Abstract: In a probe data evaluation apparatus, probe data are collected from a vehicle. Provisional map data are generated based on the collected probe data. The generated provisional map data are compared with reference map data, to provide a comparison result. Whether or not to adopt the collected probe data is determined based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A map update system includes a map data storage unit storing therein map data. The map update system acquires a position of a road marking painted on a surface of a road. The map update system acquires a determination value to be subjected to determination of blurring of the road marking based on at least either of measurement information on the road marking and analysis information analyzing the measurement information. The map update system compares the determination value to a reference value and acquires blur information indicating a degree of blurring of the road marking. The map update system reflects the blur information in the map data.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a metal component contained as an impurity in a polymer composition that contains a polymer and an organic solvent including a step (i) of preparing a dispersion by mixing the polymer composition with an acid aqueous solution, a step (ii) of separating the dispersion prepared in the step (i) into a dispersoid layer containing the polymer and a dispersion medium layer containing the metal component, and a step (iii) of quantifying the metal component contained in the dispersion medium layer separated in the step (ii).

Abstract: A server includes a probe data acquiring unit acquiring a probe data item of each of vehicles traveling on a road, the probe data items include, as shape point sequences, sequences of shape points of marking lines; a grouping unit categorizing shape point sequences of marking lines into plural groups for the respective vehicles, each group including one or more shape point sequences for a corresponding one of the vehicles; a center point sequence generating unit generating, based on the one or more shape point sequences included in each group, a center point sequence for each marking line to thereby remove, from the shape point sequences of the marking lines, information which is dependent on traveling states of the vehicles; and a map data generating unit identifying the center point sequence for each marking line as a corresponding marking line on a map to thereby generate map data.

Abstract: An on-board device for a vehicle, includes a map data storage unit configured to store map data including availability information that indicates availability of an auxiliary road marking within an intersection, an availability information acquisition unit configured to acquire the availability information; an availability determination unit configured to determine the availability of the auxiliary road marking within the intersection, indicated by the availability information and a driving assistance implementation unit configured to determine whether to implement driving assistance using the auxiliary road marking based on a result of determination of the availability of the auxiliary road marking within the intersection.

Abstract: In a map data generation apparatus, probe map data is generated for each of data management units corresponding to (i) road sections, (ii) road links, or (iii) meshes into which a map is divided, based on a plurality of probe data collected from a plurality of vehicles. Difference data are obtained by comparing basic map data with the probe map data; the basic map data is updated based on a plurality of difference data, for each of the data management units. A transient data is discriminated from data corresponding to the probe data or the difference data; the transient data is excluded from the data.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing recycled pellets, capable of using loss films that have been inapplicable so far including a thick loss film, a wide loss film, and a loss film made of a material that has high hardness and therefore is less likely to be bent, and also capable of producing recycled pellets similar to virgin pellets. A method for producing recycled pellets includes the steps of: twisting one or more loss films (R) continuously supplied in one direction while applying a stretch to the loss film; pressurizing a twisted part to pressure-bond contact parts of the loss film (R), thereby forming a twisted string (R); and cutting the twisted string (R) to produce recycled pellets (P). The loss film (R) is preheated at a softening temperature of the loss film (R) prior to twisting the loss film (R) while stretching it.

Abstract: A road map generation system is provided that collects camera image data of road conditions captured during traveling of vehicles on roads and generates road map data based on the camera image data. The system performs image processing on the collected camera image data to convert into orthographic images and to combine the orthographic images to generate a combined image. The system extracts a defective portion of a road marking on a road from the combined image and performs a determination of whether the defective portion of the road marking is due to noise at the image processing of the image processing device or there is a defect in the real world. When the defective portion of the road marking is due to the noise at the image processing, the system performs a correction process of the road marking.

Abstract: In a map data generation apparatus, probe map data is generated for each of data management units corresponding to (i) road sections, (ii) road links, or (iii) meshes into which a map is divided, based on a plurality of probe data collected from a plurality of vehicles. Difference data are obtained by comparing basic map data with the probe map data; the basic map data is updated based on a plurality of difference data, for each of the data management units. A transient data is discriminated from data corresponding to the probe data or the difference data; the transient data is excluded from the data.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a metal component contained as an impurity in a polymer composition that contains a polymer and an organic solvent including a step (i) of preparing a dispersion by mixing the polymer composition with an acid aqueous solution, a step (ii) of separating the dispersion prepared in the step (i) into a dispersoid layer containing the polymer and a dispersion medium layer containing the metal component, and a step (iii) of quantifying the metal component contained in the dispersion medium layer separated in the step (ii).

Abstract: In a probe data evaluation apparatus, probe data are collected from a vehicle. Provisional map data are generated based on the collected probe data. The generated provisional map data are compared with reference map data, to provide a comparison result. Whether or not to adopt the collected probe data is determined based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A server includes a probe data acquiring unit acquiring a probe data item of each of vehicles traveling on a road, the probe data items include, as shape point sequences, sequences of shape points of marking lines; a grouping unit categorizing shape point sequences of marking lines into plural groups for the respective vehicles, each group including one or more shape point sequences for a corresponding one of the vehicles; a center point sequence generating unit generating, based on the one or more shape point sequences included in each group, a center point sequence for each marking line to thereby remove, from the shape point sequences of the marking lines, information which is dependent on traveling states of the vehicles; and a map data generating unit identifying the center point sequence for each marking line as a corresponding marking line on a map to thereby generate map data.

Abstract: A road map generation system is provided that collects camera image data of road conditions captured during traveling of vehicles on roads and generates road map data based on the camera image data. The system performs image processing on the collected camera image data to convert into orthographic images and to combine the orthographic images to generate a combined image. The system extracts a defective portion of a road marking on a road from the combined image and performs a determination of whether the defective portion of the road marking is due to noise at the image processing of the image processing device or there is a defect in the real world. When the defective portion of the road marking is due to the noise at the image processing, the system performs a correction process of the road marking.

Abstract: A road map generation system collects camera image data obtained by photographing a road on which each vehicle is traveling from a plurality of vehicles equipped with vehicular cameras, and generates the road map data based on the camera image data. The system includes a determination unit for determining a road surface state of the photographed road, and a lane center line calculation unit for determining a traveling center line of a vehicle travel lane of the road based on the road surface state.

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: 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: An apparatus includes a map data storage device, a map update device, a determination device, and a data production device. The storage device stores map data. The update device reflects a first map update to a first version of the map data to produce a second version of the map data when the first map update occurs. The update device reflects a second map update to the second version of the map data to produce a third version of the map data when the second map update occurs after the first map update. The determination device determines whether the first and second map updates depend on each other. The production device produces map differential data from the first and second map updates when the determination device determines that the first and second map updates depend on each other.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus has two binocular stereoscopic modes. In two-take photography mode, a 3D image file is generated from left and right monocular images acquired by performing monocular photographing twice, and the 3D image file thus generated is recorded. In one-take photography mode, a 3D image file is generated from left and right monocular images acquired by performing binocular photographing once, and the 3D image file thus generated is recorded. When the 3D image file is recorded, a homogeneity tag is recorded in 3D metadata, as tag information of the header data portion of the 3D image file. The homogeneity tag is information about the homogeneity of the two monocular images and describes whether the two monocular images have been acquired in the one-take photography mode in which monocular images highly homogeneous are provided, or in the two-take photography mode in which monocular images not so homogeneous are provided.

Abstract: An image quality/rate control portion 106 confirms whether a predictive code amount Ci is a target code amount Rt or less. When the predictive code amount Ci is the target code amount Rt or less, the predictive code amount Ci is output to a base layer coding portion 101. Then, a switch 108 is turned off. When the predictive code amount Ci exceeds the target code amount Rt, the target code amount Rt is output to the base layer coding portion 101. Then, the switch 108 is turned on and (predictive code amount Ci?target code amount Rt) is output to an enhancement layer coding portion 103. A buffer 104 stores coded data of the base layer coding portion 101 and the enhancement layer coding portion 103. In this manner, while performing fixed bit rate coding using a single transmission path, image quality of a moving image is made constant so as to prevent deterioration of image quality.

Abstract: In map data having link information, each of the links has reference information regarding a start point node of the link, a next link in a series of links, and an upper link. Further, links are memorized in a form of link list, and the position of the link in the link list is not changed in the course of adding/deleting a link, thereby enabling a direct reference to each of the links in the link list by the position of the link. The link information organized in the above-described manner enables the ease of the update of the map data as well as the speed-up of the calculation of, for example, a navigation route.