Map distribution device, vehicle-mounted device and map distribution system

Abstract

In order to provide a map distribution device, an in-vehicle device for receiving map data from the map distribution device, and a map distribution system configured so as to enable communication between the map distribution device and the in-vehicle device, when updating map data along a route, update data concentrated in a necessary range is distributed in accordance with the road type of route information, and the update data is updated in accordance with the route information. The present invention can reduce the amount of published data, reduce communication costs, and prevent performance degradation of map update processing. A map distribution system (1) (a map distribution device (10)) of the present embodiment manages map data in different sections according to road types (expressway and general roads), and distributes map data in different sections according to road types of route information. When the road type of the route information is an expressway section, map data of the division mode of the route units managed along the route is issued. When the road type of the route information is a general road section, map data of a division method for dividing into grid units for prescribed area management is issued.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a map publishing device, a vehicle-mounted device for receiving map data from the map publishing device, and a map publishing system that enables the map publishing device and the vehicle-mounted device to communicate with each other. Background Technology

[0002] As a method for updating map data for vehicle-mounted systems, one known method is to use a communication device to publish map data from a server. However, this method incurs communication costs and update processing time depending on the amount of data published; therefore, research is underway on technologies to reduce the amount of data published. For example, Patent Document 1 categorizes roads into "highways," "general roads," and "street streets" for publication. The document describes a technique where "highways" publishes updated data covering the entire country, while "general roads" and "street streets" reduce the publication scope to updated data for destination-centric regions. Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-181040 Summary of the Invention The problem the invention aims to solve

[0004] As mentioned above, Patent Document 1 describes a method for reducing the amount of data for "general roads" and "small streets". However, Patent Document 1 describes the nationwide distribution of "highways", and therefore does not consider reducing the amount of data for updating highways. Therefore, Patent Document 1 also has the following problems: when updating maps along a route, the increase in data volume due to the distribution of map data unrelated to the route leads to an increase in communication costs and a deterioration in the performance of map update processing.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a map publishing device, a vehicle-mounted device for receiving map data from the map publishing device, and a map publishing system configured to enable communication between the map publishing device and the vehicle-mounted device, which, when updating map data along a path, publishes update data concentrated in a necessary range according to the type of road in the path information, thereby reducing the amount of data to be published, reducing communication costs, and preventing performance degradation of map update processing. Technical means to solve the problem

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the map publishing device of the present invention comprises: a map recording unit that records map data; a route acquisition unit that acquires route information on the map data; and a map publishing unit that publishes map data divided in different ways according to the route information.

[0007] Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device of the present invention includes: a map acquisition unit that acquires map data; and a map recording unit that records the map data, wherein the map acquisition unit acquires the map data from a map publishing device, the map data being divided in different ways based on path information on the map data.

[0008] Furthermore, the map publishing system of the present invention includes a map publishing device and a vehicle-mounted device. The map publishing device includes: a map recording unit that records map data; a route acquisition unit that acquires route information from the map data; and a map publishing unit that publishes map data divided in different ways to the vehicle based on the route information. The vehicle-mounted device includes: a map acquisition unit that acquires the map data divided in different ways based on the route information from the map publishing device; and a map recording unit that records the map data acquired by the map acquisition unit. The effects of the invention

[0009] According to the present invention, for example, map data for one of the route information's section management methods can be published based on the type of road (expressway, general road), thereby reducing the amount of data published. Furthermore, by not publishing map data unrelated to the route information, communication costs can be reduced, and performance degradation in map update processing can be prevented.

[0010] Other issues, structures, and effects not mentioned above will be clarified through the following description of the implementation methods. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the map publishing system in this embodiment. Figure 2 It is a diagram that represents the management method of map data. Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the division of an interchange on a route map. Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the division examples at the intersections of a route map. Figure 5 This is a diagram that shows how to select a route map based on path information. Figure 6 It is a map that represents the method of publishing section management data based on the type of road information. Figure 7 It is a graph that visually presents and compares the amount of data released by the number of roads within a grid. Figure 8 It is a graph that represents the associated data of map data in different ways of linking intervals. Figure 9 It is a graph representing the retrieval data used to search route maps by region. Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating the process of acquiring map data along a path. Detailed Implementation

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of map publishing system 1 in this embodiment.

[0014] The map publishing system 1 in this embodiment consists of a map publishing server 2, a vehicle 3, and a network 4. The map publishing server 2 and the vehicle 3 are configured to send and receive map information via the network 4.

[0015] The map publishing device 10 included in the map publishing server 2 includes: a map recording unit 110 for recording map data, a path acquisition unit 120 for acquiring path information on the map data, and a map publishing unit 130 for publishing map data based on the path information.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a diagram that represents the content of map data managed by the map record department 110.

[0017] Map Recording Department 110 manages map data according to different classification methods based on road type. For example... Figure 2 As shown, for highways, route map 21 is recorded as a unit summarizing road groups along the route (hereinafter referred to as "route"). For general roads, grid map 22 is recorded as a unit dividing the area into fixed grid-like units (hereinafter referred to as "grid").

[0018] Grid map 112 ( Figure 1 Map data such as road shapes and road attributes can be managed by grid. The grid size is arbitrary.

[0019] Route Map 111 ( Figure 1 Manage map data such as road shape and road attributes by route.

[0020] Route map 111 divides and records map data along the path by bifurcation. For example, map data is divided by interchanges, intersections, etc. Parking areas are separated from the main line, but are not divided because they will inevitably return to the main line again.

[0021] Figure 3 This diagram shows the situation where route map 111 is divided at an interchange. Route map data 31 contains data for the mainline and branch lanes. Route map data 32 contains data for the mainline and merging lanes.

[0022] In autonomous driving assistance devices, not only is the road in motion required, but also map data of the surrounding roads where the vehicle may travel. Therefore, managing the merging and diverging lanes that run parallel to the main road as a single data point can also meet these requirements.

[0023] Figure 4 This diagram shows the situation where route map 111 is divided at the intersection. Route map data 41 contains data for the mainline and data for each branch lane. Route map data 42, route map data 43, and route map data 44 contain data for the mainline and data for each merging lane.

[0024] Similar to interchanges, the intersection uses a data management system for the merging and diverging lanes that run parallel to the main line.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a diagram representing a method of selecting a route based on path information. Figure 5 For example, in the case where the route information is to enter the highway from the BB entrance, pass through the CC, and exit the highway at the DD exit, route map data 52 and route map data 53, which are equivalent to the route information interval, are obtained (route map data 51, 54, 55, and 56 are not obtained). The route map data is segmented by the branching of the route, so that only the necessary route map data can be obtained based on the route information.

[0026] The path acquisition unit 120 acquires path information from the map data. The path information at least retains the attribute that identifies whether a road is a highway or a general road.

[0027] The map publishing unit 130 obtains map data with different division methods from the map recording unit 110 based on the types of roads obtained from the path acquisition unit 120, and publishes them.

[0028] When the type of road in the route information is a highway section, the map publishing unit 130 publishes a route map 111 that follows the route unit division method of route management.

[0029] When the type of road in the route information is a general road section, the map publishing unit 130 publishes a grid map 112 with a grid unit division method that is managed by a specified area.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a map data format that represents the method of publishing section management information based on the type of road and its route details. Figure 6In the example shown, in the prior art method 60, map data (grid map data) in grid units is published in all intervals regardless of the type of road information.

[0031] In mode 70 of this embodiment, grid map data 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65 are published for sections of general roads. For sections of highways, instead of grid map data 69, route map data 66, 67, and 68 are published.

[0032] Based on the type of road in the route information, map data (route map 111, grid map 112) of one of the interval management methods is published, thus reducing the amount of data to be published.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a graph that visually presents and compares the data volume of the prior art method 71 and the method 72 of this embodiment using the number of roads within a grid. Figure 6 In the example shown, grid map data 69 is a portion that changes from the prior art to the manner of this embodiment, representing a comparison of the published data volume of grid map data 69.

[0034] like Figure 7 As shown, in the prior art method 71, general roads within the grid are also used as publishing objects in addition to highway sections. In this embodiment, method 72 only uses highway sections as publishing objects, thus reducing the amount of publishing data.

[0035] The magnitude of the data reduction effect varies depending on how many general roads are recorded within the grid, but in this embodiment, since the data of general roads is removed from the state of all data in the prior art, the amount of data published does not increase.

[0036] In addition, within the highway section, map data for the uphill direction and map data for the downhill direction are also distinguished and managed as route map 111. Therefore, based on the route information, either the uphill or downhill direction is selected for publication, which can also reduce the amount of data published in the highway section.

[0037] Next, the records in Figure 1 The associated data 113 in the map record section 110 will be explained.

[0038] Figure 8This is a graph representing the scope of objects to which map data is published, linking map data from different regions using different methods. It's generally used to associate map data with map data managed differently, but by narrowing the scope of the published linked data, the amount of data can be reduced. Figure 8 In this document, only the ramp section connecting general roads and expressways (section 81) is included in the publication.

[0039] Next, the records in Figure 1 The retrieval data 114 in the map record section 110 will be explained.

[0040] Figure 9 This is a graph representing the retrieval data used to search route map 111 on a regional basis. When acquiring map data of the vehicle's surroundings, automated driving assistance devices and the like retrieve the surrounding map data based on the vehicle's coordinate information. The grid map 112 uses a grid structure with fixed intervals, thus enabling retrieval of the grid based on the vehicle's coordinate information.

[0041] Route map 111 can obtain coordinates based on the shape data contained in each route map data 96, and obtain surrounding route maps by comparing with the coordinate information of the vehicle. However, this method requires processing all route map data 96, so it is inefficient.

[0042] Therefore, the map publishing unit 130 publishes retrieval data 93 for obtaining route maps on a regional basis.

[0043] Retrieval data 93 is managed in area units of arbitrary size (91, 92). The size of the management area of ​​retrieval data 93 can be the same as or different from the size of the management area (grid) of grid map 112. Since the areas are divided at fixed intervals, the area can be determined from any coordinates by proportional calculation. In addition, as a method to determine the area from the coordinates, there are techniques such as grid codes and tile IDs. The retrieval data 94 of each area records the management information 95 of the route map data existing in the area. The management information 95 only maintains the index information used to refer to the route map data 96. For example, the route map data 97 that exists across areas 91 and 92 aggregates route map data with large data sizes such as shape data and attribute data into one, and uses the index information from multiple areas to refer to the route map data (98).

[0044] That is, retrieval data 93 is data used when retrieving map data of one division method (e.g., a division method of grid (area) units managed by a defined area) and map data of another division method (e.g., a division method of route units managed along a route) contained within that defined area, by establishing a correlation between the map data of one division method and the map data of the other division method. Map publishing unit 130 publishes this retrieval data 93 in order to obtain map data (route map) of another division method on a regional basis.

[0045] Next, the map management device 20 of the vehicle 3, which is an in-vehicle device, will be described.

[0046] The map management device 20 included in the vehicle 3 includes: a map recording unit 210 for recording map data, a map acquisition unit 220 for acquiring map data, and a location information acquisition unit 230 for acquiring the location information of the vehicle 3.

[0047] The map recording unit 210, like the map recording unit 110 of the map publishing device 10, manages map data according to different classification methods based on the type of road. For example... Figure 2 As shown, for highways, route maps 211 are recorded by summarizing road groups along the route. For general roads, grid maps 212 are recorded by dividing the area into fixed grids.

[0048] In addition, the map recording unit 210 records association data 213 that associates map data with different division and management methods and retrieval data 214 for retrieving route maps by region.

[0049] The map acquisition unit 220 receives map data (i.e., map data divided in different ways based on path information on the map data) from the map publishing server 2 via the network 4, and updates the map data of the map recording unit 210 of the vehicle 3.

[0050] The location information acquisition unit 230 acquires the current location, origin and destination location information of vehicle 3.

[0051] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating the process of obtaining map data along a path from map publishing server 2 in vehicle 3.

[0052] The map acquisition unit 220 of the map management device 20 of vehicle 3 acquires the location information of the origin and destination from the location information acquisition unit 230. (S101)

[0053] Next, the map acquisition unit 220 sends the location information to the map publishing device 10 of the map publishing server 2 via the network 4. (S102)

[0054] Next, in S103, the processing flow of the map publishing device 10 of the map publishing server 2 is described.

[0055] The path acquisition unit 120 of the map publishing device 10 of the map publishing server 2 acquires path information based on the received location information. (S104)

[0056] The map publishing unit 130 obtains the route map 111, grid map 112, associated data 113, and search data 114 from the map recording unit 110 based on the route information. (S105)

[0057] Next, the map publishing unit 130 publishes the acquired map data to the map management device 20 of the vehicle 3 via the network 4. (S106)

[0058] The map acquisition unit 220 of the map management device 20 of vehicle 3 updates the route map 211, grid map 212, associated data 213, and retrieval data 214 recorded in the map recording unit 210 with the received map data. (S107)

[0059] Next, based on Figure 9 This describes the process of using search data to obtain route map data around vehicle 3.

[0060] Based on the vehicle's coordinates, the regions divided at fixed intervals are proportionally calculated to determine region 91.

[0061] Next, based on the search data 93, the search data 94 for region 91 is determined.

[0062] Next, route management information is obtained based on the search data 94.

[0063] Next, refer to the route map data 96 based on the index of the route management information.

[0064] As described above, the map publishing device 10 of this embodiment includes: a map recording unit 110 that records map data; a route acquisition unit 120 that acquires route information on the map data; and a map publishing unit 130 that publishes map data (route map 111, grid map 112) divided in different ways according to the route information.

[0065] The map publishing unit 130 publishes map data (route map 111, grid map 112) with different division methods according to the types of roads in the path information.

[0066] The map recording unit 110 manages map data (route map 111, grid map 112, etc.) according to different road types.

[0067] When the road is a section of expressway, the map publishing unit 130 publishes map data (route map 111) showing the division of route units along the route management.

[0068] When the road is a general road section, the map publishing unit 130 publishes map data (grid map 112) divided into grid units for management by a specified area.

[0069] The map publishing unit 130 publishes association data 113, which links the map data (route map 111, grid map 112) of different division methods to each other, within a specified interval.

[0070] The map publishing unit 130 establishes an association between a defined range divided by map data of the first division method and map data of the second division method contained within the defined range, and publishes retrieval data 114 used when retrieving map data of the second division method based on map data of the first division method.

[0071] The first division method is a division method of grid (area) units managed by a specified area, and the second division method is a division method of route units managed along a route.

[0072] Additionally, the map management device 20 of the vehicle-mounted device in this embodiment includes: a map acquisition unit 220 that acquires map data; and a map recording unit 210 that records the map data. The map acquisition unit 220 acquires the map data (route map 111, grid map 112 from map publishing device 10) divided according to the path information on the map data from the map publishing device.

[0073] In addition, the map publishing system 1 of this embodiment includes a map publishing device 10 and a map management device 20 as a vehicle-mounted device. The map publishing device 10 includes a map recording unit 110 that records map data; a route acquisition unit 120 that acquires route information from the map data; and a map publishing unit 130 that publishes map data (route map 111, grid map 112) divided in different ways to the vehicle based on the route information. The vehicle-mounted device includes a map acquisition unit 220 that acquires the map data (route map 111, grid map 112) divided in different ways based on the route information from the map publishing device 10; and a map recording unit 210 that records the map data acquired by the map acquisition unit 220.

[0074] That is, the map publishing system 1 (map publishing device 10) of this embodiment manages map data in different interval methods according to the type of road in the route information (highway, general road), and publishes map data in different interval methods according to the type of road in the route information. When the type of road in the route information is a highway interval, map data is published in the form of route units managed along the route. When the type of road in the route information is a general road interval, map data is published in the form of grid units managed by dividing the route into specified areas.

[0075] In other words, the map publishing system 1 (map publishing device 10) of this embodiment manages map data in different interval management methods according to the type of road (highway, general road) of the route information. In the update along the route, the interval of the highway is published in the unit of route, and the interval of the general road is published in the unit of grid.

[0076] According to this embodiment, for example, map data for one of the route information's section management methods is published based on the type of road (highway, general road), thus reducing the amount of data published. Furthermore, by not publishing map data unrelated to the route information, communication costs can be reduced, and performance degradation in map update processing can be prevented.

[0077] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above are examples provided for the purpose of readily understanding and illustrating the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to embodiments having all the described configurations.

[0078] Furthermore, the aforementioned components, functions, processing units, and processing organizations can also be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing some or all of them using integrated circuits. Alternatively, the aforementioned components and functions can be implemented in software by a processor interpreting and executing programs that perform their respective functions. The programs, tables, files, and other information implementing these functions can be stored in recording devices such as memory, hard disks, SSDs (Solid State Drives), or recording media such as IC cards, SD cards, and DVDs.

[0079] Furthermore, control lines and information lines refer to lines deemed necessary in the specifications, but may not represent all control lines and information lines on the product. In reality, almost all components can be considered interconnected. Symbol Explanation

[0080] 1. Map publishing system; 2. Map publishing server; 3. Vehicle; 4. Network; 10. Map publishing device; 110. Map recording unit; 111. Route map; 112. Grid map; 113. Related data; 114. Retrieval data; 120. Route acquisition unit; 130. Map publishing unit; 20. Map management device (vehicle-mounted device); 210. Map recording unit; 211. Route map; 212. Grid map; 213. Related data; 214. Retrieval data; 220. Map acquisition unit; 230. Location information acquisition unit.

Claims

1. A map publishing device, characterized in that, have: The map recording department records map data; The path acquisition unit acquires path information from the map data; and The map publishing department publishes map data divided in different ways based on the route information.

2. The map publishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The map publishing unit publishes map data with different division methods based on the types of roads in the path information.

3. The map publishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The map recording unit manages map data in different ways according to the type of road.

4. The map publishing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the road is a section of expressway, the map publishing unit publishes map data on the division of route units managed along the route.

5. The map publishing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the road is a general road section, the map publishing unit publishes map data divided into grid units according to a specified area division management method.

6. The map publishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The map publishing unit publishes associated data that links map data from different division methods within a specified range.

7. The map publishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The map publishing unit will establish a connection between the map data of the first division method and the map data of the second division method contained in each of the specified ranges, and publish the retrieval data used when retrieving map data of the second division method based on the map data of the first division method.

8. The map publishing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first division method is a method of dividing management into grid units based on a defined area. The second division method is the division method of route units managed along the route.

9. A vehicle-mounted device, characterized in that, have: The map acquisition department acquires map data; and The map recording unit records the map data. The map acquisition unit obtains the map data, which is divided in different ways, from the map publishing device based on the path information on the map data.

10. A map publishing system, characterized in that, Including map publishing devices and vehicle-mounted devices, The map publishing device has the following features: The map recording department records map data; The path acquisition unit acquires path information from the map data; and The map publishing department, based on the route information, publishes map data divided in different ways to the vehicles. The vehicle-mounted device includes: A map acquisition unit, which acquires map data divided in different ways from the map publishing device based on the path information; and A map recording unit that records the map data acquired in the map acquisition unit.

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