Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A map database apparatus, comprising a storage device in which link string data is stored, wherein: a road on a map represented by a plurality of links and a plurality of nodes is expressed as said link string data, said links representing minimum units of said road, said nodes being at a start point and an end point of each of said plurality of links; said link string data has node information relating to said nodes; and said node information is shared with adjacent links.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said node information includes identifying information for identifying a link connected to said node and position information related to a position of said node on the map.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said node information of said link string data is stored in a memory area of said storage device in an order such that said links are lined up in one direction to form a road on a map.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said node information includes a storage position of immediately preceding node information so that said link string data can be read out in a direction reverse from said one direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said link string data includes interpolation point position information for interpolating a link physical form by further dividing one of said links into a plurality of portions and position information on individual interpolation points is stored in a memory area of said storage device in a direction in which said links are lined up in one direction to form a road on a map.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said interpolation point position information includes a storage position of immediately preceding interpolation point information or immediately preceding node information so that said set of link string data can be read out in a direction reverse from said one direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said map is partitioned into a plurality of areas and among roads within one partitioned area, roads of identical type are grouped to constitute a one said link string data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: said roads of identical type refer to roads assigned with an identical number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: when two or more of said link string data are stored in memory for said one partitioned area and said link string data each have node information which has identical position information, said node information having said identical position information in one said string data includes offset data which indicates a storage position of node information having said identical position information in another said link string data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: when node information of said one link string data does not have position information identical to position information of node information of said another link string data, specific information indicating that said node information of said one link string data does not have position information identical to position information in said another link string data is stored in a memory area, in which said offset information is stored, for said node information of said one link string data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said node information includes traffic regulation information for links to be connected to a corresponding node.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said node information includes road width information for links to be connected to a corresponding node.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said node information includes number of lanes information for links to be connected to a corresponding node.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said link string data includes altitude information indicating altitudes in said plurality of links.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: said altitude information for all of said plurality of links in one link string data is stored together in memory at an end of said set of link string data .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A map database apparatus, comprising a storage device in which route search data is stored, wherein: a road on a map represented by a plurality of links and a plurality of nodes is expressed as link string data, said links representing minimum units of said road, said nodes being at a start point and an end point of each of said plurality of links; and said route search data has home node information of an identical node of a one said link string data, position information of said identical node being identical to position information of a node of another said link string data, and adjacent node information of a node which is adjacent to said identical node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: said route search data are stored in a memory area of said storage device in an order in which said plurality of links are lined up in one direction to form a road on a map.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: said adjacent node information comprises identifying information for identifying adjacent nodes and information related to links from said identical node to an adjacent node.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: said information related to links from said identical node to said adjacent node includes link cost and/or traffic regulation information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said link string data are stored in memory for each of various maps at different map scales, said link string data corresponding to each other between said various maps being stored with common identifying information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A map database apparatus, in which a road on a map represented by a plurality of links and a plurality of nodes is expressed as link string data, said links represent minimum units of said road, and said nodes are at a start point and an end point of each of said plurality of links, comprising: a first storage device which stores node information constituted with identifying information for identifying said plurality of links and position information for said nodes shared by adjacent links as map display data; and a second storage device which stores home node information for an identical node of one said string data, position information of said identical node being identical to position information of nodes of another said link string data, and adjacent node information for representing a node adjacent to said identical node as route search information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A map database apparatus according to claim 21, wherein: said first storage device and said second storage device store various types of information using identifying information shared by corresponding link string data for each of various maps at different map scales.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A map database wherein information concerning a route is stored in terms of the location of start and end points of links along the route, characterised in that common node data is stored by adjacent links at the end point of one of the links and the start point of the other link along the route.