Will it be possible to use a 'Proprietary Format' for Empeg :

With the Nav system on Empeg we could imagine a utility to convert maps to Empeg format and anyone could use aby map :

You put your Map CD in your PC , use the converter and then upload it to EMpeg .

Is it really possible or requires too much work ?

That is actually the only possible way to go around the problem Derek was addressing with the incompatibility issue between different map vendors. A proprietary format is also necessary to get the data structures optimized in a way which fits best for the program.

The biggest bulk of work is to write 15 different converters to convert the data to the proprietary format. And you are pretty much forced to reverse engineer the data format used in the CDs as it will be very difficult to get any format specs. It's not likely that you can obtain format specs from TeleAtlas or NavTech for instance. I believe they are anything but open-source -- you might be able to get the specs by negotiating and signing pile of NDAs, though.

Then again, from the map vendor's perspective, they don't see this kind of project that interesting (commercially) as the amount of players (and potential customers for this kind of project) is relatively small, especially with the EOL announcement.

Kim