JP2004085807A - Image distribution device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image distribution device and method which makes it possible to offer intuitively intelligible guidance images quickly and with a comparatively small-scale device, etc. <P>SOLUTION: This image distribution device and method distributes still image data which can be displayed by being scrolled or continuously displayed in a client device and data for displaying a relevant information displaying area which provides relevant information on still images by being chosen by the client device. The still images can be made to be panorama images or slide images which can be displayed by being scrolled in the client device and animation images which can be continuously displayed in the client device. Moreover, another related still image data may be simultaneously distributed to the client device in addition to the still images and it may be possible to constitute the another still image data with scenic images and map images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image distribution apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image distribution apparatus and method suitable for displaying a still image or the like on a portable terminal and performing route guidance or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a customer is invited to his / her business office or the like, or when a customer is invited to his / her home, a response has been made by sending a map or giving an oral explanation by telephone or the like.
[0003]
However, in many cases, it is not easy for a customer or the like to reach a destination only by a map or a verbal explanation. In view of such a problem, for example, JP-A-2002-149876, JP-A-2002-63093, For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-33269 discloses a route guidance system using a terminal such as a mobile phone.
[0004]
The route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-149876 realizes low cost, easy-to-understand and efficient route provision using a cellular phone or the like using packet communication. When the user accesses from the wireless terminal, the screen information of the continuous screen of the route information is sequentially stored in the communication packet, and the communication packet is sequentially transmitted to the wireless terminal according to an input instruction from the wireless terminal of the user.
[0005]
On the other hand, a route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-63093 discloses a map information server device, an advertisement information server device, and a client device connected to a network in order to efficiently and promptly provide map information specialized for route guidance. A connection is made, map information specialized for route guidance is displayed on the client device, and appropriate advertisement information corresponding to the user attribute information is provided to the client side. Here, the client device is a mobile communication terminal or a fixed terminal having a position information detecting function, and the map information server device is a user information receiving unit, a simplified map generating unit, a two-point route calculating unit, a landmark selection. Unit, a map synthesis unit, and a map information distribution unit.
[0006]
In addition, the route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-33269 provides a three-dimensional route guidance image that is intuitive to the user in the electronic map information processing system. Input, a route search is performed on the residential electronic map to generate two-dimensional route data, and from the two-dimensional route data, viewpoint data indicating a viewpoint in three-dimensional coordinates of a three-dimensional image to be displayed on the route and a reproduction order are generated. On the basis of the viewpoint data, a three-dimensional map having an effective visual field is extracted from the three-dimensional map data to generate a three-dimensional image on a route, and the three-dimensional image is presented to a user.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-149876, the user can obtain a screen of the route while moving to the destination, but the route is not visual guidance but the route is expressed by a sentence. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not easy to reach the destination.
[0008]
Further, the route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-63093 only displays a map, a route, a landmark, and the like on the client device, and needs to go to the destination while comparing the surrounding scenery with the map. However, there is a problem that it is not always easy for the user to reach the destination.
[0009]
Furthermore, the route guidance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-33269 provides a three-dimensional route guidance image that is intuitive and intuitive to the user, so that it is relatively easy to reach the destination. When extracting a three-dimensional map of the effective field of view from the map data to generate a three-dimensional image on the route and presenting the three-dimensional image to the user, the amount of data processing becomes enormous, so that quick processing is required. There is a problem that it is difficult or the size of an information providing device such as a server increases.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems in the above-described conventional route guidance system, and makes it possible to provide an intuitively easy-to-understand route guidance image using a quick and relatively small-scale device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image distribution apparatus and method for performing the above.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image distribution device, which provides still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on a client device and related information by selecting the still image on the still image by the client device. An image data distribution unit for distributing data for displaying the related information display area, and a related information corresponding to the related information display area when the client apparatus selects the related information display area on the still image. A related information distribution unit that distributes information to the client device. This allows the client device to receive the related information by selecting the related information display area while scrolling or continuously displaying the still image.
[0012]
In the image distribution device, the still image distributed from the image data distribution unit may be a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device.
[0013]
The still image distributed from the image data distribution unit may be an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device.
[0014]
Further, the image data distribution unit can simultaneously distribute still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image. As a result, two still images can be simultaneously displayed on the client device.
[0015]
Further, a still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device can be a landscape image, and the other still image can be a map image. Thus, it is possible to perform route guidance and the like while simultaneously referring to the landscape image and the map image.
[0016]
Further, the scrollable landscape image in the client device is set as a panoramic image, and the image data distribution unit displays, on the map image, view display distance area data for displaying the view and distance of the panoramic image from the client device. It can also be configured to distribute to the client device. This allows the user of the client device to easily determine from which direction on the map the user is viewing the panoramic image and the distance to the target location.
[0017]
In addition to the above, the present invention relates to an image distribution method, comprising: still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on a client device; and related information for providing related information on the still image by selecting the still image data by the client device. And distributing data for displaying a display area, and distributing related information corresponding to the related information display area to the client apparatus when the related information display area on the still image is selected by the client apparatus. It is characterized by the following. This allows the client device to provide related information by selecting a related information display area while scrolling or continuously displaying a still image.
[0018]
In the image distribution method, the still image may be a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device.
[0019]
The still image may be an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device.
[0020]
Further, the still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image can be simultaneously delivered to the client device. As a result, two still images can be simultaneously displayed on the client device.
[0021]
Still further, a still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device can be a landscape image, and the other still image can be a map image. Thus, it is possible to perform route guidance and the like while simultaneously referring to the landscape image and the map image.
[0022]
The scrollable landscape image in the client device may be a panoramic image, and view display distance area data for displaying the view and distance of the panoramic image from the client device may be distributed on the map image. This allows the user of the client device to easily determine from which direction on the map the user is viewing the panoramic image and the distance to the target location.
[0023]
Further, the present invention is a computer program, comprising: still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on a client device; and a related information display area for providing related information on the still image by selecting by the client device. An image distribution method for distributing data to be displayed and, when the related information display area on the still image is selected by the client apparatus, distributing related information corresponding to the related information display area to the client apparatus; Is executed by a computer. This allows the client device to provide related information by selecting a related information display area while scrolling or continuously displaying a still image.
[0024]
Here, the still image may be a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device, or may be an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device.
[0025]
In addition, the computer program may simultaneously deliver still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image to the client device. As a result, two still images can be simultaneously displayed on the client device.
[0026]
Further, a still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device may be a landscape image, and the other still image may be a map image. Thus, it is possible to perform route guidance and the like while simultaneously referring to the landscape image and the map image.
[0027]
Further, it is also possible to set a scrollable landscape image in the client device as a panoramic image, and to distribute, on the map image, view display distance area data indicating a view and a distance of the panoramic image from the client device. This allows the user of the client device to easily determine from which direction on the map the user is viewing the panoramic image and the distance to the target location.
[0028]
Still further, the present invention relates to a portable terminal, wherein a still image data which can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the portable terminal from the image distribution device, and related information which provides related information by selecting on the still image A receiving unit that receives data for displaying a display area, a display unit that displays the still image and the related information display area, an input unit that selects the related information display area, and an association that is selected by the input unit. A distribution unit that distributes a related information request signal corresponding to the information display area to the image distribution device. Thereby, the related information can be obtained by selecting the related information display area while scrolling or continuously displaying the still image in the portable terminal.
[0029]
The present invention is also a computer program, comprising: a still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the portable terminal from an image distribution device; and a related information display that provides related information by selecting on the still image. Receiving data for displaying an area, displaying the still image and the related information display area, selecting the related information display area, and transmitting the related information request signal corresponding to the selected related information display area to the image distribution. The distribution to the device is performed by a computer in the portable terminal. Thereby, the related information can be obtained by selecting the related information display area while scrolling or continuously displaying the still image in the portable terminal.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an example will be described in which the image distribution apparatus and method according to the present invention are used for providing guidance information.
[0031]
FIG. 1 shows an entire system for realizing an image distribution method according to the present invention. This image distribution system includes an image distribution server (hereinafter, abbreviated as “server”) 1 and this server 1. And portable terminals 3 (3A, 3B,...) Such as portable computers and mobile phones connected via the network 2.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 2, the server 1 includes four databases: an electronic map database (such as a general-purpose house electronic map) 17, a landscape information database 18, a map information database 19, and a user information database 20. The landscape information database 18 records landscape image data, azimuth information data, link information data, and wiper information data. The map information database 19 stores map image data, azimuth information data, and link information data. Is recorded.
[0033]
In addition, the server 1 includes a user information receiving unit 11 that receives the current location information and the destination information input by the user from the mobile terminal 3, a route calculation unit 13 that calculates the current location of the user and an intermediate route between the destination, A route guidance data selection unit 14 that selects the route guidance data at a point on the route calculated by the route calculation unit 13 from the landscape information database 18 and the map information database 19, and each of the roads selected by the route guidance data selection unit 14. A guidance data synthesizing unit 15 for synthesizing guidance data, and a guidance data distribution unit (image data distribution unit, related information distribution unit) 12 for distributing the guidance data synthesized by the guidance data synthesizing unit 15 to the mobile terminal 3. And a control unit 16 that controls the entire server 1.
[0034]
The network 2 is a wired or wireless network such as the Internet or a public telephone line network.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 3 includes an input unit 34 for inputting current location information and destination information, and a user information distribution unit for distributing the input current location information and destination information to the server 1 via the network 2. 32, a guidance data receiving unit 31 for receiving guidance data from the server 1, a display unit 35 for displaying a landscape image and the like from the guidance data receiving unit 31, and converting voice data from the server 1 into voice. An audio output unit 36 for outputting the data, a storage device 37, and a control unit 33 for controlling the entire device.
[0036]
FIG. 4 shows an overall processing flow of the route guidance information providing method according to the present invention.
[0037]
In step S <b> 1, the user inputs the current location and the destination from the mobile terminal 3 and requests the server 1 for route guidance. Then, in step S2, the server 1 first calculates a route from the input current location to the destination using the electronic map database 17. Next, in step S3, the server 1 selects the route guidance data corresponding to the current location by the route guidance data selection unit 14 using the landscape information database 18 and the map information database 19, and selects the selected landscape image data, The direction guidance data combining unit 15 combines direction information data, link information data, wiper information data, map image data, direction information data, and route guidance data such as link information data. Then, the combined route guidance data is delivered from the route guidance data delivery unit 12 to the portable terminal 3. Thus, the user can display the current location guidance data on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3 as shown in FIG. 5, for example.
[0038]
Next, in step S5, when the user requests the route guidance data of a point on the next route via the mobile terminal 3, the server 1 proceeds to step S6. Is obtained by searching the landscape information database 18 and the map information database 19 by the road guidance data selection unit 14 by using the road guidance data selection unit 14, and the selected landscape image data, azimuth information data, link information data, The guidance data such as the wiper information data, the map image data, the azimuth information data, and the link information data are combined by the guidance data combining unit 15, and in step S7, the combined guidance data is combined with the guidance data distribution unit. 12 to the mobile terminal 3. Thereby, the user can display the guidance data of the next point on the route of the current location on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3.
[0039]
Then, in step S8, when the user has reached the destination, the route guidance is ended, and when the user has not reached the destination, the process returns to step S5 to repeat the above operation.
[0040]
Next, a method of displaying guidance data on the portable terminal 3 and a method of operating the portable terminal 3 as features of the present invention will be described.
[0041]
At the current location, the point on the route connecting the current location and the destination, and the destination, the visibility is relatively narrow, such as the exit of a building such as a shopping street where many buildings are lined up, or there are no tall buildings around. Points with a wide field of view, such as intersections, are mixed. Therefore, in the present invention, at a point where the field of view is relatively wide, it is possible to transmit a landscape image having a wide width in the horizontal direction to the mobile terminal 3 (see FIG. 3) and display it on the display unit 35 of the mobile terminal 3. I have.
[0042]
For example, in the case of an exit of a station having a wide view as shown in FIG. 9, a panoramic image 40 having a 180 ° view is distributed from the server 1 to the portable terminal 3 and displayed on the display unit 35 of the portable terminal 3. 5 to 7, instead of displaying the entire panoramic image, the display unit 35 of the mobile terminal 3 displays a part 41 of the panoramic image and simultaneously displays a map image 42. . Then, by performing a scroll operation in the input unit 34, the panoramic image 40 (see FIG. 9) can be viewed while scrolling.
[0043]
In the map image 42 of the mobile terminal 3, visibility display distance area data (hereinafter, referred to as “wiper information”) 43 corresponding to the scenery displayed on the screen is displayed. The wiper information 43 indicates which direction the user of the portable terminal 3 is facing on the map image 42, and the distance to the target location. For example, as shown in FIG. Further, the distance is displayed by dividing the inside of the wiper into three areas. It is preferable that the distance is not displayed on the wiper but is displayed as another legend.
[0044]
In addition to a landscape image such as a panoramic image, route display data 44 such as “Enter the front road after leaving the station” is displayed on the display unit 35, and such contents are transmitted via the audio output unit 36. By outputting the voice, the effect of the route guidance can be maximized.
[0045]
On the map image 42, in addition to the wiper information 43, related information display areas 45 (45A to 45D) such as rectangles, ellipses, icons, and straight lines are arranged. When the input unit 34 of the mobile terminal 3 selects this area, related information (link information) is displayed. That is, the selection of the input unit 34 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the mobile terminal 3 to deliver a related information request signal to the server 1. To deliver. These related information display areas 45 can be moved in accordance with the scroll of the panoramic image 40. For example, when an icon is used, a coffee cup icon 45C is placed at the position of a coffee shop, and when the input unit 34 of the mobile terminal 3 selects the coffee cup icon 45C, a slide image inside the coffee shop or a slide of a product is displayed. An image can be displayed on the display unit 35. The related information includes, for example, a panoramic image of a selected place, a slide image showing the inside of a store, and an animation image of a product placed in the store.
[0046]
In addition to the above-described panoramic image having a 180 ° field of view, a panoramic image having a 90 °, 120 °, 180 °, and 360 ° field of view can be recorded in the landscape information database 18. This panoramic image can be easily obtained by stitching a plurality of still images using existing software. In addition, when the field of view is narrow, an image captured by an ordinary digital camera or the like can be used without intentionally using a panoramic image.
[0047]
In the above embodiment, the case where the panoramic image 40 is distributed as a still image has been described. Alternatively, an animation image and a slide image may be distributed. An animated image is, for example, an image obtained by continuously photographing an image in which a landscape is gradually enlarged, and by continuously displaying the image, the user feels as if the user is moving in the traveling direction. Or an image in which one article is continuously photographed at slightly different angles, and is displayed continuously so that the article appears to be rotating. Further, the slide image is an image in which different articles or the like are continuously displayed. These images can be displayed on the display unit 35 of the mobile terminal 3 together with the map image 42 described above.
[0048]
Further, in the above embodiment, the user inputs the current location using the mobile terminal 3. However, when the mobile terminal 3 is provided with a position information detecting function such as GPS, the user inputs his / her current location. Of course, there is no need.
[0049]
In the above-described embodiment, the route between the current location and the destination is calculated by the general-purpose electronic map database 17 and the route calculation unit 13. However, for example, a predetermined departure point and a predetermined destination such as a store or a business place may be used. Are recorded in a database in advance, and when the predetermined departure point and the predetermined destination are input by the user via the mobile terminal 3, the route guidance corresponding to the pre-recorded route is provided. It is also possible to configure so that data is distributed from the route guidance data distribution unit 12 of the server 1 to the portable terminal 3.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, the case where the image distribution apparatus and the method according to the present invention are used for providing guidance information has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to providing guidance information. It is needless to say that the provision of other information can be dealt with.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image distribution apparatus and method capable of providing an intuitive and easy-to-understand route guidance image and the like by a quick and relatively small-scale apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration for realizing an embodiment of an image distribution method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image distribution device (server) according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a client device (portable terminal) according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an image distribution method according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of image data on the portable terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of image data on the portable terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of image data on the portable terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing wiper information of image data in the portable terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a panoramic image displayed on the mobile terminal according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 server 2 network 3 (3A, 3B) mobile terminal 11 user information receiving unit 12 guide data distribution unit 13 route calculation unit 14 guide data selection unit 15 guide data synthesis unit 16 control unit 17 electronic map database 18 landscape information database 19 Map information database 20 User information database 31 Guide data receiving unit 32 User information distribution unit 33 Control unit 34 Input unit 35 Display unit 36 Audio output unit 37 Storage device 40 Panorama image 41 Part of panorama image 42 Map image 43 Wiper information 44 Route display data 45 (45A to 45D) Related information display area

Claims (20)

Image data distribution for distributing still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on a client device and data for displaying a related information display area that provides related information by selecting the client device on the still image Department and
And a related information delivery unit that delivers related information corresponding to the related information display area to the client device when the related information display area on the still image is selected by the client device. Image distribution device. The image distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the still image distributed from the image data distribution unit is a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device. The image distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the still image distributed from the image data distribution unit is an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device. 3. The image data distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein the client device simultaneously distributes still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image. 3. The image distribution device according to 3. The image distribution device according to claim 4, wherein the still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device is a landscape image, and the other still image is a map image. The scrollable landscape image in the client device is a panoramic image, and the image data distribution unit displays, on the map image, view display distance area data for displaying the view and distance of the panoramic image from the client device. 6. The image distribution device according to claim 5, wherein the image distribution device distributes the image data to the client device. The client device distributes still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed in the client device and data for displaying a related information display area that provides related information by selecting the client device on the still image, When the related information display area on the still image is selected by the device, related information corresponding to the related information display area is delivered to the client device. The image distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the still image is a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device. The method according to claim 7, wherein the still image is an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device. 10. The still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image are simultaneously delivered to the client device. Image distribution method. The image distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device is a landscape image, and the other still image is a map image. The scrollable landscape image in the client device is a panoramic image, and on the map image, a view display distance area data that displays a view and a distance of the panoramic image from the client device is delivered. The image distribution method according to claim 11, wherein Still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device, and data for displaying a related information display area that provides related information by selecting by the client device on the still image,
When a related information display area on the still image is selected by the client device, a computer executes an image distribution method of distributing related information corresponding to the related information display region to the client device. Computer program. 14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein the still image is a panoramic image or a slide image that can be scrolled and displayed on the client device. 14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein the still image is an animation image that can be continuously displayed on the client device. 16. The still image data which can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device and another still image data related to the still image are simultaneously delivered to the client device. Computer program. 17. The computer program according to claim 16, wherein the still image that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the client device is a landscape image, and the other still image is a map image. The scrollable landscape image in the client device is a panoramic image, and on the map image, a view display distance area data that displays a view and a distance of the panoramic image from the client device is delivered. The computer program according to claim 17, Reception for receiving, from the image distribution device, still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the mobile terminal and data for displaying a related information display area that provides related information by selecting the still image on the still image Department and
A display unit that displays the still image and the related information display area,
An input unit for selecting the related information display area,
A mobile terminal, comprising: a delivery unit that delivers a related information request signal corresponding to the related information display area selected by the input unit to the image delivery device. From the image distribution device, receiving still image data that can be scrolled or continuously displayed on the portable terminal and data for displaying a related information display area that provides related information by selecting on the still image,
Displaying the still image and the related information display area,
Select the related information display area,
A computer program for causing a computer in a portable terminal to execute distribution of a related information request signal corresponding to a selected related information display area to the image distribution device.

Images