JP2002189726A - Digital map database system and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital map database system which can hold data while making them correspond to areas and also can hold data while making them correspond to respective areas of subdivision levels. SOLUTION: Digital map data 26 of this digital map database system include data on the shapes and positions of respective polygons related to address codes for a plurality of polygon. Attribute data 30, on the other hand, include data related to the polygons constituting a digital map with the address codes. Those polygons are further subdivided into a plurality of polygons and their data are related to the corresponding address codes and included in the digital map data 26. Attribute data 20 are related to the respective subdivided polygons, through the address codes relating to the polygons.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital map database system and a computer-readable recording medium recording a digital map database.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years,
With the spread of personal computer technology and the tremendous increase in its performance, that is, the processing capacity and storage capacity, the use of digital map database systems including car navigation has become common.

In such a digital map database system, a digital map composed of raster data, that is, a map expressed as a set of a plurality of points is used, and a database in which data is associated with those points. . Therefore, the data cannot be made to correspond to the area, and it is difficult to use the data for, for example, area marketing.

[0004] Also, as a matter of course from the above,
The digital map in the conventional digital map database system does not hold data corresponding to various subdivision levels, for example, areas corresponding to subdivision levels of municipalities, town blocks, and sites. Therefore, it was not possible to store data corresponding to each area of a plurality of subdivision levels.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to record a digital map database system and a digital map database which can solve at least one of the following problems. It is to provide a computer-readable recording medium. 1) Data can be held in association with an area. 2) Data can be held corresponding to each area of a plurality of subdivision levels.

[0006]

(1) A digital map database system according to the present invention provides a digital map including data on shapes and positions of a plurality of polygons for defining an area associated with a unique address. Data, and attribute data which is data associated with each polygon via the address associated with each polygon.

A digital map database system according to the present invention is provided with a digital map database having digital map data based on polygons and attribute data. The digital map data includes, for a plurality of polygons each associated with a unique address, data on the shape and position of each polygon. Also,
The attribute data includes data associated with each polygon constituting the digital map by an address.
With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a digital map database system in which digital map data composed of polygons and attribute data related to each polygon constituting the digital map are integrated. Note that the address may be configured as a part of the attribute data. Further, in the present invention, the address may be a system composed of any combination of characters and symbols, which are associated with each polygon and each attribute data and maintain an appropriate correspondence. For example, a system using a general address notation such as “Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo” or “13104”
For example, a system using an address code such as 0405003 "may be used.

(2) In the digital map database system according to the present invention, each of the polygons is further subdivided into a plurality of polygons each associated with a unique address, and the digital map data is further subdivided. Including data on the shapes and positions of the plurality of polygons, and each of the subdivided polygons is associated with attribute data via the address associated with the polygon. I do.

According to the present invention, a digital map database in which digital map data consisting of a plurality of polygons and polygons obtained by subdividing each of them and attribute data relating to each polygon constituting the digital map are integrated The system is obtained.

(3) The digital map database system according to the present invention is characterized in that the polygon segmentation is repeated a plurality of times.

According to the present invention, digital map data consisting of a plurality of polygons and polygons obtained at each stage of subdivision over a plurality of stages, attribute data related to each polygon constituting the digital map, and To obtain a digital map database system.

(4) In the digital map database system according to the present invention, an address code is used as the address, and the address code associated with the subdivided polygon includes the subdivided polygon. Characters are added to the address code of the polygon.

According to the present invention, the address code has a predetermined number of digits depending on the subdivision stage, and by removing the digit added by the subdivision, the address code of the polygon including the subdivided polygon can be directly converted. Can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to easily extract attribute data relating to a polygon including a subdivided polygon through an address code obtained by deleting digits added by subdivision from the address code of the subdivided polygon. Can be.

(5) The digital map database system according to the present invention is characterized in that the digital map data and the attribute data are handled as different layers for each of the polygon subdivision stages.

According to the present invention, the digital map data and the attribute data are handled as different layers for each subdivision stage, so that it is possible to easily access each subdivision stage.

(6) The digital map database system according to the present invention is characterized in that the address is an address corresponding to each area on the earth.

According to the present invention, a digital map database system that identifies and covers all areas on the earth can be formed.

(7) In the digital map database system according to the present invention, the attribute data includes at least one of a latitude / longitude, a prefecture name, a municipal name, a town name, a street number, and a house number. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, when an arbitrary polygon is designated, at least one of the latitude and longitude of the area corresponding to the polygon, the name of a prefecture, the name of a municipality, the name of a town, a street number, and a house number. Can be taken out.

(8) In the digital map database system according to the present invention, the digital map database
It is characterized by being formed so as to be accessible via a net.

According to the present invention, any of the digital map databases described above can be accessed via the Internet.

(9) A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that a digital map database used in any of the aforementioned digital map database systems is recorded.

By configuring the computer-readable recording medium to be readable by a computer system, it is possible to realize a digital map database system having the above-described functions and effects.

The computer-readable recording medium further includes means for reading out the digital map data and / or at least one other part of the attribute data based on the part of the attribute data or the address. May be further recorded.

[0025]

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

1. <First Embodiment> 1.1 <Digital Map Database System> FIG. 1 shows a digital map host system 40, which is a digital map database system of the present embodiment, and a digital map host system that can be connected via the Internet. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general user system 60 that is in use.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital map host system 40 includes the digital map database 14, a database control unit 42, and an input / output control unit 44. The digital map database 14 includes digital map data 26 and attribute data 30. The digital map data 26 is data on the shapes and positions of a plurality of polygons for defining an area constituting the digital map, and is associated with an address code as an address. The attribute data 30 is associated with each polygon via these address codes. In the present embodiment, an example in which an address code is included as a part of the attribute data 30 is shown. Note that the address code may be set in the attribute data 30 if necessary.
Alternatively, it may be configured as different data. Further, the digital map data 26 and the attribute data 30 are preferably stored as different layers at each stage of polygon subdivision.

Digital map data 26 and attribute data 30
Is stored in the digital map host system 40, for example, on a hard disk as a computer-readable recording medium. This digital map database is stored in another computer-readable recording medium, for example, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-
It can be recorded and stored or distributed on a RAM, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic disk, a flash memory, a magnetic tape, or the like, and can be read and used when necessary.

The database control unit 42 controls operations such as reading from the digital map database 14, writing into the digital map database 14, and searching the digital map database 14. The input / output control unit 44 controls input / output such as data exchange between the digital map host system 40 and another system via a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). The database control unit 42 and the input / output control unit 44 are realized by a configuration including a computer included in the digital map host system and a program operating on the computer. In addition,
This program may also be recorded on the computer-readable recording medium on which the digital map database is recorded.

The digital map host system 40 can be configured using a server using, for example, Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 as an operation system. The digital map host system 40 can also be configured using another operation system suitable for controlling a database and the Internet connection, such as UNIX (registered trademark), Linux, BeOS, and FreeBSD. The digital map database in the digital map host system 40 is constructed using a relational database language or an object database language, for example, a Microsoft SQL server, Oracle, or Sybase.

A general user 60 accesses the digital map host system 40 via a network such as the Internet 55 or a local area network (LAN),
Attribute data 30 For example, latitude / longitude, address, address code 1
8. It is possible to directly display a map of a target position by a facility name or the like, or to superimpose and display necessary attribute data 30 on the map. Furthermore, a map can be displayed by superimposing the digital map data 26 of a plurality of subdivision levels. Further, the general user 60 can also narrow down the search by searching the attribute data 30 with a free keyword and display a corresponding map.
Further, it is possible to narrow down by setting conditions for several types of attribute data 30, and to display a target map or attribute data 30.

It is also possible for the general user 60 to register the attribute data 30 of the category set in advance so that the general user can access. For example, registration of a store that can be displayed at a corresponding position on the digital map can be accepted. As a result, it is possible to reflect the information with the local community from the general user in the digital map database.

It is also possible to charge a general user based on the amount of the accessed digital map data 26 and attribute data 30 and the type and amount of registered attribute data. The access log or billing information for that
It is configured to be stored in the digital map host system 40.

1.2 <Digital Map Database> Here, a digital map database in the above-described digital map database system will be described.

FIG. 2 is an example of a digital map using the digital map database according to the present embodiment, and shows a part of Shinjuku-ku and Shibuya-ku. In this digital map, at the subdivision level in units of town streets,
The figure shows a polygon 22 indicating an area of each town and a predetermined number of digits (a predetermined number of characters) as an address code 18 (address) associated with each polygon 22. For example, “13104045003”, which is the address code of Shinjuku Sanchome, is attached to the corresponding polygon 22. The address code 18 substantially corresponds to each polygon 22 corresponding to each area in Japan. For example, "13104045003", which is the address code 18 corresponding to Shinjuku Sanchome, corresponds only to Shinjuku Sanchome in Japan. However,
Since the same address may be assigned to two areas, one address code may correspond to two or more polygons. Although FIG. 2 and other similar figures show a state in which a polygon and an address code associated with the polygon are displayed, the display of the digital map does not necessarily require the display of the address code. Further, by using a code obtained by adding, for example, a country code of a predetermined number of characters to the head of the code as the address code 18, the address code 18 can be made to correspond to each polygon 22 corresponding to each region on the earth almost one-to-one. It is possible.

As described above, the digital map of this embodiment is represented by a large number of polygons 22. Each of the multiple polygons 22 is defined by digital map data 26 including data on its shape and position, and is associated with the address code 18. FIG.
Is a table showing an example of the digital map data 26. The digital map data 26 includes data on the shape and position of the polygon 22 associated with the address code in association with each polygon 22.
8, data such as a coordinate system and coordinates of each end point. In the field of the coordinate system, for example, any one of the nine areas defined by the Geographical Survey Institute in the Japanese rectangular coordinate system is specified.

Each polygon 22 has an address code 1
8, attribute data 30 is associated. FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of the attribute data 30. An example in which the attribute data 30 for an address code, a postal code, a large letter / nickname, and a character name / chome is prepared for each polygon 22 is shown. Is shown. As the attribute data 30, various types of data such as, for example, latitude and longitude, altitude, area, number of houses, and population can be provided other than the data shown in this table.

In this example, an example is shown in which the address code is included as one of the attribute data. However, if the address code is associated with the attribute data, the address code is different from the attribute data 30. It may be configured as data. For example, an address code may be used instead of the object numbers shown in FIGS. The address code in this case needs to be an address code corresponding to each polygon on a one-to-one basis so as not to cause inconsistency in the digital map data.

As described above, the digital map database of this embodiment stores the polygon 2 associated with the address code.
2 based on digital map data 26 and each address code 1
8 is a database including the attribute data 30 associated with the attribute data 8. Using this digital map database,
Digital map data 26 and any kind of attribute data 30
By using in combination with, for example, various expressions such as displaying a map in which each polygon 22 is color-coded by elevation, a map in which an address is written in each polygon 22 on a screen, and printing out, etc. It becomes possible. Also, attribute data 30 such as address, latitude and longitude, etc.
By using a search, a map of a corresponding area can be displayed or printed out.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a digital map database according to the present embodiment is used to display a map subdivided down to the level of a block (lot number) in a town street called Shinjuku Sanchome. Even at this subdivision level, each area is treated as a polygon 22, and each polygon 22 is associated with an address code 18. FIG. 5 shows each polygon 22 and the address code 18 associated with the polygon 22. It should be noted that the address code 18 of each polygon 22 at the block level is the same as the address code 18 associated with the polygon 22 of the town where the block is located, which is obtained by adding a predetermined number of digits, for example, 2 digits as lower digits. . Even at this subdivision level, each of the many polygons 22 is defined by data for specifying its shape and position, for example, digital map data 26 including a coordinate system, coordinates of each end point, and an address code. . As described above, since the same address may be assigned to two areas, one address code may correspond to two or more polygons. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, since the block of Shinjuku 3-chome 28 has two areas, "1310404500328" which is the address code of Shinjuku 3-chome 28 is attached to two polygons.

Each polygon 22 has an address code 1
8, attribute data 30 is associated. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the attribute data 30 at this subdivision level. For each polygon 22, the attribute data 30 for an address code, an address, a registration date, a change date, and the like is prepared. An example is shown.

As described above, in the digital map database of the present embodiment, each of the plurality of polygons 22 is provided with the digital map data 26 composed of the subdivided polygons 22, and each of the subdivided polygons 22 is also stored in the address. It is associated with the corresponding attribute data 30 via a code.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which a digital map database according to the present embodiment is used to display a map subdivided to the level of a house (house number) in Shinjuku-sanchome 28 and the surrounding blocks. Even at this subdivision level, each subdivided area is treated as a polygon 22, and each polygon 22 is associated with an address code 18. FIG. 6 shows each polygon 22 corresponding to each house and the address code 18 associated with the polygon 22. The address code 1 associated with each polygon 22 at the house level
8 is a polygon 2 associated with the block where the house is located.
2 digits of address code 18 with one digit or 2
It is the number of digits after adding digits.

Also at this subdivision level, each of a large number of polygons 22 is defined by digital map data 26 including data on the shape and position and data on the address code 18. Each polygon 22 has attribute data 30 via address code 18.
Is associated with.

As described above, the digital map database of the present embodiment comprises a plurality of polygons 22, digital map data 26 consisting of polygons 22 obtained at each stage of subdivision over a plurality of stages, and a digital map comprising the plurality of polygons 22. Code 1 associated with each polygon 22
8 is a database in which attribute data 30 corresponding to No. 8 are integrated. Then, digital map data 26 composed of polygons 22 obtained at each stage of subdivision over a plurality of stages, and polygons 22 constituting the digital map
Attribute data 3 associated with the user via the address code 18
Preferably, 0 is treated as a different layer for each stage of segmentation. This makes it possible to easily access each stage of the subdivision.

Further, in the digital map database of the present embodiment, the address code 18 increases according to the subdivision stage. Therefore, by removing the digit added by the subdivision, the address code 18 associated with the polygon 22 including the subdivided polygon 22 can be directly obtained. Therefore, the address code 18 obtained by deleting the digit added by the subdivision from the address code 18 of the subdivided polygon 22
, Attribute data 30 related to the polygon 22 including the subdivided polygon 22 can be easily extracted.

2. <Modifications> 2.1 In the above, an example has been described in which an address code is used as an address associated with each polygon and each attribute data. However, a general address notation can be used as such an address. For example, "1310404500" which is an address code of a town street called Shinjuku Sanchome.
Instead of using "3" as such an address, "Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo" can be used as such an address. Such an address is associated with each polygon and each attribute data. Any combination of characters and symbols may be used as long as an appropriate correspondence is maintained.

2.2 In the above, an example has been described in which the coordinate system and the polygon end point coordinates are used as information on the shape and position of each polygon 22 included in the digital map data 26. However, as information on the shape and position of each polygon 22, a coordinate system, coordinates of a reference point of the polygon 22, and relative coordinates of each end point of the polygon with respect to the reference point may be used.

2.3 In the above description, an example is shown in which the address code 18 of the subdivided polygon 22 is formed by adding a predetermined digit to the address code 18 of the polygon 22 including the subdivided polygon 22. Was. However, the address code 18 of each subdivision level may be configured by adding a code of an arbitrary number of digits following a delimiter, for example, a backslash or a dot, every time the subdivision level of the polygon 22 increases.

2.4 In the above, three examples of the subdivision levels of the polygon 22 have been shown, that is, town-chome, block (lot number), and house (house number). However, in addition to these subdivision levels, for example, a digital map database having respective levels including towns such as countries, prefectures, municipalities, and the like may be used.

2.5 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention or within the equivalent scope of the claims. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a digital map database system according to a first embodiment and general users connected via the Internet.

FIG. 2 is an example of a digital map using the digital map database according to the first embodiment, and shows polygons at a subdivision level of a town.

FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of digital map data in a digital map database corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of attribute data in a digital map database corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an example of displaying a map obtained by subdividing a part of the area shown in FIG. 2 to a block level using the digital map database of the embodiment.

6 is a table showing an example of attribute data at the subdivision level shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an example of displaying a map obtained by subdividing a part of the area shown in FIG. 5 down to the level of a house, using the digital map database of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Digital Map Database 18 Address Code 22 Polygon 26 Digital Map Data 30 Attribute Data 40 Digital Map Host System 42 Database Controller 55 Internet

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Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. Digital map data including data on shapes and positions of a plurality of polygons for defining an area respectively associated with an address, and an attribute being data associated with each of the polygons via the address A digital map database system comprising data and a digital map database comprising: 2. The polygon according to claim 1, wherein each of the polygons is further subdivided into a plurality of polygons each associated with an address, and the digital map data is A digital map database system including data on a shape and a position, wherein each of the subdivided polygons is associated with attribute data via the address associated with the polygon. 3. The digital map database system according to claim 2, wherein the polygon segmentation is repeated a plurality of times. 4. The address code according to claim 2, wherein an address code is used as the address, and the address code associated with the subdivided polygon is a polygon code including the subdivided polygon. A digital map database system characterized by adding characters to an address code. 5. The digital map database system according to claim 2, wherein the digital map data and the attribute data are handled as different layers for each of the polygon subdivision stages. . 6. The digital map database system according to claim 1, wherein the address is an address corresponding to each area on the earth. 7. The attribute data according to claim 1, wherein the attribute data includes at least one of a latitude and longitude, a prefecture name, a municipal name, a town name, a street number, and a house number. A digital map database system characterized by including: 8. The digital map database system according to claim 1, wherein the digital map database is formed so as to be accessible via a network. 9. A digital map comprising: digital map data including data on the shapes and positions of a plurality of polygons each associated with an address; and attribute data which is data associated with each of the polygons via the address. A computer-readable recording medium on which a map database is recorded. 10. The polygon according to claim 9, wherein each of the polygons is further subdivided into a plurality of polygons each associated with an address, and the digital map data is A computer-readable recording medium comprising data on a shape and a position, wherein each of the subdivided polygons is associated with attribute data via the address associated with the polygon. 11. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10, wherein the polygon segmentation is repeated a plurality of times. 12. The polygon according to claim 10, wherein an address code is used as the address, and an address code associated with the subdivided polygon is an address of a polygon including the subdivided polygon. A computer-readable recording medium comprising a code added with characters. 13. The computer-readable computer according to claim 10, wherein the digital map data and the attribute data are handled as different layers for each of the polygon subdivision steps. recoding media. 14. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the address is an address corresponding to each area on the earth. 15. The attribute data according to claim 9, wherein the attribute data includes at least one of a latitude and longitude, a prefecture name, a municipal name, a town name, a street number, and a house number. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by including: 16. The means according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the digital map data and the other part of the attribute data is read out based on a part of the attribute data or the address. A computer-readable recording medium further recording a program for causing a computer to execute the above.