JP4324166B2 - Route providing method and system using mobile communication terminal providing scroll function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a route providing method and system using a mobile communication terminal that provides a scroll function, and more specifically, when a map image is provided to a user in a scrolling manner, the map image is scrolled along the route. The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a route that can be configured to be performed.

  When a map providing system according to the prior art displays a map image on a display device, there is a limit to the area of the map image that can be displayed by the display device. Display only the map image of the surrounding area.

  At this time, when the user wants to see a peripheral area that exceeds the area displayed on the display device, the user changes the map providing system to change the accumulation of the map image or to scroll the map image. Or enter.

  The scroll function is a function that can provide a map image that sequentially flows in a predetermined direction without changing the accumulation of the map image. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a scroll function according to a conventional technique.

  Usually, the map providing system displays a certain area on the display device based on a predetermined reference position and provides a graphic interface as shown in FIG. Or provide an interface through which scroll commands can be input.

  When the user wants to continuously view the peripheral area of the map image shown in FIG. 1, for example, when he / she wants to see the map image in the upper part of the map image, the input indicated by the reference numeral 101 is used. Select a tool.

  Meanwhile, a route providing system that provides a route from a starting point to a destination using a mobile communication terminal includes a map providing system as described above to provide a map image including the route to the user. May provide functionality. In the case of the route providing system, since the size of the display unit of the display device is usually limited, the need for the scroll function in the route providing system using the mobile communication terminal is even greater.

  However, the scroll function provided by the normal route providing system only provides up / down / left / right scrolling as described above, and when the size of the display unit of the display device is small like a mobile communication terminal, The user who receives the map image has to input the up / down / left / right scroll command repeatedly until the user obtains the map image of the desired area only by scrolling up / down / left / right. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to clearly grasp the position of the map image as viewed from the map image initially displayed when the map image that the user is viewing is displayed.

  The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and has a scroll function that can provide a map image associated with a route provided to a user in a scrolling manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a route providing method and system.

  In addition, the present invention provides a route providing method and system capable of continuously providing a map image associated with a route in a scrolling manner until a predetermined condition is satisfied, such as when a user inputs a stop command. Still another purpose.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a route providing method and system capable of scrolling a map image from the current position of the user or a position selected by the user.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a route providing method and system including an interface that allows the user to easily control the scroll function according to the present invention.

  In order to achieve the above object and solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, a route providing method using a mobile communication terminal providing a scroll function according to the present invention includes a route search server, a departure point to a destination. Receiving route data corresponding to the route and map data associated with the route data, receiving a predetermined scroll command from a user, and based on a predetermined reference position on the route according to the scroll command. Generating a map image from route data and the map data; and causing the generated map image to be displayed on a display device of the mobile communication terminal, wherein the step of generating the map image comprises: When the scroll command is input, the reference position is moved by a unit distance along the path in a predetermined direction. First step of, and a second step of generating a map image from the path data and the map data based on the moved reference location.

  At this time, if the scroll command is a 'forward' command, the predetermined direction is the user's travel direction, and if the scroll command is a 'reverse' command, the predetermined direction is opposite to the user's travel direction. Direction.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the first stage and the second stage are repeated until the moving distance of the reference position satisfies a predetermined condition.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the condition includes a case where a “stop” command is input from the user, a case where the reference position deviates on the route, and a movement distance of the reference position is a predetermined value. Any one or more of the above cases.

  According to the present invention, a map image associated with a route provided to the user can be provided in a scrolling manner, so that the user can easily confirm and grasp the route.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a map image associated with a route can be continuously provided in a scrolling manner until a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, a user inputs a stop command. That is, it supports an automatic forward or an automatic reverse method.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the user can be provided with a route providing method and system capable of scrolling the map image from the current position or a position selected by the user.

  The present invention also provides an interface that allows the user to easily use the scroll function.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a route providing method for providing a scroll function according to an embodiment of the present invention. The route providing method according to the present embodiment is performed by a predetermined route providing system installed on the user's mobile communication terminal side.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating network connection of the route providing system. In step 201, the route providing system 300 receives route data corresponding to the route from the departure place to the destination and map data associated with the route data from the route providing server 310.

  Step 201 will be described in more detail. The user inputs departure place information and destination information to the route providing system 300, and the route providing system 300 transmits the departure place information and the destination information to the route providing server 310 via a communication network.

  A map database 320 is provided on the route providing server 310 side, and the map database 320 maintains map data (generally numerical map data). The route providing server 310 generates route data from the departure point information and the destination information using the map data. In order to generate the route data, the route providing server 310 may use various route data generation algorithms such as generating route data associated with the shortest distance route or the shortest time route.

  The route providing server 310 searches the map database 320 for map data associated with the route data, and transmits the map data together with the route data to the route providing system 300 via the communication network.

  With such a configuration, the route providing system 300 receives the provision of map data associated with the route from the route providing server 310, so there is no need to maintain an enormous amount of map data such as a national map. The providing system 300 is a system suitable for being installed in a mobile communication terminal having a limited storage capacity.

  The route providing system 300 confirms the current position of the user (that is, the position of the mobile communication terminal) using GPS, generates a map image from the route data and map data based on the current position of the user, Display on the display device of the mobile communication terminal.

  The simplest method for generating the map image based on the current position is to place the current position at a predetermined position of the map image.

  In step 202, the route providing system 300 receives an input of a scroll command from the user, and in step 203, identifies the type of the scroll command. In the prior art, the scroll command is a command to display a map image at a position moved up, down, left, or right, but the scroll command in the present embodiment is forward, backward, automatic forward, Includes automatic reverse or stop command. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined interface is provided to the user in order to receive an input of such a scroll command. The description related to the interface will be described later.

  In step 204, the route providing system 300 moves the reference position by a unit distance along the route in a predetermined direction according to the scroll command, and in step 205, the route data and the route data based on the moved reference position. A map image is generated from the map data, and in step 206, the generated map image is displayed on a display device of the mobile communication terminal.

  Hereinafter, the steps (204 to 206) when the scroll command is a 'forward' command will be described in more detail.

  If the result of identification in step 203 is that the scroll command is a forward command, the predetermined direction in step 204 is the traveling direction of the user. Usually, the traveling direction of the user is a direction toward the destination on the route.

  For example, FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams illustrating a case where a map image is displayed on a display device of the mobile communication terminal (in the drawing, the mobile communication terminal is a mobile phone). .

  4a and 4b display a map image generated by the heading-up method. The heading-up method is a method for generating a map image by setting the traveling direction of the user in the upward direction of the display device. Accordingly, the user is provided with a map image in which his / her traveling direction is always displayed on the upper side.

  FIG. 4a (a) shows a map image including the departure place in the route. Reference numeral 401 indicates azimuth information for providing information on the azimuth of the direction in which the user is actually traveling, and reference numeral 402 indicates the object from the reference position used to generate the map image. Indicates the remaining distance to the ground.

  When the reference position 403 in (b) of FIG. 4a is the first reference position (the reference position 403 is the current position of the user or a position selected by the user), the advance command is input. Then, the route providing system 300 moves the reference position in the traveling direction by a unit distance (for example, 100 m) along the route.

  When the forward command is input, the route providing system 300 moves the reference position along the route in the traveling direction by 100 m, and generates a map image from the route data and the map data based on the moved reference position. To do. The map image generated in this way is shown in FIG. 4a (c).

  The route providing system 300 repeatedly performs steps (204 to 206) of generating a map image and displaying it on the display device while moving the reference position by unit distance (100 m).

  Accordingly, the map image as shown in FIG. 4a (d) is continuously provided to the user following (c) in FIG. 4a, and the user is provided with a screen as if performing a simulated run. become. That is, according to the present embodiment, since the map image is scrolled along the route, the user can make a travel plan by confirming the route generally using the scroll function.

  Steps (204 through 206) are repeated until a predetermined condition is met. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the condition is when the moving distance of the reference position is a predetermined value or more. For example, when the predetermined value is 1 km, the route providing system 300 generates and displays a total of 10 map images while moving the reference position by 100 m. That is, a map image is generated while moving the position little by little (by unit distance) until the predetermined value is reached with a single forward command. The speed at which the ten map images are displayed is preferably determined at a speed at which the user can easily recognize the route.

  According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the condition repeats steps (204 to 206) until a 'stop' command is input from the user. Even if the reference position does not move by the predetermined value, the user can input a stop command to stop the scroll function.

  On the other hand, when the automatic advance command is adopted as the scroll command instead of the forward command, the section to be scrolled by one command input is not limited, and the map image is sustained until another stop command is input. Can be scrolled to.

  In addition, by separately providing an input method for inputting a forward command to the user and an input method for inputting an automatic forward command, when the forward command is input, an automatic operation is performed when the reference position moves by a predetermined value. When the automatic advance command is input, the scroll can be stopped only when there is an explicit stop command from the user.

  According to the embodiment, when the stop command is input from the user, the route providing system 300 maintains the map image displayed at the time when the stop command is input. For example, when a stop command is input during the display of the map image of (c) of FIG. 4a, the route providing system 300 receives a new scroll command from the user while displaying the map image as a stop screen. Wait for. At this time, the route providing system 300 can further receive a command for displaying a map image at the current position (actual position on the user's map) from the user and provide the map image at the current position.

  Further, according to the embodiment, when the stop command is input, the route providing system 300 may immediately generate and display a map image at the current position of the user. That is, the image is displayed by returning to the original position.

  According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the condition is when the reference position deviates on the route due to movement. At this time, the route providing system 300 stops repeating the steps (204 to 206). That is, as a result of movement, after the reference position becomes the destination, no further map image is scrolled. That is, generation and display of the map image are repeated until the map image of (i) of FIG. 4b is provided to the user.

  In addition, the route providing method according to another embodiment of the present invention may adopt any one or more of the above-described conditions, and may perform the step (204) until any one of the adopted conditions is satisfied. Through 206).

  Further, in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the case where the map image is generated by the heading-up method has been described, but the principle of providing the scroll function is the same even when the map image is generated by the north-up method. In this case, only the map image display method is changed. It is obvious that such a case is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, steps (204 to 206) when the scroll command is a 'reverse' command will be described.

  If the scroll command is a reverse command, steps (204 to 206) are performed in substantially the same manner as in the case of the forward command described above. However, the predetermined direction in step 204 is a direction opposite to the user's traveling direction. Usually, the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the user is the direction toward the departure point on the route.

  The route providing system 300 generates an image based on a first reference position and displays the reference position in a direction opposite to the travel direction when the backward command is input. For example, a map image is generated from the route data and the map data based on the moved reference position.

  Also at this time, the route providing system 300 repeatedly generates a map image while moving the reference position by unit distance (100 m) until a predetermined condition is satisfied and displays the map image on the display device (204 to 206). Carry out. Also in the case of a backward command, the map image is scrolled along the route, so that the user can review the route the user has moved to the current position. As described in relation to the forward command, the predetermined condition is as follows: i) when the movement distance of the reference position is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, ii) when a stop command is input from the user, iii) when the reference position is When deviating from the path, the iterations of steps (204 to 206) can be stopped, and each condition of i) to iii) can be applied alone or in parallel.

  In addition to this, the present invention executes a step similar to that when a forward command is input when a reverse command is input. Since the configuration related to the backward instruction can be inferred from the above description, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Hereinafter, in connection with the steps (202 and 203), an interface provided to the user for the user to input the scroll command and the process of identifying the scroll command will be described in detail.

  Since the user's forward command (or automatic forward command), reverse command (or automatic reverse command), and stop command are input, the input device of the mobile communication terminal can be used as it is. Taking the case of a mobile phone as an example in a mobile communication terminal, an input button (indicated by reference numeral (501) in FIG. 5) of a keypad can be used to input a direction.

  However, the input button 501 has four buttons, up, down, left, and right, and the route providing method according to the present embodiment basically has only to input forward, reverse, and stop commands. Accordingly, a forward command can be input when the 'Δ' button is pressed, and a reverse command can be input when the '▽' button is pressed. In addition, an automatic forward command can be issued by continuously pressing the “Δ” button or inputting the “*” button after inputting the “Δ” button. Alternatively, the 2nd button can be used as the up button, the 8th button can be used as the down button, and the 5th button can be used as a button for inputting a stop.

  According to still another embodiment of the present invention,

または (Outside 1)

Or

ボタンが入力されると、経路提供システム300は、所定の規則に従って前記ボタン入力を前進命令または後進命令として判断する。図6を参照して前記規則を説明する。経路提供システム300は、前記表示装置にディスプレイされる地図イメージにおける基準位置601（スクロールする間、基準位置を図6のように示すこともあるし、地図イメージ上に前記基準位置を示さないこともある）における接線と基準線がなす角θを測定する。前記基準線とは、前記表示装置における水平線を意味する。この時、角θが0°以上90°未満である場合には、経路提供システム300は、 (Outside 2)

When a button is input, the route providing system 300 determines the button input as a forward command or a reverse command according to a predetermined rule. The rules will be described with reference to FIG. The route providing system 300 may indicate the reference position 601 in the map image displayed on the display device (the reference position may be indicated as shown in FIG. 6 while scrolling, or may not be indicated on the map image. The angle θ formed by the tangent line and the reference line is measured. The reference line means a horizontal line in the display device. At this time, when the angle θ is 0 ° or more and less than 90 °, the route providing system 300

ボタン入力は前進命令、 (Outside 3)

Button input is forward command,

ボタン入力は後進命令として判断する。万一、角θが90°以上180°以下である場合には、 (Outside 4)

Button input is determined as a backward command. If the angle θ is 90 ° or more and 180 ° or less,

ボタン入力は後進命令、 (Outside 5)

Button input is a backward command,

ボタン入力は前進命令として判断する。 (Outside 6)

Button input is determined as a forward command.

  If the scroll command can be input using such a rule, the user can input the scroll command naturally while viewing the map image displayed on the display device.

  Of course, the above

または (Outside 7)

Or

ボタン入力は、スクロール命令として見ずに無視し、‘△’ボタンと‘▽’ボタンのみを用いることもできる。 (Outside 8)

The button input can be ignored without looking as a scroll command, and only the '△' button and the '▽' button can be used.

  According to the embodiment described above, the user can scroll the map image along the route. Compared with the case where a map image such as a PDA is maintained on a mobile communication terminal, when using a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone that has a large storage capacity limit, the mobile communication terminal uses a map image in addition to route data. Is received from the route providing server 310.

  Since the map data is received from the route providing server 310 via the communication network, only the map data associated with the route is received in order to minimize the time until the map data is received and displayed on the display device. Accordingly, since the map data stored in the mobile communication terminal is only the map data associated with the route, the present invention for providing the scroll function along the route is more dependent on the case where the map data is received via the communication network. Useful. That is, the route providing method according to the present invention can provide the user with a scroll function while minimizing the map data reception time.

  Hereinafter, a route providing method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The route providing method according to the present embodiment is performed by a predetermined route providing system, and the map data is maintained in the storage device of the mobile communication terminal. The route providing system generates route data based on the map data when departure point information and destination information are input from a user.

  The route providing system generates a map image from the route data and map data retrieved in association with the route data and displays the map image on a display device of a mobile communication terminal.

  When a predetermined scroll command is input from the user, each step of generating and displaying a map image according to the scroll command is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

  That is, the route providing method according to the present embodiment is different from the route providing method according to the above-described embodiment in that map data is maintained in the mobile communication terminal and the route data is also generated on the mobile communication terminal side. There is.

  On the other hand, the route providing method according to the present embodiment does not receive the map data via the communication network and stores the map data on the mobile communication terminal side. Similarly, it is possible to provide a map scrolling function in the vertical and horizontal directions. At this time, an interface is further provided that allows the two scroll function modes to be switched between each other.

  The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the route providing method according to the above-described embodiment is recorded. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. Such media may be specially designed and constructed for the present invention, or may be known and usable by those skilled in the art of computer software.

  Hereinafter, a route providing system for providing a scroll function according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a route providing system 700 according to the present embodiment. The route providing system 700 includes a reception module 701, a storage module 702, a user input module 703, a map image generation module 704, and a display control module 705. Are connected to the route providing server 710 via a communication network.

  The receiving module 701 receives route data and map data associated with the route data from the route providing server 710. The route data is route data associated with the route from the departure place to the destination requested by the user.

  The received route data and map data are stored in the storage module 702, and the map image generation module 704 generates a map image using the route data and map data stored in the storage module 702. At this time, the map image is generated based on a predetermined reference position. For example, the reference position is a current position of the user, a position corresponding to a departure place, a position selected by the user from the route, or the like. It is. The map image generation module 704 generates a map image of an area including the reference position.

  The display control module 705 controls the generated map image to be displayed on the display device of the mobile communication terminal.

  The user input module 703 receives an input of a predetermined scroll command from the user, and the map image generation module 704 generates a map image according to the scroll command.

  For example, when the scroll command is a reverse command, the map image generation module 704 moves the reference position by a unit distance along the route in a direction opposite to the user's traveling direction (a direction toward the departure place). Taking the case of FIG. 4b as an example, a map image is generated so as to be far from the destination in the order of (h), (g), and (f) in FIG. 4b. The practitioner of the present invention preferably selects and sets a unit distance that allows the user to easily recognize the route when receiving a map image.

  The map image generation module 704 repeats the process of generating a map image based on the moved reference position a predetermined number of times. The number of times means the number of times when the moving distance of the reference position is a predetermined value or more. For example, when the unit distance is 100 m and the predetermined value is 1 km, the number of times is 10.

  In addition, when the reference position is further moved, the map image generation module 704 stops generating the map image without moving the reference position any more when the reference position deviates from the route.

  In addition, since the case where the scroll command is a forward command, an automatic forward command, or an automatic reverse command has been described in the above-described embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted in this embodiment.

  On the other hand, if the scroll command is a stop command, the map image generation module 704 stops the generation and display of the map image repeatedly performed according to the previous scroll command such as the forward command and the reverse command.

  Accordingly, the user can receive the map image associated with the route by the scroll method, and can also receive various interfaces that can easily scroll the map image.

It is a figure for demonstrating the scroll function by a prior art. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a route providing method for providing a scroll function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating network connection of a route providing system that performs a route providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. In this embodiment, a map image is displayed on a display device of the mobile communication terminal. In this embodiment, a map image is displayed on a display device of the mobile communication terminal. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a keypad of a mobile communication terminal for inputting a scroll command according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a rule for identifying a scroll command in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a route providing system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

In a route providing method using a mobile communication terminal that provides a scroll function,
Receiving route data corresponding to a route from a departure place to a destination and map data associated with the route data from a route search server;
Receiving a predetermined scroll command from the user;
In accordance with the scroll command , measuring an angle formed by a horizontal line in the display device of the mobile communication terminal and a tangent line at a reference position on the route counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal line ;
Identifying the type of the input scroll command based on the angle;
A first step of moving the reference position by a unit distance along the path in a predetermined direction according to the identified type of the scroll command ;
A second step of generating a map image from the route data and the map data based on the moved reference position;
Displaying the generated map image on a display device of the mobile communication terminal;
A route providing method comprising: If the identified scroll command type is a 'forward' command, the predetermined direction is the user's travel direction;
If the identified scroll command type is a 'reverse' command, the predetermined direction is a direction opposite to the user's travel direction;
The route providing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating the first step and the second step until a moving distance of the reference position satisfies a predetermined condition. The condition is
When a 'stop' command is input from the user;
After the reference position is the destination, when the map image no longer needs to be scrolled,
3. The route data providing method according to claim 2, wherein the moving distance of the reference position is any one or more when the moving distance is a predetermined value or more. In a route providing method using a mobile communication terminal that provides a scroll function,
Maintaining map data in a storage device of the mobile communication terminal;
Receiving input of departure and destination information from the user;
Generating route data based on the departure and destination information;
Receiving a predetermined scroll command from the user;
Generating a map image from the route data and the map data based on a predetermined reference position on the route according to the scroll command;
Displaying the generated map image on a display device of the mobile communication terminal,
The step of generating the map image comprises:
A first step of moving the reference position in a predetermined direction along the path by a unit distance when the scroll command is input;
Generating a map image from the route data and the map data based on the moved reference position, and
In accordance with the scroll command , measuring an angle formed by a horizontal line in the display device of the mobile communication terminal and a tangent line at a reference position on the route counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal line ;
Identifying the type of the input scroll command based on the angle;
Moving the reference position by a unit distance along the path in a predetermined direction according to the type of the scroll command identified ;
Generating a map image from the route data and the map data based on the moved reference position;
And displaying the generated map image on a display device of the mobile communication terminal.   A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. In a route providing system using a mobile communication terminal that provides a scroll function,
A receiving module for receiving route data corresponding to a route from a departure place to a destination and map data associated with the route data from a route search server;
A user input module for receiving a predetermined scroll command input from the user;
An image generation module for generating a map image from the route data and the map data based on a predetermined reference position on the route according to the scroll command;
A display control module for controlling to display the generated map image on a display device of the mobile communication terminal,
When the scroll command is input, the image generation module repeatedly generates the map image after moving the reference position on the route by a unit distance in a predetermined direction until a certain condition is satisfied. ,
The user input module receives a specific input from an input device of the mobile communication terminal,
The image generation module measures an angle formed by a tangent to the path at the reference position and a horizontal line of the display device counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal line, and a scroll command corresponding to the specific input based on the angle A route data providing system, wherein a map image is generated from the route data and the map data. If the identified scroll command type is a 'forward' command or an 'automatic advance' command, the predetermined direction is the user's direction of travel;
The route data according to claim 6, wherein when the type of the identified scroll command is a 'reverse' command or an 'automatic reverse' command, the predetermined direction is a direction opposite to the user's travel direction. Offer system. The certain condition is:
When a 'stop' command is input from the user;
After the reference position is the destination, when the map image no longer needs to be scrolled,
The route data providing system according to claim 6, wherein the moving distance of the reference position is any one of cases where a moving distance exceeds a predetermined value.

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