Patent ID: 7136744

Claim:
A navigation system comprising: a terminal unit; and a server unit that stores map information, the server unit searching for a travel route for the terminal unit and sending the searched travel route to the terminal unit over a network so that the terminal unit acquires the sent travel route to navigate a movable body on the basis of the travel route, wherein the map information includes matching data that has a plurality of matching mesh information divided into a predetermined area, the matching mesh information containing a plurality of point information each of which has coordinates information and unique point information and represents a predetermined point, and segment information which has unique segment information and connects a pair of the point information, the point information and the segment information representing a road; the server unit includes a storage section for storing the map information, an information acquisition section for acquiring current position information on a current position of the movable body and destination information on a destination of the movable body, a search section for searching for a travel route for the movable body by using the matching data on the basis of the current position information and the destination information, and a distributing section for distributing information on the searched travel route along with the matching mesh information containing the point information and the segment information to the terminal unit, the matching mesh information representing a road corresponding to the searched travel route; and the terminal unit includes a current position information generator for generating the current position information, a destination information generator for generating the destination information, a receiving section for acquiring the matching mesh information and the information on the searched travel route, a navigation section for navigating the movable body on the basis of the current position information, the acquired matching mesh information and the acquired information on the travel route, and a search-restart section for re-searching for a travel route to the destination by using the matching mesh information when the current position is off the travel route.