Map data selection supporting device, and map data processing system and map data processing device including the same

A map data selection supporting device for supporting an operation of selecting desired map data from a map data group, comprising:

• map data storing means for storing the map data group;
• location designation means for designating a desired location;
• area designation means for designating a desired area size;
• scale designation means for designating a desired map scale;
• and
• selection means for selecting, from the map data group, map data at the map scale designated covering the location designated and the area size designated, wherein the scale designation means designates a candidate map scale based on the area size designated by the area designation means such that the selection means selects map data within a predetermined total data volume, and the candidate map scale designated is recommended to a user.

A map data selection supporting device for supporting an operation of selecting desired map data from a map data group, comprising:

• map data storing means for storing the map data group;
• location designation means for designating a desired location;
• area designation means for designating a desired area size;
• scale designation means for designating a desired map scale;
• and
• selection means for selecting, from the map data group, map data at the map scale designated covering the location designated and the area size designated, wherein the area designation means designates a candidate area size based on the scale designated by the scale designation means, such that the selection means selects map data within a predetermined total data volume, and the candidate area size designated is recommended to a user.

A map data processing system, comprising:

• a terminal device having terminal map data storing means storing a map data group;
• an information center connected to the terminal device via communication means and comprising center map data storing means storing a group of latest map data;
• the terminal device including
• designation means for designating a desired location, a desired area size, and a desired map scale;
• selection means for selecting from the map data group stored in the terminal map data storing means, map data at the map scale designated covering the location designated and the area size designated;
• comparison means for comparing the chronological order of the map data selected and corresponding map data stored in the center map data storing means;
• and
• display means for displaying the results of comparison so that a user acknowledges the result.