JP2000010471A - Map display device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the utilization efficiency of a map display device utilizing a computer. SOLUTION: A user is able to draw arbitrary user graphics, such as icons 65, 67, a segment 69 and a polygon 71 at a desired place on a map window 21 displayed by a computer. Further, the user can link actions, such as, for example, opening of an image file, opening of a home page of the internet and execution of a program, to the respective user graphics 65, 67, 69, 71. When the user clicks the desired user graphics, the action linked thereto is automatically executed. The user information linking the user graphics and the action can be uploaded to the information server on the internet. In addition, the downloading of various kinds of the user information uploaded to the information server is possible. The user graphics of the downloaded user information is automatically developed on the map.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a map display device using a computer, and more particularly to a map display device having a function of using a communication network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a map display device using a computer which reads map data of an area desired by a user from a map database and displays it on a display. Many of these types of devices unilaterally provide a user with a map prepared in a database, and the user is exclusively in a passive position to view or read the provided map.

[0003]

Although the use of maps is extremely wide, the conventional map display device merely provides the user with information on geography and roads, and flexibly responds to various uses of the user. It is not something that can be done.

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a map display device which can use a map for various uses.

Another object of the present invention is to link arbitrary user information (for example, a sign of a home or friend's house, an introduction document or URL of a favorite store, or route guidance information) to an arbitrary place on a map. To allow individual users to freely customize the map.

Still another object of the present invention is to transmit user information linked to a map on one map display device to another map display device so that the user information can be similarly linked to a map on another map display device. Thereby, the user information can be exchanged between users.

It is another object of the present invention to enable communication of user information using the general purpose data format of the Internet, thereby making the map available to many people.

It is still another object of the present invention to expand or diversify the use of a map by utilizing a computer.

[0009]

A map display device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a map display unit for displaying a map, a design linked to a user-specified location on the map and set by a user. A user information editing unit that generates user information having the user graphic of FIG. 1, and a user information storage unit that stores the user information. The map display unit refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit and displays a user graphic at the user-specified location on the map. According to this map display device, the user can select any user. User information having a figure can be set and pasted and displayed at an arbitrary location on a map.

In a preferred embodiment, the user information includes definition information of the user graphic and an action set by the user by linking to the user graphic (for example, opening a file,
Action information that defines an Internet homepage, running a program, etc.). Then, when the user selects a user graphic displayed on the map, an action linked to the user graphic is executed. According to this map display device, a user's arbitrary action can be linked to the user figure on the map,
A variety of uses for maps.

In a preferred embodiment, the route searched by the route search may be registered as a user figure, or the user figure may be automatically pasted at the current position detected by GPS.

In a preferred embodiment, user information including a user graphic can be transmitted to another device through a communication network. Thereby, it is possible to exchange and utilize user information between users.

In a preferred embodiment, the map display device incorporates self-owned user information into an HTML file and uploads it to an information server on the Internet, or transmits an HTML file of user information uploaded by another user from the information server. Or download it. Since the user information of the map can be distributed through the WWW service of the Internet which is widely spread in this way, the utility value of the map is further increased. In addition, HTML with user information embedded as an e-mail attachment
It is also possible to send and receive files.

[0014] The present invention also provides a novel information server that provides a distribution service of map user information.

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

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an embodiment of a map utilization network system according to the present invention.

A number of computers (hereinafter, referred to as user terminals) 1A, 1B,... Used by users are provided with information exchange / providing servers (hereinafter, referred to as "information servers") on the Internet 3 and typically. It is a WWW server,
Other types, such as an FTP server, may be connected. Each of the user terminals 1A, 1B,... Has installed therein a map application 11 as an application program for displaying a map, editing various user information linked to the map, searching for a place, and the like. Has a WWW browser 9 for communicating with the information server 5. Each user terminal 1A, 1B,...
A GPS receiver 7 for measuring latitude can be optionally mounted.

The map application 11 of each of the user terminals 1A, 1B,... Uploads user information edited by linking to each map to the information server 5 through the browser 9, and various user uploaded by other users. Information can be downloaded from the information server 5 through the browser 9 and linked to its own map. Thus, the information server 5 functions as a relay base for transmitting and receiving user information between users. Further, the information server 5 also stores various useful information provided by conventional various information magazines, travel guidebooks, and the like in the same manner as the user information, and stores such information in the same manner as the user information. Each user terminal 1A, 1B,... Can be downloaded and linked to each map. In the following description, all information that can be downloaded from and linked to a map is referred to as “user information”. When the user information is transmitted and received between the user terminals 1A, 1B,... And the information server 5, an HTML file and a JPEG linked thereto are used.
This is a general-purpose link file such as an image file.
When the e-mail application is installed in the user terminals 1A, 1B,.
The map application 11 of A, 1B,... Can also transfer user information to another user terminal as an attached document of a mail through an electronic mail application.

As described above, the map application 11 of each of the user terminals 1A, 1B,... Has a function of displaying a map, a function of editing user information linked to a map, a function of searching for a location on a map, and a function of user information. Has a function of communicating through the Internet. Hereinafter, functions and operations of the map application 11 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a graphic user interface (GUI) displayed by the map application 11 on a display screen of a computer.

This GUI has a map window 21 for displaying a map on a wide screen area, a guide window 23 for displaying a map on a small screen area, and a search window 25 for displaying a search menu. A scale slider bar 27 is provided on the right side of the map window 21. By operating this slider bar, the scale of the map displayed in the map window 21 can be changed. The guide window 23 displays a map having the same center coordinates as the map displayed in the map window 21, and also displays a frame-shaped range guide 29 representing the range of the map displayed in the map window 21. Is done. The scale of the map displayed in the map window 21 can also be changed by enlarging and scaling the range guide 29 with the cursor at its corner. On the right side of the guide window 23, there is a scale slider bar 31 for changing the scale of the map of the guide window 23. The scale of the guide window 23 can be changed independently of the scale of the map window 21. In both the map window 21 and the guide window 23, the cursor can be moved (for example, by right-clicking the mouse) to scroll the map, and the maps in the windows 21 and 23 are scrolled in conjunction. By using the map window 21 and the guide window 23 effectively, it becomes easy to grasp the map and move the map to a desired place.

The search window 25 displays a search menu 33 for searching for a place on a map using place names, telephone numbers, postal codes, facility names, user information names, and the like as search keys. When an arbitrary item is specified on the search menu 33, the map in the map window 21 and the guide window 23 automatically moves so that the position of the specified item is located at the center coordinates.

At the top of this GUI, there are a plurality of toolbars 3 for performing operations of "edit", "internet", "route search", "measurement", "map output", and "GPS".
5 to 45 are arranged in an overlapping manner. These toolbars 3
By clicking the tabs 5 to 45, the toolbar can be displayed on the front. In the illustrated example, the editing toolbar 35 is displayed on the front.

The editing toolbar 35 is used when creating and editing user information linked to a map. There is a figure selection tool 47 for selecting user figures (the following icons, line segments, rectangles, polygons, ellipses, characters, etc.) drawn on the map, and icons for pasting icons on the map. Tool 49, a line tool 51 for drawing a line on a map, a square tool 53 for drawing a rectangle on a map, a polygon tool 5 for drawing a polygon on a map
5. An ellipse tool 57 for drawing a circle or an ellipse on a map, a character tool 59 for drawing a character on a map, and the like are provided. In addition, an action tool that allows the user to assign an arbitrary name to the user figure on the map and link an arbitrary action (for example, opening an HTML document, opening an image, opening a map, executing a program, etc.) 61
Is also available. User information is composed of a set of a user figure drawn on a map using these tools and linked action information.

The Internet toolbar 37 is used when user information is uploaded to the information server 5, downloaded from the information server 5, or transmitted / received by attaching it to an e-mail. The route search toolbar 39 is used when automatically searching for a route from a start point arbitrarily designated by the user to an end point via a waypoint on the map. The measurement toolbar 41 is used when measuring the size, distance, required time, and the like of the user graphic. The map output toolbar 43 is used when printing a selected range of a map or outputting it as a file to an external storage device. The GPS toolbar 45 can be used when the GPS receiver 7 is mounted, and is used when receiving the latitude and longitude of the current position from the GPS receiver 7 and displaying the current position on a map. Although not shown, these toolbars 37 to 45 are provided with various tools for each operation.

The route search toolbar 39 also has a tool for registering the searched route on the map as a user graphic of a line segment. The GPS toolbar 45 also includes tools for registering the current position on the map as a user graphic of an icon, and registering a passing route connecting the current position at each point in time as a user graphic of a line segment. I have. By registering as a user figure, the search route, the current position, and the passage route can be freely edited, uploaded / downloaded, or attached to an e-mail by the user.

Hereinafter, the editing operation of the user information using the editing toolbar 35 will be described in detail.

When the editing toolbar 35 is displayed on the front and the icon tool 49 is clicked, an icon box 63 pops up on the map window 21 as shown in FIG. When an arbitrary icon is selected from the icon box 63 and dragged and copied to an arbitrary location on the map in the map window 21, the icon can be pasted at that location. With this method, in the example of FIG. 2, a heart-shaped icon 65 is attached to the location of the patent office on the map. Also, paste the icon as G
This is also performed when the current position is measured and saved using the PS toolbar 45. According to this method, in the example of FIG. 2, as a result of measuring and storing the current position with the GPS at the location of the hotel Okura, a GPS (for example, flag) icon 67 is displayed.
Is affixed to the location of Hotel Okura.

When the user clicks on the line tool 49 in the editing toolbar 35, an auxiliary tool box for drawing a line pops up, not shown. In this state, when a plurality of arbitrary points on the map in the map window 21 are clicked and designated, a polygonal line segment connecting these designated points with a straight line is drawn on the map. In this way, in the example of FIG.
A line segment 69 indicating a route from the intersection in front of the Prime Minister's Office to Hotel Okura via the JPO is drawn. Such a process of placing the user graphic of the line segment on the map is also performed when a route is searched and stored using the route search toolbar 39. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, when a route search is performed with the intersection in front of the Prime Minister's Office as the starting point, the JPO as the waypoint, and the hotel Okura as the end point, a route like a line segment 69 is searched. Minute 69 is line segment tool 49
It is registered as a user figure as in the case of drawing with.

The square tool 5 in the editing toolbar 35
1. Clicking the polygon tool 53, the ellipse tool 57, or the character tool 59 pops up an auxiliary tool box for drawing a square, polygon, circle / ellipse, or character, not shown. In that state, the map window 21
When an arbitrary point on the map inside is designated by clicking, the graphic size is adjusted by dragging, or characters are input, a rectangle, polygon, circle, ellipse, or character is drawn at the designated point. With this method, in the example of FIG. 2, a polygon 71 is drawn in a block opposite to the JPO.

As described above, an arbitrary user figure can be drawn at an arbitrary place on the map. These user figures are not directly added to the map data, but are defined and managed as separate figure data from the map data, as will be clear from the following description. ) Are logically linked to each other and are displayed over the map. Therefore, it is possible to add, delete, or modify the user graphic without making any change to the map itself.

After arranging the user figure on the map in this way, when the figure selection tool 47 in the editing toolbar 35 is clicked, the user figure on the map can be selected. In this state, when a desired user figure on the map is clicked and selected, and then the action tool 61 is clicked, a name / action registration box 81 as shown in FIG. 3 pops up. In this box 81, a genre and a name can be given to the selected graphic data, and an arbitrary action can be linked.

That is, the box 81 has a genre registration field 83 and a name registration field 85. Initially, the genre registration field 83 has a default genre “undefined”, and the name registration field 85 has a default name. Place name (address) of the user figure
Has been entered. These fields 83,
At 85, the user can enter any genre and name. For example, in the case of the heart icon 65 shown in FIG. 2, a default genre “undefined” and a default name “near Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo” are initially entered as shown in FIG. Any genre and name such as the genre “government” and the name “patent office” can be entered. The name registered here can be used to identify the user graphic, and the genre can be used to sort and organize the user graphic.

In the name / action registration box 81 shown in FIG. 3, "action selection", "image",
The setting panels 91 to 97 for “address”, “comment”, “detailed setting”, and “content confirmation” are arranged in an overlapping manner.
By clicking the tab of each of the panels 91 to 97, the panel can be displayed on the front. In the example of FIG. 3, the action selection panel 91 is displayed on the front. On the action selection panel 87, an action to be linked to the user figure can be selectively set. As shown in FIG. 3, there are three types of actions that can be selected: "no action" (field 99), "open viewer" (field 101), and "execute program" (field 103). Initially, the default action "No action" is selected, but the user can enter any action in its action field 9
The selection can be made by turning on a radio button in 9, 101 or 103. If the action "Open Viewer" is selected, as a detailed action,
"Open newly created HTML", "Open map",
Select one of "Open image" and "Open Internet homepage". here,
When "Open the Internet homepage" is selected, the URL of the homepage is also registered in the URL field 107. When the action “execute the program” is selected, the directory + file name of the program and, if necessary, arguments are also registered in the fields 109 and 111. further,
Apart from these actions, "auto scroll execution"
Sub-action also has its check box 105
Can be selected by putting a check mark in the box, and the required scrolling time can be registered in the field 113.

The action set here specifies an operation to be automatically executed by the map application 11 when a user figure is clicked on the map window 21. That is, "no action" specifies not to execute anything. "Open newly created HTML"
Specifies that an HTML document created by a method described later is to be opened, "Open Map" indicates that a map specified by a method described later is to be opened on the map window 21, and "Open Image" indicates a method described later. Specify to open the image image specified by. “Open the Internet homepage” specifies that the URL registered in the field 107 is to be opened, and “execute the program” specifies that the program registered in the field 109 is to be started using the argument of the field 111. For example, when the user clicks on the heart icon 65 of the JPO shown in FIG. 2, an HTML document introducing the JPO is automatically opened, a map of the district centered on the JPO is opened, a photograph image of the JPO is opened, Actions can be specified, such as opening the JPO homepage or launching an online electronic filing program.

Further, particularly when the user graphic is a line segment, a check mark is put on the "automatic scroll execution", and when the line segment is clicked on the map window 21, the map window 21 and the guide window 23 are displayed.
Scrolls the map over the registered scrolling time by tracing the line segment from the start point to the end point at the center point of each window. For example, if this sub-action is set to the line segment 69 shown in FIG. 2, when this line segment 65 is clicked, the route from the intersection in front of the Prime Minister's Office to Hotel Okura via the JPO is automatically guided by a map scroll. You. This function can be used to check directions.

If "Open Viewer" is selected on the action selection panel 87 shown in FIG. 3, then the tab of the image panel 89 is clicked to display the image panel 89 in the front as shown in FIG. Can be.

On the image panel 89, an image file can be specified and a map can be set. That is, by registering the directory of the image file + the file name in the field 115, the image file can be designated. Also, the map can be set by scrolling and adjusting the scale of the map setting window 119 in the same manner as the map window 21 shown in FIG. And with the radio button,
Either the designated image or the set map can be selectively enabled. Here, when the specified image file is set to be valid, in the case of the action of “open a newly created HTML”, the specified image file is linked to the opened HTML document, and the action of “open image image” is performed. In the case of, the image image to be opened is the specified image file. On the other hand, if the set map is set to be valid, the image file of the set map is linked to the opened HTML document in the case of the action of “opening a newly created HTML”, and in the case of the action of “open map”, , The map to be opened becomes the setting map.

In the action selection panel 87 shown in FIG.
When "Open L" is selected, an address panel 91, a comment panel 93, a detail setting panel 95, and a content confirmation panel 97 can be displayed on the front in addition to the image panel 89.

FIG. 5 shows an address panel 91 displayed on the front side, in which an arbitrary (typically, a place or a facility on a map on which a user graphic is placed) to be described in an HTML document is shown. A postal code, address, telephone number, FAX number, homepage URL and mail address can be registered. FIG. 6 shows a comment panel 93 displayed in the front, in which any comment (typically, on a map or place where a user graphic is placed) desired to be described in the HTML document, and the HTML The name, e-mail address and homepage URL of the creator of the document can be registered. FIG. 7 shows a detailed setting panel 95 displayed on the front.
Here, settings relating to the color arrangement of the HTML document, etc., and designation of an external editor when an HTML document is created using an external HTML editor can be registered.

After the genre, name, and action for the user graphic are registered on the name / action registration box 81 as described above, the user clicks the “OK” button 115 at the bottom of the name / action registration box to display the name. -The action registration box 81 is closed, and the registered contents are determined. At this time, "Newly created HT
If the "Open ML" action is selected, the registered content is determined, and the HTML
The document is automatically generated by the map application.
After this, select the same user figure again,
When the action registration box 81 is opened again and the tab of the content confirmation panel 97 is clicked to open the content confirmation panel 97, the display image of the HTML document can be confirmed. It is as shown in FIG. 8, where the registered name, genre, valid designated image or setting map, registered postal code and address, registered comments, registered creator information, and update (creation) Display such as date and time is included.

As described above, a user figure can be arranged at an arbitrary place on a map, and an arbitrary name, genre, action, and the like can be given to this. When the user clicks an arbitrary user figure on the map window 21 after finishing the editing work, the registered action is automatically executed as described above. If the action is, for example, "Open a newly created HTML",
The display of the HTML document as shown in FIG. 8 is performed.

FIGS. 9 to 13 show processing operations of the map application 11 for realizing the above functions. FIG.
Shows a processing flow when editing user information.

As shown in FIG. 9, the map application 11 includes a plurality of icon picture files (icon files) 131 prepared in advance, a graphic file 133 for registering various user graphic information, and There is an action file 135 for registering the name, genre, and action assigned to the figure (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 9, when the user performs an operation of drawing a user figure on a map using the tools 47 to 59 shown in FIG. 2 (step S1), the map application defines the user figure. Information is created and registered in the graphic file 133 (S2), the user graphic is displayed on the map window 21 (S3), default action information is generated for the user graphic, and registered in the action file 135 (S4). . Figure file 133
The user graphic definition information registered in the user graphic includes a globally unique graphic ID assigned to the user graphic (which can be generated by a known method), a type of user graphic (for example, icon, line segment, Square, etc.), the state of whether or not the user graphic is selected, the ID of the action information attached to the user graphic (action ID), the longitude and latitude of the arrangement point (for example, the icon arrangement point, line segment In the case of icons, information on the control points that define the shape and size of the user figure (for example, the longitude and latitude of each vertex of the polygon, the radius of the circle, etc.) Includes the file name of the icon file 131 and the like. The action information registered in the action file 135 includes an action ID, a name and a genre of a user graphic, a postal code, an address, a telephone number, a comment, and the like described in the HTML when “opening a newly created HTML”. Type number (for example, 0: “No action”, 1: “Open newly created HTML”, 2: “Open map”, 3: “Open image image”, 4: “Open Internet homepage” "
5: "Execute the program", etc., an action file name (that is, an HTML or image file to be opened, a file name of a program or a URL of a homepage), a scroll flag indicating whether or not to perform automatic scrolling,
Open mode to specify how to open "Open Map" (for example, 2D map or 3D map, whether to reproduce the same scale as when registered, whether to open in a separate window, etc.),
It includes map open information specifying the latitude and longitude, scale, and the like of the center position of the map in the case of "open map".

When the user clicks the figure selection tool 47 shown in FIG. 2 and performs an operation of selecting a user figure (S5), the map application 11 enters a state where the selected user figure can be edited. To In this state, if the user performs an operation to correct the user graphic (S6), the map application 11 updates the user graphic definition information in the graphic file 133 according to the correction result (S6), and Map window 2
1 (S8).

When the user selects the user figure and clicks the action tool shown in FIG. 2, the map application 11 pops up the name / action setting box 81 shown in FIG. (S9), action definition (S10), image / map setting (S11), and input of various other action-related information described above (S12) are enabled by the user. When the user performs these input operations, the map application 11 updates the action information in the action file 135 according to the input contents (S13).
In addition, if the set action is “Open a newly created HTML”, the map application 1
1 creates and saves an HTML file 137 corresponding to the registered action information (S14). Further, when linking an image or map image to the HTML file 137, a file 139 of the image or map image to be linked is also created and saved, and link information to the file 139 is stored in the HTML file 137. Put it in.

Further, when the user selects a user figure to which the action "open a newly created HTML" is set and clicks on the content confirmation panel 97 in the name / action setting box 81 (S15), the map is displayed. The application 11 performs the above-described step S14 to create an HTML file 137 linked as an action to the user graphic, and then creates the HTML file 1
37 is displayed on the content confirmation panel 97 (S1
6).

FIG. 10 shows a processing flow when the map application 11 performs a route search.

First, when the user designates a start point, a route point (or may be absent or a plurality of points) and an end point of the route on the map window 21, and instructs the search execution (S2).
1) The map application 11 searches for a route of the road from the start point to the end point via the waypoint based on the map data, generates polygonal line segment information indicating the searched route, and displays the information on the map window 21. (S22, S23). Next, when the user instructs to save the route (S24), the map application 11 registers the definition information of the broken line segment in the graphic file 133 as a user graphic, and sets default action information (for example, genre is route search, name is genre). The address of the starting point, automatic scroll on, etc.) are registered in the action file 135 (S25).

FIG. 11 shows that the map application 11
7 shows a processing flow when the current position is detected by the PS.

The map application 11 acquires the longitude / latitude information of the current position from the GPS receiver 7 (S3).
1) The map in the map window 21 is displayed such that the current position is the center position of the map window 21 (S3).
2). When the user instructs to save the current position (S3
3) The map application 11 pastes a predetermined default icon at the current position, registers user graphic definition information of the icon in the graphic file 133, and sets default action information (for example, genre is GP
S, name is current position, etc.) in the action file 135
(S34).

Once the search route and the current position are registered as a user graphic in this way, the user graphic can be edited in step S5 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows the map window 2 when the map application 11 is in a normal state (ie, a state in which processing using the task bars 35 to 45 shown in FIG. 2 is not performed).
1 shows a processing flow when a map is displayed.

The map application 11 reads a map window 2 from a map database 141 prepared in advance.
The map data of the designated area to be displayed in 1 is acquired and displayed on the map window 21 at the designated scale (S41). At this time, it is checked whether or not the user graphic exists in the map range displayed in the map window 21 by referring to the graphic file 133. If the user graphic exists, the user graphic is also superimposed on the map. It is displayed in the map window 21.

When the user clicks one of the user figures in the map window 21 (S43), the map application 11 reads the action ID corresponding to the clicked user figure from the figure file 133,
The action information having the action ID is read from the action file 135 and analyzed (S44).

If the action set in the action information is “open a newly created HTML” or “open an Internet homepage”, the map application 11 executes the local HTML file set in the action information. The WWW browser 9 is started by designating the directory + file name of 137 or the URL of the Internet set in the action information thereof as an argument (S45). As a result, the browser 9 opens and displays the local HTML file 137 or displays the HTML of the homepage from the URL.
Download the L file, open it and display it.

When the set action is “open image image”, the map application 11
Starts the image viewer by designating the directory + file name of the set local image file 143 as an argument (S45). Thus, the image viewer opens and displays the image file 143.

When the set action is “open map”, the map application 11 opens the map from the map database 141 using information such as the longitude / latitude and scale of the center point of the set map. The map data to be read is displayed on the map window 21 (S
47). If the set action is “execute the program”, the map application 11
Starts the specified program 145 by specifying the set argument (S48).

Further, when the automatic scroll is set to ON, the map in the map window 21 is automatically scrolled along the line segment of the user graphic with the set required time (S49).

As described above, when the user figure is clicked on the map, various preset actions are automatically executed. Therefore, by utilizing this function well, it is possible to match the purpose of use of each user. Very useful maps can be created. For example, maps can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as town information magazines, travel guides, travel memory albums, address books, and signboards, and are much more flexible, dynamic and interesting than traditional paper-based ones. It is possible to use with.

Next, processing operations when uploading the user information edited and linked to the map as described above to the information server 5 and downloading the user information uploaded by another person from the information server 5 will be described. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. These processes are performed in the Internet tool panel 3 shown in FIG.
7 is performed with the front display.

FIG. 13 shows the flow of processing when the map application 11 uploads user information to the information server 5.

First, when the user selects an arbitrary number of user figures to be uploaded on the map window 21 (S51), the map application 11 reads the figure definition information of the selected user figures from the figure file 133 (S52). , Action I in the figure definition information
D, the action information of the user figure is found from the action file 135 and read therefrom (S5).
3).

Next, the map application 11 performs an upload HTML file creation process (S5).
4-S56). First, in step S54, the HTML file 137 serving as the original form of the upload HTML document
(That is, a file created by the map application 11 in the above-described user information editing process, and the display image thereof is as illustrated in FIG. 8). The HTML file 137 includes the information shown in FIG.
A special comment tag pair <!-MAP AP-> is pre-written at the time of its creation. This special comment / tag pair is a tag that the WWW browser 9 ignores as a mere comment on display, but the map application 11 recognizes this as a self-specific tag (hereinafter, referred to as a self-specific tag).
This tag is called a map-specific tag.) Next, step S55
Then, the map application 11 inserts the graphic definition information and the action information read earlier between the pair of map-specific tags in the HTML file 137. with this,
The upload HTML file is completed.

As already described with reference to FIG.
In the process of editing the user information, the user can create an original HTML file using an external HTML editor instead of the map application 11. This user-created HTML file is designated by reference numeral 1 in FIG.
Indicated at 47. This user-created HTML1
For the user graphic having 47, the map application 11 newly creates an HTML file serving as an original of the upload HTML file in step S54,
In step S55, the graphic definition information and the action information are inserted between the map-specific tag pairs in the original HTML file to create an upload HTML file. Further, the process proceeds to step S56, where the map application 1
1 adds an HTML file 147 created by the user to the upload HTML file.

After the above processing, the map application 1
1 further includes an image file 143 such as a map or a photo linked to the upload HTML file,
If the user graphic is an icon, the icon file 131 is also added to create a set of those files, and this set of files is transmitted to the information server 5 (S57). FIG. 14 shows an example of this set of files (hereinafter referred to as a work file set). The work file set 151 includes the upload HTML file 155, the icon file 131, the link image file 143, and the like as described above. At the time of uploading to the information server 5, the start message 153 is first sent, and then the work file set 1
51, and finally an end message 157 is sent to the information server 5.

FIG. 15 shows a description example of the upload HTML file 147.

<Html.>, </ Html>, <head>, </ head>, <body>,
Although various contents to be displayed between document structure tag pairs such as </ body> are described, there is a pair of map-specific tags called <!-MAP AP-> in this structure, Information 161 dedicated to the map application is described between the pair of map-specific tags.

This map application dedicated information 161
Contains one or more pieces of user graphic information 165 and 167. Each of the user graphic information 165 and 167 is composed of graphic definition information 169 and action information 171 as described above. Those user graphic information 165, 16
7 is in a special comment tag <!-FIG OBJECT ......... FIG OBJECT->. Further, common information 1 describing the content ID 170, genre 172, work name 174, and the like for the entire work file set
63 is also inserted in a special comment tag of <!-CORE ......... CORE-> and is inserted in the map application dedicated information 161. This common information 163
Is given by the user at the time of upload.

FIG. 16 shows the work file set 1 described above.
5 shows a configuration and a processing operation of an information server 5 receiving uploads 51.

The information server 5 includes, as functional modules, a client communication unit 171 for communicating with the map application 11, a user management unit 173 for managing uploaded user information for each user, and a user module for uploading user information for each genre. It has a genre management unit 175 for managing, and a genre page editing unit 177 for editing a work list page for each genre. The storage device 179 of the information server 5 has a user transfer area 18 in which uploaded user information is first written.
1. User management file 183 in which information of users who have been granted upload rights is registered, user content management file 185 in which the content ID of uploaded user information is stored for each user, and uploaded user information is stored for each user The stored user public area 187, the genre content management file 189 storing the content ID of the uploaded user information by genre, the work list page 191 by genre, and the homepage 193 displaying the genre list are displayed. Having.

When the client communication unit 171 receives an upload request from the map application 11 of a certain user, the client communication unit 171 refers to the user management file 183 and permits only the users registered in the file 183 to upload. Subsequently, the client communication unit 171 receives the work file set 151 uploaded from the map application 11, temporarily stores the work file set 151 in the user transfer area 181, and stores the work file set 151 in the user transfer area 181. The management unit 173 is notified of the upload.

The user management unit 173 that has received the notification,
First, the HT for uploading from the user transfer area 181
The ML file 155 is read, and the map application dedicated information 161 in the ML file 155 is analyzed.
(For example, “A00001”), a genre (for example, “genre 1”), a work name (for example, “work 1”), and the like are grasped (S61). Subsequently, the user management unit 173 writes the grasped content ID “A00001” to the content management file 170 corresponding to the user “user 1” (S62), and writes the work file set 151 from the user transfer area 181 to the user “user 1”. 1 corresponding to the content ID “A000” in the public area 187 corresponding to “1”.
It moves to the area 188 for “01” (S63). Then, the user management unit 173 notifies the genre management unit 175 that manages the grasped genre “genre 1” of the content ID 1 “A00001”, the user name “user 1”, the work name “work 1”, and the like (S64). .

The genre management unit 175 receiving the notification
Writes the content ID “A00001” in the content management file 189 of the genre “genre 1” (S65), and sends the content ID “A00001” or the like to the genre page editing unit 177 of the genre “genre 1”. The user name “user 1” and the work name “work 1” are notified (S66).

The genre page editor 1 receiving the notification
77 is a description 195 indicating the work based on the notified user name “user 1” and the work name “work 1”;
A link 197 to the work file set 151 in the user open area 187 is created from the work description 195, and the work list page 1 of the genre “genre 1” is created.
91 is added (S67).

Thus, the registration of the uploaded user information in the information server 5 is completed. The home page 193 of the information server 5 has a list of genre name descriptions 199, 201, and each genre name description 199, 201 has a link 20 to the work list page 191 of the corresponding genre.
3, 204. Therefore, the user first opens the homepage 193 and clicks on a description 199 of a desired genre (for example, “genre 1”) therein. Can be opened. The work list page 191 includes descriptions 195, 2 of various works belonging to the genre, for example, as shown in FIG.
05,..., And by clicking on the description 195 of the desired work (eg, “Work 1”), the work file set 151 of the desired work “Work 1” is traced along the link 197 shown in FIG. Can be downloaded.

FIG. 18 shows the operation of the map application 11 and the WWW browser 9 in the user terminal 1 when downloading user information from the information server 5.

At the time of downloading, the map application 11 first specifies the URL of the information server 5 and
Since the browser 9 is started, the browser 9 opens the homepage 198 of the information server 5 and downloads the upload HTML file 147 in the work file set 151 desired by the user by following the link according to the user operation (S71). ). The browser 9 opens and displays the upload HTML file 147 (S7).
2) closes this immediately after the display. Subsequently, the map application 11 opens the upload HTML file 147, extracts the map-dedicated information 161 from the HTML file 147 (S73), analyzes the action information 171 of each user graphic therein (S74), and executes the action. Information 17
1 is converted to contents that can be used in the user terminal 1 (S75, S76, S77, S78, S79). That is, when the action type in the action information 171 is “open program”, this is set to “no action”
(S75) (this may be performed by the map application 11 or the information server 5 on the uploading side). If the action type is "open the Internet homepage", the URL described in the action file name in the action information 171 is left as it is (S76). If the action type is “open a newly created HTML file”, the directory of the HTML file described in the action file name (this is a local directory in the uploading user terminal) is The HT in the information server 5
The URL of the ML file is rewritten (S77). Also,
If the action type is “open image image”, the target image file is downloaded from the information server 5 through the browser 9 and stored in a predetermined directory in the user terminal 1. Rewrite to the directory + the relevant image file name (S78). If the action type is "open map", the description of the information for opening the map is left as it is (S79).

Next, the map application 11 adds the graphic definition information and the action information of each user graphic described in the map-specific information 161 to the graphic file 133 and the action file 135, respectively (S8).
0). Subsequently, the graphic file 133 is read (S81),
If the downloaded user graphic is an icon that the user does not know, the icon file of the icon is also downloaded from the information server 5 and stored as a new icon file (S83). Then, the map window 21 is scrolled so that the longitude and latitude of the downloaded user graphic are at the center of the map window 21, and the user graphic is displayed on the map window 21 (S84).

As described above, a user figure edited by another user can be downloaded from the information server 5, placed at the same location on the map, and substantially the same action can be linked. Various useful user information (road guide map, recommended restaurant information, travel guide, current location, etc.) can be notified between users.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show the operations of the map application 11 and the e-mail application when transmitting and receiving user information by e-mail.

As shown in FIG. 19, at the time of transmission, the map application 11 creates a work file set in the same manner as when uploading (S91), creates a transmission document with the work file set as an attached document, and sends it to the e-mail application. And sends the transmitted document to the e-mail application (S92). When receiving the transmission command from the user (S93), the electronic mail application transmits the transmission document (S93).

As shown in FIG. 20, at the time of reception, the electronic mail application displays the received mail together with the symbol of the attached document (S102). When the user performs a predetermined operation for causing the map application to open the attached document (S103), the map application opens the attached document and restores the work file set (S10).
3) The work file set is stored in a predetermined directory (S104), and the directory of the transmitting terminal described in the action file name in the uploading HTML file in the file set is rewritten to the predetermined directory of the own terminal. (S105), the graphic definition information and the action information are added to the graphic file and the action file in a procedure similar to that at the time of downloading, and the received user graphic is displayed on the map window (S106).

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
This embodiment is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to only these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in various modes other than the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a map-based network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a GUI of a map application.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a name / action registration box 81 that has popped up.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a name / action registration box 81 in which an image panel 89 is displayed on the front.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an address panel 91 displayed on the front.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a comment panel 93 displayed on the front.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed setting panel 95 displayed on the front.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a display image of an HTML document generated by a map application.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application when editing user information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application when performing a route search.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application when the current position is detected by GPS.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application when a map is normally displayed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application when uploading user information to the information server 5.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a work file set.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a description example of an upload HTML file 147.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a processing operation of an information server 5 receiving an upload of a work file set.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a work list page for each genre.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application and the WWW browser when downloading user information.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map application and the e-mail application when transmitting user information by e-mail.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operations of the map application and the e-mail application when receiving user information by e-mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B User terminal 3 Internet 5 Information server 7 GPS receiver 9 WWW browser 11 Map application 21 Map window 23 Guide window 25 Search window 65, 67 Icon 69 Line segment 71 Polygon 133 Graphic file 135 Action file 137 HTML file 141 Map Database 151 Work file set 155 HTML file for upload 161 Information dedicated to map application

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09G 5/36 510 G06F 15/62 335 5J062 (72) Inventor Tatsuhiko Tsutsumi Shimozushi Ogura-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture 1-1-1 Tsu, Zenrin Co., Ltd. (72) Daisuke Tabuchi 3-14-10 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Sofmap Future Design Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Ichiro Nakajima Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 3-14-10 Sofmap Future Design Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Yuki Ito 3-14-10 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Sofmap Future Design Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C032 HB22 HB25 2F029 AB05 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC14 AC16 AC20 5B050 BA17 BA20 CA05 CA08 EA19 EA20 FA02 FA09 FA13 FA14 5B089 AA16 AB01 AC03 AD11 AE02 AF05 BB06 CB01 CC11 5C082 AA37 BA14 BB01 CB06 DA87 DA89 MM05 5J062 AA00 AA01 AA03 AA05 AA08 BB01 BB05 CC07 DD21 FF01 HH00

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A map display unit for displaying a map, a user information editing unit for generating user information having a user graphic having a design set by a user and linked to a location specified by a user on the map, A user information storage unit for storing the user information generated by the user information editing unit, wherein the map display unit refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit, A map display device that displays the user graphic at the location. 2. The user information includes: graphic definition information defining the user graphic; and action information linked to the user graphic and defining an action set by a user. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein when the user selects the user graphic displayed above by a predetermined operation, the action defined by the action information linked to the user graphic is executed. 3. A function of searching for a route from a start point to an end point specified by a user on the map, generating new user information having the searched route as the symbol graphic, and storing the new user information in the user information storage unit. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a route search unit having a route. 4. A new user information is generated by linking to a location on the map corresponding to the latitude and longitude received from the GPS receiver, and can be used in combination with a GPS receiver to store the user information. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a GPS unit having a function of storing the information in the unit. 5. A communication device capable of communicating with another device through a communication network, transmitting the user information of the display device to the other device through the communication network, and transmitting the user information from the other device through the communication network. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that receives user information of another device and stores the received user information in the user information storage unit. 6. The communication unit, wherein the transmission unit creates a transmission HTML file to be transmitted to the another device, the transmission unit being an HTML file in which user information of the map display device itself is incorporated. A received HTML file received from the device of claim 1, wherein the received HTML file incorporates another user information.
The map display device according to claim 5, further comprising: a receiving unit configured to acquire the other user information from a file and store the acquired user information in the user information storage unit. 7. The HTML file has a predetermined comment / tag pair, and the user information includes the comment / tag.
7. The map display device according to claim 6, wherein the map is described between a pair of tags. 8. The communication unit is operable in combination with a WWW browser, and causes the WWW browser to upload the transmission HTML file to a predetermined information server on the Internet, and the WWW browser transmits the information to the information server. The receiving HTM downloaded from the server
7. The map display device according to claim 6, wherein the map display device receives an L file. 9. The communication unit is operable in combination with an e-mail application, and causes the e-mail application to transmit an e-mail attached with the transmission HTML file to an address specified by a user. 7. The map display device according to claim 6, further comprising receiving the received HTML file attached to the electronic mail received by the electronic mail application. 10. A step of displaying a map, a step of generating user information having a user graphic having a design set by the user and linked to a location specified by the user on the map, and a step of: A map display method, comprising: storing the generated user information; and displaying the user graphic at the location on the displayed map with reference to the stored user information. 11. The user information includes graphic definition information defining the user graphic, and action information linked to the user graphic and defining an action set by a user, wherein the map is defined in response to a user operation. The map display method according to claim 10, further comprising: selecting the user graphic displayed above; and executing the action defined by the action information linked to the selected user graphic. 12. A step of searching for a route from a start point to an end point specified by a user on the map, generating new user information having the searched route as the symbol figure, and storing the new user information in the user information storage unit. The map display method according to claim 10, further comprising: 13. A step of receiving latitude and longitude from a GPS receiver, generating new user information by linking to a location on the map corresponding to the received latitude and longitude, and storing the new user information in the user information storage unit. 11. The map display method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of: 14. transmitting the user information of the display device itself to another device, receiving the user information of the other device from the other device, and including the user information in the received user information. Displaying a user graphic to be displayed on the displayed map. 15. A step of creating an HTML file in which user information of the map display device itself is incorporated, a step of transmitting the transmission HTML file to another device, and a reception HTML in which another user information is incorporated. Receiving a file from the other device; obtaining the another user information from the received HTML file; and displaying a user graphic included in the obtained other user information,
11. The map display method according to claim 10, further comprising: displaying on the displayed map. 16. The map display method according to claim 15, wherein the HTML file has a predetermined comment tag pair, and the user information is described between the comment tag pair. 17. A step of displaying a map, a step of generating user information having a user graphic having a design set by the user and linked to a location specified by the user on the map, and a step of: Storing the generated user information, and displaying the user graphic at the location on the displayed map with reference to the stored user information. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded. 18. A step of transmitting the user information of the display device itself to another device; a step of receiving the user information of the other device from the other device; 18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, further comprising a program for causing a computer to execute the step of displaying a user graphic to be displayed on the displayed map. 19. An HTML file having a predetermined comment tag pair, wherein user information is described between the comment tag pair, and the user information is specified on a map displayed by a computer. A computer-readable recording medium recording the HTML file, which includes link information for linking to a place and user graphic definition information. 20. An upload unit that can communicate with a plurality of map display devices via a communication network, receives user information from the first map display device, a user information storage unit that stores the received user information, An information server for a map apparatus, comprising: a download unit that transmits the stored user information to the second map display apparatus in response to a request from the second map display apparatus. 21. The information server according to claim 20, wherein the information server uploads and downloads an HTML file via the Internet, wherein the user information is incorporated in the HTML file. 22. A step of receiving user information from a first map display device through a communication network, storing the received user information, and storing the user information in response to a request from the second map display device. Transmitting said user information to said second map display device. 23. A step of receiving user information from a first map display device via a communication network, storing the received user information, and storing the user information in response to a request from the second map display device. And transmitting the user information to the second map display device.