Patent ID: 8214145

Claim:
A map distribution server comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a distribution request including edit request information about an edit request made by a user and a version of terminal map information held by a map information terminal; a first map information storage unit for holding a plurality of pieces of already-released first map information; a second map information storage unit for holding second map information which is most up to date, the second map information including yet-to-be-released map information; a first comparing unit for extracting first map information of a same version as said terminal map information from among said plurality of pieces of first map information, and for making a comparison with the edit request information included in said distribution request by using said extracted first map information and said second map information to output a first comparison result; a creating unit for creating difference map data according to said distribution request on a basis of said first comparison result and said first map information of the same version; a reliance status setting unit for setting a reliance status showing a degree of reliability of said difference map data according to said first comparison result; and a transmitting unit for transmitting distribution data including said difference map data and said reliance status to said map information terminal.