JP2006185452A - Device and method for displaying map - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize real time retrieval by which a condition of narrowing down of retrieval objects is checked in real time in accordance with specification of individual retrieval keys. <P>SOLUTION: A list of retrieval keys is prepared in a form of a hierarchical menu and a retrieval menu at the top layer is displayed first (a step S1). When a user specifies one retrieval key from the retrieval menu (S2), retrieval is automatically executed using the retrieval key (S3, S11) and its retrieval result is displayed (S12, S21). A hierarchical menu at a layer one lower than the retrieval key specified currently is simultaneously displayed (S5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information search apparatus and method using a computer.

  A conventional search device executes a search when a user orders search execution after inputting all search keys.

  Depending on the purpose of the search, it may be more convenient to confirm where the search target is narrowed down by specifying each search key. For example, this function is very convenient for map search. However, the conventional search device cannot do that.

  Further, in a conventional search device, as a search key designation method, a method of inputting from a keyboard or a method of selecting by a mouse click or the like from a large number of search key groups is used. However, when combining multiple search keys with AND or OR to make a set and performing a search using this set of search keys, the conventional specification method accurately determines what search key should be specified. There is a problem that it is difficult to do.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a real-time search in which the state of narrowing down the search target can be confirmed in real time as each search key is designated.

  Another object of the present invention is to facilitate specification of a search key.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to facilitate map search.

  The search device according to the first aspect of the present invention uses a search key specifying unit for specifying a search key and a newly specified search key each time one search key is newly specified, A search unit that searches the database for information elements corresponding to search keys that have already been specified, and a display unit that displays the searched information elements are provided. In this search device, each time a search key is newly specified, a search is automatically performed using the search key, and a real-time search is performed in which the search result is displayed.

  A search device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a search key list of a plurality of hierarchies, a search menu display unit that displays a search menu showing search keys that can be specified, and a search key from the search menu. A search key designating unit for designating and a search unit for retrieving an information element from the database using the designated search key. Then, each time a search key is newly specified, the search menu display unit selects a search key list one level below the newly specified search key from a plurality of search key lists. To display in the search menu. In this search device, a search key list having a hierarchical structure is prepared in advance, and when one search key is designated from the search key list of the upper hierarchy, the search key list of the hierarchy lower by one hierarchy is automatically set. The next search key can be specified from the displayed list. Therefore, it is easy to specify a plurality of search keys.

  The map display device according to the third aspect of the present invention receives a designation of a location, specifies a map engine for acquiring and displaying map data of a region including the designated location from a map database, and designates a search key Each time a search key is designated and a search key is newly designated, using the newly designated search key, the location information corresponding to the already designated search key is searched from the location database, A search engine for designating a map engine as a place corresponding to the searched place information. In this map display device, each time one search key is designated, a place corresponding to the already designated search key is searched, and a map related to the place is displayed. That is, in the process of sequentially specifying several search keys, the map displayed following this in real time is automatically moved to a location corresponding to the already specified search key.

  A map display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a search key list having a plurality of hierarchies, a search menu display unit for displaying a search menu showing searchable search keys, and a search key from the search menu. A search key specifying unit for specifying a location, a search unit for searching for location information from the location database using the specified search key, and acquiring map data of a region including a location corresponding to the searched location information from the map database. And a map engine for display. Then, each time a search key is newly specified, the search menu display unit selects a search key list one level below the newly specified search key from a plurality of search key lists. To display in the search menu. In this map display device, a search key for a map search can be specified step by step using a hierarchical search menu, so that a map search is easy.

  The present invention can typically be implemented by a computer, and a computer program for the computer program can be installed or loaded on the computer through various media such as disk storage, semiconductor memory, and communication network.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a search device according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to a place search in a map display device.

  The map engine 1 receives the designation of the center position and scale of the map to be displayed from the input device 13 such as a mouse, reads the map data of the area to be displayed from the map database 3 and displays it on the display 11. The search menu management unit 7 has a menu data data table 9 storing a search menu in which search keys are represented in a hierarchical structure list, and displays a search menu on the display 11 with reference to this. Then, each time a search key is newly specified from the search menu by the input device 11, the search menu management unit 7 passes the newly specified search key to the search engine 5 and displays the search key. Change the menu. Each time the search engine 5 receives a search key from the search menu management unit 7, the search engine 5 uses the search key to pass the search key address, telephone number, postal code, The latitude and longitude of the place corresponding to the set of specified search keys is searched from the facility and user information databases 15 to 23, and this is passed to the map engine 1. Each time the latitude / longitude is passed from the search engine 5, the map engine 1 moves the map displayed on the display 11 so that the location of the latitude / longitude becomes the center of the map. Therefore, each time the user designates the search key one by one, the map moves to a place or area corresponding to the set of designated search keys.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a graphic user interface (GUI) displayed on the display by this apparatus.

  This GUI has a map window 31 that displays a map in a wide screen area, a guide window 33 that displays a map in a small screen area, and a search window 35 that displays a search menu 35. The map of the map window 31 and the guide window 33 is displayed by the map engine 1, and the search menu 35 of the search window 33 is displayed by the search menu management unit 7. On the right side of the map window 31 and the guide window 33, there are scale slider bars 37 and 39, respectively, which can be used to change the scale of the map displayed in each of the windows 31 and 33. In the guide window 33, a map having the same central coordinates as the map displayed in the map window 31 is displayed, and a frame-shaped range guide 41 representing the range of the map displayed in the map window 31 is also displayed. Is done.

  In the search window 34, four search panels 43 to 51 for each of the four search types of address (place name), telephone number, postal code, facility name, and user information name are displayed in an overlapping manner. When the tab of each of the search panels 43 to 51 is clicked with the mouse, the panel is displayed in the foreground, and the search menu 35 for the search type is displayed in the search panel displayed in the foreground. When an arbitrary search key is clicked (designated) on the search menu 35 with the mouse, the search is automatically performed as described above, and the map window 31 and the guide are arranged so that the searched location comes to the center coordinates of the map. The map in the window 23 moves.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the structure of the address database 15 used by the search engine 21.

  The address database 15 stores address records 51, 53,... For various addresses in all areas of the map that can be displayed, and each of the address records 51, 53,. It consists of a set of name and street name, and each element of local name, prefecture name, municipality name and street name is accompanied by latitude and longitude information of the representative point of that element. Here, the representative point is, for example, the location of the prefectural office of the relevant prefecture for the local name, the location of the prefectural office of the prefecture for the prefecture name, the location of the municipal office of the municipality for the name of the municipality, and the address for the street name. The center point of the area.

  FIG. 4 shows another structure example of the address database 15.

  In this address database 15, a plurality of regional names 61, 63,..., A plurality of prefecture names 65, 67,... Belonging to each region, a plurality of city names 69, 71,. .., And a plurality of street names 77, 79,... Belonging to each small municipality are linked to form a tree-like hierarchical structure. Each element of the local name, prefecture name, municipality name and street name is accompanied by latitude and longitude information of the representative point of the element.

  Either of the structures of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 can be adopted, and both structures can be combined (for example, the districts and prefectures have the hierarchical structure of FIG. 4 and the municipalities and lower have the record enumeration structure of FIG. 3). . In short, the address database 15 is configured so that when any element of a specific local name, prefecture name, municipality name or street name name is searched, the latitude and longitude information of the searched element can be obtained. The telephone number database 17, the zip code database 19, the facility database 21, and the user information database 23 have the same or similar configuration as described above. Therefore, when a specific element is searched from those databases 17 to 23, latitude / longitude information of the searched element is obtained. The search engine 1 uses the search key of the search type specified by the user to specify from the database 15, 17, 19, 21 or 23 of the same type as the search type (for example, the address database 15 if the search type is an address). The element corresponding to the set of search keys that have already been searched is retrieved, and the latitude and longitude of that element are acquired and passed to the map engine 1.

  FIG. 5 shows the data structure in the menu data table 9 of the search menu management unit 7 by taking an address search menu as an example.

  As shown in the figure, in the menu data table 9, a list of local names 81, 83, 85,... Which is the uppermost search key, a list of prefecture names 87, 89, 91,. A list of municipalities 93, 95,... Which is a search key of the third layer, a list of fine municipalities names 97, 99,..., A search key of the fourth layer, and street names 101, 103, 105 which are search keys of the lowest layer. ,..., And these are linked to form a tree-like hierarchical structure. The search menu management unit 9 reads out an appropriate search key or a list of search keys from the menu data table 9 to create a search menu, and displays it on the search window 34 shown in FIG. Each time the user designates a new search key from the displayed search menu, the search menu management unit 9 passes the newly designated search key to the search engine 5 and uses the search menu in a manner described later. Update.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow of operations of the search menu management unit 7, the search engine 5, and the map engine 1 when performing a search. FIG. 7 shows an example of a search menu on the search window 34 and a map transition on the map window 31 when performing a search.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the search menu management unit 7 initially reads the uppermost search key list of the designated (or default) search type from the menu data table 9 and displays it in the search window 34. The search menu 35 is displayed (step S1). For example, in the case of an address search, the search menu 35 is first a search menu 35A displaying a list of uppermost local names 81, 83, 85,...

  When the user clicks (designates) one search key from the displayed search menu 35 (S2), the search menu management unit 7 passes the designated search key to the search engine (S3). The search engine 5 searches the specified search type database for an element corresponding to the set of specified search keys using the passed search key (S11), and the latitude of the element as a search result. The longitude is acquired and passed to the map engine (S12). The map engine 1 displays a map with the passed latitude and longitude as center coordinates on the map window 31 (S21). The search menu management unit 7 changes the clicked (designated) search key to the selection display after step S3 described above (S5, S8). Furthermore, if the designated search key is not the lowest layer (N in S4), the search menu management unit 7 moves the designated search key to the upper position of the search menu 35, and the designated search key. A search key list one level lower than the search key is read from the menu data table 9, and this list is added to the position below the designated search key in the search menu 35 (S5).

  For example, when the displayed search menu 35 is the first search menu 35A shown in the leftmost part of FIG. 7, when the search key 85 of “Kanto region” is clicked, the search menu 35 is displayed as shown in FIG. The search menu 35B shown in the center changes. In other words, the clicked “Kanto region” key 85 is selected and displayed (hatched in the figure) and moves to the upper position. Below that, a list of search keys 87, 89,... Is done. At the same time, the search engine 5 uses the designated “Kanto region” key 85 to search for the latitude corresponding to the “Kanto region” key 85 from the address database 15, that is, the representative point in the Kanto region (for example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office). The longitude is searched and passed to the map engine 1. Therefore, the map window 31 displays a map of the representative point (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) in the Kanto region. Next, when the search key 89 “Kanagawa” is clicked from the search menu 35B shown in the center of FIG. 7, the search menu 35 is switched to the search menu 35B shown on the leftmost side of FIG. That is, the designated “Kanagawa Prefecture” key 89 is selected and moved to the upper position, and below that, a list of search keys 111, 113, 115,... Of city groups belonging to Kanagawa Prefecture is displayed. At the same time, the search engine 5 uses the designated “Kanagawa” key 89 to search from the address database 15 a point corresponding to the set of the designated “Kanto region” key 85 and “Kanagawa” key 89, that is, Kanagawa. The latitude and longitude of the representative point of the prefecture (for example, Kanagawa prefectural office) is searched. Therefore, a map centered on a representative point in Kanagawa Prefecture (for example, Kanagawa Prefectural Office) is displayed in the map window.

  Referring to FIG. 6 again, when the user clicks (designates) the designated key at the upper position in the displayed search menu 35 (S6), the search menu management unit 7 searches the designated search. The key is deleted and a list of search keys at the same level as the search key is displayed on the search menu 35 (S7). At this time, since the search menu management unit 7 does not pass the search key to the search engine 5, the map display of the map window 21 does not change. When a new search key is designated again, a map centered on the latitude and longitude corresponding to the designated key is displayed on the map window 31.

  For example, the search menu 35C shown on the left in FIG. 7 returns to the search menu 35A shown on the left if the "Kanto region" key 85 is clicked, and is centered if the "Kanagawa prefecture" key 89 is clicked. Return to the search menu 35B shown. In the case of such cancellation of the search key designation, the display of the menu map window 31 does not change. However, if a search key is newly specified thereafter, a map centered on a location corresponding to the search key is displayed on the map window 31.

  As described above, each time the user designates a search key, the search result by the search key is displayed, and the search key list is updated so that the search key list below the designated search key is also displayed. Also, once the designation of the designated search key is canceled, the search menu returns to the state before designation, and if another search key is newly designated from there, the search result by the other search key is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the designated search key is valid and whether or not it is necessary to designate an additional search key, and a desired place can be found in a short time by the search.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is an illustration for description of this invention to the last, and is not the meaning which limits this invention only to these Embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in various forms other than the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the present invention can be applied not only to searching for a map but also to searching for other information. In general-purpose searches such as file searches and network site searches, each time a user adds a search key by applying the present invention, a set of already entered search keys and added search keys is used. A search can be automatically executed to display a list of candidates such as file names or network site names corresponding to the search key set (the number of candidates to be displayed may be limited to a predetermined number). ). Thereby, the user can grasp in real time how candidates are narrowed down in the process of adding a search key. Therefore, compared to a conventional search method in which a search is not performed only after inputting the final search key, there are many cases where a desired file or site can be reached in a shorter time. In particular, this advantage is significant in applications where the number of candidates included in the search range is not enormous and the time required for each search does not matter.

The block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the graphic user interface of this embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the address database. The figure which shows another structural example of the address database. The figure which shows the example of a data structure in the menu data table. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the search menu management part 7, the search engine 5, and the map engine 1 when performing a map search. The figure which shows the mode of the transition of the search menu and displayed map when performing a search.

Explanation of symbols

1 Map Engine 5 Search Engine 7 Search Menu Management Unit 9 Menu Data Table 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 Database 31 Map Window 34 Search Window 35 Search Menu

Claims (12)

A search device used in combination with a database in which a large number of information elements are stored,
A search key specification part for specifying a search key;
A search unit that searches the database for an information element corresponding to an already specified search key using a newly specified search key each time one search key is newly specified;
A search device comprising: a display unit that displays information elements searched by the search unit. Specifying a search key;
Every time one search key is newly specified, a step of searching for an information element corresponding to a search key that has already been specified from a database in which a large number of information elements are stored using the newly specified search key. When,
A search method comprising: displaying the searched information element. Specifying a search key;
Every time one search key is newly specified, a step of searching for an information element corresponding to a search key that has already been specified from a database in which a large number of information elements are stored using the newly specified search key. When,
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a step of displaying a searched information element. A search device used in combination with a database in which a large number of information elements are stored,
Multi-level search key list and
A search menu display for displaying a search menu showing search keys that can be specified;
A search key designating unit for designating a search key from the search menu;
A search unit that searches the database for an information element corresponding to the search key using a specified search key;
Each time a search key is newly specified, the search menu display unit displays a search key list in a hierarchy one level lower than the newly specified search key from the search key list in the plurality of hierarchies. A search device that is selected and shown in the search menu. Displaying a search menu showing possible search keys;
Designating a search key from the search menu;
Each time one search key is newly designated, a search key list one level lower than the newly designated search key is selected from a plurality of search key lists prepared in advance, and the search key list is selected. A search menu display method comprising: steps shown in the search menu. Displaying a search menu showing possible search keys;
Designating a search key from the search menu;
Each time one search key is newly designated, a search key list one level lower than the newly designated search key is selected from a plurality of search key lists prepared in advance, and the search key list is selected. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the steps shown in the search menu. A map engine that is used in combination with a map database, receives a designation of a location, acquires map data of a region including the designated location from the map database, and displays it;
A search key specification part for specifying a search key;
Used in combination with a location database in which location information corresponding to a large number of locations is stored, and each time a search key is newly specified, a newly specified search key is used. A map display device comprising: a search engine that searches the location database for location information corresponding to the above and specifies a location corresponding to the searched location information to the map engine. Specifying a search key;
Each time a search key is newly specified, a location corresponding to a search key that has already been specified from a location database in which location information corresponding to a number of locations is stored using the newly specified search key. Searching for information; and
Designating a location corresponding to the searched location information;
A map display method comprising: acquiring map data of a region including the designated location from a map database in response to the designation of the location. A map engine that is used in combination with a map database, receives a designation of a location, acquires map data of a region including the designated location from the map database, and displays it;
Specifying a search key;
It is used in combination with a location database in which location information corresponding to a large number of locations is stored, and each time a new search key is designated, a new designated search key is used to correspond to a large number of locations. Searching for location information corresponding to an already specified search key from a location database in which location information is accumulated;
Designating a location corresponding to the searched location information;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a step of acquiring and displaying map data of a region including the designated location from a map database in response to designation of the location. Multi-level search key list and
A search menu display for displaying a search menu showing search keys that can be specified;
A search key designating unit for designating a search key from the search menu;
A search unit that is used in combination with a location database in which location information corresponding to a large number of locations is stored, and that uses a designated search key to search for location information corresponding to the search key from the location database;
A map engine that is used in combination with a map database, and obtains and displays map data of a region including a location corresponding to the searched location information from the map database;
Each time a search key is newly specified, the search menu display unit displays a search key list in a hierarchy one level lower than the newly specified search key from the search key list in the plurality of hierarchies. A map display device that is selected and shown in the search menu. Displaying a search menu showing possible search keys;
Designating a search key from the search menu;
Each time one search key is newly designated, a search key list one level lower than the newly designated search key is selected from a plurality of search key lists prepared in advance, and the search key list is selected. The steps shown in the search menu;
Searching for a location corresponding to a search key that has already been specified from a location database in which a large amount of location information is accumulated;
Displaying a map of a region including a place corresponding to the searched place information. Displaying a search menu showing possible search keys;
Designating a search key from the search menu;
Each time one search key is newly designated, a search key list one level lower than the newly designated search key is selected from a plurality of search key lists prepared in advance, and the search key list is selected. The steps shown in the search menu;
Searching for a location corresponding to a search key that has already been specified from a location database in which a large amount of location information is accumulated;
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a step of displaying a map of an area including a place corresponding to the searched place information.

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