Digital map position information communication method, program for executing the same, program product therefor, system therefor, and apparatus therefor

A positional information decoding method of decoding positional information of a digital map, comprising the steps of:

• receiving position codes composed of object road shape data of a transmission object road and assistance shape data of a road to be connected to the object road;
• separating the object road shape data and the assistance shape data;
• and
• specifying the object road on the digital map with reference to the object road shape data.

A positional information transmission method of transmitting positional information from a transmission side to a reception side provided with a digital map, comprising the steps of:

• (A) creating, on the transmission side, object road shape data of a transmission object road and a branch shape data of a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road;
• (B) transmitting the object road shape data and the branch shape data from the transmission side to the reception side;
• and
• (C) specifying, on the reception side, the object road on the digital map with reference to the object road shape data and the branch shape data.

A program product for causing an information serving device to provide positional information for a digital map, comprising:

• a recording medium;
• and
• a program recorded in the recording medium,
• wherein the program causes the information serving device to execute:
• the procedure for extracting object road shape data corresponding to a transmission object road, from a digital map database;
• the procedure for extracting branch shape data corresponding to a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road, from the digital map database;
• and
• the procedure for transmitting the object road shape data and the branch shape data extracted, to the outside.

A program product for causing an information application device to receive and utilize positional information for a digital map, comprising:

• a recording medium;
• and
• a program recorded in the recording medium,
• wherein the program causes the information application device to execute:
• the procedure for accepting object road shape data of an object road and branch shape data corresponding to a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road;
• the procedure for selecting an object road candidate from a digital map database with reference to the object road shape data;
• the procedure for selecting a branch candidate from the digital map database with reference to the branch shape data;
• and
• the procedure for finally selecting the object road candidate to be the object road, with reference to the object road candidate and the branch candidate.

A positional information transmission system for a digital map, comprising:

• (A) an information providing device;
• and (B) an information application device,
• wherein the (A) information providing device includes:
• an object road shape data extraction unit for extracting an object road shape data corresponding to a transmission object road, from a first digital map database;
• and
• a branch shape data extraction unit for extracting branch shape data corresponding to a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road from the first digital map database, and
• wherein the (B) information application device includes:
• an object road candidate selection unit for selecting an object road candidate from a second digital map database with reference to the object road shape data provided from the information providing device;
• a branch candidate selection unit for selecting a branch candidate from the second digital map database with reference to the branch shape data provided from the information providing device;
• and
• an object road decision unit for finally selecting the object road candidate to be the object road, with reference to the object road candidate and the branch candidate.

An information providing device for providing positional information for a digital map, comprising:

• a digital map database;
• an object road shape data extraction unit for extracting an object road shape data corresponding to a transmission object road, from a digital map database;
• a branch shape data extraction unit for extracting branch shape data corresponding to a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road, from the digital map database
• a shape data transmission unit for transmitting the object road shape data and the branch shape data extracted, to the outside.

An information application device for receiving and utilizing positional information for a digital map, comprising:

• a digital map database;
• a shape data reception unit for receiving object road and branch shape data corresponding to a branch intersecting with or branching from the object road, from the outside;
• an object road candidate selection unit for selecting an object road candidate from the digital map database with reference to the object road shape data;
• a branch candidate selection unit for selecting a branch candidate from the digital map database with reference to the branch shape data;
• and
• an object road determination unit for finally selecting the object road candidate to become the object road, with reference to the object road candidate and the branch candidate.