JP2002297027A - Method and device 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 display map information in a constitution which enables foreigners in nations other than a nation, to which a region displayed in a map belongs to easily understand map information. SOLUTION: On the side of a map information providing server 700, base map layer information and foreign language note layer information are stored in a storage means respectively. In a terminal device 703 on the user side, information of a region corresponding to position designation information in base map layer information and foreign language note layer information are retrieved and read out by a retrieval and read means, on the basis of transmission of this position designation information to the map information providing server 700, and map information obtained by combining these retrieved and read information is so outputted that it may be displayed in the display picture of the terminal device 703 on the user side as the request source.

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 Currently, a service for distributing map information on the Internet is provided. like this,
In general, map information is distributed by, for example, a method in which a user accesses a predetermined site using a terminal and obtains a desired map from a map distribution server (map server) associated with the site. In general, if a note display of an official language (a user terminal device is installed in Japan and Japanese) is used in a region where a map is displayed, a certain amount of the entire user is used. The request was met.

[0003]

As described above, most of the maps provided on the Internet and the like are generally provided with annotation information in the language of the country displayed on the map. For example, in the case of a map in Japan, a Japanese note is added, and in the case of a map in the United States, a United States note is added. However, there are many foreign map users, and when such foreigners use maps, they need to first translate them into their native languages, and they are good at understanding the official language of the country related to the maps. Not only those who are not, but also those who are good at a certain level, had the trouble of translating.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is that it is possible to display map information in a configuration in which a foreign person other than the country to which the map is displayed can easily understand the map information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map information providing method, a providing system, and a computer-readable program that can easily and efficiently construct data.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effects In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a terminal device on the user side (hereinafter, also referred to as a user terminal device) using map information and the Internet. A map information providing method which is performed by using a map information providing server connected via a communication network of the above and configured to be able to deliver map information to the user side terminal device, comprising: On the side, base map layer information for displaying at least graphic information (hereinafter also referred to as map basic information) serving as a basis for map display such as traffic network information, building information, topographic information, and the like in the map information;
Note information for displaying notes corresponding to the base map layer information (for example, notes on buildings such as roads and tracks in the base map layer, or notes on terrain such as rivers, mountains, and ponds). And a foreign language annotation layer for displaying annotation information (hereinafter also referred to as foreign language annotation information) mainly composed of a language different from the official language of the country to which the region on the map to which the annotation belongs is displayed. Information is stored in the storage means, and the map request information associated with the position designation information for designating the display position of the map is transmitted from the user terminal device to the map information providing server. Therefore, in each of the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation information, the position designation information related to the map request information (that is, the position associated with the map request information). The information corresponding to the designated information) is retrieved and read by the retrieval / reading means, and the read basemap layer information and foreign language annotation layer information corresponding to the position designation information are combined (that is, the information is combined). The base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information are output by the output unit so that the map information (combined as a layer) can be displayed on the user terminal device side of the request source (specifically, Output to the requesting user-side terminal device). Note that, in the present invention, the map information providing server side means a side constituting the map information providing server in the map information providing server and the user side terminal device connected via a communication network. The map information providing server may be configured as a single computer, or may be configured as a system in which a plurality of computers are connected to a communication network such as a LAN.

As described above, the base map layer information for displaying the basic information of the map and the foreign language note layer information for displaying the note in a language different from the official language of the display area based on the base map layer information. By providing this information, a foreigner (here, a foreigner means a person who has a nationality of a country different from the region on the map indicated in the note) will be assigned to the basemap layer in his native language. You will understand the map of the area. The “map request information associated with the position designation information” is, in other words, which map of which area is requested when the map information providing server acquires the map request information. Means that

Specifically, the foreign language annotation layer information is configured so as to include language-specific layer information in which annotation layers in a plurality of languages are classified by language, and the user side terminal device associates with the map request information. Then, based on at least one of the languages being specified, the specified language may be recognized by the language recognizing means. Then, information corresponding to the position designation information in the language-specific layer information corresponding to the recognized designated language is searched and read by the search / read means, and further, the respective positions of the language-specific layer information and the base map layer information are read. The language-specific layer information and the base map layer information are directed to the requesting user side terminal device by the output means so that the map information obtained by combining the information corresponding to the designated information can be displayed on the display screen. Output method.

[0008] As described above, if the annotation layer is configured for each language and the annotation of the language according to the user's selection is displayed so as to be superimposed on the base map, the configuration can be adapted to multiple languages, and in particular, tourist attractions, etc. This is effective for maps of areas where many foreigners visit from various countries. That is, the visitor
If only the language of one's own country is specified, the map information will be displayed in that language, greatly reducing the time and effort for translation and the like. In addition, if a note layer is provided for each language and is superimposed on a common base map, there is no need to provide a map for each language independently (that is, map information composed of languages in each country). Need to be prepared separately), and only the notes need to be provided for each language. Therefore, the labor for preparing the map information can be reduced, and the amount of data to be stored in the map information providing server can be reduced.

[0009] Further, on the map information providing server side, the advertisement information mainly composed of the character information of the same language as the language which is the subject of the note in the foreign language layer information is included in the foreign language layer information or the foreign language layer information. Can be stored in the storage means as another layer information. Then, when displaying the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information corresponding to the position designation information,
Advertisement information corresponding to the position designation information (specifically, for example, advertisement information of a business entity having a location in a range corresponding to the position designation information in a map displayed by base map layer information) Searching and reading advertisement information including character information whose main language is the same as the main language of the foreign language annotation layer information to be read, and reading one or more pieces of the read advertisement information into the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer The information may be displayed on the same screen as the map information displayed on the display screen, and in a different area from the map display area so as to be selectable. Further, based on the selection of any one of the advertisement information on the user side terminal device, the detailed information of the selected advertisement information is displayed on the display screen, and the reservation for the product or service related to the advertisement information is further performed. Based on the entry of the reservation information to make,
The reservation information may be stored in the storage means on the map information providing server side, or may be output to a terminal device provided on the management side providing the advertisement information.

[0010] As described above, if the advertisement information is displayed in the same language as that of the annotation display, the foreign user can easily understand the advertisement information and the convenience is extremely high. Becomes In addition, it is more convenient if the location of the business entity related to the advertisement information is annotated and displayed on a map in association with the advertisement information. For example, if a store to be used is selected based on only the advertisement information, and then the position of the store is confirmed on a map, the user who uses the map information can make a quick decision when searching for a store. Can be.

[0011]

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. 2, a 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 transmitting / receiving means, and a 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. 3)).
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. 3, 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.

Then, information (position designation information, language designation information, etc.) necessary for each process is generated from the terminal 703 connected via the communication network 702. Terminal 70
The communication process on the third side is executed by a predetermined communication program using the communication program work area 756a of the RAM 756 shown in FIG. Then, information input by the keyboard 732 or the mouse 733 on the terminal 703 side is sent to the map information providing server 700 via the communication network 702, where various processes by the application program 724 (see FIG. 2) are executed. . The result of the processing can be transmitted to the accessed terminal 703 via the communication network 702.
3 to the printer 736 or the monitor 721.
In addition, together with the visual information from the monitor or the like, the amplifier 75
Speaker 7 connected to I / O port 751 via
The voice may be output at 58.

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) is sent from the map information providing server 700 to the terminal device 703, and the program is executed on the work areas 756a and 756b. Be executed. In addition, the terminal device 703
Further, a hard disk drive (hereinafter, also referred to as HDD) 753 as a fixed storage device including an operating system 753a for managing the terminal device 703, a browser 753c for accessing the map information providing server 700 from the terminal side, 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 FIG. 2, an application 724 of the server 700 (the application 724 of the system 1 in the case of FIG. 3) plays a role on the OS 723 to realize each part of the system as the following means described in claims. CPU 712: recognition means, search / read means, output means Fixed storage device 722: storage means

Hereinafter, a specific example of the map information providing method of the present invention will be described. The present invention relates to a user terminal device (user terminal device 70) that uses map information as shown in FIG.
3) is connected via a communication network 702 such as the Internet, and is provided using a map information providing server 700 configured to enable distribution of map information to the user terminal device 703. The outline is as follows. That is, on the map information providing server 700 side, base map layer information for indicating basic information (map basic information) such as traffic network information, building information, and terrain information in the map information as graphic information, and the base map layer information Foreign language note layer information for displaying note information (foreign language note information) mainly composed of a language different from the official language of the country to which the area to be displayed as a map (map display area) belongs is stored. Stored in the means. Here, the country to which the map display area belongs is, for example, when the base map layer information is for displaying a map of a specific area in Japan, the country to which the map display area belongs is Japan, Terms are in Japanese.

For example, when the base map layer information is for displaying a map of Nagano Prefecture, the foreign language annotation information is different from the official language of the country to which Nagano Prefecture belongs (ie, Japanese). The annotation information mainly includes a language (for example, a foreign language other than Japanese such as English, Chinese, French, and German). Here, “subject” means that at least most of the character information is composed of the language. Therefore, in the case where English is the main body, even if the annotation is mostly composed of English and the language composition partially includes another language (for example, Japanese or German), Included in the concept.

Next, a specific flow of the map information providing process will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First,
From the user side terminal device 703, the map information providing server 70
When a site associated with 0 (for example, a site accessible on the web) is accessed,
An initial screen is displayed on the user side terminal device 703 via, for example, a browser (S110). In addition, you may display by a special application without going through a browser. Then, in this initial screen or in a screen associated with the initial screen (for example, a screen linked to the initial screen), display information for inputting map request information is displayed on the display screen (display screen on the monitor 721 (FIG. 2)). )
Will be displayed. In the present invention, the map request information may be such information as long as the map information providing server can confirm that a map request has been made. For example, when the configuration is such that only the position specification information is input (for example, when it is determined that a map request has been made when the position specification information has been transmitted), the position specification information is directly used as the map request information. Becomes

When map request information accompanied by position designation information for designating a display position (including a case where the map request information is constituted by the position designation information) is input to the user side terminal device 703 (S120). : YES), the display position specified by the position specifying information is recognized by the recognition means on the map information providing server 700 side (S13).
0), and further retrieves and reads base map layer information and foreign language layer information corresponding to the position designation information from the map database (see FIG. 4A) (S14).
0). The read-out map information obtained by combining the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information corresponds to the position designation information so that it can be displayed on the requesting user terminal device side. Map information output processing (S) for outputting the base map information and the foreign language note layer information to the user terminal device that has made the request.
150). FIG. 8B shows a display example of such map information. In FIG. 8B, the advertisement information is displayed in a region different from the map information display region, which will be described later. FIG. 7 conceptually shows data acquisition corresponding to the requested display position specified by the position designation information in the base map layer information and the foreign language layer information (hereinafter, also referred to as both layer information). . As shown in FIG. 7, both layers of information have a configuration that can be divided into a plurality of segments, and the information of the segment corresponding to the requested display position is searched and read.

In the above description, the types of languages to be prepared are not mentioned, but note layer information of a plurality of languages may be provided for a common base map layer. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the foreign language annotation layer information may include language layer information in which annotation layers in a plurality of languages are classified by language. The language-specific layer information in FIG. 1 is configured as a layer group having a plurality of layers. In addition, some of the language-specific layer information may include a single layer instead of a plurality of layers. When the language-specific layer information is composed of a plurality of layers as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), layer data for displaying each layer is provided. Further, each layer data can be configured to include a plurality of segments, and position information on the position of the segment and note content information on a note to be displayed in the segment are provided for each segment. In addition, note content information,
Regarding the content of the note displayed on the map,
For example, it can be configured as text information or information in which text information is combined with image (still image, moving image) information, audio information, and other information. With this configuration, when the display position is specified, the segment corresponding to the display position can be specified, and the note display content information corresponding to the display position can be read.

Next, an example of a specific flow when the annotation layer information is provided for each language as described above is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the user side terminal device 703 accesses the map information providing site associated with the map information providing server 700 (S
210: YES), information is displayed on the display screen of the accessed user terminal device 703 so that the display position and the annotation language can be specified (S220). It should be noted that although the configuration is such that the process returns to S210 again when the process proceeds to NO in S210, it does not intend an infinite loop, but means that the processes after S220 are performed only when there is access. . Specifically, for example, it is possible to prompt input and selection of a map display position. That is, an address may be input in the user terminal device, or a plurality of place name information may be displayed in a list on the display screen, and any one of them may be selected. In any case, a configuration in which a position to be displayed on the user side terminal device 703 is designated is sufficient. In addition, in connection with the designation of the display position (for example,
The user can be prompted to specify the annotation language (on the same screen or on another linked screen). In this case, text information or the like may be input, a plurality of language indexes may be displayed so as to be selectable, and one or a plurality of languages may be selected.

Then, based on the user terminal device 703 specifying at least one of the languages in association with the map request information, the specified language is recognized by the language recognizing means. Here, the recognition means recognizing the presence / absence of transmission of the map request information from the user side terminal device 703, the designated position information, and the selected language. Then, information corresponding to the designated position information in the language-specific layer information corresponding to the recognized language and information corresponding to the designated position in the base map layer information are retrieved and read by the retrieval / reading means (S230). . Then, the map information obtained by combining the read language-specific layer information and the base map layer information is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal device 703 (FIG. 1, specifically, the display screen of the monitor 721). In step S240, a map information output process of outputting, to the requesting user-side terminal device, information relating to the designated position information out of the language-specific layer information and the base map layer information so that the information can be displayed (S240). . Further, it is determined whether or not the display position and / or language change information has been transmitted from the user side terminal device 703 (S250). If the information has been changed, the changed position and / or language is recognized. , S230 to S
The process up to 250 is repeated. If there is no change in S250, the process ends.

In the map information output process, the following method may be added. First, as a premise, in the map information providing server 700, the advertisement information including the text information in the same language as the note display language in the foreign language layer information is included in the foreign language layer information or in the layer information different from the foreign language layer information. Is stored in the storage means. Then, in association with the base map layer information and the foreign language note layer information, advertisement information in the same language as the language of the foreign language note layer is output to the requesting user terminal. In addition, in a form corresponding to the advertisement information, based on the fact that the reservation request information for reserving the product or service related to the advertisement information is input in the requesting user terminal device, the reservation information is mapped. The information is transmitted to a terminal device provided on the information providing server or the management entity that provides the advertisement information. Hereinafter, specific flows regarding these methods will be described.

In the map information output processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, information corresponding to the designated position information in the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information is displayed as map information.
In this map information output processing, functions of providing advertisement information and accepting reservations may be added. Hereinafter, an example will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In correspondence with the display of the map information provided by the above-described method, the advertisement information in the same language as the subject language of the foreign language annotation layer information to be displayed is shown in FIG.
(S310). In the example of FIG. 8B, one or more pieces of advertisement information of the advertisement target having the location are displayed corresponding to the designated position information (specifically, in the displayed map information. FIG.
As shown in (a) advertisement layer information (information constituted by advertisement information for displaying the advertisement layer), the position of the advertisement target is associated with advertisement content information (image data, etc.). The advertisement database is configured to include a plurality of these pieces of advertisement information. The advertisement information to be displayed can be selected by an operation on the user side terminal device, and based on the selection of any of the advertisement information (S320: YES), the detailed information of the selected advertisement information Is displayed on the display screen (S330). Furthermore, based on the input of the reservation information for making a reservation for the product or service related to the advertisement information (S34).
0: YES), the reservation information is stored in the storage means (fixed storage device 722) of the map information providing server 700, or a terminal device (not shown, provided on the management side providing the advertisement information) It should be noted that the information is output to the user-side terminal device 703 (which can have the same configuration as the user-side terminal device 703) (S
350). As shown in FIG. 10, the advertisement type may be limited and displayed. In FIG. 10, the advertisement type is limited to hotels and displayed.

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 a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the terminal device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data configuration example in a map database.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a map information providing process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram conceptually illustrating designation of a required display position in foreign language note layer information and base map layer information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of advertisement layer information and a display example of advertisement information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of map information output processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of map information and advertisement information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Map Information Providing System 700 Map Information Providing Server 702 Communication Network 703 User Terminal 712 CPU (Recognition Unit, Search / Readout Unit, Output Unit) 722 Fixed Storage Unit (Storage Unit)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G06T 11/60 300 G06T 11/60 300 F term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB05 HB31 HC13 HC23 HC27 HC31 5B050 BA07 BA17 BA20 CA05 CA08 EA19 FA02 5E501 AA13 BA20 DA02 FA13 FA14

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A user-side terminal device that uses map information (hereinafter, also referred to as a user-side terminal device) is connected via a communication network such as the Internet, and the map information is transmitted to the user-side terminal device. A map information providing method which is performed using a map information providing server configured to be able to distribute, wherein the map information providing server side includes a map of traffic network information, building information, topographic information, and the like in the map information. Base map layer information for displaying at least graphic information (hereinafter also referred to as map basic information) serving as a basis for display, and note information for displaying a note corresponding to the base map layer information. Foreign language note for displaying note information composed mainly of a language different from the official language of the country to which the region on the map belongs (hereinafter also referred to as foreign language note information) The layer information is stored in the storage unit, and map request information associated with the position designation information for designating the display position of the map is transmitted from the user side terminal device to the map information providing server. Based on the above, in the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation information, information corresponding to the position designation information related to the map request information is searched and read by search / read means, and further read. The base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information corresponding to the position designation information are combined so that the map information obtained by combining the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information can be displayed on the user terminal device side of the request source. A map information providing method, wherein layer information and foreign language annotation layer information are output by an output unit. 2. The foreign language annotation layer information includes language layer information in which annotation layers in a plurality of languages are classified by language, and at least one of the foreign language annotation layer information is associated with the map request information in the user terminal device. Based on the specified language, the specified language is recognized by language recognizing means in the map information providing server, and the position specifying information and the language-specific layer information corresponding to the recognized specified language are recognized. Search for the corresponding information
Searching and reading by the reading means, and further, map information obtained by combining information corresponding to the position designation information of each of the language-specific layer information and the base map layer information can be displayed on the display screen. 2. The map information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the language-specific layer information and the base map layer information corresponding to the position designation information are output to the requesting user terminal device by the output means. 3. Information for displaying a note corresponding to the base map layer information together with the foreign language note layer information, the information mainly including an official language of a country to which a region on a map to which the note belongs belongs. It is provided with official language annotation layer information for displaying the composed annotation information (hereinafter also referred to as official language annotation information), and the user terminal device has a foreign language and / or an official language as the annotation display language. Either language can be selected, and based on the selection of either or both at the user side terminal device, the selected foreign language or official language, or both languages The information relating to the position designation information in the corresponding annotation layer information and the layer information of the base map layer information is read by the search / read means. Furthermore, the read note layer information and the base map layer information are combined so that the map information obtained by combining the read note layer information and base map layer information can be displayed on the display screen. The map information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the request to the requesting terminal device. 4. On the map information providing server side, advertisement information including character information in the same language as the note display language in the foreign language layer information is included in the foreign language layer information or different from the foreign language layer information. Is provided as layer information, and in association with the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information, directs advertisement information in the same language as the language of the foreign language annotation layer to the user terminal of the request source. The map information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the map information is output. 5. In a form corresponding to the advertisement information, based on that reservation desired information for reserving a product or service related to the advertisement information is input at the user terminal device of the request source, The map information providing method according to claim 4, wherein the reservation information is transmitted to the map information providing server or a terminal device provided on the management side that provides the advertisement information. 6. On the map information providing server side, advertisement information mainly composed of character information in the same language as the language that is the subject of the note in the foreign language layer information is included in the foreign language layer information or the foreign language layer. When the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information corresponding to the position designation information are displayed in the storage means as layer information separate from the information, an advertisement corresponding to the position designation information is displayed. Search and read out advertising information including character information whose main language is the same as the main language of the foreign language annotation layer information to be displayed, and read one or more pieces of the read out advertising information into their base maps. On the same screen as the map information displayed on the display screen by the layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information, and the map Information is displayed so as to be selectable in a different area from the area in which the advertisement is displayed. Further, based on that any of the advertisement information is selected in the user side terminal device, the detailed information of the selected advertisement information is displayed. Whether to store the reservation information in the storage means on the map information providing server side based on the input of the reservation information for displaying on the display screen and further performing the reservation for the product or service related to the advertisement information The map information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the map information is output to a terminal device provided on the management entity side that provides the advertisement information. 7. A computer-readable program stored on a recording medium or made available for performing the steps of a method for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 on a computer. Possible computer programs. 8. A user-side terminal device (hereinafter, also referred to as a user-side terminal device) using map information is connected via a communication network such as the Internet, and the map information is transmitted to the user-side terminal device. A map information providing system for providing map information using a map information providing server configured to be able to be distributed, wherein, on the map information providing server side, traffic network information, building information, topographic information in the map information And other basic information (hereinafter also referred to as map basic information) as graphic information, and a language different from the official language of the country to which the map display area belongs in the base map layer information. Storage means for storing foreign language annotation layer information for displaying annotation information (hereinafter also referred to as foreign language annotation information), and a display position of a map. Recognizing means for recognizing the map request information based on that the map request information including the information on the map request is transmitted from the user side terminal device to the map information providing server; and the recognized map request information. Search / read means for searching and reading out the base map layer information and the foreign language annotation layer information corresponding to the display position (hereinafter, also referred to as a requested display position) requested in the storage means in the storage means; The base map layer information and the foreign language note layer information are combined so that the output base map layer information and foreign language note layer information can be displayed on the requesting user terminal device side. An output means for outputting a map information providing system.