October 17^th, 2005

i Format Forum

i Format Forum is composed of the major navigation system companies, car manufacturers, as well as various other companies with its representative, Satomi Sudo of INCREMENT P CORPORATION.  Today, we as i Format Forum are delighted to announce that we propose revolutionary map database format, “incremental update format” and standardize this format.  The details are shown below.

[Purpose]

Since its establishment in October 2001, i Format Forum has been involved with various activities so that this pursuit brings improvement and expansion of mobile location information services to our society.

i Format makes it possible for a server distributor to deliver the most updated map as well as other location information to users.  In short, with i format, the cutting-edge telematics location services can be carried out.

Despite the aforementioned convenience and technology, however, map database per user increases more and more, and also the users are bothered by spending time and effort in updating their maps.  What has been requested by most people is a method that users can be in touch with the most current map info easily when they need it.

Moreover, other people look for map information being delivered through not only telematics, but also other transmission media.

We, as i Format Forum, have pursued answers to the above-mentioned requests.  In order to be ready for the next generation in-vehicle terminals, we propose a new format that enables to deliver only the requested map information part, as opposed to the whole information in a huge data size.  Needless to say, this is beneficial, considering it used to take whole a lot of time to deliver the newest data since the current information besides the remained information come together as the set database delivery.  i Format Forum intends to standardize such new format as it can take out only the change and not transport the remained.  The specifications of such format will be introduced in 2006 to all of you.

[New membership terms]

Since the incident of the disastrous Chuetsu Earthquake last year, various disaster prevention organizations have talked about making use of i Format for their data delivery services with us.  Thus, i Format Forum has decided to broaden the gate for such expected new forum members as academic research centers and other NPO organizations.

For example, the Research Center for Disaster Reduction Systems of Kyoto University is interested in our forum, and their specific interest is to deliver the most current and accurate information of destroyed buildings and streets, using the technology.

[Participating the Tokyo Motor Show 2005]

At the Tokyo Motor Show scheduled on October 22^nd till November 6^th, the concept of this “incremental update format” will be shown in a part of booths of Clarion Co, Ltd. and PIONEER CORPORATION, where we hope to see you all in person. 

Thank you.