Map information providing system, map information providing method, and map information providing program

Abstract

To provide a map information providing system, a map information providing method, and a map information providing program which can provide map information while suppressing discomfort felt by a recipient.SOLUTION: A navigation system (1) (map information-providing system) includes: a storage unit (10) storing map information for navigation (11) (first map information) and map information for autonomous driving (12) (second map information) having an updating period different from that of the map information for navigation (11) regarding at least a portion of a period of time; and a map information-providing unit (40) which performs driving guidance by providing at least some of items to be provided by the map information for navigation (11) by using the map information for autonomous driving (12) in a case where the map information for autonomous driving (12) has been updated based on newer information than the map information for navigation (11) at the time of performing the driving guidance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a map information providing system, a map information providing method, and a map information providing program for providing map information. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as an example of a map information providing system, a navigation system that provides driving guidance such as route guidance to a destination to a driver is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Many of such navigation systems provide map information using map information for navigation stored in an internal storage unit, search for an optimal route to a destination, and perform route guidance based on the search results.

[0003] Some navigation systems are connected to a network environment and receive updates of navigation map information from a server on the network as needed. These updates enable the navigation system to recognize newly constructed roads, etc., thereby improving the accuracy of guidance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-173286 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned navigation system, the updating of the navigation map information is often performed at fixed intervals because the updating process takes time and costs. For this reason, the updating of the navigation map information tends to be performed over a long span, such as every six months. As a result, depending on the timing of the driving guidance, a mismatch may occur between the map information provided by the navigation system and the actual road environment, which may cause the driver to feel uncomfortable.

[0006] Although the discomfort felt by recipients of map information provided by a map information providing system has been described above using a navigation system as an example, such discomfort may occur not only in navigation systems but also in any system that provides map information.

[0007] Therefore, one example of the object of the present invention is to provide a map information providing system, a map information providing method, and a map information providing program that can provide map information while suppressing the sense of discomfort felt by the recipient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the map information providing system of the present invention described in claim 1 is characterized by comprising: a memory unit that stores first map information and second map information that has an update period different from that of the first map information for at least a part of the time; and a map information providing unit that, when the second map information has been updated based on information newer than the first map information at the time the map information is provided, provides map information by using the second map information to provide at least a part of the items provided by the first map information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]2 is a schematic diagram showing map information for navigation and map information for automatic driving shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed in the navigation system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing how a guidance image based on information corresponding to guidance point data created from map information for automatic driving and a lane image represented by information corresponding to lane data are added to a map image for automatic driving created from map information for automatic driving. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing how a map image for automatic driving is created from map information for automatic driving, and a signboard image represented by information corresponding to the directional signboard data created from the map information for automatic driving is added to the map image for automatic driving. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. A map information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores first map information and second map information that is updated at least partially differently from the first map information. The map information providing system also includes a map information providing unit. When the second map information has been updated based on information newer than the first map information at the time of providing the map information, the map information providing unit provides the map information by using the second map information to provide at least a portion of the items provided by the first map information.

[0011] In the map information providing system of this embodiment, the first map information and the second map information, which are updated at least partially differently from each other, are stored in the storage unit. Then, when the second map information is updated based on information newer than the first map information at the time of providing the map information, the map information providing unit provides the map information using the second map information. That is, even if there is a mismatch between the actual road environment and the first map information, the map information is provided based on the second map information that is highly consistent with the actual road environment. Then, even if there is an item with insufficient information in the second map information, at least a part of the item is supplemented and provided using the new second map information as information. In this way, according to the map information providing system of this embodiment, the map information can be provided while suppressing the discomfort felt by the driver by using the second map information that is highly consistent with the actual road environment and providing the insufficient items using the second map information.

[0012] In the map information providing system of this embodiment, the first map information is navigation map information having image information for driving guidance to a driver of a vehicle, and the second map information is automatic driving map information having control information for automatic driving of a vehicle.

[0013] Generally, map information for automatic driving is required to have a high degree of consistency with the actual road environment because it is used for automatic driving. For this reason, the map information for automatic driving is updated in a short span compared to the map information for navigation, which is updated in a long span as described above. In the map information providing system of this embodiment, if the map information for automatic driving has been updated based on newer information than the map information for navigation at the time of providing the map information, the map information providing unit provides the map information using the map information for automatic driving. That is, even if there is a mismatch between the actual road environment and the map information for navigation, the map information is provided based on the map information for automatic driving that is highly consistent with the actual road environment. In addition, at least a part of the items for the driver provided by the map information for navigation, which are not originally included in the map information for automatic driving, is supplemented and provided using the new map information for automatic driving as information. In this way, according to the map information providing system of this embodiment, it is possible to provide map information while suppressing the discomfort felt by the driver by using the map information for automatic driving that is highly consistent with the actual road environment and providing items using the map information for automatic driving.

[0014] Here, in the navigation system of this embodiment, the above items include route guidance to the destination. The map information providing unit includes a guidance information creating unit and a guidance unit. The guidance information creating unit creates at least a part of the guidance information for route guidance using the control information in the map information for autonomous driving. The guidance unit performs route guidance based on the result created by the guidance information creating unit.

[0015] As described above, map information for automatic driving that is not intended to be referenced by the driver often does not include guidance information for the driver, such as guidance on whether to turn right or left or go straight at a point before an intersection. According to the map information providing system of this embodiment, such guidance information is created from control information of the map information for automatic driving. This makes it possible to provide driving guidance based on the guidance information, so that map information can be provided in the form of driving guidance while further reducing the sense of discomfort felt by the driver.

[0016] In addition, in the navigation system of this embodiment, the map information providing unit includes a map display data creating unit and an object creating unit. The map display data creating unit creates map display data for autonomous driving for visualizing control information in the map information for autonomous driving. The object creating unit uses the control information to create object information corresponding to at least a part of non-containing objects that are not included in the map display data for autonomous driving among the image objects in the map information for navigation.

[0017] Note that the map display data for autonomous driving mentioned here means data for visualizing the control information in the map information for autonomous driving and showing it to the driver, and does not mean that such data is used for autonomous driving.Autonomous driving is always performed using the control information in the map information for autonomous driving.

[0018] In many cases, map display data for automatic driving, which is used to visualize map information for automatic driving that is not intended to be referenced by the driver, does not include image objects that visually present information to the driver, such as lane images and direction signs. According to the map information providing system of this embodiment, object information corresponding to at least a part of the non-contained objects not included in the map display data for automatic driving is created from the control information of the map information for automatic driving. This makes it possible to provide driving guidance based on the map display data for automatic driving that includes image objects represented by such object information, thereby making it possible to provide driving guidance while further reducing the sense of discomfort felt by the driver.

[0019] Moreover, the map information providing method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an update determination step and a map information providing step. The update determination step is a step of determining whether or not second map information, which has an update time different from that of the first map information for at least a part of the time, has been updated based on newer information than the first map information at the time of providing the map information. The map information providing step is a step of providing map information by using the second map information for at least a part of the items provided by the first map information, when it is determined that the second map information has been updated based on newer information than the first map information.

[0020] In the map information providing method of this embodiment, when the second map information is updated based on newer information than the first map information at the time of providing the map information, at least a part of the items to be provided is provided based on the second map information, thereby making it possible to provide the map information while suppressing the sense of incongruity felt by the recipient.

[0021] A map information providing program according to an embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to execute the map information providing method according to the above embodiment. This allows the map information providing method to be executed, so that map information can be provided while suppressing the sense of incongruity felt by the recipient.

[0022] In this embodiment, the "point in time when map information is provided" refers to the point in time when the map information is presented, for example, as an image display, to a recipient of the map information, such as a vehicle driver. EXAMPLES

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a navigation system according to an embodiment of a map information providing system of the present invention.

[0025] The navigation system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a vehicle with an automatic driving function to provide driving guidance to the driver, and includes a memory unit 10, a navigation update unit 20, an automatic driving update unit 30, and a map information provision unit 40.

[0026] The storage unit 10 stores navigation map information 11 (first map information) and automatic driving map information 12 (second map information) that have different update times for at least a portion of the time. The navigation map information 11 has image information for driving guidance to a driver of a vehicle. The automatic driving map information 12 has control information for automatic driving of the vehicle. Note that the update times of the navigation map information 11 and the automatic driving map information 12 may be different over the entire time period, or may be different for a portion of the time period and the two may be the same for the other periods.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic diagram showing the navigation map information and the automatic driving map information shown in FIG.

[0028] The navigation map information 11 includes a road network 11a, background data 11b, name data 11c, and route guidance data 11d. The road network 11a is information that represents the road configuration in the map information, with road links 11a-1 in which roads are divided into predetermined sections. Information such as the width of the road and the number of lanes is added to each road link 11a-1 as attribute information. The background data 11b is information that represents buildings and facilities around the road. The name data 11c is information that represents the names of the road and surrounding buildings and facilities. The route guidance data 11d is information that is provided during driving guidance, and includes guidance point data 11d-1, lane data 11d-2, and direction sign data 11d-3. The guidance point data 11d-1 is information that represents points on the map where information such as right and left turns at intersections should be provided, and the contents to be provided at those points. The lane data 11d-2 is information that represents the travel direction of lanes on a road with arrows or the like. The direction sign data 11d-3 is information imitating a road sign indicating directions such as Nagoya or Tokyo with arrows and place names.

[0029] The navigation map information 11 is referenced by a navigation application program (hereinafter referred to as a navigation application) 45a which implements each function of the guidance unit 45 shown in FIG. 1. The navigation application 45a refers to the road network 11a and the vehicle's position to recognize the vehicle's position on the road network 11a. In addition, the navigation application 45a uses the road network 11a to search for an optimal guide route based on the vehicle's position and destination. Then, the navigation map information 11 is visualized and displayed for a predetermined area centered on the vehicle's position, and route guidance is performed along the searched guide route. In this route guidance, various image information represented by lane data 11d-2 and direction sign data 11d-3 for the road on which the vehicle is traveling is displayed superimposed on the navigation map information 11. In addition, when the vehicle's position approaches the position represented by the guide point data 11d-1, the content represented by the guide point data 11d-1 is provided to the driver by image and sound.

[0030] The map information for autonomous driving 12 includes a lane network 12a. The lane network 12a is an example of control information used for autonomous driving, and represents a detailed road configuration using lane links 12a-1 in which lanes on a road are divided into predetermined sections.

[0031] The map information for automatic driving 12 is referenced by an application program for automatic driving (hereinafter referred to as an automatic driving application) 46 that performs driving control for automatic driving of a vehicle. The automatic driving application 46 refers to the lane network 12a and the position of the vehicle, and recognizes the detailed position of the vehicle in the lane network 12a for each lane. In addition, the lane network 12a is used to search for a detailed driving route including lane changes from the vehicle position and the destination, or a point on the guide route calculated by the map information for navigation 11.

[0032] In the navigation system 1 shown in FIG. 1, such navigation map information 11 and automatic driving map information 12 are stored in the storage unit 10. The navigation update unit 20 updates the navigation map information 11 at a fixed update interval, such as every six months. The navigation map information 11 is updated in response to an instruction from a server on a network to which the navigation system 1 is connected, when the server obtains update information from the creator of the navigation map information 11. On the other hand, the automatic driving update unit 30 updates the map information 12 in response to an instruction from the server, based on information on road construction and the like collected in a short span of time, such as one month. In this way, the automatic driving map information 12 is required to have a high degree of consistency with the actual road environment due to its nature of being used for automatic driving, and is therefore updated in a short span of time compared to the navigation map information 11, which is updated in a long span of time as described above.

[0033] 1, when the map information for automatic driving 12 has been updated based on newer information than the map information for navigation 11 at the time of execution of the driving guidance, the map information providing unit 40 uses the map information for automatic driving 12 to provide driving guidance. In addition, the map information providing unit 40 provides driving guidance by using the map information for automatic driving 12 to provide at least a part of the items provided by the map information for navigation 11. Specifically, the map information providing unit 40 creates three types of data corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1, lane data 11d-1, and direction sign data 11d-3 included in the map information for navigation 11 to provide driving guidance. The map information providing unit 40 includes an update determining unit 41, a map display data creating unit 42, an object creating unit 43, a guide information creating unit 44, and a guidance unit 45.

[0034] The update determination unit 41 determines whether the automatic driving map information 12 has been updated based on information that is newer than the navigation map information 11 at the time when driving guidance is executed. The map display data creation unit 42 creates automatic driving map display data for visualizing the lane network 12a, which is control information in the automatic driving map information 12.

[0035] The object creation unit 43 creates object information corresponding to at least a portion of non-contained objects not included in the automatic driving map display data among the image objects in the navigation map information 11. The object creation unit 43 creates the object information corresponding to at least a portion of non-contained objects not included in the automatic driving map display data among the image objects in the navigation map information 11. The object creation unit 43 creates the object information corresponding to the lane data 11d-2 and the direction sign data 11d-3 in the navigation map information 11 as an example of the object information.

[0036] The guidance information creation unit 44 creates at least a part of the guidance information for route guidance to the destination, using the lane network 12a in the autonomous driving map information 12. In this embodiment, the guidance information creation unit 44 creates information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 in the navigation map information 11 as an example of this guidance information.

[0037] The guidance unit 45 performs driving guidance using the automatic driving map information 12. During this driving guidance, route guidance is performed by providing appropriate information according to information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 created by the guidance information creation unit 44. The guidance unit 45 includes a display unit 451, a route search unit 452, and a route guidance unit 453.

[0038] The display unit 451 displays the navigation map image represented by the navigation map information 11 and the automatic driving map image visualized by the automatic driving map information 12 according to the situation. When displaying the automatic driving map image, the image object represented by the above object information and the provided information according to the information corresponding to the guide point data 11d-1 are added. The route search unit 452 performs a route search using either the navigation map information 11 or the automatic driving map information 12 according to the judgment result of the update judgment unit 41. The route guidance unit 453 uses the map image displayed by the display unit 451 to perform route guidance according to the judgment result of the update judgment unit 41.

[0039] Next, as an embodiment of the map information providing method of the present invention, the processing executed by the navigation system 1 described above will be described with reference to the following flowchart, although it will overlap to some extent with the description so far.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed in the navigation system shown in FIG.

[0041] The process shown in this flowchart starts when the navigation system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is powered on. When the process starts, the vehicle's position is first acquired by a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like installed in the vehicle (step S101). Next, the driver inputs navigation conditions via a predetermined input unit in the navigation system 1 (step S102). Here, the driving destination and the like are input.

[0042] Next, in an update process that is executed from time to time separately from the process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3, the update determination unit 41 determines whether the automatic driving map information 12 has been updated based on newer information than the navigation map information 11 (step S103). If the automatic driving map information 12 has been updated based on new information (Yes determination in step S103), the map display data creation unit 43 creates automatic driving map display data for visualizing the lane network 12a in the automatic driving map information 12 (step S104). Next, the object creation unit 43 creates three types of information corresponding to the guide point data 11d-1, lane data 11d-2, and direction sign data 11d-3 in the navigation map information 11 from the lane network 12a of the automatic driving map information 12 (step S105). Furthermore, the display unit 451 displays a map image for automatic driving, a guidance image provided according to information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1, and lane images and sign images represented by information corresponding to the lane data 11d-2 and the direction sign data 11d-3 (step S106).

[0043] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how a guidance image provided in accordance with information corresponding to guidance point data created from map information for autonomous driving and a lane image represented by information corresponding to lane data are added to a map image for autonomous driving represented by map display data for autonomous driving.

[0044] In FIG. 4, an automatic driving map image Im11 is shown in the upper part, and an automatic driving map image Im11 to which a guidance image Im12 and a lane image Im13 have been added is shown in the lower part.

[0045] First, the map image Im11 for automatic driving will be described. As described above, in the map information for automatic driving 12, the road configuration is represented in detail by lane unit by the lane network 12a composed of the lane links 12a-1. The map display data creation unit 42 in FIG. 1 creates map display data for automatic driving to visualize the road so that the driver can easily see it by bundling the lane links 12a-1 in the lane network 12a by road unit. The map image for automatic driving Im11 is an image represented by this map display data for automatic driving. In this example, a two-lane three-way intersection R11 is visualized in the map image for automatic driving Im11.

[0046] 4 shows a guidance image Im12 provided according to information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 of the navigation map information 11, and a lane image Im13 represented by information corresponding to the lane data 11d-2. The guidance image Im12 is displayed when the vehicle approaches a position specified by information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1, and is an image that uses an arrow to guide the vehicle to either turn right or left or go straight at the branch point.

[0047] Information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 and including the guidance image Im12 is created as follows. First, a branch point such as an intersection is obtained from the connection state of the lane links 12a-1 that constitute the lane network 12a. In addition, the travel direction such as turning right or left at the branch point is obtained for each lane from the direction of each lane link 12a-1 at the obtained branch point. Then, by associating an arrow image indicating the travel direction at the branch point with a point in each lane that is a predetermined distance away from the branch point (50 m in the example of FIG. 4), information equivalent to the guidance point data 11d-1 held by the navigation map information 11 is created. However, this information is created based on the automatic driving map information 12 that is updated based on newer information than the navigation map information 11, and is therefore closer to the actual road environment than the guidance point data 11d-1 held by the navigation map information 11.

[0048] In creating information corresponding to the lane data 11d-2, first, the travel direction of each lane is obtained from the connection state of the lane links 12a-1 that make up the lane network 12a. Then, information equivalent to the lane data 11d-2 contained in the navigation map information 11 is created so that the arrow images indicating the travel direction of each lane thus obtained are displayed in an image arranged by road. However, this information, like the information corresponding to the above-mentioned guide point data 11d-1, is closer to the actual road environment than the lane data 11d-2 contained in the navigation map information 11.

[0049] Information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 and lane data 11d-2 is created for the area corresponding to the current guidance route in the map information for automatic driving 12. During driving guidance, a guidance image Im12 and a lane image Im13 corresponding to the road and lane being driven and the position of the vehicle are added to the map image for automatic driving Im11 of the area corresponding to the position of the vehicle being driven and displayed. Note that the creation of information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1 and lane data 11d-2 is not limited to the area corresponding to the guidance route, but may be performed over the entire area of ​​the map information for automatic driving 12.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing how a signboard image represented by information corresponding to directional signboard data created from map information for automatic driving is added to a map image for automatic driving represented by map display data for automatic driving.

[0051] In Fig. 5, a map image Im21 for automatic driving is shown using an example of driving guidance on a road that branches into two directions. The upper part of Fig. 5 shows the map image Im21 for automatic driving, and the lower part shows the map image Im21 for automatic driving to which a signboard image Im22 has been added.

[0052] The map image Im21 for automated driving shown in Fig. 5 was also created by visualizing the lane links 12a-1 in the lane network 12a by bundling them on a road-by-road basis. In this example, a road R21 that branches into two directions, "BB direction" and "CC direction," is visualized.

[0053] In creating information corresponding to the direction sign data 11d-3, first, the travel direction of each road is obtained from the connection state of the lane link 12a-1 constituting the lane network 12a. Then, information corresponding to the direction sign data 11d-3 of the navigation map information 11 is created to represent a signboard image Im22 on which an arrow image indicating the travel direction of each road is described. Here, in addition to the arrow image, the signboard image Im23 represented by the direction sign data 11d-3 of the navigation map information 11 includes the name of the direction, such as "BB direction" or "CC direction". On the other hand, the signboard image Im22 represented by the information created as described above includes only the arrow image, since the automatic driving map information 12 from which it was created does not include information on such names. However, the information representing the signboard image Im22 is created based on the automatic driving map information 12 updated based on newer information than the navigation map information 11, and therefore is closer to the actual road environment than the direction sign data 11d-3 of the navigation map information 11.

[0054] Here, the example in Fig. 5 is an example simulating a branched expressway. In this case, in addition to the sign image Im22, a lane image of a highway branch representing a branched lane of the expressway may be displayed. This lane image of a highway branch is also displayed based on information corresponding to the lane data 11d-2 described with reference to Fig. 4, which is created for the branch of the expressway.

[0055] 3, the route search unit 452 searches for a route to the destination using the map information 12 for automatic driving (step S107). Then, the guidance unit 45 provides a first driving guidance based on the map images Im11 and Im21 for automatic driving displayed in step S106 and the search result in step S107 (step S108).

[0056] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the automatic driving map information 12 has not been updated based on newer information than the navigation map information 11 (No determination in step S103), the navigation map image represented by the navigation map information 11 is displayed (step S109). Then, a normal route search is performed using the navigation map information 11 (step S110). Then, following this normal route search, a second driving guidance, which is normal driving guidance using the navigation map information 11, is executed (step S111).

[0057] The navigation system 1 of this embodiment is configured by a computer. The computer stores a map information providing program that causes the computer to execute the map information providing method shown in the flowcharts of Figures 3 and 6. The computer operates in accordance with this map information providing program to construct the navigation system 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0058] In the navigation system 1 of the present embodiment described above, the navigation map information 11 (first map information) and the automatic driving map information 12 (second map information), which have different update times, are stored in the storage unit 10. If the automatic driving map information 12 has been updated based on newer information than the navigation map information 11 at the time when the map information is provided to the driver by image display or the like, the map information providing unit 40 provides map information using the automatic driving map information 12. That is, even if there is a mismatch between the actual road environment and the navigation map information 11, driving guidance is provided based on the automatic driving map information 12, which has a high degree of agreement with the actual road environment. In addition, three types of information corresponding to the guidance point data 11d-1, lane data 11d-2, and directional sign data 11d-3, which are not originally included in the automatic driving map information 11, are supplemented and provided by creating them using the new automatic driving map information 11. In this way, according to the navigation system 1 of this embodiment, by utilizing the map information 12 for automatic driving, which has a high degree of consistency with the actual road environment, and by providing various types of information using the map information 12 for automatic driving, it is possible to provide map information while suppressing the sense of discomfort felt by the driver.

[0059] In the navigation system 1 of this embodiment, information corresponding to the above-mentioned guide point data 11d-1 is created from the lane link 12a-1 of the lane network 12a of the automatic driving map information 12. This makes it possible to provide driving guidance according to the information corresponding to the guide point data 11d-1, so that driving guidance can be provided with even less discomfort felt by the driver.

[0060] Furthermore, in the navigation system 1 of this embodiment, object information representing the lane image Im13 and the signboard image Im22 as non-containing objects not included in the map images Im11 and Im21 for automatic driving is created from the lane link 12a-1. This makes it possible to provide driving guidance based on the map images Im11 and Im21 for automatic driving, including the lane image Im13 and the signboard image Im22 represented by such object information, so that driving guidance can be provided with further suppression of the discomfort felt by the driver.

[0061] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following modifications are also included in the present invention.

[0062] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the navigation system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is exemplified as an example of the map information providing system according to the present invention. However, the map information providing system according to the present invention is not limited to this. The map information providing system according to the present invention may be a system that provides map information on a network, such as Google Maps (registered trademark). In such a system, the map information providing system according to the present invention may be a system that appropriately acquires and stores other map information that is highly fresh together with the main map information, and provides map information by combining it with the main map information.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, a navigation system 1 in which all the components shown in FIG. 1 are mounted on a vehicle is exemplified as an example of the map information providing system of the present invention. However, the map information providing system of the present invention is not limited to this. The map information providing system of the present invention may be one in which a part of the components is mounted on a vehicle and the remaining components are built on a network and connected wirelessly to the components on the vehicle side. Alternatively, the vehicle may be equipped with only a display unit, and the remaining components are all built on a network and connected wirelessly to the display unit on the vehicle side. In this case, the map information providing program is executed by a computer on the network, except for the part related to the display.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, the map information providing unit 40 that creates three types of information corresponding to the guide point data 11d-1, lane data 11d-1, and direction sign data 11d-3 of the navigation map information 11 is exemplified as an example of the map information providing unit of the present invention. However, the map information providing unit of the present invention is not limited to this. The map information providing unit of the present invention does not matter what specific items it provides as long as it provides map information by using automatic driving map information to provide at least a part of the items provided by the navigation map information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Navigation system (map information system) 10 Storage section 11 Map information for navigation (first map information) 11a Road Network 11a-1 Road link 11b Background data 11c Name Data 11d Route Guidance Data 11d-1 Guidance point 11d-2 Lane Data 11d-3 Directional sign data 12 Map information for autonomous driving (second map information) 12a Lane Network 12a-1 Lane Link 20 Navigation Update Unit 30 Update section for automatic driving 40 Map Information Department 41 Update judgment section 42 Map display data creation section 43 Object Creation Section 44 Guidance Information Creation Department 45 Information Department 45a Navigation App 46 Self-driving Apps 451 Display section 452 Route Search Unit 453 Route Guidance Department Im11, Im21 Autonomous Driving Map Images Im12 Induction Image Im13 lane image Im22, Im23 signboard image R11 Three-way intersection

Claims

[Claim 1] a storage unit that stores first map information and second map information that is updated at a time different from that of the first map information for at least a part of the time; a map information providing unit that provides map information by using the second map information when the second map information has been updated based on newer information than the first map information at the time of providing the map information; and A map information providing system comprising:

Images