JP5772534B2 - Map information transmission system, method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a map information transmission system, method, and program for transmitting map information to a transmission destination.

  A transmission center that transmits map information to a transmission destination that has made a transmission request is known (see Patent Document 1). In patent document 1, the data amount of the map information transmitted to the transmission destination is suppressed by transmitting the difference data between the map information of the version already transmitted to the transmission destination and the latest map information to the transmission destination. Yes.

JP 2004-212273 A

However, even if the amount of difference data to be transmitted to the transmission destination is suppressed, if there are transmission requests from a large number of transmission destinations, the processing load on the transmission center becomes excessive, and all transmission destinations that have made transmission requests It becomes impossible to transmit the difference data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing load of the transmission center from becoming excessive by transmitting the difference data to a transmission destination that is prioritized according to a predetermined priority order. There are various methods for giving priority to the transmission destination. However, if the difference data is always transmitted to the transmission destinations that are given priority with a uniform priority, there is a problem that a transmission destination that is not prioritized cannot obtain an opportunity to receive transmission of the difference data.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing a specific transmission destination from receiving an opportunity to receive transmission of map information.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the map database records map information to be transmitted to the transmission destination in response to a transmission request from the transmission destination. The data amount specifying means specifies the data amount of untransmitted map information for each of a plurality of transmission destinations for each of the first range and the second range. The first range is a range around the basic location of the transmission destination, and the second range includes the first range and is a wider range than the first range. When transmitting the map information for the first range, the transmission control means prioritizes the destinations in ascending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the first range among the plurality of destinations that have requested transmission. In contrast, untransmitted map information is transmitted for the first range. On the other hand, when transmitting the map information for the second range, the transmission control means is prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the second range among the plurality of transmission destinations that have requested transmission. Map information that has not been transmitted in the second range is transmitted to the transmission destination.

  In the above configuration, the priority order is reversed based on the size of the data amount of untransmitted map information between the case where the map information is transmitted for the first range and the case where the map information is transmitted for the second range. Therefore, a plurality of transmission destinations can obtain an opportunity to receive transmission of map information regardless of the data amount of untransmitted map information. Here, since the first range around the basic location of the transmission destination is a range where the possibility that the transmission destination moves is higher than the second range, the map information about the first range is used at the transmission destination. It can be said that the possibility is higher than the map information about the second range. That is, it can be said that the map information about the first range is transmitted more urgently than the map information about the second range. When transmitting the map information for the first range, the transmission control unit transmits the untransmitted map information to the destinations that are prioritized in ascending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information. It is possible to suppress the processing load generated around the destination and transmit map information with a high degree of urgency to many destinations. On the other hand, when transmitting the map information for the second range, the transmission control means transmits the untransmitted map information to the destinations that are prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information. It is possible to give an opportunity to receive transmission of map information to a transmission destination having a large amount of map information.

  The map database is a database that records map information to be transmitted to the transmission destination in response to a transmission request from the transmission destination, and is a database that records the latest map information that was last upgraded for each of a plurality of sections. . The transmission request from the transmission destination is a request output from the transmission destination triggered by a predetermined operation at the transmission destination. Here, the predetermined operation that triggers the transmission request may be to receive a transmission request instruction from the user, or may be an operation such as turning on the power or starting the navigation program.

  The data amount specifying means specifies a section in which the map information recorded in the map database has not been transmitted to the destination among the sections constituting the first range, and the map recorded in the map database for the specified section What is necessary is just to identify the data amount of the map information which has not been transmitted for the first range by summing the data amount of the information. The data amount specifying means may specify the data amount of untransmitted map information for the second range by the same method. Further, the data amount specifying means specifies the basic location of the transmission destination and specifies the first range around the basic location when specifying the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the first range. Here, the basic location of the transmission destination may be a location registered in advance in the transmission destination or the map information transmission system as a basic location where the transmission destination is located. For example, the living area of the user who uses the transmission destination ( Home, work location, etc.). The first range may be a range around the basic location of the transmission destination. For example, the first range may be a range within a predetermined distance from the basic location of the transmission destination, and the basic location of the transmission destination is the center of gravity. It may be a range within a figure, or a range within an administrative district to which the basic location of the transmission destination belongs. The second range that is wider than the first range includes a range in which the possibility that the transmission destination moves is lower than the first range. Therefore, the map information about the first range is transmitted more urgently than the map information about the second range.

  As described above, the data amount specifying means specifies the data amount of untransmitted map information for each of a plurality of transmission destinations for the first range. Therefore, when transmitting the map information about the first range, the transmission control means obtains the priority order counted in ascending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the first range with respect to the transmission destination that made the transmission request. be able to. Similarly, when transmitting the map information for the second range, the transmission control means, for the transmission destination that made the transmission request, priorities counted in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the second range. Can be obtained. The data amount specifying means may be selected as a transmission destination that preferentially transmits map information as the transmission priority is higher. For example, the data amount specifying means may be selected as a transmission destination that transmits map information with a higher probability as the higher-order transmission destination in the priority order obtained as described above, or transmits map information earlier. It may be selected as a transmission destination.

  Further, the transmission control means may transmit the map information for the first range in the first period after the map information is upgraded in the map database. Immediately after the map information is upgraded in the map database, the number of transmission destinations that request transmission tends to increase. For example, it is predicted that many users who use a destination upon receiving a version upgrade notification will operate the destination so that a transmission request is made. Therefore, in the first period after the upgrade, the transmission control means transmits the map information to the transmission destination that is prioritized in ascending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the first range, thereby transmitting the map information with a high degree of urgency. The map information about the first range can be transmitted to many destinations.

  On the other hand, in the second period before the map information is upgraded in the map database, the transmission control means may transmit the map information for the second range including the first range. Before the map information is upgraded in the map database, there are many users who think that a transmission request should be made after the version upgrade, and therefore the number of transmission destinations to which a transmission request is made tends to decrease. Therefore, the transmission control means causes the map information transmission system to process the map information by transmitting the map information to the transmission destination that is prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the second range in the second period before the upgrade. The map information can be transmitted to a transmission destination having a large data amount of untransmitted map information without causing an excessive load. In addition, since the second range includes the first range, if the map information is transmitted to the transmission destination that is prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information in the second period, It is possible to prevent a transmission destination having a large data amount of untransmitted map information for the range from remaining until the first period. Therefore, the transmission control means can transmit the map information about the first range with a high degree of urgency to be transmitted to many transmission destinations in the first period. Note that “upgrading” is sufficient if the map information for any section on the map is updated to new map information in the database, and includes revisions and the like.

  Furthermore, the method of transmitting map information to a transmission destination that is prioritized with different priorities according to the range in which map information is transmitted as in the present invention can also be applied as a program or method. Further, the map information transmission system, program, and method as described above may be realized as a single map information transmission system or may be realized by using a plurality of substantive devices. Including embodiments. That is, each means and database constituting the map information transmission system may be distributed and provided in a plurality of substantial devices. When each means is distributed and provided in a plurality of substantive devices, a communication means for transmitting and receiving data necessary to make each means function may be provided. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a map information management method, method, and program including at least a part of the map information transmission system as described above. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a recording medium for a program for controlling the map information transmission system. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

It is a block diagram of a map information transmission system. (2A) is a diagram showing a map DB, (2B) is a diagram showing a management DB, and (2C) is a diagram showing a home surrounding area and the entire Japan area. (3A) is a timing chart of the first period and the second period, (3B) is a diagram showing the first priority list, and (3C) is a diagram showing the second priority list. (4A) is a flowchart of priority list setting processing, and (4B) is a flowchart of map information transmission processing.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of map information transmission system:
(2) Map information transmission processing:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of map information transmission system:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a map information transmission system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The map information transmission system 10 includes a control unit 11 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, a recording medium 12, and a communication unit 13. The control unit 11 executes a program stored in the recording medium 12 and the ROM. The recording medium 12 records a map DB (database) 12a and a management DB (database) 12b. The map DB 12a is a database that records map information to be transmitted to the navigation device 20 in response to a transmission request from the external navigation device 20.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of the map DB 12a. In the map DB 12a, map information is recorded in association with each of a plurality of sections provided in a matrix on the map. The map information includes information on roads (including all roads from expressways to narrow streets), intersections, buildings, and other features existing on the section. In addition, since the quantity in which a feature exists for every division differs, the data amount of map information changes for every division. In the map DB 12a, data (not shown) indicating the data amount of map information is recorded for each of a plurality of sections. In the present embodiment, in the map DB 12a, only the latest (last updated version) map information is recorded in association with each section, and a version number for identifying the latest map information version is associated with each section. Has been recorded. A larger version number indicates a version that was upgraded later. For example, map information may be upgraded only for sections that have been refurbished, newly established, abolished, etc., and map information for all sections may be upgraded at once. There is also.

The management DB 12b is a database that indicates the version of the map information that has been transmitted to the navigation device 20 as the transmission destination for each user U (U1, U2,...) Who uses the navigation device 20. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of the management DB 12b. In the management DB 12b, a version number for identifying the version of the map information that has been transmitted for each user U is recorded in association with each of the plurality of sections. Note that the user U of the navigation device 20 is registered in advance in the map information transmission system 10 in user registration or the like, and the navigation device 20 and the user U uniquely correspond to each other. Here, for the same section, when the version number of the latest map information recorded in the map DB 12a is larger than the version number of the transmitted map information recorded in the management DB 12b, the latest information recorded in the map DB 12a. The map information is not transmitted to the navigation device 20. On the other hand, when the version number of the latest map information recorded in the map DB 12a for the same section is equal to the version number of the transmitted map information recorded in the management DB 12b, the latest map information recorded in the map DB 12a. Is already transmitted to the navigation device 20.
The communication unit 13 includes a circuit for the map information transmission system 10 to perform wireless communication with each of the plurality of navigation devices 20.

  Next, the configuration of the navigation device 20 will be described. The navigation device 20 is a transmission destination and includes a recording medium 21. The navigation device 20 is a computer that can read and write data from and to the recording medium 21. Map data 21 a is recorded on the recording medium 21. In the map data 21a, map information is recorded for each of a plurality of sections in the same manner as the map DB 12a of the map information transmission system 10. When the navigation apparatus 20 receives the map information from the map information transmission system 10, the map data 21a specifies a section corresponding to the received map information, and the map information associated with the section is received. Update with. In addition, the version number of the map information recorded about each division in the map data 21a of the navigation apparatus 20, and the version number of the map information recorded about each division regarding the user U who uses the navigation device 20 in the management DB 12b Match.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation device 20 is provided in a vehicle, and the power is turned on when an ACC (accessory position) is turned on in the vehicle. Each time the power is turned on, the navigation device 20 transmits a map information transmission request to the map information transmission system 10 via a communication circuit (not shown).

Next, the software configuration of the map information transmission system 10 will be described. The control unit 11 executes the map information transmission program 100. The map information transmission program 100 includes a data amount specifying unit 110 and a transmission control unit 120.
The data amount specifying unit 110 determines the data amount of untransmitted map information for each of the first range around the basic location of the navigation device 20 and the second range wider than the first range. This is a module that causes the control unit 11 to execute a function specified every 20th. That is, the control unit 11 specifies the user U who uses the navigation device 20 by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110 and specifies the home position of the user U as the basic location of the navigation device 20. The home position of the user U is registered in advance in the map information transmission system 10 in user registration or the like. With the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 specifies a rectangular home periphery range with the user U's home position as the center of gravity as the first range for each user U.

  FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a home surrounding area. The home peripheral range is a rectangular range whose latitude is within a predetermined latitude from the latitude of the user U's home position, and whose longitude is within a predetermined longitude of the east and west from the longitude of the user U's home position. With the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 refers to the management DB 12b and specifies the version number of the transmitted map information for each of the sections belonging to the home surrounding area for each user U. Moreover, the control part 11 specifies the version number of the newest map information about each of the divisions which belong to a home periphery range for every user U with reference to map DB12a with the function of the data amount specific | specification part 110. FIG. Then, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 sets, as an untransmitted section, a section whose version number of transmitted map information is smaller than the version number of the latest map information among sections belonging to the home surrounding area. Identify. Further, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 acquires the data amount of the map information recorded in the map DB 12a for each of the untransmitted sections belonging to the home surrounding area, and calculates the total of the data amount for each user U. To be specific. The total of the data amount means the data amount of untransmitted map information for the home surrounding area.

  In the present embodiment, the second range is a range of all sections in which map information is recorded in the map DB 12a, and in this embodiment, is the entire area of Japan. Accordingly, the second range includes the range around the home of any user U and is wider than the range around the home of any user U. With the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 refers to the management DB 12b and specifies the version number of the map information that has already been transmitted for each of the sections throughout Japan for each user U. Moreover, the control part 11 specifies the version number of the newest map information about each division of the whole Japan with reference to map DB12a by the function of the data amount specific | specification part 110. FIG. Then, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 specifies, as an untransmitted section, a section in which the version number of the transmitted map information is smaller than the version number of the latest map information among the sections throughout Japan. . Further, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 acquires the data amount of the map information recorded in the map DB 12a for each of the untransmitted sections belonging to the entire region of Japan, and calculates the total amount of the data for each user U. Identify. The total amount of data means the amount of untransmitted map information for the entire region of Japan.

  When transmitting the map information about the home surrounding area, the transmission control unit 120 is prioritized in ascending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the home surrounding area among the plurality of navigation devices 20 that have requested transmission. This is a module that causes the navigation device 20 to transmit untransmitted map information for the home surrounding area. With the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 causes the navigation device 20 to transmit the map information about the home surrounding area in the first period after the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a. Moreover, the control part 11 prescribes | regulates the priority order for every user U by the function of the transmission control part 120 by sorting the user U in order with a small data amount of the untransmitted map information about a home periphery area in the 1st period. The first priority list is created. Then, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to select the navigation device 20 that has priority in the first priority list as the navigation device 20 that is used by the upper user U and transmits the map information. To do. Further, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to cause the selected navigation device 20 to transmit untransmitted map information to the communication unit 13 for the home surrounding area.

  In addition, when transmitting the map information for the entire region of Japan, the transmission control unit 120 is prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the entire region of Japan among the plurality of navigation devices 20 that have requested transmission. This is a module that causes the navigation device 20 to transmit untransmitted map information for the entire region of Japan. With the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 causes the navigation device 20 to transmit map information for the entire region of Japan in the second period before the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a. Moreover, the control part 11 prescribed | regulated the priority for every user U by the function of the transmission control part 120 by sorting the user U in order with the big data amount of the unsent map information about the whole Japan in the 2nd period. Create a second priority list. Then, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 selects the navigation device 20 that transmits the map information with higher priority as the navigation device 20 used by the higher-order user U in the second priority list. To do. Further, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to cause the selected navigation device 20 to transmit untransmitted map information to the communication unit 13 for the entire region of Japan.

  FIG. 3A is a timing chart illustrating the first period P1 and the second period P2. In the present embodiment, the first period P1 starts from an upgrade time at which map information is upgraded for at least one section in the map DB 12a, and ends when a predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time. The second period P2 starts from the end of the first period P1 starting from the previous version upgrade time, and ends the current version upgrade time.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the first period P1, the navigation apparatus 20 is used by the user U who uses the map information about the home surrounding area as a transmission target and has a small data amount of untransmitted map information about the home surrounding area. A first priority list having a higher priority is set. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a first priority list. As shown in the figure, in the first priority list, users U are sorted in ascending order of the data amount of untransmitted map information for the home surrounding area.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the second period P2, the map information about the entire region of Japan is the transmission target, and the navigation device 20 used by the user U who has a large data amount of untransmitted map information about the entire region of Japan. A second priority list having a higher priority is set. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a second priority list. As shown in the figure, in the second priority list, the users U are sorted in descending order of the data amount of untransmitted map information for the entire region of Japan.

  In the above configuration, the home surrounding area is a range in which the navigation device 20 is more likely to move from the home position of the user U than in the entire area of Japan, and therefore the map information about the home surrounding area is used by the navigation device 20. It can be said that the possibility is higher than the map information about the whole of Japan. That is, it can be said that the map information about the home surrounding area has a higher degree of urgency to be transmitted than the map information about the entire area of Japan. The function of the transmission control unit 120 allows the control unit 11 to transmit untransmitted map information to the navigation device 20 that is prioritized in ascending order of the data amount of untransmitted map information when transmitting map information for the home surrounding area. In order to transmit, the processing load which arises around the single navigation apparatus 20 can be suppressed, and many navigation apparatuses 20 can transmit highly urgent map information. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 transmits the map information for the whole of Japan by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the map information that has not been transmitted to the navigation device 20 that is prioritized in descending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted yet. Therefore, it is possible to give an opportunity to receive transmission of map information even to a transmission destination having a large data amount of untransmitted map information.

  Further, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to transmit the map information for the home surrounding area in the first period P1 after the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a. Immediately after the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a, the number of navigation devices 20 that request transmission tends to increase. Therefore, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 causes the navigation device 20 to transmit the map information in the first period P1 after the upgrade, giving priority to the navigation device 20 with priority in ascending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information. By doing this, it is possible to cause many navigation devices 20 to transmit the map information about the home surrounding area with a high degree of urgency to be transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the second period P2 before the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a, the control unit 11 causes the map information to be transmitted for the entire region of Japan by the function of the transmission control unit 120. Before the map information is upgraded in the map DB 12a, the number of navigation devices 20 that make a transmission request tends to decrease. Therefore, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to transmit the map information to the navigation device 20 that is prioritized in descending order of the amount of untransmitted map information in the second period P2 before the upgrade. Thus, the map information can be transmitted to the navigation device 20 having a large data amount of untransmitted map information without causing an excessive processing load on the map information transmitting system 10. In addition, since the entire area of Japan includes the area around the home, if the map information is transmitted to the navigation device 20 that is prioritized in descending order of the amount of map information that has not been transmitted for the entire area of Japan during the second period P2, the area around the house It is possible to prevent the navigation device 20 having a large data amount of untransmitted map information for the range from remaining until the first period P1. Therefore, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 can cause a large number of navigation devices 20 to transmit map information about the home urgent range to be transmitted in the first period P <b> 1.

(2) Map information transmission processing:
FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a priority list setting process executed by the map information transmission system 10. The priority list setting process is a loop process executed at a predetermined time period. By the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time of the map information in the map DB 12a. If it is not determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S100: N), it means that the current time belongs to the first period P1 after the previous upgrade, as shown in FIG. 3A. On the contrary, if it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S100: Y), it means that the current time belongs to the second period P2 before the next upgrade.

  If it is not determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S100: N), the function of the data amount specifying unit 110 causes the control unit 11 to change the data amount of map information that has not been transmitted for a range around the home into a plurality of navigations. Each device 20 is specified (S110). That is, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 specifies the home surrounding area for each user U, and specifies the total data amount of untransmitted map information among the sections belonging to the home surrounding area. Next, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 sorts the users U in ascending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the home surrounding area, and sets the first priority list (FIG. 3B) (S120). ). When the first priority list is set, the control unit 11 waits until a predetermined time period elapses by the function of the transmission control unit 120, and then returns to step S100.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S100: Y), the control unit 11 uses the function of the data amount specifying unit 110 to change the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the entire area of Japan into a plurality of navigations. Each device 20 is specified (S130). That is, by the function of the data amount specifying unit 110, the control unit 11 specifies, for each user U, the total data amount of untransmitted map information among sections belonging to the entire region of Japan. Next, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 sorts the users U in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information for the whole of Japan, and sets the second priority list (FIG. 3C) (S140). . When the second priority list is set, the control unit 11 waits until the time period elapses due to the function of the transmission control unit 120, and then returns to step S100.

  By executing the above priority list setting process for each predetermined time period, when the current time belongs to the first period P1, the user U is sorted in ascending order of the data amount of untransmitted map information for the home surrounding area. A first priority list can be set. Further, when the current time belongs to the second period P2, a second priority list in which the users U are sorted in descending order of the data amount of the untransmitted map information can be set for the entire Japan.

  FIG. 4B is a flowchart of map information transmission processing executed by the map information transmission system 10. The map information transmission process is a loop process executed at a predetermined time period, and is executed in parallel with the priority list setting process (FIG. 4A). First, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a transmission request has been received from the navigation device 20 (S200). If it is not determined that a transmission request has been received from the navigation device 20 (S200: N), the control unit 11 returns to step S100 by the function of the transmission control unit 120. That is, in steps S <b> 200 to S <b> 210, the control unit 11 waits until a transmission request from the navigation device 20 is received by the function of the transmission control unit 120.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the transmission request is received from the navigation device 20 (S200: Y), the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to determine whether the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Is determined (S205). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is the usage rate of the CPU of the control unit 11. The processing load of the map information transmission system 10 may be the usage rate of the RAM of the control unit 11 or the communication amount of the communication unit 13. If it is not determined that the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (S205: N), the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to determine whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time. Is determined (S210).

  When it is not determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S210: N), the control unit 11 creates transmission data about the home surrounding area by the function of the transmission control unit 120 (S215). That is, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 specifies the home surrounding area for the user U who uses the navigation device 20 that has requested transmission in the first period P1. Then, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to indicate the version number of the map information that has been transmitted to the navigation device 20 used by the user U for each of the sections belonging to the home surrounding area for the user U. To identify. Further, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to specify the version number of the latest map information for each of the sections belonging to the home surrounding area for the user U with reference to the map DB 12a. Then, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to specify an untransmitted section in which the version number of the map information that has been transmitted to the navigation device 20 used by the user U is smaller than the version number of the latest map information. The map information associated with each of the untransmitted sections is acquired from the map DB 12a and used as transmission data for the home surrounding area.

  When it is determined that a predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S210: Y), the control unit 11 creates transmission data for the entire region of Japan by the function of the transmission control unit 120 (S220). That is, with the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 specifies the version number of the map information that has been transmitted to the navigation device 20 that has made the transmission request for each of the sections belonging to the entire region with reference to the management DB 12b. . Further, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 specifies the version number of the latest map information for each of the sections belonging to the whole of Japan with reference to the map DB 12a. Then, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to specify an untransmitted section in which the version number of the map information that has been transmitted to the navigation device 20 that has requested transmission is smaller than the version number of the latest map information, Map information associated with each of the untransmitted sections is acquired from the map DB 12a and used as transmission data for the entire region of Japan.

  As described above, when the transmission data (S215) for the home surrounding area or the transmission data (S220) for the entire area of Japan is created, the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to make the navigation for which the transmission request has been made. The device 20 is caused to transmit the created transmission data to the communication unit 13 (S225). Next, the control unit 11 updates the management DB 12b by the function of the transmission control unit 120. That is, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 is recorded in the management DB 12b for the user U who uses the navigation device 20 that has made a transmission request for each untransmitted section corresponding to the map information included in the transmission data. The updated version number is updated with the version number of the map information included in the transmission data. By executing the above-described steps S200 to S230, as long as the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the navigation apparatus 20 transmits untransmitted map information in the order of arrival of transmission requests. Can do.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S205: Y), the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to determine whether a predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time. Is determined (S235). When it is not determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S235: N), the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to set the priority of the user U who uses the navigation device 20 that has requested transmission. Obtained from the first priority list (FIG. 3B) (S240). That is, by the function of the transmission control unit 120 in the first period P1, the control unit 11 causes the navigation device 20 that has requested transmission to count the number of users counted in ascending order of the data amount of untransmitted map information for the home surrounding area. It is specified whether U is the navigation device 20 to be used.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the upgrade time (S235: N), the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to prioritize the user U who uses the navigation device 20 that has requested transmission. Is acquired from the second priority list (FIG. 3C) (S245). In other words, in the second period P2, the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to cause the navigation device 20 that has made a transmission request to count the number of users U counted in descending order of the amount of untransmitted map information for the entire region of Japan. Is the navigation device 20 to be used.

  When the priority order is acquired from the first priority list or the second priority list for the navigation device 20 that has made the transmission request as described above, the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to wait for the standby period based on the priority order. Is specified (S250). Specifically, the function of the transmission control unit 120 causes the control unit 11 to specify a shorter standby period as the priority is higher, based on a predetermined map or conversion function. That is, the standby period that increases monotonously with respect to the priority order is specified. When the standby period is specified, the control unit 11 uses the function of the transmission control unit 120 to transmit a standby request designating the standby period to the navigation device 20 that has made the transmission request. The navigation device 20 that has received the standby request waits for the standby period specified in the standby request, and then transmits the transmission request to the map information transmission system 10 again.

  In the processing described above, when the processing load of the map information transmission system 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the map information is not transmitted even when a transmission request is received from the navigation device 20, and therefore the processing of the map information transmission system 10 An excessive load can be prevented. In addition, after waiting for a shorter waiting period as the navigation device 20 used by the higher-order user U has a priority specified in the first priority list or the second priority list, a transmission request is again sent to the map information transmission system 10. Can be sent. Thereby, map information can be transmitted earlier, so that it is the navigation apparatus 20 which the upper rank user U uses the priority defined in the 1st priority list or the 2nd priority list. That is, map information can be transmitted preferentially, so that it is the navigation apparatus 20 which the priority order prescribed | regulated to the 1st priority list or the 2nd priority list uses the upper user U.

(3) Other embodiments:
In the embodiment, the target range for transmitting map information is switched between the home peripheral range and the entire Japan range according to the first period P1 and the second period P2, but the target range for transmitting map information is changed. You may switch based on elements other than a period. For example, the navigation device 20 may be configured to specify whether the range for requesting transmission of the map information is the home surrounding area or the entire Japan area. Then, by the function of the transmission control unit 120, the control unit 11 may cause the map information about the home surrounding area or the entire Japan area specified in the transmission request to be transmitted. In the navigation device 20, the operation that triggers the transmission request is not limited to the ACC being turned on, but may be an instruction for the transmission request from the user. The transmission destination may be a personal computer, a PDA, a smartphone, a mobile phone, or the like, and a transmission request may be made using an operation such as activation of a navigation program in these as a trigger.

  The basic location of the navigation device 20 may be a location such as a work place of a user who uses the navigation device 20. The basic location of the navigation device 20 may be a location where the transmission destination is actually located, or may be a location of the navigation device 20 measured by a position measurement device such as a GPS receiver. . The second range may be wider than the first range. For example, the first range may be a prefecture that includes the basic location of the navigation device 20, and the first range may be a region that includes the prefecture. Further, in the first period P1 and the second period P2, in addition to the map information about the home surrounding area and the entire Japan area, other map information may be transmitted together. For example, the map information transmission system 10 transmits map information about all roads in the home surrounding area and the entire Japan area in the first period P1 and the second period P2, respectively, and the first period P1 and the second period P2. In both cases, map information including information only on major roads such as highways may be transmitted together for the whole of Japan.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Map information transmission system, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Recording medium, 13 ... Communication part, 20 ... Navigation apparatus, 21a ... Recording medium, 21a ... Map data, 100 ... Map information transmission program, 110 ... Data amount specific part 120 ... transmission control unit, 12a ... map DB, 12b ... management DB.

Claims (3)

A map database that records map information to be transmitted to the transmission destination in response to a transmission request from the transmission destination;
Data specifying the data amount of untransmitted map information for each of the plurality of destinations for each of the first range around the basic location of the destination and the second range wider than the first range. A quantity identification means;
When transmitting the map information for the first range, among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request, the map information that has been prioritized in ascending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the first range. The map information that has not been transmitted for the first range is transmitted to the transmission destination,
When transmitting the map information for the second range, priority is given in descending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the second range among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request. Transmission control means for causing the transmission destination to transmit the untransmitted map information for the second range;
Equipped with a,
The transmission control means includes
In the first period after the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the first range,
In the second period before the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the second range including the first range,
Map information transmission system. A map information transmission method for transmitting map information recorded in a map database to the transmission destination in response to a transmission request from the transmission destination,
A data amount specifying means sends a plurality of transmissions of unsent data amounts of the map information for each of a first range around the basic location of the transmission destination and a second range wider than the first range. A data amount identification process to be identified for each destination;
When the transmission control means transmits the map information for the first range, the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the first range is small among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request. The map information that has not been transmitted for the first range is transmitted to the destinations that are given priority in order,
When transmitting the map information for the second range, priority is given in descending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the second range among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request. A transmission control step of transmitting the untransmitted map information to the transmission destination with respect to the second range;
Only including,
The transmission control means includes
In the first period after the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the first range,
In the second period before the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the second range including the first range,
Map information transmission method. A map information transmission program for causing a computer to realize a function of transmitting map information recorded in a map database to the transmission destination in response to a transmission request from the transmission destination,
A data amount specifying means sends a plurality of transmissions of unsent data amounts of the map information for each of a first range around the basic location of the transmission destination and a second range wider than the first range. A data amount identification function that identifies each destination,
When the transmission control means transmits the map information for the first range, the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the first range is small among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request. The map information that has not been transmitted for the first range is transmitted to the destinations that are given priority in order,
When transmitting the map information for the second range, priority is given in descending order of the data amount of the map information that has not been transmitted for the second range among the plurality of transmission destinations that have made the transmission request. A transmission control function for causing the transmission destination to transmit the untransmitted map information for the second range;
Is realized on a computer ,
The transmission control means includes
In the first period after the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the first range,
In the second period before the map information is upgraded in the map database, the map information is transmitted for the second range including the first range,
Map information transmission program.

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