초록 ▼

There is provided a vehicle navigation system for searching predetermined information after map data is updated and navigating a user more effectively even when the user only knows information before the update. The vehicle navigation system includes a control section; a map data read section for re

There is provided a vehicle navigation system for searching predetermined information after map data is updated and navigating a user more effectively even when the user only knows information before the update. The vehicle navigation system includes a control section; a map data read section for reading first map data from a map database; a map data acquisition section for acquiring second map data for update; a map data update section for generating updated map data by using the first map data and the second map data; and a history information management section for managing a search result, a travel route or the like, which the user obtained by specifying search conditions, as history information, wherein the map data update section generates the updated map data so as to associate the first map data, which is associated with the history information, together with the second map data.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle navigation system comprising: a map data read section configured to read first map data from a map database; a history information management section configured to manage history information that identifies a search result, the search result obtained based on

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle navigation system comprising: a map data read section configured to read first map data from a map database; a history information management section configured to manage history information that identifies a search result, the search result obtained based on applying search conditions specified by a user on the first map data; a map data acquisition section configured to acquire second map data including updated information that identifies said search result, the updated information identifying the search result subsequent to the acquisition of said second map data; a map data update section configured to generate updated map data using said first map data and said second map data; and wherein said map data update section is configured to generate said updated map data and store said updated map data as new first map data so that subsequent search results are obtained on the basis of the stored new first map data. 2. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said map data update section determines whether or not said first map data and said corresponding second map data are identical or are different, and if different, the map data update section generates said updated map data by updating said first map data that is not associated with corresponding history information, into said corresponding second map data. 3. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said map database comprises a storage device storing said first map data, and said map data update section stores said updated map data as new first map data into said storage device instead of said first map data. 4. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 3, wherein when the data capacity of said storage device reaches a predetermined capacity, said map data update section stores said first map data into said corresponding second map data. 5. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein for search conditions specified by the user, a control section searches map data having data contents that fall within said search conditions by referring to said first map data and said second map data. 6. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, further comprising: a first updated information generation section that generates updated information for displaying display information based on said first map data together with display information based on said corresponding second map data. 7. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 6, wherein said first updated information generation section, when the positional information of a facility based on said first map data and the positional information of the facility based on said second map data are different, generates an icon representative of said facility indicating that a position of the icon is where said facility existed prior to the acquisition of said second map data, as updated information. 8. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 7, wherein said first updated information generation section generates display information for asking the user if the position of the facility based on said second map data should be displayed as updated information. 9. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, further comprising: a second map data update section configured to generate updated information for alternately displaying display information based on said first map data with display information based on said corresponding second map data. 10. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 9, wherein said display information is a facility name. 11. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, further comprising: a third map data update section configured to generate updated information to produce voice guidance based on said first map data together with voice guidance based on said corresponding second map data. 12. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 11, wherein in the case where map data having data contents, which fall within search conditions specified by the user, is said first map data, said control section executes a command for providing said updated information in notifying the user of a search result. 13. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, wherein when the user is in the process of executing route guidance to a specified destination, said control section executes a command for providing said updated information at a predetermined timing. 14. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, wherein when a road map is being displayed, said control section executes a command for providing said updated information at a predetermined timing. 15. The vehicle navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said map data update section updates said first map data into said corresponding second map data when the user performs a predetermined operation.