Apparatus and method for providing map data and system thereof

A navigation providing method of a navigation terminal which provides a navigation function and includes a reception unit and an execution unit, the navigation providing method comprising:

• receiving, by the reception unit, a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server;
• and
• executing, by the execution unit, a navigation function on the specific zone with the file,
• wherein the file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size, and
• wherein the size of the mesh unit is decided according to amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size;
• wherein the s specific zone is selected by a user:
• wherein the reception unit is further adapted to receive files of areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user, from the divided geographic areas in a lump;
• and
• wherein the files of the areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user are stored in an internal memory, and files of additional areas corresponding to zones other than the specific zone selected by the user are temporarily stored in a cache;
• the execution unit executing the navigation function for areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user on the files stored in the internal memory, when reception unit does not communicate with the map provision server;
• the execution unit executing the navigation function for the additional areas not selected by the user with the files temporarily stored in the cache when reception unit communicates with the map provision server;
• and the execution unit performing routes search, displaying the routes on a display device, and proving the route guidance.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium which includes an instruction enabling a computer system to provide a navigation function, the computer system being controlled by a method comprising receiving a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server;

• and executing a navigation function on the specific zone with the file,
• wherein the file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size,
• wherein the size of the mesh unit is decided according to amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size, and
• wherein information needed for a map screen display, a route search, and a route guidance is stored in the file;
• wherein the specific zone is selected by a user;
• wherein the computer system is further adapted to receive files of areas corresponding to the specific zones selected by the user, from the divided geographic areas in a lump;
• and
• wherein the files of the areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user are stored in an internal memory, and files of addition areas corresponding to zones other than the specific zone selected by the user are temporarily stored in a cache;
• the computer system executing the navigation function for areas corresponding to the specific zone selected by the user on the files stored in the internal memory, when a reception unit does not communicate with the map provision server;
• the computer system executing the navigation function for the additional areas not selected by the user with the files temporarily stored in the cache, when the reception unit communicates with the map provision server;
• and the computer system performing routes search, displaying the routes on a display device, and proving the route guidance.

A navigation data providing method of a map provision server, the navigation data providing method comprising:

• storing entire map data for providing a navigation service;
• connecting a user terminal through a wireless network;
• while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, receiving, from a user terminal, a request for downloading a navigation data file among the entire map data associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by the user using a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for the navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data;
• and
• transmitting, to a storage associated with the user terminal, the navigation data file in response to the request,
• wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected areas of the displayed map,
• wherein the navigation data file transmitted to the storage includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with the navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network, and
• wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.

A navigation service providing method of a user terminal, the method comprising:

• connecting a map provision server through a wireless network;
• while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, transmitting, to the map provision server, a request for downloading a navigation data file among entire map data stored in the map provision server associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by the user using a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for a navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data, wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected area of the displayed map;
• receiving, from the map provision server, the navigation data file and storing the navigation data file in a storage associated with the user terminal, the navigation data file being transmitted to the storage from the map provision server in response to the request for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the navigation data file includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with a navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network;
• receiving the request for the navigation service including a destination selected by the user after the navigation data file is stored in the storage;
• and
• providing, based on a previously downloaded navigation data file including the navigation data file, the navigation service for a route including the departure without the network communication with the map provision server,
• wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal, and
• wherein, while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.

A map provision server for providing a navigation data file comprises:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor connected to the memory, and configured to execute computer readable instructions included in the memory,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• store an entire map data for providing a navigation service;
• connect a user terminal through a wireless network;
• while a connection with the wireless network is maintained, generate a navigation data file in response to receiving, from a user terminal, a request for downloading the navigation data file among the entire map data associated with areas corresponding to a specific zone in response to a user of the user terminal selecting, by a user interface of the user terminal, a range or an administrative district as the specific zone on a map displayed on the user terminal for downloading the navigation data file, wherein the request for downloading the navigation data file is separated from a request for the navigation service associated with the specific zone, and the specific zone selected by the user is associated with one or more tiled maps corresponding to the navigation data file to be downloaded to the user terminal among the entire map data;
• and
• transmit the generated navigation data file to a storage associated with the user terminal,
• wherein the specific zone selected by the user is bounded by border lines on the displayed map such that the specific zone selected by the user is visually distinguished from non-selected area of the displayed map,
• wherein the navigation data file transmitted to the storage includes data including information required to provide the user terminal with the navigation service for a route including a departure and a destination in the tiled maps included in the specific zone when the map provision server and the user terminal is not connected through the wireless network, and
• wherein while the connection with the wireless network is maintained, the navigation data file is downloaded to the storage, and, in response that the request for navigation service is generated on the user terminal while the connection with the wireless network is not maintained, the stored navigation data file is used for providing the navigation service to the user terminal.