JP2002063093A - Course guidance information server device and course guidance information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and rapidly provide map information specialized in course guidance. SOLUTION: A map information server device 11, an advertisement information server device 12, and client devices 13 to 16 are connected through a network 17. This causes the client devices to display the map information specialized in course guidance, and appropriate advertisement information corresponding to user attribute information is provided on the client sides. The client devices 13 to 16 are a movable body communication terminal or a fixed terminal, each being equipped with a positional information detecting function, and connected to the network 17 by wireless or by wire. The server device 11 has a user information receiving part, a simplified map generation part, a point-to- point course calculation part, a landmark selection part, a map superpositioning part, and a map information delivery part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a route guidance information server device and a route guidance information providing system in which a map information server device provides appropriate road guidance information based on a request from a user for map information for route guidance. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to reach a destination, a person browses a printed map or the like and recognizes a destination point, a current point, and a route between both points. For example, if a person wants to travel from a current location (departure point) to a destination, the user can search for the current location on a printed map,
Next, the destination is searched, and furthermore, the route to reach the destination from the current location is confirmed, and the user goes to the destination. Then, if the route is lost, the user checks the map again and arrives at the destination while repeating this procedure. Recently, a mobile terminal is used to connect to a homepage site on the Internet where map information is provided, and by downloading one or more electronic map images including the current location and the destination, a map of a printed matter is downloaded. There are alternatives. Furthermore, the current position of the user is identified by GPS (Global Positioning).
System) or other location information detection technology, to specify the current location coordinate information of the person, map the current location coordinate information on an electronic map image stored in advance in the storage unit of the terminal, and display the current location coordinate information on the terminal display. It is also known to display an electronic map image indicating the current location.

[0003]

By the way, in a wireless communication environment, the communication band is generally scarce, and a mobile terminal is used to connect to a homepage site on the Internet where map information is provided. When one or more electronic map images including a point are downloaded, it takes a long time to download the electronic map image due to a large data amount, and the immediacy is impaired. That is, there is a problem that when a person desires the map information, the map information cannot be immediately supplied according to the desire of the person, so that efficient route guidance cannot be provided.

Also, when downloading an electronic map image for the purpose of guidance, even if only one electronic map image is downloaded, the electronic map image does not necessarily include all of the current point, the destination point, and the intermediate route. Not necessarily. That is, when the current point, the destination point, and the route on the way extend over two or more electronic map images, two or more electronic map images must be downloaded. The time required for displaying the map on the display unit of the terminal owned by the user increases, which also causes a loss of immediacy.
In addition, the downloaded electronic map image contains information unnecessary for route guidance (such as advertisement information for nearby restaurants), which may cause confusion,
It takes much effort to read the current location, the destination and the route on the way. On the other hand, on the other hand, people who desire such a guidance service generally do not have information on shops, banks, etc. around the point where they are, and are often in trouble.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a road guidance information server device and a road guidance information providing system capable of efficiently and promptly providing only map information suitable for road guidance. With the goal.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a guide information server apparatus comprising: a user information receiving unit for receiving a current position information and a destination information of a user from a client apparatus; A simplified map generator for generating a simplified base map for a route guide including the current position and the destination based on the current position information and the destination information of the user and using the original map data stored in the electronic map database; A point-to-point route calculation unit for calculating a route connecting the current position and the destination, a landmark selection unit for selecting a landmark on the route connecting the current position and the destination from a landmark information database, A map synthesizing unit for synthesizing the point-to-point route and the landmark to create map data for route guidance, and providing the map data for route guidance from the map information distribution unit to the It is obtained so as to be delivered to the ant apparatus. Thereby, only the map information specialized for the route guidance can be displayed on the client device.

Further, the guide information server device according to the present invention transmits an advertisement information request message corresponding to the user ID to the advertisement information server device, and transmits the information included in the advertisement information request message to the advertisement information server device. The advertisement information related to the element is distributed to the client device. This makes it possible to provide the client with appropriate advertisement information corresponding to the user attribute information.

In addition, the system for providing guide information according to the present invention, in response to a request for map information for guide from a user, provides current position information specified by the user or automatically obtained and destination information specified by the user. A client device to be transmitted, and a route guidance information server device that generates map information for route guidance based on current position information and destination information received from the client device, and causes the client device to transmit the map information for route guidance. It is like that. Thereby, the user can receive the guidance information requested by the user in real time.

[0009] Further, in the route guidance information providing system according to the present invention, the route guidance information server device transmits the user attribute information retrieved based on the user ID transmitted from the client device and the user attribute information transmitted from the client device. The current position information of the client device, the destination information specified by the user, and the information of at least one point on the two-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the route guidance map are used by the user based on the information. The advertisement information is transmitted to an advertisement information server device that outputs desired advertisement information. Thereby, the advertisement information desired by the user can be provided.

[0010] In addition, the guide information providing system according to the present invention provides the advertisement information server device with user attribute information retrieved based on a user ID transmitted from the guide information server device, and a user attribute information transmitted from the client device. Advertisement information retrieved based on the obtained current position information of the client device, the destination information specified by the user, and the information of at least one point on the point-to-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the guide map. Is transmitted to the client device. Thus, distribution of map information and distribution of advertisement information can be performed separately, and user convenience can be achieved.

[0011] Further, in the guide information providing system according to the present invention, the guide information server stores time information at which the user has requested map information, and associates the time information with at least a user ID. It has a user information database to be stored. Thus, the advertisement information in the requested time zone of the map information can be supplied to the advertisement information server device in a timely manner.

[0012] In addition, the guide information providing system according to the present invention, wherein the user ID is stored in the guide information server device.
User attribute information retrieved based on the information, current position information of the client device transmitted from the client device and destination information specified by the user, and a point-to-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the guide map. The above-mentioned information on at least one point and the time information are transmitted to the advertisement information server device. Thus, the advertisement information at a predetermined time desired by the user can be selected from the advertisement information server device and supplied to the client device.

[0013] Further, in the route guidance information providing system according to the present invention, the advertisement information server device transmits the advertisement information searched based on at least the time information to the client device. Thereby, the user can obtain desired advertisement information at the optimal timing on the display unit.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a guide information providing system according to the present invention, which is mainly composed of a map information server device 11, an advertisement information server device 12, a fixed terminal 13 as a client device, and a mobile unit having a position information detection function. It comprises terminals 14, 15, 16 and a network 17. The map information server device 11 and the client devices 13 to 16 are connected to a network 17. Each of the client devices 13 to 16 is a mobile communication terminal or a fixed terminal as described above having a position information detecting function.
7 is connected. Next, a detailed configuration of the map information server device 11 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the map information server device 11. Map information server device 11
Includes a user information receiving unit 21 for receiving position information or user attribute information specified by a user or automatically acquired, a simplified map generating unit 22 for generating a simplified base map from original electronic map data, , A point-to-point route calculation unit 2 that calculates the route between the user's current location and the destination
3 and a mark selecting unit 24 for automatically selecting a building or the like which is a landmark of the route guidance, and a map synthesizing unit for synthesizing the simplified base map image, the two-point route image and the selected building (mark) image. 25, and a map information distribution unit 26 that distributes an electronic image of the synthesized road guidance map.

In the map information server device 11,
27 is an advertisement server information receiving unit that receives advertisement server information from the advertisement information server device 12, 28 is a user attribute information transfer unit that transfers user attribute information specified by the user, 29
Is an electronic map database that stores the original electronic map data before the simplification processing, 30 is a landmark information database that stores information such as buildings that serve as landmarks for road guidance, and 31 is a user information database that stores user registration information. , 32
Is a control unit that controls the operation of each unit of these functional blocks, 33 is a clock unit that supplies a timing clock for the operation to the control unit 32, 34 is a user that authenticates with a user ID and a password, and
16 is a user management unit that determines whether or not to provide a service to 16.

Further, the advertisement information server device 12 comprises:
An advertisement information selection unit 41 that selects advertisement information to be provided to the user, an advertisement information distribution unit 42 that distributes the selected advertisement to the user, and receives user attribute information transferred from the map information server device 11. User attribute receiving unit 43
, An advertisement information database 44 storing advertisement information to be provided to the user, a control unit 45 for controlling the operation of each of these functional blocks, and a storage device 46 for storing control information of the control unit 45.

The client devices 13 to 16
Is a user input unit 51 for the user to input designated data
A position information acquisition unit 52 that automatically acquires user position information (current position information), an information reception unit 53 that receives information from the outside via the network 17, an information transmission unit 54 that sends information to the outside, A user ID management unit 55 for managing user IDs, a memory unit 57 for temporarily storing information under the control of the control unit 56, a storage device 58 for storing control information of the control unit 56, and a display for displaying various information A portion 59.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the operation of the guide information providing system of the present invention. Hereinafter, the outline of the operation will be described with the client device 13 among the client devices 13 to 16 as a representative. First, for example, the client device 13 as a fixed terminal is the map information server device 1
1 requests map information. The map information server device 11 distributes the map information to the client device 13 and requests the advertisement information server device 12 for the advertisement information. For this reason, the advertisement information server device 12
Distribute advertising information to Note that the user accesses the map information server device 11 using the client device 13 possessed by the user and requests the registration of the attribute information of the user himself, in order to enjoy the service provided by the information providing system in advance. FIG. 6 shows an example of the user information registration screen. A user ID is given to the attribute information of the user, and the attribute information is stored in the user information database 31 of the map information server device 11. Thereafter, the user ID is transmitted from the map information server device 11 to the client device 13 and notified to the user.

If the user gets lost on the way from the departure point to the destination, the user inputs his / her current location information (or client The location information automatically acquired by the location information acquisition unit 52 in the device 13), the destination information desired by the user, the user ID, and the like are transmitted to the map information server device 11 to request the route guidance map information. FIG. 7 shows an example of a desired map information designation screen at that time. After that, the map information server device 11, which has received the map information request message from the client device 13,
Based on the current location information of the user and the destination information desired by the user, the simplified map generator 22 includes the current location and the destination transmitted from the user using the original map data stored in the electronic map database 29. Generate a base map for directions. For example, a road network structure in which a center line of a road is a link and a connection point is a node, and a spatial object network structure in which a spatial object (a building or the like) is a node and a positional relationship between objects at a primary proximity position is a link. Each. Only necessary information is extracted and processed according to a map editing and processing program from among them, and a deformed map is automatically generated together with a schematic map and a peripheral map. On the other hand, the point-to-point route calculation unit 23 generates a route map connecting the current location and the destination.

Further, an optimum landmark figure which can be a landmark is obtained by using the landmark selecting section 24 and the landmark information database 30.
Select by. Then, the map combining unit 25 combines the base map, the route map, and the landmark map to create road guidance map data. The map information server device 11 delivers the combined route guidance map data to the client device 13. FIG. 8 shows a rough flow chart of these. Further, the map information server device 11 is provided with the client device 1
After transmitting the guide map data to 3, the user attribute information is transmitted to the advertisement information server device 12. Then, the advertisement information server device 12 that has received the user attribute information selects the advertisement information that the user would like based on the user advertisement information, and transmits the advertisement information to the client device 13. Then, the advertisement information is displayed on the display unit of the client device 13. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of this operation.

Next, a case where a position information detecting function such as GPS is used to specify the current position information of the client device 13 will be described in detail. Here, by using the position information detection function provided in the client device 13, the user does not need to manually input his / her current location information, and it is possible to obtain convenience and immediacy. For example, if the user gets lost on the way from Osaka City Hall to Osaka Station, the user will be asked to enter the client device 1
The user accesses the Internet site provided with the present system by using 3 and attempts to request map information including the destination from the current location of the user. When the user specifies a destination from the user interface unit of the client device 13 (input of the user ID and password can be omitted by a function of software such as a browser in the client device 13).
In, the current position information is automatically acquired by a position information acquisition unit (such as one using a position detection technique using a GPS or a base station) 52, and a map information request message is transmitted from the client device 13 to the map information server device 11. here,
FIGS. 10 and 11 show examples of information elements of the destination designation screen and the map information request message, respectively.

When the map information server device 11 receives the map information request message from the client device 13, the user management unit 34 authenticates the user with a user ID and a password, and provides a service to the client device 13. Determine whether or not. When permitted by the authentication, the map information server device 11 combines the map information specialized for the route guidance to be provided to the user with the map combining unit 25. Further, the map information server device 11 transmits the synthesized map information to the client device 1.
Send to 3. Client device 1 that has received map information
3 displays a guide map image on the display unit 59 of the client device 13. Figure 12 shows the map image at that time.
Shown in

This map image is map information specialized for route guidance. That is, in this map image, information unnecessary for route guidance (for example, information on a road other than a route on the way or advertisement information that does not become a landmark (mark)).
Is not posted, and the user can go to the destination without hesitation by referring to the map image. In addition, this map information has extra information cut off, the data size is smaller than that of a general one, and it is possible to easily download the map information even in a wireless communication environment where a communication band is generally scarce. A service with high real-time properties can be provided.
In particular, it is possible to provide information to a moving user based on the accurate current location information of the user at that time. When the user desires the map information again, new map information can be obtained by using the same procedure as described above.

On the other hand, after transmitting the map information to the client device 13, the map information server device 11
13 is searched by the user information database 31, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, and the user attribute information corresponding to the user ID, the time information read by the clock unit, the client position information, and the like are included in the information element. Is transmitted to the advertisement information server device 12. Here, an example of the information element of the advertisement information request message is shown in FIG. The advertisement information server device 12, which has received the advertisement information request message,
Based on the user attribute information, time information, user position information, and the like included in the message, the advertisement information selection unit 1
In step 4, the advertisement information database 44 is searched, and advertisement information related to the user attribute information and the user position information is selected. FIG. 12 shows an example of such user attribute information and user position information.

For example, based on the information “(sex) = (male)” in the user attribute information, “(current location)
= (Nakanoshima 1-chome Oebashi Minamizume Intersection) ”and select the advertisement information for the barber shop. (South South Intersection) ”and select the advertisement information of the tobacco store near“ (Destination point) = (Osaka Station Midosujiro) ”based on the information“ (Favorite alcohol) = (Wine) ”. Select the advertising information for the wine store. The selected advertisement information is stored in the advertisement information server device 12.
The advertisement information is transmitted to the client device 13 by the advertisement information distribution unit 42 of the client device. There is a way to display). Then, the client device 13 that has received the advertisement information displays the advertisement information on the display unit 59 such as a display. FIG. 15 shows an example of a display image on the display unit 59 of the client device 13 at this time. The user can not only obtain map information for route guidance in real time, but also obtain timely information on the user's current location, information on a passing point (one point on a designated intermediate route) or around a destination point.

The time at which the user requests the map information is set to a time period (12:00 to 1) usually called lunch time.
3:00), 12:30 belonging to, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, from the advertisement information database 44 classified in advance into time zones, store locations, advertisement genres, and the like,
Using the information of "(time zone) = (12: 00-13: 00)", "(store location) = (Nakanoshima 1-chome Oebashi Minamizume Intersection)" and "(ad genre) = (ramen)" as keys , Search and select the advertising information that the user may desire. Then, a list of the selected advertisement information is transmitted from the advertisement information distribution unit 42 of the advertisement information server device 12 to the client device 13. FIG. 17 shows a screen image displayed on the display unit 59 of the client device 13 at that time.
As described above, by using the information providing system, it is possible to select the most appropriate advertisement information based on the time when the user has requested the map information and to provide the user with useful information.

A program for realizing the function of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed to execute information. May be provided. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Also, if the “computer system” uses a WWW system,
It also includes the homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” means a portable medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. . Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. And those holding programs for a certain period of time.

The above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting a program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. further,
What can realize the above-mentioned function in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called difference file (difference program) may be used.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the map information server device can change the current location, the destination,
By providing an electronic map image in which the route and the landmark are marked, the user can enjoy the map information optimized for the route guidance in real time, and based on the position information of the user. By making it possible to separately obtain the map information distribution and the advertisement information distribution, it is possible to obtain the effect that the advertisement information that the user desires can be provided with good timing. In addition, unnecessary information can be omitted, and route guidance that requires a small amount of information can be easily realized using a mobile terminal or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the entirety of a guide information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a map information server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an advertisement information server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a client device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation outline in the guide information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a user information registration screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a desired map information designation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation flow in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a purpose designation screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information element of a map information request message according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing road guidance map information according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a user information database according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of user attribute information in the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an advertisement information display image according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of an advertisement information database according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of an advertisement information display image according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 11 Map information server device 12 Advertisement information server device 13 Fixed terminal (client device) 14-16 Mobile terminal (client device) 21 User information receiving unit 22 Simplified map generation unit 23 Two-point route calculation unit 24 landmark selection unit 25 map synthesis unit 26 map information distribution unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A (72) Inventor Kei Keizumi 3 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 15 West Japan F-term (reference) 2C032 HB05 HC27 2F029 AA02 AC06 AC14 5B049 CC02 EE05 EE07 FF01 GG00 5B075 ND06 PQ02 PQ05 UU14 UU16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A user information receiving unit for receiving current position information and destination information of a user from a client device, and original map data stored in an electronic map database based on the current position information and destination information of the user. A simplified map generator that generates a simplified base map for road guidance including a current position and a destination, a point-to-point route calculator that calculates a route connecting the current position and the destination, A landmark selection unit that selects a landmark on a route connecting the current position and the destination from the landmark information database; a map synthesis unit that synthesizes the base map, the two-point route and the landmark to create road guidance map data; A route information server device, comprising: a map information delivery unit that delivers the route guidance map data to the client device. 2. An advertisement information request message corresponding to a user ID is transmitted to an advertisement information server device, and the advertisement information server device transmits, to the client device, advertisement information related to an information element included in the advertisement information request message. The route guidance information server device according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance information server device is distributed. 3. A client device for transmitting current position information specified by a user or automatically acquired in response to a request for map information for route guidance from a user and destination information specified by a user, and receiving from the client device. And a route guidance information server device for generating route guidance map information based on the current position information and the destination information, and transmitting the route guidance map information to the client device. Delivery system. 4. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the guide information server device includes a user attribute information retrieved based on the user ID transmitted from the client device, a current position information of the client device transmitted from the client device, and a user designation. Information server device that outputs the destination information desired by the user based on the destination information and the information of at least one point on the point-to-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the guide map. The route guidance information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the information is transmitted. 5. The advertisement information server device according to claim 1, wherein said advertisement information server device includes a user attribute information retrieved based on a user ID transmitted from said route guidance information server device, a current position information of said client device transmitted from said client device, Transmitting advertisement information retrieved to the client device based on destination information specified by a user and information on at least one point on the point-to-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the guide map. Claim 4
Guide information providing system described in. 6. The road guidance information server device includes a user information database that stores time information when the user makes a request for map information, and stores the time information in association with at least a user ID. Claim 3
A route guidance information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The user information server apparatus further comprising: user attribute information retrieved based on the user ID; current position information of the client device transmitted from the client device; and destination information specified by the user. 6. The advertisement information server device, wherein information on at least one point on the point-to-point route calculated and derived at the time of generating the route guidance map and the time information are transmitted to an advertisement information server device.
Guide information providing system described in. 8. The information providing system according to claim 6, wherein the advertisement information server device transmits the advertisement information retrieved based on at least the time information to the client device.