JP2010156800A - Map information display device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information display device, method and a program which enhances the visibility of content images shown on map information while maintaining the relativity between the content images and a region. <P>SOLUTION: The map information display device includes: a map information acquisition means for acquiring map information; a content image acquisition means for acquiring content images according to a map area shown by the map information; an arrangement means for arranging the content images on prescribed positions on the map information; a determination means for determining overlapping relations between the content images on the basis of arranging position of each content image; a selection means for selecting one representative content image out of a content image group determined to be in overlapping relation by the determination means; and a display means which displays the map information together with the content images and controls the content image group determined to be in overlapping relation so that only the representative content image is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map information display device, method, and program.

  Conventionally, a service for providing map information (hereinafter referred to as a map information providing service) is performed via a network such as the Internet. In this map information providing service, when a specific address or region is designated by the user, map information such as a map of the corresponding region or aerial photographs is transmitted to the terminal operated by the user, so that the map information is transmitted to the terminal. It is configured to display.

  There is also a so-called “mashup” technology that uses map information API (Application Program Interface) to link display of various content images with map information. A new service using map information is provided by a third party. As described above, the content image displayed in conjunction with the map information is useful for visually recognizing the local feature.

  Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for superimposed display of content images on map information. For example, a technique for selectively using content images to be displayed according to the scale of map information is used. Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, when displaying a target (for example, a store name or a road name) on map information, a display position is set so that a character string indicating the name of the target does not overlap with another character string. A technique for shifting is disclosed.

JP 2000-250404 A

  However, depending on the display form of the content image, there is a possibility that the visibility may be lowered. For example, when the scale size is reduced and the displayed area is wide, the content image is concentrated in some places such as urban areas and the content image is superimposed, so that the visibility is lowered. In the mashup of map information and content images, since the number and bias of the content images to be combined are unknown in advance, the scale of the map and the content image to be displayed are previously set as in the prior art. It is difficult to define. In addition, by using the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is possible to shift the display position so that the content images do not overlap each other. There is a problem that the relevance is lost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a map information display device capable of improving the visibility of a content image displayed on map information while maintaining the relevance between the content image and a region. It is an object to provide a method and a program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a map information acquisition unit that acquires map information, a content image acquisition unit that acquires a content image corresponding to a map region represented by the map information, Arrangement means for arranging the content image at a predetermined position on the map information, determination means for determining a superimposition relationship between the content images based on the arrangement position of each content image, and superimposition relation by the determination means Selection means for selecting one representative content image from the content image group determined to be present, and the map information is displayed together with the content image, and the content image group determined to be in the superimposed relationship Display means for controlling to display only the content image.

  Further, the present invention provides a map information acquisition step in which the map information acquisition means acquires map information, and a content image acquisition step in which the content image acquisition means acquires a content image corresponding to the map area represented by the map information, An arrangement step in which the arrangement unit arranges the content image at a predetermined position on the map information, and a determination step in which the determination unit determines a superposition relationship between the content images based on the arrangement position of each content image. And a selection step of selecting one representative content image from the content image group determined to be in a superposition relationship by the determination unit, and a display unit displays the map information together with the content image, A display step of controlling to display only the representative content image for the content image group determined to be in the superposition relationship; Including the.

  Further, the present invention provides a computer with map information acquisition means for acquiring map information, content image acquisition means for acquiring a content image corresponding to a map area represented by the map information, and a predetermined position on the map information. An arrangement unit that arranges the content images, a determination unit that determines a superimposition relationship between the content images based on an arrangement position of each of the content images, and a content image group that is determined to be in a superimposition relationship by the determination unit And selecting means for selecting one representative content image, and displaying the map information together with the content image, and controlling to display only the representative content image for the content image group determined to be in the overlapping relationship. It functions as a display means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the visibility of the content image displayed on map information can be improved, maintaining the relevance with a content image and an area.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a map information display device, a method, and a program according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by embodiment described below.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the map information providing system. As shown in the figure, the map information providing system includes a terminal device 1, a map information providing server 3, and a content image providing server 5, and these devices can communicate via a network N such as the Internet. It is connected to the.

  First, the terminal device 1 will be described. The terminal device 1 is a user terminal operated by a user of the map information providing system. The terminal device 1 acquires map information and a content image corresponding to a region designated by the user, and performs so-called mashup that displays them in conjunction with each other. It is a map information display device to be performed. Here, “map information” is data in which area information representing the latitude and longitude of the map area represented by the map image is associated with a map image such as a map or aerial photograph representing a specific area. The “content image” is image data, character data, or the like representing a product or a facility.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the terminal device 1. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 1 includes a control unit 11, a hard disk control unit 12, a hard disk 13, an optical drive control unit 14, an optical drive 15, an input control unit 16, and an input unit 17. , A display control unit 18, a display unit 19, a communication control unit 20, and a communication unit 21.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 113, and works in cooperation with various programs stored in the hard disk 13. The operation of the apparatus 1 is comprehensively controlled.

  A hard disk 13 is connected to the hard disk control unit 12, and in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11, the control program stored in the hard disk 13 and various data are read and various data are written.

  An optical drive 15 such as a CD-ROM drive is connected to the optical drive control unit 14, and various data are read from a recording medium loaded in the optical drive 15 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11.

  An input unit 17 configured by an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device is connected to the input control unit 16, and information input via the input unit 17 is output to the control unit 11.

  The display control unit 18 is connected to a display unit 19 composed of a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various types of information such as map information and content images in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11. 19 is displayed.

  A communication unit 21 configured by an interface connectable to the network N is connected to the communication control unit 20, and in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11, an external device (the map information providing server 3, content image providing is provided through the communication unit 21. Information is exchanged with the server 5).

  In the terminal device 1, when region designation information for designating a specific region and the URL of the map information providing server 3 are input from the user via the input unit 17, the control unit 11 sends the region designation information to this URL. Is transmitted, the map information corresponding to the area specified by the area specifying information is acquired from the map information providing server 3. In addition, the control unit 11 transmits area information included in the map information acquired from the map information providing server 3 to the content image providing server 5, so that the content image corresponding to the range indicated by the area information is displayed in the content image providing server. Get from 5.

  “Regional designation information” is not particularly limited as long as it is information capable of designating a specific region. For example, in addition to address, postal code, station name, etc., map information Information indicating a specific position above may be used. Information specifying the scale of the map information to be provided may be included in the area specifying information.

  Hereinafter, an example of a software configuration of the control unit 11 related to acquisition of map information and content images will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between each functional unit realized by the control unit 11 and the map information providing server 3 and the content image providing server 5.

  The control unit 11 includes an HTML engine 101 for realizing a Web browser function in cooperation with a predetermined program stored in the hard disk 13. The HTML engine 101 accepts input of a URL of the map information providing server 3 and the like and area designation information using a UI (User Interface) and cooperates with the processing engine 102 described later to provide an external device (map information providing server). 3. Access the content image providing server 5). The HTML engine 101 performs processing for displaying data such as content images arranged on the map information on the screen in cooperation with the processing engine 102 described later, and displays the data on the display unit 19 through the display control unit 18. To do.

  In addition, the control unit 11 includes a processing engine 102 for realizing a mashup function in cooperation with a program stored in the hard disk 13. The processing engine 102 is a functional unit for extending the HTML engine 101, and is realized using a technique such as Ajax (registered trademark).

  The processing engine 102 cooperates with an HTTP communication function such as JavaScript (registered trademark) implemented by the HTML engine 101, and exchanges data with the map information providing server 3 and the content image providing server 5 using XML (extensible Markup Language) or the like. By performing the above, it is possible to use the service provided by each device as a dynamic Web application.

  Specifically, the processing engine 102 transmits the area information included in the map information acquired from the map information providing server 3 to the content image providing server 5, so that the content image corresponding to the area information and the content image Arrangement position information indicating the arrangement position (latitude and longitude) is acquired from the content image providing server 5. Then, the processing engine 102 arranges the content image at a corresponding position on the map information instructed by the arrangement position information based on the latitude and longitude indicated by the area information included in the map information. The URL of the content image providing server 5 may be stored in the hard disk 13 in advance or may be input via the input unit 17.

  Further, the processing engine 102 determines whether or not each of the content images has a superposition relationship when the content image is arranged on the map information. Here, the “superimposition relationship” means a relationship between content images that are superimposed or densely arranged when a plurality of content images are arranged (displayed). Whether or not each content image is in a superposition relationship can be determined using, for example, the following three determination methods (superimposition determination methods).

  First, as a first superimposition determination method, there is a method of determining the presence or absence of a superimposition relationship depending on whether or not the display area of the image represented by each content image is superimposed.

  Here, FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the first superimposition determination method. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, when the display areas of the content image C11 and the content image C12 overlap, it is determined that the content image C11 and the content image C12 are in a superimposed relationship. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the content images C21 and C24 are connected by the content images C22 and C23, it is determined that a group of the content images C21 to C24 is in a superimposed relationship. Alternatively, it may be determined that there is a superposition relationship in each divided group unit, such as the content images C21 and C22 and the content images C23 and C24.

  In addition, as a second superimposition determination method, for each content image arranged on the map information, a small region surrounding the content is set, and whether or not there is a superposition relationship is determined depending on whether or not the small region is superimposed. The method of judging is mentioned.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the second superposition determination method. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, for each of the content image C31 and the content image C32, small areas D31 and D32 having a predetermined radius r from the center of each image are set, and the small areas D31 and D32 are superimposed. In this case, it is determined that the content image C31 and the content image C32 are in a superimposed relationship.

  The value of the radius r can be set to any value as long as it can surround the content image, but it is preferable to adjust the value according to the image size of the content image. In FIG. 5, the small area surrounding the content image is circular, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a small area having an arbitrary shape such as a rectangular shape can be set.

  Further, as a third superimposition determination method, when the base map image is segmented in a predetermined area unit and a plurality of content images exist in each segmented small area, the content image group is superimposed. The method of determining that it exists in is mentioned.

  Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a third superimposition determination method. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the content images (C41 to C47) are arranged in the small areas (A11 to A19) obtained by dividing the map area represented by the map information into a mesh shape, the area A15 is displayed. It is determined that the arranged content images C44 and C45 are in a superimposed relationship. Note that the shape of the small area to be divided is not limited to the rectangle illustrated in FIG. 6, and may be, for example, a circle or a shape of a prefecture, city, town, village, or the like.

  The processing engine 102 selects one content image as a representative content image for each series of content image groups (hereinafter referred to as superimposed content image groups) determined to have a superposition relationship by the above-described superimposition determination method. Then, the processing engine 102 prohibits the placement of other content images (hereinafter referred to as sub-content images) on the map information other than the representative content images included in the superimposed content image group, and detects the presence of the sub-content images. An image indicating the number of sub-content images as the flag information (hereinafter referred to as a superimposed image) is arranged in the vicinity of the representative content image arrangement position.

  The selection method of the representative content image is not particularly limited. For example, the determination can be made by using the following five selection methods (representative selection methods).

  First, as a first representative selection method, there is a method of randomly selecting one representative content image from the superimposed content image group.

  As a second representative selection method, a history of content images selected by the user via the input unit 17 is stored in the hard disk 13 as an access frequency. There is a method of selecting the representative content image. In this case, for example, one content image with the highest access frequency may be used as the representative content image, and one content image with the lowest access frequency may be used as the representative content image.

  Further, as a third representative selection method, there is a method of selecting one representative content image from the superimposed content image group based on the size of the image represented by the content image, that is, the display area of the content image. In this case, for example, a content image with the largest display area may be used as the representative content image, and a content image with the smallest display area may be used as the representative content image.

  As a fourth representative selection method, there is a method of selecting one representative content image from the superimposed content image group based on the file name of the content image. In this case, for example, the content image of the file name that appears first or last may be used as the representative content image based on the alphabetical order of the file names or the order of the 50 sounds.

  In addition, as a fifth representative selection method, there is a method of selecting one representative content image from the superimposed content image group based on the popularity of events related to the content image (for example, a specific product or facility). In this case, for example, the content image corresponding to the event with the highest degree of popularity may be the representative content image, or the content image corresponding to the event with the lowest degree of popularity may be the representative content image. The popularity may be acquired from a ranking site (not shown) connected to the network N. In the content image providing server 5, when the popularity of an event related to the content image is managed in association with each content image, the popularity is acquired together with the content image and the arrangement position information. It is good.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user can selectively designate any one of the five representative selection methods described above via the input unit 17. The specific processing contents of the above-described five representative selection methods will be described later.

  The content image (including the representative content image and the superimposed number image) arranged on the map information by the processing engine 102 is drawn by the HTML engine 101 together with the map information and displayed on the display unit 19.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of map information and content images displayed on the display unit 19. As shown in the figure, the content image C51 arranged on the map image M is displayed in a visible state. Also, flag information indicating that the content image C51 is a representative content image, that is, a superimposed image C51 'indicating that there is a content image in a superimposed relationship with the content image C51 is displayed. Here, the superimposed number image C51 'means that there is one sub-content image in a superimposed relationship with the content image C51.

  As described above, the flag information (the number of superimposed images) indicating the presence of a content image having a superposition relationship is arranged and displayed in the vicinity of the representative content image, thereby allowing the user to recognize the presence of the related image.

  In addition, when an instruction to enlarge the scale of the map information is given via the input unit 17, the interval between the content images becomes sparse, and the superposition relationship may be canceled. In such a case, the processing engine 102 dynamically updates the display content by rearranging the content images included in the scale-sized area on the map information.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the scale of the map image shown in FIG. 7 is enlarged. In the figure, a content image C51 corresponds to the content image C51 of FIG. In addition, the content image C52 is a sub-content image that is in a superimposed relationship with the content image C51 in FIG. 7, and is arranged (displayed) at a predetermined position due to the cancellation of the superimposed relationship.

  When the processing engine 102 receives instruction information for instructing display of the superimposed content image group as an instruction for detailed display for any of the representative content images displayed on the display unit 19 via the input unit 17, Control is performed so that the representative content images to be displayed and the sub-content images superimposed on the representative content images are listed or individually displayed in a predetermined display form.

  The display form of the detailed display is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, for the content image C61 (representative content image), each content image (C61 to C65) included in the superimposed content image group related to the content image C61 is displayed in a balloon-shaped frame F. A list may be displayed.

  Further, as another display mode, the content image that is the representative content image may be switched and displayed at a predetermined time interval to individually display each content image included in the superimposed content image group. In addition, each content image included in the superimposed content image group is individually displayed by switching the content image to be the representative content image according to the scroll operation amount input from the user via the input unit 17. It is good also as a form to do. It should be noted that the order in which slide display is performed, that is, the selection order of representative content images, is sequentially selected based on the above-described first to fifth representative selection methods.

  Next, the map information providing server 3 will be described. The map information providing server 3 is a server device that receives the region designation information transmitted from the terminal device 1 and provides the terminal device 1 with map information corresponding to the region designated by the region designation information.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the map information providing server 3. As shown in the figure, the map information providing server 3 includes a control unit 31, a hard disk control unit 32, a hard disk 33, an optical drive control unit 34, an optical drive 35, an input control unit 36, and an input unit. 37, a display control unit 38, a display unit 39, a communication control unit 40, and a communication unit 41.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU 311, a RAM 312, and a ROM 313, and comprehensively controls the operation of the map information providing server 3 in cooperation with various programs stored in the hard disk 33.

  A hard disk 33 is connected to the hard disk controller 32, and in accordance with instructions from the controller 31, the control program stored in the hard disk 33 and various data are read and various data are written.

  The hard disk 33 stores a map information DB (database) 331 for managing map information in advance. In this map information DB 331, map information that associates the map image of each region with the area information is registered for each scale. The control unit 31 provides the map information by reading out the map information corresponding to the area specified by the area specifying information from the map information DB 331 and transmitting it to the terminal device 1 that has transmitted the area specifying information. Here, when the area designation information includes a scale, map information corresponding to the scale is read from the map information DB 331. When the scale is not designated in the area designation information, map information corresponding to a predetermined scale is read from the map information DB 331.

  An optical drive 35 such as a CD-ROM drive is connected to the optical drive controller 34, and various data are read from a recording medium loaded in the optical drive 35 in accordance with instructions from the controller 31.

  An input unit 37 configured by an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device is connected to the input control unit 36, and information input via the input unit 37 is output to the control unit 31.

  A display unit 39 configured by a display device such as an LCD is connected to the display control unit 38, and various information is displayed on the display unit 39 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 31.

  A communication unit 41 configured by an interface connectable to the network N is connected to the communication control unit 40, and information is exchanged with an external device (terminal device 1) through the communication unit 41 according to an instruction from the control unit 31. Give and receive.

  Next, the content image providing server 5 will be described. The content image providing server 5 is a server device that receives area information transmitted from the terminal device 1 and provides the terminal device 1 with a content image corresponding to a range included in the area information.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the content image providing server 5. As shown in the figure, the content image providing server 5 includes a control unit 51, a hard disk control unit 52, a hard disk 53, an optical drive control unit 54, an optical drive 55, an input control unit 56, and an input unit. 57, a display control unit 58, a display unit 59, a communication control unit 60, and a communication unit 61.

  The control unit 51 includes a CPU 511, a RAM 512, and a ROM 513, and comprehensively controls the operation of the content image providing server 5 in cooperation with various programs stored in the hard disk 53.

  A hard disk 53 is connected to the hard disk controller 52, and in accordance with instructions from the controller 51, the control program stored in the hard disk 53 and various data are read and various data are written.

  The hard disk 53 stores a content image DB (database) 531 for managing content images in advance. In this content image DB 531, content data that is image data or character data representing products or facilities unique to each region is associated with arrangement position information that indicates the latitude and longitude of the arrangement position of the content image. Registered. Here, the arrangement position is preferably the place of origin or location of the event represented by the content image. Note that other information may be associated with the content image and stored, for example, as described above, the degree of popularity of the event represented by each content image may be associated and stored.

  When receiving the area information from the terminal device 1, the control unit 51 refers to the content image DB 531 and compares the longitude and latitude ranges indicated by the area information with the arrangement position information managed in association with each content image. Thus, the content image included in the area information is specified. And the control part 51 reads the identified content image and the related information (arrangement position information etc.) linked | related with this content image from content image DB531, and transmits to the terminal device 1 which transmitted area information, Provide content images.

  An optical drive 55 such as a CD-ROM drive is connected to the optical drive controller 54, and various data are read from a recording medium loaded in the optical drive 55 in accordance with instructions from the controller 51.

  An input unit 57 configured by an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device is connected to the input control unit 56, and information input via the input unit 57 is output to the control unit 51.

  A display unit 59 configured by a display device such as an LCD is connected to the display control unit 58, and various information is displayed on the display unit 59 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 51.

  A communication unit 61 configured by an interface connectable to the network N is connected to the communication control unit 60, and information is exchanged with an external device (terminal device 1) through the communication unit 61 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 51. Give and receive.

  Hereinafter, the operation when the map information and the content image are displayed in conjunction with each other in the terminal device 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the map information display process executed by the terminal device 1.

  First, when the processing engine 102 receives the area designation information input from the user via the input unit 17 (step S11), the processing engine 102 transmits the area designation information to the map information providing server 3 (step S12), thereby Map information corresponding to the area designation information is acquired from the map information providing server 3 (step S13).

  Subsequently, the processing engine 102 transmits the area information included in the map information acquired in step S12 to the content image providing server 5 (step S14), so that the content image corresponding to the area information and the content image are displayed. Related information (arrangement position information and the like) is acquired from the content image providing server 5 (step S15).

  Next, the processing engine 102 arranges each content image at a corresponding position on the map information in accordance with the arrangement position information acquired as the related information (step S16), using the first to third superimposition determination methods described above. Then, it is determined whether or not each content image has a superposition relationship, and the determination result is held in the RAM 112 or the like (step S17).

The processing engine 102 determines whether or not there is a superimposed content image group that has been determined to be in a superimposition relationship by the determination processing in step S17. If it is determined that there is not (step S18; No), step S20 Immediately move on to processing.

  If it is determined in step S18 that a superimposed content image group exists (step S18; Yes), the processing engine 102 executes representative content image selection processing for selecting one representative content image from the superimposed content image group (step S18; Yes). Step S19). It is assumed that the representative content image selection process in step S19 is executed using any one of the five representative selection methods described above. Hereinafter, representative content image selection processing according to the above-described five representative selection methods will be described.

  First, a representative content image selection process according to the first selection method will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13A is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of representative content image selection processing according to the first selection method.

  First, when one of the superimposed content image groups is set as a processing target (step S101), the processing engine 102 randomly selects one content image from the superimposed content image group, and selects the content image as a representative content image. (Step S102). Then, the processing engine 102 removes sub-content images (sub-content images) other than the representative content image from the map information (step S103).

  Next, the processing engine 102 calculates a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of content images included in the superimposed content image group to be processed, that is, the number of sub-content images (step S104), and a superimposed number image representing this number. Are arranged in the vicinity of the arrangement position of the representative content image selected in step S102 (step S105).

  Subsequently, the processing engine 102 determines whether or not all the superimposed content image groups have been processed, and when there is an unprocessed superimposed content image group (step S106; No), the process proceeds to step S101. Returning again, one of the unprocessed superimposed content image groups is set as a processing target. If it is determined that processing has been performed on all superimposed content image groups (step S106; Yes), the process proceeds to step S20 in FIG.

  When the first representative selection method is used, since one representative content image is randomly selected from the superimposed content image group, a different content image is easily selected as the representative content image each time, and a fair selection is required. Can do.

  Next, a representative content image selection process according to the second selection method will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13-2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of representative content image selection processing according to the second selection method. As a premise of this processing, history information (identification information for identifying each content image and its access frequency (number of selections)) that records the history of the content image selected so far by the user via the input unit 17 is provided. It is assumed that it is stored in the hard disk 13.

  First, the processing engine 102 sets one of the superimposed content image groups as a processing target (step S201). Next, the processing engine 102 refers to the history information stored in the hard disk 13 and sorts the content images based on the access frequency of each content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group (step S202).

  Subsequently, the processing engine 102 selects one content image with the maximum / minimum access frequency based on the sorting result in step S202, and sets this content image as a representative content image (step S203). Then, the processing engine 102 removes sub-content images other than the representative content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group from the map information (step S204).

  Subsequent steps S205 to S207 are the same as steps S104 to S106 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the second representative selection method is used, one representative content image is selected from the superimposed content image group based on the access frequency. Therefore, the frequently accessed content image can be used as the representative content image. User convenience can be improved. Further, in the related image display process described later, the related images can be displayed in order of access frequency, so that the convenience for the user can be improved.

  Next, a representative content image selection process according to the third selection method will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13C is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of representative content image selection processing according to the third selection method.

  First, the processing engine 102 sets one of the superimposed content image groups as a processing target (step S301). Next, the processing engine 102 compares the image sizes (display areas) of the respective content images included in the superimposed content image group to be treated (step S302), and the image size is maximized / minimized based on the comparison result. Are selected as representative content images (step S303). Then, the processing engine 102 removes sub-content images other than the representative content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group from the map information (step S304).

  The subsequent processes in steps S305 to S307 are the same as those in steps S104 to S106 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the third representative selection method is used, since one representative content image is selected from the superimposed content image group based on the image size, the visibility of the representative content image can be improved.

  Next, a representative content image selection process according to the fourth selection method will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13-4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of representative content image selection processing according to the fourth selection method.

  First, the processing engine 102 sets one of the superimposed content image groups as a processing target (step S401). Next, the processing engine 102 sorts the content images in alphabetical order, alphabetical order, or the like based on the file name of each content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group (step S402).

  Subsequently, the processing engine 102 selects the first / last appearing content image as the representative content image based on the sorting result in step S402 (step S403). Then, the processing engine 102 removes sub-content images other than the representative content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group from the map information (step S404).

  The subsequent processes in steps S405 to S407 are the same as those in steps S104 to S106 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the fourth representative selection method is used, one representative content image is selected from the superimposed content image group based on the file name, so that related images are displayed in the order of file names in the related image display process described later. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

  Next, representative content image selection processing according to the fifth selection method will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13-5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of representative content image selection processing according to the fifth selection method. As a premise of this process, it is assumed that related information related to the degree of popularity and the degree of attention related to the content image is registered in the content image DB of the content image providing server 5 in association with each content image. In step S15 described above, it is assumed that the arrangement position and related information are provided from the content image providing server 5 for each content image.

  First, the processing engine 102 sets one of the superimposed content image groups as a processing target (step S501). Next, the processing engine 102 sorts the content images included in the processing target superimposed content image group in the order of popularity regarding the content images included in the related information acquired in step S15 (step S502).

  Subsequently, the processing engine 102 selects the first / last content image based on the sorting result in step S502, and sets this content image as a representative content image (step S503). Then, the processing engine 102 removes other content images other than the representative content image included in the processing target superimposed content image group from the map information (step S504).

  The subsequent processes in steps S505 to S507 are the same as those in steps S104 to S106 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the fifth representative selection method is used, since one representative content image is selected from the superimposed content image group based on the popularity level, a content image representing an event with a high popularity level may be used as the representative content image. And user convenience can be improved. Further, in the related image display process described later, related images can be displayed in order of popularity, so that convenience for the user can be improved.

  Returning to FIG. 12, the processing engine 102 cooperates with the HTML engine 101 to display a map image and content images (representative content image and superimposed number image) arranged on the map information as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Is displayed on the display unit 19 (step S20), and this process is terminated.

  Next, processing for displaying a superimposed content image group will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the superimposed content image group display process.

  First, when the processing engine 102 receives, via the input unit 17, a predetermined operation for instructing display of a superimposed content image group has been performed on any representative content image displayed on the display unit 19. (Step S31), each content image included in the superimposed content image group related to the representative content image is read out from the cache held in the RAM 112 or the like (Step S32).

  Next, in cooperation with the HTML engine 101, the processing engine 102 displays the content images read in step S32 in a list or individually on the display unit in a predetermined display form as shown in FIG. 9 (step S33). ), This process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of content images are in a superimposed relationship, one content image selected from the superimposed content image group is displayed as a representative content image, and the superimposed content image group When display is instructed, each content image included in the superimposed content image group is displayed as a list or individually, so that the content displayed on the map information while maintaining the relationship between the content image and the region The visibility of the image can be improved.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, and the like are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the superimposition number image is displayed as the flag information indicating the presence of the sub-content image, but the form of the flag information is not limited to this, and the presence of the sub-content image is not limited to this. May be indicated. For example, the presence of a content image in a superimposed relationship may be notified by performing highlighting such as displaying an arrow or the like on the representative content image or blinking the representative content image.

  In the above embodiment, the content image providing server 5 manages the content image DB 531. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal device 1 may hold the content image DB 531.

  In the above embodiment, the mashup between the map information and the content image has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when mashing up the floor plan and content image of a specific facility such as a private house or a hospital. Can also be used. Further, when a content image is provided together with the map information from the map information providing server 3, the above processing may be performed on the content image.

  Note that the program executed by the terminal device 1 of the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a recording medium (hard disk 13) included in the terminal device 1, but is not limited thereto, and can be installed in a format or executable. Various types of files may be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Furthermore, the recording medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a recording medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN or the Internet is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

  Further, the program executed by the terminal device 1 of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. It may be configured to be provided or distributed via.

1 is a system configuration diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a map information providing system. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the terminal device 1 shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed typically the relationship between each function part which the control part 11 shown in FIG. 2 implement | achieves, the map information provision server 3, and the content image provision server 5. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st superimposition determination method. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st superimposition determination method. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd superimposition determination method. It is a figure for demonstrating the 3rd superimposition determination method. It is the figure which showed an example of the map information displayed on the display part 19 of the terminal device 1, and a content image. It is the figure which showed an example of the map information displayed on the display part 19 of the terminal device 1, and a content image. It is the figure which showed an example of the map information displayed on the display part 19 of the terminal device 1, and a content image. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the map information provision server 3 shown in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the content image provision server 5 shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of map information display processing executed by the terminal device 1. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the representative content image selection process which concerns on the 1st representative selection method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the representative content image selection process based on the 2nd representative selection method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the representative content image selection process based on the 3rd representative selection method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the representative content image selection process based on the 4th representative selection method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the representative content image selection process based on the 5th representative selection method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the superimposition content image group display process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal device 101 HTML engine 102 Processing engine 11 Control part 111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Hard disk control part 13 Hard disk 14 Optical drive control part 15 Optical drive 16 Input control part 17 Input part 18 Display control part 19 Display part 20 Communication control part 21 Communication part 3 Map information provision server 31 Control part 311 CPU
312 RAM
313 ROM
32 Hard disk controller 33 Hard disk 331 Map information DB
34 optical drive control unit 35 optical drive 36 input control unit 37 input unit 38 display control unit 39 display unit 40 communication control unit 41 communication unit 5 content image providing server 51 control unit 511 CPU
512 RAM
513 ROM
52 Hard Disk Control Unit 53 Hard Disk 531 Content Image DB
54 optical drive control unit 55 optical drive 56 input control unit 57 input unit 58 display control unit 59 display unit 60 communication control unit 61 communication unit

Claims (14)

Map information acquisition means for acquiring map information;
Content image acquisition means for acquiring a content image corresponding to a map area represented by the map information;
Arrangement means for arranging the content image at a predetermined position on the map information;
Determination means for determining a superposition relationship between the content images based on the arrangement positions of the content images;
Selecting means for selecting one representative content image from a group of content images determined to be in a superposition relationship by the determining means;
Display means for displaying the map information together with the content image, and controlling to display only the representative content image for the content image group determined to be in the superposition relationship;
A map information display device characterized by comprising:   The determination means determines whether or not there is a superposition relationship depending on whether or not a display area of an image represented by each of the content images is superimposed on a display area of an image represented by another content image. The map information display device according to claim 1.   The determination means sets small areas surrounding the content image on the map information, respectively, and determines the presence or absence of the superimposition relationship according to whether or not the small areas overlap. The map information display device according to 1.   The determination means determines that the content image group is in a superimposed relationship when a plurality of the content images are arranged in each of the small areas obtained by dividing the map area represented by the map information by a predetermined area unit. The map information display device according to claim 1.   The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit randomly selects one representative content image from the content image group. Storage means for storing the frequency of access to the content image;
The map information according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects one representative content image from the content image group based on the access frequency of each content image included in the content image group. Display device.   The map information display according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects one representative content image from the content image group based on a display area of each content image included in the content image group. apparatus.   The map information display according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects one representative content image from the content image group based on a file name of each content image included in the content image group. apparatus. Further comprising a popularity level acquisition means for acquiring a popularity level for an event represented by the content image;
2. The map according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects one representative content image from the content image group based on the popularity of each content image included in the content image group. Information display device.   The map information according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays flag information associated with the representative content image and indicating that there is another content image in a superimposed relationship with the representative content image. Display device.   11. The display unit according to claim 10, wherein the display unit displays, as the flag information, a superimposed number image representing the number of other content images that are superimposed on the representative content image in the vicinity of the representative content image. The map information display device described. A receiving unit that receives an instruction to display details on any of the representative content images displayed by the display unit;
12. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a representative content image that is a target of the detailed display and other content images that are superimposed on the representative content image in a list or individually. The map information display apparatus as described in any one of Claims. A map information acquisition means for acquiring map information;
A content image acquisition means for acquiring a content image corresponding to a map area represented by the map information;
An arrangement step of arranging the content image at a predetermined position on the map information;
A determination step of determining a superimposition relationship between the content images based on an arrangement position of each of the content images;
A selection step in which the selection means selects one representative content image from the content image group determined to be in a superposition relationship by the determination means;
A display step of displaying the map information together with the content image and controlling to display only the representative content image for the content image group determined to be in the superposition relationship;
The map information display method characterized by including. Computer
Map information acquisition means for acquiring map information;
Content image acquisition means for acquiring a content image corresponding to a map area represented by the map information;
Arrangement means for arranging the content image at a predetermined position on the map information;
Determination means for determining a superposition relationship between the content images based on the arrangement positions of the content images;
Selecting means for selecting one representative content image from a group of content images determined to be in a superposition relationship by the determining means;
Display means for displaying the map information together with the content image, and controlling to display only the representative content image for the content image group determined to be in the superposition relationship;
Program to make it function.

Images