JP2004184782A - Map information acquisition system, map information acquisition method, map information display terminal and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map information acquisition system, a map information providing method, a map information display terminal and program which enable a user to easily acquire detailed map information. <P>SOLUTION: A map information acquisition system 10 includes a map information display terminal 100 and a map information providing server 200. The map information display terminal 100 includes a display part 120 on which map information is displayed and, when the map information is displayed on the display part 120, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided areas. The map information display terminal 100 acquires the detailed map information of one divided area among the plurality of the divided areas from the map information providing server 200 in response to the request of a user and causes the display part 120 to display the detailed map information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map information acquisition system for displaying map information on a display unit of a terminal, a map information providing method, a map information display terminal, and a program.
[Prior art]
Currently, a service for displaying map information is provided on a display unit of an information processing terminal (for example, a mobile terminal). For example, there is a service in which a map information providing server transmits map information to a mobile phone based on a request from the mobile phone, and the map information is displayed on a display unit of the mobile phone.
[0002]
However, in this case, if you want to see more detailed information, you open the menu screen, etc., and then specify the item of detailing and refine it, so it takes time and effort to reach the required map information It took time.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a map information acquisition system, a map information providing method, a map information display terminal, and a program that can easily acquire detailed map information.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
1. Map information acquisition system [0003]
The map information acquisition system of the present invention comprises:
A map information acquisition system including a map information display terminal and a map information providing server,
The map information display terminal includes a display unit that displays map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal acquires, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and causes the display unit to display the map information. .
[0004]
Here, the “detailed map information” means more detailed map information. For example, as an example of the detailed map information, there is map information having a smaller scale.
[0005]
According to the present invention, more detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas is acquired from the map information providing server and displayed on the display unit in response to a request from the user. For this reason, the user can obtain detailed map information by designating the divided area to be detailed, so that the detailed information can be easily displayed on the display unit.
[0006]
In the present invention, the map information display terminal includes a plurality of designation units corresponding to each of the plurality of division regions, and a divided region to be detailed is determined based on an instruction from the user to the designation unit. Can be As a result, the user can reliably specify the divided area to be detailed through the specifying unit.
[0007]
Further, in the present invention, the map information display terminal obtains, from the map information providing server, map information in a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit, in response to the request of the user, A means for displaying information on the display unit may be included. As a result, map information outside the range of the displayed map information can be acquired, and convenience for the user increases.
[0008]
Further, in the present invention, the map information display terminal may be a mobile phone, and the plurality of designation units may include an input unit of the mobile phone. That is, according to the present invention, detailed map information can be obtained by designating a divided area to be detailed, which is suitable for a mobile phone having a limited interface.
[0009]
Further, in the present invention, in the case where the designation section comprises a number input section, the map information display terminal has to give an instruction before displaying predetermined map information, starting from the map information that covers the widest range. A group of numbers that must be entered, the unit including a unit that transmits the group of numbers input by the user to the map information providing server; and a unit that acquires the predetermined map information provided from the map information providing terminal. Can be. As a result, once obtained map information can be obtained again only by inputting a group of numbers.
[0010]
Another map information acquisition system of the present invention includes:
A map information acquisition system including a map information display terminal and a map information providing server,
The map information display terminal includes a display unit that displays map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal, according to a request of the user, maps information such that one of the plurality of divided areas displayed on the display unit is located at the center of the map information providing server. And displays the map information on the display unit.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the range of the map information can be changed with one button. Further, since the map information in which the designated divided area is located at the center is obtained, the range of the map information to be obtained can be predicted.
[0012]
2. Map information acquisition method [0013]
The map information acquisition method of the present invention comprises:
A step of displaying, on a display unit of the map information display terminal, the map information obtained from the map information providing server, wherein the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed;
The map information display terminal obtains, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and displays the map information on the display unit. Steps.
[0014]
Another map information acquisition method of the present invention includes:
A step of displaying, on a display unit of the map information display terminal, the map information obtained from the map information providing server, wherein the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed;
The map information display terminal sends, from the map information providing server, map information such that one of the plurality of divided regions displayed on the display unit is located at the center in response to the request of the user. Acquiring the map information and displaying the map information on the display unit.
[0015]
3. Map information display terminal [0016]
The map information display terminal of the present invention comprises:
[0017]
A map information display terminal including a display unit for displaying map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal acquires, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and causes the display unit to display the map information. .
[0018]
Another map information display terminal of the present invention,
[0019]
A map information display terminal including a display unit for displaying map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal reads, in response to a request from the user, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided regions from a storage unit in which the map information is stored, and reads the map information. Display on the section.
[0020]
4. Program [0021]
The program of the present invention
[0022]
A computer usable program,
[0023]
A storage unit that stores map information and a display unit that displays the map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed.
Means for reading out the detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas from the storage unit and displaying the map information on the display unit in response to a user request. .
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
1. First Embodiment
1-1 Configuration of Map Information Acquisition System
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a map information acquisition system.
[0028]
The map information acquisition system 10 includes a map information display terminal 100 and a map information providing server 200. The map information display terminal 100 and the map information providing server 200 are connected to a communication network (for example, a mobile communication network, the Internet) 300. The map information display terminal 100 and the map information providing server 200 communicate information via the communication network 300. Transmission and reception are performed.
[0029]
The map information display terminal 100 includes a receiving unit 110, a display unit 120, a transmitting unit 130, a processing unit 140, and a specifying unit 150. Specifically, the map information display terminal 100 can be composed of a mobile phone (for example, a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy phone system)), a personal computer, a PDA (mobile terminal), and the like.
[0030]
The receiving unit 110 has a function of receiving the map information data transmitted by the map information providing server 200.
[0031]
The display unit 120 has a function of displaying the received map information. As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 120 displays the map information divided into a plurality of divided areas. The display unit 120 is not particularly limited as long as it can display map information, and examples thereof include a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, and a CRT display device.
[0032]
The transmitting unit 130 has a function of transmitting information to the map information providing server.
[0033]
The processing unit 140 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The transmitting unit 140 has a function of transmitting a request signal of a user of the map information display terminal 100 to the map information providing server 200.
[0034]
The specifying unit 150 is associated with each of the divided regions of the map information to be detailed, and has a function of specifying the divided region that the user of the map information display terminal 100 wants to detailed. The designating section 150 can be composed of, for example, an input section of a map information display terminal (for example, an input button in the case of a portable terminal, and a keyboard key in the case of a personal computer). There is no particular limitation on how to designate the designation unit 150 as long as it can designate a divided area of the map information to be detailed which is instructed by the user, and the user designates the divided area by voice. Is also good. When the user specifies the divided area by voice, a recognition unit (for example, a microphone) that can recognize the voice is required.
[0035]
The map information providing server 200 includes a processing unit 210, a transmission unit 220, a reception unit 230, and a map information storage unit 240. The processing unit 210 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The transmission unit 220 has a function of transmitting map information to the map information display terminal 100. The receiving unit 230 has a function of receiving information transmitted from the map information display terminal 100. The map information storage unit 240 stores map information.
[0036]
1-2 Operation of Map Information Acquisition System
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the map information acquisition system.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 2, the map information display terminal 100 transmits a request for obtaining predetermined map information to the map information providing server 200 (S110). Next, in response to the request, the map information providing server 200 transmits the map information to the map information display terminal 100 (S120). As a specific example of steps 110 and 120, when the user of the map information display terminal 100 wants to obtain map information of his / her own location, for example, position information obtained by a GPS (Global Positioning System) device or the like, The postal code or the like is transmitted to the map information providing server 200, and the map information providing server 200 transmits map information data relating to the position to the map information display terminal 100.
[0039]
Next, when the map information display terminal 100 receives the map information data, the processing section 140 processes the map information data and displays the map information on the display section 120 (S130). As shown in FIG. 3, the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas (for example, 1 to 9) and displayed. Since the divided areas (1 to 9) correspond to the elements of the designated section, it is preferable that the number of divisions does not exceed the number of elements of the designated section (for example, the number of buttons).
[0040]
Next, when the user of the map information display terminal 100 specifies one of the divided areas, the specified information is transmitted to the map information providing server 200 (S140). The map information providing server 200 that has received the information transmits the map information data obtained by refining the area specified by the user to the map information display terminal 100 (S150). The map information display terminal 100 that has received the detailed map information data displays the detailed map information on the display unit 120 (S160). This detailed map information data is also divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed.
[0041]
Steps S130 to S160 will be described more specifically. A case where map information is divided into nine and displayed on the display unit 120 will be considered. First, the user presses an input button (recognition unit) associated with a divided area to be detailed. In the example of FIG. 3, the divided areas 1 to 9 correspond to the buttons 1 to 9 of the map information display terminal 100, respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, if the user wants to detail the divided area 3, the user presses the button 3 of the map information display terminal 100. The map information display terminal 100 transmits the information of the divided area requested to be refined to the map information providing server 200, and the map information providing server 200 transmits the detailed information of the divided area to the map information display terminal 100. The map information display terminal 100 displays the detailed information (3-1 to 3-9) on the display unit 120. The cycle of steps S130 to S160 differs depending on the amount of map information held by the map information providing server 200. However, within the range of the amount of map information, until the user obtains detailed map information that is necessary for the user. You can continue.
[0042]
1-3 Advantageous Effects According to the present embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the map information is divided and displayed on the display unit 120, and by specifying the divided area to be detailed, the detailed map information on the specified divided area can be obtained. Therefore, more detailed map information can be obtained only by the operation of designating the divided area to be detailed, so that detailed map information can be easily obtained.
[0044]
In addition, by setting the number of divisions to be small (for example, 9), this system can be sufficiently used even by a mobile phone having a limited interface, and therefore, also has technical significance in this respect.
[0045]
Further, the number of divisions of the map information is preferably nine. Since the number of divisions of the map information is 9, the numbers of the buttons of the mobile phone are 1 to 9 and the numbers of the keys of the keyboard of the personal computer are also 1 to 9; Because of this, there is an advantage that input is easy and there are few mistakes.
[0046]
1-4 Modification Example
(1) The map information display terminal 100 acquires, from the map information providing server 200, map information in a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit 120 in response to a user request, as shown in FIG. A means for displaying map information on the display unit 120 may be provided. For example, by pressing a button (for example, a 0 button) other than the button corresponding to the divided area, map information in a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit 120 may be displayed on the display unit 120.
[0048]
(2) As means for dividing the map information, the map information data may be stored in a divided state in the map information providing server 200, or after the map information display terminal 100 receives the map information data, Processing for dividing may be performed.
[0049]
(3) In the case where the designation unit 150 is composed of numeric input buttons, the map information display terminal 100 starts from the map information that covers the widest range, and indicates the numbers that must be instructed before displaying the predetermined map information. A group, which is a group of numbers input by the user, may be transmitted to the map information providing server 200, and the map information may be acquired and displayed on the display unit 120. Specifically, from the map information covering the widest range shown in FIG. 5, in order to display the area A on the entire display unit 120, it is necessary to sequentially press, for example, 5 → 5 → 5 → 5 → 2 → 3. Then, a function of acquiring map information for displaying the area A on the entire display unit 120 by inputting and transmitting “555523” may be further added. In this case, the map information covering the widest range may be map information covering the whole of Japan, depending on the map information stored in the map information providing server 200. As a result, once obtained map information can be obtained again only by inputting a group of numbers.
[0050]
(4) Display colors may be changed in adjacent divided regions. This makes it easier to recognize each of the divided areas.
[0051]
1-5 Application example
By using the map information acquisition system 10, the user can specify the position of the user of the map information display terminal 100 and notify the position information to a third party. For example, by transmitting the position information of the user to a terminal of a taxi company or a terminal in a taxi via the communication network 300, the user can inform the taxi of his / her position.
[0053]
It can also be used to inform a third party of a meeting place. Specifically, by transmitting from the map information display terminal 100 to the mobile terminal of the partner, the partner can be reliably notified of the meeting place.
[0054]
When notifying the location information, additional information of the user may be transmitted. For example, when a user makes a meeting, the user combines the characteristics of his or her clothes with the location information and transmits the information to the other party, so that the other party can easily find the user.
[0055]
2. Second Embodiment [0056]
As shown in FIG. 6, the map information display terminal 400 according to the second embodiment includes a processing unit (CPU) 410, a display unit 420, a designation unit 430, and a storage unit 440. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the map information 442 is stored in the storage unit 440 of the map information display terminal 400, and the map information is stored in the map information providing server 200. That is, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the map information is stored in the storage unit 440 of the map information display terminal 400 instead of acquiring the map information via the communication network 300. And different. The other points, specifically, the operation of acquiring detailed map information, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.
[0057]
Note that all the units of the present embodiment may be realized (executed) only by hardware, or may be realized by a program stored in an information storage medium or a program distributed via a communication interface. Is also good. Alternatively, it may be realized by both hardware and a program.
[0058]
When each unit of the present embodiment is realized by both hardware and a program, a program for realizing each unit using hardware is stored in information storage medium 450. . More specifically, the program instructs each processor, which is hardware, to perform a process, and passes data if necessary. Then, each processor or the like implements each unit based on the instruction and the passed data.
[0059]
3. Third Embodiment
In the map information acquisition system according to the third embodiment, the map information display terminal 100 transmits map information in a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit 120 in response to a user request. And displaying the map information on the display unit 120. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, by specifying the divided area A (for example, pressing a button of 0), map information such that the divided area A becomes the central divided area is obtained from the server. It has means for displaying map information on the display unit 120.
[0061]
Thereby, the range of the map information can be changed with one button. Further, since the map information in which the designated divided area is located at the center is acquired, the range of the map information to be acquired can be estimated.
[0062]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a map information acquisition system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a flowchart of the operation of the map information acquisition system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a display example of map information displayed on a display unit of the map information display terminal.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a modified example.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a modified example.
FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a map information display terminal according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a map information acquisition system according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Map information acquisition system 100 Map information display terminal 110 Receiving unit 120 Display unit 130 Transmitting unit 140 Processing unit 150 Designating unit 200 Map information providing server 210 Receiving unit 220 Transmitting unit 230 Processing unit 240 Map information storage unit 300 Communication network 400 Map information Display terminal 410 Processing unit 420 Display unit 430 Designation unit 440 Storage unit 442 Map information 450 Information storage medium

Claims (15)

A map information acquisition system including a map information display terminal and a map information providing server,
The map information display terminal includes a display unit that displays map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal acquires, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and causes the display unit to display the map information. , Map information acquisition system. In claim 1,
The map information display terminal includes a plurality of specifying units corresponding to each of the plurality of divided areas,
A map information acquisition system, wherein a divided area to be detailed is determined based on an instruction from the user to the designation unit. In claim 1 or 2,
The map information display terminal obtains, from the map information providing server, map information in a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit, and displays the map information on the display unit in response to a request from the user. A map information acquisition system including means. In claim 2,
The map information display terminal is a mobile phone,
The map information acquisition system, wherein the plurality of designation units are configured by an input unit of a mobile phone. In claim 2 or 4,
In the case where the designation section comprises a number input section,
The map information display terminal is a group of numbers that must be instructed before displaying predetermined map information, starting from the map information that covers the widest range, and the group of numbers input by the user is the map information. Means for transmitting to the providing server;
Means for acquiring the predetermined map information provided from the map information providing terminal. A map information acquisition system including a map information display terminal and a map information providing server,
The map information display terminal includes a display unit that displays map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal, according to a request of the user, maps information such that one of the plurality of divided areas displayed on the display unit is located at the center of the map information providing server. And displaying the map information on the display unit. A step of displaying, on a display unit of the map information display terminal, the map information obtained from the map information providing server, wherein the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed;
The map information display terminal obtains, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and displays the map information on the display unit. And a map information acquisition method. In claim 7,
The map information display terminal includes a plurality of specifying units corresponding to each of the plurality of divided areas,
A map information acquisition method, wherein a divided area to be detailed is determined based on an instruction from the user to the designation unit. In claim 7 or 8,
The map information display terminal obtains, from the map information providing server, map information of a wider range than the map information displayed on the display unit, and displays the map information on the display unit in response to the request of the user. A map information acquisition method including a step. In claim 8,
The map information display terminal is a mobile phone,
The map information providing method, wherein the plurality of specifying units are configured by a mobile phone input unit. In claim 8 or 10,
In the case where the designation section comprises a number input section,
The map information display terminal is a group of numbers that must be instructed before displaying predetermined map information, starting from the map information that covers the widest range, and the group of numbers input by the user is the map information. Sending to the providing server;
Obtaining the predetermined map information provided from the map information providing terminal. A step of displaying, on a display unit of the map information display terminal, the map information obtained from the map information providing server, wherein the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed;
The map information display terminal sends, from the map information providing server, map information such that one of the plurality of divided regions displayed on the display unit is located at the center in response to the request of the user. Acquiring the map information and displaying the map information on the display unit. A map information display terminal including a display unit for displaying map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal acquires, from the map information providing server, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas according to a request from the user, and causes the display unit to display the map information. , Map information display terminal. A map information display terminal including a display unit for displaying map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is displayed by being divided into a plurality of divided regions,
The map information display terminal reads, in response to a request from the user, detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided regions from a storage unit in which the map information is stored, and reads the map information. A map information display terminal characterized in that the map information display terminal is displayed on a display unit. A computer usable program,
A storage unit that stores map information and a display unit that displays the map information,
When the map information is displayed on the display unit, the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas and displayed.
A program for causing a computer to read out detailed map information of one of the plurality of divided areas from the storage unit and to display the map information on the display unit in response to a user request.

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