Abstract: A map data transmitting method for transmitting a map through communication comprises steps of setting a specific route, specifying map data contained in a slicing range within a predetermined distance from the route having been set based upon map data that include road data and background data, newly creating new polygon data if an original polygon data contained in the background data included in the specified map data is partially contained in the slicing range and another portion of the polygon is outside the slicing range, by removing polygon data corresponding to the portion outside the slicing range from the original polygon data and transmitting a road map specified in conformance to the map data and background data containing the new polygon data.

Abstract: In the present invention a traffic information providing apparatus makes a vehicle location and a running date a starting point, and predicts arrival time to each link included in a designated area, based on current traffic information provided by a traffic information center; meteorological forecast information provided by a meteorological information center; and statistical traffic information acquired from a traffic information data base where past traffic information is stored, thereby produces meteorological consideration traffic prediction information of the link, and sends the produced meteorological consideration traffic prediction information to a car navigation device. Then the car navigation device is configured to receive the produced meteorological consideration traffic prediction information and to search a guidance route, based on the produced meteorological consideration traffic prediction information.

Abstract: According to the 1st aspect of the invention, a navigation system comprises: a storage unit that stores map data managed with links representing smallest road units; a road map display unit that displays a road map based upon the map data; a depressed position detection unit that detects a depressed position on the road map on display; and a route setting-unit that extracts a corresponding link corresponding to the depressed position and sets the extracted corresponding link as a route to a destination based upon the map data, and the route setting unit extracts a link adjacent to the corresponding link and makes a decision as to whether or not the adjacent link can be entered from the corresponding link based upon the map data.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a receiving section for receiving program via a communication unit, a driving determining section for determining whether a vehicle equipped with the navigation apparatus is running or not if receiving a start request for the program, and an execution control section for activating the program if it is determined that the vehicle is running by the driving determining section and also if the program received by the receiving section is authorized. The executing control section cancels executing the program if it is determined that the vehicle is running by the driving determining section and also if the program received by the receiving section is not authorized.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus has a simple map installed therein. When a map is desired, it is checked whether or not a map of a desired place exists in the simple map. If it exists, the map of the desired place is loaded from the simple map, or if it does not exist, the map of the desired place is downloaded from a navigation server.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes: a route search unit that obtains a route to take from a start point to a destination; a vehicle position detection unit that detects a vehicle position; and a route guidance unit that provides route guidance based upon the obtained route. And the route guidance unit displays the route within a predetermined range from the vehicle position as a straight bar together with the vehicle position, displays an intersection indicator on the straight bar in correspondence to an intersection present within the predetermined range on the route and varies display mode when displaying the intersection indicator depending upon whether the intersection is a guidance-requiring intersection at which the route guidance is provided or a non-guidance intersection at which the route guidance is not provided.

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: An on-vehicle information terminal includes a menu display control unit that displays at a display monitor a selection menu organized over a plurality of hierarchical levels, a selection unit that selects a specific menu item in each hierarchical level in the selection menu, a processing execution unit that executes processing corresponding to a menu item that is ultimately selected, a keyword setting unit that sets a search keyword based upon an input operation performed by the user, a search unit that searches for a menu item related to the search keyword having been set from among various menu items in the selection menu and an informing unit that informs the user of an operation procedure to be performed when the selection unit selects the searched menu item.

Abstract: A navigation system includes: a roadmap display unit that displays a roadmap at a display monitor; a current position detection unit that detects a current position of the navigation system; a setting unit that sets a right turn instruction or a left turn instruction for an intersection displayed in the roadmap; and a guidance unit that provides guidance based upon the right turn instruction or the left turn instruction having been set, as the detected current position moves to a point at or within a predetermined distance to the intersection having been set via the setting unit.

Abstract: In a data access method for accessing data in an on-vehicle information device having an on-vehicle memory unit that allows data stored therein to be read out and overwritten by an external apparatus and an on-vehicle control unit that executes a data read and a data overwrite by controlling the on-vehicle memory unit, supplying power to the on-vehicle information device from the external apparatus when a power switch at the on-vehicle information device is in an OFF state, and reading out the data in the on-vehicle memory unit and overwriting the data through control implemented by the external apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for use with a traffic information broadcast system which transmits traffic data relating to primary road segments and a communication system which transmits traffic data relating to road segments in a local geographic area. A broadcast receiver receives the broadcast traffic data from the broadcast system and stores the received data. A communication transmitter, when activated, transmits a data request to the communication system. A communication receiver receives the local traffic data from the communication system in response to the data request while a processor displays traffic information on a display screen corresponding to the received broadcast traffic data and the received local traffic data. The local traffic data includes both traffic information relating to local road segments as well as non-traffic temporal events, such as weather, and time-related events which affect traffic flow.

Abstract: A map display apparatus that displays a map includes: a display device; a touch panel disposed over a screen at the display device; and a control device that controls display at the display device with a signal input from the touch panel, and: the control device displays at the display device a map and a plurality of buttons used to adjust a scaling factor of the map, makes a decision as to whether or not the touch panel has been pressed at a position corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons, makes a decision as to whether or not a finger having pressed the touch panel has been moved to a specific position and displays, together with the map, a wide-area map at a scaling factor smaller than the scaling factor of the map if the finger having pressed the touch panel is judged to have been moved to the specific position.

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 navigation apparatus includes: a numerical conversion unit that converts information related to a specific suggestion to a numerical value; a suggestion unit that makes the specific suggestion to a user when the numerical value resulting from numerical conversion executed by the numerical conversion unit is greater than a threshold value; an input unit through which a user response to the specific suggestion is input; and an adjustment unit that changes the threshold value in correspondence to contents of the user response input through the input unit.

Abstract: Distribution map data for distributing a map by communication includes road data representing position information on the roads contained in a plurality of compartments and integrating name data for integrating name information for the same roads contained in the plurality of compartments without duplicating them.

Abstract: Upon receiving a request from a vehicle-mounted device 100, a distribution center 200 executes a recommend route calculation and a guide calculation and transmits recommended route information and the data size of guide information to the vehicle-mounted device 100. The vehicle-mounted device 100 calculates the estimated download time based upon the size of the guide information and displays it. If the driver requests a split download, the vehicle-mounted device 100 outputs a split-download instruction to the distribution center 200. The distribution center 200 transmits to the vehicle-mounted device 100 guide information to be used to guide the vehicle from the start point to the first guidance-requiring intersection. While executing the route guide processing, the vehicle-mounted device 100 downloads the remaining guide information in the background.

Abstract: In a display apparatus where a plurality of operating systems are operated on a single processor, the plurality of operating systems share one and the same display in different display environments one example of which is a color pallet. In order to implement this configuration, the display apparatus includes the following configuration components: The plurality of operating systems, a display switching processing unit for switching the displays of the plurality of operating systems, graphics-drawing frames corresponding to the plurality of operating systems, and a display environment changing processing unit for changing, in correspondence with the display switching performed by the display switching processing unit, the display environments such as the color pallet, a color mode, and a frame address.

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: A navigation apparatus includes a route searching unit that searches for a plurality of routes from a departure point to a destination and a map display control unit that displays a map of the plurality of routes searched out by the route searching unit upon a display monitor, and, if any two or more among the plurality of routes overlap upon and pass along a same road, the map display control unit displays the overlapping portions as shifted.

Abstract: This abridged map generating apparatus includes a route searching unit that searches for a plurality of routes from a departure point to a destination which has been set, an abridged map generation unit that generates an abridged map in which road shapes of the routes which are searched out by the route searching unit are simplified, based upon road map data which specifies shapes of roads by shapes of links set for each predetermined road section, and a link compactification unit that compactifies links of the routes based upon relative positional relationships of the routes before the abridged map generation unit generates the abridged map.