JP2002048574A - Map information distribution method and map information distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information distribution method and map information distribution system capable of efficiently distributing the map information required by a user. SOLUTION: In a distribution center server, area designation information for designating an area is received from an on-vehicle terminal, and the renewed map information corresponding to the area designation information is determined and distributed to the on-vehicle terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a map information distribution method and a map information distribution system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, map information has been recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. Then, necessary map information is extracted from the recording medium and used for a navigation system or the like posted on a car. Also, map information of a predetermined area is transmitted from a server using a communication means,
There was also a system for distribution to terminals.

[0003]

However, since the latest map information is constantly revised due to new construction or repair of roads, it is necessary to use the latest map information in order to perform navigation and the like using the latest map information. CD-recorded information
A new ROM or DVD-ROM had to be purchased. Furthermore, the purchase of CD-ROM and DVD-ROM,
This imposes a cost burden on the user.

Further, in order to receive distribution of map information of a predetermined area by using communication means, a large-capacity memory is required on the user terminal side and communication time is required. Further, while the map information required by the user is limited, the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM in which the latest map information is recorded contains all the map information, It was not possible to obtain only the map information.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a map information distribution method and a map information distribution system capable of efficiently distributing map information required by a user.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a map information distribution method according to the present invention, in a distribution center server, receives region designation information for designating a region from a vehicle-mounted terminal and responds to the region designation information. It is characterized in that updated map information is extracted and the updated map information is delivered to the vehicle-mounted terminal.

Further, it is preferable that the distribution center server distributes only the information selected by the on-board terminal from the updated map information. It is possible to narrow down and distribute only necessary information. Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a map information distribution method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in an in-vehicle terminal, area designation information corresponding to an area designated by an area designation means is transmitted to a distribution center server. The update map information corresponding to the designated information is received, and the updated map information is displayed on the display means.

[0008] Further, the on-board terminal includes:
It is preferable to receive only the information selected by the in-vehicle terminal. It is possible to receive only necessary information. Further, it is preferable that the in-vehicle terminal displays the updated map information in a list format on the display means. Since the list is displayed, it is easy to understand even when there are a plurality of updated map information.

Further, the updated map information is preferably information on roads or information on facilities. Further, the area designation information is information for specifying a predetermined area, information on the current position of the vehicle-mounted terminal, information indicating an area registered in advance on the vehicle-mounted terminal, or information indicating a specific area specified on a map. Is preferred.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a map information distribution method according to the present invention provides a distribution center server that receives destination information and departure or current position information from an on-board terminal, Search for a route based on the departure point or current location information, distribute the route to the in-vehicle terminal, receive the updated location information corresponding to the route from the in-vehicle terminal, and distribute the updated map information corresponding to the updated location information to the in-vehicle terminal It is characterized by doing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map information distribution method according to the present invention, wherein a vehicle-mounted terminal transmits destination information and a departure point or a current position information to a distribution center server, and transmits the destination information from the distribution center server. Location information and route information based on the departure point or the current position information is received, the route information is compared with the in-vehicle terminal side map information to extract update location information, and the update location information is transmitted to the distribution center server, It is characterized by receiving distribution of updated map information corresponding to updated location information from a distribution center server. Map information distribution method. A route is searched based on the latest map information in the distribution center server, and when the in-vehicle terminal does not have the map information corresponding to the searched route, the information can be received. Things.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map information distribution system for receiving, from an in-vehicle terminal, receiving means for receiving area designation information for designating an area, and extracting updated map information corresponding to the area designation information. And a distribution unit for distributing the updated map information to the in-vehicle terminal. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a map information distribution system according to the present invention, a region designating unit for designating a region and a region designating information corresponding to the region designated by the region designating unit are transmitted to a distribution center server. Means, receiving means for receiving distribution of updated map information corresponding to the area designation information from the distribution center server, and control means for displaying the updated map information on the display means.

[0013] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a map information distribution system according to the present invention comprises: means for receiving destination information and departure or current position information from a vehicle-mounted terminal;
Means for searching for a route based on destination information and departure point or current position information, means for distributing the route to the in-vehicle terminal, means for receiving update location information corresponding to the route from the in-vehicle terminal, and update location information And means for distributing updated map information corresponding to the above to the in-vehicle terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map information distribution system for transmitting destination information and a departure point or a current position information to a distribution center server. Means for receiving information and route information based on the departure point or current location information, means for comparing the route information with the on-board terminal side map information to extract updated location information, and transmitting the updated location information to the distribution center server And means for receiving distribution of updated map information corresponding to the updated location information from the distribution center server.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration relating to the map information distribution method and system of the present invention. 10 is a network such as the Internet, 20
Are distribution center servers connected to the network 10, 3
0 is an in-vehicle terminal, 40 is a broadcasting station that broadcasts traffic information and the like, 5
0 is a provider connected to the network 10, and 60 is a telephone company such as NTT.

The distribution center server 20 comprises a control unit 21 having various information processing functions, a communication unit 22 for transmitting and receiving information, a receiver, etc., and obtains traffic information from a broadcasting station or the like. Traffic information obtaining means 23, and a storage means 24 for storing various information. Also, the storage means 24
Includes a main program for executing various processes in the distribution center server 20, a route search program 2
5. Charge setting database 26 (hereinafter "charge setting DB")
), A map information database 27 (hereinafter referred to as “map information DB”), and a user information database 28 (hereinafter referred to as “user information DB”). The map information DB stores at least map information that covers at least the whole of Japan and includes a plurality of map blocks that are divided into meshes. A plurality of map blocks having different scales are stored for the same area. Instead of storing the route search program in the storage means 24, a route search means constituted by hardware and software can be provided.

The in-vehicle terminal 30 includes a control means 31 having a CPU and the like and having various information processing functions, and a telephone company 60.
And a communication unit 32 for transmitting and receiving various information by connecting to a network via a provider 50, a receiver, etc., and a traffic information obtaining unit 33 for obtaining traffic information from a broadcast station or the like, and a memory. A storage unit 34 capable of storing a main program for executing various processes in the in-vehicle terminal 30 and distributed map information and the like;
PS (Global Positioning System)
em) A position detecting means 35 for detecting the position of the vehicle on which the on-board terminal 30 is installed, including an antenna and the like, a speaker and the like, a sound output means 36 for outputting sound, a key arrangement, a keyboard, An operation means 37 which is constituted by a mouse or a remote controller and which can input various kinds of information, select operation, etc .;
Eight. In the in-vehicle terminal 30, a storage medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a D-ROM) storing software for operating a navigation system including map information is stored.
(VD-ROM or the like).

The position detecting means 35 performs triangulation based on signals from a plurality of measuring satellites orbiting the earth orbit,
It is configured to calculate the latitude, lightness, altitude, running speed, and the like of the vehicle, and output the calculation result to the control means 31.
The operation means 37 has a scroll means for scrolling the map displayed on the display means 38 to display a position desired by the user.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the distribution center server 2
From 0, the map information is distributed to the in-vehicle terminal 30 via the network 10, the provider 50, and the telephone company 60.
The in-vehicle terminal 30 is configured to operate a predetermined navigation system using the distributed map information. (First Embodiment) A first embodiment using the configuration shown in FIG.
The embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is executed by the control unit 21 in the distribution center server 20 according to the main program stored in the storage unit 24 of the distribution center server 20.
The control means 31 executes according to the main program stored in the storage means 34 of the vehicle-mounted terminal 30.

First, the in-vehicle terminal 30 turns on the navigation system installed in advance, and starts navigation based on the map information of the in-vehicle terminal 30 at that time (step 201). Next, the in-vehicle terminal 30 accesses the distribution center server and transmits a connection request signal (step 202). Distribution center server 20 receives the connection request signal from the in-vehicle terminal (step 251), and maintains the connection with in-vehicle terminal 30 (step 252). At the time of connection, the contents of the user information DB 28 stored in advance in the storage means 24 are compared with predetermined information received from the in-vehicle terminal, and the subsequent procedure is performed only with the in-vehicle terminal registered in advance. Things are preferred. After that, the distribution center server 20
The state of waiting for a request from 0 is continued (step 25).
3).

Next, the user shifts to a map information update mode by a predetermined update button or the like of the operation means 37, and when an area is designated by the operation means 37 of the in-vehicle terminal 30, the area corresponding to the designated area is corresponded. Is transmitted to the distribution center server (step 203). Upon receiving the area designation information from the in-vehicle terminal 30, the distribution center server 20 proceeds to step 254, and extracts an update location related to the designated area (step 254). In order to extract the update location, it is necessary to know what kind of map information the in-vehicle terminal 30 has at the original time.
Therefore, the user information DB2 of the distribution center server 20
8, information indicating the version of the map information possessed by the in-vehicle terminal 30 that has been accessed is stored in advance, and based on the information, the map information used by the in-vehicle terminal at that time is specified. It is preferable that the updated location is extracted by comparing the updated location with the latest map information included in the information 20. As another method, it is also possible to have the in-vehicle terminal 30 transmit the map information of the area, and extract the updated location based on the received map information.

Next, the distribution center server 20 transmits the update location information corresponding to the update location extracted in step 254 to the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 (step 255).
On the 0 side, the received update location information is superimposed on the conventionally used map information and displayed on the display means 38 (step 204). Next, the distribution center server 20 calculates a charge for distributing the updated location information based on the charge setting DB, and transmits the charge information to the in-vehicle terminal 30 (step 25).
6) The in-vehicle terminal 30 displays the received fee information on the display means 38 (step 205).

Next, when the in-vehicle terminal 30 desires to update the received fee, the purchase request information is transmitted to the distribution center server 20 (step 207). When the distribution center server 20 receives the purchase request information (step 25)
7), proceed to step 258, and distribute the updated map information corresponding to the updated location information to the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 (step 25).
8) Yes. The in-vehicle terminal 30 receives the updated map information (step 207), stores it in the storage means 34, and thereafter displays it on the display means 38 as a part of the map information of the in-vehicle terminal 30, or uses it for the navigation system. (Step 208).

Thereafter, unless the navigation system is turned off at the in-vehicle terminal 30, the distribution center server 2
The above steps are repeated on the 0 side and the in-vehicle terminal 30 side. On-vehicle terminal 30, navigation system is OF
When F is reached, the process proceeds from step 209 to step 210, where operation end information is transmitted to the distribution center server 20 (step 210).

When the distribution center server 20 receives the operation end information, the process proceeds from step 259 to step 260, in which the connection with the in-vehicle terminal 30 is turned off, and a series of procedures is ended. Next, a specific example of the updated map information will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an example showing how to specify a region in a vehicle-mounted terminal. When the user wants to update the map, a screen such as 401 in FIG. Here, two types of road information update 404 and facility information update 405 are displayed.

When 404 is selected at 401 in FIG. 4, a screen 402 is displayed next. Here, four types are displayed: a case 406 where an area is designated from an area, a case 407 where a region is designated from a current position, a case 408 where a region is designated from registered data, and a case 409 where a region is designated from a map. When specifying an area from registered data 4
08 indicates a case where the user previously registers an area (for example, a predetermined area near home) by the operation means 37 and designates a previously registered area. The case 409 of specifying a region from a map refers to a case where the user scrolls on the map and specifies a desired region on the map.

When 406 is selected at 402 in FIG. 4, a screen 403 is displayed next. Here, 410
To 413, etc., the name of the prefecture is displayed. If, for example, 411 is designated, the names of cities, such as 414 to 416, are further displayed. Here, when 415 is selected, the area designation information corresponding to the city is transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 30 to the distribution center server 20.
It is configured to be transmitted to. Note that the above-described area designation method is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

When 415 is selected at 403 in FIG. 4, the distribution center server 20 compares the map information on the latest road in the designated area with the map information of the on-vehicle terminal 30 at the present time. . Then, the update location is extracted, and the update location information such as the dotted lines AB and CD of 501 in FIG. In the in-vehicle terminal 30, the updated location information and the previous map information are superimposed,
Map information like 502 in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display means 38. Alternatively, the information may be displayed on the display unit 37 in a list format without being superimposed on the conventional map information.

Next, fee information when the updated map information corresponding to the updated location information is received is displayed as shown by 503 in FIG. 505 is a section between A and B, and 506 is a section between C and D
Section is specified. Here, only 505 is selected,
It is assumed that the purchase button 507 has been selected at a distribution price of 50 yen. Then, from the distribution center server 20, C
Only the updated map information corresponding to the sections D to D is distributed, and the map information such as 504 in FIG.

Next, a case where the user wants to update the map and a case where the update of the facility information is selected will be described. When the facility update 604 is selected in 601 in FIG. 6, a screen like 602 in FIG. 6 is displayed as in 402 in FIG. 6 on the screen 602 in FIG.
5 to 608 are 406 to 4 in the screen 402 in FIG.
It has the same meaning as 09. In the screen 602 in FIG.
It is assumed that has been selected. Here, when 606 is selected, the area designation information corresponding to the current position is automatically transmitted from the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 to the distribution center server 20. The current position is detected by the position detecting means of the in-vehicle terminal 30, and the area designation information corresponding to the current position is information for specifying map information (map block) at a predetermined segment including the current position. Say

When 606 is selected in 602 of FIG. 6, the map information on the latest facility in the area designated by the distribution center server 20 is compared with the map information of the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 at the present time. Then, the update location is extracted,
Update location information such as A and B 701 in FIG. 7 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted terminal 30. In the vehicle-mounted terminal 30, the updated location information and the conventional map information are superimposed, and the map information such as 702 in FIG.
Alternatively, the information may be displayed on the display unit 37 in a list format without being superimposed on the conventional map information. In addition,
Here, 709 indicates the current position.

Next, fee information when the updated map information corresponding to the updated location information is received is displayed as shown by 703 in FIG. 705 is the gas station of A, 70
6 designates restaurant B. Here, 705
It is assumed that the user selects only the button, selects the purchase button 707 at a distribution price of 50 yen. Then, only the updated map information corresponding to A is distributed from the distribution center server 20, and the map information such as 704 in FIG.

On the side of the in-vehicle terminal 30, history information indicating what kind of updated map information has been received is stored in the storage means 34 so that it can be displayed on the display means 38 if necessary. Is preferred. As described above, since the in-vehicle terminal 30 can specify the area and receive the distribution of the updated map information from the distribution center server 20, the required latest information of the required area can be obtained. (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment using the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. The procedure in FIG. 3 is executed by the control unit 21 in the distribution center server 20 according to the main program stored in the storage unit 24, and in the in-vehicle terminal 30, the storage unit 34 of the in-vehicle terminal 30
Control means 3 in accordance with the main program stored in
1 will be executed.

First, the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 turns on the navigation system installed in advance, and starts navigation based on the map information of the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 at that time (step 301). Next, the in-vehicle terminal 30 accesses the distribution center server and transmits a connection request signal (step 302). Distribution center server 20 receives the connection request signal from the in-vehicle terminal (step 351), and maintains the connection with in-vehicle terminal 30 (step 352). At the time of connection, the contents of the user information DB 28 stored in advance in the storage means 24 are compared with predetermined information received from the in-vehicle terminal, and the subsequent procedure is performed only with the in-vehicle terminal registered in advance. Things are preferred. After that, the distribution center server 20
The state of waiting for a request from 0 is continued (step 25).
3).

Next, when the user designates a destination using the operating means 37 of the on-board terminal 30, destination information corresponding to the designated area is transmitted to the distribution center server (step 303). The departure point information or the current position information is transmitted to the distribution center server 20 together with the destination information. The departure point information is specified by the user using the operation means 37 of the in-vehicle terminal 30 on the map information displayed on the display means 38, and the current position information is determined by the position of the in-vehicle terminal 30. The current position information from the detecting means 35 is used.

Upon receiving the destination information from the in-vehicle terminal 30, the distribution center server 20 proceeds to step 354, and searches for a route from the specified departure point or current position to the specified destination (step 354). ). here,
The route search is performed by the distribution center server 20 by the storage unit 24.
Is performed based on the latest map information stored in the. Next, the distribution center server 20 transmits the route information corresponding to the route searched in step 354 to the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 (step 355), and the vehicle-mounted terminal 30 receives the received route information (step 304).

The in-vehicle terminal 30 compares the received route information with the map information currently used by the in-vehicle terminal 30 for the navigation system, and determines whether there is map information corresponding to the received route information. Is determined (step 305). If it does not exist, the received route information and the conventional map information are superimposed and displayed on the display means 38 (step 306).

Next, using the operating means 37, the distribution center server 20 transmits update location information for specifying a location where no map information exists and information indicating that the user wishes to purchase updated map information corresponding to the update location information. (Step 30)
7). If there are a plurality of places where the map information does not exist, a necessary place may be selected from them. The distribution center server 20 receives the updated location information and the purchase request information from the in-vehicle terminal 30 (step 356), and calculates a fee for distributing the updated map information corresponding to the updated location information based on the fee setting DB. The charge information to the on-board terminal 30
(Step 357). On the in-vehicle terminal 30 side,
The received fee information is displayed on the display means 38 (step 308).

Next, the distribution center server 20 proceeds to step 358 and distributes the updated map information to the in-vehicle terminal 30. The in-vehicle terminal 30 receives the updated map information (step 309), stores it in the storage means 34, and thereafter displays it on the display means 38 as a part of the map information of the in-vehicle terminal 30, or uses it for the navigation system. (Step 310).

Thereafter, unless the navigation system is turned off at the on-board terminal 30, the distribution center server 2
The above steps are repeated on the 0 side and the in-vehicle terminal 30 side. On-vehicle terminal 30, navigation system is OF
When F is reached, the process proceeds from step 311 to step 312, where operation end information is transmitted to the distribution center server 20.

When the distribution center server 20 receives the operation end information, the process proceeds from step 359 to step 360, in which the connection with the in-vehicle terminal 30 is turned off, and a series of procedures is ended. Next, a specific example of the updated map information will be described with reference to FIG. First, on the display screen 801 in FIG. 8, the departure point 806 is displayed on the map information used by the on-board
And a destination 807 are set. When the starting point 806 and the destination 807 are set, the starting point 806 and the destination 807 are set.
Is transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal 30 to the distribution center server 2
0 is transmitted. As described above, it is also possible to use the current position information from the position detecting means 35 without setting the departure place.

Next, based on the received information corresponding to the departure place 806 and the destination 807, the distribution center server 20 searches for a route 808 as shown by 802 in FIG. . The in-vehicle terminal 30 compares the received route 808 with the map information used by the in-vehicle terminal 30, and determines whether or not there is a portion where no map information exists. In 803 of FIG. 8, 80 indicated by a dotted line
The display screen 38 indicates that the map information of nine places is insufficient.
Is displayed in.

The information to purchase the updated location information of the portion 809 in FIG.
When the transmission is made to 0, a screen for displaying the fee such as 804 in FIG. 8 is displayed. Next, the distribution center server 2
From 0, the updated map information of 809 is distributed and superimposed on the conventional map information, and the map information like 805 in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display means 38. Here, reference numeral 810 indicates the current position.

As described above, the distribution center server 20 can receive the updated location information even if it does not have the map information corresponding to the route information transmitted from the distribution center server 20. It is now possible to use the latest information needed for the region.

[0045]

According to the present invention, even if the on-board terminal does not have the latest map information, it is possible to perform navigation based on the latest map information by receiving the latest map information. Even if the in-vehicle terminal does not have the latest map information, according to the route received from the distribution center server,
Navigation based on the latest map information can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration for implementing a map information distribution method and system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure in a map information distribution method and system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure in a map information distribution method and system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for designating a region.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of update location information and the like to be distributed;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a screen for designating an area.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of distributed location information and the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of route information and the like to be distributed;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network 20 ... Distribution center server 30 ... In-vehicle terminal 40 ... Broadcasting station 50 ... Provider 60 ... Telephone company

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08G 1/137 G08G 1/137 G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 A 29/10 29/10 A H04H 1 / 00 H04H 1/00 G (72) Inventor Osamu Mino 1-2-28 Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Ten Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Tanimoto 1-2-1, Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo No. 28 Fujitsu Ten Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C032 HB25 HC08 HD21 2F029 AA02 AB05 AB07 AB13 AC09 AC13 AC14 AC18 5B049 BB31 CC02 DD01 DD05 EE01 EE05 EE07 FF03 FF04 FF09 GG06 GG07 5H180 FF25 FF05 FF05 FF05 FF05 FF36

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A distribution center server, comprising: receiving area designation information for designating a region from an in-vehicle terminal, extracting updated map information corresponding to the area designation information, and distributing the updated map information to the in-vehicle terminal. A map information distribution method characterized by the following. 2. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the distribution center server distributes only information selected by the in-vehicle terminal from the update map information. 3. An in-vehicle terminal transmits, to a distribution center server, area designation information corresponding to an area designated by an area designation means, and receives distribution of updated map information corresponding to the area designation information from the distribution center server. And displaying the updated map information on a display means. 4. The map information distribution method according to claim 3, wherein the in-vehicle terminal receives distribution of only information selected by the in-vehicle terminal from the updated map information. 5. The map information distribution method according to claim 3, wherein the in-vehicle terminal displays the updated map information in a list format on the display unit. 6. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the updated map information is information on a road. 7. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the updated map information is information on facilities. 8. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the area designation information is information for specifying a predetermined area. 9. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the area designation information is information on a current position of the on-board terminal. 10. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the area designation information is information indicating an area registered in advance in the vehicle-mounted terminal. 11. The map information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the area designation information is information indicating a specific area designated on a map. 12. The distribution center server receives destination information and departure point or current position information from an onboard terminal, searches for a route based on the destination information and departure point or current position information, To the in-vehicle terminal, receiving update location information corresponding to the route from the in-vehicle terminal, and distributing update map information corresponding to the update location information to the in-vehicle terminal. . 13. An in-vehicle terminal, wherein destination information and a departure point or current position information are transmitted to a distribution center server, and route information based on the destination information and the departure point or current position information is transmitted from the distribution center server. Receiving the route information and the in-vehicle terminal side map information to extract update location information, transmitting the update location information to the distribution center server, and updating the update map corresponding to the update location information from the distribution center server. A map information distribution method characterized by receiving information distribution. 14. A receiving means for receiving area designation information for designating an area from an in-vehicle terminal, an extracting means for extracting updated map information corresponding to the area designation information, and distributing the updated map information to the in-vehicle terminal. A map information distribution system comprising a distribution unit. 15. An area specifying means for specifying an area, transmitting means for transmitting area specifying information corresponding to the area specified by the area specifying means to a distribution center server, and transmitting the area specifying information from the distribution center server to the area specifying information. A map information distribution system, comprising: receiving means for receiving distribution of corresponding updated map information; and control means for displaying the updated map information on a display means. 16. A means for receiving destination information and a departure place or current position information from an in-vehicle terminal; a means for searching for a route based on the destination information and a departure place or current position information; Means for delivering to the in-vehicle terminal; means for receiving update location information corresponding to the route from the in-vehicle terminal; and means for delivering update map information corresponding to the update location information to the in-vehicle terminal. Map information distribution system. 17. The destination information to the distribution center server,
Means for transmitting departure place or current location information; means for receiving the destination information and the route information based on the departure place or current location information from the distribution center server; and Means for comparing and extracting update location information; means for transmitting the update location information to the distribution center server; and means for receiving distribution of update map information corresponding to the update location information from the distribution center server. A map information distribution system characterized by the following.