JP2003223450A - Matching method for address information with position coordinates - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine objectively the preciseness of the given result when the position coordinates such as longitudes and lattitudes are to be given to any address information. <P>SOLUTION: The position coordinates of a typical point for any address are searched on the basis of a database in which an address file is entered and the address information is put previously in correspondence to the position coordinates. In case no position coordinates are found perfectly corresponding to the address information, a search is continued upon relieving the conditions about the street No., block No., etc. For the searching result, a preciseness index to represent its preciseness is set. The preciseness index is set on the basis of the administrative division corresponding to the searching result, the number of houses applicable to the searching conditions, the area of the region applicable to the searching conditions, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of associating position coordinates based on address information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in studies of marketing and business plans, distribution obtained by showing a customer's residence on a map has been effectively utilized. In recent years, since electronic maps have become widespread, a method of displaying the distribution of customers 'residences on an electronic map based on data for managing customers' addresses and the like has been adopted. In order to display the distribution of customers' residences on an electronic map, it is necessary to give position coordinates such as latitude and longitude to the customer's address in advance. The position coordinates are assigned using a database that associates the addresses with the position coordinates.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned database does not necessarily cover all addresses. Also, the customer's address itself may be incorrect. For these reasons, there are cases where accurate position coordinates cannot be given to the customer's address. Conventionally, when a position coordinate that completely matches a customer's address cannot be obtained, a representative point given to a chome, a town, etc. may be given.

As described above, since the position coordinates that do not necessarily correspond exactly to the customer's address are given, the credibility and effectiveness of the position coordinates may be impaired. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to improve the effectiveness of position coordinates given based on an address.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Operation / Effect The present invention is a coordinate assigning device for associating position coordinates based on address information by including an input unit, a coordinate specifying unit, an index setting unit, and an output unit. Composed.

The input unit inputs address information. The address information may be input on a case-by-case basis, or a plurality of cases may be input collectively.

The coordinate specifying unit searches the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information. For this search, a database in which address information and position coordinates are associated in advance is referred to. In addition, the search is performed while allowing partial matching. That is, when the position coordinates that completely correspond to the address information cannot be obtained, the conditions such as the address and the claw are relaxed and the search is performed. Under the relaxed condition, for example, the position coordinates of the representative point with respect to a certain area corresponding to the condition can be given. Partial matching means that the search is performed by relaxing the conditions so as to include at least the house corresponding to the address information.

The index setting unit sets an accuracy index indicating the accuracy of the thus obtained specific result. The accuracy index can take various settings as exemplified later.

The output unit outputs the position coordinates and the accuracy index. The output mode does not matter as long as it is output as data in which the position coordinates and the accuracy index are associated with each other.

According to the coordinate assigning apparatus of the present invention, the accuracy index is given to the position coordinates. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with a judgment material for objectively judging the credibility of the given position coordinates. The user can effectively use the position coordinates based on this credibility.

In the coordinate assigning device of the present invention, the accuracy index can take various forms.

As a first aspect, it is possible to obtain the number of dwellings that satisfy the conditions in the search from the database and set the accuracy index based on this number of dwellings. The number of dwellings themselves may be used, or the matching probability expressed with the number of dwellings as the denominator may be used.

As a second aspect, the accuracy index can be set on the basis of the parameter indicating the size of the area including the place where the residence satisfying the search condition is present. The area of the region may be used, or the diameter of a circle including the region or a circle having an area equivalent to the region may be used.
The area is not limited to a circle, and various shapes such as a rectangle can be applied.

When the address information is hierarchically constructed based on administrative divisions, as a third aspect, the accuracy index can be set based on the administrative division layer used for the search. The address information is usually hierarchically configured by "prefecture", "city / ward", "machimura-oji", "chome-ji", and the like. In such a configuration, the size of the corresponding area varies depending on the hierarchy. Therefore, the hierarchy used for the search can be used as the accuracy index. For example, it is possible to determine that the position coordinates given in the "Chome-ji" hierarchy are more accurate than the position coordinates given in the "Machimura Daiji" hierarchy.

In the coordinate assigning device of the present invention, in addition to the accuracy index, a specific type of site name near the representative point may be output. The base name can be extracted by referring to the map database. The specific type can be set arbitrarily. For example, facilities related to transportation such as stations and bus stops may be extracted. Further, when there are many branches for a particular company, each branch may be extracted as a base. Also, a telephone number may be attached together with the coordinates. The telephone number can be obtained by referring to a telephone number database in which address information and telephone numbers are associated in advance. By providing these pieces of information together, the position coordinates can be used more effectively in a business plan or the like.

The coordinate assigning device of the present invention can be constructed by using a computer that is equipped with various databases and operates in a stand-alone manner. Further, it may be configured as a system in which a plurality of computers are connected by a network. It may be configured as a server that receives input of address information and the like via a network and returns position coordinates and the like.

The present invention can also be configured as a map display device for displaying the representative point on a map based on a position coordinate database in which the position coordinate of the representative point and the accuracy index are associated with each other. As the position coordinate database, for example, a database that stores data generated by the above-described coordinate assigning device can be used.

In such a map display device, it is preferable that the representative point to be displayed can be controlled based on the accuracy index. In such control, the selection condition for selecting the representative point to be displayed based on the accuracy index is input, the representative point corresponding to the selection condition is extracted from the position coordinate database, and the extracted representative point is overlapped with the map. It is realized by displaying. By controlling the display in this way, the position of the representative point can be visually grasped according to the accuracy index.

The present invention can be configured not only as the above-mentioned coordinate assigning device and map display device but also in various modes. For example, a computer may be used as a coordinate assigning method for assigning coordinates corresponding to the address information. Further, it may be configured as a computer program for causing a computer to realize the coordinate assigning function and a recording medium recording the computer program.

Here, as the recording medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, I
Use of various computer-readable media such as C cards, ROM cartridges, punched cards, printed materials on which codes such as bar codes are printed, computer internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), and external storage devices. it can.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. A. System configuration: B. Position coordinate setting process: C. Accuracy index: C1. Accuracy index based on the number of dwellings: C2. Accuracy index based on area size: D. Map display: E. Effect: F. Modification:

A. System Configuration: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coordinate assigning system as an embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where a system is configured by using two computers 100 and 200 connected by a network will be exemplified. It may be configured by a single computer. The computer 100 functions as a coordinate assigning device that assigns position coordinates based on an address. Computer 2
00 functions as the terminal of the user who requests the coordinate assignment,
The customer's address file is transmitted to the computer 100, and the position coordinate addition result is received. Also,
It also has a function of displaying the residence of the customer on the map based on the obtained position coordinates.

In the following embodiments, for convenience of explanation,
The term "dwelling" is used, but this does not necessarily refer only to the building in which it resides, but to the general building to which it is given an address. Further, although the term “customer” is used, it is not limited to a person having a business relationship, but means a general person to whom position coordinates are given.

In the computer 100, the functional blocks shown in the figure are configured by software. An address database 1 in which addresses and position coordinates are associated and stored
06, and a telephone number database 107 in which addresses and telephone numbers are associated and stored. The address database 106 and the telephone number database 107 may be provided by a recording medium such as a server or a CD-ROM which is separate from the computer 100. In this embodiment,
Although latitude and longitude are used as position coordinates, various coordinates such as Cartesian coordinates can be used. Also,
The display method of latitude and longitude can be set arbitrarily.

The address file input unit 102 has a function of inputting an address file from the user's computer 200 via the network. The address file is a file that associates customers with addresses. For example, a method of providing an interface screen viewable by a browser to the user's computer 200 and acquiring an address file through the interface screen can be adopted.

The position search unit 104 has a function of searching for position coordinates based on an address file. This search is performed by appropriately referring to the address database 106. The position search unit 104 also has a function of searching the telephone number database 107. The accuracy index setting unit 108 sets an accuracy index for determining accuracy with respect to the search result of the position coordinates. The position coordinate output unit 110 has a function of transmitting the position coordinates and the accuracy index to the computer 200 of the user in the form of a position coordinate file.

The computer 200 of the user has the functional blocks shown in the figure configured by software. Here, only the functional block for displaying the customer's residence on the map based on the position coordinates is shown. Moreover, the map database 204 for displaying a map is provided. The map database 204 may be provided by a recording medium such as a server or a CD-ROM separate from the computer 200.

The position coordinate file input unit 202 has a function of reading the position coordinate file transmitted from the computer 100. The command input unit 206 inputs various commands related to designation of an area where map display is to be performed, display scale, and the like, based on operations of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The map display unit 208 includes the map database 20.
4, the map is displayed and the customer's residence is displayed on the map based on the position coordinate file.

B. Position coordinate setting process: FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the position coordinate setting process. This is processing executed by the CPU of the computer 100 that functions as a coordinate assigning device.

When this process is started, the CPU inputs an address file (step S10) and performs a position search process and a flag setting process (step S12). The position search is performed by referring to the address database 106 shown above. Here, in the address database 106, not all addresses and position coordinates are associated with each other.
In addition, the address registered in the address file may include an error. If the position coordinates that completely match the address cannot be obtained due to these factors, the CPU relaxes the address condition according to the hierarchy of the administrative division and searches for the position coordinates. The flag is information indicating in which layer the position coordinates are specified. Such a flag can be an accuracy index for determining the accuracy of position coordinates.

An example of flag setting is shown in the figure. Flag = 0 means that in the address database 106, the position coordinates in which the addresses completely match up to the issue number have been obtained. The flag = 1 means that the position coordinates are obtained with the issue numbers near the address information. The flag = 2 means that the position coordinates are obtained for each block. In this case, the position coordinates of the representative point set in the block are given. The flag = 3 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set for each character are provided. Flag = 4 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set in the unit of town and village are given. The flag = 5 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set in the unit of city / ward are given.

Next, in order to set the accuracy index of the position coordinates, the CPU searches for the number of dwellings that match the conditions and calculates the probability (step S14). Further, in order to set the accuracy index from another viewpoint, the area of the region that matches the condition is calculated, and the radius of the circle that includes the region is calculated (step S16). These processes will be described in detail later.

When the retrieval of the position coordinates and the setting of the accuracy index are completed in this way, the CPU next retrieves the nearest base and telephone number (step S18). The type of the base to be searched can be specified by the user along with the provision of the address file. For example, when the setting is made to search for a station as a base, step S1
Based on the position coordinates set in 2, the nearest station around it is searched. In addition, as the base, it is possible to set up a branch or the like regarding the sales of the user. The telephone number search is performed by the telephone number database 107 described above.
Is done with reference to. Similar to the case of assigning coordinates, the search may be performed by relaxing the matching of addresses, but in the present embodiment, the telephone number that completely matches the address is presented due to the nature of the information of the telephone number. If the exact phone number cannot be obtained, the phone number will not be presented. The search processing of the base and the telephone number may be omitted depending on the user's setting or the like.

The CPU correlates the information obtained above, that is, the position coordinates, the flag, the two types of accuracy indexes, the nearest bases, and the telephone number, and outputs them as a position coordinate file (step S20). It is not always necessary to output all of the flags, the two types of accuracy indicators, the nearest bases, and the telephone numbers, and at least some of them can be appropriately selected.

C. Accuracy index: C1. Accuracy index based on the number of dwellings: FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the number of dwellings. This index corresponds to the accuracy index set in step S14 of the position coordinate setting process (FIG. 2).

At the upper part of the figure, a schematic map of the vicinity of the customer residence B to which the position coordinates are given is displayed. As shown, the customer residence B exists along a so-called dead end 6
It is one of the cases. In this way, in the dwelling along the dead end, the address may be given with the same number.
In this case, even if the position coordinates of the customer residence B are obtained by matching up to the issue number (flag = 0), there are six residences that meet the condition. Therefore, as shown in the lower part of the figure, the number of residences “6” or the probability that the position coordinates correspond to the customer residence B “1/6” is the accuracy index. Either may be used.

FIG. 3 exemplifies a case in which there are a plurality of dwellings having the same number up to each other, but the accuracy index based on the number of dwellings can be similarly set for other hierarchies. For example, when position coordinates are obtained for each block (flag =
In 2), the number of dwellings existing in the block or the probability obtained based on the number of dwellings can be used as an accuracy index.

C2. Accuracy Index Based on Area Size: FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the area size. This index corresponds to the accuracy index set in step S16 of the position coordinate setting process (FIG. 2).

In the figure, an example is shown in which the position coordinates are obtained for the customer's residence in units of the block C (flag 2). The upper part of the figure shows a map of the neighborhood of the customer's residence and block C. In general, it can be said that the larger the block is, the greater the possibility that the difference between the obtained position coordinates and the position of the customer's residence will be. Therefore, the size of the block can be used as the accuracy index. As the accuracy index, for example, the area of the block C, the radius R of the circle circumscribing the block C, or the like can be used, as shown in the lower part of the figure. The radius of a circle equivalent to the area of the block C may be used. Not limited to circular shape,
Various areas such as a rectangle can be applied. In addition, an accuracy index based on the number of dwellings and the probability may be set together.

FIG. 4 exemplifies the case where the position coordinates are obtained for each block, but the accuracy index can be set in the same manner when the position coordinates are obtained in other layers.

D. Map display: FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a map display process. CP of user's computer 200
This is the process executed by U.

When this process is started, the CPU inputs the designation of the display position and scale (step S30).
Further, the selection condition of the house is input (step S32).
The selection condition is set based on the accuracy index. For example, the value or range of the flag to be displayed can be given as the selection condition.

The CPU extracts houses that meet the selection conditions (step S34) and displays a map (step S36). The house can be extracted and displayed based on the position coordinate file. That is, a house whose accuracy recorded in the position coordinate file satisfies the above selection condition is extracted as a display target, and the mark for the house is displayed at the position coordinate recorded for the house.

In the figure, the difference in display mode according to the selection condition is illustrated. For example, the selection conditions are flag = 0, flag ≦ 2
Consider two ways. In the example in the drawing, when flag = 0, pin-shaped marks are displayed for two houses that meet this condition. If flag ≤ 2, flag =
Many houses corresponding to 0, 1, and 2 are displayed. The shape, color, etc. of the mark may be changed by the flags 0, 1, 2. Here, the case where the flag is used as the selection condition has been illustrated, but another accuracy index may be used as the selection condition.

E. Effect: According to the system of the present embodiment described above, the accuracy index is presented together with the position coordinates. Therefore, the user can objectively judge the accuracy of the set position coordinates, and can utilize the position coordinates after considering the error and the like.

In the system of this embodiment, the nearest base and telephone number are also presented. Therefore, it becomes possible to more effectively use the position coordinates, such as confirming the distribution of customers in relation to the bases and making telephone contact. In this case, the position coordinate accuracy index can also be used as the accuracy index for the nearest base.

When the map is displayed, the display of the dwellings can be controlled according to the selection condition based on the accuracy index, so that the distribution of the dwellings can be visually grasped according to the accuracy index.

F. Modified Example: In the embodiment, the case where the position coordinate is searched from the address file and the accuracy index is set is illustrated. The present invention can also be configured as a system that sets an accuracy index for a file in which position coordinates have already been set for an address file. In such a case, for the data for which the flag shown in step S12 of FIG. 2 has been set, the accuracy index can be set by performing the processing from step S14. If the flag is not set, the accuracy index can be set by re-executing the entire process of FIG.

In the embodiment, the accuracy index display can take various forms. In addition to the map display shown in FIG. 5, it may be presented in the table format shown in FIG.
Although FIG. 5 illustrates the selection condition based on the accuracy index,
The selection condition based on the nearest base may be used together.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the above control processing may be realized by hardware as well as software.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coordinate assigning system as an example.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a position coordinate setting process.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the number of dwellings.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the size of a region.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of map display processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Computer 102 ... Address file input section 104 ... Position search unit 106 ... Address database 107 ... Telephone number database 108 ... Accuracy index setting unit 110 ... Position coordinate output section 200 ... Computer 202 ... Position coordinate file input section 204 ... Map database 206 ... Command input section 208 ... Map display section

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate providing device for associating position coordinates based on address information, wherein an input unit for inputting address information and a database in which address information and position coordinates are associated in advance are referred to for the input. The position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the address information, the coordinate specifying unit that also allows partial matching to search, an index setting unit that sets an accuracy index indicating the accuracy of the specifying result, the position coordinates and A coordinate assigning device comprising: an output unit that outputs an accuracy index. 2. The coordinate assigning device according to claim 1, wherein the index setting unit acquires the number of dwellings satisfying the condition in the search from the database, and calculates the accuracy index based on the number of dwellings. Coordinate assigning device to be set. 3. The coordinate assigning device according to claim 1, wherein the index setting unit is configured to perform the accurate determination based on a parameter indicating a size of an area including a place where a house satisfying a condition in the search exists. Coordinate assigning device for setting a sex index. 4. The coordinate assignment device according to claim 1, wherein the address information is hierarchically configured based on administrative divisions, and the index setting unit is a layer of administrative divisions used for the search. A coordinate assignment device that sets the accuracy index based on the above. 5. The coordinate assigning device according to claim 1, wherein a base extracting unit that refers to a map database and extracts a base name of a preset specific type in the vicinity of the representative point. The coordinate providing device, wherein the output unit also outputs the site name. 6. The coordinate assigning device according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate specifying unit further refers to a telephone number database in which address information and telephone numbers are associated in advance, and inputs the input. A coordinate assigning device that also retrieves a telephone number corresponding to the address information, and outputs the telephone number together. 7. A map display device for displaying a map based on a map database, wherein the position coordinates of a representative point to be superimposed and displayed on the map are associated with the accuracy index of the position coordinates. A reference unit that refers to the coordinate database, a condition input unit that inputs a selection condition for selecting a representative point to be displayed based on the accuracy index, and a representative point that corresponds to the selection condition is extracted from the position coordinate database. And a display control unit that displays the map and displays the extracted representative points in an overlapping manner. 8. A coordinate assigning method for associating position coordinates based on address information using a computer, wherein a step of inputting address information and a database in which address information and position coordinates are associated with each other are referred to. The position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information, the step of searching while also allowing partial matching, the step of setting the accuracy index representing the accuracy of the specific result, the position coordinates and And a step of outputting the accuracy index and the coordinate assigning method. 9. A map display method for displaying a map based on a map database, wherein a position in which a position coordinate of a representative point to be displayed on the map is associated with an accuracy index of the position coordinate. A step of preparing a coordinate database, a step of inputting a selection condition for selecting a representative point to be displayed based on the accuracy index, and a step of extracting a representative point corresponding to the selection condition from the position coordinate database And a step of displaying the map and displaying the extracted representative points in an overlapping manner. 10. A computer program for associating position coordinates on the basis of address information by using a computer, which refers to a function for inputting address information and a database in which address information and position coordinates are associated in advance. Then, the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information, a function of allowing partial matching to search, a function of setting an accuracy index indicating the accuracy of the specific result, the position coordinates And a computer program for realizing the function of outputting the accuracy index by a computer. 11. A computer program for displaying a map based on a map database, wherein the position coordinates of a representative point to be displayed on the map are associated with the accuracy index of the position coordinates. A function of referring to the position coordinate database, a function of inputting a selection condition for selecting a representative point to be displayed based on the accuracy index, and a function of extracting a representative point corresponding to the selection condition from the position coordinate database. And a computer program that realizes, by a computer, a function of displaying the map and displaying the extracted representative points in an overlapping manner.