JP2005338032A - Positional information providing device and positional information using terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positional information providing device and a positional information using terminal capable of easily and correctly specifying the section of the POI (position of interest), and capable of correctly transmitting and using the position of the POI. <P>SOLUTION: The positional information providing device 10 being positional information providing side creates the sectional information represented by e.g. the road configuration data surrounding the POI as positional reference information for specifying the road section surrounding the spot of the POI, and transmits the sectional information to the positional information receiver side. The positional information using terminal being the positional information receiver side specifies the section of the POI by matching the road section surrounding the POI using the received sectional information and the map data equipped in own device, and also specifies the position of the POI based on the POI entrance information and the POI directional information. Thereby, the section of the POI and the position of the POI are surely displayed on the map display screen of the navigation system etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention uses a position information providing device that provides position information related to POI (Point Of Interest), and specifies the position of the POI based on the position information provided from the position information providing device, performs display, and the like. The present invention relates to a location information utilization terminal device.

  An information processing system that distributes point information and the like to a user terminal via a network in response to a request from the user terminal is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  When the position of a POI (Point Of Interest), which is a specific target location that is of interest to users such as stores, parking lots, and facilities, is expressed in latitude and longitude, it can appear on roads and rivers due to positioning errors in latitude and longitude and map errors. On the other hand, it may be located on the opposite side. This problem can be solved by also showing the relative relationship with nearby features (roads and rivers).

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example described in the feature use. Here, the position of the point D is to be expressed. Point A is a shape point and a reference point, point B is a shape point, and point C is an auxiliary point. Point D is on the left side of point C in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Here, the data to be transmitted is as follows. “Point A coordinates and type (intersection), point B coordinates, road distance L, left side”. Next, the mechanism for expressing the position of the point D will be described. First, a reference point is defined by point A. The type of the point A is an intersection, and the information receiving side (interpretation side) searches for an intersection near the coordinates of the point A using a database such as a map that the user has. If the coordinates of the intersection on the map and the coordinates of the sent point A do not match due to the difference in accuracy, matching can be performed. Four roads are connected from this intersection. Next, one of the four roads is specified. The points A and B are shape points (the point A can also be a reference point), and the points A and B define the road and the direction on the road. Although the coordinates of the point B are not necessarily located on the road on the map that the user owns with no error, they should be in the vicinity of the road, so that the road can be identified. Further, a direction on the road in which the direction from point A to point B is positive is also determined. Next, using the road distance L, the position of the auxiliary point C can be obtained from the reference point A toward the specified direction on the specified road. Furthermore, the point D can be determined by the information “left side” in the direction specified from the position of the auxiliary point C (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Further, a position information providing system and a position information providing apparatus that provide an absolute position as relative position data with respect to a road are known. When information about a facility position such as a parking lot is requested from the terminal, the information center supplies the position information to the terminal as relative position data using a feature such as a nearby road. The terminal calculates the deviation between the position of the feature object received by the map matching calculation unit and the position of the feature object in its own map database, and corrects the facility position (see Patent Document 2).

  Also, in a position reference method that refers to positions between different devices or different map databases, the position to be referenced is the coordinates of the nearest point on the road network of the position to be referenced, from the nearest point to the position to be referenced. There is known a position reference method expressed by relative coordinates and coordinates of prominent intersections before and after the nearest point (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2002-310681 A International Publication WO98 / 12688 Pamphlet JP 2001-60298 A “Position Information Representation Format Guidelines POIX_EX (ITS FORUM RC-001)” Version 2.0, ITS Information Communication System Promotion Conference, April 28, 2003

  When the POI position is provided as relative position data with respect to the road as in the conventional example and the POI position is referred to, in urban areas and residential areas, etc., it means a section (here, the range divided by the road and the road) If it is off, it may be difficult to find the destination.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of easily and accurately identifying a section where a POI exists, and a position information providing apparatus and a position information use capable of accurately transmitting and using the position of the POI. An object is to provide a terminal device.

The position information providing apparatus of the present invention is a position information providing apparatus that provides position information related to POI corresponding to map data, and includes section information having information for specifying a plurality of road sections surrounding at least a part of the POI. And a data output unit that outputs position reference information including the section information.
As a result, the section where the POI exists can be accurately expressed, and the information use side can easily and accurately specify the section where the POI exists, so that the position of the POI can be accurately transmitted and used. .

Moreover, as one aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing apparatus described above, the section information includes information specifying at least two road sections that are continuously located so as to surround the POI. Shall be.
Thereby, the section where the POI exists can be accurately expressed by the information of the road sections of at least two sides continuously positioned so as to surround the POI, and the position of the POI can be specified accurately.

Moreover, as one aspect of the present invention, the position information providing apparatus described above, wherein the section information includes information specifying a plurality of road sections including a road section close to the position of the POI. And
Thereby, the section where the POI exists can be accurately expressed by the information of a plurality of road sections including the road section close to the POI position, and the position of the POI can be specified accurately.

Moreover, as one aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing apparatus described above, the section information is a POI for clearly indicating a position of the POI or a direction in which the POI exists from a position on a road surrounding the POI. It is assumed to include location information.
Thus, the POI position information indicates the position of the POI or the direction in which the POI exists from the position on the road surrounding the POI, and the position of the POI can be appropriately recognized.

Moreover, as one aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing device described above, the section information includes a plurality of road sections surrounding the POI, and a POI exists in an inner direction in the plurality of road sections. It is assumed that the road section information extracted as described above is included.
Thereby, it becomes possible to appropriately recognize the position of the POI existing in a predetermined direction of these road sections based on the information of a plurality of road sections surrounding the POI.

In addition, as one aspect of the present invention, the position information providing apparatus described above may have a multiple configuration in which the section information includes a plurality of sections of section information including information on road sections having different road attribute classes. I will do it.
As a result, it is possible to easily identify the section where the POI exists or to improve the accuracy of position identification. For example, by generating section information of multiple systems based on information of different road attribute classes such as narrow streets and main roads, even if the scale of the map database held on the information providing side and the information using side is different The position of the POI can be specified using appropriate section information.

As one aspect of the present invention, in the position information providing apparatus described above, the road attribute class is based on at least one of a road width, a road type, and a map scale.
As a result, the information providing side and the information using side hold it by generating and using section information of multiple systems based on information of road attribute classes with different road widths, road types, map scales, etc. Even if the scale of the map database is different, the position of the POI can be specified using appropriate section information.

The location information use terminal device of the present invention is a location information use terminal device that specifies and uses the position of the POI corresponding to the map data based on the provided location information, and includes a plurality of surrounding POIs. A data acquisition unit for acquiring position reference information including section information having information for specifying a road section, and POI position specifying means for specifying the position of the POI based on the section information, and processing the position reference information And a POI information utilization unit that utilizes the position information of the POI.
As a result, the section where the POI exists can be easily and accurately specified by the section information, and the POI position can be displayed on the map screen, voice guidance can be used, or used for setting the destination. Can be used for

Further, as one aspect of the present invention, in the above-described position information utilization terminal device, the data processing unit includes a plurality of pieces of partition information in which the partition information includes information on road sections having different road attribute classes. When it has, it shall have the division information selection means which selectively uses either of these division information of multiple systems.
As a result, it is possible to change the fineness of the road and the range of the section used for specifying the position of the POI in accordance with the situation of the road in the map database that is held, so the section where the POI exists can be selected using appropriate section information. This makes it possible to specify the position of the POI, and to improve the accuracy of specifying the position.

In addition, the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to realize the function of each unit in the position information providing apparatus described above.
Moreover, this invention provides the program for making a computer implement | achieve the function of each means in said position information utilization terminal device.
By these programs, the section where the POI exists can be accurately expressed, the section where the POI exists can be specified easily and accurately, and the position of the POI can be accurately transmitted and used.

  Further, the present invention provides position reference information data having a structure including section information having information specifying a plurality of road sections surrounding at least a part of the POI as position information related to POI (Point Of Interest) corresponding to map data. A recording medium on which is recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a position information providing apparatus and a position information using terminal apparatus that can easily and accurately specify a section where a POI exists and can accurately transmit and use the position of the POI.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the position information providing device and the position information using terminal device according to the present invention are applied to a position information providing system used mainly for a car navigation device or a mobile phone device provided in a vehicle or the like. Show.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a location information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a location information utilization terminal apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The position information providing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the position information using terminal apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 2 perform data communication via a communication network or the like (not shown). As a specific example of the position information providing apparatus 10, a position information providing server connected to a network can be cited. Specific examples of the position information utilization terminal device 30 include navigation devices used in vehicles and the like, and information terminal devices such as mobile phone devices and PDAs. In the present embodiment, as an example of a position code corresponding to position information providing data for position reference, shape data having a plurality of nodes representing a target road section, link data representing a specific road section such as a VICS link, or 2 A configuration example in the case where position information is transmitted using position reference data for specifying a road section with the shortest route between the intersections (or points on the road) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the position information providing apparatus 10 includes a POI database 11, a POI determination unit 12, a digital map database (A) 13, a position information transmission unit 14 corresponding to an example of a data output unit, and an example of a data generation unit. The position code generation unit 20 corresponding to is configured. The position code generation unit 20 includes a target road identification unit 21, a road section extraction unit 22, a POI entrance position determination unit 23, a POI existence section determination unit 24, and a code generation unit 25.

  The POI database 11 includes positions of various POIs (for example, parking lots, restaurants, banks, convenience stores, etc.), roads close to the POI, and positions on the road close to the POI such as the POI entrance or exit (POI contact point position). ) And data relating to various POIs (for example, address, telephone number, business hours, parking lot availability information, etc.) are stored.

  The POI determination unit 12 provides a menu or the like for searching the POI to the location information use terminal device 30, and specifies at least one POI based on the request information supplied from the location information use terminal device 30. Then, the specified POI data is supplied to the position code generation unit 20. In FIG. 1, a unit for transmitting a menu or the like to the location information utilization terminal device 30 and a unit for receiving request information or the like from the location information utilization terminal device 30 are omitted. In addition, when the location information providing apparatus 10 provides broadcast type information using FM broadcasting, digital broadcasting, etc., it provides information on all of the POI that it holds, or the parking lot availability situation, The POI to be provided is determined in consideration of the event occurrence status in the POI.

  The position code generation unit 20 refers to the digital map database (A) 13 to generate and generate position information providing data (position reference data) based on section information including position information for specifying a road section surrounding the POI. The position information providing data is supplied to the position information transmitting unit 14. Specifically, the target road specifying unit 21 specifies a plurality of roads around the POI. The POI entrance position determination unit 23 determines the POI entrance (POI contact position). Then, the POI existence section determination unit 24 determines a section where the POI exists. Here, the section where the POI exists is a range divided by roads. The road section extraction unit 22 extracts a road section along the section. Then, the code generation unit 25 generates partition information (position reference data) shown in a data configuration example described later based on the processing result.

  In the case where the section information is created in advance for each POI and the section information is stored in the POI database 11 in correspondence with the POI, the digital map database (A) 13 and the position are stored. There is no need to provide the code generation unit 20. When the location information providing device 10 is a server operated by a business operator such as a restaurant and provides location information of the restaurant or the like, the POI database 11 and the POI determination unit 12 It is unnecessary. In such a case, the section information created in advance may be provided in response to a request from the position information utilization terminal device 20 side.

  The position information transmitting unit 14 converts the position information providing data based on the generated section information into data or code in a format suitable for data communication, and transmits it as POI position reference information. Thereby, position reference information can be supplied to the position information utilization terminal device 30 side via a communication network (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the location information utilization terminal device 30 includes a location information receiving unit 31, a location reference processing unit 32, a digital map database (B) 33, a POI location specifying unit 34, and a POI corresponding to an example of a data acquisition unit. A utilization unit 35 is included. The position reference processing unit 32 and the POI position specifying unit 34 realize the function of the data processing unit. In FIG. 2, the means for receiving menu information and the like from the position information providing apparatus 10 and the means for transmitting request information and the like to the position information providing apparatus 10 are not shown.

  The position information receiving unit 31 receives position information providing data (POI position reference information) transmitted from the position information providing apparatus 10 via a communication network or the like, and performs position reference processing on the section information of the received position information providing data. To the unit 32. The position reference processing unit 32 interprets the content of the block information, performs a matching process between the road along the block specified by the block information and the road stored in the digital map database (B) 33, and performs the matching process on the own map. Identify roads along parcels. Thereby, the section where the POI exists is specified.

  The position reference processing unit 32 displays a road that does not exist in the own map as an additional road on the map display screen when a part of the road along the section designated by the section information does not exist in the own map. Also good. Further, a road that does not exist in the own map may be additionally registered in the digital map database (B) 33 as an additional road.

  The POI position specifying unit 34 is based on the POI contact position (position on the road where the POI contacts, such as the POI entrance) included in the section information and the virtual shape indicating the POI existing direction or POI position, etc. Specify the location of the POI. The POI information utilization unit 35 utilizes the position of the POI specified by the POI position specifying unit 34. Specifically, the position of the POI is displayed on a map screen, voice guidance is provided, or a destination for route search is set.

  The scale and accuracy of the digital map database (B) 33 on the position information utilization terminal device 30 side may be different from the scale and accuracy of the digital map database (A) 13 on the position information providing device 10 side. Since the position of the POI is specified based on the section information expressed by a plurality of continuously located road sections extracted so as to surround the POI, even if the scale and accuracy are different, the position information utilization terminal device 30 side Then, the section where the POI exists can be accurately recognized, and the position of the POI can be accurately specified and represented.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a partition where a POI exists. In FIG. 3, Pn (P1 to P4) indicates a POI (for example, a parking lot). A circle is an entrance (POI contact position) of a POI (for example, a parking lot). In addition, a thick line indicates a road along the section, and a solid line indicates another road (a road not along the section). FIG. 3A shows an example of a closed section. FIG. 3B shows an example of a section partially opened. FIG. 3C shows an example of a section where one side is open. FIG. 3D shows an example of a section where two sides are open. The section information that expresses such a section may be constituted by position information that specifies a plurality of road sections that are continuously located so as to surround the POI, including a road section close to the position of the POI. At this time, even if the road does not exist so as to surround the entire periphery of the POI, a section where the POI exists can be expressed by designating a road section along the section of at least two sides, preferably three or more sides.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a concept of section information as position reference information in the present embodiment. The section information includes a POI header indicating the type and contents of the POI, the longitude and latitude of the POI, and information (1 to N) for specifying a road section surrounding the POI. This section information is not limited to a section on the map, as long as it indicates a road section that surrounds at least a part of the POI. May be.

  5 to 9 are diagrams showing examples of the data configuration of the position reference information in the first embodiment. The data configuration example (1) shown in FIG. 5 includes a POI header indicating POI type and contents, POI longitude and latitude, shape data road attributes, total number of shape data nodes, and absolute coordinates (latitude and longitude) of each node. ), Section information (position reference data) having the node number of the POI contact position and the direction (left and right) in which the POI exists. A node is a point on a road map set to identify a road section. Intersections may be included in the points on the road map. The POI entrance is specified by the node number of the POI contact point position. As the POI position information, the direction in which the POI exists is represented by the direction (left and right) from the POI entrance. Here, left and right are specified for the direction in accordance with the description order of each node. An absolute direction may be used instead of the direction.

  The data configuration example (2) shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by omitting the data indicating the POI direction from the data configuration example (1) shown in FIG. In this case, when extracting a plurality of road sections surrounding the POI, it is defined that the POI exists in the inner direction in the plurality of road sections, and a road section for specifying the POI position is extracted. For example, if each node is described in the order of counterclockwise rotation, it is defined that the POI exists in the left direction of the POI entrance (POI contact point position), and each node is described in the order of clockwise rotation. If there is a POI, it is defined that the POI exists to the left of the POI entrance (POI contact point position). Thereby, designation of the direction can be omitted.

  In the data configuration example (3) shown in FIG. 7, the POI existence position in the section can be accurately expressed using a virtual shape. Data configuration example (3) includes POI header, POI longitude and latitude, shape data road attributes, total number of shape data nodes, absolute coordinates of each node (latitude, longitude), node number of POI virtual shape data start position, Section information (position reference data) including the number of virtual shape data nodes and the longitude and latitude of each virtual node is shown.

  The data configuration example (4) shown in FIG. 8 represents a section using a link number that designates a road section. Data configuration example (4) includes POI header, POI longitude and latitude, number of defined links, each link number, link number of POI contact position, and section information (for position reference) having a relative position from the link start end. Data). A VICS link number or the like is used as the link number. The POI contact point position is specified by the link number of the road where the POI is close (the number of the link that contacts the POI) and the relative position from the link start end. The data configuration example (4) is suitable for expressing a section where a POI exists, for example, in an urban area or a residential area where intersections are dense.

  The data configuration example (5) shown in FIG. 9 represents a section using a plurality of intersections. Data configuration example (5) includes POI header, POI longitude and latitude, number of defined intersections, attribute / name of each intersection, longitude, latitude, end point intersection of road section where POI exists (intersection S and intersection T), Section information (position reference data) having a relative position between the intersections S-T at the POI entrance (ratio LP / LQ between the distance LP from the intersection S to the POI entrance and the distance LQ between the intersections S-T). Show. The data configuration example (5) is suitable for expressing a section where a POI exists in, for example, an urban area or a residential area where intersections are dense.

  In each of the data configuration examples (1) to (5), the longitude and latitude of the POI are included, but this can specify the position of the POI when the road cannot be specified on the position information utilization terminal device 30 side. It is for doing so.

  10 to 13 are explanatory diagrams showing specific examples of sections and POI positions expressed based on each data configuration example. FIG. 10 shows a specific example of partitions and POI positions expressed based on the data configuration example (1) and the data configuration example (2). A plurality of nodes from node 1 to node N identify a road section (a road along a section) surrounding POI. Node p is the POI entrance (POI contact position). P is POI (for example, parking lot). In the location information utilization terminal device 30, only a mark indicating POI (for example, a mark P indicating a parking lot) within the section and in the vicinity of the node p may be displayed, or the entrance position to the POI in the vicinity of the node p. For example, only an arrow mark may be displayed, or both may be displayed together. Further, a road along a section indicating a POI existing section or a POI existing section may be highlighted. Furthermore, for roads that are not on the map and specified by the section information (position reference data), the display mode (lines, colors, etc.) of the road sections may be different from other roads. .

  FIG. 11 shows a specific example of sections and POI positions expressed based on the data configuration example (3). A plurality of nodes from node 1 to node N identify a road section (a road along a section) surrounding POI. Common when the path from the position on the road where the POI touches (node p: POI contact position) to the POI position is complicated, when the path from the PPOI contact position to the POI position is a private road, or on a narrow road If the road map does not exist, the virtual shape is expressed using a large number of virtual shape nodes V1 to VM, so that the position of the POI can be displayed more accurately and the route guidance can be accurately performed. Can do. Here, the virtual shape portion is indicated by a dotted line. In such a case, it is desirable that the location information using terminal device 30 displays the virtual-shaped section on the map screen by treating the newly constructed road in the same manner. The expression (line type or shape, display color, etc.) when displaying the virtual shape is arbitrary.

  FIG. 12 shows a specific example of sections and POI positions expressed based on the data configuration example (4). FIG. 12 shows an example in which a section where a POI exists is specified by three roads specified by link numbers (for example, VICS link numbers). The POI entrance is in a road section with a link number 3, and the entrance position (POI contact position) is specified by a relative distance L (for example, a road distance) from the link start end of the link with the link number 3.

  FIG. 13 shows a specific example of sections and POI positions expressed based on the data configuration example (5). FIG. 13 shows an example in which a section where a POI exists is specified by four intersections R, S, T, and U. The POI entrance (POI contact point position) is located between the intersection S and the intersection T. The position of the POI entrance is specified by the ratio LP / LQ between the distance LQ between the intersections ST and the distance LP from the intersection S to the POI entrance.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example (encoding process example) of the position information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The POI setting unit 12 in the position information providing apparatus 10 extracts a POI that provides position information based on the request information supplied from the position information utilization terminal apparatus 30 side (step S11). The position code generation unit 20 extracts roads in contact with the extracted POI and roads around the section where the POI exists (step S12). And, the section information (position reference data) having information for specifying the road section surrounding the POI, contact position information such as the entrance of the POI, and information for specifying the position or direction of the POI is generated. It encodes into the information of a predetermined data structure (step S13). The position information transmission unit 14 converts the position information provision data including the section information generated by the position code generation unit 20 into a transmission data format, and transmits the data as POI position reference information to the position information utilization terminal device 30 side (step). S14).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation example (decoding process example) of the location information utilization terminal apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The position information providing data (POI position reference information) transmitted from the position information providing apparatus 10 side is received by the position information receiving unit 31 in the position information using terminal device 30 (step S31). The position reference processing unit 32 specifies the target road (road along the section) on the own map based on the section information of the position information provision data (step S32). Specifically, the content of the POI position reference information expressed by the block information is interpreted, and the matching process between the road along the block specified by the block information and the road stored in the digital map database (B) 33 is performed. Go and identify roads along the plot on your map. Thereby, the section where the POI exists is specified.

  In step S33, it is determined whether or not the position of the target road (the road along the section) has been successfully identified. When the position of the target road has been successfully identified (YES), the POI position specifying unit 34 refers to the target road to identify the POI entrance (POI contact point position), and refers to the direction (left and right) and the virtual shape to determine the POI. The existence direction and position of the are identified (step S34). Then, the POI information utilization unit 35 performs information utilization processing such as screen display of the POI position and destination setting (step S35). If the position of the target road has not been successfully identified in step S33 (NO), the POI position is identified using only the POI position information (for example, longitude and latitude) without using the section information (step S36). Utilization processing is performed (step S35).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the POI exists by configuring the position reference information for expressing the position of the POI using the section information including the information specifying the road section surrounding the POI. The section can be easily specified, and the position of the POI can be accurately transmitted and used.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a location information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a location information utilization terminal apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A position information providing device 50 shown in FIG. 16 includes a POI database 11, a POI determination unit 12, a digital map database (A) 13, a position information transmission unit 14, and a position code generation unit 60. The position code generation unit 60 includes a target road identification unit 61, a road section extraction unit 62, a POI entrance position determination unit 63, a POI presence block determination unit 64, a code generation unit 64, and a multi-zone configuration determination unit 66. Configurations of the units 11 to 14 other than the location code generation unit 60 are the same as those of the location information providing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.

  The position code generation unit 60 refers to the digital map database (A) 13, generates a plurality of pieces of section information including information for specifying road sections surrounding the POI, and has a multiple configuration including the generated plurality of sections of section information. The position reference data is supplied to the position information transmission unit 14.

  Specifically, subdivision information (subdivision position reference information) that specifies a road section surrounding POI using all roads including narrow streets (for example, all roads with a width of 3.3 meters or more), Middle section information (middle section position reference information) that identifies road sections surrounding POI using roads with a width of 5.5 meters or more without using narrow roads less than 5.5 meters, and general prefectural roads Large section information (large section position reference information) that identifies a road section surrounding the POI using a main road is generated. The smaller the section, the higher the POI location accuracy, but the higher the probability that there will be no narrow road on the receiving map. Therefore, for example, by providing multiple types of section information corresponding to the road class such as the main road network, the road network of 5.5 meters or more, and the entire road network, the situation of the road held by the own map database on the receiving side The partition information to be used can be selected in accordance with. On the receiving side, it is possible to select which piece of partition information is used according to the purpose of use of the position information.

  In this embodiment, the POI existence section determination unit 64 first determines a section where the POI exists using the entire road network. The multi-compartment structure determination unit 66 determines whether the road along the section is composed only of roads of 5.5 meters or more, and if a road of less than 5.5 meters is included, the POI existence section determination is performed. The section 64 is requested to determine a section where the POI exists on a road of 5.5 meters or more. Further, the multi-compartment structure determination unit 66 determines whether the road along the section is composed only of a main road, and if a road other than the main road is included, the multi-compartment structure determination unit 66 Request to determine the section of the main road where the POI exists. In this way, position information providing data (position reference data) having a multiple structure based on section information of a plurality of systems (here, three systems) having a hierarchical nested structure is generated.

  In addition, when it takes the structure which prepares the division information of several systems for each POI beforehand, and stores the division information of several systems in correspondence with POI in the POI database 11, a digital map database ( A) It is not necessary to provide 13 and the position code generation unit 20. Further, when the location information providing device 10 is a server operated by, for example, a business operator such as a restaurant and provides a plurality of sections of information such as the restaurant, the POI database 11 and the POI determination are performed. The part 12 is not necessary. In such a case, it is only necessary to provide a plurality of pieces of section information prepared in advance in response to a request from the position information utilization terminal device 70 side.

  The position information transmitting unit 14 converts the position information providing data based on the generated section information into data or code in a format suitable for data communication, and transmits it as POI position reference information. Thereby, position reference information can be supplied to the position information utilization terminal device 70 side via a communication network (not shown).

  In addition, information specifying which one of a plurality of sections of information is to be used from the position information utilization terminal 70 side, information on the road class of the digital map database (B) 33 owned by the position information utilization terminal 70, and the like is provided. When supplied to the device 50 side, the location information providing device 50 provides one section of partition information according to the road class and the like that can be used from the location information use terminal 70 side and specified by the location information use terminal 70 side. Also good.

  17 includes a position information receiving unit 31, a digital map database (B) 33, a position reference processing unit 71, a POI position specifying unit 72, and a POI information utilization unit 35. The The configuration of the location information receiving unit 31, the digital map database (B) 33, and the POI information utilization unit 35 is the same as that of the location information using terminal device 30 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The position reference processing unit 71 interprets the contents of the plurality of sections of section information received by the position information receiving section 31, and selects the section information to be used based on the road class of the map database possessed by the own apparatus. Based on the selected section information, the section where the POI exists is recognized. Specifically, the road along the section designated by the section information is matched with the road stored in the digital map database (B) 33 to identify the road along the section on the own map. Thereby, the section where the POI exists is specified.

  The POI position specifying unit 72 specifies the position of the POI based on the POI entrance (POI contact position) included in the section information and the virtual shape indicating the POI existence direction or POI position. The POI information utilization unit 35 utilizes the POI position identified by the POI position identification unit 35. Specifically, the position of the POI is displayed on a map screen, voice guidance is provided, or a destination for route search is set. The POI position specifying unit 72 specifies the POI position only by the POI position (absolute position) when the position reference processing unit 71 cannot specify the section where the POI exists.

  18 and 19 are diagrams showing examples of the data structure of the position reference information in the second embodiment. In the data configuration example (6) shown in FIG. 18, a road section along a section is expressed by absolute coordinates of each node. The header of POI, the longitude and latitude of POI, the number of layers of section information, Data for each road attribute class hierarchy (road class 3, road class 2, road class 1) (data for specifying a road section along a section) and a POI contact point node in each hierarchy (road attribute class) Section information (position reference data) having a number and a POI existence direction (left and right) is shown. The data for specifying the road section along the section includes the road attribute class of shape data, the total number of shape data nodes, the absolute coordinates (longitude, latitude) of each node, and node attributes. Road class 1 (including narrow streets) indicates that the road section is expressed using the entire road network with a width of 3.3 meters or more, and road class 2 (= 5.5 m road) is the width. Indicates that the road section is expressed using a road of 5.5 meters or more, and road class 3 (= main highway) indicates that the road section is expressed only by the main road.

  In road class 3 (roads with a width of 3.3 meters or more), if the road surrounding the section where the POI exists is composed of a higher road attribute class, the data of the lower road attribute class is appropriately stored. It may be omitted. For example, when the road surrounding the section is a road that is equal to or higher than a general prefectural road, the data of road class 2 or road class 3 is omitted. In addition, there is no need for the direction (left and right) data indicating the direction in which the POI exists. This is because the POI is assumed to be inside the section divided by the road.

  In the data configuration example (7) shown in FIG. 19, a road section along a section is expressed by using an intersection. The POI header, the longitude and latitude of the POI, the number of sections of section information, each layer The section information (position reference data) having (road attribute class) data is shown. The data corresponding to each hierarchy (road attribute class) includes the road attribute class of the shape data, the number of defined intersections, the attribute / name of the intersection, the longitude and latitude of the intersection, the intersection of the road section where the POI exists, and the intersection of the POI entrance Between relative positions.

  FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the three systems (three hierarchies) sections and the POI location. A symbol P in the figure is a mark indicating the position where a POI (for example, a parking lot) exists. A circle and an arrow indicate the POI entrance (POI contact position) and the POI existence direction. Large sections are formed using only main roads. The middle section is formed using a road with a width of 5.5 meters or more. The small sections are formed using narrow streets (for example, all roads including roads with a width of 3.3 meters or more).

  On the position information utilization terminal device 70 side, a section where POI exists can be clearly shown by combining and displaying any section on a map screen displayed on a screen of an image display device (not shown). Also, the POI position mark can be displayed on the screen, and the POI entrance position can be displayed.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an operation example (encoding process example) of the position information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The POI setting unit 12 in the position information providing device 50 extracts the POI that provides the position information based on the request information supplied from the position information using terminal device 70 side (step S51). The position code generation unit 60 refers to the digital map database (A) 13 and extracts roads in contact with the POI and roads around the point where the POI exists (step S52). The position code generation unit 60 identifies a road section that surrounds the POI using the finest road network in the map database of its own apparatus, and generates section information that expresses the road section, POI contact point position, POI presence direction, and the like ( Step S53). At this time, when a narrow road exists around the POI, road class 3 data is generated by specifying the road section along the subsection using all roads with a width of 3.3 meters or more. .

  The position code generation unit 60 determines whether or not the road section surrounding the POI (the road section along the section) is composed only of roads having a width of 5.5 meters or more (step S54). When the position code generation unit 60 is not composed of only a road having a width of 5.5 meters or more (NO), the road code section 60 (road section along the middle section) surrounds the POI using a road having a width of 5.5 meters or more. ) Is specified, and section information (medium section position reference information) expressing the road section, POI contact point position, POI presence direction, and the like is generated (step S55). Thereby, data of road class 2 is generated. If the POI surrounding road is composed of only roads with a width of 5.5 meters or more in step S54, the process of step S55 is skipped.

  If the position code generator 60 determines that the road is composed only of roads having a width of 5.5 meters or more in step S54, and if road class 2 data is generated in step S55, the road surrounding the POI It is determined whether the section (the road section along the section) is composed only of the main road (step S56). If the position code generator 60 is not composed of only a main road (NO), the position code generation unit 60 identifies a road section (road section along the large section) that surrounds the POI using the main road, and the road section and POI contact position , The partition information (large partition position reference information) expressing the POI existence direction and the like is generated (step S57). As a result, road class 1 data is generated. If the POI surrounding road is composed only of a main road in step S64, the process of step S57 is skipped.

  As described above, position reference data including section information of a plurality of systems exemplified in the data configuration example (6) or (7) is generated, and the generated position reference data is converted into a transmission data format by the position information transmission unit 14. And transmitted as POI position reference information (step S56).

  Note that the number of division information generated differs depending on the POI location conditions (the road conditions around the POI) and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, an example of generating partition information of up to three systems has been shown, but the number of systems to be generated is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which road width is used as a road attribute class, and section information of a plurality of systems having different road attribute classes based on the road width is generated. However, a map type (for example, a residential map, A plurality of systems of section information may be generated in correspondence with a map for roads, etc., a scale of a map (for example, 1/2, 2500, 1/5000, etc.).

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation example (decoding process example) of the location information utilization terminal apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Position information providing data (POI position reference information) including section information of a plurality of systems transmitted from the position information providing apparatus 50 side is received by the position information receiving unit 31 in the position information using terminal device 70 (step S71). . The position reference processing unit 71 first sets the road attribute class to the lowest (road class 3) (step S72), and uses the section information of the set road attribute class to identify the road position surrounding the POI in the own map. (Step S73). Next, the position reference processing unit 71 determines whether or not the road position surrounding the POI has been successfully identified (step S74). If the position is successfully identified (YES), the POI position identifying unit 72 identifies the POI contact position and the direction and position where the POI exists (step S75), and the POI information utilization unit 35 displays the POI position on the screen. Information utilization processing such as destination setting is performed (step S76). Thereby, the position of the POI is recognized and used based on the section information of the road class 3 (corresponding to the small section).

  If the position reference processing unit 71 has not succeeded in specifying the position in the lowest road attribute class (road class 3) (NO in step S74), the position reference processing unit 71 determines whether the road attribute class is the highest (step S77). If the road attribute class is not the highest (NO), the road attribute class is moved up one level (step S79). Thereby, road class 2 is set. And the process after step S73 is made like the above. That is, the road position surrounding the POI is specified using the road class 2 section information (step S73). If the position specification is successful, the position of the POI is recognized and used based on the section information (position reference information) of the road class 2 (corresponding to the middle section) (steps S74 to S76).

  If the position is not successfully identified in the road class 2 (NO in step S74), it is determined whether the road attribute class is the highest (step S77). If the road attribute class is not the highest (NO), the road attribute class is moved up one level (step S79). Thereby, road class 1 is set. And the process after step S73 is made like the above. That is, the road position surrounding the POI is specified using the road class 1 section information (step S73). If the position specification is successful, the position of the POI is recognized and used based on the section information of the road class 1 (corresponding to the large section) (steps S74 to S76).

  Even if the highest road attribute class (road class 1) is used and the road position surrounding the POI is not successfully identified (YES in step S77), the absolute position (for example, longitude and latitude) of the POI is used. The position of the POI is specified (step S78), and information utilization processing is performed (step S76).

  In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which three sections of partition information are used corresponding to the road attribute class, but the number of sections in the section information is arbitrary. In addition, which system is used may be selected according to the purpose of use on the position information utilization terminal device 70 side. For example, when a wide area map or the like is displayed on the screen, road class 1 (large section) is used, and when a detailed map or the like is displayed on the screen, road class 3 (small section) is used. You may do it.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, as the section information including the information for specifying the road section surrounding the POI, the information acquisition side has the section information of multiple layers generated for each road attribute class. Regardless of the accuracy of the existing map, the position of the POI can be specified with higher accuracy based on the optimum section information according to the conditions. Even if there is only a large road in the map database on the information acquisition side, the section where the POI exists can be appropriately identified by the section information composed of the large road, and the position of the POI is accurately transmitted and used. It becomes possible.

  The present invention is capable of easily and accurately identifying a section where a POI is present, has an effect of accurately transmitting and using the position of the POI, and provides a position information providing apparatus that provides position information regarding the POI, In addition, the present invention is useful for a position information use terminal device that displays and uses the position of the POI based on the position information provided from the position information providing device.

1 is a block diagram of a position information providing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the location information utilization terminal device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the division where POI exists in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the concept of the division information as position reference information in this embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example (1) of the position reference information in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example (2) of the position reference information in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example (3) of the position reference information in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example (4) of the position reference information in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example (5) of the position reference information in 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the division represented based on a data structure example (1) and a data structure example (2), and POI position. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the division expressed based on a data structural example (3), and POI position. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the division expressed based on a data structural example (4), and POI position. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the division represented based on a data structural example (5), and POI position. The flowchart which shows the operation example (example of encoding process) of the position information provision apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation example (decoding process example) of the positional information utilization terminal device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the positional information provision apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the positional information utilization terminal device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the data structural example (6) of the position reference information in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example (7) of the position reference information in 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows a specific example of the division of 3 systems (3 levels) and the POI location The flowchart which shows the operation example (example of encoding process) of the positional information provision apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation example (decoding process example) of the positional information utilization terminal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example which described POI position by feature use

Explanation of symbols

10, 50 Location Information Providing Device 11 POI Database 12 POI Location Determination Unit 13 Digital Map Database (A)
14 position information transmission unit 20, 60 position code generation unit 21, 61 target road identification unit 22, 62 road section identification unit 23, 63 POI entrance position determination unit 24, 64 POI existence section determination unit 25, 65 code generation unit 30, 70 Location Information Utilizing Terminal Device 31 Location Information Receiving Unit 32, 71 Location Reference Processing Unit 33 Digital Map Database (B)
34, 72 POI position specifying unit 35 POI information utilization unit 66 Multiple partition configuration determination unit

Claims (12)

A position information providing device that provides position information regarding POI (Point Of Interest) corresponding to map data,
A data generation unit that generates section information including information for specifying a plurality of road sections surrounding at least a part of the POI;
A data output unit for outputting position reference information including the section information;
A position information providing apparatus comprising: The position information providing apparatus according to claim 1,
The position information providing device configured to include information for specifying at least two road sections that are continuously located so as to surround the POI. The position information providing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The position information providing apparatus configured to include information for specifying a plurality of road sections including a road section close to the position of the POI. The position information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The position information providing device configured to include POI position information for clearly indicating a position of the POI or a direction in which the POI exists from a position on a road surrounding the POI. The position information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The section information providing apparatus configured to include information on road sections extracted such that a plurality of road sections surrounding the POI exist in the inner direction in the plurality of road sections. . The position information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The position information providing apparatus having a multiple configuration in which the section information includes a plurality of sections of section information including information of road sections having different road attribute classes. The position information providing device according to claim 6,
The position information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road attribute class is based on at least one of a road width, a road type, and a map scale. A position information using terminal device that specifies and uses the position of the POI corresponding to the map data based on the provided position information,
A data acquisition unit for acquiring position reference information including section information having information for specifying a plurality of road sections surrounding at least a part of the POI;
A data processing unit having POI position specifying means for specifying the position of the POI based on the section information, and processing the position reference information;
A POI information utilization unit that utilizes position information of the POI;
A location information using terminal device. It is a location information utilization terminal device according to claim 8,
The data processing unit, when the section information includes section information of a plurality of systems composed of information of road sections having different road attribute classes, selectively selects any one of the section information of the plurality of systems. A location information utilization terminal device having section information selection means to be used.   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the function of each means in the positional information provision apparatus in any one of Claims 1-7.   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the function of each means in the positional information utilization terminal device of Claim 8 or 9.   A recording medium in which position reference information data having a structure including section information including information for specifying a plurality of road sections surrounding at least a part of the POI is recorded as position information regarding a POI (Point Of Interest) corresponding to map data.

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