JP4549322B2 - Map display system, map display device, map display method, and map distribution server - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a map display system, a map display device, a map display method, and a map distribution server that display a map image on a display unit. In this type of map display system, an object image indicating an object such as a store or a facility is displayed on a map image, and detailed information about the object is obtained by moving the cursor on the displayed object image and performing a click operation. A window to display is opened.
The present invention redraws the object image at the position where the distance from the cursor position to the object image position is the shortest, particularly when a large number of the object images as described above are displayed in close areas on the map image. Display on the top surface of the display image, and by selecting an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position as the object image to be redrawn, the map display is designed to reduce drawing processing and computation processing The present invention relates to a system, a map display device, a map display method, and a map distribution server. In addition, when the center of the cursor overlaps with the redrawn object image, the display mode of the object image and the cursor is changed, and the map display system, map display device, and The present invention relates to a map display method and a map distribution server.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, navigation devices and navigation systems that guide a user by searching for a route from a desired departure point to a destination using map data and road data are known. Such navigation devices and navigation systems are known. As a car navigation device that is installed in an automobile and guides the route to the driver, a communication type that uses a mobile phone as a navigation terminal to send a route search request to the route search server, receives the result, and receives route guidance Navigation systems have been put to practical use.

  In particular, the communication-type navigation system is a system that uses a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone as a navigation terminal, and is also used as a navigation system for pedestrians. As a navigation system for pedestrians, it is preferable to add a route guidance function including transportation, and in addition to searching and guidance for walking routes, the route search server accumulates routes and operation time data of transportation, There is also a navigation system having a function of guiding a route from a desired departure station to a desired destination station (boarding candidate train) in addition to searching for a walking route and guidance. There is also a traffic guidance system that receives and displays information such as routes, timetables of transportation facilities, and trains that can be boarded from an information distribution server without searching for walking routes.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information on a departure point and a destination from a portable navigation terminal to an information distribution server, and the information distribution server searches and guides a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The information distribution server has roads (routes) of map data as nodes and nodes as the positions of inflection points, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) of all links as a database. ing. Then, the information distribution server sequentially searches for a link from the departure node to the destination node with reference to the database, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  A route search system that searches for routes that use transportation is a database of operation time data of each transportation based on route search conditions such as departure date, departure location, destination, arrival time specified by the user. It has a time database and data that makes the traffic network a database based on this. Then, referring to these databases, each available means of transportation (individual trains and route buses) connecting the departure point and destination, including connections (transfers), is sequentially traced to meet the route search conditions. It is configured to present one or a plurality of candidates for a guide route (departure station, destination station, route, train, etc.). As route search conditions, it is generally possible to specify conditions such as required time, number of transfers, and fares.

  In addition, as a system for conducting searches and guidance related to transportation facilities, a terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected to an information distribution server for guiding route information and timetable information of transportation facilities, and a desired departure station, departure time, destination station, etc. There is also provided a guidance system that can specify information, receive information on routes, trains, trains and other transportation means that can be boarded, and display them on a terminal device. In general, when such use is performed from a terminal device, address information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or a domain name for specifying a location where information to be downloaded exists is input to the terminal device and specified by the address. The information distribution server (information site) is accessed to download desired information.

  The route search data in the navigation system for route search and route guidance using the transportation system is the same as the road network data in the in-vehicle navigation system and the pedestrian navigation system. In addition to data networked as a two-way link, the operation time and required time of each link are added as link cost data for each means of transportation operated on each traffic route. Furthermore, there is a system in which fare data is added and the fare of the searched guide route is guided together.

  In recent years, mobile terminals such as mobile phones are equipped with browsers and can access the Internet and receive desired information. In such a system, the user operates a mobile terminal, finds a desired site using a search engine provided in the server, downloads the content of the site, and browses the content with a browser. ing. The content includes information belonging to various categories, and includes information on stores and events, provision of railway timetables, and train transfer guidance.

  In providing information on stores and events, a user operates a mobile terminal to input a store or event category and an area to be searched for a search request. The server searches for stores and events that fall into the specified category and exist in the area, and the information is distributed to the mobile terminal device. In providing the timetable, when the user operates the mobile terminal to designate a route, the timetable of the route is presented on the screen of the display device of the mobile terminal. Further, in the transfer guidance, the recommended route is presented by the user specifying the departure place and the destination.

  In addition, connect to a map server on the Internet from a terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone, and enter the desired location, facility, store address, name, telephone number, etc. to determine the location of the location, facility, or store. It is also possible to display a map image on a display device by downloading map data within a predetermined range.

  The map display in the terminal device used for each system as described above is performed as follows. That is, in this type of map display device, an object image indicating an object such as a store or a facility is also displayed on the map image displayed on the display screen. The user can open a window that displays detailed information about the object by moving the cursor on the object image displayed on the display screen and performing a click operation. As a result, the user can select the object image that he / she is interested in from the object images displayed on the map and know the detailed information of the object.

  However, there are cases where a large number of such object images are displayed in a close area on the map image. In this case, a plurality of object images may be displayed so as to be densely overlapped. Even if the user moves the cursor to select an object, in such a display state, there is a problem that it is not possible to clearly determine on the display screen which object image the cursor is selecting.

  An invention of a map display system and a map display method that solves such inconvenience is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-337041 below. The map display system disclosed in Patent Document 2 reads map data and facility data stored in an information storage unit via an I / O circuit, and aggregates a plurality of facility data from the read facility data. In addition to rendering the read map data in the VRAM, the facility data aggregated by the aggregation process is drawn using the aggregate facility icon that is a graphic image representing the result of the aggregation, and is displayed on the monitor. It is configured for display output. By selecting the aggregate facility icon, the user can display a list of facilities included in the aggregate icon and select a desired facility.

  Further, in the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-317955), when an icon indicating a facility such as a landmark is displayed on a map, a plurality of icons must be displayed. Disclosed is a map display device configured to sequentially switch and display the frontmost icon, which is displayed as a whole, at predetermined time intervals for a plurality of icons displayed at the same position or at a position where parts overlap. Yes. The user can refer to the detailed explanation about the icon by selecting the icon when the desired icon is displayed in the foreground of the display.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-337041 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 7) JP 2001-317955 A (FIG. 5)

  As described above, an object image indicating an object such as a store or a facility is displayed on the map image, and detailed information regarding the object is displayed by moving the cursor on the displayed object image and performing a click operation. In a map display device, a plurality of object images may be displayed in an adjacent area.

  However, when such a map image is displayed using the map display method disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the user selects a desired icon and displays its detailed information, the aggregate icon is selected once. However, the facility list displayed in the aggregated icon displayed by this is displayed, and then a desired facility is selected from the list, so that there is a problem that it lacks quick operability. there were. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to identify what kind of facility is included in the aggregate icon.

  Further, when such a map image is displayed using the map display method disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the user selects a desired icon and displays its detailed information, the desired icon is displayed. Since the icon is selected when it is displayed in the foreground, there is a problem that the icon cannot be selected unless the order in which the desired icon is displayed in the foreground is reached. There is also a problem that an icon that is not an icon may be selected.

The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies in order to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, a window that displays detailed information about the object by moving the cursor on the object image displayed on the map image and performing a click operation. In a map display system that opens, when many object images are displayed in close areas on the map image, the object image at the shortest distance from the cursor position to the object image position is redrawn. If the image is displayed on the top surface of the display image and an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position is selected as an object image to be redrawn, the above problem can be solved, and drawing for that purpose is also possible. The present invention was completed by conceiving that processing and arithmetic processing can be reduced. It is.

  In addition, when the cursor is superimposed on the redrawn object image, the above-mentioned problem can be solved by changing the display mode of the object image and the cursor and activating selection of the object image. The present invention has been conceived and completed.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when a large number of object images are displayed in a close area on the map image, the user can easily identify the desired object image, An object of the present invention is to provide a map display system, a map display device, a map display method, and a map distribution server capable of accurately and reliably performing a click operation on the object image and reducing the drawing process and the calculation process. It is what.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention of the present application is:
Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image In a map display system that displays object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed,
The map display system calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection unit and the position of each object image to determine an object with the shortest distance; Object selection means for selecting an object image within a range, and the target object determination means is configured such that when the cursor is operated, the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection means and the position of each object image are always detected. The object display control means recalculates the object image of the target object determined by the target object determination means among the object images selected by the object selection means. Draw and display on the top of the display image And butterflies.

In the first aspect of the invention, the object selecting means is configured to select an object image having a predetermined distance or less from a cursor position, or the display screen is divided into four quadrants and the cursor is positioned in a quadrant where the cursor is moved. An object image to be selected is selected, or an object image that is located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the cursor position is selected. It is preferable.

  In the first invention, when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control means draws by changing a display mode of the object image and the cursor image, and performs the cursor operation. Preferably, the detecting means detects a selection operation on the object image and activates display control of object information related to the target object.

  In the first invention, when the cursor is a cross cursor and the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object image is redrawn as a display mode for highlighting, and the cursor display mode is displayed. Is preferably changed to a pointing image.

  Further, in the first invention, when the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be a different position, and the object display control means is Preferably, the object image is displayed based on position information for each object image.

The second invention of the present application is
Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image When an operation for selecting an object image is performed, a map display device that displays object information related to the object,
The map display device calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means and the position of each object image, and determines a shortest distance object; Object selection means for selecting an object image within a range, and the target object determination means is configured such that when the cursor is operated, the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection means and the position of each object image are always detected. The object display control means redraws the object image of the target object determined by the target object determination means for the object image selected by the object selection means. Display on the top of the display image. To.

In the second aspect of the invention, the object selection means is configured to select an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, or the display screen is divided into four quadrants and the cursor is positioned in the quadrant where the cursor is moved. An object image to be selected is selected, or an object image that is located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the cursor position is selected. It is preferable.

  In the second invention, when the cursor position overlaps with the object image of the target object, the object display control means draws by changing a display mode of the object image and the cursor image, and performs the cursor operation. Preferably, the detecting means detects a selection operation on the object image and activates display control of object information related to the target object.

  In the second aspect of the invention, when the cursor is a cross cursor and the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object image is redrawn as a display mode for highlighting, and the cursor display mode is displayed. Is preferably changed to a pointing image.

  Further, in the second invention, when the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be a different position, and the object display control means is Preferably, the object image is displayed based on position information for each object image.

The third invention of the present application is
Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image In a map display method in a map display system for displaying object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed,
The map display system calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection unit and the position of each object image to determine an object with the shortest distance; An object selection means for selecting an object image within the range,
The selection step in which the object selection means selects an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, and the target object determination means is configured to always detect the position of the cursor and each object detected by the cursor operation detection means when the cursor is operated. Calculating the distance to the position of the image and determining the object having the shortest distance; and the object display control means determines the target object determination means among the object images selected by the object selection means Redrawing the object image of the target object and displaying it on the top surface of the display image.

In the third aspect of the invention, the object selection step includes a process of selecting an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, or the display screen is divided into four quadrants and the cursor is located in the quadrant to which the cursor has moved. A process for selecting an object image, or a process for selecting an object image located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the position of the cursor It is preferable to do.

  In the third aspect of the invention, when the cursor operation detecting means detects that the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control means detects the object image of the target object and the cursor image. It is preferable that the method includes a step of drawing while changing a display mode, and a step in which the cursor operation detecting unit detects a selection operation on the object image and activates display control of object information related to the target object.

  In the third aspect of the invention, the cursor is a cross cursor, and when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control unit highlights the object image of the target object. It is preferable that the method further includes a step of changing the display mode of the cursor to a pointing image.

  Furthermore, in the third invention, when the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be a different position, and the object display control means Preferably, the method includes a step of displaying an object image based on position information for each object image.

The fourth invention of the present application is
Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image A map display device that displays object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed, and calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means and the position of each object image. Target object determining means for determining an object with the shortest distance and object selecting means for selecting an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, and the target object determining means is always operated when the cursor is operated. Cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means And calculates the distance between the position and the position of each object image to determine the shortest distance object, the object display control means, out of the object image the object selecting means has selected, said target object determining means In the map distribution server that distributes the map image to the map display device that redraws the object image of the determined target object and displays it on the top surface of the display image,
The map distribution server distributes an object image to be displayed on a map image and its position to the map display device.

  In the fourth invention, when the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of the object image of each object is set to be different from each other. It is preferable that the position information for each object image is distributed to the map display device.

In the first invention of this application, the map display system calculates the distance between the object display control means for displaying the object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and the position of the cursor and the position of each object image. Target object determining means for determining an object with the shortest distance and object selecting means for selecting an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, and the target object determining means is always operated when the cursor is operated. The distance between the cursor position detected by the cursor operation detection means and the position of each object image is calculated to determine the object with the shortest distance, and the object display control means is the object selected by the object selection means. Among the images, the target object determining means determines The object image in the object redrawn and displayed on top of the displayed image.

According to such a configuration, since the object image closest to the cursor position is always displayed on the uppermost surface of the display screen, when the user selects a desired object image with the cursor, the user simply moves the cursor. A desired object image can be displayed and selected on the top surface of the screen, and an object image selection operation can be quickly performed. In addition, a desired object image to be operated can be reliably identified.
Furthermore, since the object selection means selects an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, the object image to be drawn can be limited, and the load of drawing processing and arithmetic processing can be reduced.

In the first invention, the object selecting means is configured to select an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, or the display screen is divided into four quadrants and the cursor is positioned in the quadrant where the cursor has moved. An object image to be selected is selected, or an object image that is located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the cursor position is selected. It is preferable.

According to such a configuration, the object selection means selects an object image that is a predetermined distance or less from the cursor position, or divides the display screen into four quadrants, and selects an object image located in the quadrant to which the cursor has moved. Select or select an object image that is located within a predetermined angle range centered on the direction in which the cursor has moved ( the direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the position of the cursor). Images can be limited, and the load of drawing processing and arithmetic processing can be reduced.

  In the first invention, when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control means draws by changing a display mode of the object image and the cursor image, and the cursor operation detecting means Preferably, the selection operation for the object image is detected and the display control of the object information regarding the target object is activated.

  According to such a configuration, the object image on which the cursor is positioned can be reliably identified, and the display control of the detailed information on the corresponding object is activated only when the object image on which the cursor is positioned is clicked. Even if an object other than the top surface is selected by mistake with the cursor, the detailed information of the object is not displayed.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the cursor is a cross cursor, and when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object image is redrawn as a display mode to highlight the object image. It is preferable to change to a pointing image. According to such a configuration, the user can clearly identify that a desired object image has been selected by operating the cursor.

  Further, in the first invention, when the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be a different position, and the object display control means is Preferably, the object image is displayed based on position information for each object image. According to such a configuration, different objects in the same building can be displayed without overlapping.

  In the second invention, the map display device in the first invention can be provided, and in the third invention, a map display method for realizing the map display system according to the first invention can be provided. become. Furthermore, in the fourth invention, a map distribution server constituting the map display system of the first invention can be provided.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a map display device and a map display system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is specified to this map display device and map display method. However, the present invention is equally applicable to the map display device and the map display system of the other embodiments included in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a map display system 10 including a map display device 20 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the map display system 10 includes a map display device 20 connected via a network 12 and a map distribution server 30 having a navigation function. Therefore, this map display system 10 also functions as a navigation system.

  The map display system 10 also includes a POI information distribution server 50 that provides POI information such as the location of POIs belonging to various categories and service contents, and an information distribution server 51 that provides contents such as music and various images. It is configured. The map distribution server 30 can acquire necessary data from the POI information distribution server 50 or another information distribution server 51 via the network 12 and add it to its own database. Similarly, a search request can be transmitted to the POI information distribution server 50 or another information distribution server 51 to obtain a desired search result.

  The map display system 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and the map distribution server 30 may be a map distribution server that does not have a navigation service function, and the map display device 20 is also a mobile phone. It is not limited, and may be a portable device such as a PDA or a music player, or a personal computer (PC). Further, a stand-alone type system such as an in-vehicle navigation system in which the map display device 20 and the map distribution server 30 are integrated may be used.

  The map display device 20 designates the current position and a desired point, requests the map distribution server 30 for a predetermined range of map information centered on the current position and the desired point, and the map information distributed from the map distribution server The map image can be displayed on the display means based on the above. Further, the map display device 20 requests the map distribution server 30 to search for a desired place of interest (POI), designates an arbitrary POI from the POI search result returned from the map distribution server 30, and It is also possible to request map information including a point where an arbitrary POI exists and display the map image on the display means.

  Further, the map display device 20 designates a desired departure place and destination, requests the map delivery server 30 to search for an optimum route from the departure place to the destination and several candidate routes, and from the map delivery server 30, Map information including the guide route can be received as a result of the route search, and a map image can be displayed on the display means.

  The map data distributed by the map distribution server 30 to the map display device 20 includes, in addition to roads and routes of transportation facilities, facilities and buildings existing at each point on the map, such as banks, post offices, government agencies, land Information on objects indicating marks, various POIs, and the like is included. When a map image is displayed on the display unit, an object image such as an icon indicating these objects is displayed on the map image. The user can know where the object is located on the map by referring to the object image in the map image displayed on the display means.

  In the map display device 20, a cursor can be displayed on the display means, and an arbitrary object image can be selected by moving the cursor to an object image on the displayed map image and performing a click operation. When an object image is selected, an information window regarding the corresponding object is opened, and detailed information regarding the object, for example, when the object is a restaurant, detailed information such as business hours, service contents, and charges can be displayed.

  In order to respond to various requests from the map display device 20, the map distribution server 30 includes a map database 40 and search network data 35 for route search. Since the map data stored in the map database 40 draws (displays) an object image such as an icon on the electronic map, the map data type is optimally vector-format map data. Further, this map data is made up of unit map data divided into meshes in units of predetermined latitude and longitude, and when a map is requested from the map display device 20 such as a mobile phone, the current position or designated point is displayed. The map data of nine mesh units that are adjacent in the up, down, left, and right and diagonal directions is distributed to the mobile terminal with the mesh unit map data included in the center.

  The search network data 35 for route search includes a road (route) as a node and a position of a bending point as a node, a route connecting each node as a link, node data, link data, and all links. It is composed of link cost data, which is cost information (distance and required time), and is made into a database. The network data for transportation is also stored as link cost data, with stations as nodes, links between stations, and timetable data (departure time, arrival time, required time) of each vehicle such as trains. is there.

  When the current position is specified from the map display device 20 or a desired point is specified and a distribution request for a map including the point is received, the map distribution server 30 reads out the corresponding map data from the map database 40 and the map display device. Deliver to 20. Along with this map data, data indicating POIs such as various facilities, buildings and landmarks located on the map are distributed, and the map display device displays the map image on the display means and various object images on the map image. Draw.

  When the map distribution server 30 receives a POI search request from the map display device 20, the map distribution server 30 refers to a POI database (not shown) and searches for the corresponding POI. Then, POI guidance information such as the position and name of the corresponding POI is distributed to the map display device 20. Further, when a map request including the POI position is received based on the POI guidance information, the corresponding map data is distributed to the map display device 20 with reference to the map database 40.

  Further, when a route search to the POI is requested by designating the current position from the map display device 20 or by designating a desired point, the map distribution server 30 refers to the network data for search 35 to find a point between two points. The candidate route is searched, and map data including the candidate route as the guide route is distributed to the map display device 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the map distribution server 30 shown in FIG. The map distribution server 30 includes control means 31, distribution data creation means 32, communication means 34, route search means 33, search network data 35, and the like. The search network data 35 stores road network data 36 for searching routes for walking and automobiles, and traffic network data 37 for searching routes using transportation facilities.

  Although not shown, the control unit 31 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication means 34 is an interface for communicating with the map display device 20 and the POI information distribution server 50 that provides various POI information via the network 12. The distribution data creation means 32 is for editing the results of route search and POI search into data for distribution to the map display device 20. The map distribution server 30 can collect POI information from various POI information distribution servers 50 via the network 12 and update or expand the map data stored in the map database 40.

  The route search means 33 is a multimodal route search engine, and has a route search function using both walking and transportation. Such a route search engine is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-258184. As a route search method, a known method called Dijkstra method is applied, and route search conditions and POI search conditions are transmitted from a terminal device such as the map display device 20.

  The POI search means 38 is configured with a POI database. The POI information stored in the POI database is searched and referred to by the POI search means 38, and the requested POI information is searched using the POI category, region, etc. designated by the map display device 20 as a search condition. be delivered. The object extraction means 39 extracts objects such as various facilities, buildings, and landmarks existing on the corresponding map based on the map data distributed to the map display device 20, and sends the information to the map display device 20 as map data. Delivered with.

  Various information and data sent to the map display device 20, for example, map data, object data, POI guide information, guide route information, etc. are edited by the distribution data creation means 32 as necessary, and the map display device 20. Delivered to.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the map display device 20 includes a control unit 201, a communication unit 21, a GPS positioning unit 22, a distribution request editing unit 23, a distribution data storage unit 24, an operation / input unit 25, a display unit 26, and an object display. A control unit 27, a target object determination unit 281, an object selection unit 282, a cursor operation detection unit 29, and the like are provided. The GPS positioning means 22 includes a GPS receiver, receives and processes GPS satellite signals, and measures the current position of the map display device 20 using latitude and longitude.

  Although not shown, the control unit 201 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication means 21 is an interface for communicating with the map distribution server 30 via the network 12.

  The operation / input means 25 is for operation / input including numeric keys, alphabet keys, cursor operation keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like, and is displayed on the display means 26 as output means. The user selects a desired menu from the menu screen or performs various input operations by operating keys. Therefore, the display unit 26 also functions as a part of the operation / input unit 25. Further, the operation / input means 25 may be provided with operation means such as a mouse.

  The distribution request editing unit 23 edits POI search conditions and route search conditions input via the menu screen displayed on the operation / input unit 25 and the display unit 26 as a distribution request for transmitting to the map distribution server 30. To do. Further, the map data distributed by the map distribution server 30 according to the request, the result of the POI search according to the POI search request and the result of the route search are distributed to the map display device 20 as POI information and guide route information. The distribution data distributed from the map distribution server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage unit 24. Distribution data such as map data, POI information, and guide route information stored in the distribution data storage unit 24 is read out as necessary and displayed on the display unit 26.

  In the present invention, the operation / input unit 25 operates a cursor key on the map image display screen displayed on the display unit 26 and clicks a desired object image displayed on the map image to select the object. Can do. The cursor key operation and the object selection operation (click operation) are detected by the cursor operation detection means 29. In addition, the cursor operation detecting means 29 identifies the center position of the cursor on the display screen (map image) by the cursor operation (for example, the center position of the cross mark in the cross-shaped cursor image, and displays each position displayed on the map image. The distance from the object image (center position) is calculated.

  Based on the distance between the cursor position calculated by the cursor operation detection unit 29 and the position of each object image, the target object determination unit 281 determines the object image closest to the straight line distance from the cursor position as the target object. The object data included in the mesh unit map data has the configuration shown in FIG. 4 and is distributed from the map distribution server 30 to the map display device 20 together with the map data. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the objects 1 to n includes a latitude indicating the center position, a longitude and a palette image number indicating the object image, and detailed information (name, telephone number, etc.) of the object expressed in text. .

  The palette image for displaying the object image is downloaded in advance from the map distribution server 30 to the map display device 20, and in the map display device 20 if the position and number of each object are specified. An object image can be drawn. For example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-128801 can be applied to such a technique.

  That is, first, the screen coordinates of the central latitude and longitude of the icon are obtained based on the central latitude and longitude of the map, the orientation of the map, and the map magnification (scale). Next, if the object image is 16 × 16 dots, the object image is drawn from a position offset by 8 dots in the XY coordinates from the previously obtained coordinates. Such drawing processing is repeated for each object as long as the object data exists. Therefore, when the object images overlap, the object image drawn later is displayed on the uppermost surface of the display screen on the object image drawn earlier.

  Based on the object data shown in FIG. 4, the object display control means 27 performs control for drawing each object image (icon image or the like) on the map image displayed on the display means 26 based on the position information of each object. Do. At this time, if the object images overlap in a narrow area, they are displayed so as to overlap in the drawing order. At this time, it is not specified which object image is displayed on the top surface of the display screen. When a cursor operation is performed here, the cursor operation detection means 29 detects the cursor position and calculates the distance from each object image.

  When the target object determining unit 281 that has received the information on the distance between the cursor position and each object image from the cursor operation detecting unit 29 determines the object closest to the cursor position as the target object, the object display control unit detects the object of the target object. A process of redrawing the image on the display means 26 is performed. Since the image displayed on the display means 26 is the most recently drawn image displayed on the top surface of the display screen, when the cursor is operated by this processing, the object (target object) that is closest to the cursor is displayed. The object image is always displayed on the top surface of the display screen.

  Accordingly, the user of the map display device 20 observes the map image displayed on the display means 26 and the object image displayed on the map image, and operates the cursor until the desired object image is displayed on the top surface of the screen. This makes it possible to reliably identify and select a desired object. The distance between the cursor position and each object position is calculated by obtaining the distance between each representative position. Here, the representative position is, for example, the center coordinates (center position) of the cross in the case of a cross cursor, or the coordinates of the tip of the finger in the case of a pointing mark, but is not limited to this. May be the coordinates of the image location specified as a point. Similarly, the representative position of the object may be the coordinates of the center position of the object image, the position coordinates of the upper left corner of the object image, or the like.

  The cursor operation detection unit 29 detects that the cursor is operated and the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object (the object closest to the cursor), and notifies the object display control unit 27 of it. When the object display control means 27 receives this notification, the object display control means 27 changes the display mode of the target object from the previous display and draws it, and highlights the object image of the target object. For example, the target object image is drawn while being changed to a display mode surrounded by a thick line. As a result, the user can more clearly identify the target object displayed on the top surface of the display screen.

  At the same time, the cursor operation detection unit 29 changes the display mode of the cursor. For example, when the cursor is a cross mark, it is changed to a pointing mark and displayed. By changing the display mode of the cursor, the cursor operation detecting unit 29 activates the display control for displaying the detailed information of the object when the operation (click operation) for selecting the object image on which the cursor is overlapped is performed. . Therefore, even if the object image is clicked in a state where the cursor display mode is not changed, a window for displaying the detailed information of the object is not opened.

  According to such control, the object image of the target object closest to the cursor is displayed on the top surface of the display screen on which the map image is displayed, and the cursor is moved to a position overlapping the object image. Since the display mode of the object image and the cursor changes, the user can clearly identify that the cursor has been moved to the position of the desired object image.

  In addition, since the window for displaying the detailed information of the object is activated only under this condition, even if there is an operation mistake such as the cursor being superimposed on an object image that is not desired among the object images that have been mistakenly overlapped, The mistake can be easily recognized. Also, even if an object image is clicked (selected) that is not desired due to such an operation error, a window for displaying detailed information is not opened, and the user is not forced to perform an extra operation for returning the screen.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone having a navigation terminal function as the map display device 20. This map display device 20 (mobile phone) has a display means 26 composed of a liquid crystal display unit and the like, and an operation and input means 25 composed of keys, buttons, and the like. A menu screen, a map image, and the like are displayed on the display screen 261. The scroll key SK provided in the operation / input means 25 is composed of up / down / left / right keys as shown in FIG. 5. When the scroll key SK is operated, an image of a cursor (scroll cursor) is displayed on the display screen 261, and up / down / left / right. You can move the cursor to.

  The initial position of the cursor is the center of the display screen 261, and a straight line connecting the initial position to the cursor movement position is displayed. When the cursor moves and reaches the end of the display screen 261, the map image is scrolled so that the cursor position at that time is at the center of the display screen 261. Since the cursor position and the initial position are connected by a straight line, the cursor can be easily returned to the initial position by moving the cursor so as to return to the straight line. Further, the input operation and the like so far can be cleared by operating the clear key 251.

  In general, when a map image is first displayed on the display screen, the current position of the map display device 20, the position of the POI of interest, and the like are displayed at the center of the map image. Therefore, the initial position of the cursor matches the current position and the point of interest, and even if you move the cursor and scroll the map, you can easily return the cursor along a straight line and return to the initial map image. Convenience is improved. As such a scroll and cursor control technique, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-208095 can be applied.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an object screen displayed on the display screen 261 of the map display device 20. In FIG. 6, the map image displayed on the display screen 261 is not shown. On the map image, object images I01 and I02 indicating objects such as facilities and buildings existing at respective positions on the map are drawn on the map image. In a detailed map of an urban area or the like, since a plurality of objects are densely present in a narrow area, images are displayed so as to overlap each other like an object image I02.

  Therefore, when the user of the map display device 20 moves the cursor, places the cursor on an arbitrary object and performs a selection operation (click operation) to display the detailed information, the desired object image is displayed in another If displayed on the lower surface of the object image, it is difficult to identify the target object image, and the selection operation with the cursor cannot be performed reliably.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as described above, when the cursor is operated, the distance between the cursor position and each object image is calculated, and by redrawing the object image closest to the cursor position, the object image is displayed. Display on the top of the display image. Thereby, the object image displayed on the uppermost surface of the screen is always specified as the object image closest to the cursor.

  Therefore, by moving the cursor until the user and the desired object image are displayed on the uppermost surface and displaying the object image on the uppermost surface of the display screen, the corresponding object image can be easily identified. Can do. When the user wants to select the corresponding object image and display its detailed information, the user further operates the cursor and clicks on the object image. In this case, since the desired object image is displayed on the uppermost surface of the display screen, it is possible to reduce operation mistakes such as erroneously moving the cursor to another object image.

  When it is detected that the cursor is superimposed on a desired object image, the present invention further emphasizes by changing the display mode of the cursor and the display mode of the object image on which the cursor is superimposed from the normal display mode. To display. At the same time, the display control of the window that displays the detailed information of the selected object is activated by changing the display mode of the cursor. Therefore, the user can easily identify the desired object and easily perform the selection operation. Even if there is an operation mistake such as placing the cursor on an undesired object image, the user can easily recognize the mistake. Also, even if an object image is clicked (selected) that is not desired due to such an operation error, a window for displaying detailed information is not opened, and the user is not forced to perform an extra operation for returning the screen.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of an object image displayed by such control. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the object image I02 closest to the cursor is displayed at the top of the display screen, and when the cursor moves and overlaps the object image I02, the display mode of the object image I02 is increased. The display mode is changed to a frame display, and the cursor display mode is changed from a cross image to a pointing image. By changing the display mode of the cursor, the display control of the detailed information display window of the corresponding object is activated.

  Next, an object image display procedure in the map display device 20 described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a subroutine for displaying an object image on the map image displayed on the display means 26.

  First, the cursor operation detecting means 29 detects the center position of the cursor in the process of step S101, and then calculates the center position by referring to the object data of each object shown in FIG. 4 in the process of step S102. In this process, the distance between the cursor position and each object center position is calculated.

  Next, in the processing of step S104, the target object determining unit 281 refers to the distance between each object calculated by the cursor operation detecting unit 29 and the cursor, and selects the object having the shortest distance (closest to the cursor) from the cursor. Determine as the target object. Next, in step S105, the cursor operation detection unit 29 determines whether the cursor is on the object image of the target object determined in step S104.

  In the determination process of step S105, when the cursor operation detection unit 29 determines that the cursor is not positioned on the object image of the target object, the process proceeds to step S106, and the object display control unit 27 sets the object image of the target object. Redraw. With this process, when the cursor is operated, the object image closest to the cursor is displayed on the uppermost surface of the display image. In step S107, the cursor image is drawn using a normal cross-shaped image. In the process of step S108, since no object image is selected, this software is used to store on the software that the specific object image is not focused (the cursor is not overlaid). Clear (erase) the pointer on the wear and return.

  On the other hand, when the cursor operation detection unit 29 determines in step S105 that the cursor is positioned on the object image of the target object, the process proceeds to step S109, and the object display control unit 27 determines that the target object As shown in FIG. 7, the object image is redrawn after changing the display mode (in the example of FIG. 7, it is changed to an image surrounded by a thick frame). With this processing, the target object image closest to the cursor is highlighted on the uppermost surface of the display image and in a display mode different from normal. That is, the target object image is displayed on the forefront of the display screen and appears to be in focus.

  Next, in the process of step S110, the cursor image is changed from the normal display mode (cross-shaped image) and drawn using a different display mode (for example, a pointing-type image). This can be expressed as if the cursor of the pointing mark is on the focused target object image. In step S111, in order to identify on the software that the target object image is focused, the pointer on the software is moved to the target object image and the process returns.

  With this processing, if the pointer is referenced, it can be seen that the cursor is positioned on the object image of the target object, so that the click operation on this object image is validated. That is, the selection of the object image is confirmed, and the object image is clicked, and display control of the window displaying the detailed data of the object is activated (activated).

  When the object image display processing as described above is performed, the object display control means 27 needs to draw all the object images existing on the map image displayed on the display screen, which increases the burden of the drawing processing. . When the user operates the cursor, there are many cases where an object image of a specific area on the screen is taken into consideration, and in many cases it is not necessary to display all the object images on the screen.

  Therefore, when the cursor operation detecting unit 29 detects the cursor operation and the moving direction of the cursor, the object selecting unit 282 selects only the object image within the predetermined range from the cursor position and draws the object image. By configuring the display control unit 27 to draw only the object image selected by the object selection unit 282, the burden of the drawing process of the object display control unit 27 can be reduced.

  When the cursor operation detecting unit 29 detects the cursor operation, first, the processing of steps S101 to S104 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed to obtain the object closest to the drawing position of the cursor as the target object. For example, the distance between the center of the cross of the cursor and the center coordinates of the object image (which is the position of the POI) is examined to identify the object image at the closest position.

  Then, the object selection unit 282 selects an object to be displayed as follows. That is, it is checked whether the distance from the cursor to the closest object image (target object) is equal to or less than a predetermined value. If the distance to the target object is not less than or equal to the predetermined distance, no object image exists yet, so the object selection unit 282 does not select any object, and the object display control unit 27 displays the cursor image (cross cursor). The process ends with just drawing.

  Here, the distance between the cursor and the object image is more suitable to check by the distance on the screen rather than the actual geographical distance. For example, the size of the object image is three sizes. Or a numerical value such as the number of dots such as xx dots.

  If the distance to the target object is equal to or smaller than the predetermined distance, the object selection means 282 selects an object within the predetermined distance range because an object image is present nearby, and the processing from step S105 to step S111 in the flowchart of FIG. To display the object image. Thereby, the object image drawn by the object display control means 27 can be reduced. Here, since the distance between the position of the cursor and the position of the object image is the distance in the x-axis and y-axis directions, an object image within a predetermined range is selected.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of an object image by such control. As shown in FIG. 9, when the cursor is moved, it first approaches the object image I01, but since the distance L2 to the cursor is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (L0), this object image is not selected and redrawn. As the cursor further moves, the object image I02 becomes the object image closest to the cursor, and the object image I02 is redrawn and displayed if the distance L1 to the cursor is equal to or less than the predetermined distance (L0). Displayed on the top surface of the screen. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the cursor overlaps the target object.

  In addition to the above method, various methods can be applied to the object selection by the object selection means 282. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, by selecting only object images within a predetermined range A1, distance calculation and sorting in the cursor operation detection means 29 can be greatly reduced. It is possible to select only an object image within a predetermined range in the XY coordinates from the cursor, or to select an object image in the mesh including the cursor when the map is divided into meshes on a larger map.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the direction in which the cursor is operated (moved) by the cursor operation detecting unit 29 may be detected, and an object image positioned in that direction may be selected. In this case, since the cursor starts from the center of the display screen, the display screen is divided into first to fourth quadrants, and an object image located in the corresponding quadrant is selected. In the case of FIG. 11, since the cursor has been moved to the second quadrant, the object image located in the area of the second quadrant A2 is selected. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, a target object image may be selected in a range in which the area A3 is narrowed down within a predetermined angle range with the cursor moving direction as the center.

  By selecting an object as described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, it is possible to reduce the processing load. For example, in the example of FIG. 9, even if the object is closest to the cursor, drawing is started after entering the predetermined distance range from the cursor, so that the drawing frequency can be lowered. It is possible to prevent useless drawing when there is no object in the vicinity of the cursor and the icon is closest to the cursor even if it is far from the cursor.

Further, according to the methods of FIGS. 10 and 11, since the target objects can be limited, the sort processing for determining the object closest to the cursor is reduced.
Furthermore, in the case of FIG. 12, since the object can be limited from the moving direction of the object, there is no need to process the object that moves away from the cursor, which is efficient.

  In the present invention, the map display device is not limited to a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, but can be applied to display of an electronic map in a personal computer (PC).

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system including a map display device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the map delivery server connected to the map display apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the map display apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the object data delivered to a map display apparatus. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the mobile phone used as a map display apparatus. It is a figure of the display screen which shows the example of a display of an object image. It is a figure of the display screen which shows the example of a display of the object image concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the display process of the object image of the map display apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen for demonstrating the drawing procedure in the case of selecting the object image to draw as a predetermined distance range. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen which shows the other example of selection of the object image to draw-process. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen example showing still another example of selection of an object image to be drawn. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen example showing still another example of selection of an object image to be drawn.

Explanation of symbols

10 .... Map display system 12 .... Network 20 ... Map display device 201 ... Control means 21 ... Communication means 22 ... GPS positioning means 23 ... Delivery request Editing means 24 ··· Distribution data storage means 25 ··· Operation / input means 26 ··· Display means 27 ··· Object display control means 281 ... Target object determining means 282 ... Object selection Means 29 ··· Cursor operation detection means 30 ··· Map distribution server 31 ··· Control means 32 ··· Distribution data creation means 33 ··· Route search means 34 ··· Communication means 35 ... Network data for search 36... Road network data 37... Traffic network data 38... POI search means 39. ... map database

Claims (23)

Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image In a map display system that displays object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed,
The map display system calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection unit and the position of each object image to determine an object with the shortest distance; An object selection means for selecting an object image within the range,
The target object determining means determines the object having the shortest distance by calculating the distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means and the position of each object image whenever the cursor is operated, The object display control means redraws and displays the object image of the target object determined by the target object determination means among the object images selected by the object selection means on the top surface of the display image. Map display system.   The map display system according to claim 1, wherein the object selection unit selects an object image having a predetermined range or less from a cursor position.   2. The map display system according to claim 1, wherein the object selection unit divides the display screen into four quadrants and selects an object image located in the quadrant to which the cursor has moved. 2. The object selection unit according to claim 1, wherein the object selection unit selects an object image located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the position of the cursor. Map display system.   When the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control means draws by changing the display mode of the object image and the cursor image, and the cursor operation detection means selects the object image. The map display system according to claim 1, wherein an operation is detected and display control of object information related to the target object is activated.   The cursor is a cross cursor, and when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object image is redrawn as a display mode for highlighting, and the cursor display mode is changed to a pointing image. The map display system according to claim 5.   When the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be different from each other, and the object display control means includes position information for each object image. The map display system according to claim 1, wherein an object image is displayed based on the map. Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image When an operation for selecting an object image is performed, a map display device that displays object information related to the object,
The map display device calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means and the position of each object image, and determines a shortest distance object; Object selection means for selecting an object image within a range, and the target object determination means is configured such that when the cursor is operated, the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection means and the position of each object image are always detected. The object display control means redraws the object image of the target object determined by the target object determination means for the object image selected by the object selection means. Display on the top of the display image. Map display device according to.   The map display device according to claim 8, wherein the object selection unit selects an object image that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined range from a cursor position.   9. The map display device according to claim 8, wherein the object selection means divides the display screen into four quadrants and selects an object image located in the quadrant to which the cursor has moved. 9. The map display according to claim 8, wherein the object selection means selects an object image located within a predetermined angle range in a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the cursor position. apparatus.   When the cursor position overlaps the target object image, the object display control means draws by changing a display mode of the object image and the cursor image, and the cursor operation detection means performs a selection operation on the object image. The map display device according to claim 8, wherein display control of object information related to the target object is activated.   The cursor is a cross cursor, and when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object image is redrawn as a display mode for highlighting, and the cursor display mode is changed to a pointing image. The map display device according to claim 12, wherein:   When the objects are different objects located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be different from each other, and the object display control means includes position information for each object image. 9. The map display device according to claim 8, wherein an object image is displayed based on the map. Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image In a map display method in a map display system for displaying object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed,
The map display system calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detection unit and the position of each object image to determine an object with the shortest distance; An object selection means for selecting an object image within the range,
The selection step in which the object selection means selects an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, and the target object determination means is configured to always detect the position of the cursor and each object detected by the cursor operation detection means when the cursor is operated. Calculating the distance to the position of the image and determining the object having the shortest distance; and the object display control means determines the target object determination means among the object images selected by the object selection means Redrawing the object image of the target object and displaying it on the top surface of the display image.   The map display method according to claim 15, wherein the object selection step includes a process of selecting an object image having a predetermined range or less from a cursor position.   The map display method according to claim 15, wherein the object selection step includes a process of dividing the display screen into four quadrants and selecting an object image located in the quadrant to which the cursor has moved. 16. The object selecting step includes a process of selecting an object image located within a predetermined angle range centering on a direction starting from the center of the display screen and ending at the cursor position. The map display method described in 1.   When the cursor operation detecting unit detects that the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control unit changes the display mode of the object image of the target object and the cursor image. 16. The map according to claim 15, comprising: a drawing step; and the cursor operation detecting means detects a selection operation on the object image and activates display control of object information related to the target object. Display method.   The cursor is a cross-cursor, and when the cursor position overlaps the object image of the target object, the object display control means highlights the object image of the target object, and the cursor display mode is The map display method according to claim 19, further comprising a step of changing to a pointing image.   When the objects are different objects located in a building of the same facility, the center position of each object image is set to be different from each other, and the object display control means The map display method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of displaying an object image based on the information. Display means for displaying a map image, cursor operation detecting means, and object display control means for displaying an object image on the map image according to the location of the object, and moving the cursor over the desired object image A map display device that displays object information related to an object when an operation for selecting an object image is performed, and calculates a distance between the position of the cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means and the position of each object image. Target object determining means for determining an object with the shortest distance and object selecting means for selecting an object image within a predetermined range from the cursor position, and the target object determining means is always operated when the cursor is operated. Cursor detected by the cursor operation detecting means And calculates the distance between the position and the position of each object image to determine the shortest distance object, the object display control means, out of the object image the object selecting means has selected, said target object determining means In the map distribution server that distributes the map image to the map display device that redraws the object image of the determined target object and displays it on the top surface of the display image,
The map distribution server distributes an object image to be displayed on a map image and its position to the map display device.   When the object is a different object located in a building of the same facility, the center position of the object image of each object is set to be different from each other, and the object image and position information for each object image are set. The map distribution server according to claim 22, wherein the map distribution server is distributed to the map display device.

Images