Abstract: A route search apparatus comprises a road information storage part configured to store road information including link information comprised of single link information and composite link information; and a route searcher configured to search a recommended route between two different points using the link information. The single link information includes information regarding an approach link that is a link approaching to a node at one end of a target link, an exit link that is a link exiting from a node at the other end of the target link, and a cost of the target link for entering from the approach link and exiting to the exit link. The composite link information includes information regarding an approach link that is a link approaching to a node at one end of a target link array, an exit link that is a link exiting from a node at the other end of the target link array, and a cost of the target link array for entering from the approach link and exiting to the exit link.

Abstract: A route search apparatus configured to search a route from a set place of departure to a set destination comprises network data that includes nodes and links representing a road network, an average cost value indicating an average of travel time of each of the links, and a variance value indicating a degree of variance of the travel time, and a route searcher configured to determine the route from the place of departure to the destination as a recommended route, based on the average cost value, the variance value and a weight coefficient of the variance value.

Abstract: An analyzer of the invention adequately analyzes a change in road network by using probe information generated with driving of a vehicle. This analyzer determines a traffic amount of vehicles passing through a specified section included in the road network from a plurality of the probe information accumulated over a predetermined period. The analyzer also determines a discontinuity rate, which is a rate of incidents that vehicle locations are discontinuous in the specified section, from the plurality of probe information accumulated over the predetermined period. The analyzer detects a change in the road network, based on a degree of change between traffic amounts in two different periods with respect to the specified section included in the road network and a degree of change between discontinuity rates in the two different periods. The detected change in the road network can be used for survey of the road network.

Abstract: Deceleration control systems, methods, and programs acquire from learning information a target deceleration point in front of a traveling vehicle and an associated deceleration end point. The deceleration end point is a point representative of one or more locations at which deceleration of the vehicle or another vehicle was actually completed in the past as the vehicle or the other vehicle approached the associated deceleration end point. The systems, methods, and programs determine a distance between the acquired target deceleration point and the acquired deceleration end point as a predicted distance over which traffic is present. The systems, methods, and programs communicate with a vehicle ECU to perform a deceleration control of the vehicle so that (i) the longer the determined distance, the greater the deceleration rate applied during the deceleration control, and (ii) the deceleration is complete by the time the vehicle reaches the acquired deceleration end point.

Abstract: Support point management systems, methods, and programs acquire a support point registered as a subject of deceleration support and exclude the support point as the subject of deceleration support in a case a vehicle travels on a new road after having traveled through the support point without deceleration at the support point.

Abstract: Section acquisition systems, methods, and programs acquire a scheduled travel route of a vehicle driven by at least one of an internal combustion engine or a motor. The systems, methods, and programs divide the scheduled travel route that is in a range of a predetermined distance from a current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in traffic congestion degree is distinguished, and divide the scheduled travel route that is not in the range of the predetermined distance from the current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in travel load is distinguished.

Abstract: A travel information recording system for associating travel information on a vehicle obtained immediately after travel through a branch location with an appropriate road segment includes: travel segment specifying unit for specifying a travel segment that is a road segment in which a vehicle is traveling; and travel information recorder for recording travel information on the vehicle obtained during travel in the travel segment in association with the travel segment in a storage medium. In the case where there occurs a segment variation in which the travel segment is varied from one of several road segments branched off from a branch location, the travel information recorder acquires the travel information to be recorded in association with a post-variation segment, which is the travel segment after the segment variation, on the basis of the travel information obtained before the segment variation.

Abstract: A wireless communication device mounted on a mobile object, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unit that is able to connect to a mobile communication network; and a wireless network connection unit that provides a wireless network connection service based on the mobile communication network connected by the mobile communication unit, the wireless communication device includes: a satellite positioning unit configured to acquire position information on the wireless communication device based on a satellite positioning system; and a control unit configured to control a connection state of the wireless network connection service based on the position information acquired by the satellite positioning unit.

Abstract: A map data storage device, a map data updating method, and a computer program that can shorten the time required for a map data updating process. In the case where map data stored in a navigation-side local DB of a navigation apparatus are to be updated, the navigation apparatus updates the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB on the basis of map updating data received from a map distribution center, and prepares a data reference index that associates a PID (universal identification information) included in the map data with a record number (internal identification information) included in the map data on the basis of the updated map data. After that, in the case where an application is executed by the navigation apparatus, the prepared data reference index is referenced to access the map data stored in the navigation-side local DB.

Abstract: There are provided a deceleration end location storage system that can appropriately store a deceleration end location at which a vehicle ends deceleration in decelerating action even for a road on which the content of the decelerating action tends to vary because of a disturbance such as a road with a large amount of traffic, and a drive assist system, a drive assist method, and a computer program that can provide appropriate drive assistance for a vehicle on the basis of stored deceleration end locations. In the case where a vehicle performs decelerating action, a deceleration end location at which the vehicle ends deceleration in the decelerating action is specified. A variation range that matches the road type of a road on which the deceleration end location is provided is set.

Abstract: A travel assist system, a travel assist method, and a computer program that prevent frequent corrections of a travel plan due to variations in congestion information are provided. Congestion information is acquired from a VICS center. The current state of a vehicle is acquired. It is determined whether or not the congestion status of an expected travel route for the vehicle has been varied from the congestion information using a criterion based on the state of the vehicle. In the case where it is determined that the congestion status of the expected travel route has been varied, the travel plan 48 is corrected using the congestion status after the variation.

Abstract: An analyzer of the invention adequately analyzes a change in road network by using probe information generated with driving of a vehicle. This analyzer determines a traffic amount of vehicles passing through a specified section included in the road network from a plurality of the probe information accumulated over a predetermined period. The analyzer also determines a discontinuity rate, which is a rate of incidents that vehicle locations are discontinuous in the specified section, from the plurality of probe information accumulated over the predetermined period. The analyzer detects a change in the road network, based on a degree of change between traffic amounts in two different periods with respect to the specified section included in the road network and a degree of change between discontinuity rates in the two different periods. The detected change in the road network can be used for survey of the road network.

Abstract: When an update instruction to update “A” navigation map information and “B” navigation map information is inputted, a CPU initializes the storage area having stored therein no map information currently in use out of the two storage areas. The CPU then reads, from a CD-ROM, the latest version of the “A” navigation map information or the “B” navigation map information that corresponds to the map information currently in use, and stores it in the initialized storage area. The CPU then updates management information, starts use of the newly stored map information, initializes the storage area having stored therein the map information whose use is stopped out of the two storage areas, reads, from the CD-ROM, the latest version of the “A” navigation map information or the “B” navigation map information not currently in use, and stores it in the initialized storage area.

Abstract: Map information distribution systems and methods store map information and version information for each road category of the map information stored in a navigation device, the version information correlated with identification information identifying the navigation device. The systems and methods receive the identification information from the navigation device and obtain, based on the received identification information, the version information for each road category of the map information stored in the navigation device corresponding to the stored identification information. The systems and methods extract, based on the obtained version information for each road category, differential data for each road category with stored map information of a latest version, and transmit the extracted differential data for each road category to the navigation device corresponding to the received identification information.

Abstract: Search criterion information, which indicates a search criterion is transmitted to a search server, destination point information on a destination point, which is a point found by the search server based on the search criterion, is obtained, a candidate point database that stores candidate point information on a candidate point connected to a road in association with the candidate point is searched, the candidate point associated with the candidate point information having a similarity to the destination point information, higher than or equal to a predetermined reference similarity, is identified as an arrival point, and first guidance information that indicates a first route to the arrival point is generated when the arrival point has been identified and second guidance information that indicates a second route to a point closest to the destination point among points on roads is generated when the arrival point has not been identified.

Abstract: A route search device including a database in which map information and facility information are stored, a reference location information obtaining unit that obtains reference location information as location information of a given point from an outside of the route search device, a location information obtaining unit that obtains location information of a desired facility from the outside, a corresponding location information obtaining unit that obtains corresponding location information as location information of a point corresponding to the given point, from the database, a location correction factor calculating unit that calculates a location correction factor, a location correction factor storage unit that stores the location correction factor, a location information correcting unit that corrects the location information of the desired facility, using the location correction factor, and a route searching unit that makes a search for a route to the desired facility, based on the corrected location informa

Abstract: Deceleration control systems, methods, and programs acquire from learning information a target deceleration point in front of a traveling vehicle and an associated deceleration end point. The deceleration end point is a point representative of one or more locations at which deceleration of the vehicle or another vehicle was actually completed in the past as the vehicle or the other vehicle approached the associated deceleration end point. The systems, methods, and programs determine a distance between the acquired target deceleration point and the acquired deceleration end point as a predicted distance over which traffic is present. The systems, methods, and programs communicate with a vehicle ECU to perform a deceleration control of the vehicle so that (i) the longer the determined distance, the greater the deceleration rate applied during the deceleration control, and (ii) the deceleration is complete by the time the vehicle reaches the acquired deceleration end point.

Abstract: A data updating system includes a navigation device running according to a predefined application program; and a server providing the navigation device with a differential data file for updating a database containing road network data. The navigation device includes a navigation memory storing a local database in an updating data format in which the road network data is arranged in the order of data types and to be updated with the differential data file; and a navigation controller that converts data stored in the local database so as to have the reference data format in which the road network data is arranged in the order of connection of the road network to be referenced to by the application program. The server includes a server controller that outputs the differential data file to be provided to the navigation device.

Abstract: A map information delivery system, including a navigation apparatus, is capable of preferentially receiving map updating information based on a host vehicle's state. The updating information may be preferentially received based on whether a destination has been set, a location of the updating information relative to an updating position or a destination, and/or the size of the updating information.

Abstract: A display control method for displaying an alternative position different from a position of a destination when the position of the destination is unable to be displayed at a specific point in a center of a map as a result of a destination search, acquires, when the alternative position is displayed, a position indication item, which is to be displayed on the map, together with point coordinates, which are associated with the position indication item, from a detailed display database storing the position indication item and the associated point coordinates, and displays the acquired position indication item on the map based on the associated point coordinates.