JP2002116033A - Device and method for landmark guidance, information storage medium, and device and method for landmark registration - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to intuitively grasp the position by converting coordinate information into a related landmark name. SOLUTION: A landmark database 12 is stored with landmark names and geographic information related to the landmark names, so that they correspond to each other. A landmark guidance device 14 obtains coordinate information from a user terminal 20, etc., retrieves landmark names related to the coordinate information obtained from the user terminal 20, etc., according to the coordinate information obtained and geographic information stored in the landmark database 12, and outputs at least a part of them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a landmark guidance apparatus and method, an information storage medium, and a landmark registration apparatus and method, and more particularly to a technique for converting coordinate information into a landmark name and a database for the technique. Related to the technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art GPS (Global Positioning System)
Is being applied to not only car navigation devices but also various systems including mobile phones. According to the system to which such a positioning function is applied, the user can easily know the current position of himself or another person.

[0003]

However, the positioning function using the GPS merely outputs the current position coordinates of the GPS antenna, and other measures such as displaying the current position coordinates superimposed on the map image are provided. Without it, it would not be meaningful information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to convert a coordinate information into a related landmark name so that a user can intuitively grasp a position, and a landmark guidance apparatus and method. An object of the present invention is to provide an information storage medium and a landmark registration apparatus and method for constructing a database for the information storage medium.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a landmark guidance apparatus according to the present invention comprises: coordinate information acquiring means for acquiring coordinate information; a landmark name and a geographical area associated with the landmark name. Landmark storage means for storing information in association with each other; coordinate information obtained by the coordinate information obtaining means; and geographic information stored in the landmark storage means, obtained by the coordinate information obtaining means. And a landmark name output means for outputting at least a part of the landmark names searched by the landmark name search means. It is characterized by the following.

Further, a landmark guidance method according to the present invention is a landmark storage means for storing a coordinate information obtaining step of obtaining coordinate information, and storing a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name in association with each other. From
A land for searching for a landmark name related to the coordinate information obtained in the coordinate information obtaining step, based on the coordinate information obtained in the coordinate information obtaining step and the geographic information stored in the landmark storage means. It is characterized by including a mark name search step and a landmark name output step of outputting at least a part of the landmark names searched in the landmark name search step.

Further, an information storage medium according to the present invention includes a coordinate information obtaining step for obtaining coordinate information, and a landmark storage means for storing a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name in association with each other. Searching for a landmark name related to the coordinate information obtained in the coordinate information obtaining step, based on the coordinate information obtained in the coordinate information obtaining step and the geographic information stored in the landmark storage means. A program for causing a computer to execute a landmark name search step and a landmark name output step of outputting at least a part of the landmark names searched in the landmark name search step is stored.

According to the present invention, a landmark name and geographic information related thereto are stored in association with each other. Landmarks include all geographic landmarks, such as buildings, roads, parks, mountains, rivers, and the like. The geographic information may include coordinate information or area information of the landmark itself, or may include coordinate information specifying a related position of the landmark or area information specifying a related area. When the coordinate information is acquired, a landmark name related to the acquired coordinate information is searched based on the coordinate information and the geographic information. At least a part of the searched landmark name is output, for example, by display, printing, voice, transmission, or the like. By doing so, the coordinate information can be converted into the related landmark names, and the user can intuitively grasp the position.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the geographic information includes information for specifying a predetermined area around the landmark, and the landmark name retrieving means determines the predetermined area when the coordinate information is included in the predetermined area. The landmark name stored in the landmark storage unit is read in association with the information specifying the region, and the landmark name output unit outputs a word representing the predetermined region together with the read landmark name.

In this embodiment, a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark are stored in association with each other, and the geographic information is stored in a predetermined area around the landmark, for example, an area extending in front, rear, left and right of the landmark, an area around the landmark, or the like. Is included. Then, when the acquired coordinate information is included in the area, the landmark name stored in association with the geographic information including the information specifying the area is read and output, and a word representing the area, for example, “ Words such as “before”, “back”, “left side”, “right side” or “near” are output. By doing so, the user can be informed of the relationship between the coordinate information and the predetermined area around the landmark, and the position can be more intuitively grasped.

In this aspect, the image processing apparatus may further include an area width determining unit that sets the width of the predetermined area for each landmark corresponding to the predetermined area. In this way, the predetermined area can be made wider or narrower according to, for example, the degree of publicity (or popularity), the height of the landmark, and the area of the landmark. The publicity and the like may be stored, for example, in association with each landmark name.

In one aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of landmark names are searched by the landmark name search means, the landmark name output means outputs at least a part of the landmark names according to a selection by a user. I do. In this case, a landmark name desired by the user can be output.

[0013] In this aspect, when the landmark name retrieving means retrieves a plurality of landmark names, the landmark name output means selects a desired landmark name from at least a part thereof. May be included. In this way, the user can select a landmark name to be output.

At this time, when a plurality of landmark names are searched by the landmark name searching means, the landmark name selecting and guiding means is provided with a publicity, a landmark height or a landmark wide of the landmark names. The user may be prompted to select a desired landmark name while changing the guide priority based on at least one of the above. For example, the name of a landmark with a high degree of publicity, the name of a landmark with a high landmark height (such as the height of a building), or the name of a landmark with a large landmark area (eg, a site area) is displayed at the top of the guide list. , Etc., to give priority to the user. By doing so, it is possible to preferentially provide guidance from landmark names that are excellent as landmarks.

In one aspect of the present invention, the landmark storage unit further stores a category of the landmark in association with each landmark name, and the landmark name search unit stores a category desired by the user. Is searched for a landmark name related to the coordinate information obtained by the coordinate information obtaining means from among the landmark names corresponding to. Categories are, for example, "Business",
“Play”, “Shop”, “Sightseeing”, “Public facilities”, etc. In this case, a landmark name of a category desired by the user can be output.

Further, the landmark registration device according to the present invention is a landmark information obtaining means for obtaining a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name from a user in association with each other, and the landmark information obtaining means. Landmark information registration means for registering the landmark name and geographic information acquired by the publicly available database, and accounting processing means for executing accounting processing for the user. .

Further, the landmark registration method according to the present invention includes a landmark information obtaining step of obtaining a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name from a user in association with each other; A landmark information registration step of registering the landmark name and the geographic information acquired in the above in a database provided for public use, and a charging processing step of executing a charging processing for the user. .

According to the present invention, a landmark name and geographical information are obtained from a user and registered in a database provided for public use. In addition, a billing process is performed on the user. In this way, the user can register a desired landmark name and geographic information related to the desired landmark in the database for a fee. The database is provided for public use. For example, the database is provided so that coordinate information can be converted into landmark names by the database. For this reason, the user pays the price for the purpose of advertisement or the like and registers the landmark name related to the user in the database. Thus, a database that can be used for landmark guidance can be constructed.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a landmark guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the landmark guidance system 10 shown in FIG. 1, a landmark guidance device 14 composed of a known server computer can access the Internet 16,
The landmark database 12 can also be accessed via an AN or the like. The landmark guidance device 14 has a function of converting coordinate information into a landmark name while referring to the landmark database 12, and also has a function of registering the landmark database 1 in response to a registration request from a user.
2 has a function of registering landmark information (landmark name and geographic information).

The Internet 16 is also connected to a user terminal 20 which is a known personal computer on which a web browser is installed. The user terminal 20 can access the landmark guide device 14 via the Internet 16. I can do it. The Internet 16 further includes a wireless base station 1
8 is also connected, and can access the Internet 16 from a camera 22 having a wireless data communication function, a mobile phone 24, a car navigation device 26 mounted on a vehicle, and the like.

In this landmark guidance system 10,
By accessing the landmark guide device 14 from the user terminal 20, the camera 22, the mobile phone 24, the car navigation device 26, or the like via the Internet 16 and transmitting coordinate information, it can be converted into a landmark name. It has become. The landmark name list generated by the conversion is returned to the user terminal 20, the camera 22, the mobile phone 24, the car navigation device 26, and the like via the Internet 16.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a landmark name list returned to the user terminal 20 or the like. The landmark guidance system 10 is, for example, an HTTP (HyperText
Transfer Protocol).
In this case, the landmark name list is synthesized by the hypertext generated by the landmark guide device 14 according to a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program. In the landmark name list shown in the drawing, coordinate information (latitude and longitude) transmitted from the user terminal 20 or the like is represented, and landmark names corresponding to the coordinates are listed. When there are a plurality of landmark names corresponding to the coordinate information transmitted from the user terminal 20 or the like, the landmarks are sorted according to the degree of publicity (recognition) of the landmarks, and lands having higher publicity (recognition) are higher in the list. The mark name is written. Also, this list includes "XX Police"
Not only landmark names such as "XX Tower" and "XXGS" but also words indicating the positional relationship between each landmark and coordinate information such as "right side", "back", "front" (additional information ) Is represented. In this example, the coordinate information received from the user terminal 20 or the like corresponds to the three landmarks of “XX police,” “XX tower,” and “XXGS,” and more specifically, “XX. Police right side, XX tower back, and XX
"Before GS" is indicated.

When a plurality of buildings (landmarks) serving as geographical landmarks are provided in a vast landmark such as a theme park, coordinate information in the landmark is provided to the landmark guide device 14. Thus, in addition to the name of the landmark and the like, the name and the like of another landmark provided therein are included in the landmark name list.

As a specific application of the present system, there is an application to the camera 22 first. In this application example, the camera 22
A positioning function such as GPS is built in the radio base station 18 and the Internet 16.
Is transmitted to the landmark guide device 14 via the. The landmark guidance device 14 generates a landmark name list from the received coordinate information, and returns it to the camera 22. The camera 22 displays the received landmark name list on an LCD display (not shown) so that the user can select any of the landmark names and additional information. Then, the selected landmark name and additional information are superimposed on the captured image or stored in association with the image. This can streamline photo organization.

Further, there is an application to the portable telephone 24. In this application example, a positioning function such as GPS is built in the mobile phone 24, and the coordinate information acquired there is converted into a landmark name list by the landmark guide device 14. Then, it is displayed on a display provided in the mobile phone 24 or output as a synthesized voice. This allows the user to intuitively grasp his / her current position. Alternatively, all or a part of the landmark name list may be transmitted to another mobile phone, and the landmark name list may be displayed or output as sound on the mobile phone. In this way, the user of the other mobile phone can be easily informed of his / her current position.

Further, there is an application to a car navigation device 26. In this application example, the car navigation device 2
The landmark guide device 14 converts the coordinate information acquired in step 6 into a landmark name list. Then, it is displayed on a display or output by voice.
This allows the driver to intuitively grasp the current position of the vehicle. At this time, if the names of tourist attractions are included in the landmark name list, tourist information can be provided. If the landmark name list is output by voice, the current position of the vehicle can be immediately grasped without looking aside even during driving.
Here, the car navigation device 26 has been described, but a portable positioning device may be provided with a similar function and configured as a pedestrian navigation device. Further, a device having a similar function may be mounted on a train or the like.

The landmark guidance system 10
In this embodiment, the landmark guide device 14 converts the coordinate information into a landmark name while referring to the landmark database 12. In addition to this, each user can register desired landmark information from the user terminal 20 or the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the user terminal 20 or the like at the time of landmark registration. The screen shown in the figure is synthesized based on a hypertext returned from the landmark guide device 14 in response to a request from the user terminal 20 or the like, and includes a landmark name, a landmark height, a landmark type. Can be registered. The landmark height indicates, for example, the height of a building, a tower, or the like as a landmark. The landmark type is selected from, for example, a private parking lot, an amusement park, a department store, a tenant building, a movie theater, a gas station, a convenience store, a general company, a private store, and a home (individual residence). When the user inputs data relating to a desired landmark on the same screen, further specifies the approximate position, and clicks the four corners of the landmark area on the map image acquired from the landmark guide device 14 with a mouse or the like, the coordinates of the landmark are displayed. It is transmitted to the mark guide device 14. The landmark guidance device 14 registers the received landmark information in the landmark database 12. At this time, the landmark guidance device 14 transmits an authentication screen to the user terminal 20 or the like to authenticate the user, and executes a charging process for the user. The billing process is performed using, for example, a credit card system. Thus, the user can register the parking lot or the like managed by the user as a landmark in the landmark database 12. As a result, users such as the camera 22, the mobile phone 24, and the car navigation device 26 can be made aware of the names (landmark names) of their own parking lots and the like.

Hereinafter, specific information processing of the landmark guidance system 10 described above will be described.

First, the landmark database 12 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the landmark database 12
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the stored contents of a. As shown in the figure, in the landmark database 12, for each landmark, a landmark ID (Pj) for identifying each landmark, a landmark name (Pjn), a center coordinate (Pjc) of the landmark, The area code (Pja) assigned to the area to which the landmark belongs and the position coordinates (Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj) of the four corners of the area where the landmark is provided
4), the landmark height (Pjh), and the width of each road (P
j1w, Pj2w, Pj3w, Pj4w), the publicity of the landmark (Pjp), and the intersection flag (Pjj) indicating whether or not the landmark is an intersection are stored in association with each other. In this system, the whole country is divided into a plurality of areas, and each area is assigned an area code. At the time of landmark registration, the landmark database 12 stores an area code of an area to which a position where the landmark is provided belongs. The center coordinates (Pjc) may be manually input, or the coordinates of the center of gravity of the four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj4) may be simply used. As the publicity (Pjp), a numerical value representing the publicity is set according to the type of landmark. That is, the publicity is set to 2 for the station premises, intersections, bridges, pedestrian bridges, parks, mountain peaks, bus stops, and the like. Museums, schools, government offices, cemeteries,
A publicity of 1.5 is set for shrines, temples, churches, public hospitals, police stations, police boxes, funeral halls, public halls, taxi stands, boat racetracks, horse racetracks, bicycle racetracks, public parking lots, stadiums, high towers, etc. Is set. Private parking lots, amusement parks, department stores, tenant buildings,
For the movie theater, gas station, convenience store, etc., 1 is set as the public degree. Further, 1 is set as the public degree for general companies, private shops, homes, and the like. The intersection flag (Pjj) is set to 1 when the landmark is an intersection, and is set to 0 otherwise. If the landmark is an intersection, the landmark height (Pjh) and the four-way road width (Pj1w, Pj2w, Pj3)
w, Pj4w) and the degree of publicity (Pjp) are omitted. Further, in order to register a long geographical landmark such as a river, a road, or a railway as a landmark, for example, the landmark database 12 is divided into a plurality of landmarks and individually divided by the above-described method.
It is sufficient to register in. Alternatively, a special registration format for a long and narrow geographical landmark may be prepared and used.

FIG. 5 shows the center coordinates (Pjc) and the four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj) registered in the landmark database 12.
2, Pj3, Pj4), landmark height (Pjh), and four-way road widths (Pj1w, Pj2w, Pj3w, Pj4w). In the figure, the coordinates (Pj11, Pj12, Pj2)
1, Pj22, Pj31, Pj32, Pj41, Pj42) are the areas (coordinates Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj) where the landmarks are provided.
j4), Pjn
1 is set in a direction orthogonal to the straight line connecting Pjn and Pj ((n + 1) mod4) at a position from Pjn to the outside of the area (n
= 1 to 4). Pjn2 is set in a direction orthogonal to a straight line connecting Pjn and Pj ((n + 1) mod4) at a position facing out of the area from Pj (n + 1) mod4 (n = 1 to 4). And the coordinates P
An area surrounded by j1, Pj11, Pj12, and Pj2 is defined as a landmark "before", an area surrounded by coordinates Pj2, Pj21, Pj22, and Pj3 is defined as a landmark "right side", and coordinates P
An area surrounded by j3, Pj31, Pj32, and Pj4 is defined as a landmark “back”, and an area surrounded by coordinates Pj4, Pj41, Pj42, and Pj1 is defined as a landmark “left side”. Here, as shown in the figure, center coordinates (Pjc), four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj4), landmark height (Pjh), and four-way road widths (Pj1w, Pj2w, Pj3w, Pj4w).
Is defined, but other definitions may be adopted. For example, the location of a landmark is defined by four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj2, Pj
j3, Pj4), the location of the landmark may be specified by a larger number of coordinates.

At the time of landmark registration, when the user transmits a landmark name, a landmark height, a landmark type, and coordinates of four corners of the landmark to the landmark guide device 14 based on the screen shown in FIG. A new landmark ID (Pj) is assigned to the landmark, and the landmark name (P
jn), the landmark height (Pjh) and the coordinates of the four corners of the landmark (Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj4) are registered in association with the new landmark ID (Pj). Further, the coordinates of the center of gravity of the four corner coordinates of the landmark (Pj1, Pj2, Pj3, Pj4) are calculated and registered as the center coordinates (Pjc). Further, an area to which the center coordinates (Pjc) belong is searched from a map database (not shown), and an area code assigned to the area is registered as an area code (Pja). In addition, a road width around a landmark is acquired from a map database (not shown), and is obtained as (Pj1w, Pj2
w, Pj3w, Pj4w). Further, based on the received landmark type, the publicity of the landmark is determined and registered as publicity (Pjp).

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the landmark guide device 1.
It is a flowchart explaining the landmark guidance process of No. 4.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the landmark guidance device 14 receives the coordinate information from the user terminal 20 or the like (S101),
The coordinate information is converted into an area code with reference to a map database (not shown) (S102). Then, of the landmark information held in the landmark database 12, the one whose area code (Pja) is equal to the area code obtained in S102 is extracted (S10).
3). The extracted landmark information is stored in, for example, a work memory. Next, for each of the extracted landmark information, the in-landmark processing (S104), the landmark preprocessing (S105), the landmark back processing (S1)
06), landmark right side processing (S107), landmark left side processing (S108), and landmark vicinity processing (S109). These processes will be described in detail later. In short, the coordinate information input in S101 is “inside”, “front”, “back”, “right side”, “left side” or “near” of each landmark. This is a process of checking whether the included landmark is included and picking up only the included landmark. When the processing of S104 to S109 is completed for certain landmark information (S110), the processing of S104 to S109 is performed again for the next landmark information (S111). When the processing of S104 to S109 is completed for all the landmark information extracted in S103 (S11
0), the landmarks that have been picked
Sort in descending order in p) (S112). Then, landmarks whose publicity is lower than a predetermined rank are deleted (S
113). Further, referring to the landmark database 12, the landmark names (Pjn) of the remaining landmarks which have been avoided from being deleted in S113 are read out (S114). Then, it is returned to the user terminal 20 or the like (S115).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the landmark in S104. As shown in the figure, in this processing, the coordinates input in S101 are within the landmark, that is, the four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj1,
(Pj2, Pj3, Pj4), it is checked whether it is in the area determined by (P201). If it is not within the landmark area, the process proceeds to the next landmark preprocessing (S105).
If it is within the landmark area, the landmark ID and the fact that it is “inside” are temporarily stored in a memory or the like as picked-up landmarks (S202), unless all landmarks extracted in S103 have been processed. (Symbol A, S110), the processing is continued for the next landmark information (S111).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the landmark pre-processing of S105. As shown in the figure, in this processing, first, the four corner coordinates (Pj
1, Pj11, Pj12, Pj2) are calculated (S301). Whether the coordinates input in S101 are before the landmark,
That is, the four corner coordinates (Pj1, Pj1) calculated in S301
It is checked whether it is within the area determined by (1, Pj12, Pj2) (S302). If it is not before the landmark, the process proceeds to the next landmark back processing (S106). Also,
If it is before the landmark, the landmark ID and the fact that it is "before" are temporarily stored in a memory or the like as a picked-up landmark (S303), and unless all the landmarks extracted in S103 have been processed (reference A ,
(S110), the process is continued for the next landmark information (S111). Landmark back processing (S106),
The landmark right side processing (S107) and the landmark left side processing (S108) are the same as the landmark preprocessing shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the landmark vicinity processing (S109) in S109. As shown in the figure, in this processing, first, “neighboring distance” is calculated (S401). This system focuses on the fact that the distance that can be said to be “near” changes depending on the degree of publicity (or name recognition) of a landmark, and the like. , Pj2,
Pj3, Pj4)) as parameters.
"Nearby distance" is calculated. Specifically, the default proximity distance is set to 50 meters, the publicity (Pjp) is multiplied, and if the landmark area is 10,000 square meters or more, it is doubled. Five times, less than 5,000 square meters, more than 1,000 square meters, 1.3 times, and less than 1,000 square meters, one time. Landmark height (Pjh)
Is 100 times or more, it is doubled, if it is less than 100 meters, it is 1.5 times, if it is less than 50 meters, it is 1.3 times, and if it is less than 30 meters, it is 1.3 times. When the “near distance” is calculated in this way, it is determined whether the distance between the coordinates input in S101 and the center coordinate (Pjc) of each landmark is equal to or less than the “near distance” (S402). If the distance is larger than the “near distance”, the processing is continued for the next landmark information unless all landmarks extracted in S103 have been processed (reference A, S110) (S11).
1). If the distance is equal to or less than the “neighborhood distance”, the landmark corresponds to the “nearby” of the landmark. Therefore, the landmark ID and the fact that “nearby” are temporarily stored as a picked-up landmark in a memory or the like (S403). Unless all landmarks extracted in S103 have been processed (symbol A, S110), processing is continued for the next landmark information (S111).

The landmark guidance system 1 described above
According to 0, the coordinate information (latitude and longitude) can be converted into a landmark name, so that the user can intuitively grasp the position. In addition, "inside" of landmark,
Since any of “front”, “back”, “right side”, “left side” or “near” can be output, the user can more intuitively grasp the position.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

For example, in the above description, the Internet 1
6, the landmark name list obtained by converting the coordinate information is provided to the user terminal 20 or the like, but the landmark database 12 and the landmark guide device 1 are provided.
The function 4 may be provided in the user terminal 20 or the like so that the coordinate information can be converted into a landmark name by itself. When it is not desirable from the viewpoint of the amount of data that the entire contents of the landmark database 12 be held in the user terminal 20 or the like, a part of the landmark database 12 is transferred via a network such as the Internet 16 according to the designation from the user terminal 20 or the like. You may make it supply. For example, when the user possessing the camera 22 arrives at a resort or the like, the landmark information around the resort or the like is downloaded via a network. Can be converted to

In the above description, all the landmarks registered in the landmark database 12 are set as candidate destinations for conversion into landmark names. , "Shops",
Categories such as “sightseeing” and “public facilities” may be stored, and only the name of the landmark corresponding to the category specified by the user may be used as the conversion destination candidate. In this way, it is possible to output only the landmark names of the category that the user wants to output.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name are stored in association with each other, coordinate information is acquired, and the landmark name related to the acquired coordinate information is obtained based on the coordinate information and the geographic information. Search and output, so coordinate information can be converted to landmark names,
The user can intuitively grasp the position.

Further, a landmark name and geographical information related to the landmark name are obtained from the user in association with each other, and the acquired landmark name is registered in a database provided for public use. Since it is executed, a database that can be used for landmark guidance can be constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a landmark guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a landmark guidance screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a landmark registration screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of a landmark database.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating registered contents of a landmark database.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the landmark guide device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the landmark guide device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the landmark guide device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the landmark guide device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 landmark guidance system, 12 landmark database, 14 landmark guidance device, 16 Internet, 18 radio base station, 20 user terminal, 2
2 camera, 24 mobile phone, 26 car navigation device.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate information acquiring means for acquiring coordinate information; a landmark storing means for storing a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name in association with each other; Landmark name searching means for searching for a landmark name related to the coordinate information acquired by the coordinate information acquiring means, based on the coordinate information and the geographic information stored in the landmark storing means; A landmark name output unit that outputs at least a part of the landmark names searched by the mark name search unit. 2. The landmark guide device according to claim 1, wherein the geographic information includes information for specifying a predetermined area around the landmark, and the landmark name search unit determines that the coordinate information indicates the predetermined area. The landmark name stored in the landmark storage unit is read in association with the information specifying the predetermined region. The landmark name output unit outputs the landmark name together with the read landmark name. A landmark guidance device, which outputs a word representing 3. The landmark guidance device according to claim 2, further comprising an area width determining unit that sets the width of the predetermined area for each landmark corresponding to the predetermined area. Guide device. 4. The landmark guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the landmark name output unit is configured to output a plurality of landmark names when the landmark name search unit searches for a plurality of landmark names. And outputting at least a part thereof according to the selection made by the landmark guide. 5. The landmark guide device according to claim 4, wherein the landmark name output unit is configured to select a plurality of landmark names when the landmark name search unit searches for a plurality of landmark names. And a landmark name selecting and guiding means for guiding the user to select a landmark name of the landmark. 6. The landmark guide device according to claim 5, wherein the landmark name selecting and guiding means includes a plurality of landmark names when the plurality of landmark names are searched by the landmark name searching means. Landmark guidance wherein the user is guided to select a desired landmark name while changing the guidance priority based on at least one of publicity, landmark height, and landmark width. apparatus. 7. The landmark guide device according to claim 1, wherein the landmark storage unit further stores a category of the landmark in association with each landmark name. A mark name search unit for searching a landmark name associated with the coordinate information acquired by the coordinate information acquisition unit from a landmark name corresponding to a category desired by the user; . 8. A coordinate information acquiring step of acquiring coordinate information from a landmark storage unit that stores a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name in association with each other. A landmark name retrieving step for retrieving a landmark name associated with the coordinate information acquired in the coordinate information acquiring step, based on the coordinate information and the geographic information stored in the landmark storage means. A landmark name outputting step of outputting at least a part of the landmark names searched in the mark name searching step. 9. A coordinate information acquisition step of acquiring coordinate information from a landmark storage unit that stores a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name in association with each other. A landmark name retrieving step for retrieving a landmark name associated with the coordinate information acquired in the coordinate information acquiring step, based on the coordinate information and the geographic information stored in the landmark storage means. And a landmark name outputting step of outputting at least a part of the landmark names searched in the mark name searching step. An information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the steps. 10. A landmark information obtaining means for obtaining a landmark name and geographic information relating to the landmark name from a user in association with each other, and a landmark name and geographic information obtained by the landmark information obtaining means. And a landmark information registering means for registering the information in a database provided for public use, and a billing processing means for executing a billing process for the user. 11. A landmark information obtaining step of obtaining a landmark name and geographic information related to the landmark name from a user in association with each other, and a landmark name and geographic information obtained in the landmark information obtaining step. A landmark information registering step of registering the user in a database provided for public use; and a charging step of executing a charging process for the user.