Abstract: An in-vehicle device includes: a first speech recognition unit configured to recognize a word indicating the in-vehicle device and a word indicating a first instruction type by speech recognition, from first voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the first instruction type being one of instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device; and a second speech recognition unit configured, in response to the word indicating the in-vehicle device being recognized from the first voice data by the first speech recognition unit, to recognize a word indicating a second instruction type by speech recognition, from second voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the second voice data being input after the first voice data, and the second instruction type being one of the instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device.

Abstract: A retrieval result providing device includes a retrieval unit which acquires an individual retrieval result having item values of a plurality of items by a retrieval based on a keyword, an unprocessed sentence generation unit which generates an unprocessed sentence where retrieval result corresponding sentences with the item values arranged are arranged, an output sentence generation unit which performs at least one of a first process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality between a word and the keyword contained in the retrieval result corresponding sentences, a second process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality of the item values of specific items in the different sentences, and a third process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality of the item values of a plurality of different items in one sentence so as to generate an output sentence, and an output sentence output unit which outputs a voice based on the output sentence.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device includes: a first speech recognition unit configured to recognize a word indicating the in-vehicle device and a word indicating a first instruction type by speech recognition, from first voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the first instruction type being one of instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device; and a second speech recognition unit configured, in response to the word indicating the in-vehicle device being recognized from the first voice data by the first speech recognition unit, to recognize a word indicating a second instruction type by speech recognition, from second voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the second voice data being input after the first voice data, and the second instruction type being one of the instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device.

Abstract: A vehicle control system or the like is provided, suitable for providing traveling vehicle control using vehicle control map data to be used for a purpose differing from that of route search map data in part or all of a route found in the route search based on the route search map data. Navigation apparatus 3 searches for a route using route search map data. Judgment unit 27 of control apparatus 5 identifies a route section having vehicle control map data, using a table in table storage unit 23. Vehicle control unit 31 performs vehicle control using vehicle control map data. Table storage unit 23 manages intersection regions including intersection-shape-representing intersection polygons in the vehicle control map data. Judgment unit 27 performs matching between node position information in route and intersection regions. Employing position information, this supports a combination of route search and vehicle control without particularly requiring map data modification.

Abstract: A retrieval result providing device includes a retrieval unit which acquires an individual retrieval result having item values of a plurality of items by a retrieval based on a keyword, an unprocessed sentence generation unit which generates an unprocessed sentence where retrieval result corresponding sentences with the item values arranged are arranged, an output sentence generation unit which performs at least one of a first process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality between a word and the keyword contained in the retrieval result corresponding sentences, a second process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality of the item values of specific items in the different sentences, and a third process of erasing some of the sentences on the basis of a commonality of the item values of a plurality of different items in one sentence so as to generate an output sentence, and an output sentence output unit which outputs a voice based on the output sentence.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: A map data update method for updating nationwide updated version map data using route-specific update data is disclosed. This method has a step of creating route-specific update data, comprising update data for all routes which have been newly opened since the time of release of the nationwide updated version map data; a step of storing a plurality of route-specific update data sets with different creation dates; a step of, when updating the nationwide updated version map data of the time of release stored in a navigation apparatus in use of a prescribed first route-specific update data which has been stored, storing pre-update map files necessary to restore the nationwide updated version map data; and a step of using the first route-specific update data to update the nationwide updated version map data.

Abstract: A map-data-generation device and a map-generation method used therefor, and a navigation device and a route-search method used therefor are provided. The map-data-generation device generates hierarchical guide-route-search-map data by using information about a road link of level 2 (reference level), the road link generating a guide-object road. A first upper-level-link-determination unit determines a level-3 link by performing level-raising processing by using level-2-link information. A second-upper-level-link-determination unit acquires a plurality of links of levels (levels 4 to 8) higher than level 3 by performing the level-raising processing by using information about the level-3 link, and specifies an upper level map to which the link belongs on the basis of the range of a distance between a departure-point link and a destination-point link.

Abstract: A method of generating map update process data used for updating old map data including a great number of files to new map data includes the steps of using an old map file to be updated and a new map file to generate differential data; calculating a relative size of the differential data; and using the new map file if the relative size is higher than a predetermined value and using the differential data if the relative size is lower than the predetermined value to form the map update process data.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: A map-data-generation device and a map-generation method used therefor, and a navigation device and a route-search method used therefor are provided. The map-data-generation device generates hierarchical guide-route-search-map data by using information about a road link of level 2 (reference level), the road link generating a guide-object road. A first upper-level-link-determination unit determines a level-3 link by performing level-raising processing by using level-2-link information. A second-upper-level-link-determination unit acquires a plurality of links of levels (levels 4 to 8) higher than level 3 by performing the level-raising processing by using information about the level-3 link, and specifies an upper level map to which the link belongs on the basis of the range of a distance between a departure-point link and a destination-point link.

Abstract: A method for creating map data for navigation includes setting a plurality of levels corresponding to levels of detail, stratifying meshes at the individual levels, and creating map data that includes road information of the individual meshes at the individual levels. The map data includes, for individual combinations of two meshes at a predetermined level, data for identifying meshes at the predetermined level that are used to search for routes from one mesh in each of the combinations of two meshes to the other mesh in each of the combinations of two meshes as search range data.

Abstract: A map data update method for updating nationwide updated version map data using route-specific update data is disclosed. This method has a step of creating route-specific update data, comprising update data for all routes which have been newly opened since the time of release of the nationwide updated version map data; a step of storing a plurality of route-specific update data sets with different creation dates; a step of, when updating the nationwide updated version map data of the time of release stored in a navigation apparatus in use of a prescribed first route-specific update data which has been stored, storing pre-update map files necessary to restore the nationwide updated version map data; and a step of using the first route-specific update data to update the nationwide updated version map data.

Abstract: A method of generating map update process data used for updating old map data including a great number of files to new map data includes the steps of using an old map file to be updated and a new map file to generate differential data; calculating a relative size of the differential data; and using the new map file if the relative size is higher than a predetermined value and using the differential data if the relative size is lower than the predetermined value to form the map update process data.

Abstract: A map-updating-data creating apparatus performs, for each old map file, creating a map-updating file for rewriting the map file to a new map file, determining the serial number of each of the updated map files, creating a serial number management file in which marks are respectively written at positions corresponding to the serial numbers, and generating, as map-updating data, the map-updating file and the serial number management file. A navigation apparatus performs map-updating processing and determines, by referring to the serial number management file, whether a map file has already been updated. The navigation apparatus uses the map-updating file to execute navigation control if the map file has already been updated, and updates the map file and subsequently executes the navigation control if the map file has not been updated.

Abstract: A method of demonstrating navigation for a vehicle navigation apparatus while drawing a map of an arbitrary region limits wear and tear on a CD-ROM drive. When map data for demonstration is read out from a CD-ROM, the map data is stored in a memory and the demonstration is performed. Thereafter, if the demonstration is to be repeated, it is performed by reading out the map data stored in the memory. A demonstration process of reading, from the CD-ROM, data of a map showing a region in which a route along which navigation is to be demonstrated is selected. The functions of the navigation apparatus are presented while displaying the map, so that when a demonstration region is selected, a corresponding demonstration route is created in the demonstration region, and a navigated vehicle mark is moved along the demonstration route while the corresponding map is displayed.