JP2004355375A - Station name list display system and center device configuring the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a station name list whose data amounts are small in a station name list display system. <P>SOLUTION: This station name list display system is provided with a center device which is able to perform access to a POI(Point of Interest) information database and terminal equipment which downloads station name list data from the center device and displays it. The center device is provided with a function to acquire station name data including a line name from the POI information database in response to the reading data of the station name received from the terminal equipment, to process the station name data and to transmit the list to the terminal equipment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a station name list display system for obtaining a station name list corresponding to reading of a station name and displaying the list on a terminal device, a center device and a station name search device constituting the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a so-called communication type car navigation system, a POI information database and a map database are accessed at a service center or via the service center, map data of a necessary place is downloaded, and the map data is transferred to a display for mounting on a vehicle and displayed. This is used for destination setting.
[0003]
The POI information database is a database including peripheral information such as a current position and a destination, and is a hierarchical database configured using POIX (Point / of / interest / exchange / language) (for example, Patent Document 1). After obtaining the latitude / longitude information of the destination using this database, the map data around the position corresponding to the latitude / longitude is cut out from the map database, so that the map around the destination can be downloaded.
[0004]
Alternatively, if the name of the address of the destination can be specified in the POI information database, it is possible to search the facility information database for facility information around the address, for example, a list of restaurants.
[0005]
In a communication navigation system using a center device, a user performs a database search by inputting a reading such as an address into a vehicle-mounted terminal device as a keyword for search and transmitting the keyword to a POI information database via the center device. ing. Depending on the design of the POI information database, there may be a search keyword that uses the reading of a transportation station name in addition to an address.
[0006]
When using the station name reading as a keyword, there are many stations with the same name in transportation facilities nationwide, and even if the same station is registered as multiple stations for each line, the user wants to search It is difficult to identify a station. Therefore, in the conventional POI information search system, a station name list is created by listing the station names of the same reading, and furthermore, the station names that include the reading in a part of the name, and transmitting the list to the terminal device to give the user a specific station name. The mechanism to make it select is taken. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1.)
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-175622 A
[Non-patent document 1]
"JR Travel Navigator" homepage [0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the current infrastructure environment connecting the terminal device and the center device, the data size increases, so that the data download time increases, and the fee for the download (line usage fee) increases accordingly. Therefore, when transmitting the station name list from the center device to the terminal device, the data size of the list is preferably as small as possible. Also, the list including the selection items is not very convenient for the user. When the latitude and longitude information of each station included in this list is transmitted to the terminal device together with the station name list, the data amount of the list further increases.
[0010]
The present invention has been made with respect to the above-described points of the conventional station name list display system. By effectively processing (customizing) the station name list so as to reduce the data amount and providing it to the user, the station name list is displayed. It is an object of the present invention to shorten the download time to a terminal device and improve the usability of a user.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first station name list display system according to the present invention includes a center device that can access a POI information database, and a terminal device that downloads and displays station name list data from the center device. The center device is provided with a function of obtaining station name data including a line name from the POI information database in accordance with the station name reading data received from the terminal device, processing the station name data in a list, and transmitting the list to the terminal device. It is characterized by having.
[0012]
A second station name list display system of the present invention includes an external server having a POI information database, a center device accessible to the external server, and a terminal device for downloading and displaying station name list data from the center device, Further, the center device is provided with a function of transmitting a station name search request and a station name list processing request to the external server in accordance with the station name reading data received from the terminal device. Based on the received station name search request, the POI information database is searched to obtain station name data including a line name, and the station name data is processed according to a station name list processing request received from the center device to list the station name data. The transmission function is provided to the center device.
[0013]
In the first and second station name display systems, the processing of the station name list is performed by deleting the station name data having the same latitude and longitude information with the same station name to make one station name. As a result, unnecessary data in the list is deleted, the amount of data to be transmitted to the terminal device is reduced, and the download time is reduced. Further, the list displayed on the terminal device is simplified, so that the user can easily select the station name.
[0014]
Further, the center device and the terminal device include a conversion table for coding a route name, and transmit the processed station name list data from the center device to the terminal device by coding the route name. This further reduces the data download time between the center device and the terminal device.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a station name list display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the display of the station name list is used for downloading a peripheral map of the target station, but this use purpose is merely an example for describing the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention. Absent.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an in-vehicle terminal device having a navigation function, for example, and reference numeral 2 denotes a mobile phone detachable from the terminal device 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a center device constituting a service center, which is capable of performing data communication with the terminal device 1 via a communication line such as the Internet 4. If the terminal device 1 itself has a wireless communication function, the mobile phone 2 is not necessary.
[0018]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a first external server connected to the center apparatus 3 via, for example, the Internet 4 or a dedicated line, and reference numeral 6 denotes a second external server. The first external server 5 has a POI information database 5a, and the second external server 6 has a map database 6a. When a provider that simultaneously provides POI information and map information is available as a content provider, the first and second servers 5 and 6 can be configured by one server. Further, if a server having a large processing capacity and a large storage capacity is used as the center device 3, a POI information database and a map database can be provided in the device.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the terminal device 1 and the center device 3 in the system of FIG. When the terminal device 1 constitutes a car navigation system, the device 1 includes a GPS 11, a display 12, a communication unit 13, a control unit 14, a drawing unit 15, and a memory 16. The communication unit 13 may be configured by connecting the mobile phone 2 to the terminal device 1 as shown in FIG. When the terminal device 1 has an input function of reading a station name by a user's voice, the terminal device 1 includes the voice recognition unit 17.
[0020]
The center device 3 includes a communication unit 31 for performing communication between the terminal device 1 and the device 3 and further with communication with the first and second external servers 5 and 6 via the Internet 4 and the like. Includes a control unit 32 and a memory 33 for performing various controls for executing predetermined functions.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the processing procedure of the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing an example of a POI information database search result, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a screen before and after customizing a station name list. It is. The configuration and operation of the station name list display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to these drawings.
[0022]
In FIG. 3, the user first inputs the reading of the name of the station to download the map of the surroundings into the terminal device 1 by “kana” or “voice”. This input data is transmitted to the center device 3 together with a map download request (step S1). The center device 3 transfers the station name read data to the external server 5 based on the signal received from the terminal device 1 and transmits a search request for the POI information database (step S2).
[0023]
The external server 5 performs a search using the reading data of the station name received from the center device 3 as a keyword, outputs the corresponding station name, its latitude / longitude information, and replaces the station with the same name and the input reading with a part of the name. A list of the stations included in is prepared and returned to the center device 3 (step S3).
[0024]
FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a POI information search result when the station name is read as "Okubo", and shows a case where this search outputs only a result that completely matches the keyword. As shown in these figures, when a search is performed using “Ookubo” as a keyword, “Okubo Station” on the JR Ou Main Line, “Okubo Station” on the JR Sanyo Main Line, “Okubo Station” on the JR Chuo Main Line, Kintetsu Kyoto The POI information of each line of "Okubo Station" is output. The illustrated POI information includes the address name and latitude / longitude information of the station.
[0025]
Although not shown, if you search for station names that include "Ookubo" as a part of the name, you can find "Kazusa Okubo" on the Kominato Railway Line, "Keisei Okubo" on the Keisei Main Line, and "Shin Okubo" on the JR Yamanote Line. Is listed. The external server 5 calculates the station name list 40 shown in FIG. 6A based on these output results, and transmits this to the center device 3 together with the latitude / longitude information of each station (step S3 in FIG. 3).
[0026]
The station name list 40 of FIG. 6 includes a plurality of data of the same station but different line names, for example, Osaka on the Tokaido line, Osaka on the ring line, and the like. Further, it includes stations having the same name with different line names, and station names partially having the names, together with the line names.
[0027]
When the center device 3 receives the station name list 40 of FIG. 6 and the latitude / longitude information of each station from the external server 5, it temporarily stores them in the memory 33, and customizes the station name list under the control of the control unit 32 (step S4). In this customization, the same station name and the same latitude / longitude information are recognized as one station name, and the same station name over multiple lines is deleted to one station name by deleting duplicate data. Includes aggregation.
[0028]
Thus, the two station names 41 having the same name and the same latitude and longitude shown in FIG. 6A are combined into one station name in the customized station name list 50. Similarly, the stations 43 and 44 having the same name with the same latitude and longitude are combined into one station name. Note that the station name 42, which has the same name but different latitude and longitude, is recognized as a station different from the station name 41 in the customized station name list 50 along with its route name.
[0029]
As a customization of the station name list, next, for private railways, subways and necessary JR lines, line breaks should be displayed below the station names, and line names should be displayed for JR station names that are recognized as duplicates. In addition, this includes adding JR characters next to the station name. As a result of these processes, a customized station name list 50 is configured.
[0030]
When the station name list is customized in the center device 3 as described above (step S4 in FIG. 3), the station name list 50 is transferred to the terminal device 1 together with the latitude / longitude information of each station (FIG. 3). Step S5) Only the station name list 50 is displayed on the display. The station name list after the customization has a significantly reduced data amount compared to the station name list before the customization, so that the time required for downloading the data from the center device 3 to the terminal device 1 is greatly reduced. In addition, the list displayed on the terminal device 1 has greatly reduced display items, so that the user can easily select the list.
[0031]
When the station name list is displayed on the display of the terminal device 1 as described above, the user selects a desired station name from the list. With this selection, the terminal device 1 transmits the latitude / longitude information of the station to the center device 3 (step S6 in FIG. 3). When the center device 3 transfers the latitude / longitude information to the second external server 6, the external server 6 cuts out the map data around the position corresponding to the received latitude / longitude from the map database, and sends this to the center device 3. It is returned (step S8).
[0032]
The map data returned to the center device 3 is transferred to the terminal device 1 (step S9) and displayed on its display. The user can execute various operations such as setting a destination on the navigation system using the map displayed in this manner.
[0033]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for customizing the station name list in the center device 3. In the station name list created in the POI information database, first, it is determined whether or not there is a station name having the same name and the same latitude and longitude (step P1). If there is a corresponding station (YES in step P1), in step P2, duplicate station names are deleted to make one station name.
[0034]
Next, it is determined whether or not the route type of the corresponding route is JR (step P3). If it is a JR (YES in step P3), the display of the line name is deleted in step P4, and "JR" is added after the station name. Thereafter, a line feed code is automatically inserted after the characters of the station name and the line name to form an HTML sentence (step P5). In the next step P6, it is determined whether or not all the items in the list have been checked, and if NO, the process returns to step P1 to continue the process. If YES in step P6, the station name list customizing process ends.
[0035]
If the answer is NO in step P1, that is, if there is a station name having the same name but different latitude and longitude, it is necessary to leave the station name and the line name in the list. Create a statement. Similarly, in the case of NO in step P3, it is necessary to leave the route name, so the process directly proceeds to step P5 to create an HTML sentence.
[0036]
In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the station name list is customized in the center device 3, but this customization may be performed in the external server 5.
[0037]
FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an operation flow of the embodiment in which the customization of the station name list is executed in the external server 5. To clarify the difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, steps in FIG. 8 that perform the same processing as in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0038]
In this embodiment, after receiving the map download request and the station name reading data from the terminal device 1 (after step S1), the center device 3 sends the POI information database search request and the station name reading data together with the station name in step S20. The request for customizing the list is transmitted to the external server 5, and the station name list customized in the external server 5 is received in step S21 together with the latitude / longitude information of each station. The other steps are the same as those in the embodiment of FIG. 3, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0039]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, when transmitting the station name list from the center device 3 to the terminal device 1, the latitude / longitude information of each station name in the list is transmitted together with the list. Is not a mandatory requirement. For example, when only the station name is transmitted between the terminal device 1 and the center device 3 and the terminal device 1 transmits the selected station name, the center device 3 stores the latitude / longitude information corresponding to the station name in the memory. And send it to the map database. In this case, since there is no need to transmit / receive the latitude / longitude information between the terminal device 1 and the center device 3, the data capacity to be transmitted / received is further reduced, and the download time is further reduced.
[0040]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, data is transmitted between the terminal device 1 and the center device 3 by encoding the route name (for example, digitizing) and preparing a conversion table of the route code and the route name in the terminal device 1 and the center device 3. It is characterized by further reducing the amount. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, when customizing the station name list 51, the line name is converted into a code according to the conversion table 52, and this is added after the station name.
[0041]
The terminal device 1 converts the code in the received station name list into a line name according to the conversion table 53 and displays the line name. When the user selects a station name, the control unit of the terminal device 1 converts the selected line name into a code according to the conversion table 53 and transmits the code to the center device 3. As a result, the data capacity to be communicated between the terminal device 1 and the center device 3 is reduced.
[0042]
It should be noted that, in addition to the conversion tables 52 and 53 for small classification which are coded for each line name, conversion tables 54 and 55 for large classification which are classified according to the type of railway such as JR, subway, private railway, etc., are provided. Can be used by switching the definition. For example, when the terminal device 1 is used by specifying an area, many lines are mixed in an urban area, so that many stations have the same name. Therefore, it is preferable to use a code for small classification. On the other hand, there are many cases where only JR lines are present in local areas, and in such a case, designation of a route name has little effect. Therefore, it is preferable to use a code for large classification.
[0043]
As described above, the data capacity can be further reduced by appropriately selecting the coding of the large classification and the small classification according to the application. The selection of the large and small categories may be performed manually by the user, or may be automatically performed in conjunction with the area designation.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above with reference to the various embodiments, in the present invention, the station name list transmitted from the center device 3 to the terminal device 1 is further visually simplified so that the data amount is reduced. As a result, the data download time is shortened, and the labor and time required for the user to select the station name are also shortened. Therefore, it is possible to provide a station name list display system that has a high communication speed and is easy to use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a station name list display system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the system in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an operation flow of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first half of an example of a POI information database search result.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a latter half of an example of a POI information database search result.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of customizing a station name list.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow for customizing a station name list.
FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an operation flow of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram which is used for describing another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Terminal device 2 ... Mobile telephone 3 ... Center device 4 ... Internet 5 ... First external server 5a ... POI information database 6 ... Second external server 6a ... Map database 40 ... Station name list 50 ... Customized station name list

Claims (7)

In a station name list display system comprising a center device capable of accessing a POI information database and a terminal device for downloading and displaying station name list data from the center device,
The center device has a function of obtaining station name data including a line name from the POI information database corresponding to the station name reading data received from the terminal device, processing the station name data in a list, and transmitting the list to the terminal device. A station name list display system characterized by the following. 2. The station name list display system according to claim 1, wherein the station name list is processed by deleting station name data having the same station name and the same latitude / longitude information to obtain one station name. Display system. 2. The station name list display system according to claim 1, wherein the center device and the terminal device include a conversion table for encoding a line name, and transmit the processed station name list data from the center device to the terminal device. A station name list display system, characterized in that line names are coded and transmitted. An external server having a POI information database, a center device accessible to the external server, and a station name list display system including a terminal device for downloading and displaying station name list data from the center device,
The center device has a function of transmitting a station name search request and a station name list processing request to the external server in accordance with the station name read data received from the terminal device,
The external server searches the POI information database based on a station name search request received from the center device to obtain station name data including a line name, and based on a station name list processing request received from the center device. A station name list display system having a function of processing station name data in a list and transmitting the processed data to the center device. 5. The station name list display system according to claim 4, wherein the station name list is processed by deleting station name data having the same station name and the same latitude / longitude information to obtain one station name. Display system. 5. The station name list display system according to claim 4, wherein the center device and the terminal device include a conversion table for encoding a route name, and transmit the processed station name list data from the center device to the terminal device. A station name list display system, characterized in that line names are coded and transmitted. A center device capable of accessing a POI information database, the center device comprising:
Means for searching the POI information database based on the station name reading data transmitted from the terminal device, and obtaining a station name list corresponding to the station name reading data and latitude and longitude information of each station in the list; When,
Means for processing the station name list obtained by the obtaining means,
A transmission unit for transmitting the processed station name list to the terminal device,
The center device, wherein the processing means processes the station name data having the same station name and the same latitude / longitude information as one station name.

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