Navigation system, navigation server, navigation client, and navigation method

A navigation server comprising:

• a server storage unit configured to store a server map in which each location point is described by a coordinate value including latitude and longitude, and a link for route calculation is described by a group of coordinate values;
• a first server arithmetic processing element configured to receive a designated location point information from a navigation-client, and to recognize each of two designated location points based on the designated location point information, and then by using a server map, to search for one or a plurality of server routes constituted by a plurality of links connecting the two designated location points;
• and
• a second server arithmetic processing element configured to transmit route information in which an arrangement manner of the server route searched by the first server arithmetic processing element is expressed by coordinated values, addressed to the navigation-client.

A navigation-client comprising:

• a client storage unit configured to store a client map in which each location point is described by a coordinate value including latitude and longitude;
• an image output device;
• a first client arithmetic processing element configured to transmit designated location point information to the navigation server;
• and
• a second client arithmetic processing element configured to receive route information from the navigation server, and to make the image output device output a client route superimposed on the client map, the client route being a route having an arrangement manner in the client map which matches the arrangement manner expressed by the coordinate values included in the route information.

A navigation method performed by a navigation server comprising a server storage unit configured to store a server map in which each location point is described by a coordinate value including latitude and longitude and in which a link for route calculation is described by a group of coordinate values, and by a navigation-client comprising a client storage unit configured to store a client map in which each location point is described by a coordinate value including latitude and longitude, and an image output device, the navigation method comprising:

• a step of the navigation-client transmitting designated location point information to the navigation server;
• a step of the navigation server recognizing each of two designated location points based on the designated location point information, and then searching one or a plurality of server routes constituted by a plurality of links connecting the two designated location points using the server map;
• a step of the navigation server transmitting route information expressing an arrangement manner of the server route by coordinate values, addressed to the navigation-client;
• and
• a step of the navigation-client making the image output device to output a client route superimposed on the client map, the client route being a route having an arrangement manner in the client map which matches the arrangement manner expressed by the coordinate values included in the route information.