JP4967769B2 - POSITION INFORMATION ACQUISITION SYSTEM, POSITION INFORMATION ACQUISITION DEVICE, AND POSITION INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information acquisition system, a position information acquisition apparatus, and a position information acquisition method that acquire position information corresponding to a user's position.

Several methods have already been proposed and put into practical use for acquiring position information indicating the current position of the user. For example, a method for acquiring a position based on the electric field strength when a mobile phone terminal communicates with a base station has been proposed. Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, position information indicating its own position and position information of a fixed position whose position information is known are acquired using GPS (Global Positioning System), and the position information of the acquired fixed position is acquired. Describes a technique for correcting position information indicating its own position.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-230025

  Here, for example, consider a case where the user takes a commemorative photo at various places in a travel destination or a sightseeing spot. At this time, it is assumed that photographs taken at locations C, B, and D known to the user are mixed with photos taken at a location C unknown to the user. It is assumed that the user later wants to see a photograph taken at the place C and know where and where the photograph is actually taken.

  In general, in a digital camera device or the like, when shooting a photograph, image data obtained by shooting is added to the storage medium with time information indicating the time when the shooting was performed as attribute information of the image data. To be recorded. The user has to remember where the place C unknown to the user described above depends on the user's own memory or the like based on the time information added to the image data captured at the place C. . In this case, it is often the case that the user has forgotten or mistakenly remembered the location C, and it is not easy to remember the actual shooting location, the situation where the shooting was performed, and the like. There was a problem that there might not be.

  On the other hand, in recent years, portable terminal devices having a time information acquisition function, a photographing mechanism, and a position acquisition function using GPS have become widespread. Using such a portable terminal device, the image data obtained by the photographing mechanism is added to the storage medium by adding time information indicating the time when the photographing was performed and position information obtained using the GPS. It is possible to remember. However, even if accurate position information is known in this case, the position information is not associated with a place where the user visited a travel destination or a sightseeing spot, so that a situation where shooting was performed later, etc. There was a problem that it may not be easy to remember.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a position information acquisition system, a position information acquisition device, and a position information acquisition method that enable a user to easily recall a memory related to the position indicated by the acquired position information. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first invention is installed at each fixed point, and according to the input of the user identification information by the user, the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point and the time corresponding to the input are obtained. A plurality of information output devices that output the first time information shown and the input user identification information, the positional information output from the information output device, the first time information, and the user identification information in association with each other and stored A server device comprising: a storage unit for storing data; a communication unit for communicating with the terminal device; and a position estimation unit for estimating a position corresponding to data transmitted from the terminal device received by the communication unit. The communication unit receives at least second time information and user identification information transmitted from the terminal device, and the position estimation unit receives position information corresponding to the user identification information received by the communication unit from the storage unit. And The first time information is extracted, the difference between the time indicated by the second time information received by the communication unit and each of the times indicated by the plurality of first time information extracted from the storage unit is obtained, and the absolute difference is obtained. The position information acquisition system is characterized in that a position indicated by position information corresponding to first time information having the smallest value is estimated to be a position corresponding to second time information.

  Further, the second invention corresponds to the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point, which is output in response to the input of the user identification information by the user from the plurality of information output devices respectively installed at the fixed point, and the input. A storage unit that stores first time information indicating a time to be performed and input user identification information in association with each other, a communication unit that communicates with the terminal device, and a terminal device received by the communication unit A position estimation unit that estimates a position corresponding to the data transmitted from the communication unit, the communication unit receives at least the second time information and user identification information transmitted from the terminal device, the position estimation unit, The position information corresponding to the user identification information received by the communication unit and the first time information are extracted from the storage unit, and the time indicated by the second time information received by the communication unit and the plurality of times extracted from the storage unit First time Calculating a difference from each time indicated by the report and estimating the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information having the smallest absolute value of the difference as the position corresponding to the second time information. This is a characteristic position information acquisition apparatus.

  Further, the third aspect of the present invention corresponds to the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point, which is output in response to the input of the user identification information by the user, from the plurality of information output devices respectively installed at the fixed point, and the input. The first time information indicating the time to be received and the input user identification information in association with each other and stored in the storage unit, the communication step for communicating with the terminal device, and the communication step. A position estimating step for estimating a position corresponding to the data transmitted from the terminal device, wherein the communication step receives at least the second time information and the user identification information transmitted from the terminal device. In the position estimation step, the position information and the first time information corresponding to the user identification information received in the communication step are extracted from the storage unit, and the second information received by the communication unit is received. The difference between the time indicated by the time information and each of the times indicated by the plurality of first time information extracted from the storage unit is obtained, and the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information having the smallest absolute value of the difference Is a position corresponding to the second time information, and is a position information acquisition method.

  As described above, according to the first, second, and third inventions, each of the plurality of information output devices installed at the fixed point is set at the position of the fixed point that is output in response to the user identification information input by the user. Corresponding position information, first time information indicating a time corresponding to input, and input user identification information are stored in the storage unit in association with each other, and at least the second information transmitted from the terminal device is stored. The time information and the user identification information are received, the position information corresponding to the received user identification information and the first time information are extracted from the storage unit, and the time and the storage unit indicated by the received second time information are extracted. The difference from each of the times indicated by the plurality of extracted first time information is obtained, and the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information having the smallest absolute value of the difference corresponds to the second time information. Estimated position Since the position corresponding to the second time information is estimated based on the position of the fixed point actually visited by the user, it can be expected that the user can easily recall the memory regarding the estimated position. .

  As described above, in the first, second, and third inventions, the position of the fixed point output according to the input of the user identification information by the user from each of the plurality of information output devices installed at the fixed point, respectively. Corresponding position information, first time information indicating a time corresponding to input, and input user identification information are stored in the storage unit in association with each other, and at least the second information transmitted from the terminal device is stored. The time information and the user identification information are received, the position information corresponding to the received user identification information and the first time information are extracted from the storage unit, and the time and the storage unit indicated by the received second time information are extracted. The difference from each of the times indicated by the plurality of extracted first time information is obtained, and the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information having the smallest absolute value of the difference corresponds to the second time information. Estimated position Since the position corresponding to the second time information is estimated based on the position of the fixed point actually visited by the user, it can be expected that the user can easily recall the memory regarding the estimated position. effective.

  The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, time information transmitted from a user's terminal device, time information when a user operates a reader device whose position information is known, which is set in advance, and the reader device Based on the position information, the position corresponding to the time information transmitted from the terminal device by the user is estimated.

The concept of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, consider fixed points P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P _4, and P ₅ arranged in a predetermined area, and the respective positions are L ₁ , L ₂ , L 5. _3, and L ₄ and L _5. The user travels around these points P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₄ and P ₅ arbitrarily, and records the arrival times T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , T ₄ and T ₅ at each point. .

Here, the user, at any time during the cyclic point _{P 1, P 2, P 3} , P 4 and P ₅ of the above, any of these _{P 1, P 2, P 3} , P 4 and P ₅ It is assumed that the user has come to the point Px whose position is not known. The user records the time Ta at which the user arrived at the point Px.

In the first embodiment, the positions L _{1 to} L _{5 of} known fixed points P _{1 to} P ₅ where the user circulated and recorded the arrival times and the times T _{1 to} T ₅ recorded by the user, and the unknown Based on the time Ta recorded by the user at the point Px, the position of the unknown point Px is estimated.

A method for estimating the position of the point Px according to the first embodiment will be described. First, the differences ΔT _a-1 , ΔT _a-2 , ΔT _a-3 , ΔT between the time Ta recorded at the point Px and the times T _{1 to} T ₅ recorded at the fixed points P _{1 to} P ₅ , respectively. _a-4 and ΔT _a-5 are obtained, and the time Ty corresponding to the difference ΔT _min where the absolute value of the difference takes the minimum value is selected. It is estimated that the position Ly corresponding to this time Ty is the position of the point Px.

This will be described using a more specific example. For example, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the user has visited each point in the order of point P ₁ , point P ₂ , point P ₅ , point P ₄ , and point P ₃ . The difference between the time T ₁ through T ₅ at time Ta and the point P ₁ to P ₅ at the point Px, as illustrated in Figure 2A, the difference [Delta] T _a-1 between the time Ta and the time T ₁ is -40 min, the difference [Delta] T _a-4 between the difference [Delta] T _a-2 -5 minutes, the difference [Delta] T _a-3 between the time Ta and the time T ₃ is +100 minutes, the time Ta and time T ₄ between the time Ta and the time T _2, There +60 minutes, the difference ΔT _a-5 between the time Ta and time T ₅ has become a +30 minutes.

  The time when the difference ΔT is a negative value indicates that the user has arrived at the corresponding point before the user arrives at the point Px.

As can be seen from Figure 2A, the difference [Delta] T _min the absolute value of the difference is the minimum value was found to be -5 minutes difference delta _a-2 of the points Px and point P _2, the position Ly point Px , corresponding to the position L ₂ of the point P _2, or can be estimated to be in the vicinity of the point P _2. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, when each of the points P ₁ to P ₅ is a certain facility, the point Px is inside or near the facility “BBB” corresponding to the point P _2. Can be estimated.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the position information indicating the position of the user includes the time information recorded at the position, and the position and time information of the predetermined point in the path followed by the user. Can be estimated. Since the position is estimated based on the known points that the user actually visited, it can be expected that the user can easily recall the memory regarding the estimated position.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, it is also conceivable that a plurality of differences ΔT _min where the absolute value of the difference takes a minimum value are obtained. In the example of FIG. 2B, the difference ΔT from the point Px is −5 minutes at the point P ₂ and +5 minutes at the point P ₆ , and these are equal when taking absolute values. In such a case, it is preferable to present the information of these points P ₂ and P ₆ to the user by a predetermined method so that the user can select an appropriate one.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a system applicable to the first embodiment of the present invention. The reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are installed in a predetermined manner with known position information indicating their respective installation positions in an area where services are provided by this system. It is assumed that the area where the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are installed is a relatively wide area having a spread of several kilometers to several tens of kilometers, for example. As an example, it is assumed that the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are installed in facilities scattered in this area. However, the reader devices 10A, 10B,... May be installed in a relatively narrow area such as a facility or a building.

  The reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are connected to the network 11 by wire and / or wireless, output predetermined data in response to an input operation by the user, and transmit it to the network 11. The input operation is performed by causing the reader devices 10A, 10B,... To read out data stored in the user medium 14, for example. Data may be input manually using a predetermined input means. The reader devices 10A, 10B,... Include time information indicating the time when the data read from the user data 14 and the position information (reader) indicating the positions of the reader devices 10A, 10B,. (Referred to as position information) and transmitted to a server system 12 to be described later via the network 11. The network 11 may be a closed network in this system, or may be an open network such as the Internet.

  The user medium 14 has a predetermined storage medium whose storage contents can be read by the reader devices 10A, 10B,. In the user medium 14, unique identification information (referred to as a user ID) is stored in advance in a storage medium. This unique identification information is, for example, a user ID uniquely given to a user who uses this system. Hereinafter, this unique identification information stored in the user medium 14 is referred to as a user ID.

  Various storage media can be used as the user medium 14. For example, an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, a non-volatile memory, and an antenna are built in a synthetic resin card, and a card-type storage medium that operates by self-power generation using radio waves emitted from a reader device is used as a user medium. 14 can be applied. In addition, a mobile device possessed by the user and an information device capable of transmitting and receiving data can be applied as the user medium 14. As such information equipment, a cellular phone terminal or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) capable of transmitting and receiving data can be considered.

  Furthermore, in recent years, products that have an IC chip, an antenna mechanism, and a non-volatile memory, in addition to the telephone communication function, and a function equivalent to that of a card-type storage medium have appeared. . It is also possible to use the functional part corresponding to the card type storage medium of such a mobile phone terminal as the user medium 14.

  A server system 12 is further connected to the network 11. The server system 12 includes a server unit 20 and a database 21 and performs overall control and management of the system. The server unit 20 includes one or a plurality of computers and predetermined peripheral devices, and controls and manages the system according to a predetermined program. The database 21 stores information related to users registered in the system and data transmitted from the reader devices 10A, 10B,...

  In the server system 12, the server unit 20 and the Internet 13 are connected. The server system 12 can communicate with a terminal device connected to the Internet 13 via the Internet 13.

  The portable terminal 30 has, for example, an imaging function, a time information acquisition function, and a communication function with the Internet 13. When shooting is performed using the imaging function by a user operation, the mobile terminal 30 can acquire time information indicating the time when the shooting was performed using the time information acquisition function, and can be captured with the acquired time information. The image data is associated with each other and stored in a built-in storage medium. The storage medium stores identification information (user ID) of the mobile terminal 30 or the user who uses the mobile terminal 30. Image data and time information stored in the storage medium can be transmitted to the server system 12 via the Internet 13 by a predetermined operation of the user.

  The server system 12 transmits the user ID read from the user medium 14 transmitted from the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Via the network 11, time information indicating the time when the user ID is read, and the user ID. Is read and supplied to the server unit 20. The server unit 20 stores these supplied data in the database 21 in association with each other.

  A position information acquisition process indicating the position of the user in such a system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Prior to the processing of this flowchart, it is assumed that data based on user behavior is accumulated in the database 21 of the server system 12.

  That is, the user freely visits the service target area, and at each facility used by the user, the user causes the reader devices 10A, 10B,... To read the user ID stored in the user medium 14 in a predetermined manner. . The read user ID is transmitted to the server system 12 via the network 11 together with the reader position information of the reader device (for example, the reader device 10A) that has been read and the time information indicating the time of reading, and the server unit 20 is supplied. The server unit 20 accumulates the supplied data in the database 21. Further, the user performs shooting using the mobile terminal 30 at an arbitrary timing and an arbitrary position in the area. The photographed image data is stored in a storage medium built in the portable terminal 30 together with time information indicating the photographed time Ta.

  In the first step S <b> 10, the image data and time information stored in the storage medium of the mobile terminal 30 are sent to the server system 12 via the network 11 together with the user ID in response to the user's operation on the mobile terminal 30. Sent. The server system 12 receives the data transmitted from the portable terminal 30 and supplies it to the server unit 20. The server unit 20 extracts time information indicating the time Ta from the supplied data, and holds the time information in a predetermined manner (step S11).

Next, the server unit 20 searches the database 21 based on the user ID included in the data transmitted from the mobile terminal 30, and transmits the time T ₁ transmitted from the reader devices 10A, 10B,. , and time information indicating a T _2, ..., Tn, of the reader location information, the location information that the user ID corresponding position L _1, L ₂ are determined by the user, ..., and L _n Called as the position information shown (step S12).

  Hereinafter, in order to avoid complexity, “time information indicating time Tn” is described as “time Tn” as appropriate, and “position information indicating position Ln” is described as “position Ln” as appropriate.

In the next step S13, the server unit 20 determines the difference ΔT _a between the time Ta extracted from the data transmitted from the portable terminal 30 and the times T ₁ , T ₂ ,. ₋₁ , ΔT _a-2 ,..., ΔT _an are respectively calculated. Then, the difference ΔT _min taking the minimum value among the differences ΔT _a−1 , ΔT _a-2 ,..., ΔT _an obtained as a result of the calculation is extracted, and the corresponding time Ty is selected.

In step S14, the server unit 20 estimates that the position Ly corresponding to the time Ty is a position where the user has taken a picture with the mobile terminal 30, and uses the position information indicating the estimated position as estimated user position information. To do. As an example, the difference _{ΔT a-1, ΔT a-} 2, ···, of the [Delta] T _an,, if it is the difference [Delta] T _a-2 takes a minimum value, the time corresponding to the difference [Delta] T _a-2 T ₂ is selected, and the position information indicating the position L ₂ corresponding to the time T ₂ is set as the estimated user position information. The estimated user position information is transmitted to the user's portable terminal 30 via the Internet 13, for example, and presented to the user.

  Here, for example, the service target area is a land or a tourist destination, and the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are installed in an entrance section of an impressive place such as a landmark or a historic site in the service target area. Think about the case. For example, estimated user position information based on image data taken at an arbitrary position other than the installation location of the reader devices 10A, 10B,... And at an arbitrary timing is provided to the reader devices 10A, 10B,. Use the names of the corresponding landmarks and historical landmarks and present them as “Near the Temple” or “Near the Bridge”. As a result, the user's memory regarding the corresponding image data is stimulated, and it is expected that the recall of the situation at the time of shooting and the like will be facilitated.

  In this case, the names corresponding to the reader position information of the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are stored in the database 21 in association with the reader position information. As the name corresponding to the reader position information, for example, a name of a facility where the reader device is installed, a typical place name or a name related to a position where the reader device is installed may be used.

In general, time information indicating the date and time when the data is created is added as attribute information to image data obtained using the imaging function. Thus, the user, the points P _1, P _2, each point P _1, P ₂ when visited ..., be registered time information to the server system 12 every ..., the image data Based on the added time information, it is possible to know the position estimated to have taken the image data. In other words, by using this system, the user can obtain information related to places visited in the past based on image data. Thereby, it is expected that the user can easily evoke the memory of where the image data was shot and in what situation.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the user's terminal device can acquire its own location information, and the user is based on the location information acquired by the user's terminal device and the known location information by a predetermined facility or the like. Is estimated.

  For example, the position transmitted from the terminal device by the user based on the position information acquired by the user's terminal device and information indicating that the user has used the reader device installed in a predetermined facility whose position is known Estimate the location of the facility corresponding to the information. More specifically, the reader device is installed in a prominent place such as a landmark or a landmark historic spot, and the position information indicating the estimated position is given to the user with respect to the landmark or landmark landmark where the corresponding reader device is installed. Present as the name. Thereby, it is expected that the user can easily recall the memory regarding the location where the position information is transmitted from the terminal device.

The concept of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, consider known fixed points P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₄ and P ₅ arranged in a predetermined area, and the positions thereof are L ₁ , L ₂ , L 5. _3, and L ₄ and L _5. The user travels around these points P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₄ and P ₅ arbitrarily, and at each point, records that the point has been reached.

Here, the user, at any time during the cyclic point _{P 1, P 2, P 3} , P 4 and P ₅ of the above, any of these _{P 1, P 2, P 3} , P 4 and P ₅ It is assumed that the user has come to the point Px whose position is not known. The user acquires the position information Lb of the point Px at the point Px, and records the acquired position information Lb.

In the second embodiment, the positions L _{1 to} L _{5 of} the known fixed points P _{1 to} P ₅ where the fact that the user has visited and arrived, and the position Lb recorded to the user at the unknown point Px, Based on the above, the position of the unknown point Px is estimated.

A method for estimating the position of the point Px according to the second embodiment will be described. First, distances ΔL _a-1 , ΔL _a-2 , ΔL _a-3 , ΔL _a-4 between the position Lb acquired at the point Px and the positions L _{1 to} L ₅ of the fixed points P _{1 to} P ₅ , respectively. And ΔL _a-5 is obtained, and the position Ly corresponding to the distance ΔL _min that minimizes the distance to the point Px is selected. It is estimated that this position Ly corresponds to the position of the point Px.

This will be described using a more specific example. For example, it is assumed that the user has visited the points P _{1 to} P ₅ illustrated in FIG. 5 in an arbitrary order. Further, it is assumed that the user has acquired the position Lb at an arbitrary point Px in the area including these points P _{1 to} P ₅ . The position Lb in the point Px, the distance between the position L ₁ ~L ₅ of each point P ₁ to P _5, as illustrated in Figure 6A, the distance [Delta] L _b-1 and the position L ₁ and the position Lb 10 km , the distance [Delta] L _b-2 is 15km between the position Lb and the position L _2, the distance [Delta] L _b-3 is 30km and the position L ₃ and the position Lb, the distance [Delta] L _b-4 and the position L ₄ and the position Lb 25km, position The distance ΔL _b-5 between Lb and the position L ₅ is 0.5 km.

As can be seen from FIG. 6A, the distance ΔL _min that minimizes the distance from the point Px is the distance between the point Px and the point P ₅ . Therefore, it can be estimated that the point Px is a position corresponding to the point P ₅ . For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, when the points P _{1 to} P ₅ are each some kind of facility, the point Px is estimated to be inside or near the facility “EEE” corresponding to the point P _5. it can.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, it is also conceivable that the distance ΔL _min that minimizes the distance to the point Px is obtained for a plurality of points. In the example of FIG. 6B, the distance ΔL from the point Px is 0.5 km at each of the points P ₅ and P ₆ , and the distance from the point Px is minimum. In such a case, it is preferable to present the information of the points P ₅ and P ₆ to the user by a predetermined method so that the user can select an appropriate one.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an example of a system applicable to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to FIG. 4 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted. As described above, the reader devices 10A ', 10B',... Are set in predetermined areas in a relatively wide area, with the position information indicating the respective installation positions being known. The reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,... Are connected to the network 11 by wire and / or wireless, output predetermined data in response to an input operation by the user, and transmit the data to the network 11. The input operation is performed by causing the reader devices 10A ', 10B', ... to read out data stored in the user medium 14, for example, as described above. Of course, data may be manually input using a predetermined input means. The reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,... Read the data read from the user medium 14 together with the reader position information indicating the positions of the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,. Send to.

  As described above, the user medium 14 includes a predetermined storage medium whose storage contents can be read by the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,..., And stores unique identification information (referred to as a user ID). Pre-stored in the medium.

  The terminal device 31 has, for example, an imaging function, a position information acquisition function that acquires position information indicating the current position, and a communication function with the Internet 13. Image data captured using the imaging function is stored in a built-in storage medium. Here, for example, a current position can be acquired using a position information acquisition function at the time of imaging, and position information indicating the acquired current position can be associated with image data and stored in a storage medium. The terminal device 31 and the server system 12 can communicate with each other via the Internet 13.

  As a means for acquiring position information indicating the current position of the mobile terminal 31, a method using GPS (Global Positioning System) can be considered. For example, the mobile terminal 31 receives radio waves for positioning (hereinafter referred to as positioning radio waves) transmitted from a plurality of satellites 40, 40,..., Performs positioning calculation based on the received positioning radio waves, Position information indicating the current position can be acquired with predetermined accuracy using latitude and longitude.

  In addition, the acquisition method of the present position by a positional information acquisition function is not restricted to the method of using GPS. For example, if the mobile terminal 31 is a mobile phone device that performs radio communication using radio waves, the current position is acquired based on the positional relationship between the mobile terminal 31 and a base station with which the mobile terminal 31 performs radio communication. Is possible. In the following description, it is assumed that the current position information is acquired as latitude and longitude using GPS.

  The server system 12 transmits the user ID read from the user medium 14 transmitted from the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,... Via the network 11, and the reader position information of the reader device that has read the user ID. Is supplied to the server unit 20. The server unit 20 stores these supplied data in the database 21 in association with each other.

  A position information acquisition process indicating the position of the user in such a system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Prior to the processing of this flowchart, it is assumed that data based on user behavior is accumulated in the database 21 of the server system 12. That is, the user freely visits the service target area, and at each facility used by the user, the user reads the user ID stored in the user medium 14 in the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,. Let it come out. The read user ID is transmitted to the server system 12 via the network 11 together with the reader position information of the reader device 10A that has read the data, and is supplied to the server unit 20. The server unit 20 accumulates the supplied data in the database 21.

  Further, the user performs shooting using the mobile terminal 31 at an arbitrary timing and an arbitrary position in the area. Corresponding to this shooting, position information Lb indicating the current position is acquired using the position information acquisition function. The captured image data is stored in a storage medium built in the portable terminal 31 together with position information Lb indicating the current position.

  In the first step S20, the image data and the position information Lb stored in the storage medium built in the portable terminal 31 are sent to the server system 12 via the network 11 together with the user ID in response to the user's operation on the portable terminal 31. Sent. The server system 12 receives the data transmitted from the portable terminal 31 and supplies it to the server unit 20. The server unit 20 extracts the position information Lb from the supplied data and holds it in a predetermined manner (step S21).

Next, the server unit 20 searches the database 21 based on the user ID included in the data transmitted from the portable terminal 31, and the reader transmitted from the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,. Of the position information, the position indicated by the reader position information corresponding to the user ID is called as positions L ₁ , L ₂ ,..., L _n determined by the user (step S22).

In the next step S23, the server unit 20, the difference between the location information Lb retrieved from the transmitted data, the position L _1, L ₂ called from the database 21, ..., and L _n from the mobile terminal 31 ΔL _b-2 , ΔL _b-2 ,..., ΔL _bn are respectively calculated. Then, the difference ΔL _min taking the minimum value is extracted from the differences ΔL _b−1 , ΔL _b-2 ,..., ΔL _bn obtained as a result of the calculation, and the corresponding position Ly is selected.

The server unit 20 estimates that the position Ly selected in step S24 is a position where the user has photographed with the mobile terminal 31, and uses the estimated position information indicating the position as estimated user position information. As an example, the difference _{ΔL a-1, ΔL a-} 2, ···, of the [Delta] L _an,, the difference [Delta] L if it is the _a-2 takes a minimum value, a position L corresponding to the difference [Delta] L _a-2 Position information indicating ₂ is estimated user position information. The estimated user position information is transmitted to the user's portable terminal 31 via the Internet 13, for example, and presented to the user.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the user transmits the position information, it is estimated that the position information corresponding to the transmitted position information is based on the position information of the predetermined point in the path followed by the user. Location information is acquired. Since the position is estimated based on the known points that the user actually visited, the user can expect to be able to easily recall the memory regarding the estimated position.

  Here, for example, the service target area is a land or a tourist destination, and the names corresponding to the reader position information of the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are stored in the database 21 in association with the reader position information. To do. The reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,... Are installed in an entrance area or the like of an impressive place such as a landmark or a landmark in the service target area, and the estimated user position information transmitted to the user is stored in the database 21. Based on the names corresponding to the stored reader position information, the names of landmarks and landmarks respectively corresponding to the reader devices 10A ′, 10B ′,... It can be presented as “Nearby”. As a result, the user's memory regarding the corresponding image data is stimulated, and it is expected that the recall of the situation at the time of shooting and the like will be facilitated.

  In this case, the names corresponding to the reader position information of the reader devices 10A, 10B,... Are stored in the database 21 in association with the reader position information. As the name corresponding to the reader position information, for example, a name of a facility where the reader device is installed, a typical place name or a name related to a position where the reader device is installed may be used.

  Next explained is the third embodiment of the invention. The third embodiment is a more specific application example of the first and / or second embodiments described above. This third embodiment can be applied to both the first and second embodiments described above, but in the following, position information based on time information according to the first embodiment will be described. The case where the example which acquires this is applied to this 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated.

  With reference to FIG. 9, an area where the system to which the third embodiment is applied provides a service will be conceptually described, and an example of an arrangement of a reader device that reads a user ID from a user medium will be described. For example, an area 100 covered by the entire area of N city and an area 101 formed of the whole area of H city connected to the N city by rail or road are service target areas of the system to which the third embodiment is applied. And Of course, not limited to this, the service target area of the system to which the third embodiment is applied may be further widened.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the reader device for reading the user ID from the user medium is, in N city, the entrance station for visitors, XX station 110 (hereinafter referred to as station 110), N city's famous place X × To be installed in a tower 111 (hereinafter referred to as a facility 111) and shopping centers 112A and 112B, which are downtown of N city. In H city, the reader devices are XXX station 120 (hereinafter referred to as station 120), △△ shrine 121 (hereinafter referred to as facility 121) and □□ castle ruins 122 (hereinafter referred to as facility 122) which are historical sites of H city. ). Each of the reader devices is connected to a server system for providing services by this system via a network (not shown). In FIG. 9, the reader device is not shown in order to avoid complexity.

  In the situation shown in FIG. 9, the user takes a picture with a portable terminal with an imaging function or a portable digital camera device at an arbitrary point α in N city. Consider the case of acquisition. When the point α is a position indicated by “× (X)” in FIG. 9, when the user later acquires position information indicating the position of the point α based on the time information, the position is 110 or shopping. It is expected to be presented in the vicinity of the center 112A. Similarly, when the user captures an image at an arbitrary point β in the city H and acquires time information indicating the time of image capturing together with the image data, the user later positions the position β based on the time information. When acquiring information, it is considered that the position is expected to be presented as 120 or the vicinity of the facility 121.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration of an example of a system applicable to the third embodiment. The basic configuration of the system illustrated in FIG. 10 is the same as that of the system example according to the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. Targeting an area 100 consisting of the entire area of N city and an area 101 consisting of the entire area of H city to which the service provided by this system is applied, the reader devices 150A, 150B,. Are arranged in a predetermined manner. 9, reader devices 150A, 150B,... Are installed in station 110, facility 111, and shopping centers 112A and 112B, respectively, in area 100, and station 120, facility, in area 101, respectively. 121 and 122, respectively.

  The reader devices 150A, 150B,... Are connected to the network 151 by wire and / or wireless, and output predetermined data in accordance with a user input operation. The input operation is performed, for example, by causing the reader devices 150A, 150B,... To read the user ID stored in the user medium 154. Of course, the user ID may be manually input using a predetermined input means. The reader devices 150A, 150B,... Together with the read user ID, time information indicating the time when the user ID was read, and a reader ID that is identification information for identifying the reader devices 150A, 150B,. Then, the data is transmitted to the server system 152 described later via the network 151. The network 151 may be a closed network in this system, or may be an open network such as the Internet.

  The user medium 154 includes a predetermined storage medium whose storage contents can be read by the reader devices 150A, 150B,. The user medium 154 is possessed, for example, by a user who uses this system, and a user ID for identifying the possessed user is stored in the storage medium in advance. Although various storage media can be used as the user medium 154 as described above, a card-type storage medium is used as the user medium 154 here.

  A server system 152 is further connected to the network 151. The server system 152 includes a server unit 160 and databases 161, 162, and 163, and controls and manages the entire system. The server unit 160 includes one or a plurality of computers and predetermined peripheral devices, and controls and manages the system according to a predetermined program. The database 161 is a user information database that manages user information, and manages user information registered in the system in association with a user ID. The database 162 is a reader device database, and manages position information and attribute information indicating the installation positions of the reader devices 150A, 150B,... In association with reader IDs. Further, the database 163 is a time information database, and stores the time information, the reader ID, and the user ID transmitted from the reader devices 150A, 150B,.

  In the server system 152, the server unit 160 and the Internet 153 are connected. The server system 152 can communicate with the terminal devices 170 and 171 connected to the Internet 153 and the web server 173 via the Internet 153.

  The terminal device 170 is, for example, a portable terminal device that has an imaging function, a time information acquisition function, and a communication function with the Internet 153 and is configured to be portable. As the terminal device 170, a mobile phone terminal that performs telephone communication using radio waves, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) can be applied. When shooting is performed using the imaging function by a user operation, the terminal device 170 acquires time information indicating the time when shooting is performed using the time information acquisition function, and image data obtained by shooting the time information. And stored in a built-in storage medium. Further, the user ID is stored in the storage medium.

  In response to a predetermined operation, the terminal device 170 can transmit the image data to which the time information is added, stored in the storage medium, to the server system 152 via the Internet 153 together with the user ID.

  The terminal device 171 is a personal computer, for example, and has a communication function with the Internet 153. For example, the terminal device 171 can capture image data obtained by the digital camera device 172 and transmit the image data to the server system 152 via the Internet 153.

  As an example, the digital camera device 172 adds time information indicating the time of shooting to image data obtained by shooting, and stores the image data in, for example, a removable storage medium. By connecting the digital camera device 172 and the terminal device 171 through a predetermined interface, the image data to which time information is added and stored in the storage medium of the digital camera device 172 can be transferred to the terminal device 171. If the terminal device 171 can read and write a storage medium used for the digital camera device 172, the storage medium is detached from the digital camera device 172 and attached to the terminal device 171, and the image data is directly read from the storage medium. You may read.

  The terminal device 171 temporarily stores the image data added with time information read from the storage medium of the digital camera device 172 in a predetermined storage such as a hard disk built in the terminal device 170, for example. Then, according to a predetermined operation, a user ID is further added to the image data read from the storage medium of the digital camera device 172 and stored in the storage, and the image data to which the user ID and time information are added is added. And transmitted to the server system 152 via the Internet 153. The user ID may be input by the user operating the keyboard of the terminal device 171, or a user ID stored in a built-in storage may be used.

  The server system 152 transmits the user ID read from the user medium 154, the time information indicating the time when the user ID is read, and the user ID transmitted from the reader devices 150A, 150B,. And the reader ID corresponding to the reader device that has read out the information, and supplies it to the server unit 160. The server unit 160 stores the supplied user ID and reader ID in the time information database 163 in a predetermined manner. In addition, the server system 152 receives image data to which time information and a user ID are added transmitted from the terminal device 170 or the terminal device 171 via the Internet 153 and supplies the image data to the server unit 160. The image data to which the time information and the user ID are added is stored in a predetermined storage device that the server unit 160 has.

  The databases 161, 162, and 163 included in the server system 152 will be described. FIG. 11 shows an exemplary configuration of a user information table stored in the user information database 161. In the user information table, an e-mail address as a contact address of the user is associated with a user ID for identifying the user. Further, in the user information table, user attribute information indicated by the user ID is associated with the user ID. As user attribute information, for example, the name, address, date of birth, etc. of the user can be considered.

  FIG. 12A shows an example of the configuration of a reader information table stored in the reader information database 162. As described above, in the reader information table, the reader IDs for identifying the reader devices 150A, 150B,... And the position information of the reader devices 150A, 150B,. The position information is expressed by latitude (Lat) and longitude (Lon), for example. Further, the attribute information of the reader device is registered in the reader information table in association with the reader ID. As the attribute information of the reader device, for example, the name of the place where the reader device is installed can be considered.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of a time information table stored in the time information database 163. As described above, the time information, the reader ID, and the user ID transmitted and supplied from the reader devices 150A, 150B,... Are associated with each other and registered in the time information table, for example, in order of time. Although omitted in FIG. 13, the time information includes date information.

  In the above description, the reader devices 150A, 150B,... Have been described as devices dedicated to the system, but this is not limited to this example. That is, the reader devices 150A, 150B,... Can share functions with other devices. As an example of sharing the functions with other devices, in the example of FIG. 9, points are added according to the purchase amount in the automatic ticket gate device corresponding to the card type storage medium in the stations 110 and 120, shopping centers 112A and 112B, etc. For this purpose, a point card reader device, a credit card reader device, or the like can be considered. Also, in facilities such as historic sites, large-scale play facilities, and museums (in the example of FIG. 9, facility 111, facility 121, and facility 122), an IC chip, an antenna mechanism, and nonvolatile memory are embedded in a ticket or membership card. When an electronic ticket or an electronic membership card is employed, it is conceivable to combine the function of a reader device that reads data of the electronic ticket or electronic membership card and the function of the reader device by this system.

  Thus, when the system configuration is such that the reader device 150A, 150B,... And other devices can share functions, the types of functions shared or shared as illustrated in FIG. 12B. It is conceivable that information indicating the device to be registered is registered as attribute information of the reader device. In the example of FIG. 12B, it is shown that the reader device whose reader ID is “R001” is installed at the station XX, and has the same function as the automatic ticket gate at the station.

  Furthermore, the user medium 154 for storing the user ID is not limited to a single type. For example, it is conceivable that the user ID is stored in a card-type storage medium corresponding to the above-described automatic ticket gates at the stations 110 and 120, a point card, an electronic ticket, or an electronic membership card.

  Not limited to this, it is also conceivable to use user identification information uniquely set for each type of user medium. In this case, using the conversion table as shown in FIG. 14 as an example, the user identification information set independently in each of the systems using the card type storage medium, the point card, the electronic ticket, and the electronic membership card is It is conceivable to convert it to a user ID in the system according to the third embodiment.

  In such a system, the user visits areas 100 and 101 arbitrarily, and reader devices 150A, 150B,... Are installed such as stations 110, 120, shopping centers 112A, 112B, and facilities 111, 121, 122. , The user ID stored in the user medium 154 is read by the reader devices 150A, 150B,... As described above, the user ID read by the reader devices 150A, 150B,..., Together with the time information indicating the read time and the reader ID corresponding to the reader device that performed the reading, are included in the network 151. Is transmitted to the server system 152 via the network, supplied to the server unit 160, and stored in the time information database 163 in a predetermined manner.

Here, referring to FIG. 9, the user patrols the area 100 composed of the entire area of N city in the order of the facility 111 (xx tower) and the shopping centers 112A and 112B, starting from the station 110. The reader ID installed at the place is caused to read the user ID stored in the user medium 154. Also, during the cyclic N-city, the user may at any point alpha, for example imaging, using the terminal device 170 is a mobile phone terminal with time acquisition and Internet communication functions that were captured at time T _alpha And Furthermore, the user moves to H city, and travels around the area 101 starting from the station 120 in the order of the facility 121 (△△ shrine) and the facility 122 (□□ castle ruins) in this order. The reader device is caused to read the user ID stored in the user medium 154. Similarly to the above, it is assumed that, during the tour of H city, the user has taken a picture at time T _β using the terminal device 170 at an arbitrary point β.

  The time information indicating the time when the reader IDs 150A, 150B,... Are read from the user medium 154 to the time information database 163 by this user action is the reader that has read the user ID. It is stored in association with position information indicating the position of the apparatus.

  Here, for example, the user saw the image data taken at each of the points α and β at a later date, but can not remember the places where the images were taken, and this system is used to know the locations of the points α and β. Think about using. In this case, the user adds time information indicating the shooting time to the image data shot at the point α and the image data shot at the point β, which are stored in a storage medium built in the terminal device 170. And transmitted to the server system 152 together with the user ID. The server system 152 estimates the location where the image data was captured based on the time information and the user ID transmitted together with the image data.

The location estimation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment described above. For example, when the user wants to know about the point α, the user performs a predetermined operation on the terminal device 170, and selects image data captured at the point α at the time T _α and stored in the internal storage medium from the terminal device 170. , in association with time information T _alpha and the user ID indicating the photographing time of image data selected to transmit to the server system 152 (step S10 in FIG. 4). The server system 152 receives the data transmitted from the terminal device 170 and supplies it to the server unit 160. The server unit 160 extracts time information indicating the time _Tα from the supplied data.

Next, the server unit 160 extracts the user ID from the data transmitted from the terminal device 170, searches the time information database 163 based on the user ID, and transmits the time information database transmitted from the reader devices 150A, 150B,. Of the data stored in 163, a set of time information and reader ID corresponding to the user ID is called. The reader ID is converted into position information L _n in the reader information table (step S12). An example of a set of these position information and time information is shown in a column “position” and a column “time Tn” in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 15, in the area 100 (N city), at the station 110, it is 12:00 (time T ₁ ), and at the facility 111 is 13:00 (time T ₂ ), the shopping center 112A and At shopping center 112B, the user ID is read from user medium 154 at 13:30 and 14:00 (respectively at times T ₃ and T ₄ ). In area 101 (H city), station 120 in 14:30 (the time T _5), 30 pm 15 property 121 (a time T _6), the 0 pm facility 122 in 17 (a time T _7), the user ID from the user medium 154 Is read out.

The server unit 160 determines the difference ΔT between the time T _α indicated by the time information extracted from the data transmitted from the terminal device 170 and each of the times T _{1 to} T ₇ indicated by the time information called from the time information database 163. _α-1 , ΔT _α-2 ,..., ΔT _α-7 are calculated. Then, the difference ΔT _min taking the minimum value is extracted from the differences ΔT _α-1 , ΔT _α-2 ,..., ΔT _α-7 obtained as a result of the calculation, and the corresponding time information T _x is selected. (Step S13). The position information L _x corresponding to the time information T _x is the estimated user position information.

In the example shown in FIG. 15, the time T _alpha and the difference [Delta] T _alpha-1 Gar 20 minutes between the time T _1, the difference [Delta] T _alpha-2 and time T _alpha and time T _2, is +40 minutes, the time T _alpha and time T ₃ difference [Delta] T _alpha-3 is +70 minutes, the difference [Delta] T _alpha-4 +100 minutes between the time T _alpha and time T _4, the difference [Delta] T _alpha-5 with time T _alpha and time T ₅ is +130 minutes, the time T _alpha and the difference ΔT _α-6 of the time T ₆ is Tasu190 minutes, the difference ΔT _α-7 between the time _T α and time T ₇ has become a +280 minutes and.

Thereby, it can be seen that the difference ΔT _min where the absolute value of the difference takes the minimum value is the difference ΔT _α-1 with respect to the time T ₁ . Therefore, it can be estimated that the position of the point α is the position L ₁ corresponding to the time T ₁ , that is, the station 110 (the XX station in N city) or the vicinity of the station 110. The estimated position is transmitted as estimated user position information from the server unit 160 to the terminal device 170 via the Internet 153, for example, and presented to the user (step S14).

Similarly, the estimated user position information is obtained for the point β. In the example of FIG. 15, based on the difference [Delta] T _beta-n between the time T _beta and time T ₁ through T ₇ shooting at the point beta is performed, the difference [Delta] T _min the absolute value of the difference is the minimum value, the time T ₆ and the difference ΔT _β-6 . Therefore, it can be estimated that the position of the point β is the position L ₆ corresponding to the time T ₆ , that is, the facility 121 (ΔΔ shrine of H city) or the vicinity of the facility 121. This estimated position is presented to the user as estimated user position information.

  In the above description, the example in which the position information is estimated based on the time information according to the first embodiment is applied to the third embodiment, but this is not limited to this example. That is, the example which estimates the positional information based on a predetermined | prescribed facility etc. is applied with respect to this 3rd Embodiment using the positional information acquired by the user's terminal device by the 2nd Embodiment. Can do. The first embodiment and the second embodiment are combined, and the position information estimation based on the time information and the position information estimation using the position information acquired by the user's terminal device are appropriately used in combination. May be.

  When the position information estimation method according to the second embodiment is applied to the third embodiment, the user terminal device 170 or the like acquires position information and transmits it to the server system 152, the reader device 150A, 150B,..., At least the reader ID and the user ID may be transmitted, and it is not necessary to transmit time information, and the server system 152 does not need to accumulate time information. This can be realized with substantially the same configuration as when the first embodiment is applied. Moreover, the process demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG. 8 can be applied as it is to the process for acquiring estimated user position information.

  Further, in the case of applying the second embodiment, it is possible to further use position information that specifies a wide range such as the area 100 by the entire N city illustrated in FIG. 9 or the area 101 by the entire H city. Conceivable. As an example of position information for specifying this range, position information of a plurality of predetermined positions on the outer edge of the range can be considered. Based on the position information specifying the range, for example, a range including the position indicated in the position information extracted from the data transmitted from the user terminal device 170 or the like is specified. By doing in this way, the range of search object is limited and acquisition of estimated user position information can be performed at high speed.

  In the above description, the estimated user position information obtained based on the time information acquired by the terminal device 170 has been described as being presented to the user by being transmitted to the terminal device 170. Not limited. For example, the estimated user position information can be transmitted to a terminal device 171 that is a device different from the terminal device 170 that acquired the time information, for example, a personal computer.

  The estimated user position information is presented to the user using e-mail, for example. For example, when the estimated user position information is acquired, the server system 152 searches the user information database 161 based on the user ID, extracts a corresponding e-mail address, and sends an e-mail describing the acquired estimated user position information. Create the e-mail address as the destination. Advertisement information or the like related to the estimated user position information can be further described in the e-mail. The server system 152 transmits the electronic mail created in this way toward the Internet 153.

  The acquired estimated user position information can be presented to the user using a website on the Internet 153. That is, the acquired estimated user position information is posted on a web page on the website and presented to the user as being viewable on the Internet 153.

  At this time, when acquiring the estimated user position information, the image data transmitted from the user terminal device 170 or the terminal device 171 or other image data can be displayed on the web page together with the estimated user position information. . As the other image data, for example, image data taken in a state where the position information is determined in each facility where the reader devices 150A, 150B,... Are installed can be used.

  More specifically, as the reader device reads out the data of the user medium 154 by image data taken by the management side of each facility or other contractor, or by a camera device that can be linked to the reader device. It is conceivable to use photographed image data. You may use the image data image | photographed by the user himself or his companion. If the camera device is connected to the network 151, these image data are automatically transmitted to the server system 152 together with the position information and the user ID read from the user medium 154 along with shooting. The captured image data, position information, and user ID may be transmitted to the server system 152 by manual operation.

  As an example, the server unit 160 creates package data in which estimated user position information, image data corresponding to the estimated user position information, other image data, and position information corresponding to the other image data are collected. In the package data, as the attribute information of the image data, the name of the corresponding position (in the example of FIG. 9, “○ × station”, “ΔΔ shrine”, etc.) and the user ID are read by photographing or a reader device. It is possible to store time information indicating the time when the image data is performed in association with each image data. Advertisement information related to the position corresponding to the image data may be included in the package data.

  The server unit 160 stores the package data created in this manner in a storage device provided in the server unit 160 and capable of defining a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on the Internet 153. In this case, the package data is a folder in which each image data, attribute information of each image data, and estimated user position information are stored. A predetermined URL is defined for each image data stored in the package data.

  The server unit 160 uses a format that can be presented as a web page on the Internet 153, such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or XML (Extensible Markup Language), and stores image data included in the package data held in the storage device. A file (hereinafter referred to as a web file) describing link information, layout information, estimated user position information, text data based on attribute information of each image data, link information based on advertisement information, and the like is created. This web file is transferred to the web server 173 on the Internet 153.

  The web server 173 defines a URL for this web file and allows browsing on the Internet 153 as a web page. The user accesses the URL by using the user terminal 170 or the user terminal 171 connected to the Internet 153, so that each image data included in the package data, estimated user position information, and a position corresponding to each image data are stored. Attribute information such as name, advertisement information, etc. can be viewed on the web page.

  As an example, the server unit 160 transfers the web file to the web server 173 and notifies the user that the web file can be viewed on the Internet 153. More specifically, the server unit 160 searches the user information table in the user information database 161 and acquires the user's e-mail address. Then, the server unit 160 creates an e-mail in which the URL of the web file is described in a predetermined manner, and transmits it to the acquired e-mail address. The user who has received this e-mail accesses the URL based on the description of the e-mail.

  FIG. 16 shows a screen configuration of an example of a web page for browsing each data included in the package data. Note that FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 to be described later are examples of display in a system in which estimated user position information is acquired based on time information. The web page is generally displayed by software called a browser installed in the terminal device 171 which is a personal computer. For example, the browser accesses a file on the Internet 153 according to the input URL. If the accessed file is described in a predetermined format such as an HTML format, text data display, link to image data, layout of each display, and the like are performed according to the description of the file. Further, the browser can transmit data to the web server 173 by means specified in the read file.

  In addition to personal computers and the like, such browser software has generally been installed in portable terminals that can be connected to the Internet, such as the terminal device 170, and home game machines. In the following description, it is assumed that the browser is mounted on the personal computer. Each function of the browser can be controlled by a pointing device such as a mouse and a character input device such as a keyboard.

  Referring to FIG. 16, a web page display unit 202 for displaying a web page is provided on the browser screen 200 below the display unit 201 for performing control of the browser itself or control by an OS (Operating System). . On the web page display unit 202, each image data included in the package data, attribute information corresponding to each image data, estimated user position information, and advertisement information are arranged and displayed in a predetermined manner.

  In the example of FIG. 16, each image data is arranged in a column on the right side of the web page display unit 202, and attribute information corresponding to the image data is displayed on the left side of each image data. When displaying the image data on the web page display unit 202, it is preferable to use a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the display size of the actual image data (referred to as actual image data). For example, the thumbnail image is created in advance in the server unit 160 and stored in the package data. By associating the thumbnail image with the link information to the corresponding actual image data, the corresponding actual image data can be displayed when the user designates a predetermined thumbnail image on the browser.

  The image data 214 will be described as an example. Corresponding to the image data 214, time information 211 (including date information) indicating the photographing time and a position name 212 corresponding to the image data 214 are displayed. In the example of FIG. 16, the image data 214 is image data transmitted from the terminal device 170 or the terminal device 171 in order for the user to obtain estimated user position information, and the name 212 is based on the estimated user position information. Is displayed in correspondence with the image data 214.

  The check box 210 is checked by a predetermined operation, and the corresponding image data is selected. For example, the selected image data can be downloaded to the terminal device 171 by performing a predetermined operation on the browser. At this time, for the image data in the selected state, time information indicating the shooting time, a position name corresponding to the image data, and information indicating whether the position name is based on the estimated user position information For example, the image data attribute information is added and downloaded.

  When advertisement information is included in the package data, a corresponding advertisement display 215 is displayed. When the advertisement information is link information to a web page by an advertisement source or the like, the web page can be further displayed by specifying the advertisement display 215 in a predetermined manner.

As already described with reference to FIGS. 2B and 6B, a plurality of differences ΔT _min or ΔL _min where the absolute value of the time or distance difference takes the minimum value is obtained, and a plurality of pieces of estimated user position information are acquired. There may be cases. In such a case, it is preferable to configure the web page so that the user can select appropriate estimated user position information.

  FIG. 17 shows a display example of a web page that allows the user to select estimated user position information. Note that, in FIG. 17, the parts common to FIG. 16 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the example of FIG. 17, the names 212A and 212B are “X station” and “XX tower”, respectively, for the image data 214 whose shooting time is 12:20 on x month x day. 2 estimated user position information is acquired. Corresponding to these names 212A and 212B, radio buttons 215A and 215B are displayed. The radio buttons 215A and 215B are configured to select one item from a plurality of selection items, and the selection state of other items is canceled by selecting one item.

  For example, the user refers to the image data 214 to determine which of the names 212A and 212B is the place where the image data 214 was shot, and designates an appropriate one of the radio buttons 215A and 215B. Thereby, the name corresponding to the side designated by the radio buttons 215A and 215B among the names 212A and 212B is associated with the image data 214. For example, when downloading the image data 214, the name corresponding to the side specified by the radio buttons 215A and 215B is added to the image data 214 as the name corresponding to the shooting location of the image data 214. The

  In the above description, estimated user position information, corresponding image data, attribute information, and the like have been described so as to be presented to a user who has transmitted time information and position information in order to acquire the estimated user position information. This is not limited to this example. For example, in the user information database 161, by associating the user ID of another user with the user ID, the estimated user position information, corresponding image data, attribute information, and the like are acquired in order to obtain the estimated user position information. Not only the time information and the position information are presented to the user who transmitted, but also the user corresponding to the other user ID associated with the user ID of the user can be presented.

It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the concept of 1st Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the concept of 1st Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the system applicable to the 1st Embodiment of invention. It is a flowchart which shows a process of an example of the positional information acquisition by the 1st Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the concept of 2nd Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the concept of 2nd Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the system applicable to the 2nd Embodiment of invention. It is a flowchart which shows a process of an example of the positional information acquisition by the 2nd Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating notionally the area which the system to which the 3rd Embodiment is applied provides a service. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the system applicable to the 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the user information table stored in a user information database. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the reader information table stored in a reader information database. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the time information table stored in a time information database. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of an example of the conversion table for converting user ID. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the example of the positional information acquisition by the 3rd Embodiment of invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the screen structure of an example of the web page which browses each data contained in package data. It is a basic diagram which shows the screen structure of an example of the web page which browses each data contained in package data.

Explanation of symbols

10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F Reader device 11, 151 Network 12, 152 Server system 13, 153 Internet 14, 154 User medium 20, 160 Server unit 21 Database 30, 31 Portable terminals 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D , 150E, 150F Reader device 161 User information database 162 Reader information database 162
163 Time information database 170, 171 Terminal device 172 Camera device 173 Web server

Claims (10)

In response to the input of user identification information by the user, the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point, the first time information indicating the time corresponding to the input, and the input user A plurality of information output devices for outputting identification information;
A storage unit that stores the position information, the first time information, and the user identification information that are output from the information output device in an associated manner;
A communication unit for communicating with the terminal device;
A server device including a position estimation unit that estimates a position corresponding to data transmitted from the terminal device received by the communication unit;
The communication part
Receiving at least second time information and user identification information transmitted from the terminal device;
The position estimation unit is
Extracting the position information and the first time information corresponding to the user identification information received by the communication unit from the storage unit,
The difference between the time indicated by the second time information received by the communication unit and each of the times indicated by the plurality of first time information extracted from the storage unit is obtained, and the absolute value of the difference is the smallest. A position information acquisition system, wherein the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information is estimated to be a position corresponding to the second time information. The position information acquisition system according to claim 1,
The information output device is
A reader unit for reading data stored in a predetermined storage medium;
The position information acquisition system, wherein the input is performed by reading the user identification information stored in the predetermined storage medium by the reader unit. The position information acquisition system according to claim 1,
The terminal apparatus has an imaging function, and the second time information corresponds to a time when photographing is performed by the imaging function. In the position information acquisition system according to claim 3,
The terminal device is configured to transmit image data captured by the imaging function together with the second time information and the user identification information,
The server device is
Estimated position information indicating the position estimated by the position estimating unit based on the second time information received together with the image data, further receiving the image data transmitted from the terminal device by the communication unit. And the received image data in association with each other and notify the user of the positional information acquisition system. The position information acquisition system according to claim 1,
The information output device is configured by using a function of a device for another purpose. The position information acquisition system according to claim 5,
The information output device is
Having another reader unit for reading data stored in another storage medium corresponding to the device for the other purpose,
The user identification information is stored in the other storage medium, and the input is performed by reading the user identification information stored in the other storage medium by the other reader unit. Acquisition system. The position information acquisition system according to claim 5,
The information output device is
Having another reader unit for reading data stored in another storage medium corresponding to the device for the other purpose,
Other user identification information corresponding to the other purpose is stored in the other storage medium, and the input is to read the other user identification information stored in the other storage medium by the other reader unit. Position information acquisition system characterized by being made in In the positional information acquisition system according to claim 7,
The server device is
The position information acquisition system further comprising a conversion table for converting the other user identification information into the user identification information. First information indicating the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point and the time corresponding to the input, which are output in response to the input of the user identification information by the user from a plurality of information output devices respectively installed at the fixed point. A storage unit that stores the time information and the input user identification information in association with each other, and
A communication unit for communicating with the terminal device;
A position estimation unit that estimates a position corresponding to data transmitted from the terminal device received by the communication unit;
The communication part
Receiving at least second time information and user identification information transmitted from the terminal device;
The position estimation unit is
Extracting the position information and the first time information corresponding to the user identification information received by the communication unit from the storage unit,
The difference between the time indicated by the second time information received by the communication unit and each of the times indicated by the plurality of first time information extracted from the storage unit is obtained, and the absolute value of the difference is the smallest. A position information acquisition apparatus that estimates a position indicated by the position information corresponding to the first time information as a position corresponding to the second time information. First information indicating the position information corresponding to the position of the fixed point and the time corresponding to the input, which are output in response to the input of the user identification information by the user from a plurality of information output devices respectively installed at the fixed point. Storing the time information and the input user identification information in a storage unit in association with each other,
A communication step for communicating with the terminal device;
A position estimation step for estimating a position corresponding to the data transmitted from the terminal device received by the communication step;
The above communication steps are:
Receiving at least second time information and user identification information transmitted from the terminal device;
The position estimation step includes
Extracting the position information and the first time information corresponding to the user identification information received in the communication step from the storage unit;
The difference between the time indicated by the second time information received by the communication unit and each of the times indicated by the plurality of first time information extracted from the storage unit is obtained, and the absolute value of the difference is the smallest. location information acquisition method characterized in that the position information corresponding to the first time information made to estimate the a indicates to position a position corresponding to the time information of the second.

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