Map information providing apparatus, portable map transmitting apparatus, map information providing system, map information providing method, and program

A portable map transmitting apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory,
• wherein the processor executes a program stored in the memory to perform operations comprising:
• acquiring map information from an external map information source in which first map information is stored;
• communicating with a map information providing apparatus that provides a user with second map information of a map range narrower than a map range of the first map information;
• storing third map information that is acquired in the acquisition of the map information and that is wider than the map range of the second map information and within the map range of the first map information;
• and
• controlling the communication so that map information based on the stored third map information is supplied to the map information providing apparatus through communication with the map information providing apparatus.

A map information providing system comprising:

• an external apparatus having first map information;
• a map information providing apparatus that acquires second map information of a map range narrower than the first map information from the external apparatus;
• and
• a portable map transmitting apparatus that acquires third map information of a map range wider than the second map information from the external apparatus,
• the map information providing apparatus and the portable map transmitting apparatus being configured to be able to directly communicate with each other,
• the map information providing apparatus comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory,
• wherein the processor executes a program stored in the memory to perform operations comprising:
• determining whether or not predetermined map information corresponding to predetermined position information can be provided to a user;
• controlling the communication so that map information based on the third map information is transmitted from the portable map transmitting apparatus to the map information providing apparatus in a case where it is determined that the map information providing apparatus cannot provide the predetermined map information to the user;
• and
• updating the second map information based on the third map information received through the communication.

A map information providing method executed by a map information providing apparatus including a processor, the map information providing method causing the processor to execute a program stored in a memory to perform operations comprising:

• acquiring second map information of a map range, which is narrower than first map information that an external apparatus has, from the external apparatus;
• communicating with a portable map transmitting apparatus having third map information of a map range wider than the second map information;
• determining whether or not it is possible to provide predetermined map information corresponding to predetermined position information on the basis of the second map information;
• controlling communication with the portable map transmitting apparatus so as to receive map information based on the third map information from the portable map transmitting apparatus in a case where it is determined that it is not possible to provide the predetermined map information;
• and
• updating the second map information based on the third map information received by communication with the portable map transmitting apparatus.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that is executable by a computer that comprises a processor to control a map information providing apparatus, the program being executable to cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• acquiring second map information of a map range, which is narrower than first map information that an external apparatus has, from the external apparatus;
• communicating with a portable map transmitting apparatus having third map information of a map range wider than the second map information;
• determining whether or not it is possible to provide predetermined map information corresponding to predetermined position information on the basis of the second map information;
• controlling communication with the portable map transmitting apparatus so as to receive map information based on the third map information from the portable map transmitting apparatus in a case where it is determined that it is not possible to provide the predetermined map information;
• and
• updating the second map information based on the third map information received by communication with the portable map transmitting apparatus.