Abstract: In a map display system, map-forming data necessary for display of a display area and character data representing display areas are stored in a map data memory. A display area commander reads map-forming data indicating a specified display area out of the map data memory, and produces a display area instruction. A display character commander selects character data for a given point of the specified display area designated by the display area designation commander, and produces a display character instruction. On the basis of the display area instruction from the display area commander and the display character instruction from the display character commander, a map of the specified display area and characters in the specified display area are displayed on a display.

Abstract: A guiding spot display apparatus displays a number of guiding spots for providing various guiding information on a road map. The apparatus includes a storage medium for storing a plurality of guiding spot data each being assigned a plurality of priorities and corresponding to one of a plurality of guiding classifications, a display selecting device for generating a display signal indicative of the classification of the guiding spots to be displayed, a control unit responsive to the selection signal to successively input from the storage medium the corresponding guiding spot data starting from the one having the highest priority and generate a display signal for displaying the data, and a display responsive to the display signal to display the selected guiding spots on the road map. Thus, the degree of the freedom in the display of guiding spots is improved and the apparatus is well suited for use in a wide range of guiding information application.

Abstract: A map display apparatus displays a road map of a desired display district in accordance with stored map data. The apparatus includes a map data storing medium storing, in correspondence to a plurality of basic sections forming the whole area of the road map, a plurality of map information representing the road configurations in the basic sections and a plurality of name information representing the names of various parts in the basic sections, a display selecting device for selecting the desired display district from the whole area of the road map, a display control unit for generating a display signal in accordance with the map information group and the name information group of the basic sections contained in the selected display district, and a display responsive to the display signal to display the selected display district.