Map drawing method, map drawing system, navigation apparatus and input/output apparatus

A map drawing system for guidance of a vehicle, the map drawing system including a navigation apparatus and an input/output apparatus connected to the navigation apparatus for transmission of data therebetween, wherein the navigation apparatus comprises:

• vehicle location detection means for detecting location of the vehicle;
• search means for searching for a guidance route by reading road data from road data storage means;
• and
• first transmission means for transmitting location data indicating the vehicle location to the input/output apparatus, and
• wherein the input/output apparatus comprises:
• map data storage means for storing map data correlated with location data;
• display means for displaying a map image;
• first reading means for reading map data corresponding to the location data received from the map data storage means;
• first display control means for displaying a map image on the display means in accordance with the read map data;
• and
• location display control means for displaying a vehicle location marker, in accordance with the received location data, superimposed on the map image.

A navigation apparatus comprising:

• vehicle location detection means for detecting a vehicle location;
• road data storage means for storing road data to be read in searching for a guidance route from the vehicle location to a destination;
• and
• first transmission means for transmitting location data indicating the vehicle location to an input/output apparatus;
• and
• wherein the navigation apparatus is connected to the input/output apparatus so that data can be transmitted between the input/output apparatus and the navigation apparatus, the input/output apparatus including map data storage means for storing map data related to location data and display means for displaying a map image.

An input/output apparatus connected to a navigation apparatus for data transmission therebetween, the navigation apparatus including vehicle location detection means for detecting a vehicle location, the navigation apparatus being adapted to read road data for searching for a guidance route from road data storage means, the input/output apparatus comprising:

• display means for displaying a map image;
• map data storage means for storing map data correlated with location data;
• receiving means for receiving vehicle location data transmitted from the navigation apparatus;
• first reading means for reading map data from the map data storage means, in accordance with the received location data;
• first display control means for displaying a map image on the display means in accordance with the read map data;
• and
• location display control means for displaying a vehicle location marker, in accordance with the received location data, superimposed on the map image.