JP2004213191A - Map information provision system and portable terminal therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately grasp a present position by a cellphone without using position measuring information of a GPS. <P>SOLUTION: An on-street notice is attached to an electric pole or the like, and a QR code wherein positional information about its spot and an address of a map information server 4 are coded is placed in the notice. The QR code of the on-street notice is read by an information code reader of the cellphone 1, and the cellphone 1 is connected to the map information server 4 by the read address to transmit the positional information. The map information server 4 acquires map information about the periphery of the spot shown by the positional information from a map information storage device 28 on the basis of the positional information, and transmits the map information to the cellphone 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map information providing system that enables a portable terminal to acquire map information around a current position, and a portable terminal for the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some mobile phones have a GPS signal receiver. In this device, a GPS radio wave signal is received by a GPS signal receiver to acquire positioning data, which is transmitted to an information service center. Then, the information service center calculates a position based on the positioning data, and transmits map information around the position to the mobile phone.
[0003]
However, mobile phones equipped with GPS signal receivers are expensive.
In order to solve this problem, a mobile phone base station transmits map information of the entire service area, and a mobile phone can receive map information centered on the base station. (For example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-175251 A (page 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a system in which the mobile phone receives the map information transmitted from the base station, it can be understood that the location of the user is in the map (service area of the base station) displayed on the display. Its location is not easily known.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a map information providing system capable of accurately grasping a current position without using GPS positioning information and a portable terminal thereof. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, an optical information code of a position display means provided on a telephone pole or the like is read by a portable terminal to obtain position information of the point, and transmitted to the map information providing means via a communication network. Then, the map information providing means searches for the corresponding map information based on the position information and transmits the map information to the portable terminal. The mobile terminal displays the received map information on the display. With such a system, the current position can be easily grasped from the map information obtained by the portable terminal.
[0008]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the map information displayed on the display means of the portable terminal is based on the current position, the current position can be grasped more easily and more accurately.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the map information displayed on the display means of the portable terminal can be moved up, down, left and right (east, west, north and south) by scrolling operation. You can see all of the map information that came.
[0009]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information displayed by the optical information code of the position display means includes the address information of the map information providing means in addition to the position information of the point. It can be easily connected to the map information providing means via the Internet.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the position information of the optical information code of the position display means is represented by the map code, the map information providing means can easily search for the corresponding map information.
According to the invention of claim 6, the position of the desired portable terminal (the person carrying the portable terminal) can be known by another portable terminal.
[0010]
According to the invention of claim 7, a portable terminal having a function of acquiring map information around the current position is provided by, for example, reading an optical information code provided on a telephone pole and transmitting it to a map information providing means. be able to.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a map information providing system. As shown in FIG. 1, this system transmits position information from a mobile phone 1 as a mobile terminal to a communication network, in this embodiment, a mobile phone network. When the map information is transmitted to the map information server 4 as the map information providing means through the base station 2 and the Internet 3, the map information server 4 returns the map information around the position indicated by the position information to the mobile phone 1.
[0012]
The position information is acquired from a road sign 5 (see FIG. 5) attached to a telephone pole, a building, or the like standing along a road. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the posted article 5 is attached to a telephone pole 6. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a character indicating a place where the telephone pole 6 stands (an installation position of the road sign 5) and an optical information code such as a two-dimensional code A kind of QR code 7 is published.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 6B, in the QR code 7 described on the street sign 5, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the position information of the street sign 5 is coded and displayed by a normal address display from the prefecture name to the address. At the same time, the address information (URL) of the map information server 4 on the Internet 3 is coded and displayed. In the QR code 7, the position information display portion and the address information display portion are separated by a partitioning unit, for example, a code representing “* (asterisk)”.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows the two-fold type mobile phone 1 in an open state. The mobile phone 1 includes a main unit 8 and a flipper unit 9 connected to the main unit 8 so as to be openable and closable. A microphone 12 for inputting a transmission sound is provided. On the front side of the flipper unit 6, a main display 13 as a display means, a speaker 14 for outputting a received voice, and the like are provided. An antenna 15 and a sub-display 16 (see FIG. 2) are arranged on the back side of the flipper unit 9.
[0015]
Inside the main part 8, a CCD camera 18 is provided as an imaging means of the information code reading device 17 as the information code reading means. The CCD camera 18 includes an area sensor 19 in which CCD sensors are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a condensing lens 20 that forms an image of reflected light from a QR code to be read on the area sensor 19. I have.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration of the mobile phone 1. In FIG. 1, a control unit 21 as a control unit is configured by a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, and the like. The ROM 23 stores a program for decoding a QR code, a program for transmitting the decoded code information, and the like, in addition to a program for an original mobile communication. Therefore, the control unit 21 also functions as a decoding unit of the information code reading device 17.
[0017]
The control unit 21 has a microphone 12, a main display 13, a speaker 14, a sub-display 16, a CCD camera 18, a key switch 25 group operated by a group of keys 10, and a base station 2 via an antenna 15. A communication unit 26 as communication means for performing communication is connected. The main unit 5 houses a power supply battery 27.
[0018]
Among the key switches 25, the key switch 25a operated by the key indicated by 10a in FIG. 3 also functions as a trigger switch for operating the information code reader 17, and the key switch indicated by 10b in FIG. The key switch 25b operated by the key also functions as a trigger switch for transmitting the decoded position information to the map information server 4, and the key switch 25c to 25f operated by the key indicated by 10c (in FIG. 2) also functions as a scroll switch for scrolling the map information transmitted from the map information server 4.
[0019]
On the other hand, the map information server 4 includes a map information storage device 28 for storing map information, a log storage device 29 as log storage means for storing communication contents, and the like. Upon receiving the position information, the map information server 4 searches for a peripheral map of the position indicated by the position information based on the position information, and transmits the searched map information to a source of the position information. Has become. Further, the map information server 4 transmits the position information transmitted to the mobile phone 1 to the mobile phone 1 'in response to a request from another mobile phone 1'.
[0020]
Next, the operation when the map information around the current position is acquired using the above-described system will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
For example, if you are walking in a town and want to know where you are now, look for the nearest street sign 5. Then, the user directs the condenser lens 20 of the mobile phone 1 to the QR code 7 posted on the found road sign 5 and operates the key switch 10a. Then, the information code reading trigger switch 25a of the group of key switches 25 is operated, and the image of the QR code 7 is taken into the mobile phone 1 (imaging). The capture of the QR code image is performed by the reflected light from the QR code 7 of the road sign 5 being condensed by the condenser lens 20 and being imaged on the area sensor 19.
[0021]
Next, the control unit 21 of the mobile phone 1 decodes the QR code 7 based on the image captured by the area sensor 19. Then, the decoded information is bisected before and after by “* (asterisk)”, and the position information as the preceding information and the address information as the subsequent information are determined (determining means).
[0022]
Next, when the key 10b is operated, the trigger key switch 25b for transmitting position information of the group of key switches 25 operates, and the portable telephone 1 is connected to the map information server 4 via the Internet 3 according to the address indicated in the address information. Connect to When the mobile phone 1 is connected to the map information server 4, the control unit 21 then stores the address indicated in the location information, the identification information of the mobile phone 1, and the mail address of the mobile phone 1 in this embodiment. The information is transmitted to the map information server 4.
[0023]
When the map information server 4 receives the position information and the e-mail address ("YES" in step A1 of FIG. 8), the map information server 4 first accesses the map information storage device 28 to obtain a map around the point indicated by the position information, for example, 4Km square map information centering on the point is acquired (step A2 in the figure). Then, after adding a black point to the position (current position) indicated by the position information in the acquired map information, the map information is transmitted to the mobile phone 1 through the Internet 3 (step A3 in the figure), and the transmitted map is displayed. The information is stored in the log storage device 29 together with the mail address of the transmission destination (step A4 in the figure).
[0024]
When the mobile phone 1 receives the map information transmitted from the map information server 4, the control unit 21 displays the received map information on the main display 13 as a display unit. In this case, since the screen of the main display 13 of the mobile phone 1 is relatively small as shown in FIG. 7, displaying the entire transmitted map information M makes it difficult to see the map. First, a small range m (for example, a range surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 7) around the current position (black point) is displayed.
[0025]
The initial display range of the map information can be scrolled. This scrolling can be performed by operating the scroll key 10c of the group of keys 10. When the upper, lower, left, and right portions of the scroll key 10c are pressed, the upper, lower, and lower of the group of key switches 25 are operated. , Left and right scroll switches 25c to 25f are operated, whereby the control unit 21 scrolls the range of the map displayed on the main display 13 up, down, left and right (east, west, north and south).
[0026]
By connecting the mobile phone 1 to the map information server 4 and transmitting the location information and the identification information (mail address) in this manner, a peripheral map of the current location can be displayed on the main display 13 of the mobile phone 1. Therefore, the mobile phone 1 does not need to be equipped with a GPS receiver.
In addition, since the position information is automatically acquired by reading the QR code 7 posted on the road sign 5 into the mobile phone 1, it is not necessary to know the address of the current position. It is not necessary to input by the user, and convenience is improved.
[0027]
By the way, as described above, the map information transmitted from the map information server 4 to the mobile phone 1 can be obtained from another mobile phone 1 '. For this purpose, another mobile phone 1 'is connected to the map information server 4, a message indicating that the location inquiry service of the mobile phone is to be received is transmitted, and then the mail address of the mobile phone 1 of the other party, the own mobile phone 1 Send the email address of ´.
[0028]
When the map information server 4 receives the location inquiry information of the mobile phone (step B1), the map information server 4 accesses the log storage device 29, searches the storage information based on the mail address of the mobile phone 1 to be inquired, and searches the storage information. The map information transmitted to the telephone 1 is obtained (step B2). Then, the map information server 4 transmits the map information transmitted to the mobile phone 1 to another mobile phone 1 '(step B3).
[0029]
As described above, the map information transmitted to a certain mobile phone 1 can be acquired by another mobile phone 1 '. Therefore, it is extremely convenient when a place where a certain person is located is confirmed, or when a plurality of persons meet at a place where one of them is located.
[0030]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and the following extensions or modifications are possible.
The optical information code for displaying the position information and the address information is not limited to the QR code, but may be another two-dimensional code. Further, it may be a one-dimensional code such as a bar code.
If the address of the map information server 4 is known and manually input, there is no need to display the address information on the QR code 7 of the road sign 5.
The mobile terminal is not limited to a mobile phone, but may be any mobile device such as a PDA (personal digital assistants).
The identification information transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the map information server 4 may be the telephone number of the mobile phone 1.
The position information displayed by the optical information code may be a map code. The map code is obtained by segmenting a map and encoding each divided area, and searching for a map of a desired area by using the code. Therefore, if the posted on the street is set in the center of each of the divided areas, the map code is transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the map information server 4 so that the map information server 4 can set the current position as the center. Map information can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a map information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a mobile phone. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting a road sign; FIG. 6 shows a road sign; (a) is a front view, and (b) is a diagram showing the contents of information encoded in a QR code. (C) is a diagram showing a method of determining position information and address information. [FIG. 7] A diagram showing an example of map information transmitted to a mobile phone and a display range on the mobile phone. [FIG. 8] Map storage in a map information server Flowchart showing operation of map information search from device [FIG. 9] Flowchart showing operation of map information search from another log storage device of map information server [Description of reference numerals]
In the figure, 1 is a mobile phone (portable device), 3 is the Internet (communication network), 4 is a map information server (map information providing means), 5 is a road sign (position display means), 7 is a QR code (optical Information code), 13 is a main display (display means), 17 is an information code reader (information code reading means), 18 is an area sensor, 19 is a condenser lens, 20 is a control section, and 26 is a communication section (communication means). , 27 are map information storage devices (map information storage means), and 28 is a log storage device (log information storage means).

Claims (7)

Position display means for displaying position information indicating the position of the point by an optical information code,
A mobile terminal having information code reading means for reading an optical information code, communication means connectable to a communication network, and display means;
Having map information storage means for storing map information, and comprising map information providing means connected to the communication network,
The portable terminal reads the optical information code of the position display means by the information code reading means, transmits the read information to the map information providing means via the communication network by the communication means,
The map information providing means obtains corresponding map information from the map information storage means based on the received position information and transmits the map information to the mobile terminal via the communication network,
The map information providing system, wherein the portable terminal displays the received map information on the display unit. 2. The map information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the map information transmitted by the map information providing means to the portable terminal is map information centered on a point indicated by the position information transmitted from the portable terminal. . The portable terminal is configured to partially display the map information transmitted from the map information providing unit on the display unit, and to scroll the map information displayed on the display unit by a switch operation. The map information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The map information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical information code of the position display device includes address information of the map information providing device in addition to the position information. system. The map information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the position information of the optical information code of the position display means is represented by a map code. The map information providing unit includes a log storage unit that stores information transmitted to the mobile terminal, and inquires of a position of the mobile terminal that transmitted the position information from another mobile terminal different from the mobile terminal that transmitted the position information. The map information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, when the information is received, information to be transmitted to the portable terminal is read from the log storage unit and transmitted to the other portable terminal. Information code reading means for reading an optical information code displaying position information indicating the position of the point,
Communication means for transmitting the position information read by the information code reading means to the map information providing means and receiving the map information transmitted from the map information providing means;
A portable terminal for a map information providing system, comprising: a display unit for displaying the map information received by the communication unit.

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