Abstract: A map update controller of a map data management apparatus predicts meshes whose pieces of map data will be requested from a map application, and identifies meshes whose pieces of map data stored in the map database are not latest as update-necessary meshes, from among the predicted meshes whose pieces of map data will be requested. The map update controller performs a first map update process of immediately updating pieces of map data of the update-necessary meshes when the pieces of map data of the update-necessary meshes can be updated before the map application requests the pieces of map data of the update-necessary meshes, and performs a second map update process of updating the pieces of map data of the update-necessary meshes at the timing that an operation of the map application satisfies a predefined condition when the pieces of map data cannot be updated.

Abstract: It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a technique to make it possible to reduce data size of a file used for managing an update of a mesh file. A map data update apparatus updates a specific mesh file on the basis of an update necessity management file having a bit array in which respective positions of a plurality of bits are associated with respective mesh IDs of a plurality of mesh files, in which 1-bit flag information indicating the necessity of an update of the mesh file is stored at the position corresponding to the mesh ID of the mesh file in the bit array and the mesh ID of the specific mesh file.

Abstract: A drive assist apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a dynamic information acquisition unit acquiring, as dynamic information, at least one of subject vehicle dynamic information, the other vehicle dynamic information, and obstacle dynamic information from each of a plurality of vehicles; a map data acquisition unit acquiring map data including a shape of a traffic lane; a dynamic information management unit associating the dynamic information and the map data with each other and managing them; an interference prediction unit predicting whether or not the subject vehicle interferes with the other vehicle traveling in front of the subject vehicle along a traffic lane adjacent to a traffic lane along which the subject vehicle travels when the other vehicle avoids the obstacle based on the dynamic information and the map data; and a drive assist information generation unit generating drive assist information based on the predicted result.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of reducing a difference between a three-dimensional shape represented by map data, using approximation, and a real three-dimensional shape. A map data generating apparatus is a map data generating apparatus capable of generating map data representing a three-dimensional shape, using approximation, the map data generating apparatus including: an acquisition part that acquires a shape point sequence indicating the three-dimensional shape, and a control part that generates an arc passing three object points, based on the three object points in the shape point sequence acquired by the acquisition part, and determines whether an approximation division point that should not be approximated in the three-dimensional shape is included in the three object points, based on the arc.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of reducing a difference between a three-dimensional shape represented by map data, using approximation, and a real three-dimensional shape. A map data generating apparatus is a map data generating apparatus capable of generating map data representing a three-dimensional shape, using approximation, the map data generating apparatus including: an acquisition part that acquires a shape point sequence indicating the three-dimensional shape, and a control part that generates an arc passing three object points, based on the three object points in the shape point sequence acquired by the acquisition part, and determines whether an approximation division point that should not be approximated in the three-dimensional shape is included in the three object points, based on the arc.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve an efficient route search and a creation of detailed guidance information. A travel assistance device according to the present invention includes: an information acquisition unit acquiring road connection information which expresses a connection relationship of roads in units of roads and does not include shape information of roads, first traffic lane reference information which expresses a connection relationship of roads in units of traffic lanes and includes shape information of traffic lanes, and corresponding information which associates the road connection information with first traffic lane reference information; a route search unit searching a travel route of a vehicle using the road connection information; and a guidance information creation unit creating guidance information for guiding the vehicle using the first traffic lane reference information of the travel route.

Abstract: A lane recognition apparatus according to the present invention includes: a subject vehicle position calculation unit that calculates a current position of a subject vehicle; a traveling lane estimation unit that estimates a lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling and a position, in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction, of the subject vehicle in the lane based on the current position of the subject vehicle, subject vehicle surroundings information indicating a positional relationship between a road structure being a three-dimensional structure existing in relation to a road and the subject vehicle, and road information associating the road structure with a lane of a road in terms of a positional relationship therebetween; and a traveling lane final determination unit that determines the lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling and the position of the subject vehicle in the lane based on results of estimation.

Abstract: A lane recognition apparatus according to the present invention includes: a subject vehicle position calculation unit that calculates a current position of a subject vehicle; a traveling lane estimation unit that estimates a lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling and a position, in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction, of the subject vehicle in the lane based on the current position of the subject vehicle, subject vehicle surroundings information indicating a positional relationship between a road structure being a three-dimensional structure existing in relation to a road and the subject vehicle, and road information associating the road structure with a lane of a road in terms of a positional relationship therebetween; and a traveling lane final determination unit that determines the lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling and the position of the subject vehicle in the lane based on results of estimation.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus includes a map information storage unit 111 for storing map information which is separated into multiple layers, a layer-to-be-updated-with-addition determination processing unit 118 for determining one or more layers which are to be updated with addition of an unregistered road which has been detected during travel of a vehicle, and an unregistered road adding and updating unit 117 for adding the unregistered road to the map information storage unit to update the map information with the addition being aimed at the one or more layers determined by the layer-to-be-updated-with-addition determination processing unit.

Abstract: A map information processor includes a map information storage unit 13 for storing map display information including a set of pieces of mesh-by-mesh map information managed on a mesh-by-mesh basis and including road information, background information, and in-mesh image information, an image processing unit 15 for generating a map image on a basis of image data included in the road information, the background information, and the in-mesh image information included in the mesh-by-mesh map information read from the map information storage unit, and a display device 5 for displaying the map image generated by the image processing unit.

Abstract: A mobile-body navigation device includes a route search unit 12 for searching for a route to a destination; a communication device 7 and communication interface unit 9 constituting a receiving unit for receiving information about a deviation-prone connection route on a route identified in accordance with probe information; a deviation-prone connection route caution instructing unit 14 for giving instructions to send notification of the presence or absence of the deviation-prone connection route on the route the route search unit 12 searches for in accordance with the information about the deviation-prone connection route the receiving unit receives; and a display device 8 for displaying a guide map including the presence or absence of the deviation-prone connection route on the route in response to the instructions.

Abstract: A map information processing device includes a map information storage unit 23 for storing map information, a sensor information input unit 22 for inputting sensor information used for calculation of a current position, a navigation processing unit 25 for calculating the current position by using the map information read from the map information storage unit, and the sensor information inputted from the sensor information input unit, and for, when determining that the above-mentioned calculated current position is in a tunnel shown by the read map information, and when this tunnel branches into tunnel sections at a forward position, calculating a distance to each of all tunnel end points to generate a map image about a map including this calculated distance, and an output control unit 26 for outputting the map image generated by the navigation processing unit.

Abstract: A map information processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a processor for calculating a vehicle position; a data generation unit for generating traveling locus data on the basis of the calculated vehicle position when the vehicle position deviates from a road; a registration unit for registering the traveling locus data generated by the data generation unit in a temporarily registered road list as a temporarily registered road; an operation unit for selecting one of temporarily registered roads registered in the temporarily registered road list; and an official registration unit for registering the selected temporarily registered road in an officially registered road list as an officially registered road in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit, generating road data on the basis of traveling locus data relating to the temporarily registered road, and adding the generated road data to a map data stored in a map data storage unit.

Abstract: A map information processing device extracts objects having a relation therebetween which satisfies a predetermined requirement from among objects each of which is a search target, and selects an object which the user desires from among the objects extracted thereby by prompting the user to input the name of one of the objects according to a row of characters defined by identifier character information showing the row of a predetermined number of characters from the head of a character string showing the name of the object.

Abstract: A map information processing device includes a map information storage unit 23 for storing map information, a sensor information input unit 22 for inputting sensor information used for calculation of a current position, a navigation processing unit 25 for calculating the current position by using the map information read from the map information storage unit, and the sensor information inputted from the sensor information input unit, and for, when determining that the above-mentioned calculated current position is in a tunnel shown by the read map information, and when this tunnel branches into tunnel sections at a forward position, calculating a distance to each of all tunnel end points to generate a map image about a map including this calculated distance, and an output control unit 26 for outputting the map image generated by the navigation processing unit.

Abstract: A map information processing device includes: a map information storage unit 23 for storing map information; a sensor information input unit 22 for inputting sensor information used for calculation of a current position; a navigation processing unit 25 for calculating the current position by using the map information read from the map information storage unit, and the sensor information inputted from the sensor information input unit, and for, when determining, from the above-mentioned calculated current position, that a vehicle has entered a tunnel shown by the above-mentioned read map information, calculating the number of tunnels excising forwardly and continuously at intervals of a predetermined distance or less from the above-mentioned tunnel to generate a map image about a map including the above-mentioned calculated number of tunnels; and an output control unit 26 for outputting the map image generated by the navigation processing unit 25.

Abstract: A map information processing device includes a map information storage unit 23 for storing map information, a sensor information input unit 22 for inputting sensor information used for calculation of a current position, a navigation processing unit 25 for, when determining that a vehicle has entered a tunnel on a basis of a current position which the navigation processing unit calculates by using the map information read from the map information storage unit and the sensor information inputted from the sensor information input unit, creating a map image having a display scale with which a whole shape of the above-mentioned tunnel is included in a single screen, and an output control unit 26 for outputting the map image created by the navigation processing unit.

Abstract: A map information processor includes a map information storage unit 13 for storing map display information including a set of pieces of mesh-by-mesh map information managed on a mesh-by-mesh basis and including road information, background information, and in-mesh image information, an image processing unit 15 for generating a map image on a basis of image data included in the road information, the background information, and the in-mesh image information included in the mesh-by-mesh map information read from the map information storage unit, and a display device 5 for displaying the map image generated by the image processing unit.

Abstract: A map information providing system has a map information providing apparatus 1 and an onboard information terminal 3. The map information providing apparatus 1 selects a road represented by the coordinate point string data indicating a newly established road in accordance with distribution request information obtained from the onboard information terminal, and distributes the distribution road information containing the coordinate point string data about the road selected to the onboard information terminal.

Abstract: A map information providing system has a map information providing apparatus 1 and an onboard information terminal 3. The map information providing apparatus 1 selects a road represented by the coordinate point string data indicating a newly established road in accordance with distribution request information obtained from the onboard information terminal, and distributes the distribution road information containing the coordinate point string data about the road selected to the onboard information terminal.