Map data, method for preparing the same, data product containing the same, storage medium containing the same, and navigation apparatus using the same

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein map data, in which a road is presented in units of links and a multilink is defined as a plurality of links, which have an identical attribute and are consecutively arranged in an order in the multilink,

• the map data comprising:
• a multilink information list that stores a plurality of multilink information elements in a plurality of predetermined fixed lengths, one multilink information element indicating a number of links arranged within one multilink, wherein the plurality of multilink information elements are arrayed in the multilink information list in an order that is defined as a multilink list storage order;
• a lower level link information list that stores a plurality of lower level link information elements in a plurality of predetermined fixed lengths, one link information element indicating a number of coordinate points arranged within one link to illustrate a shape of the one link, wherein the plurality of lower level link information elements are arrayed in the lower level link information list in an order that is defined as a lower level link list storage order,
• wherein under the lower level link list storage order,
• (i) a plurality of lower level link information elements are respectively corresponded to by a plurality of links arranged in one multilink, the plurality of lower level link information elements being arrayed in an order in which the corresponding links are consecutively arranged in the one multilink, wherein the plurality of lower level link information elements with respect to the one multilink are respectively corresponded to by a multilink information element and defined as a link information element group with respect to one multilink, and
• (ii) a plurality of link information element groups are respectively corresponded to by a plurality of multilink link information elements, the plurality of link information element groups being arrayed in an order in which the corresponding multilink information elements are arrayed in the multilink information list;
• a higher level link information list that stores a plurality of higher level link information elements in a plurality of predetermined fixed lengths, one higher level link information element indicating a multilink as a higher level link, wherein the plurality of higher level link information elements are arrayed in the higher level link information list in an order that is defined as a higher level link list storage order;
• and
• a higher level link offset information list that stores, in a plurality of predetermined data lengths, a plurality of offset information items each of which indicates a storage array position in the higher level list information list with respect to a multilink as a higher level link corresponding to a plurality of links, which are corresponded to by lower level link information elements,
• wherein the plurality of offset information items are arrayed in the higher level link offset information list in an order in which the corresponding lower level link information elements are arrayed in the lower level link information list.