JP2001324336A - Map information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information display device allowing a user to obtain realistic information about a destination. SOLUTION: This map information display device is provided with a map image data storing means 11 storing map image data, an actual image data storing means 12 storing actual image data (digital photograph data, for example) matching an actual place on the map stored in the map image data storing means, a map image data selecting means 42 selecting desired map image data from the map image data, a linking means 46 linking the selected map image data with the actual image data matching the selected map image data, and a display means 21 simultaneously displaying the map image data and the actual image data linked with each other by means of the linking means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map information display device, and more particularly to not only a map image itself but also a map image itself.
The present invention relates to a map information display device capable of displaying detailed information related to a destination (nearby).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a salesperson visits a business partner of land for the first time, a map table (for example, a divided map of Tokyo, a road map, etc.) or a map information system to be displayed on a display before the visit is made. It is common to confirm the address and position of the destination, the route from the nearest station, and the like. This map information system (map information display device) searches for a map image of a destination or a target area based on address information and the like, reads out the map image, and displays the map image on a screen. Operability such as display
Improving convenience.

[0003]

However, the conventional map information system allows a user to easily and easily display map information (a destination place, names of roads and buildings, place names, etc.) on a screen. Although it can be obtained, the information (type, amount, etc.) obtained is the same as the information (type, amount, etc.) obtained from a paper map (book format atlas). In addition, some displays text information (height, color, characteristics, etc.) for buildings and facilities, but it cannot be said to be sufficient information for the user.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a map information display device that allows a user to obtain information (real information) based on the reality of a destination.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a map image data storage means for storing image data of a map of each place, and an actual map data for each place stored in the map image data storage means. Real image data storage means for storing real image data corresponding to the location, map image data selection means for selecting desired map image data from the map image data stored in the map image data storage means, Link means for linking the map image data selected by the image data selection means with the real image data corresponding to the selected map image data; and simultaneously displaying the map image data and the real image data linked by the link means. Display means. In this way, when the user actually visits the site where the user goes for the first time, the destination and the route to the destination can be confirmed in advance using a real real image.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment (map information display device CJ).

(1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the map information display device CJ includes a data storage unit 10 storing various data and information described below,
, An input / output unit 20 for designating and displaying a map of a desired area or the like, a control memory unit 30 for storing various control / arithmetic programs, and a control unit 40 for controlling the entire map information display device. And

For example, in the case of Toranomon in Tokyo, the data storage unit 10 stores the entire map of Tokyo's 23 wards,
Map image data storage means 11 storing detailed maps such as Toranomon 1 and 2, and real image data (digital photograph data, three-dimensional computer graphics, video images, professional level A real image data storage unit 12 for storing sketches, voices for explaining them, etc.) and a real image display characteristic information holding unit 13 for storing information (described later) necessary for displaying the real image. Area information holding means 1 storing information on a specific area that can be enlarged and displayed on a map image
4 and a real image storing information (for example, coordinate values) on a small area (real image holding area) on the screen for identifying a position holding the real image on the displayed map image. And area information holding means 15.

The input / output unit 20 includes display means (operation screen) 21 (see FIG. 2) comprising a display such as a liquid crystal, and input means 22 comprising a mouse, a keyboard and the like. The control memory unit 30 temporarily stores, for example, ROM 31 in which a program for controlling the entire map information display device CJ is stored, and data in a calculation process of a CPU and the like constituting the control unit 40 described below. And a RAM 32.

The control unit 40 performs mouse down (left-click at the position where the mouse cursor is moved to position).
A mouse event recognizing means 41 for recognizing an image, a map image selecting means 42 for controlling a specific area on a displayed map image to be selectable with a mouse, and real image data at a position designated by a mouse cursor. Real image possession recognizing means 43 for recognizing that there is a real image display means 44 for controlling to display the real image when the mouse is held down at the position where the real image is retained; A map display unit 45 for performing a simultaneous display control (link control) of a map image and an actual image on the same screen;
Hierarchical display means 48 for hierarchically enlarging and displaying on the screen according to the administrative division, for example, Tokyo, Minato-ku, Toranomon 1-chome.
Is provided.

(2) Operation Map image display process In order to display an actual image efficiently, it is necessary to display a map image on an appropriate scale. First, a process of displaying a map image will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 21 includes a wide map image display unit 21a above the display unit 21 and a real image display unit 21b below the display unit 21 with a slightly smaller width. The user selects a specific area 21c (for example, Minato-ku) in the map image displayed on the map image display unit 21a with a mouse, and displays the map image on the map image display unit 21a. The specific area 21c is an area where it is appropriate (for example, an administrative division) to provide a boundary on a map image and perform enlarged display. For example, if a map image of Tokyo is displayed,
The specific area is Minato Ward, Chiyoda Ward, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of this embodiment. First, the widest one of the desired detailed map information (largest scale: basic map image) is designated by the keyboard constituting the input / output unit 20 (for example, Tokyo 23).
Ward. That is, one of the basic map images is Tokyo's 23 wards. By setting the basic map image to level 0 and selecting a specific area in the basic map image with a mouse, an enlarged map image (level 1 image) of the specific area is displayed (step S11). That is, the level n
By selecting a specific area on the map image with a mouse, a hierarchical display in which an enlarged map image of level n + 1 is displayed is possible (see FIG. 2). For example, when the basic map image (level 0) is 23 wards of Tokyo, level 1 is one ward (for example, Minato ward), and level 2 is a place name (for example,
Platinum), Level 3 is Chome (3-chome, 4-chome) and the like.

The specific area is generally a polygonal area on the displayed map image, and the coordinate values of the vertices of the polygon are stored in the area information holding means 14. For example, when each of the 23 wards of Tokyo is a specific area, the specific area of each ward is determined by assuming a polygon as close as possible to the area (shape of each ward) formed from the boundary line with other wards,
The coordinate values of each vertex are stored in the area information holding unit 14.

Next, the user moves the mouse on the map image (for example, the entire 23 wards of Tokyo) (step S1).
2) When the mouse cursor is positioned on the specific area, the map image selecting means 42 recognizes that the mouse cursor is within the specific area (step S13), and the frame of the area is lit (step S14). ) At the same time, the shape of the mouse cursor is changed (step S15).
The user can recognize that the mouse position is within the specific area and the enlarged map image of the area can be displayed by the lighting display of the frame line and the change in the shape of the cursor. When the mouse is moved down in the specific area (step S16), the corresponding map image file is called from the map image data storage unit 11 by the map image display unit 45, and the map image display unit 21
a is displayed (step S17).

Next, a process of displaying a real image will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a process diagram for displaying a real image, and FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of a process for displaying a real image. On the map image displayed on the map image display section 21a (see FIG. 2), the position where the actual image is held (accurately,
Hereinafter, in order to allow the user to recognize the real image holding area 21d (refer to the enlarged view on the left side of FIG. 4), the position of the mouse cursor is moved into the real image holding area 21d (steps S21 and S22). Then, the shape of the mouse cursor is changed (for example, one arrow → a cross with an arrow), and the user is made aware that the position can display an actual image (step S23).

The identification (step S22) that the mouse cursor is within the real image holding area and the change of the cursor shape (step S23) are performed by the real image holding recognition unit 43. The real image holding area 21d is not provided in the specific area in order to avoid mixing with the specific area described above and because of its necessity. That is, when there is a position in the specific area where the real image is desired to be displayed, the mouse cursor is positioned at a target position after the enlarged map image is displayed by the above-described function regarding the map image display. That is, the real image holding area 2 is displayed on the map image at the lowest level.
Only 1d exists, and no specific region exists.

The user can search for a position (real image holding region) where the real image can be displayed in a region other than the specific region on the map image or an arbitrary region on the lowest level map image. The real image holding area is a small area on the map image as described above. The real image holding area matches the size of the building or the width of the road on the map image, and the shape of the mouse cursor changes quickly. Size. In other words, in the vicinity of the position where the user wants to display the actual image, the moving speed of the mouse is generally slowed down, but the mouse moving speed is set large enough to respond to the slow moving operation.

The coordinate values of the real image holding area 21d are stored in the real image area information holding means 15. The user can display the real image by moving the cursor into the real image holding area and performing mouse down at the position where the cursor shape has changed. The mouse down recognition is performed by the mouse event recognition means 41 (step S2).
4). The display of the real image is performed by the real image display means 44 by calling the real image file from the real image data storage means 12 (step S25).

Next, a method for actually displaying an actual image on a screen by the above means will be described (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In the actual image display, the required number of actual images differs depending on the display target or the display position needs to be changed. Therefore, such information is stored in the actual image display characteristic information holding unit 13. When the display object is a building or a plaza, the actual image to be displayed is basically one type (an image in the direction in which the appearance and the features are most easily understood). However, among the real image data, for the three-dimensional computer graphic data,
A building or the like is made observable from a desired angle. In this way, even if the building has a completely different texture depending on the viewing direction (for example, a plate-shaped 20-story building),
It can be easily identified by changing the direction. The display location is the location closest to the cursor position in the real image display section 21b (see FIG. 4A).

If there is a request to display a plurality of real images (for example, four places at a crossroads intersection) at an intersection or the like where the real image is to be displayed, the selected real image is stored in the selected real image holding area 21d. The identification number indicating the direction of the real image corresponding to the real image is displayed at an appropriate position on the map image display unit 21a, and the direction and the display position of the real image are linked. For example, “1, 2, 3, 4” in the map image display unit 21a in FIG.
"Real image 1, real image 2, real image 3, real image 4" in b
And are linked respectively.

The real image display characteristic information holding means 13 stores information on the display position of the real image (actually, coordinate values on the real image display section 21b) and a number (identification) for linking the real image with the direction. The information (coordinate value) of the position where the number is displayed is stored. The real image display means 44 displays a real image at a corresponding position on the real image display section 21b based on the information of the real image display characteristic information holding means 13 (step S25). Is the map image display unit 21
The identification number is displayed on a (step S26). In addition,
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the respective means of the present embodiment.

<Modification> A general personal computer (stationary type, portable type, etc.) is suitable as hardware of the map information display device of the above embodiment. On the other hand, the present invention can be applied to a car navigation system mounted on an automobile, for example. For example, a passenger in a passenger seat operates the information processing device to recognize a landmark or the like of a destination in a realistic manner, and conveys to the driver in words. However, it is not preferable that the driver operates the mouse from the viewpoint of safety. Therefore,
The person who operates the mouse is limited to a person other than the driver on the passenger seat or the like. In addition, since the operation of the desktop mouse may not be possible due to the operation in the interior of the car, other pointing devices (for example, a light pen, a trackball, a joystick, etc.) may be used instead of the mouse.
Can be substituted.

(3) Method and Means for Realizing the Present Invention The following are conceivable methods and means for realizing the present invention. It is provided as a packaged software alone. In this case, a program for realizing the data storage unit 10 and the control unit 40 shown in FIG.
OM) and provided to the user, and the input / output unit 20 and the control memory unit 30 use hardware provided in a personal computer or the like owned by the user. It is provided on the Internet (network) by a homepage in the WWW server. In this method, the latest information can always be provided only by updating the map image data and the actual image data on the server as needed. Therefore, when there are many changes (new construction of roads, remodeling and demolition of buildings, etc.) as in the case of map information, this is the most suitable method for realizing the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the case of Tokyo has been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to all over Japan or all over the world.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only a map image is displayed on a monitor screen of a personal computer or the like, but also at a selected position on the displayed map image, By displaying a real real image (nearby), sufficient information can be provided to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of selectively enlarging and displaying a map image on a display means of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of a process of selectively enlarging and displaying a map image in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a process of displaying an actual image on a display means of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of a process of displaying an actual image in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship among respective means in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 CJ map information display device 10 data storage unit 20 input / output unit 30 control memory unit 40 control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A F term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB05 HB31 HC11 HC13 HC23 HC24 2F029 AA02 AD07 5B075 ND07 ND08 ND30 ND36 NK10 PQ02 PQ13 PQ69 UU14 5H180 AA01 BB13 FF22 FF33 9A001 BB03 BB04 CC02 EE01 JJ11 KK60

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A map image data storage means for storing image data of a map of each place, and a real image data storage for storing real image data corresponding to an actual location on a map of each place stored in the map image data storage means. Means, map image data selecting means for selecting desired map image data from the map image data stored in the map image data storage means, map image data selected by the map image data selecting means, and the selected map A map information display device comprising: link means for linking the real image data corresponding to the image data; and display means for simultaneously displaying the map image data and the real image data linked by the link means. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a hierarchically enlarged display means for hierarchically enlarging and displaying a display area of the map image data when the map image data and the actual image data are displayed as a link on the display means. 2. The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein the actual image data is digital photograph data. 4. The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein said real image data is three-dimensional computer graphic data. 5. A map information display device, wherein the map information display device according to claim 1 is applied to a navigation system. 6. A program for functioning as the map image data storage means, the actual image data storage means, the map image data selection means, and the link means is made public on a network. The map information display device according to claim 5. 7. A program for functioning as the map image data storage unit, the actual image data storage unit, the map image data selection unit, and the link unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A recording medium characterized by being recorded.