JP2002297026A - Method and system for providing map information and computer-readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for providing map information and a computer-readable program, which effectively manage attendant information to be displayed together with a map and easily and efficiently maintain attendant information. SOLUTION: A base map layer data group, consisting of one or more base map layers which have map geographical information to represent roads, lines, and other fundamental geographical information as graphics, is stored in a map database. Accompanying information layers, which are displayed in combination with base map layers and indicate attendant information to map fundamental information in base map layers, are stored so as to constitute an attendant information layer group. With respect to each attendant information layer in the attendant information layer group, a person (borrower), to whom the layer is permitted to be lent, is determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a map information providing method, a map information providing system, and a computer readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a method of distributing map information using the Internet. In this method, for example, a user accesses a site providing map information and designates a desired position. In general, a method of displaying map information corresponding to a designated position on a display screen of an accessing terminal device is known.

[0003]

By the way, in providing map information, a method of providing additional information in association with a map is used. For example, a method has been provided on the Internet in which incidental information on restaurants, public facilities, shopping facilities, and the like is related and displayed on a map. However, a common method of providing such supplementary information is such that a person who operates a map information providing server (operating entity) prepares both the map information and the supplementary information. It was being provided according to a format that was originally prepared.

However, the entity that provides the supplementary information is often different from the entity that provides the map information (for example, the operating entity), and in the method of entrusting all management of the incidental information to the operating entity as described above, Restrictions on the management of information. Especially information structure, time perspective (for example,
From the viewpoint of quick information updating, etc.), there was a side in which management of incidental information was not always effective.

An object of the present invention is to provide a map information providing method and system capable of effectively managing supplementary information to be displayed together with a map, and performing maintenance of the supplementary information easily and efficiently. And a computer readable program.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a terminal device having a display screen provided on a user side who uses the provision of map information. A map information providing method for distributing map information to a user terminal using a map information providing server connected to the user terminal via a communication network such as the Internet. Traffic network information in information,
Base map layer information including at least one or a plurality of layer data for displaying at least graphic information (hereinafter, also referred to as map basic information) serving as a basis for map display such as building information and topographical information is combined with the map basic information. A plurality of additional information layer data for displaying the additional information as a layer is stored in the storage means on the map information providing server side, and a person who is permitted to lend a layer in each additional information layer data (hereinafter referred to as a loaned ), And based on input of request information for requesting map information from the user side terminal device, retrieves information corresponding to the request information in each of the base map layer information and the supplementary information layer data. .Searching and reading by the reading means, the read basemap layer information and the attached The base unit outputs the base map layer information and the supplementary information layer data to the requesting user terminal device by the output unit so that the map information obtained by combining the information layer data can be displayed on the display screen. A map information providing method is provided.

[0007] As described above, if the loaned person is associated with each of the additional information layers,
This is an extremely effective configuration for those who want to provide supplementary information in association with map information. For example, if it is desired to provide map information and supplementary information in association with each other on the Internet, the provided information must prepare the map information and supplementary information independently, and prepare or maintain both information. (For example, updating information) requires a great deal of labor. However, by using the above method, the base map layer serving as the base can be prepared as a common base in the map information providing server, and the provider of the additional information independently borrows (or owns) only the additional information layer ) Is possible. This makes it extremely efficient for the loanee to prepare or manage only the supplementary information layer, and allows the loanee to operate the supplementary information related to the map without setting up a web server or map server. Information can be provided.

[0008] Also, in a terminal device provided on the loanee side (hereinafter also referred to as the loanee side terminal device), the loaner identification information such as an ID for identifying the loanee, a password, etc. , Based on the input of the update information for updating the supplementary information layer data associated with the loaned person specified by the loaned person specifying information, The attached additional information layer data may be updated in a form that reflects the update information.

[0009] As described above, the update information is transmitted from the loanee side terminal device to the map information providing server,
If the supplementary information layer related to the update information is updated so as to reflect the transmitted update information, the supplementary information can be updated easily and efficiently in the loanee side terminal device. Thus, the layer to which the loanee is lent can be independently managed. Therefore, the amount borne by the loanee in management is reduced, and careful management is possible. In addition, since the information can be easily updated, a configuration capable of constantly providing the latest information is provided, and highly reliable information can be provided to the user using such additional information.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a map information providing system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a system) 1, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the system 1 includes a communication network 702 such as the Internet, a map information providing server 700 connected thereto via a relay device 701 (router or the like) as a transmission / reception unit, and a communication network 702 as a transmission / reception unit. A plurality of user-side terminal devices 703 (hereinafter simply referred to as a terminal 7) connected via a relay device 752 (a router or the like (FIG. 4)).
03).

The map information providing server 700 (hereinafter simply referred to as the server 700) is configured as a computer,
An I / O port 711 is provided, and a CPU 712 and an RO
M713, a RAM 714, a fixed storage device 722 composed of a hard disk drive and the like, a CD-ROM,
A peripheral device 734 such as a VD or MO drive is connected (an output device such as a monitor or a printer, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, or a calendar clock may be connected). The fixed storage device 722 includes an application program (hereinafter simply referred to as an application) 724 for implementing the functions of the map information providing system 1 on a computer, and an operating system program (OS) for forming an operating environment on the computer.
723 and a map database 725 used for various processes for providing map information. Further, R
The AM 714 includes a fixed storage device 722 and a ROM 713.
A work area for each program stored in the.

As shown in FIG. 4, each terminal 703 has an I / O port 751 and a C / C connected thereto.
A printer 736 and a monitor control unit 720 which are configured as a computer including a PU 754, a ROM 755, and a RAM 756, and include a keyboard 732 and a mouse 733 (may be another pointing device) as input means, and a printer control unit (not shown) as output means. Is I /
It is connected to the O port 751. The monitor control unit 720 includes a monitor 7 as an output unit having a display screen.
21 are connected. The terminal 703 may be configured as, for example, a desktop computer, but may be a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer (PDA) using a battery or the like as a power supply unit, a mobile phone, or the like.

[0013] Information (position designation information, category designation information, additional information designation information, etc.) necessary for each process is generated from the terminal 703 connected via the communication network 702. The communication processing on the terminal 703 side is performed in the communication program work area 756a of the RAM 756 shown in FIG.
And is executed by a predetermined communication program. Then, on the terminal 703 side, the keyboard 732 or the mouse 73
3 is transmitted to the map information providing server 700 via the communication network 702, where various processes are executed by the application program 724 (see FIG. 3). The processing result and the like can be transmitted to the accessed terminal 703 via the communication network 702, and can be output to the printer 736 or the monitor 721 of the terminal 703. In addition, together with visual information from a monitor or the like, the I / O port 751
Sound may be output from a speaker 758 connected to the.

Specifically, the monitor 721 of the terminal 703
In addition, a terminal-side operation / display program for forming an operation / display screen using a graphic user interface (GUI) (for example, a program enabling various operations via a browser) is transmitted from the map information providing server 700 to the terminal device. 703 and the work areas 756a, 756a
The program is executed on 56b. The terminal device 703 further includes an operating system 753a for managing the terminal device 703, and a browser 7 for accessing the map information providing server 700 from the terminal side.
A hard disk drive (hereinafter, also referred to as “HDD”) 753 as a fixed storage device including the storage device 53c and the like is provided.

Further, the HDD 753 can be provided with a database 753d for storing various data downloaded from the map information providing server 700 and an application 753b for performing various processes in the terminal device (the application 753b is a work area 756).
b). Further, information of various processes from the map information providing server 700 may be stored in the data memory 756 and used. In the above description, the user-side terminal device 70
3 has been described, the loanee-side terminal device 781 (see FIG. 1) can be configured similarly.

In FIG. 3, an application 724 of the server 700 plays a role on the OS 723 to realize each part of the system as the following means described in claims. CPU 712: search / read means, output means Fixed storage device 722: storage means

Hereinafter, a specific flow of the map information providing method of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram conceptually illustrating the map information providing system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a map information providing system 1 of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a map information providing system 1)
The user terminal device 703 provided on the user side is connected to a communication network 70 such as the Internet.
The system is configured as a system that provides map information to the user-side terminal device 703 using a map information providing server 700 connected via the communication terminal 2.

In order to provide map information, a map database 725a is provided in a storage unit provided in the map information providing server 700 or a storage unit connected to the map information providing server. Note that the map information providing server 700 may be configured by a single computer, or may be configured as a system in which a plurality of computers are connected. For example, the application server and the database server may be configured separately and connected to each other in a network form. That is, in the present invention, the map information providing server 700
Is a general term for a computer configuration capable of providing map information.

As shown in FIG. 5, the map database 725a includes one or a plurality of base map layer data having graphic geographic information representing roads, tracks, and other basic geographic information as graphics. A base map layer data group is stored. Note that the base map layer data includes base map vector data for geometrically defining the above-described graphic geographic information and displaying it as vector data. (It may be raster data). On the other hand, additional information layer data that is displayed in combination with the base map layer and that indicates additional information for the basic map information in the base map layer is stored in a form of an additional information layer data group. Have been. Then, in the additional information layer data group, a person who is allowed to lend a layer (lender) is determined for each additional information layer data.

FIG. 2 conceptually shows display information (auxiliary information layer) displayed by the additional information layer data. The supplementary information layer 20 displayed by the supplementary information layer data has a configuration including a plurality of layer segments 20a divided into a plurality of regions, and a loanee is provided for each layer segment 20a, that is, for each region on the map. Can be determined. The loanee may be lent a plurality of layer segments. For example, in the uppermost layer in FIG.
Has lent two layer segments. The entire layer may be lent to a single loanee, as in the lowermost layer in FIG. Although FIG. 2 conceptually shows a layer configuration, lending a layer means that information can be temporarily displayed in that layer by contract. That is, it is possible to temporarily store the additional information layer data for constituting the layer in the storage means. The loanee permitted to lend the layer can store data for displaying the layer (additional information layer data) in the storage means on the map information providing server side.

More specifically, each additional information layer data includes:
As shown conceptually in FIG. 5A, a plurality of layer data of the same category are provided to form a category-specific layer data group. As shown in FIG. 5B, the category-specific layer data group includes a plurality of additional information layer data (layer 11 data, layer 12 data).
..), And each of the accompanying information layer data includes a plurality of segment data divided for each segment (that is, for each region), as exemplified by the layer 11 data in FIG. 5C. It can be provided with a configuration. This segment data is data for displaying the layer segment 20a in FIG. The loaned party information can be provided corresponding to each segment data, and each segment data is provided with content information on the content of the accompanying information (information on the display content of the layer segment 20a). Become. Note that this data configuration example is merely an example,
Another configuration may be used as long as the additional information layer can determine the loanee for each region.

Next, a specific flow of the map information providing process will be described. Referring to FIG. 6, an outline is described. First, an initial screen is displayed based on access from the user terminal device 703 to a site (for example, a map information providing site) associated with the map information providing server 700. (S110). On a screen associated with the initial screen (for example, the same screen or a screen linked to the initial screen), information that prompts the user-side terminal device 703 to select an additional information layer is displayed. It is determined whether any additional information layer has been selected according to the information (S120). When any of the additional information layers is selected, the additional information layer data and the base map layer information relating to the selected additional information layer are searched and read (S130), and the read information is read. Is output to the user-side terminal device 703 (S140), so that the map information is displayed on the display screen.

FIG. 7 shows a specific example. First, when the user-side terminal device 703 accesses the map information providing site (S210: YES), a display is made so that the category or subclass of the supplementary information can be selected in a form related to the position designation information (S220). Note that S2
If the process proceeds to NO in step 10, the process returns to step S210 again. However, the process is not intended to be an infinite loop, and means that the process after step S220 is performed only when an access is made. That is, prompting generation of position designation information (for example, a screen for designating and selecting a display position of a map is displayed), and information to be displayed in association with the map is displayed in a selectable manner. . As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary information layer data is classified and stored in advance by category, and a user is allowed to select one of the categories (or a subclass related to the category). can do. In this way, the layer corresponding to the selected information is selected based on the information selected in the user terminal device 703. For example, a category of “store information” is provided, and sub-classes such as “restaurant”, “fashion”, “leisure”, etc., and additional information layer information corresponding to the sub-class are prepared below the category, and one of the sub-classes is prepared. Is selected, additional information layer data corresponding to the subclass can be displayed together with the base map layer.

In any case, if any category or subclass is selected together with the generation of the position designation information (S230: YES), the additional information layer data corresponding to the selected category or subclass and the base map layer information Are retrieved and read out in the storage means. In each of the supplementary information layer data and the base map layer information, the information of the area corresponding to the position designation information is read (S24).
0). If no category or subclass is selected, the process may be terminated as it is (S230: NO)

Then, map information obtained by combining the additional information layer data and the base map layer information is displayed on the position designation information so that the map information can be displayed on the display screen 300 of the requesting user terminal 703. The corresponding additional information layer data and base map layer information (for displaying the area designated by the position designation information) are output to the requesting user-side terminal device 703 (S250).

Next, a description will be given of a process of updating the additional information layer data. The outline of the update process is as follows.
That is, in the terminal device 781 provided on the loanee side (lender terminal device 781), the loanee specifying information for specifying the loanee is associated with the specified loanee. Based on the input of the update information for updating the additional information layer, the associated additional information layer data is updated in a form that reflects the update information.

Specifically, the following method can be adopted. First, in the loanee side terminal device 781,
Based on the input of the loanee specifying information such as the ID and the password for specifying the loaned person, the person specified by the loaned person specifying information is registered in advance as a regular loaned person. Is confirmed by the confirmation means. If it is determined by the confirmation that the accessed borrower is a legitimate borrower, the map information providing server 700 sends the additional information layer data (the Data for displaying the incidental information layer to which the borrower is permitted to borrow)
Update information for updating the information can be accepted.

Furthermore, from the accessed loanee,
Based on the input of the update information for any one of the additional information layer data, the additional information layer data to be the update information is updated in a form that reflects the update information. As described above, if the supplementary information layer data is updated based on the information transmission from the loanee side terminal device, the loanee can independently create and manage the supplementary information layer data, thereby improving the maintainability. I do. In particular, this is an extremely effective method in the rapidly changing information field. Further, even for the administrator who operates the map information providing server, the use of the map information providing server or the use of the base map layer information is promoted while the labor for managing the accompanying information is reduced, which is extremely useful.
In the above description, the map information providing server 700
In the above description, the additional information layer data is provided. However, a server is provided on the loanee side, and the server (lender-side server) has additional information corresponding to the layer to which the loaner is permitted to lend. The layer data may be stored. In this case, the same supplementary information layer data is provided in the loaned server and the map information providing server in a linked manner, and when the supplementary information layer data is updated in the loaned server, the map is associated with the updated information. What is necessary is just to update an information provision server.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to this, is merely an example, and unless departing from the scope described in each claim,
The present invention is not limited to the language described in each claim, and extends to a range that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, and can appropriately add an improvement based on the knowledge usually possessed by those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating a map information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating a layer configuration.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the user terminal device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of a map database.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of map information providing processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Map Information Providing System 700 Map Information Providing Server 702 Communication Network 703 User-Side Terminal 712 CPU (Search / Readout Means, Output Means) 722 Fixed Storage Device (Storage Means) 781 Lender-Side Terminal Device

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 17/60 326 G06F 17/60 326 342 342 502 502 502

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A map connected via a communication network such as the Internet to a terminal device provided with a display screen (hereinafter referred to as a user terminal device) provided on a user side for providing map information. A map information providing method for distributing map information to said user-side terminal device using an information providing server, comprising: a figure serving as a basis for a map display of traffic network information, building information, topographic information, etc. in said map information Base map layer information including at least one or a plurality of layer data for displaying at least information (hereinafter also referred to as map basic information) and a plurality of additional information for displaying additional information combined with the map basic information as a layer The layer data and the layer information are stored in the storage means on the map information providing server side, and the layer lending is permitted in each of the accompanying information layer data. (Hereinafter, also referred to as “lender”). Further, based on input of request information for requesting map information from the user side terminal device, each of the base map layer information and the supplementary information layer data The information corresponding to the request information is retrieved and read by a retrieval / reading means, and the read map information obtained by combining the base map layer information and the supplementary information layer data can be displayed on the display screen. A map information providing method, wherein the base map layer information and the supplementary information layer data are output by an output unit to a requesting user-side terminal device. 2. A terminal device provided on the loanee side (hereinafter, also referred to as the loaner side terminal device), the loaner specifying information such as an ID and a password for specifying the loaner. And the update information for updating the supplementary information layer data associated with the loaned person specified by the loaned person specifying information is input, and the specified loaned person and The map information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the associated additional information layer data is updated in a form that reflects the update information. 3. A loaner identification information such as an ID for identifying the loanee and a password in a terminal device provided on the loaner side (hereinafter, also referred to as a loaner side terminal device). Is entered by the confirmation means to confirm whether or not the person specified by the loanee identification information is a person who has been registered as a legitimate loanee in advance. If it is determined that the loaned person is a legitimate loaned person, the map information providing server transmits the additional information layer data associated with the loaned person from the accessed loaned person. It is possible to accept update information for updating, and further, based on the fact that at least one of the incidental information layer data is input from the accessed loanee, the update information is input. Supplementary information layer data to be updated information object, the map information providing method according to claim 1, updated in a manner that reflects the updated information. 4. The supplementary information layer data has a plurality of segment data divided for each of a plurality of regions on a map, and a loanee can be determined for each region. 3. The method for providing map information according to any one of 3. 5. The map information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the layer data in the base map layer information includes geometrically defined vector data. 6. A computer-readable or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for performing the steps of a method according to claim 1. Possible computer programs. 7. A terminal device (hereinafter, referred to as a terminal device) provided with at least a display screen provided on a user side using the provision of map information.
A map information providing system that distributes map information to the user side terminal device by using a map information providing server connected to the user side terminal device via a communication network such as the Internet; Base map layer information including at least one or a plurality of layer data for displaying at least graphic information (hereinafter, also referred to as basic map information) serving as a basis of map display such as traffic network information, building information, and topographical information in the information; A plurality of layer data for displaying the supplementary information combined with the basic map information as a layer, wherein a plurality of persons who are permitted to lend the layer in each layer data (hereinafter also referred to as loaned persons) are defined. Storage means for storing supplementary information layer data, based on input of request information requesting map information from the user side terminal device; Search / read means for searching and reading information corresponding to the request information in each of the base map layer information and the additional information layer data; and the read base map layer information and additional information layer data Output means for outputting the base map layer information and the accompanying information layer data to the requesting user-side terminal device, so that the map information obtained by combining the map information can be displayed on the display screen; A map information providing system comprising: