JP2003016171A - Method, program and system for providing map - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map providing method, a map providing program and a map providing system for providing a rental car user with a map and also for providing a map corresponding to a request of the rental car user in the case a car rental agency rents a rental car. SOLUTION: This map providing method for providing a map to the user of a rental car being an automobile that is rented for a prescribed term includes a step for inputting a request of the rental car user, a step for selecting a map corresponding to a request of the rental car user from a map collecting means for collecting maps and a step for outputting the map selected in the step for selecting a map in the form of providing the rental car user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map providing method, a map providing program, and a map providing system, and more specifically, a map providing method for providing a map to a user of a rental car by a car rental company, and a map providing method. Program and map provision system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a rental car user uses a rental car, a rental car company rents a road map owned by the rental car company at each business office,
I was assisting me towards my destination.

[0003]

However, the number of maps that can be rented out at the office of a rental car company is limited. In addition, since the scale of the map and the contents of the map are prepared mainly for those that are presumed to have many users, it was hard to say that the maps required by car rental users were necessarily prepared.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and provides a map providing method, a map providing program, and a map providing system for providing a map to a rental car user when a rental car company rents a rental car. The task is to do. Another object of the present invention is to provide a map providing method, a map providing program, and a map providing system for providing a map in response to a request from a rental car user.

[0005]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention employs the following means. That is,
It is a map providing method for providing a map to a user of a rental car that is a rental car for a predetermined period.

Further, the map providing method includes a step of inputting a request of a rental car user and a step of selecting a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from a map recording means for recording a map. The step of outputting the map selected in the step of outputting in a format provided to the rental car user.

Further, the map providing method is characterized in that, in the step of outputting the map, a necessary route from the starting point to the destination is displayed and output on the map. According to the map providing method performed in the above steps, the rental car user can obtain the map corresponding to the request of the rental car user when using the rental car.

Further, the map providing method is characterized in that, in the step of outputting the map, the peripheral information from the starting point to the destination is displayed on the map in the order of routes and is output.

Then, in the map providing method, in the step of outputting the map, when the rental car user returns the rental car with a place different from the place where the rental car is borrowed, the return place is displayed on the map and output. It is characterized by doing.

Further, in the map providing method, in the step of outputting the map, when the rental car user uses the rental car as a transportation means in a remote place, the rental car is dispatched from the arrival place of public transportation such as a train or an airplane. The feature is that the route to the position is displayed on the map and output.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention employs the following means. That is, it is a map providing program for providing a map to users of rental cars, which are rental cars for a predetermined period.

The map providing program includes a step of inputting a request of a rental car user and a step of selecting a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from a map recording means for recording a map. And outputting the selected map in a format for providing the rental car user to the computer.

Further, the map providing program is characterized in that, in the step of outputting the map, a necessary route from the starting point to the destination is displayed and output on the map. According to the map providing program executed in the above steps, the rental car user can obtain the map corresponding to the request of the rental car user when using the rental car.

Further, the map providing program is characterized in that, in the step of outputting the map, peripheral information from the starting point to the destination is displayed on the map in the order of routes and is output.

Further, the map providing program, in the step of outputting the map, displays the return location on the map and outputs it when returning the rental car with the rental car user returning the rental car at a location different from the rental location. It is characterized by doing.

When the rental car user uses the rental car as a means of transportation in a remote place in the step of outputting the map, the map providing program dispatches the rental car from the arrival place of public transportation such as a train or an airplane. The feature is that the route to the position is displayed on the map and output.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following means. That is, it is a map providing device that provides a map to users of rental cars, which are rental cars for a predetermined period.

The map providing device comprises an input means for inputting a request of a rental car user and a map recording means for recording a map, and a map for selecting a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from the map recording means. It is characterized by comprising a selecting means and a map outputting means for outputting the map selected by the map selecting means for selecting a map to a rental car user.

Further, in the map providing device, the map output means is
It is characterized by outputting a map displaying a necessary route from the starting point to the destination. According to the map providing device including the above-mentioned means, the rental car user can obtain the map corresponding to the request of the rental car user when using the rental car.

Further, the map providing device is characterized in that the map output means outputs a map in which peripheral information from a departure place to a destination is displayed in the order of routes.

In the map providing device, the map output means is
If the rental car user returns the rental car with a return place other than the place where the rental car is rented,
It is characterized by outputting a map displaying the return place on the map.

Further, in the map providing device, when the map output means uses the rental car as a transportation means in a remote place, from the arrival place of public transportation such as a train or an airplane to the dispatch position of the rental car. It is characterized in that a map displaying the route of is output.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention employs the following means. That is, the map providing system includes a map providing device that provides a map to a user of a rental car, which is a rental car for a predetermined period, and a map output device that outputs the map.

In the map providing system, the map providing device selects an input means for inputting a request of a rental car user, a map recording means for recording a map, and a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from the map recording means. And a map output device, which outputs the map selected by the map selection device in a format provided to a rental car user.

Further, the map providing system may be characterized in that the map output device is installed in the business office of a company that rents out a rental car.

Further, the map providing system may be characterized in that the map output device is installed in the car.

The map providing system may be characterized in that the map output means outputs the map using paper.

Further, the map providing system may be characterized in that the map output means outputs the map using the display device.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below show an example in which the map providing method, the map providing program, and the map providing system of the present invention are applied for providing a map from a rental car dealer to a rental car user.

<First Embodiment> The map providing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment has the following elements. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a map providing device 1 which is a map providing system from a car rental agent to a car rental user of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the map providing apparatus 1 has an arithmetic processing unit 4 including a CPU (central processing unit) 2 and a main memory 3 in its main body, and stores software for arithmetic processing. A storage device 5 is provided. In addition, the map providing system 1 includes an input device 6
And a data input / output unit 8 including an output device 7.

An operating system (OS) and application software (map providing program) are installed in the storage device 5. In addition, in the storage device 5,
The map data file used by the application software is recorded and the function of the map recording means is realized.

The map data file contains road maps of all over Japan by scale. Further, the map data file contains tourist information such as sights and entertainment facilities, and information about stores around the road such as a gas station and a convenience store.

Further, the arithmetic processing section 4 realizes the map selecting means based on the information from the input device 6 and the application software recorded in the storage device 5, thereby executing the steps relating to the map providing program.

The input / output unit 8 has an input device 6 such as a keyboard and a mouse for realizing a function of inputting a request for a rental car user's map, and an output device 7 for realizing a function of a map output means such as a display and a printer. User interface is connected.

Next, a procedure for providing a map (map providing method) by the map providing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the rent-a-car user inputs information regarding a map search such as a departure place, a destination, a purpose (sightseeing, moving, commercial, etc.) when using the rent-a-car to the input device 6 provided in the map providing device 1. (Step 1, hereinafter S1
Abbreviated as).

Based on the application software of the map providing program stored in the storage device 5, the arithmetic processing section 4 processes the information input to the input device 6 (S2).

The arithmetic processing unit 4 searches the map data file stored in the storage device 5 from the information concerning the map retrieval processed by the arithmetic processing unit 4 and selects the optimal map for the rental car user's request. (S3).

Further, the arithmetic processing unit 4 searches the map data file stored in the storage device 5 on the basis of the information on the use input by the user, and finds the optimum route and the optimum route for the use of the rental car user. Road periphery information is selected (S4).

The arithmetic processing unit 4 displays the optimum route from the starting point to the destination and the optimum road peripheral information on the map selected from the map data file (S5).

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 4 selects a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from the map data file, and selects a map displaying the optimum route from the departure point to the destination and the optimum road peripheral information in the order of routes. Knit (S6).

The map displaying the optimum route and the optimum road peripheral information is sent from the arithmetic processing unit 4 to the input / output unit 8 and output from the output device 7 (S7).

By providing the map by such a method, the rental car user can safely reach the destination without getting lost by driving the rental car according to the instructions on the map.

In addition, when the information regarding the map search is input to the input device 6 of the map providing device 1, the rental car user operates the map providing device 1 himself to search the map as described above, and also rents out the rental car. It is also possible for an employee of the trader to operate the map providing device 1 to perform a map search.

If information such as the name, address, destination, usage time, usage, and return location of the rental car user is entered in the customer management system (customer management computer) at the time of rental reception, the steps are Connected to the customer management system via the input / output unit 8 of the map providing device 1 when inputting each information in 1, and necessary for map search such as destination, use, return place stored in this customer management system It may be configured to acquire various information. Thereby, the input work at the time of map search can be saved.

Further, the following functions can be added to the map providing device 1 shown in the first embodiment.
Specifically, it is a function of using a rental car, that is, a function of marking the business location of a rental car company, which is a return place when the passenger is abandoned, on a map received at the time of renting.

First, when the information regarding the map search is input to the map providing apparatus 1 in step 1 of the map providing method, the car rental user inputs whether he / she wants to use the drop-off service. Then, the map providing device 1 selects the business location of the car rental company, which is the car rental stop location, together with the optimum route and the optimum road peripheral information from the map data file based on step 4. Then, in step 5, the location of the rent-a-car dealer's office, which is the place where the rental car is dropped off, is displayed on the map selected from the map data file together with the optimum route and the optimum road peripheral information. By having such a function, the rental car user can easily drop off the rental car.

Moreover, it is possible to add the following functions to the map providing device 1 shown in the first embodiment. It is a function that, when a rental car is reserved in advance and is used in a remote place, the sales office of the rental car at the destination is displayed on the map received at the time of reservation.

When the rental car user goes to the vicinity of the destination by public transportation, etc., the map showing the place of receipt of the reserved rental car shows the location of the rental car from the destination of the public transportation. The route to the car rental office is displayed. Further, on this map, the optimum route from the rental car office to the destination of the rental car user and road peripheral information are also displayed.

First, in step 1 of the map providing method, when inputting the information regarding the map search to the map providing apparatus 1, the rental car user or the employee of the rental car operator inputs the information regarding the destination of the rental car. The map providing program selects a route from the destination of the rental car and the destination of the transportation based on the information of the transportation that the rental car user uses up to the destination of the rental car based on step 4. Then, in step 5, the map selected from the map data file is displayed along with the optimum route and optimum road peripheral information along with the location of the rental car and the route from the arrival point of the transportation facility to be used.

With such a function, the rental car user can easily receive and use the rental car at a remote place.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment shows an example in which a map output device, which is separate from the map providing device, is provided in the map providing system of the present invention, and is adapted to provide a map from a car rental agent to a car rental user.

In the present embodiment, the same elements as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the like, and their repetitive description is omitted.

The map providing system shown in this embodiment is
It consists of the following elements. The map providing system includes a map providing device 10 for providing a map to a rental car user and a map output device 11 for outputting a map. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the map providing system.

As shown in FIG. 3, the map providing device 10 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2 and an arithmetic processing unit 4 including a main memory 3 in its main body, and stores software for arithmetic processing. The storage device 5 is provided. In addition, the map providing device 10 includes an input device 6
And a data input / output unit 8 including an output device 7.

The map providing device 10 is provided with a communication control unit (CCU) 12 for communicating with the map output device 11 via a communication line.

The map output device 11 includes the map providing device 10
Communication control means (CC
U) 14 is provided. Further, the map output device 11 includes an output device 15 such as a display or a printer for outputting a map communicated from the map providing device 10, and a keyboard or a mouse for realizing a function of inputting a request for a rental car user's map. Input / output unit 17 including device 16
Is provided.

The map output device 11 is installed inside the car of the rental car, and can communicate information with the map providing device 10 installed at a business office of the car rental company. If the vehicle deviates from the optimal route displayed on the map previously received from the map providing device 10 while using the rental car for some reason, the optimal route is set to the input device 16 provided in the map output device 11. Enter information such as the deviating location.

The information input to the input device 16 is transmitted from the communication control means 14 to the communication control means 12 on the map providing device 10 side.
Sent to. Then, from the communication control means 12 to the arithmetic processing unit 4
The map providing apparatus 10 outputs the map requested by the rent-a-car user based on the information sent to the vehicle through the flow chart of FIG. 2 in the first embodiment.

The map requested by the rental car user is communicated from the map providing device 10 to the map output device 11 via the communication control means 12. The map communicated to the map output device 11 is output from the output device 15.

By installing the map output device 11 inside the rental car, even if the user loses the way when using the rental car, it is possible to return to the destination by obtaining a new map showing the optimum route. Becomes

Then, the map output device 11 may output the map output using paper or using a display device such as a display.

[0064]

As described above, according to the map providing method, the map providing program, and the map providing system of the present invention, it is excellent in providing the map to the rental car user when the rental car company rents the rental car. It can produce the effect. Further, according to the map providing method, the map providing program, and the map providing system of the present invention, the excellent effect of providing the map in response to the request of the rental car user can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which a map providing method of the present invention is applied to a computer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a map providing method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a map providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Map providing system 2 CPU 3 main memory 4 Processing unit 5 storage devices 6 Input device 7 Output device 8 I / O section 10 Map providing device 11 Map output device 12 Communication control means 14 Communication control means 15 Output device 16 Input device 17 Input / output section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 AF term (reference) 2C032 HC21 HD16 HD21 2F029 AA02 AB13 AC08 AC09 AC14 AC16 AC20 5B075 ND06 PQ03 PQ32 UU13 UU14 5H180 AA01 BB04 EE02 FF13 FF27 FF35

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A map providing method for providing a map to a user of a rental car, which is a rental car for a predetermined period, including a step of inputting a request of the rental car user, and the use of the rental car from a map recording means for recording a map. A map providing method comprising: a step of selecting a map corresponding to the request of the rental car; and a step of outputting the map selected in the step of selecting the map in a format for providing the rental car user. 2. The map providing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of outputting the map, a necessary route from a departure place to a destination is displayed and output on the map. 3. The step of outputting the map, wherein the peripheral information from the starting point to the destination is displayed on the map in the order of routes and is output.
The map providing method described in. 4. In the step of outputting the map, when returning the rental car by using the rental car user as a return place other than the place where the rental car is rented, the return place is displayed on the map. The map providing method according to claim 1, wherein the map is output. 5. In the step of outputting the map, when the rental car user uses a rental car as a means of transportation in a remote place, from the arrival place of public transportation such as a train or an airplane to the dispatch position of the rental car. 5. The map providing method according to claim 1, wherein the route is displayed on the map and output. 6. A map providing program for providing a map to a user of a rental car, which is a rental car for a predetermined period, including a step of inputting a request of the rental car user and a map recording means for recording the map from the rental car user. Providing a map that causes a computer to execute a step of selecting a map corresponding to the request of the above and a step of outputting the map selected in the step of selecting the map in a format for providing the rental car user. program. 7. The map providing program according to claim 6, wherein, in the step of outputting the map, a necessary route from a starting point to a destination is displayed and output on the map. 8. The step of outputting the map, wherein the peripheral information from the starting point to the destination is displayed on the map in the order of routes and is output.
The map provision program described in. 9. In the step of outputting the map, when returning the rental car by using the rental car user as a return place different from the place where the rental car is rented, the return place is displayed on the map. The map providing program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the program is output. 10. In the step of outputting the map, when the rental car user uses a rental car as a means of transportation in a remote place, from a destination of public transportation such as a train or an airplane to a dispatch position of the rental car. 10. The map providing program according to claim 6, wherein the route is displayed on the map and output. 11. A map providing device for providing a map to a user of a rental car, which is a rental car for a predetermined period, including input means for inputting a request from a rental car user, map recording means for recording a map, and Map selection means for selecting a map corresponding to the request of the rental car user from the map recording means, and map output means for outputting the map selected by the map selection means for selecting the map in a format provided to the rental car user. A map providing device characterized by being provided. 12. The map providing device according to claim 11, wherein the map output means outputs a map displaying a necessary route from a starting point to a destination. 13. The map providing device according to claim 11, wherein the map output means outputs a map in which peripheral information from a starting point to a destination is displayed in the order of routes. 14. The map output means, when the rental car user returns the rental car with a return place different from the place where the rental car is borrowed, outputs a map displaying the return place on the map. The map providing device according to claim 11, wherein the map providing device is provided. 15. When the map output means uses the rental car as a means of transportation in a remote place, a route from an arrival place of public transportation such as a train or an airplane to a delivery position of the rental car. 15. The map providing device according to claim 11, wherein a map displaying is output. 16. A map providing system comprising a map providing device for providing a map to a user of a rental car, which is a rental car for a predetermined period, and a map output device for outputting the map, wherein the map providing device is a rental car. The map output device comprises: input means for inputting a user's request; map recording means for recording the map; and map selecting means for selecting a map corresponding to the rental car user's request from the map recording means. The map providing system outputs the map selected by the map selecting means in a format to be provided to the rental car user. 17. The map providing system according to claim 16, wherein the map output device is installed in a business office of a renter of the rental car.
The map providing system described in. 18. The map providing system according to claim 16, wherein the map output device is installed in the car of the rental car. 19. The map output device outputs the map using paper.
The map providing system according to any one of 1 to 18. 20. The map providing system according to claim 16, wherein the map output device outputs a map using a display device.