Hybrid processing method and apparatus, navigation system, program storage device and computer data signal embodied in carrier wave

A hybrid processing apparatus for outputting current position data, which indicate a current position of a movable body on which a self-contained positioning device and a GPS device are mounted, on the basis of self-contained positioning data from the self-contained positioning device and GPS measurement data from the GPS device,

• said apparatus comprising:
• a judgment device for judging whether or not an estimated error of the self-contained positioning data is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
• a first calculation device for calculating the current position by combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged not greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• a second calculation device for calculating the current position from the GPS measurement data without combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• and
• an output device for outputting the current position calculated by said first or said second calculation device as the current position data which indicate the current position of the movable body, wherein
• said judgement device performs the judgement before elapsing a predetermined period from a time of switching on a power of the self-contained positioning device, and
• if the judgement is not performed, the present position is calculated by the first calculation device.

An on-vehicle navigation system comprising:

• (i) a hybrid processing apparatus for outputting current position data, which indicate a current position of a movable body on which a self-contained positioning device and a GPS device are mounted, on the basis of self-contained positioning data from the self-contained positioning device and GPS measurement data from the GPS device, said apparatus comprising:
• a judgment device for judging whether or not an estimated error of the self-contained positioning data is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
• a first calculation device for calculating the current position by combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged not greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• a second calculation device for calculating the current position from the GPS measurement data without combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• and an output device for outputting the current position calculated in said first or second calculation device as the current position data which indicate the current position of the movable body, wherein
• said judgement device performs the judgement before elapsing a predetermined period from a time of switching on a power of the self-contained positioning device, and
• if the judgement is not performed, the present position is calculated by the first calculation device,
• (ii) the self-contained positioning device and the GPS device, and
• (iii) a display device for displaying the current position data outputted from said output device on map data in a predetermined format.

A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method processes of outputting current position data which indicate a current position of a movable body, on which a self-contained positioning device and a GPS device are mounted, on the basis of self-contained positioning data from the self-contained positioning device and GPS measurement data from the GPS device,

• said method processes comprising:
• a judgment process of judging whether or not an estimated error of the self-contained positioning data is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
• a first calculation process of calculating the current position by combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged not greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• a second calculation process of calculating the current position from the GPS measurement data without combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• and
• an output process of outputting the current position calculated by said first or second calculation process as the current position data which indicate the current position of the movable body, wherein
• said judgement process performs the judgement before elapsing a predetermined period from a time of switching on a power of the self-contained positioning device, and
• if the judgement is not performed, the present position is calculated by the first calculation process.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer to perform method processes of outputting current position data which indicate a current position of a movable body, on which a self-contained positioning device and a GPS device are mounted, on the basis of self-contained positioning data from the self-contained positioning device and GPS measurement data from the GPS device,

• said method processes comprising:
• a judgment process of judging whether or not an estimated error of the self-contained positioning data is greater than a predetermined threshold value;
• a first calculation process of calculating the current position by combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged not greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• a second calculation process of calculating the current position from the GPS measurement data without combining the GPS measurement data with the self-contained positioning data if the estimated error is judged greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• and
• an output process of outputting the current position calculated by said first or second calculation process as the current position data which indicate the current position of the movable body, wherein
• said judgement process performs the judgement before elapsing a predetermined period from a time of switching on a power of the self-contained positioning device, and
• if the judgement is not performed, the present position is calculated by the first calculation process.