terminal. Hence an amount of map data to be downloaded can be reduced.

Abstract: A server includes a position estimation section for estimating the current position of a client apparatus based on the already acquired position information when the server cannot acquire position information from the client apparatus and the server requests the client apparatus to transmit position information in response to a search instruction from an information terminal.

Abstract: There are provided a CPU (11A) and an ignition key switch (17) detecting that a vehicle stops, and a transmission circuit (11C) and a transmitter (11D) for transmitting a map-image data for displaying a map image on a display (14) of a car navigation system, to a portable terminal (T) when the CPU (11A) and the ignition key switch (17) detects that the vehicle stops.

Abstract: A navigation system for displaying guidance in accordance with map data is provided. The navigation system includes a landmark displaying device for displaying structures corresponding to the map data as landmarks. The landmark displaying device sets reference positions in the landmarks and determines the location and direction of a landmark so that it would face to a road nearby.

Abstract: A portable terminal apparatus which can communicate one's current location on a map and an associated message to the party on the other end of a cellular phone line. In the apparatus, a positional information acquiring device acquires positional information. Then, a transmitting device transmits the acquired positional information along with an associated message to other portable terminal apparatuses. Further, a receiving device receives the positional information and message transmitted from other portable terminal apparatuses. Then, a map data acquiring device acquires the map data in a predetermined range including the location shown by the received positional information. A displaying device displays the map data together with a mark that indicates the position shown by the received positional information.

Abstract: A map information providing system for providing map data to a terminal device via a data transmission path, includes: a first server, the first server including a first storage unit for storing map data; and a second server connected with the first server and the terminal device via a network, the second server including a second storage unit for storing the map data. The first server includes: a unit for producing map search table which designates at least one of the first storage unit, the second storage unit and a third storage unit in the terminal device, from which certain map data is to be obtained; and a unit for transmitting the produced map searching table to the terminal device to be stored in the terminal device.

Abstract: A communication type navigation apparatus can communicate with a server device via a communication path. The navigation apparatus requests route search, and the server device executes route search to produce route information of a searched route. Then, the meshes necessary to travel along the searched route are determined, and the navigation apparatus obtains necessary mesh data from the server device. The navigation apparatus may request newer mesh data to the server device based on the updating information of the mesh data. By appropriately determining the mesh data to be and not to be downloaded from the server device, the communication cost necessary for obtaining the mesh data can be saved.

Abstract: A method of transmitting and receiving an electronic mail includes the steps of: transmitting the electronic mail from a sender terminal to a receiver terminal, and receiving the electronic mail at the receiver terminal. The transmitting step includes the steps of producing the electronic mail including character codes of characters constituting a mail document, at least one conversion program for converting the characters to be displayed in a dynamic manner and an address of the receiver terminal, and transmitting the electronic mail.

Abstract: An information distributing machine distributes only information comparatively related to a user. The information distributing machine has a memory for storing a moving path of every user. The information distributing machine also has a distribution information entry unit for accepting distribution information including position information. A controller determines whether there is particular relationship between the moving path stored in the memory and the position information included in the distribution information. The information distribution machine transmits the distribution information to a user when there is the relationship between the moving path of that user and the position information.

Abstract: A customer search device is provided, that is able to conduct a search taking into account a customer's range of activities. The customer search device includes a storage unit for storing each customer's route of travel. The customer search device also includes a search criteria entry unit for receiving search criteria, including location information. A determination unit determines whether or not there is an association between the route of travel stored in the storage unit and the location information included in the search criteria. An output unit creates and outputs list data of customers whose route of travel has an association with the location information included in the search criteria, on the basis of a determination made by the determination unit.

Abstract: The route calculation server receives starting point data and destination data corresponding to a starting point and a destination which a user designates by the user terminal, and calculates a route from the starting point to the destination. The map server includes a map database, and communicates with the user terminal via the network. The route calculation server stores calculated route data together with route identification information associated with the route data, and transmits the route identification information to the user terminal via the network. The map server receives the route identification information from the user terminal via the network, obtains the route data associated with the route identification information from the route calculation server, produces route display picture data including map picture on which the calculated route is represented, and transmits the route display picture data to the user terminal.

Abstract: A man navigation system comprises a map display device for retrieving map data on a required area from a database and displaying a map image based on the retrieved map data, a point specifying device for optionally specifying a first point and a second point in the map image displayed by the map display device, a condition setting device for setting a condition for route setting, a route setting device for setting a route connecting the first point and the second point in the map image specified by the point specifying device based on the condition set by the condition setting device, and a route display device for displaying the route set by the route setting device on the map image displayed by the map display device.

Abstract: A map displaying apparatus is provided with: a memory device for storing map data including road data and name data;. a map displaying device for displaying a map within a map display range by using the map data; a point determining device for determining one point or a plurality of points within the map display range; and a searching device for extracting the name data related to the specified point or points by searching the map data stored in the memory device. The map displaying apparatus is also provided with a name displaying device for displaying the extracted name data by superimposing the extracted name data on the map displayed by the map displaying device.

Abstract: A position of a vehicle is detected by receiving a position detection signal transmitted from the travelling vehicle. It is sensed whether or not the vehicle passes a starting node of a required link on a road network, and when the vehicle passes the starting node, the passing time is stored. Then, it is also sensed whether or not the vehicle passes an end node of the required link on the road network, and when the vehicle passes the end node, the passing time is stored. Then, a travel time for the link is calculated from the passing times of passing the respective starting and end nodes of the link.

Abstract: An advertisement site (S3) displaying advertisements on a map image (M) displayed on a user terminal (T) includes a advertisement server (S3a) for displaying a route setting and advertisements situated along the set route (R) on the map image (M), a route database (3Sb) storing road data on a map required for setting a route in the advertisement server (3Sa), and an advertisement database (S3c) storing registered advertisement data. The advertisement server (3Sa) sets a route based on the road data stored in the route database (3Sb), and reads out advertisements situated along the set route from the advertisement database (3Sc) to display them on the user terminal (T).

Abstract: There are provided a CPU (11A) and an ignition key switch (17) detecting that a vehicle stops, and a transmission circuit (11C) and a transmitter (11D) for transmitting a map-image data for displaying a map image on a display (14) of a car navigation system, to a portable terminal (T) when the CPU (11A) and the ignition key switch (17) detects that the vehicle stops.