JP2004253935A - Map distribution system, computer program therefor and map distribution apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map distribution system which gives a new business to a communication carrier and an information center. <P>SOLUTION: An information center server 2 having a map database, a web site server 3 for supplying facilities information, and a communication carrier server 4 are connected to a communication network which is charged by the communication carrier according to communication rates. A map distribution request operation can be made by a terminal 5 on the site. When the map distribution request operation is made, the information center server 2 distributes a map around facilities, records an indicator corresponding to the data quantity of the distributed map, and sends the indicator to the communication carrier server 4. The communication carrier server 4 identifies the map data quantity from the received indicator, and the information center and the communication carrier share map data portions of a communication charge obtained by the communication carrier. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a map distribution system, a map distribution device, and a computer program that is realized by a computer having a predetermined environment to realize the map distribution system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a service that allows browsing of information uploaded on the Internet via a communication network for mobile terminals owned by a communication carrier such as a mobile phone company has become widespread. Specifically, a gateway of a communication carrier is connected to the Internet, and information on the Internet can be viewed from a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone contracted with the communication carrier via the gateway. . The user of the mobile terminal is charged a communication fee according to the amount of information browsed based on the contract with the communication carrier, and pays the fee to the communication carrier operating organization at regular intervals (for example, every month).
[0003]
On the other hand, as information uploaded on the Internet, there is a website operated by media such as a so-called information magazine publishing organization and providing information on entertainment facilities such as restaurants and historic sites of famous places. On these websites, information obtained by the media through a contract with a store or obtained from a public entity is posted, and the information is provided to viewers via the Internet. In addition, many of such websites can be accessed not only from a fixed terminal such as a general personal computer but also from the above-mentioned mobile terminal via a gateway of a communication carrier.
[0004]
Further, in recent years, an information center that provides a navigation function using a map to a mobile terminal has been established (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). The information center is equipped with a server that stores information such as map information, recreational facilities, and historic spots. In response to information provision requests from mobile terminals, information servers such as recreational facilities are provided via the Internet and the information carrier's communication network. Provides services such as distributing location and map information and providing route guidance to destinations. When the mobile terminal has a GPS receiver or the like, the route from the mobile terminal to the facility can be displayed by being superimposed on a map. Such map information is generally purchased and used by an information center from an organization that creates maps.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-322605 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, at present, the websites operated by the above-mentioned media merely introduce telephone numbers, addresses, advertisements, and the like of entertainment facilities and historic sites. In other words, only the address and telephone number are provided in providing the location information of the above facilities and famous historic sites, and a separate map is required for visitors to the website to visit the target facility or historic site. There is a need to refer to it. This can be expensive, especially for detailed maps of urban areas, which can be expensive because of the time it takes to create them. This is because the posting of map information on the site has been withheld.
[0007]
Nevertheless, if map information can also be provided on the above-mentioned website, convenience for the viewer is improved. In addition, in the case where the browsing of the above-mentioned website is performed via a network which is charged according to a communication fee, the provision of the map information as described above is performed to the website by improving the convenience for the viewer. It is expected that an increase in the number of accesses and an increase in communication charges corresponding to the amount of map data transmitted by map distribution will lead to an increase in profits for communication carriers. Moreover, if such map distribution is performed using the map information held by the information center, the map information can be effectively used for the information center. That is, the map distribution as described above is a new business opportunity for communication carriers and information centers, and has not been performed even though it is a service that also leads to an increase in the number of accesses for websites. .
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a user terminal with a communication carrier that provides an information providing service via the communication network, and conducts a business using the map information held through the communication network. It is important to provide map information distribution services that are expected to increase profits at the same time for information centers and other organizations that provide information, and are also favorable for media that operate websites that provide point information such as entertainment facilities and historic sites. Aim.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first configuration of the present invention, a communication carrier server is connected and a communication carrier charges a user of the user terminal according to the connection of the user terminal. A map distribution system for distributing information, wherein an information center server connected to the communication network and capable of accessing a map information database is accessed from the user terminal via the communication network. A map distribution request by the user terminal made on the website is received from a website server that enables browsing of the website on the terminal, and map information is received from the map information database in response to the map distribution request. And extracts the extracted map information from the communication network. The data amount corresponding to the map information distributed in response to the map distribution request transmitted from the website server, or an index related to the data amount. , Is transmitted to the communication carrier server.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, in response to a map request from the user terminal made on the website, map distribution is performed from the information center server capable of accessing the map information database to the user terminal, and the map information distribution is supported. An index indicating the amount of data to be transmitted or an index related to the amount of data is transmitted from the information center server to the communication carrier server. Therefore, the net increase of the communication fee corresponding to the amount of map data distributed by the information center or the communication carrier is specified, and the net increase is determined by the communication carrier and the information center or the map creation involved in the creation of the map information database. If the system is a three-party distribution system including a group, it can be established as a new business between a communication carrier and an information center, or between three parties including a cartographic group. In addition, the organization that operates the website can indirectly distribute a map from a user terminal to a user who browses the website, which requires additional cost and labor for providing map information. Without that, the convenience and commercial value of the website can be enhanced.
[0011]
According to a second configuration of the present invention, the transmission of the index is performed simultaneously with the distribution of the map information to the user terminal in response to the map distribution request.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, the index indicating the amount of map data to be distributed or the index related to the data amount is performed simultaneously with the distribution of the map to the user terminal. Therefore, in the new business form of distributing the profits obtained by map distribution between information centers and communication carriers, or by three parties including cartographic organizations, the distribution of net incremental communication charges by map distribution is It can be done at any time by agreement between the organizations.
[0013]
In a third configuration of the present invention, the information center server stores telephone number data of an existing facility, and the map distribution request includes transmission of the telephone number data of the facility. A center server is configured to specify the location of the facility based on the telephone number of the facility and to distribute map information around the facility.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, when distributing the map, the information center searches for the facility using the telephone number data of the facility transmitted from the website and distributes the map around the facility. That is, the organization that operates the website constructs the website so that the telephone number of the facility is transmitted to the information providing server when the map distribution request is made. Since the information on the telephone number is widely distributed and relatively easily available, it is relatively easy for an organization operating a website to participate in the information providing service.
[0015]
In a fourth configuration of the present invention, the information center server is configured to be able to obtain the current location information of the user terminal, and distributes a map including at least the current location of the user terminal and the location of the facility. It is configured to do so.
[0016]
According to the above configuration, the map including the current location of the user terminal and the facility is delivered to the user terminal. Therefore, the user of the user terminal can know the route to the above facilities, the convenience for the user is improved, and as a result of the increase in access and the communication fee equivalent to the map, the map distribution service as a business is realized. Profitability can be improved.
[0017]
In a fifth configuration of the present invention, the amount of map information or the number of times of map distribution that can be distributed to the user terminal has an upper limit for each website.
[0018]
According to the above-described configuration, a state in which the website performs a map distribution service by performing unlimited map distribution via the website, or such a free map information providing website is intentionally provided. Can be prevented from being constructed. In other words, it is possible to protect a business already performed by an information center or the like using map information, for example, providing a navigation function.
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a communication carrier server is connected and a communication carrier is connected to a communication network for charging a user of the user terminal in accordance with the connection of the user terminal, and the communication carrier is connected via the communication network. A map distribution device that distributes map information to the user terminal, wherein the map distribution device is capable of accessing a map information database and is accessed from the user terminal via the communication network. Receives a map distribution request by the user terminal made on the website from a website server that allows browsing of the website in, and, in response to the map distribution request, transmits map information from the map information database. Extracting and extracting the extracted map information via the communication network. The data is distributed to the user terminal, and an index indicating the data amount corresponding to the map information distributed in response to the map distribution request transmitted from the website server or an index related to the data amount is specified. The index is transmitted to the communication carrier server.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, in response to a map request from the user terminal made on the website, map distribution is performed from the map distribution device capable of accessing the map information database to the user terminal, and the map information distribution is performed. An index indicating the data amount or an index related to the data amount is transmitted from the map distribution device to the communication carrier server. Therefore, the net increase of the communication fee corresponding to the amount of map data distributed by the map distribution apparatus operating organization or the communication carrier is specified, and the net increase is determined by the communication carrier and the map distribution apparatus operating organization or the map information. If the system distributes the cartographic organizations involved in the creation of the database by a combination of three parties, a new system can be created between the communication carrier and the operating organization of the map distribution device, or between the three parties including the cartographic organizations. Business can be established. In addition, the organization that operates the website can indirectly distribute a map from a user terminal to a user who browses the website, which requires additional cost and labor for providing map information. Without that, the convenience and commercial value of the website can be enhanced.
[0021]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a communication carrier server is connected and a communication carrier is connected to a communication network for charging a user of the user terminal in accordance with the connection of the user terminal, and the map information database includes An accessible computer program that is executed by a map distribution server as a computer and realizes map distribution to the user terminal via the communication network, wherein the map distribution server includes: Receiving a map distribution request by the user terminal performed on the website from a website server that allows the user terminal to browse the website by being accessed from the user terminal; and The above map information can be Extracting map information from a database, distributing the extracted map information to the user terminal via the communication network, and distributing a map in response to a map distribution request transmitted from the website server. The method includes the steps of specifying an index indicating a data amount corresponding to information or an index related to the data amount, and transmitting the specified index to the communication carrier server.
[0022]
According to the above configuration, in response to a map request from the user terminal made on the website, map distribution is performed from the information center server capable of accessing the map information database to the user terminal, and the map information distribution is supported. There is provided a computer program in which an index indicating an amount of data to be transmitted or an index related to the amount of data is transmitted from an information center server to a communication carrier server. Therefore, the net increase of the communication fee corresponding to the amount of map data distributed by the information center or the communication carrier is specified, and the net increase is determined by the communication carrier and the information center or the map creation involved in the creation of the map information database. If the system is a three-party distribution system including a group, it can be established as a new business between a communication carrier and an information center, or between three parties including a cartographic group. In addition, the organization that operates the website can indirectly distribute a map from a user terminal to a user who browses the website, which requires additional cost and labor for providing map information. Without that, the convenience and commercial value of the website can be enhanced.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for a communication carrier that provides an information providing service to the user terminal via the communication network, and for an organization such as an information center that conducts business using the held map information through the communication network, At the same time, it is possible to provide a map information distribution service that is expected to increase profits and is preferable for media that operates a website that provides point information such as entertainment facilities and historic sites.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a map information distribution system according to the present embodiment. The map information distribution system mainly includes an information center server 2, a website server 3, and a communication carrier connected via a communication line such as the Internet 1. It comprises a server 4 and a user terminal such as a mobile phone 5.
[0026]
More specifically, the information center server 2, the website server 3, and the communication carrier server 4 are connected to the Internet 1 and can communicate information with one another. Further, the communication carrier server 4 and the mobile phone 5 are connected so as to be able to perform information communication via radio. Therefore, the user of the mobile phone 5 can access the Internet 1 from the mobile phone 5 through wireless communication with the communication carrier server 4 by signing a contract with the information center that operates the information center server 2 and the communication carrier. It is possible to browse a website provided by the website server 3 and receive various services provided by the information center server 2. It should be noted that the map distribution service described later can also be provided to the user terminal 5 that has not contracted with the information center.
[0027]
The information center server 2 is an information processing device such as a computer having a communication function, which is owned by the information center as described above, and is a mobile phone 5 contracted as a member via the Internet 1 and the communication carrier server 4. Provide services such as navigation functions to the users. As a service of such a navigation function, the information center specifically stores a map information database 20 containing map data created by an external cartographic organization, and specifies facility information such as coordinates and telephone numbers on the map database. It has an identification information database 21 recorded in association with the identification information, and is configured to be accessible from the information center server 2 respectively. In response to a request from the mobile phone 5 owned by the contracted user, the map information is stored. It reads map data from the database 20 to provide map information and route guidance to the mobile phone 5, and allows the mobile phone 5 to access the identification information database 21 to search for facilities using a telephone number or the like as a key. is there. Since the service of providing the navigation function to the mobile phone 5 by such an information center can be realized by using a known method that is currently generally performed, detailed description will be omitted. Here, the map information database 20 held by the information center is purchased by the information center from an external cartographic organization. Alternatively, a cartographic organization may supply the information center server 2 via the Internet 1 for a fee. Further, the information center is not limited to the organization that provides the navigation function providing service, and may be operated by a cartographic organization to provide services using the maps that it has.
[0028]
The mobile phone 5 as a user terminal has a display 50 and an operation unit 51 that can be operated by the user. As described above, the user receives the above-described services from the information center and the communication carrier based on the contract. Interface. In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 5 is used. However, if the terminal is charged based on a communication fee for connection to the Internet 1 via the communication carrier server 2, another terminal such as a PDA (Portable Digital Assistants) may be used. It may be an information terminal device or a desktop computer. Although FIG. 1 shows only one mobile phone 5, it is assumed that at least one terminal such as a plurality of mobile phones under contract with a communication carrier is illustrated.
[0029]
The website server 3 is a computer that has established a website on the Internet 1. As described above, the website server 3 is connected to the Internet 1, and when accessed from various terminals including the mobile phone 5 via the Internet 1, information stored in advance as the web content 30 is read. Provide to the terminal. Although only one website server 3 is shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a plurality of computers having websites for providing information such as stores and historical sites on the Internet 1 are illustrated. . The details of this website will be described later.
[0030]
The communication carrier server 4 is operated by a communication carrier such as a so-called mobile phone company, and provides a call service using the mobile phone 5 of a contracted user, a mail service using a display function of the mobile phone 5, and an Internet connection service. Things. The user of the mobile phone 5 is charged a communication fee corresponding to the amount of information browsed based on the contract with the communication carrier, and pays the communication fee to the communication carrier at regular intervals (for example, every month).
[0031]
The website provided by the website server 3 provides information such as facilities and historic sites on the Internet 1 as described above. Specifically, a website administrator (an organization or an individual establishing the website using the website server 3) contracts with an organization operating a restaurant or a commercial facility, a public organization, or the like. Detailed information such as the location of the store and the historic site, telephone number, and advertisement is posted on the website as web content 30 and can be accessed from a user terminal such as a mobile phone 5 connectable to the Internet 1 or a personal computer. The website can be browsed accordingly. As an example, the above website is a search screen (for example, a restaurant, a car dealer, a department store, a supermarket, a hot spring, a drive-in, a sightseeing spot, etc.) for specifying a condition of a facility to be searched, and a search target. A screen where the area can be specified by character input or selection operation), a result list display screen that displays the facility name as a search result, and a detailed information display screen that displays the detailed information of the facility linked from the facility name on the result list display screen , Mainly composed of The provision of such facility information using a website, and the specific page configuration and link configuration for that purpose are well-known, and therefore detailed description is omitted.
[0032]
According to the present invention, when the user of the mobile phone 5 performs a map distribution request operation on the detailed information display screen, a map around the facility is distributed from the information center server 2 to the mobile phone 5 and the mobile phone 5 Is displayed on the display 50. Such functions will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 showing a detailed information display screen on the website and a series of operations of the website server 3, the information center server 2, and the communication carrier server 4. This will be described in detail. Note that, again, the following map display can be performed on a mobile phone of a user who has not made a contract with the information center.
[0033]
When the user of the mobile phone 5 accesses the detailed information display screen of a specific facility on the above website, first, the screen shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display 50 of the mobile phone 5. The screen shown in (a) is a case where a restaurant is selected as a predetermined facility, and displays the name of the restaurant, the address of the store, the telephone number, and information about the store, and below them. , An operation button for performing a map display (a button written as “view map”) is displayed.
[0034]
This operation button is displayed by a so-called embedded tag. When the operation button is pressed at the bottom of the detailed display screen, the name of the restaurant, the address of the restaurant, and the telephone number are displayed when the button is pressed. The command to be transmitted to the center server 2 is described in a language for creating an Internet display screen. FIG. 3 shows an example in the HTML format. In order to set the map display function on the website, it is necessary to newly add such a description for each facility information, but this is done via the website for website operators provided by the communication carrier. What is necessary is just to provide free as information for providing a distribution service. That is, the operator of the website that provides the facility information accesses the site for the operator and performs the work of adding the above description to the page for each facility information to be provided.
[0035]
Then, when the user of the mobile phone 5 presses the operation button as a map request operation via the operation unit 51 of the mobile phone 5, the data including the name, address, and telephone number of the restaurant is first transmitted to the website. -It is transmitted from the server 3 to the information center server 2 (step S3-1).
[0036]
When the information center server 2 receives the data, the information center server 2 searches the identification information database 21 for facility information using the telephone number data as a key in the received data, and checks the data (step S2-1). That is, in order to participate in this map distribution service, the website operator must write the phone number of a restaurant or the like in the above embedded tag, but the phone number is already known on the website. In many cases, and even when newly added, the phone number is relatively easily available information, so it is not a difficult task for the website operator. In addition, this search / collation may be performed by storing an ID corresponding to the facility in advance in the website server 3 and the identification information database 21 and using the ID.
[0037]
Thereafter, a map around the restaurant is extracted from the map information database 20 (step S2-2), and a screen displaying the address of the restaurant, the telephone number, and the extracted map is created (step S2-3).
[0038]
Subsequently, the information center server 2 counts the data amount corresponding to the extracted map information (step S2-4), and displays the address of the data restaurant, the telephone number, and the screen data for displaying the extracted map. Map information data amount information is added. Thereafter, the data is transmitted to the communication carrier server 4 (step S2-5).
[0039]
The communication carrier server 4 records the map information data amount in the transmitted data (step S4-1). The amount of map information data is the basis of the total amount of data provided to the mobile phone 5 and the amount charged / charged to the user of the mobile phone 5 at regular intervals (for example, every month). Although the details will be described later, the net increase in the communication fee corresponding to the amount of map information data is shared between the information center and the communication carrier or by the three parties including the above-mentioned cartographic organization. In the carrier, by recording information on the amount of map data each time a map is distributed, the information is equivalent to the map data by an appropriate agreement with an information center or between the three parties including the cartographic organization. The increase in communication fees can be distributed.
[0040]
If the amount of map data distributed from the information center server 2 is always constant (if the size of the map around the facility corresponding to the amount of map data is constant), the map information is distributed. By grasping the number of times the communication has been performed, a communication charge corresponding to the map data amount can be specified on the communication carrier side. Therefore, in this case, the data transmitted in step S2-5 may be provided with information indicating that the data is data transmission for map distribution, instead of the map data amount information. . In any case, the data transmitted in step S2-5 includes an index indicating the data amount corresponding to the map information or an index capable of obtaining the data amount. Recorded on the carrier server 4.
[0041]
After that, data for generating a screen displaying the address of the restaurant, the telephone number, and the extracted map is transmitted to the mobile phone 5 (step S4-2), and the display 50 of the mobile phone 5 is displayed on the display 50 of FIG. The screen shown in () is displayed.
[0042]
That is, from the viewpoint of a user browsing the website using the mobile phone 5 to obtain information on a desired facility, a map distribution request is displayed on the detailed information display screen (screen (a) in FIG. 2) of the website. By performing the operation (the operation of the “view map” button), the display on the display 50 of the mobile phone 5 is added to the information on the desired facility or the map information around the facility (screen (b) in FIG. 2). ).
[0043]
As is clear from the above description, the website server 3, the information center server 2, and the communication carrier server 4 are configured in steps S3-1, S2-1 to S2-5, and S4-1 to S4-1. It is configured to execute step S4-2. That is, a program for executing those steps is loaded on each.
[0044]
In this embodiment, the information center server 2 simultaneously transmits the screen data and the map data amount information to the communication carrier server 4 (step S2-5). To be transmitted to That is, information on the amount of map data distributed by the information center server 2 is accumulated for a certain period, and the amount of map data accumulated in the information center server 2 for each period is transmitted from the information center server 2 to the communication carrier. -You may make it transmit to the server 4. In this case, if the amount of map data distributed from the information center server 2 is constant (if the size of the map around the facility corresponding to the amount of map data is constant), a certain period The number of times the map has been distributed within the information center server 2 can be grasped by the information center server 2 and the number can be transmitted to the communication carrier server 4.
[0045]
Further, the steps of collating identification information, generating screen data, extracting map data, and counting the amount of map data in the information center server 2 are not limited to the order in the above-described embodiment, and may be performed in a different order. You may comprise.
[0046]
By the way, in the map distribution service as described above, of the communication fee paid by the user of the mobile phone 5 to the communication carrier, the portion corresponding to the map information data amount is a group involved in the service, that is, an information center and an information center. The distribution system is based on a contract between a telecommunications carrier or a three party including a cartographic organization, and is building a new business form that has never existed before. This business has the advantage of enabling such services without substantial additional investment for cartographic organizations, information centers, and telecommunications carriers. In addition, for the website administrator, an increase in access to the website is expected due to the advantage that the map can be distributed, and the commercial value of the website is expected to increase. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the service can be realized without additional investment for cartographic organizations, information centers and telecommunications carriers, so that the service can be carried out without any special charges for this service or at a very low price. Is provided, so that the user of the mobile phone 5 can basically add only the communication fee paid to the communication carrier and without adding a contract with an information center, in addition to the guidance information of the facility of interest. There is a merit that convenience of the map is improved and convenience is improved.
[0047]
When the communication fee corresponding to the amount of map information data is shared by several related organizations as described above, the distribution information is generated by the information center server 2 and given when the data is transmitted to the mobile phone 5. In other words, it becomes easy for the communication carrier to calculate the amount corresponding to the map information. In other words, distribution among related organizations related to map distribution can be performed more efficiently.
[0048]
Further, when the user terminal including the mobile phone 5 has a current position specifying function such as a GPS system, in addition to performing the map distribution as described above, route guidance from the current position of the user terminal to the searched facility is performed. It can be configured to provide services. That is, the route guidance request button is set on the screen of FIG. 2B, and the current position information of the user terminal is transmitted to the information center server 2 in response to the operation of the button. , A map from the current position of the user terminal to the searched facility is distributed to the user terminal, and route guidance from the current position to the facility is performed. Further, even when the user terminal does not have the current location specifying function, the user can be configured to present a route from the nearest station or bus stop to the search facility on the screen of FIG. Can be improved in convenience.
[0049]
By the way, since the above-mentioned map distribution service can be easily participated by an organization or an individual who has established a website on the Internet 1, a virtual map can be created by embedding a large number of the above tags on the website. There is a possibility that the distribution website may exist outside the information center. In other words, services similar to or the same as those provided by the information center using the map information database 20 may be performed on an unspecified website, which may lead to a decrease in profits for the information center. is there. In order to cope with this, it is preferable to set an upper limit for each website with respect to the number of tags that can be embedded in the website or the amount of map data that can be distributed. For example, a website operator participating in the map distribution service according to the present invention is registered on the information center side, and at that time, the upper limit of the number of embedded tags is set by a contract or the like. On the information center side, the number of embedded tags, that is, the number of facilities to which the map is to be distributed can be ascertained from the map distribution request, so that there is no risk as described above.
[0050]
As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration for realizing a map distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a series of operations in a website server, an information center server, and a communication carrier server when a map distribution request is made from a mobile phone, and a display screen of the mobile phone. It is.
FIG. 3 is a description example of a tag added to a website in an HTML format for performing a map distribution request operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet (communication network)
2 Information center server (map distribution device, map distribution server)
3 Website server
4 Communication carrier server
5 Mobile phone (user terminal)
20 map information database

Claims (7)

A map distribution system in which map information is distributed to the user terminal via a communication network in which a communication carrier server is connected and the communication carrier charges the user of the user terminal according to the connection of the user terminal. So,
An information center server connected to the communication network and capable of accessing the map information database,
From a website server that enables browsing of a website at the user terminal by being accessed from the user terminal via the communication network, a map distribution request made by the user terminal made on the website is transmitted from the website server. Receive,
Extracting map information from the map information database in response to the map distribution request,
Distributing the extracted map information to the user terminal via the communication network,
An index indicating the data amount corresponding to the map information distributed in response to the map distribution request transmitted from the website server or an index related to the data amount is identified, and the identified index is identified by the communication carrier server. A map distribution system, characterized in that the map distribution system is configured to transmit the information to a map distribution system. The map distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the index is performed simultaneously with the distribution of the map information to the user terminal in response to the map distribution request. The information center server stores telephone number data of an existing facility,
The map distribution request includes transmission of facility telephone number data,
3. The information center server according to claim 1, wherein the information center server is configured to specify a location of the facility based on a telephone number of the facility and to distribute map information around the facility. The map distribution system described in any of them. The information center server is configured to be able to obtain the current location information of the user terminal and configured to distribute a map including at least the current location of the user terminal and the location of the facility. The map distribution system according to claim 3, wherein: The map distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amount of map information or the number of times of map distribution that can be distributed to the user terminal has an upper limit for each of the websites. A communication carrier server is connected and a communication carrier is connected to a communication network for charging a user of the user terminal according to the connection of the user terminal, and distributes map information to the user terminal via the communication network. Map distribution device,
The above map distribution device,
Has access to a map information database,
From a website server that enables browsing of a website at the user terminal by being accessed from the user terminal via the communication network, a map distribution request made by the user terminal made on the website is transmitted from the website server. Receive,
Extracting map information from the map information database in response to the map distribution request,
Distributing the extracted map information to the user terminal via the communication network,
An index indicating the data amount corresponding to the map information distributed in response to the map distribution request transmitted from the website server or an index related to the data amount is identified, and the identified index is identified by the communication carrier server. A map distribution device, which is configured to transmit to a map distribution device. Map distribution as a computer connected to a communication carrier server and connected to a communication network for charging a user of the user terminal according to the connection of the user terminal, and capable of accessing a map information database. A computer program executed by a server to realize map distribution to the user terminal via the communication network,
To the above map distribution server,
From a website server that enables browsing of a website at the user terminal by being accessed from the user terminal via the communication network, a map distribution request made by the user terminal made on the website is transmitted from the website server. Receiving,
Extracting map information from the map information database in response to the map distribution request;
Distributing the extracted map information to the user terminal via the communication network;
Identifying an index indicating the data amount corresponding to the map information distributed in response to the map distribution request transmitted from the website server or an index related to the data amount,
Transmitting the specified indicator to the communication carrier server.

Images