DE102008047914B4 - Navigation system, method and computer program product for operating the navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

Navigation system comprising a navigation device (NAVI), a relational database (RDB) stored on a storage medium (DC), and a database management system (RDBMS) adapted to access navigation data stored in the relational database (RDB ) are stored as data records, wherein each record a packet data set of at least one packet table (NTR1) and a property record of at least one property table (NTR2) is assigned, wherein the packet data set at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) and a unique identifier (NTR_ID) of the at least one Data packets (NTR_BLOB) and the property record has at least one property (NTR_ATTR) of the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) and the unique identifier (NTR_ID) of the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB).

Description

The The invention relates to a navigation system comprising a navigation device includes. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating of the navigation system and a computer program product.

From the EP 0 766 811 B1 a route guidance system is known. The route guidance system has a base unit which is designed to calculate a route in dependence on a route request. Furthermore, the route guidance system has a first database containing map information. Further, the route guidance system includes a communication link and a remote unit configured to electromagnetically transmit a route request using the communication link to the base unit, and to receive a route in response to the route request from the base unit using the communication link. The remote unit has a second database containing map information. The remote unit is adapted to compare the received link with the map information contained in the second database. If the route is not adequately covered by the second database, it is electromagnetically transmitted to the base unit using the communication link to provide map information from the first database.

DE 10 2006 004 693 A1 discloses a navigation system comprising a relational database and a database management system. Navigation data of the navigation system are stored in the relational database in data records, wherein a data record comprises a data packet and at least one property of the data packet. The respective data packet and the property assigned to this data packet are assigned as one data record each to a table.

task The invention is a navigation system and a method for Operate the navigation system to create a fast and easy chosen Access to navigation data possible.

The Task is solved by the characteristics of the independent Claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The Invention is characterized with respect of a first aspect by a navigation system comprising a navigation device, a relational database and a database management system. The relational database is stored on a storage medium. The navigation system is adapted to navigation data access stored in the relational database as records are. Each record is a packet record of at least one Packet table and a property record from at least one property table assigned. The packet data record has at least one data packet and a unique identifier of the at least one data packet. Of the Property record has at least one property of at least a data packet and the unique identifier of the at least one Data packets. This has the advantage that the data packets and the spatially separated the properties assigned to the respective data packet stored on each other on the storage medium. Thus, can an access to the at least one property of the data packet without an access to the respective data packet can be ensured. This allows for a special quick access to the properties of the respective data packet, for example, to be able to make necessary validations, so z. For example, version number checks, before accessing the corresponding associated data packets. Preferably, the packet records are relative to their spatial Arrangement connected in a first storage area on the storage medium and the property records relating to their spatial Arrangement in a second storage area on the storage medium coherently saved.

Further allows this, the advantages of relational databases with the advantages of proprietary databases to link. Represent the at least one property table and the at least one packet table relational tables relational tables. The respective data package represents preferably each a proprietary database. Every record is assigned a unique identifier, i. H. the respective property data set is the respective packet data record by means of the respective unique identifier assigned.

With regard to a second aspect, the invention is characterized by a method for operating the navigation system, in which at least one instruction to the database management system is determined as a function of an access mode of the navigation device to the navigation data. Depending on the at least one instruction, the associated property record of the at least one property table is determined. Depending on the at least one instruction and / or the at least one property, the associated packet data record of the at least one packet table is determined. The at least one data packet of the packet data record is evaluated to determine the navigation data. The at least one instruction becomes dependent on the accessibility of the navigation device determined, ie, the navigation device specifies, for example, a route to be determined and / or a predetermined destination and / or to be updated navigation data, from which the instruction is determined. In particular, after the determination of the property data set, this is evaluated before the packet data record is determined as a function of the evaluation and / or the instruction. The at least one instruction can already specify the determination of the packet data record. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to determine a further instruction and, dependent thereon, the packet data record.

In an advantageous embodiment of the second aspect are the Packet data sets the at least one packet table as a first file and the property records of the at least one property table as a second file on the Storage medium stored. This has the advantage of being updated the property records and / or the package records only the first and / or the second file against a more recent one Version needs to be replaced.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect is the at least one data packet of the respective packet data set is compressed and then saved. This carries help make sure the package records have a particularly low storage space requirement and that the respective data packet is particularly quickly accessible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect the property records the at least one property table is compressed and then stored. this makes possible a particularly fast data access to the property records, in particular then, if the data access for the use in the navigation system is optimized.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect is on data of the at least one data packet with the help of at least one predetermined access function accessed. This allows a efficient evaluation and modification and thus also updating the data of the data packet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect is the access function is used to change the data of at least a data packet. this makes possible especially easy the change or updating the data of the data packet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect is which determines at least one statement as an SQL statement. this has the advantage of having the packet record and the property record are particularly quickly accessible.

The Invention is characterized with respect a third aspect by a computer program product. The Computer program product includes a computer readable medium Program instructions. The program instructions are by a computer executable. Furthermore, the program instructions are designed to operate the Navigation system by the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

The The invention is described below with reference to schematic drawings explained in more detail. It demonstrate:

1 a schematic representation of a navigation system,

2 a program for operating the navigation system,

3 a general table structure,

4 a schematic representation of a storage medium,

5 an embodiment of the table structure.

elements same construction or function are cross-figurative with the same Reference number marked.

A navigation system ( 1 ) comprises a navigation device NAVI, a database management system RDBMS and a relational database RDB. The navigation system is used to determine a route and / or to calculate a route and / or to find a location and / or to determine further information.

The Navigation device NAVI can be a technical device which is arranged for example in a motor vehicle. alternative the navigation device NAVI can also be a software product, that of the technical device is used. The technical device can, for example, an on-board computer a motor vehicle and / or a computer, for example a portable computer. For example, the portable computer may a pocket-sized computer and / or a laptop. The navigation device NAVI or the technical device, comprising the navigation device NAVI, have input units and output units. The input units are for input information, such as a route, that is being determined should, and / or a destination and / or information, on the basis of which Changed navigation data, be updated in particular.

The Navigation device NAVI communicates with the database management system RDBMS, which is a SQL interface SQL_IF, an SQL command processor SQL_CMD_PRO, a pager PAGER, a directory ID_LIB of index structures and an operating system interface OS_IF includes. The database management system RDBMS communicates with the relational database RDB, in which the navigation data are stored. The navigation device NAVI communicates with the database management system RDBMS preferably such that the Navigation device NAVI an SQL_CMD instruction to the database management system RDBMS sends. Alternatively, the SQL_CMD statement can also be specified by appropriate Represents signals which are then stored in the database management system RDBMS in the corresponding statement SQL_CMD translated become. Preferably, the statement SQL_CMD as SQL statement depends on a route to be determined and / or dependent on a predetermined Destination and / or to update the navigation data and / or to enable further accesses from the navigation device NAVI determined and given.

The SQL interface SQL_IF serves to check if the statement SQL_CMD syntactically correct. If the SQL_CMD statement is syntactical is correct, it is passed from the SQL interface SQL_IF to the SQL command processor SQL_CMD_PRO.

Of the SQL command processor SQL_CMD_PRO determines SQL_CMD depending on the SQL_CMD statement and preferably dependent of at least one available Index structure contained in the ID_LIB directory of index structures is stored, a software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT. Of the Software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT is a section of the program designed to provide access to navigation data as much as possible efficient.

Of the Software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT is from the SQL command processor SQL_CMD_PRO passed to the pager PAGER. The pager Pager serves to be dependent from the software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT a hardware execution plan Determine EX_PLAN_HARD. The hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD is representative for this, as a hardware, such as a CD-ROM drive and / or a Hard disk and / or other disks containing the relational database Can include RDB, need to be controlled around the software execution plan To process EX_PLAN_SOFT.

Of the Hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD is passed to the operating system interface OS_IF, which is the hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD translated into appropriate control signals SG for the technical device, on which the navigation data are stored, and / or the one Storage medium includes DC, on which the navigation data is stored are.

One Program for operating the navigation system is preferably on stored in a storage medium of the navigation system. The program is preferred when starting the navigation system in one step S1 is started, in which variables are initialized if necessary.

In In a step S2, the SQL_CMD instruction is determined. The instruction For example, SQL CMD is determined depending on one to be determined Route and / or dependent from a given destination and / or to update the navigation data and / or to enable further accesses of the navigation device NAVI to the relational Database RDB.

In a step S3 is checked whether the Statement SQL_CMD is OK okay. Is the condition of the step S3 not met, so the processing is continued again in step S2. is satisfies the condition of step S3, the processing becomes continued in step S4.

In the step S4 becomes dependent from the SQL_CMD statement and depending on the ones available Index structures of the software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT determined.

In In a step S5, the hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD is determined depending on the software execution plan EX_PLAN_SOFT.

In a step S6, the control signals SG are determined for the technical device, which includes the relational database RDB.

In a step S7, the program can be terminated. Preferably However, the program is continued in step S2 and only when the navigation system is switched off.

The navigation data ( 3 ) are stored in the relational database RDB in at least one packet table NTR1 and at least one property table NTR2. The packet table NTR1 and the property table NTR2 have a general table structure. The packet table NTR1 preferably has a plurality of packet data sets, and the property table NTR2 preferably has a plurality of property data sets. Set the navigation data in the relational database RDB is composed of the package records and the property records, wherein a record of the navigation data is associated with a property record of the at least one property table and a package record of the at least one package table. The packet data records are each assigned a data packet NTR_BLOB and a unique identifier NTR_ID of the data packet NTR_BLOB. The property records are each assigned the unique identifier NTR_ID of the data packet NTR_BLOB and at least one property NTR_ATTR of the data packet NTR_BLOB. The respective unique identifier NTR_ID preferably represents only one data record of the navigation data consisting of at least one packet data record and at least one characteristic data record. In 3 In addition to the unique identifier NTR_ID, the property table NTR2 is assigned several properties NTR_ATT_1 to NTR_ATT_N. In principle, the property table NTR2 can also be assigned only one property NTR_ATTR. Alternatively, several property tables NTR2 may also be present, with each property table NTR2 being assigned the unique identifier and at least one property NTR_ATTR.

The Packet table NTR1 includes the unique identifier NTR_ID and the at least one data packet NTR_BLOB. The data of the data packet NTR_BLOB are re their content and / or re their spatial Arrangement on a relational database storage medium DC RDB contiguous saved. The data packet NTR_BLOB can thus, for example, a sequence of characters, for example a binary code, within each other a big one Dataset, for example, the relational database RDB represents. The entire navigation data of the navigation system or the navigation data without the NTR_ATT properties are NTR_BLOB in the data packet saved. The data packet NTR_BLOB contains, for example, names and / or graphical and / or geographic data. For example, the geographic data linear and / or latitudes, the geographic data may also include altitude, lakes, rivers and / or other geographic data. The graphical data are for example a logo of a company and / or a typical facade of a building.

The general table structure makes it possible the benefits of the relational database RDB and a proprietary database to use. The proprietary Database is a database designed specifically for a given application, so z. For example the navigation device NAVI, was developed. The navigation data are so in the proprietary Database stored on the navigation data only with the corresponding navigation devices NAVI by means of appropriate proprietary Access functions can be accessed.

One Advantage of the proprietary For example, database is that a large amount of data with relatively little space usage stored on the storage medium DC of the relational database RDB can be. An advantage of the relational database RDB is, for example, that the data in the relational database RDB is simple and fast found and changed, in particular, can be updated. Each one of the data packets NTR_BLOB represents its own proprietary database. For evaluating the data packets NTR_BLOB, the data packets NTR_BLOB of the database management system RDBMS to the navigation device NAVI handed over become. However, the navigation device NAVI preferably determines the appropriate access functions and passes them to the database management system RDBMS for evaluating the navigation data.

through the access function, the data packet can be changed. This is before especially when updating the navigation data very advantageous. Becomes For example, only the direction of a one-way street reversed, so only the corresponding data packet NTR_BLOB has to be exchanged. Alternatively, it may be sufficient if the access function is the Data of the data package NTR_BLOB updated.

If, for example, a predefined location is to be searched with the aid of the navigation system, it is preferable to create a location packet table NTR_POIS_1 as a packet table NTR1 and a location property table NTR_POIS_2 as a property table NTR2, which is optimized for the search for points of interest ( 5 ). The local packet table NTR_POIS_1 and the location property table NTR_POIS_2 each include columns and rows. The respective line of the local packet table NTR_POIS_1 in each case represents the packet data record, in particular a location packet data record, and the respective line of the location property table NTR_POIS_2 respectively represents the property data record, in particular a location property data record. The respective first column of the respective table represents a location identifier POI_ID as a unique identifier NTR_ID of the respective data record. In this case, for example, the location identifier POI_ID_354 in each case represents the associated location packet data record and respectively the location property data record. The local packet table NTR_POIS_1 further comprises a location data packet POI_BLOB per location packet data record. The location property table NTR_POIS_2 comprises, in addition to the location identifier POI_ID, a location category POI_CAT and a location name POI_NAME. The place categories POI_CAT and the place names POI_NAME represent properties NTR_ATTR of the respective location data packet POI_BLOB. Alternatively, the location property table NTR_POIS_2 may also be divided into two separate location property tables NTR_POIS_2, for example, the one location property table having the location identifier POI_ID and the location category POI_CAT and the other location property table being assigned the location identifier POI_ID and the location name POI_NAME. Alternatively, it is also possible to assign several data packets to the respective location package data record. Under the location identifier POI_ID_354, for example, the restaurant Brückenwirt is stored. The spatial location of the restaurant Brückenwirt is stored in the corresponding location data package POI_BLOB. Furthermore, the location property table NTR_POIS_2 contains the restaurant Bierblume with the location identifier POI_ID_355. In addition to the geographical location, specialties of the house are stored in the corresponding location data package POI_BLOB, for example. The location code POI_ID 58730 is representative of a museum, for example the Pinakothek in Munich. The geographical location and / or, for example, admission prices and / or opening hours are stored in the corresponding location data package POI_BLOB.

In 4 shows a section of the storage medium DC of the relational database RDB with a first and a second memory area MA1, MA2. Due to the division of the data sets of the navigation data into package and property data sets associated with the at least one packet table NTR1 and the at least one property table NTR2, the packet data sets of the at least one packet table NTR1 are preferably stored in the storage medium DC by means of the database management system RDBMS stored contiguously in the first memory area MA1 and the property records of the at least one property table NTR2 stored by means of the database management system RDBMS preferably with respect to their spatial arrangement on the storage medium DC contiguous in the second memory area MA2. The data sets of the respective table are stored coherently with regard to their arrangement. Ie. in the first memory area MA1 of the storage medium DC, the respective unique identifiers NTR_ID and the associated data packets NTR_BLOB are preferably stored in a row. In the second memory area MA2 of the storage medium DC, the respective unique identifiers NTR_ID and the at least one associated property NTR_ATTR are preferably stored in a row. The first and second memory area MA1, MA2 are preferably stored spatially separated on the storage medium DC, but can in principle also be arranged in a row on the storage medium DC.

The Database management system RDBMS is formed by means of the predetermined Hardware Implementation Plan EX_PLAN_HARD to access the relational database RDB. Of the Access, such. B. a read access, preferably takes place in memory blocks predetermined Size, such. B. 1024 bytes. Ie. Preferably, whole memory blocks are always read. Thereby the memory blocks become preferably first copied to a main memory of the navigation system and then evaluated.

Assuming that the local packet table NTR_POIS_1 ( 5 ) the first memory area MA1 and the location property table NTR_POIS_2 ( 5 ) is assigned to the second memory area MA2 of the storage medium DC, for example, the statement SQL_CMD is the SQL statement
select POI_BLOB from NTR1 where POI_ID in (select POI_ID from NTR2 where NTR_NAME = Pinakothek)
determined and predetermined by means of the navigation device NAVI depending on the route to be determined Pinakothek in Munich. In this case, the location property data sets are first copied by means of the hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD in the main memory of the navigation system by means of the database management system RDBMS and then evaluated the copied location property records until the location property record is determined whose toponym POI_NAME is the Pinakothek. Thus, preferably initially only the data of the memory blocks are copied to the main memory of the navigation system, which represent the location property records of the location property table NTR2. Due to the distributed arrangement of the location packet records and the location property records on the storage medium DC, the data of the memory blocks representing the corresponding location data packets POI_BLOB are not first copied to main memory, which would typically be the case if the location packet records and location property records were associated with a common table and thus the datasets would not be stored spatially separated. Thus, depending on the evaluation of the location property data records in the main memory, first the location identifier POI_ID 58730 is determined, which is assigned to the location property data record with the place name POI_NAME Pinakothek. Depending on the location identifier POI_ID 58730, the corresponding location data packet POI_BLOB of the location packet data record is then accessed, whose assigned location identifier POI_ID is equal to the location identifier POI_ID 58730.

Preferably are the unique identifiers NTR_ID in the directory of index structures ID_LIB stored by the database management system RDBMS and thus need not by means of separate accesses to the relational database RDB be determined. Thus, depending from the data in the directory of index structures ID_LIB using the corresponding hardware execution plan EX_PLAN_HARD directly to the corresponding data packet NTR_BLOB, such. B. on the the location identifier POI_ID 58730 associated location data POI_BLOB, be accessed in the first memory area MA1. Basically Also several statement SQL_CMD to determine the corresponding Location data POI_BLOB possible.

Consequently results from the spatial distributed storage of the package records and the property records the storage medium DC a particularly fast and selected access to the respective data packets NTR_BLOB to the navigation data to investigate.

Next the location category POI_CAT and the place name POI_NAME may be the location property table For example, NTR2 also has a version number as another property include the current version of the associated location data packet POI_BLOB represents. This can be especially quick and easy during an upgrade the location data POI_BLOB first determines the assigned version numbers in the location property records and compared with a given version number. results the comparison of version numbers that one or more location data packets POI_BLOB are no longer up to date, so can further by means of a separate access to the local package data records to the respective location data package POI_BLOB are accessed and this by a more recent version be replaced. This has the advantage that especially fast and just those location data packages that are being updated are simply updated were determined as outdated.

Preferably can the package records of a associated with the first file and the property records of a second file be. The respective file, such. A database file while a unit belonging together records that respects their arrangement stored on the storage medium DC contiguous are. This has the advantage that during the upgrade, for example the complete first and / or the complete second file especially can be easily exchanged to update the navigation data. alternative can completely submit the second file to an update server become dependent from the property records in the second file determines the non-current data packets NTR_BLOB. The update server then needs only current versions of those To transmit data packets NTR_BLOB, which were determined as not current. This has the advantage that the relevant data for assessing the up-to-dateness of the data packets NTR_BLOB not just from the corresponding property table NTR2 into one new file must be extracted.

The SQL statement as statement allows a particularly safe and fast access to the corresponding records in the relational database RDB. Alternatively, the property records can also compressed, such. In the second file, on the storage medium DC be stored. The instruction for determining the corresponding property records also as a proprietary statement especially for the navigation system be trained and thus a special ensure quick access to the properties.

The maximum size of the data packets NTR_BLOB and the number of rows and columns, as well as the number of packet tables NTR1 and property tables NTR2 in relational database RDB can dependent be optimized by the navigation device NAVI. It applies in principle, the bigger the Data packets are NTR_BLOB, the smaller the required memory space be. The smaller the data packets NTR_BLOB, the easier can the appropriate access functions are formed.

The Invention is not limited to the specified embodiments. The Navigation device NAVI, the database management system RDBMS and / or the relational database RDB can be made up of individual hardware components be formed and / or formed from individual software components and / or as individual components of a single application be educated. Furthermore, the method for operating the navigation system partly or wholly in a computer program product or in one Hardware product or in a combination of computer program product and hardware product implemented. A computer readable medium may include the computer program product with program instructions which can be executed by a computer are, for working through the method according to the invention. The computer readable Medium can be, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a flash memory card, a hard disk and / or another computer-readable medium, for example, a storage medium within a network.

DC

storage medium

EX_PLAN_HARD

Hardware Implementation Plan

EX_PLAN_SOFT

Software Implementation Plan

ID_LIB

directory Index structures

MA1

first storage area

MA2

second storage area

NAVI

navigation device

NTR_ATTR, NTR_ATT_1, NTR_ATT_N

properties

NTR_BLOB

data packet

NTR_ID

ID

NTR_POIS_1

Local Package Table

NTR_POIS_2

Local property table

NTR1

Properties table

NTR2

package table

OK

in order

OS_IF

Operating system interface

PAGER

pager

POI_BLOB

Location data package

POI_CAT

local category

POI_NAME

place name

RDB

relational Database

RDBMS

Database management system

SG

actuating signal

SQL_CMD

instructions

SQL_IF

SQL interface

Claims (9)

Navigation system, which is a navigation device (NAVI), a relational database (RDB) stored on a storage medium (DC), and a database management system (RDBMS) and that is designed to access navigation data, stored in the relational database (RDB) as records where each record is a packet record from at least one packet table (NTR1) and a property record from at least one property table (NTR2), wherein the packet data set at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) and a unique identifier (NTR_ID) of the at least one Data packets (NTR_BLOB) and the property record at least a property (NTR_ATTR) of the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) and the unique identifier (NTR_ID) of the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB). Method for operating a navigation system according to claim 1, in which - the at least one statement (SQL_CMD) to the database management system (RDBMS) is determined depending from a type of access of the navigation device (NAVI) to the Navigation data, - depending on the at least one statement (SQL_CMD) of the associated property record at least one property table (NTR1) is determined, - depending on the at least one statement (SQL_CMD) and / or the at least one Property (NTR_ATTR) of the associated packet record of at least a packet table (NTR2) is determined, - that at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) of the packet data record is evaluated to determine the Navigation data. The method of claim 2, wherein the packet data sets of at least one packet table (NTR1) as a first file and the Property records the at least one property table (NTR2) as a second file stored on the storage medium (DC). Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said at least compressed a data packet (NTR_BLOB) of the respective packet data set is and then saved. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the property data sets of the at least one property table (NTR1) are compressed and then saved. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein data the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB) with the help of at least one predetermined access function is accessed. Method according to Claim 6, in which the access function is used to change the data of the at least one data packet (NTR_BLOB). Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the at least a statement (SQL_CMD) is determined as an SQL statement. Computer program product that is a computer readable Medium with program instructions that includes a computer executable are and are adapted to operate a navigation system by a method according to any one of claims 2 to 8.