Map distribution server, map information terminal, and map distribution system using these map distribution server and map information terminal

A map distribution server comprising:

• a receiving unit for receiving a distribution request including edit request information showing editorial contents of map information requested by a user and a version of terminal map information held by a map information terminal;
• a first map information storage unit for holding a plurality of pieces of already-released first map information;
• a second map information storage unit for holding second map information which is most up to date, the second map information including yet-to-be-released map information;
• a first comparing unit for extracting first map information of a same version as said terminal map information from among said plurality of pieces of first map information, and for making a comparison whether said edit request information is included in difference information between said extracted first map information and said second map information to output a first comparison result showing a matching degree between the difference information and the edit request information;
• an extended map storage unit for holding extended map information comprised of photographic images corresponding to said first map information of the same version;
• a second comparing unit for, when the first comparison result indicates that the edit request information is not included in the difference information, making a comparison with the edit request information included in said distribution request by using said extracted first map information and said extended map information to output a second comparison result;
• a creating unit for creating difference map data according to said distribution request on a basis of said second comparison result and said first map information of the same version;
• and
• a transmitting unit for transmitting distribution data which is said difference map data to said map information terminal.

A map information terminal comprising:

• a terminal map information storage unit for storing terminal map information;
• a terminal handling unit for inputting edit request information showing editorial contents of said terminal map information;
• a transmitting unit for transmitting the inputted edit request information to a distribution server;
• a receiving unit for receiving, as a reply to said edit request information transmitted to the distribution server, difference map data which are difference data corresponding to said terminal map information from the map distribution server;
• an updating unit for making a differential update of said terminal map information according to the difference map data included in said distribution data;
• and
• a navigation unit for carrying out a navigation function for performing map display.