Abstract: A map data processing apparatus includes: a map data storage unit, a differential data input unit, and a map data multiple update unit. The map data storage unit stores map data. The differential data input unit inputs differential data representing the difference between current map data stored in the map data storage unit and the most recent map data in a script format for each version. The map data multiple update unit updates the map data in the map data storage unit to the most recent map data using the differential data corresponding to the version.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes an intersecting determining means (20) for determining intersection points where a new road detected by a new road detecting means (19) intersects either roads included in map information or roads previously detected by a new road detecting means, other than start and end points of the new road, a road update information generating means (21) for generating road update information including information for updating new road information and road information included in the map information based on new road information about the detected new road and intersection information indicating the intersection points determined by the intersecting determining means, and a road information updating means (24) for updating the road information included in the map information based on the road update information, and for writing the new road information into a new road information storage means (16b).

Abstract: In a road data frame for displaying road maps, each node/link data record describing a link corresponding to a road part includes link identification information identifying an original link, and auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. In a route planning data frame for route planning, each connection record describing the interconnection of nodes also includes corresponding link identification information identifying an original link, and corresponding auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. By means of identification information of the original link and auxiliary links, it is facilitated to identify the correlation among links in the road data frame and the route planning data frame having different versions.

Abstract: A map data processing unit includes a batch update section and dynamic update section. A type of update data fed from an update data input section is decided using header information. If the update data is route search data, the batch update section collectively updates all the map data to latest version map data according to the update data from the update data input section. If the update data is not the route search data, the dynamic update section updates the map data to the latest version map data according to the update data every time the map data becomes necessary. Thus performing the collective or dynamic update according to the type of the update data enables the update to the latest map data without affecting the operation speed of a navigation function, with minimizing the time precluding the use of the navigation function.

Abstract: A guidance information retrieval apparatus includes a data holding unit (11) for holding guidance retrieval data including category data specifying categories in which retrieval targets are put, and substance data respectively specifying the substances of retrieval targets, another data holding unit (12) for holding update data including correction data for correcting category or substance data and additional data for adding new category or substance data to the guidance retrieval data, and a control unit (13) for, when the update data has correction data corresponding to category or substance data contained in the guidance retrieval data, outputting a category, in which a retrieval target corresponding to the correction data is put, or the substance of the retrieval target, and for, when the update data has additional data, outputting a category, in which a retrieval target corresponding to the additional data is put, or the substance of the retrieval target.

Abstract: A map data processing unit includes a batch update section and dynamic update section. A type of update data fed from an update data input section is decided using header information. If the update data is route search data, the batch update section collectively updates all the map data to latest version map data according to the update data from the update data input section. If the update data is not the route search data, the dynamic update section updates the map data to the latest version map data according to the update data every time the map data becomes necessary. Thus performing the collective or dynamic update according to the type of the update data enables the update to the latest map data without affecting the operation speed of a navigation function, with minimizing the time precluding the use of the navigation function.

Abstract: A map data processing unit includes a batch update section and dynamic update section. A type of update data fed from an update data input section is decided using header information. If the update data is route search data, the batch update section collectively updates all the map data to latest version map data according to the update data from the update data input section. If the update data is not the route search data, the dynamic update section updates the map data to the latest version map data according to the update data every time the map data becomes necessary. Thus performing the collective or dynamic update according to the type of the update data enables the update to the latest map data without affecting the operation speed of a navigation function, with minimizing the time precluding the use of the navigation function.

Abstract: For map data, a road system is represented by using node data, which is information concerning nodes representing points along a road, and link data, which is information concerning a link representing a road between the points. A link row is a series of links representing a series of roads in a road system, and as link row data, link data for the links that constitute the link row are arranged in the order in which the links are connected. The node data for the individual nodes of the road system are provided separately from the link row data, and to identify nodes, node identifiers are provided for the nodes of the road system. The link data includes information indicating a node identifier for a node that is located at one link end defined in the direction of the link row.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes a map information storage unit (15) for storing map information, a map update information storage unit (8) for storing one or more pieces of map update information (30 to 32) used for updating yet-to-be-updated map information, a map update information selection unit (19) for selecting one or more pieces of map update information required to update the map information stored in the map information storage unit (15) from the one or more pieces of map update information stored in the map update information storage unit, and a map information updating unit (20) for updating the map information stored in the map information storage unit (15) by applying the one or more pieces of map update information selected by the map update information selection unit to the map information one by one in order of updating.

Abstract: A map data processing unit includes a batch update section and dynamic update section. A type of update data fed from an update data input section is decided using header information. If the update data is route search data, the batch update section collectively updates all the map data to latest version map data according to the update data from the update data input section. If the update data is not the route search data, the dynamic update section updates the map data to the latest version map data according to the update data every time the map data becomes necessary. Thus performing the collective or dynamic update according to the type of the update data enables the update to the latest map data without affecting the operation speed of a navigation function, with minimizing the time precluding the use of the navigation function.

Abstract: A map data processing apparatus includes: a map data storage unit, a differential data input unit, and a map data multiple update unit. The map data storage unit stores map data. The differential data input unit inputs differential data representing the difference between current map data stored in the map data storage unit and the most recent map data in a script format for each version. The map data multiple update unit updates the map data in the map data storage unit to the most recent map data using the differential data corresponding to the version.

Abstract: In a road data frame for displaying road maps, each node/link data record describing a link corresponding to a road part includes link identification information identifying an original link, and auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. In a route planning data frame for route planning, each connection record describing the interconnection of nodes also includes corresponding link identification information identifying an original link, and corresponding auxiliary link identification information used for identifying a plurality of alternative links which substitute for any of the original links in the map data. By means of identification information of the original link and auxiliary links, it is facilitated to identify the correlation among links in the road data frame and the route planning data frame having different versions.

Abstract: A map data processing apparatus and a method of obtaining updating operation information indicating updating content of map data, and updating the map data according to the updating operation information obtained.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes a route determination unit for determining a route between two arbitrary points by using map information for route determination having one or more levels of hierarchy, and an external map information acquiring unit for, when acquiring map information about a predetermined region from outside the map information processing apparatus, acquiring map information for route determination result providing having information about a region of an arbitrary size including the predetermined region, and map information for route determination about at least one unit region including the predetermined region, which is included in map information for route determination at the top level of the hierarchy, and map information for route determination about all unit regions that exist at levels of the hierarchy lower than the former unit region including the predetermined region.

Abstract: An on-board navigation terminal includes a received data memory for storing received data concerning a navigating application received from a center system, based on a profile transmitted to the center system; and navigating application available data generating unit for generating available data based on map data stored in a map data memory, and the received data stored in the received data memory.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes a map database that records map data in a fixed storage medium, a map data read section for reading map data from the map database, and a navigation section for detecting the location of local apparatus, calculating a route to a destination specified by the user, and giving guidance to the destination according to the route, a map information acquisition section for acquiring map information from outside the navigation apparatus, and a map information update section for updating the map database with the map information acquired by the map information acquisition section. The navigation section includes an emphasis display section that displays updated data detected in a difference data detecting section, in an emphasized way, and an emphasis voice guidance section that emphasizes the data detected in the difference data detecting section.

Abstract: There is disclosed an on-board navigation terminal, comprises received data storing means for storing received data concerning a navigating application received from a center system, based on a profile transmitted to the center system through communicating means; and navigating application available data generating means for generating available data based on map data stored in map data storing means, and the received data stored in the received data storing means.

Abstract: An on-vehicle information system includes extended function interface modules responsible for communication between basic function modules, providing basic information services in an on-vehicle information system, and extended function modules.

Abstract: There are disclosed a map data processing apparatus and a method thereof, designed to obtain updating operation information indicating the updating content of map data, and update the map data according to the obtained updating operation information.

Abstract: The navigation apparatus includes a map database that records map data in a fixed storage medium, a map data read section for reading map data from the map database, and a navigation section for detecting the location of local apparatus, calculating a proper route to a destination specified by the user, and giving guidance to the destination according to the route, characterized in that the navigation apparatus comprises a map information acquisition section for acquiring map information from outside the navigation apparatus and a map information update section for updating the map database with the map information acquired by the map information acquisition section and that the navigation section comprises an emphasis display section for displaying the data detected in a difference data detecting section in an emphasized way and an emphasis voice guidance section for giving emphasis guidance of the data detected in the difference data detecting section.