JP2000082062A - Information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the information providing device which can easily obtain information relating to a displayed spot. SOLUTION: The information providing device includes an input/output part 22 which displays a map image and outputs the position of an indicated point, an address book storage part 76 for storing address book data including names and zip codes, a zip-code-by-area storage part 64 which stores the zip codes and maps of areas that the zip codes correspond to, and a central control part 50 which finds the zip code of the area of the point indicated at the input/output part 22 and displays the address book data having the same zip code as the zip code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus capable of displaying a map and personal information, and more particularly to an information providing apparatus in which a map and personal information are linked via a zip code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
There is a point search device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 0-205. This point search device associates a zip code with an area and a district, and displays an image of a map of the area or district corresponding to the zip code from the input zip code.

[0003]

However, with the conventional point search device, it was not possible to obtain information related to a point on a map.

Further, in the conventional point search device, it is necessary to input a postal code in order to display a map of a point corresponding to personal information. For this reason, in order to display a map of a point corresponding to the personal information while referring to the plurality of personal information, it is necessary to re-enter the postal code for each personal information, which requires a complicated operation.

[0005] It is preferable that the display magnification can be changed for each map of a point corresponding to personal information.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing apparatus capable of easily obtaining information related to a displayed point.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information providing apparatus capable of displaying a map of a point corresponding to a plurality of pieces of personal information with a simple operation while referring to the plurality of pieces of personal information.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information providing apparatus capable of displaying a map of a point corresponding to personal information at an appropriate display magnification while referring to a plurality of personal information.

[0009]

An information providing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: a personal information storage unit for storing personal information including a personal name and a postal code; Regional postal code storage means for storing position information on the map image, postal code, and the map image, for displaying the map image and personal information, and for outputting the coordinates of the indicated display area Display means, a map image is displayed on the display means, based on the coordinates output from the display means,
Control means for obtaining a postal code corresponding to the coordinates on the designated map image, and displaying personal information including the obtained postal code on the display means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by indicating a position on the map image displayed on the display means,
The postal code corresponding to the coordinates of the indicated position is determined,
The personal information including the requested postal code is displayed on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain information related to the displayed point.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the display further includes a map display magnification storage unit for storing a display magnification when the map image is displayed. The personal information further includes a display magnification when displaying the map image, and the control means causes the map image to be displayed according to the display magnification stored in the map display magnification storage means, and based on the coordinates output from the display means, A postal code corresponding to the coordinates on the designated map image is obtained, personal information including the obtained postal code is displayed on the display means, and the display magnification stored in the map display magnification storage means is stored in the personal information storage means. Means for causing

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing apparatus, comprising: a personal information storage unit for storing personal information including a personal name and a postal code; and a position on a map image for each area. A postal code storage unit for storing information, a postal code, and a map image, a display unit for displaying a map image and personal information, and outputting coordinates of a designated display part, Extracting the postal code from the personal information selected from the personal information stored in the information storage means,
A control unit for extracting a map image corresponding to the postal code from the postal code storage unit by region and displaying the map image on the display unit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a zip code is extracted from the selected personal information, a map image corresponding to the zip code is extracted, and displayed on the display means. Therefore, a map of a point corresponding to the personal information can be displayed with a simple operation while referring to the plurality of personal information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, the display means further includes a map display magnification storage means for storing a display magnification when the map image is displayed. The personal information further includes a display magnification at the time of displaying the map image, and the control unit extracts the postal code and the display magnification from the personal information selected from the personal information stored in the personal information storage unit, Means for extracting a map image corresponding to the postal code from the postal code storage means for each area and displaying it on the display means at a display magnification.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the functions and effects of the third aspect of the present invention, a display magnification is added to personal information, and a map image corresponding to the personal information is displayed at the display magnification. Is displayed with. Therefore, a map image with an appropriate display magnification can be displayed for each piece of personal information.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Since their names and functions are the same, repetition of the description will be appropriately omitted.

Referring to FIG. 1, the information providing apparatus includes an input / output unit 22, a main body cabinet 20 having an infrared communication unit and a pen holding unit (not shown), and a hinge connected to the back of main body cabinet 20. , Which cover the input / output unit 22 and protect the input / output unit 22 from dust and the like when the information providing apparatus is carried.

Referring to FIG. 2, input / output unit 22 is a thin liquid crystal display unit 32 of a matrix type capable of displaying characters and a transparent sheet of two transparent sheets large enough to cover liquid crystal display unit 32. It includes a tablet 34 and a film 36 provided at a position parallel to one side of the liquid crystal display unit 32 and below the transparent tablet 34 and printed with fixed keys representing frequently used functions.

The liquid crystal display section 32 is provided with an EL
A backlight including an (Electro Luminescence) panel may be provided on the back surface.

The two transparent sheets of the transparent tablet include:
The transparent electrodes are regularly arranged on the surface where the two transparent sheets face each other. Further, small protruding spacers are regularly printed on each sheet so that the transparent electrodes do not come into contact with each other in a normal state. When a finger or a pen touches the liquid crystal tablet device, the transparent electrode at that portion contacts, and information on the position is output. Thereby, the position of the designated point can be known. The liquid crystal display 32
It is possible to detect the position of the liquid crystal display unit 32 selected by the user by associating the display content displayed with the position information with the position information of the transparent tablet 34.

Referring to FIG. 3, the information providing device is connected to a plurality of transparent electrodes provided on a transparent sheet of transparent tablet 34, and is a tablet control unit for extracting position information designated by a finger or a pen. 42 and the liquid crystal display 32
And a dot circuit for turning on the liquid crystal is stored as a bit map, and a signal is sent to the common circuit 46 or the segment circuit 48 as necessary to display an image. A liquid crystal display circuit section 44, a central control section 50 for controlling each section of the information providing apparatus in accordance with various instructions, and a clock signal from an oscillator (not shown) are used to measure the time. RTC to output
(Real Time Clock) 52 and ROM (Read Only Memo)
ry) 54, RAM (Random Access Memory) 72,
And a main body power switch 96 for turning on / off the power supply of the information providing apparatus.

The ROM 54 includes a font information area 56 storing fonts of characters to be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 32,
A program area 58 that stores a program showing the operation of the central control unit 50, a dictionary area 60 that stores a dictionary for character conversion, and coordinates detected by the tablet control unit 42 are converted into coordinates corresponding to the display position. It includes a coordinate information area 62 storing conversion information for conversion and an area-specific postal code storage unit 64 storing area-specific postal codes.

The area-specific postal code storage section 64 includes a position information storage section 66 for storing area position information, a postal code storage section 68 for storing area-specific postal codes, and a map image for each area. And a map image storage unit 70 for storing the

The RAM 72 has a data storage section 74 for storing various data such as texts and figures input by the user from the input / output section 22, and an address book storage section 7 for storing personal information.
6, a map display magnification memory 92 for storing a display magnification when displaying a map image, and a standard display magnification memory 94 for storing a standard display magnification when the display magnification is not set.

The address book storage unit 76 includes a name memory 78 for storing the names of individuals, a reading memory 80 for storing how to read individual names, and a home TEL for storing home telephone numbers.
A memory 82, a mobile phone memory 84 for storing a telephone number of a mobile phone, a home zip code memory 86 for storing a home zip code, and a home address memory 8 for storing a home address.
8 and a corresponding display magnification memory 90 for storing a display magnification when displaying a map around the home. The address book storage unit 76 may store information such as a FAX number and an Internet mail address.

As described above, the central control unit 50 operates in accordance with the programs stored in the program area 58. The programs include the following applications "town navigation" and "address book". I do.

[Operation when Application "Town Navi" is Activated] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, each section of the information providing apparatus operates as follows.

When the user activates the map display application “Town Navi”, a map as shown in FIG. 6A, a map selection button 102, and a scaling button 104 are displayed.
And the menu button 106 are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 32 (S1). The map displayed at this time is the map that was displayed when the same application was started last time, or the map including the specific position when the specific position is specified.

The tablet controller 42 waits until the transparent tablet 34 is touched by a pen (S2). When the transparent tablet 34 is touched with a pen (YES in S2),
The central control unit 50 reads the touch position (S3). The central control unit 50 determines which position on the liquid crystal display unit 32 the touch position corresponds to (S4). If the position touched by the pen is on the map selection button 102 (map selection in S4), a map selection screen (not shown) is displayed, and a map of the selected area is displayed (S5). Thereafter, the process returns to S2.

The position touched by the pen is the enlargement / reduction button 1
If it is on 04 (enlargement / reduction in S4), a screen for setting a display magnification (not shown) is displayed, and the map is displayed again at the set display magnification. The set display magnification is stored in the map display magnification memory 92 (S6). Thereafter, the process returns to S2. In particular, when the display magnification is not set, the map is displayed according to the display magnification stored in the standard display magnification memory 94.

The position where the pen is touched is the menu button 1
06, a menu 10 as shown in FIG.
8 is displayed (S7). In the menu 108, in addition to functions such as "delete", "cut", "copy", "paste", and "search", a "zip code search" function for searching a postal code at a designated point on a map is provided. It is displayed as selectable.

The central control unit 50 determines whether the "zip code search" function has been touched in the menu 108 (S8). If a function other than the "zip code search" function is touched (NO in S8), a process corresponding to the function is performed (S9), and the process returns to S2.

"Postal code search" from menu 108
When the function is touched (YES in S8), FIG.
The screen is switched to a screen as shown in (a), and a position instruction message 112 "Touch the map." Is displayed (S10). The tablet control unit 42 waits until the transparent tablet 34 is touched by the pen (S1).
1).

When the pen 114 touches the transparent tablet 34 with the pen 114, the touched position 116 is detected and the position is transmitted to the central control unit 50 (S1).
2). The central control unit 50 searches the position corresponding to the touched position on the map from the position information storage unit 66, and searches for the postal code at that position (S13). Referring to FIG. 7B, central control unit 50 displays postal code display window 122 including the postal code searched in S13 on liquid crystal display unit 32 via liquid crystal display circuit unit 44 (S14). .
The postal code display window 122 further includes an address book search button 126 and an end button 124. The tablet control unit 42 waits until the transparent tablet 34 is touched by the pen (S15).

When the transparent tablet 34 is touched by the pen (YES in S15), the touched position is detected, and the position is transmitted to the central control unit 50 (S16). The central control unit 50 determines which position on the liquid crystal display unit 32 the touch position corresponds to (S17). If the touch position is the position of the end button 124 (end in S17), the postal code display window 122 is closed, and the process returns to S2.

The touch position is the address book search button 126
If it is located at the position (address book search in S17), the central control unit 50 reads the address book data from the address book storage unit 76 (S19). The central control unit 50 searches the read address book data for personal information having the same home zip code as the zip code searched in the process of S13 (FIG. 5).
S20). The central control unit 50 determines whether or not the corresponding personal information is found as a result of the search (S21). If the corresponding personal information is not found (NO in S21), an alert 132 including a message “There is no corresponding address book data” is displayed on the map with reference to FIG. S22). Then, the process returns to S15.

If the corresponding personal information is found (YES in S21), the corresponding personal information (address book data) is read from the address book storage unit 76 (S23).
The central control unit 50 stores the display magnification set in the processing of S6 and stored in the map display magnification memory 92 at a position corresponding to the read personal information in the display magnification memory 90 (S24). Referring to FIG. 8B, central control unit 50
Starts the application "address book" and displays the corresponding personal information based on the display magnification stored in the map display magnification memory 92 (S25).

[Operation at the Start of Application "Address Book"] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 13, each unit of the information providing apparatus operates as follows.

When the user enters the application "address book"
Is activated, address book data as shown in FIG. 11A is displayed (S26). The address book data screen includes a new input button 142, a correction button 144, a category button 146, and a menu button 148.

The tablet controller 42 waits until the transparent tablet 34 is touched by a pen (S27). When the transparent tablet 34 is touched with a pen (YE in S27)
S), the touch position is read and transmitted to the central control unit 50 (S28). The central control unit 50 determines which part on the liquid crystal display unit 32 the touch position is (S29).

If the touch position is on the new input button 142 (new input in S29), a new input screen (not shown) is displayed, and new address book data can be input (S30). When the input of the new address book data is completed, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. 11A, and the process returns to S27.

If the touch position is on the correction button 144 (correction in S29), the currently displayed address book data can be corrected (S31). When the address book data correction processing is completed, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG.
The process is returned to 27.

If the touch position is on the category button 146 (category in S29), another category corresponding to the button touched from the currently displayed "individual (home)" category (for example, "company list" category) Is displayed (S32). Then, S2
The processing is returned to 7.

If the touch position is on the menu button 148 (menu in S29), a menu 150 as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed (S33). Menu 15
For 0, "Delete", "Cut", "Copy", "Paste", "
In addition to functions such as "search", a "map search" function for searching for a corresponding map image from the postal code of the currently displayed address book data is displayed so as to be selectable. It is determined whether or not the "map search" function is touched (S34) .If a function other than the "map search" function is touched (NO in S34), a process corresponding to each function is performed. (S35), S
The process is returned to 27.

If the "map search" function is touched (YES in S34), a screen indicating that a search is being performed as shown in FIG. 12A is displayed, and the central control unit 50
It is determined whether postal code data is included in the currently displayed address book data (S36). If the postal code data is not included (NO in S36), central control unit 50 reads the postal code for each region stored in postal code storage unit 64 for each region (S37). The postal code corresponding to the home address in the address book data is searched from the postal code by region (S38).

If the postal code data is included in the address book data (YES in S36), or after the processing in S38, a map image of the area corresponding to the postal code is retrieved from the map image storage unit 70. (S39 in FIG. 10).

The central control unit 50 determines whether a corresponding map image is found as a result of the search (S40). If a corresponding map image is not found (NO in S40), an alert 160 stating "There is no corresponding map data." Is displayed on the screen with reference to FIG. Is returned to.

If the corresponding map image is found (YES in S40), the map image is stored in the map image storage unit 7.
It is read from 0 (S42). The central control unit 50 determines whether a display magnification is set for the currently displayed address book data (S43). This determination is made based on whether or not the display magnification corresponding to the address book data is stored in the corresponding display magnification memory 90.

If the display magnification is not set (S43)
NO), the value of the standard display magnification memory 94 is set in the map display magnification memory 92 (S44). If the display magnification is set (YES in S43), the display magnification corresponding to the address book data is read from the corresponding display magnification memory 90,
This is set in the map display magnification memory 92 (S45).

After the processing in S44 or S45, a map as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed using the display magnification set in the map display magnification memory 92 (S46).

With the information providing apparatus as described above, only by designating a desired point from the displayed map image, the personal information in which the designated point is registered as the address is automatically converted using the existing postal code. Search and display. Therefore, personal information related to the displayed map image can be easily grasped.

Further, the related map image can be easily displayed through the postal code of the selected personal information. Therefore, a desired map image can be displayed without performing a complicated operation.

The map image is displayed according to the display magnification for each address book data stored in the display magnification memory 90. Therefore, a map image can be displayed at an appropriate display magnification for each address book data.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an input / output unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a first flowchart illustrating the operation of the information providing apparatus when the application “Town Navi” is activated.

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart illustrating the operation of the information providing apparatus when the application “Town Navi” is activated.

FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when an application “Town Navi” is activated.

FIG. 7 is a second diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the application “Town Navi” is activated.

FIG. 8 is a third diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the application “Town Navi” is activated.

FIG. 9 is a first flowchart illustrating the operation of the information providing apparatus when the application “address book” is started.

FIG. 10 is a second flowchart illustrating the operation of the information providing apparatus when the application “address book” is activated.

FIG. 11 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when an application “address book” is activated.

FIG. 12 is a second diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when an application “address book” is activated.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when an application “town navi” is activated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 main body cabinet unit 22 input / output unit 32 liquid crystal display unit 34 liquid crystal tablet unit 42 tablet control unit 50 central control unit 54 ROM 64 regional postal code storage unit 66 location information storage unit 68 postal code storage unit 70 map image storage unit 72 RAM 76 Address book storage unit 78 Name memory 86 Home postal code memory 90 Corresponding display magnification memory 92 Map display magnification memory 94 Standard display magnification memory

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB08 HC27 5B009 ME23 5B019 EA02 FA05 FA06 HA06 HA10 HD11 HE19 5B075 ND03 ND07 NK04 NK39 NK44 PQ69 UU08 UU14

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A personal information storage means for storing personal information including a personal name and a zip code, position information on a map image, a zip code,
A postal code storage unit for storing a map image and a region, a display unit for displaying a map image and personal information, and outputting coordinates of a designated display region, and displaying a map image on the display unit Control means for obtaining a postal code corresponding to the coordinates on the designated map image based on the coordinates outputted from the display means, and displaying the personal information including the obtained postal code on the display means. An information providing device including: 2. The display device further includes a map display magnification storage unit for storing a display magnification when displaying a map image, wherein the personal information further includes a display magnification when displaying a map image, The control means displays a map image at a display magnification stored in the map display magnification storage means, and obtains a postal code corresponding to coordinates on the designated map image based on coordinates output from the display means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying the obtained personal information including the postal code on the display means, and storing the display magnification stored in the map display magnification storage means in the personal information storage means. Information providing device as described. 3. A personal information storage means for storing personal information including a personal name and a zip code, position information on a map image, a zip code,
A postal code storage unit for storing a map image and a region; a display unit for displaying a map image and personal information; and outputting coordinates of a designated display site; and a storage unit for storing the personal information storage unit. Control means for extracting a postal code from the personal information selected from the personal information selected, extracting a map image corresponding to the postal code from the regional postal code storage means, and displaying the map image on the display means. , Information providing device. 4. The display unit further includes a map display magnification storage unit for storing a display magnification when displaying a map image, wherein the personal information further includes a display magnification when displaying a map image, The control unit extracts a postal code and a display magnification from the personal information selected from the personal information stored in the personal information storage unit, and stores a map image corresponding to the postal code in the regional postal code storage unit. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a unit configured to further extract and display the information on the display unit at the display magnification.