JP2001027925A - Map information supply method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily register the map information in a foreign language and also to reduce the capacity of a storage means by registering a character string of a name, etc., to be displayed on a map in plural expressions. SOLUTION: A character string of a name, etc., that is displayed on the map information is registered in >=2 expressions. A foreign language information registering server of this map information supply device consists primarily of a control means 2, an input means 3, a display means 4, a communication means 5 and a storage means 6. The means 6 consists of an information storage means such as a hard disk and stores a general name conversion table 7 where the general names having parameters are related to their corresponding names of a foreign language and a Kana (Japanese syllabary) character conversion table 8 where the Hiragana (cursive form of Japanese syllabary) characters are related to their corresponding Roman characters. The means 6 also stores a main program 9 which displays a name that is registered in two character notations on the map information after switching the languages in response to a language switching instruction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing map information using a computer system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing map information in a foreign language.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, there has been proposed a system for inputting various conditions on the Internet to display service contents of various stores and providing map information indicating the locations of the stores.

In these systems, a personal terminal such as a personal computer, a server for storing map information and a server for recording service information of a store are connected on a network. For example, a map search screen is displayed on the terminal. When the user inputs information on "restaurants near JR Kanda Station", the server is connected to a server that provides map information, and restaurants near JR Kanda Station are displayed on the map. When one of the icons corresponding to the displayed restaurant is selected, the server is connected to a server that provides the service information of the restaurant, and the service information of the restaurant is displayed on the screen. . However, these map information providing systems only provide Japanese map information and do not convert character information into a foreign language (including Roman characters) and display it.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-97006, a system for switching the display language of a map has been proposed. This system stores map data for "Japanese", "English", and "French" in a memory in advance, and switches to a corresponding language when a display language switching request is input.

[0005]

However, in this system, it is necessary to convert map information such as a place name into a foreign language and register it in advance, and there is a problem that registration takes an enormous amount of time. In addition, since map information must be stored for each language, there has been a problem that the memory capacity is enormous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing map information in a foreign language by a computer system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map information providing method and apparatus which facilitates registration of a map information and reduces the capacity of a storage means.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying a map information by superimposing a character string on a computer system.
The provider of the character string information executes the step of registering the character string to be displayed by specifying the position on the map in two or more expressions, and the viewer of the map information to the character displayed on the map. A step of selecting an expression of a column and a step of displaying the expression of the character string selected above over map information are executed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a map information providing method in which a computer system superimposes and displays a character string on map information. Registering a column, and reading a character string in any one of a plurality of registered character strings when there is a language switching instruction for switching a language of the map display; A step of converting the output character string into a language instructed by the language switching instruction; and a step of displaying the converted character string superimposed on map information.

Here, the character notation method refers to a method of writing words using different kinds of characters such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and romaji in Japanese, and a method of mixing and using these. Including, but not limited to.

The present invention also relates to a map information providing apparatus for displaying a character string superimposed on map information by a computer system and providing the map information. Registration data storage means for storing columns in association with each other, conversion table storage means for storing a conversion table for associating a character string displayed on a map with a character string corresponding to the character string in another language, and a map display language Language switching instructing means for instructing switching of the language, a character string to be displayed on a map described in any of the character notations read from the registered data storage means, and a language designated by the language switching instruction. From the conversion table read from the conversion table storage means,
Language conversion means for extracting a character string in another language corresponding to the character string to be displayed on the map, and display means for displaying the converted character string superimposed on the map information. .

[0011] The present invention is also a program for providing map information by a computer system, comprising the steps of: registering a plurality of character strings in which character strings to be displayed on a map are represented in different character notations; Reading a character string in any one of a plurality of character strings registered in the language when there is a language switching instruction to switch the language, and converting the character string read in the language into the language A storage medium storing a program including a step of converting into a language specified by a switching instruction and a step of displaying a character string in the converted language on map information.

The present invention also provides a map information providing method for providing map information by a computer system.
When the name to be displayed on the map is composed of a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a second name part not belonging to the name group, the first name part corresponds from the name group. Register by selecting the name to
The second name part is registered by selecting a plurality of names written in different character notations, and selecting and registering the first name part from the name group when there is a language switching instruction to switch the language of the map display. Reading the first name part, reading the name in any one of the plurality of registered names for the second name part, and reading the first name part in the language designated by the language switching instruction. Converting the second name part to the language specified by the language switching instruction, and displaying the converted first name part and second name part on the map information. And characterized in that:

The present invention also provides a map information providing apparatus for providing map information by a computer system.
When the name to be displayed on the map is composed of a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a second name part not belonging to the name group, the first name part corresponds from the name group. Enter by selecting the name to be
Input means for inputting a plurality of names in which the second name part is described in different character notation; registered name data storage means for storing the input first name part and second name part in association with each other; First conversion table storing means for storing a first conversion table for associating a name belonging to a group with a name corresponding to the name in another language; language switching instructing means for instructing switching of the language of map display; The first name part is constituted by the first name part read from the data storage means and the first conversion table read from the first conversion table storage means of the language specified by the language switching instruction. Language conversion means for extracting a name in another language corresponding to the name, and display means for displaying a name including the converted name portion on the map information. And wherein the door.

The present invention also provides a map information providing method for providing map information by a computer system.
When the name to be displayed on the map is composed of a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a second name part not belonging to the name group, the first name part is A step of registering a name by selecting a corresponding name, further dividing the second name part into two or more name parts and registering a plurality of names written in different character notations, and switching a language of a map display Reading out at least one name part of names in any one of the plurality of registered names for the second name part when there is a language switching instruction; Converting the converted name part into the language specified by the language switching instruction; and displaying the name including the converted name part on the map information. A step that, characterized by comprising a.

The present invention also provides a map information providing apparatus for providing map information by a computer system.
When the name to be displayed on the map is composed of a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a second name part not belonging to the name group, the first name part is An input unit for inputting by selecting a corresponding name, and for inputting a plurality of names written in different character notations while further dividing the second name part into two or more name parts, (2) registered name data storage means for storing a name part; second conversion table storage means for storing a second conversion table for associating a name displayed on the map with a name corresponding to the name in another language; Language switching instructing means for instructing the switching of the language, and at least one of the second name parts read from the registered name data storing means. Language conversion means for extracting a name in another language corresponding to the name constituting the name part from a second conversion table read from the second conversion table storage means for the language specified by the language switching instruction; And display means for displaying a name including the converted name portion on the map information in a superimposed manner.

Further, the present invention is a map information display device for displaying a character string overlaid on map information by a computer system, wherein a character string in kanji and a corresponding character string in hiragana or katakana are input. Means, language switching instructing means for instructing switching to the Japanese or English representation on the map, and when a language switching instruction is issued by the language switching instructing means, the hiragana or katakana input as described above is used. And a means for converting the obtained character string into Roman notation, and displaying the character string in Roman character notation obtained so as to be superimposed on map information.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing features of a map information providing method according to the present invention.

Information for displaying the name of a store or facility along with the location on the map is registered, and the map information is displayed on the map if the viewer of the map information instructs to switch the display language of the map information. The name is converted to another language and displayed. Names displayed on such a map include, but are not limited to, names of stores, buildings, sightseeing spots, roads, stations, and the like.

First, an example will be described in which, when registering information desired to be displayed over map information, the name of the store or facility or the like includes a character string "Kanda". When registering this name, "Kanda" written in the usual characters
And "Kanda" written in hiragana.

When Japanese is selected as the display language of the map, the name including the notation "Kanda" is superimposed and displayed on the map. On the other hand, when the viewer of the map information instructs to switch the display of the map information to another language, the conversion table is read from the storage unit storing the conversion table for converting the hiragana into the Roman alphabet, and registered in advance. "Kanda" of the hiragana notation is read out of the information.
Next, “kana” is converted to “kanda” by extracting the Romanized notation “kanda” corresponding to “kana” using the conversion table.

The character string "kan" thus converted
The name of the other language display including "da" is displayed so as to be superimposed on the map information read from the storage means storing the map information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

An information registration requester terminal 10, a foreign language registration server 20, a map information storage server 30, a store information registration server 40, and a user terminal 50 are connected via a network 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the method according to this embodiment.

A person who wants to provide information such as advertisements on stores and facilities (information registration requester) accesses the store information registration server 40 on a WWW (World Wide Web) site from a terminal 10 such as a personal computer. And HTML
(Hyper Text Mark-up Language) A store information input page (HTML file defined screen) stored as a file is displayed on the display screen of the terminal 10 by a WWW browser to input registration information (step 1). ). Here, the terminal 10 is a computer having a display (display means) such as a CRT or an LCD and input means such as a keyboard and a mouse. FIG. 4 shows a part of the registration information of the store information input page. At this time, if the name to be displayed on the map is, for example, "Kanda Station", the information registration requester inputs "Kanda" in a commonly used character notation using a keyboard or the like, and also uses a hiragana notation. Is also input. A name (first name portion) generally used for displaying on a map, such as a station or a bank, is extracted in advance, and a list is created with numbers as parameters. The names included in such a list are displayed in a window. If the corresponding item is not displayed in the window, place the mouse cursor on the “▽” position and click to display a list, and select from the list. In this case, since "station = 1" is displayed in the window, this is selected. Also,
On this page, an address, latitude and longitude are also input to specify a display position of an icon or the like indicating the location of a store or the like. In addition, business type, telephone number, facsimile number,
An E-mail address, a homepage address, business hours, a fee, and the like may be input and registered.

In this way, the information registration requester is sent to the terminal 1
The registration information input from 0 is sent to the store registration server 40 and stored in the storage means (step 2).

If the information registration requester also desires to display in a foreign language other than Japanese, he / she also inputs that fact (step 3). If you would like to display in such a foreign language,
The registration information is stored in the store information registration server 40 and transmitted to the foreign language information registration server 20 (step 4).

The server 20 mainly comprises control means 2, input means 3, display means 4, communication means 5, and storage means 6. The control means 2 is composed of a CPU and the like, and performs control of each means, data transfer, calculation, temporary storage of data, and the like.
The input means 3 comprises a keyboard, a mouse and the like, and the display means 4 comprises a CRT and the like. The communication means 5 includes a terminal adapter and the like. The storage means 6 is composed of an information storage medium such as a hard disk, and has a general name conversion table 7 which associates a general name with a parameter with a corresponding name in a foreign language, and a kana which associates a hiragana with a corresponding Roman alphabet. Contains the character conversion table. Also,
The storage means 6 stores a main program for switching a language registered in two character notations in accordance with a language switching instruction and superimposing the language on map information. Naturally, these data and programs may be stored in separate storage means. Such a server can be constituted by a general-purpose computer.

The server 30 is a map information storage server,
A hierarchical map file including a map of Japan, a map of prefectures, and a divided map (for example, a municipal or downtown area) is stored.

A person (user) who wants to search for information accesses the server 20, selects a search screen from the main menu screen, displays it, and inputs search conditions (step 5). On the search screen, a desired one is selected from items such as "place name search" or "map search".
When "place name search" is selected, a place name of a place desired to be searched is inputted, and a section map including the corresponding place is displayed on the screen of the terminal. When "map search" is selected, first, a map of Japan is displayed on a screen, and a prefecture including a desired search location is selected with a mouse cursor. Next, the selected prefecture map is displayed on the screen, the area including the desired search location is selected with the mouse cursor, and the divided map including the selected area is displayed on the screen. At this time, the search condition input from the terminal 50 is transmitted to the server 20 and the server 2
0 requests the server 40 to search for map information in accordance with this condition (step 6), and the server 40 reads the corresponding map from the storage means (step 7) and causes the terminal 50 to display the map.

As shown in FIG. 6, the screen for displaying the segmented map includes "Japanese" and "English" buttons 11,1.
2 is displayed, and a button 1 is used to display the map on the map in Japanese or a foreign language (here, English).
Switching can be performed by clicking the mouse at 1,12.

If the information search applicant selects display in a foreign language (English), the information (language switching instruction) is transmitted to the foreign language information registration server 20 (step 5, step 5).
Step 6). The server 20 first searches for registration information included in the area of the segmented map (step 8). Next, from the registered information, the name is converted to Romanized notation from the name written in hiragana and the read kana character conversion table. Further, since the general name is selected by a parameter, the general name is converted into a foreign language by extracting the corresponding name in the designated foreign language using the read general name conversion table. The name thus converted is combined with the map information transmitted from the server (step 9) and displayed on the screen of the terminal 50 (step 10). FIG. 7 is an example of the English display screen.

On the screen on which the selected foreign language display section map is displayed, the mouse cursor is moved to an icon for displaying a store or the like from which information is to be obtained and clicked (step 11). Is read from the server 40 (step 12) and displayed on the screen of the terminal 50 (step 13). Alternatively, the URL of the homepage of the store is displayed on the store information screen, and by clicking the URL, a server having the homepage is accessed, read out, and displayed on the terminal screen.

In the above embodiment, the foreign language information and the map information are synthesized by the foreign language registration server and transmitted to the terminal for display. The foreign language information is transmitted from the foreign language registration server to the terminal. Then, the map information may be transmitted from the map information storage server to the terminal, and the foreign language information and the map information may be combined and displayed on the terminal.

When the information registration requester wishes to register in a foreign language, the conversion of the registration information into a foreign language is performed in advance together with the registration of the input information in the server 40. It may be stored.

In the above-described embodiment, the server for registering store information and the server for registering a foreign language have been described separately. However, the same server may be used.

Although the north latitude and the east longitude are input on the store information input page to specify the coordinates of the location of the store on the map, it is also possible to register only the address. In this case, a conversion table that associates each address with its north latitude and east longitude is stored in, for example, a storage unit of the store information registration server, and the input address is used as the corresponding latitude using this conversion table. What is necessary is to convert to longitude.

In the above embodiment, a system including a personal computer has been described as an example of the map information providing apparatus and method, but the present invention can be applied to a navigation system. In this case, multiple types of map names
The information may be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and the information from the storage medium may be read and displayed in another language.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, but differs in the information registration method and processing.

FIG. 8 shows a part of the registration information of the store information input page in this embodiment. On this screen, if the name of the information registration requester to be displayed on the map is, for example, "Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi", the input requester such as a keyboard uses "Tokyo-Mitsubishi" in a commonly used character notation. And the name in hiragana notation is also input. At this time, the hiragana notation such as "Tokyo, Mitsubishi" is also entered including the delimiter by ",". As for the bank, parameters are set and included in the list, and are input by selecting in the window. In this way, when inputting a name part in which no parameter is set in hiragana, a separator is inserted and further divided into a plurality of name parts so that the input is performed in Roman characters for each of the divided name parts. , And the processing is simplified. In addition, a dictionary may be provided in the storage unit, and the name part in which no parameter is set may be divided into a Roman character conversion part and a part to be converted into a foreign language specified by the dictionary.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, a character string such as a name to be superimposed and displayed on map information is registered in two or more expressions, so that it is easy to register other languages (including Roman characters). At the same time, the capacity of the storage means for storing the map display information can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing features of a map information providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of registration information of a store information input page.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a foreign language information registration server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a Japanese display screen of map information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an English display screen of map information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of registration information of a store information input page according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 2 Control means 3 Input means 4 Display means 5 Communication means 6 Storage means 7 General name conversion table 8 Kana character conversion table 9 Main program 10 Information registration requester terminal 20 Foreign language registration server 30 Map information storage server 40 Store information Registration server 50 User terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G06F 15/62 335 9A001 (72) Inventor Yoshimasa Sugitate Hanazono Todocho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 10 Omron Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toru Kurume 10 Ohana, Todo-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto F-term (reference) 2C032 HB11 HC13 HC27 2F029 AC13 AC14 5B050 BA17 BA20 CA07 EA19 FA02 FA13 5B075 ND07 PP02 PP03 PP13 PQ02 PQ69 UU14 5E501 AA02 AB15 AC03 AC15 AC33 BA05 CA03 CA04 CB02 CB09 DA02 DA15 EA05 EA10 EA11 EA13 EB05 FA03 FA04 FA05 FA13 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 CC02 DD13 EE02 HH12 EJ02 HH12 HJK JJ02 HH28

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for providing a character string by superimposing and displaying a character string on a map information by a computer system, wherein a provider of the character string information specifies two or more character strings to be displayed by designating a position on a map. Executing the step of registering with the expression, and allowing the viewer of the map information to select the expression of the character string displayed on the map; and displaying the expression of the character string selected above on the map information. And a step of executing the map information providing method. 2. A method for providing map information, wherein a character string is superimposed and displayed on map information by a computer system, wherein a plurality of character strings in which character strings to be displayed on a map are represented in different character notations are registered. Reading a character string in any one of a plurality of registered character strings when there is a language switching instruction for switching a language of a map display; and A map information providing method, comprising: converting a string into a language specified by the language switching instruction; and displaying the converted character string superimposed on map information. 3. A map information providing apparatus for displaying a character string superimposed on a map information by a computer system and providing the map information, wherein a plurality of character strings in which character strings to be displayed on a map are represented in different character notations are associated with each other. Registration data storage means for storing and storing, a conversion table storage means for storing a conversion table for associating a character string displayed on the map with a character string corresponding to the character string in another language; Language switching instruction means, a character string to be displayed on a map described in any of the character notations read from the registered data storage means, and a conversion table storage means for the language specified by the language switching instruction Language conversion means for extracting a character string in another language corresponding to the character string to be displayed on the map from the conversion table read from Map information providing apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying overlapping the converted character string in the map information. 4. A program for providing map information by a computer system, comprising: registering a plurality of character strings in which character strings to be displayed on a map are represented in different character notations; and switching a language of the map display. A step of reading a character string in any one of a plurality of character strings registered above when there is a language switching instruction; and indicating the read character string by the language switching instruction. A storage medium storing a program, comprising: a step of converting into a converted language; and a step of displaying a character string in the converted language overlaid on map information. 5. A map information providing method for providing map information by a computer system, wherein a name to be displayed on the map is a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a first name part not belonging to the name group. When constituted by two name parts, the first name part is registered by selecting a corresponding name from the name group,
Registering a plurality of names written in different character notations in the second name part; and selecting and registering the first name part from the name group when a language switching instruction for switching the language of the map display is given. Reading the first name part; reading the name in any one of the plurality of registered names for the second name part; and the language designated by the language switching instruction for the first name part. Converting the second name part into the language specified by the language switching instruction; and displaying the converted first name part and second name part superimposed on map information. And a map information providing method comprising: 6. A map information providing apparatus for providing map information by a computer system, wherein a name to be displayed on a map is a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a first name part not belonging to the name group. When constituted by two name parts, the first name part is input by selecting a corresponding name from the name group,
Input means for inputting a plurality of names in which the second name part is written in different character notations; registered name data storage means for storing the input first name part and second name part in association with each other; First conversion table storage means for storing a first conversion table for associating a name belonging to a group with a name corresponding to the name in another language; language switching instructing means for instructing switching of the language of map display; The first name part is constituted by the first name part read from the data storage means and the first conversion table read from the first conversion table storage means of the language specified by the language switching instruction. Language conversion means for extracting a name in another language corresponding to the name, and display means for displaying a name including the converted name part on the map information in a superimposed manner. Map information providing system characterized in that the. 7. A map information providing method for providing map information by a computer system, wherein a name to be displayed on the map is a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a first name part not belonging to the name group. When the first name part is composed of two name parts, the first name part is registered by selecting the corresponding name from the name group, and the second name part is further divided into two or more name parts and different characters are used. A step of registering a plurality of names described in a notation, and when a language switching instruction for switching a language of a map display is given, any one of the plurality of registered names for the second name portion is used. Reading at least one of the name parts of the names according to the above, and indicating the read name part by the language switching instruction A map information providing method, comprising: a step of converting the name into a converted language; and a step of displaying a name including the converted name portion so as to overlap the map information. 8. A map information providing apparatus for providing map information by a computer system, wherein a name to be displayed on a map is a first name part belonging to a name group consisting of preset names and a first name part not belonging to the name group. When the first name part is constituted by two name parts, the first name part is inputted by selecting the corresponding name from the name group, and the second name part is further divided into two or more name parts and different characters are inputted. Input means for inputting a plurality of names written in notation, registered name data storage means for storing the input second name part, and names corresponding to the names in other languages than the names displayed on the map A second conversion table storing means for storing a second conversion table for associating with a language, a language switching instructing means for instructing a switching of a language for map display, At least one of the second name parts read from the recorded name data storage means and the second conversion table read from the second conversion table storage means of the language specified by the language switching instruction Language conversion means for extracting a name in another language corresponding to the name constituting the name part, and display means for displaying a name including the converted name part in a manner superimposed on map information. A map information providing device, characterized in that: 9. A map information display device for displaying a character string superimposed on map information by a computer system, comprising: means for inputting a character string in kanji and a corresponding character string in hiragana or katakana; Language switching instructing means for instructing switching to the Japanese or English expression on the map, and when a language switching instruction is issued by the language switching instructing means,
A conversion unit for converting the character string in the hiragana or katakana input into the Romanized notation, and a unit for displaying the character string in the Romanized notation obtained above superimposed on the map information, and Map information display device.