Abstract: A terminal apparatus has a simple map installed therein. When a map is desired, it is checked whether or not a map of a desired place exists in the simple map. If it exists, the map of the desired place is loaded from the simple map, or if it does not exist, the map of the desired place is downloaded from a navigation server.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus wherein a plurality of operating systems operate on a single processor and a framework (shared object) enabling reliable and quick sharing of correct information between the plurality of operating systems is provided. The apparatus has a function the plurality of operating systems can create, register and refer to the shared object which provides an interface for registration and reference of information. The shared object is operated so that, while one of the operating systems is registering information or referring thereto, the other operating system is inhibited from registering the information and referring thereto. When one operating system finished the registration or reference of the information, one operating system informs the other operating system of the fact.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a technique that can download traffic information in a more efficient manner, in a navigation system including a traffic information distribution server and a terminal unit. The information distribution server narrows down whereas possible traffic information to that to be used for the processing at the terminal unit before downloading the information to the unit. For example, the traffic information distribution server includes: a traffic information obtaining unit for obtaining traffic information pertaining to a link configuring a route or the periphery of the link (e.g., mesh area including the link), and to a predicted running duration of the link; and a sending unit for downloading the obtained traffic information to the terminal unit. Means for narrowing down the object for download may be possessed by the server or the terminal unit.

Abstract: Distribution map data for distributing a map by communication includes road data representing position information on the roads contained in a plurality of compartments and integrating name data for integrating name information for the same roads contained in the plurality of compartments without duplicating them.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control apparatus which makes it possible to share information by a plurality of devices and which can improve controllability. An OS switching means (OS-CH) switches a plurality of operating system (OS1, OS2). A shared object (CO) has a memory resource which can be referred to from the plurality of operating systems. The shared object (CO) shares at least road information, and the road information registered by the application of one of the operating systems can be referred to from the application of the other operating system.

Abstract: Upon receiving a request from a vehicle-mounted device 100, a distribution center 200 executes a recommend route calculation and a guide calculation and transmits recommended route information and the data size of guide information to the vehicle-mounted device 100. The vehicle-mounted device 100 calculates the estimated download time based upon the size of the guide information and displays it. If the driver requests a split download, the vehicle-mounted device 100 outputs a split-download instruction to the distribution center 200. The distribution center 200 transmits to the vehicle-mounted device 100 guide information to be used to guide the vehicle from the start point to the first guidance-requiring intersection. While executing the route guide processing, the vehicle-mounted device 100 downloads the remaining guide information in the background.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control apparatus which makes it possible to share information by a plurality of devices and which can improve controllability. An OS switching means (OS-CH) switches a plurality of operating system (OS1, OS2). A shared object (CO) has a memory resource which can be referred to from the plurality of operating systems. The shared object (CO) shares at least road information, and the road information registered by the application of one of the operating systems can be referred to from the application of the other operating system.

Abstract: In a display apparatus where a plurality of operating systems are operated on a single processor, the plurality of operating systems share one and the same display in different display environments one example of which is a color pallet. In order to implement this configuration, the display apparatus includes the following configuration components: The plurality of operating systems, a display switching processing unit for switching the displays of the plurality of operating systems, graphics-drawing frames corresponding to the plurality of operating systems, and a display environment changing processing unit for changing, in correspondence with the display switching performed by the display switching processing unit, the display environments such as the color pallet, a color mode, and a frame address.

Abstract: When the surface temperature of a heat roller is less than a toner melting temperature, the heat roller is not driven to rotate in a warm-up operation until the surface temperature of the heat roller reaches a rotatable temperature after a heater is turned ON. However, when the surface temperature drops below the rotatable temperature after the surface temperature once reached the rotatable temperature, the heat roller is immediately driven to rotate after the heater is turned ON, provided the temperature remains above a check temperature.

Abstract: In a communication-type navigation system for downloading map data according to the present invention, a reduction in the amount of map information to be transferred, correction of a position measured by a GPS, and delivery of advertisements are effected. In this system, a terminal 5 stores rough map data in advance. Then, when detailed map data is required, it is downloaded from a map data delivery center to the terminal 5. Further, together with the map data, GPS correction information is delivered to the terminal 5 from the map data delivery center 80. Still further, coupon information associated with an advertisement is displayed and an electronic mail on the coupon information is issued, by the map data delivery center.

Abstract: A preferred route from a present place to a destination in decided based on geographical data including road shape information indicative of the shapes of roads and also including road connection information indicative of connection conditions between the roads, and then geographical data of areas existing within a predetermined distance from the decided preferred route are derived. Then, it is decided whether the road connection information should be deleted from the derived geographic data, and if so decided, the geographic data are transmitted with the road connection information deleted.

Abstract: A communications-type car navigation system including a vehicle-mounted terminal and a server. When transferring, to the terminal, the result of a route searching which the server has performed, the server transfers the data that will satisfy the requirements of a route guiding method which the user wishes. Also, the server transfers the route data that has been compressed. Concerning the map data as well, the server transfers only the necessary attributes thereof. Moreover, the following conditions allow the operability to be enhanced: the selection of a map transferring method and the route guiding method where the driving state has been taken into consideration, and the selection of a guiding unit which the user wishes.

Abstract: A traffic information display apparatus includes a unit for estimating traffic information relating to a link not included in data sent from a traffic information center. A terminal has a display control unit for changing a display method according to whether or not traffic information received from the information center is estimated data. Thereby traffic information distributed on a real time basis and traffic information statistical data can be displayed to be distinguished from each other, and the user can have a criterion of decision of validity of using the traffic information.

Abstract: A communications-type car navigation system including a vehicle-mounted terminal and a server. When transferring, to the terminal, the result of a route searching which the server has performed, the server transfers the data that will satisfy the requirements of a route guiding method which the user wishes. Also, the server transfers the route data that has been compressed. Concerning the map data as well, the server transfers only the necessary attributes thereof. Moreover, the following conditions allow the operability to be enhanced: the selection of a map transferring method and the route guiding method where the driving state has been taken into consideration, and the selection of a guiding unit which the user wishes.

Abstract: A traffic information prediction system, including a traffic information prediction apparatus, of the present invention comprises travel status measuring means for measuring a travel status of a vehicle and accumulating it as travel record information, and traffic information predicting means for predicting traffic information on a route on the basis of the travel record information and statistical traffic information to predict an arrival time to any place on a route containing the destination. The traffic information predicting means compares a traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information and the traveling trace based on the travel record information to calculate the degree of progress of the travel record based on the statistical traffic information, and correct the traveling trace based on the statistical traffic information on the basis of the degree of progress.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a state of a removable medium installed in an electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a detection device, a non-volatile storage device, a state change detection device, and a first notification device. The detection device detects a state of the removable medium and creates state data. The non-volatile storage device stores the state data. The state change detection device detects a change of the state of the removable medium by comparing state data stored during a first power-on period to state data stored during a second power-on period, where the first power-on period and the second power-on period are separated by a power-off period. The first notification device produces a first notification if the state change detection device detects the change of the state of the removable medium.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus has a simple map installed therein. When a map is desired, it is checked whether or not a map of a desired place exists in the simple map. If it exists, the map of the desired place is loaded from the simple map, or if it does not exist, the map of the desired place is downloaded from a navigation server.

Abstract: A traffic information providing system externally acquires traffic information including information relating to the travel time of a link, calculates a travel time for a non-provision link to which no travel time is provided through estimate/complement operation. The estimate/complement operation is carried out with use of travel times, emergencies, travel times of links in the vicinity of the non-provision link, and so on, obtained in the near past. The system stores and statistically processes the externally-acquired traffic information, and also estimates a travel time in the near future. When there is an abnormality in the acquired traffic information, the system deletes the abnormality, regards the information as a non-provision link, calculates a probability distribution of travel times of links, calculates a probability distribution of travel times of the entire route made up of a plurality of links, and also calculates a probability for a specific travel time range.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus has a simple map installed therein. When a map is desired, it is checked whether or not a map of a desired place exists in the simple map. If it exists, the map of the desired place is loaded from the simple map, or if it does not exist, the map of the desired place is downloaded from a navigation server.

Abstract: There is provided a communications-type car navigation system including a vehicle-mounted terminal and a server. When transferring, to the terminal, the result of a route searching which the server has performed, the server transfers the data that will satisfy the requirements of a route guiding method which the user wishes. Also, the server transfers the route data that has been compressed. Concerning the map data as well, the server transfers only the necessary attributes thereof. Moreover, the following conditions allow the operability to be enhanced: the selection of a map transferring method and the route guiding method where the driving state has been taken into consideration, and the selection of a guiding unit which the user wishes.