JP2006058470A - Method, device, and program for individual/batch operation of plurality of map pictures, and storage medium with program stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a plurality of map pictures presented by a map picture retrieving system/service, and to enable a user to perform both individual operation and batch operation of the plurality of map pictures. <P>SOLUTION: A method for individual/batch operation of a plurality of map pictures includes following steps: a step, when an operation request received from the user is that for a batch operation, to refer to a rule DB and create a retrieving formula for acquiring a new map picture which is obtained after applying various operations to a selected map picture; a step to access the map picture retrieving system/service and acquire the map picture corresponding to the retrieving formula; a step to update the map picture on a display device into the acquired map picture; a step to update the data of the selected map picture in a map picture managing table into the data of the acquired map picture; and a step, when the operation request received from the user is that for a batch operation, to refer to the map picture managing table and successively carry out the processes described above to the rest of map pictures displayed on the display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an individual / batch operation method and apparatus and program for a plurality of map images, and a storage medium storing an individual / batch operation program for a plurality of map images, and in particular, a plurality of map images presented by a map image search system / service. The present invention relates to an individual / collective operation method and apparatus and program for multiple map images that can be displayed and operated individually or collectively, and a storage medium storing an individual / collective operation program for multiple map images.

  In a conventional map image search system and map search service (hereinafter referred to as “map image search system / service”), a map image that is displayed around the specified location by the user specifying an arbitrary location. Can be obtained. Further, the user can arbitrarily change the display scale, display size, location displayed on the map image, and the like by executing various operations on the displayed map image.

  In addition to a detailed map image that displays details of an arbitrary location designated by the user, there is also a device that can simultaneously display a wide area map image that displays a wide area of the place and operate them in cooperation with each other.

  For example, when the location displayed on the detailed map image (center portion) is changed, the location displayed on the wide-area map image (center portion) is automatically changed so as to be the changed location.

  In addition, by manipulating the frame displayed on the wide area map image, the wide area map image is changed so that the place surrounded by the frame is in the center, and the detailed map is displayed so that the place surrounded by the frame is displayed. There is also a system that changes images in conjunction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, by manipulating the frame displayed on the wide area map, a detailed map of the place surrounded by the frame can be automatically acquired.
JP 2002-39964 A

  Here, when using a conventional map image search system / service and trying to acquire a plurality of map images displaying different places, the map image search system / service is started a plurality of times, for example, using a plurality of windows. Display a map image on each of them.

  However, in this case, only a plurality of map images can be displayed, and operations for each map image need to be performed individually.

  For example, when two map images with consecutive display locations are displayed and the display scale is changed, the user himself / herself needs to change the display scale one by one for each map image. is there.

  Furthermore, with the change in the display scale, it is conceivable that a shift occurs in the connection between the display locations of the map images, and the user himself / herself needs to correct this shift.

  In addition, there are systems that present wide-area map images and detailed map images, and can operate them in cooperation, but generally the same place is displayed at the center of the detailed map image and the detailed map image, and different locations are different. It is not possible to display a plurality of map images displayed on the display scale at the same time and operate them in cooperation with each other.

  Furthermore, in the conventional system, a plurality of (three or more) maps arbitrarily designated by the user can be displayed only by displaying two map images of a wide area map image and a detailed map image at the same time and operating them in cooperation. It is not possible to display images at the same time and manipulate them all at once.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and displays a plurality of map images presented by the map image search system / service, and can individually operate them as in the past (local operation), and the plurality of map images. It is an object of the present invention to provide an individual / collective operation method and apparatus for a plurality of map images and a program and an individual / collective operation program for a plurality of map images.

  In particular, multiple map images that can perform batch operations on multiple map images by automatically executing similar operations on the remaining map images in cooperation with operations on a certain map image An object is to provide a storage medium storing a batch operation method and apparatus, a program, and an individual / collective operation program for a plurality of map images.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 1) displays a plurality of map images presented via a network by one or more map image search systems / services having an apparatus having a function of providing an existing map image, which are individually or In the method for individually / batch operation of a plurality of map images in a device capable of batch operation,
Operation reception for receiving a map image selected from the user input device and various operation requests for the map image after combining a plurality of map images provided by the map image search system / service and displaying the list on the user display device Process (step 1);
An operation determination process (step 2) for determining whether the received operation request is an individual operation on the selected map image or a collective operation on all displayed map images;
When the received operation request is a collective operation, a first map image control process for setting a check to a collective operation flag corresponding to the selected map image in the map image management table for managing various data relating to each map image (Step 3),
A search that generates a search expression for acquiring a new map image after applying various operations to the selected map image with reference to a rule DB that manages various rules for acquiring a map image from each map image search system / service Formula generation process (step 4),
An access process (step 5) for accessing the map image search system / service with the generated search formula and acquiring a map image corresponding to the search formula;
A display control process (step 6) for updating the map image of the user's display device to the map image acquired in the access process;
A second map image control process (step 7) for updating the selected map image data in the map image management table to the acquired map image data;
When the operation request received from the user is a collective operation, the map image management table is referred to, and the process after the search expression generation process is sequentially executed for the remaining map images displayed on the display device. (Step 8).

Further, according to the present invention (Claim 2), when acquiring a display scale batch change operation request for a plurality of map images, the display position on the display device is changed along with the change of the display scale of each map image.
In the second map image control process (step 7),
Based on the positional relationship between the display location of the map image selected by the user and the display location of the map image to be processed, the display location of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB is assigned to each map. Calculate the new display position of each map image on the display scale after the change using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing how to convert to the latitude / longitude of the place where the image is displayed Then, a search expression for acquiring a new map image is generated.

Further, the present invention (Claim 3), when acquiring a display scale batch change operation request for a plurality of map images, when changing the display location of each map image in accordance with the change of the display scale of each map image,
In the second map image control process (step 7),
Based on the positional relationship between the map image selected by the user and the map image to be processed on the display device, each map image indicates the display position of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB. Using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing how to convert to the latitude / longitude of the display location, calculate the new display location of each map image in the changed display scale, A search expression for acquiring a new map image is generated.

According to the present invention, (Claim 4) is a display location when it is determined in the operation determination step (Step 2) that the display location is an individual change operation for a certain map image in the displayed map images. When changing the display position on the display device with the change of
In the second map image control process (step 7),
Each map image on the display device, which is stored in the rule DB, is the latitude / longitude movement amount of the place where the map image selected by the user is displayed in response to an individual change operation request for the display location from the user. On the display device in the converted display scale using an expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing the method of converting the display position of the map into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image Is converted into a moving amount of the display position at, a new display position of the map image is calculated, and a search formula for acquiring a new map image is generated.

  FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 5) displays a plurality of map images presented via a network by one or more map image search systems / services having an apparatus having a function of providing an existing map image, which are individually or A multiple map image individual / collective operation device 10 that can be operated in a batch,
A map image management table 14 for managing various data relating to each map image;
A rule DB 16 that manages various rules for acquiring map images from each map image search system / service 20;
A plurality of map images provided by the map image search system / service 20 are combined and displayed on the user's display device 50 as a list, and then the map image selected from the user's input device 40 and various operation requests for the map image are received. Operation receiving means 11 for performing,
Operation determining means 12 for determining whether the received operation request is an individual operation for the selected map image or a batch operation for all displayed map images;
If the received operation request is a batch operation, a first map image control means 13-1 for setting a check on a batch operation flag corresponding to the selected map image in the map image management table 14;
A search expression generation means 15 for generating a search expression for acquiring a new map image after applying various operations to the selected map image with reference to the rule DB 16;
An access means 17 for accessing the map image search system / service 20 with the generated search formula and acquiring a map image corresponding to the search formula;
Display control means 18-1 for updating the map image of the display device 50 of the user to the map image acquired in the access process;
Second map image control means 18-2 for updating the data of the selected map image in the map image management table 14 to the acquired map image data,
When the operation request received from the user is a collective operation, the map image management table 14 is referred to, and the search expression generating unit 15, the access unit 17, and the like for the remaining map images displayed on the display device 50, The display control means 18 and the second map image control means 18-2 are repeated.

The map image management table 14 of the present invention (claim 6)
The display position of the map image displayed on the display device 50, the latitude and longitude of the place where the map image is displayed, the display scale of the map image, the display size, the ID for identifying each map image, and the user at the time of collective operation A batch operation flag for distinguishing the selected map image is stored.

The rule DB 16 of the present invention (Claim 7)
Created in advance for each map image search system / service,
A map image URL analysis method describing a method of analyzing a URL of a map image presented by the map image search system / service and acquiring a latitude / longitude, a display scale, and a display size from the URL;
A display scale conversion table that converts the display scale acquired as a result of analysis into a specific value;
A display size conversion table that converts the display size acquired as a result of the analysis into a specific value;
A display-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes a method of converting the display position of each map image on the display device into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image;
When changing the display location of the map image, a movement operation conversion table describing the correspondence between the button for changing the display location and the actual movement amount is provided.

The second map image control means 18-2 of the present invention (Claim 8)
When changing the display position on the display device 50 in accordance with the change of the display scale of each map image at the time of obtaining the batch scale change operation request for the plurality of map images,
Based on the positional relationship between the display location of the map image selected by the user and the display location of the map image to be processed, the display location of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB 16 is assigned to each map. Calculate the new display position of each map image on the display scale after the change using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing how to convert to the latitude / longitude of the place where the image is displayed And a means for generating a search expression for acquiring a new map image.

The second map image control means 18-2 of the present invention (Claim 9)
When acquiring the display scale batch change operation request for multiple map images, when changing the display location of each map image with the change of the display scale of each map image,
Based on the positional relationship between the map image selected by the user and the map image to be processed on the display device, the display position of each map image on the display device 50 stored in the rule DB 16 is represented by each map image. Using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing how to convert to the latitude / longitude of the location to be displayed, calculate the new display location of each map image on the changed display scale. And means for generating a search expression for acquiring a new map image.

The second map image control means 18-2 of the present invention (Claim 10)
When the operation determining unit 12 determines that the display location is an individual change operation for a certain map image in the plurality of displayed map images, the display position on the display device is changed according to the change of the display location. In case,
Each map on the display device 50 stored in the rule DB 16 is the movement amount of the latitude and longitude of the place where the map image selected by the user is displayed in response to the individual change operation request of the display place from the user. The display device in the converted display scale using an expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing the method of converting the display position of the image into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image A means for generating a search expression for obtaining a new map image by calculating a new display position of the map image.

  The present invention (Claim 11) displays a plurality of map images presented via a network by one or more map image search systems / services having an apparatus having a function of providing an existing map image, which are individually or An individual / collective operation program for a plurality of map images that can be operated in a batch, wherein the computer executes processing used to realize the individual / collective operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1. .

The present invention (Claim 12) displays a plurality of map images presented via a network by one or more map image search systems / services having an apparatus having a function of providing an existing map image, which are individually or , A storage medium that stores an individual / collective operation program for multiple map images that can be operated collectively,
A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute processing used to realize the individual / collective operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a user can not only individually operate a plurality of displayed map images, but also operate in conjunction with an operation on a certain map image, as in the case of using a conventional map image search system / service. Thus, it is possible to perform the same operation on all displayed map images at once. As a result, when the same operation is performed on a plurality of map images, it is not necessary to repeat the same operation on each map image, and an efficient operation is possible.

  Further, according to the present invention, data related to each map image can be managed by the map image management table in the apparatus, and can be used in various operations. In particular, when performing a batch operation on a plurality of map images, the operation performed on the map image selected by the user can be appropriately changed to an appropriate operation based on the data of each map image.

  Further, according to the present invention, various rules relating to acquisition of a new map image are managed in the rule DB for each map image search system / service as various operations are performed on the map image. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to deal with a new map image search system / service, it can be dealt with simply by adding a new rule to the rule DB.

  Further, according to the present invention, the correspondence relationship between the arrangement relationship of each map image on the display device and the display location of each map image is maintained even after the batch change operation of the display scale for the plurality of map images. As a result, the user can intuitively grasp the overall positional relationship of the locations displayed on each map image based on the positional relationship of each map image on the display device even after a batch change operation of the display scale. .

  According to the present invention, the display scale of each map image is changed when the display scale is collectively changed for a plurality of map images, and the remaining map images are displayed based on the display location of the map image selected by the user. The location changes according to the positional relationship on the display device. As a result, the user can enlarge / reduce the display area composed of a plurality of map images based on the selected map image as a whole.

  Further, according to the present invention, during the individual change operation of the display location for a certain map image in a plurality of displayed map images, the map image is displayed on the display device in conjunction with the change of the display location of the map image. The display position of is changed. As a result, the user can intuitively determine the overall positional relationship of the locations displayed on the plurality of map images based on the positional relationship of each map image on the display device even after the individual change operation of the display location. Can grasp.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration and overview of individual / batch operation device for multiple map images:
FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an individual / collective operation system for a plurality of map images according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The multiple map image individual / collective operation system shown in FIG. 1 includes a multiple map image individual / collective operation device 10, a map image search system / service 20, a network 30, an input device 40, and a display device 50.

  An individual / collective operation device 10 for multiple map images (hereinafter referred to as an individual / collective operation device) includes an operation reception unit 11, an operation determination unit 12, a map image control unit 13, a map image management table 14, and a search formula generation unit 15. , Rule DB 16, access unit 17, and display control unit 18.

  A user input device is connected to the operation receiving unit 11, a user display device 50 is connected to the display control unit 18, and a map image search system / service 20 is connected to the access unit 17 via the network 30. Is connected.

  Here, it is assumed that the map image search system / service 20 is composed of a device having a function of providing a map image. The map image management table 14 is a table provided in a storage unit such as a memory in the individual / collective operation device 10.

  An outline of the operation of the individual / collective operation device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the individual / collective operation device 10 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of map images provided by the existing map image search system / service 20 can be combined and displayed as a list. At this time, it is assumed that the relationship between the display positions of the map images on the browser area 21 corresponds to the position relationship between the locations where the map images are displayed. That is, the top, bottom, left, and right on the browser area 21 correspond to north-south-west east at the display location of each map image, and the distances are also associated at a specified ratio.

  Further, in the individual / batch operation device 10 of the present invention, each map image is individually operated, for example, a map image to be operated is selected with the mouse cursor 24, as in the case of using the conventional map image search system / service. The display scale, display size, and display location of the selected map image can be arbitrarily changed (see FIG. 4B).

  Furthermore, when performing various operations on the selected map image, by giving a special option in addition to the normal operation, for example, by executing while pressing the shift key as a display location change operation for a certain map image, In conjunction with the operation of changing the display location for the selected map image, the same operation is automatically executed for the remaining map images displayed in the browser area 21 (see FIG. 4C). ).

  At this time, in the individual / collective operation device 10 of the present invention, the operation of a certain map image is not directly performed on the other map image, but the state of each map image, for example, the display scale, display size, browser area, etc. According to the display position on 21, the operation is appropriately converted into an appropriate operation and executed.

  As described above, by using the individual / collective operation device 10 of the present invention, the user can not only individually operate a plurality of displayed map images as in the case of using the conventional map image search system / service, In conjunction with the operation on the map image, the same operation can be collectively executed on all the displayed map images.

  Furthermore, the user does not have to consider the state of each map image when performing a batch operation on a plurality of map images.

  First, in the individual / batch operation system for multiple map images, a processing procedure for acquiring a plurality of map images provided by the map image search system / service 20 and displaying them as a list will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8 will be described.

(2) Base map image acquisition process:
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of acquisition processing of a map image serving as a base in one embodiment of the present invention.

  The user reads a map image from the existing map image search system / service 20 into the browser area 21 of the display device 50, and executes a normal search operation. At this time, the operation receiving unit 11 receives a search request from the user input device 40 (step 31).

  Next, the map image control unit 13 initializes the map image management table 14, and registers the ID and display position indicating the base map image in the map image management table 14 (step 32).

  Here, the IDs in the map image management table 14 (see FIG. 6) are numbers assigned in the order of addition of map images, and the ID of the base map image is “0”. The display position represents the coordinates (X, Y) of the center of each map image in the browser area 21, and the center of the base map image is the origin (see FIG. 4A).

  The map image management table 14 also includes a section for managing the latitude / longitude (N, E) of the location displayed by each map image (center), the display scale and display size of the map image, and checking the collective operation flag. .

  Then, the access unit 17 executes a search operation from the user received by the operation reception unit 11 for the map image search system / service 20 to acquire a search result including a base map image (step 33). .

  Thereafter, the display control unit 18 displays the acquired search result in the browser area 21 of the display device 50 (step 34), the latitude / longitude of the place where the acquired map image is displayed, and the display scale of the map image The display size is registered in the map image management table 14 (step 35).

  Here, the latitude / longitude, the display scale, and the display size of the place displayed by the map image are acquired by analyzing the URL indicating the map image in the acquired search result.

For example, the URL of the map image acquired as a search result is
http://map.ne.jp/serv.cgi?MAP=E139.10.50.0N35.30.50.0&ZM=8&SZ=0
, The number following “E” represents latitude, and the number following “N” represents longitude. The number after “ZM” indicates the display scale, and the number after “SZ” indicates the display size. The numbers indicated by “ZM” and “SZ” are converted into specific display scales and display sizes according to conversion rules established by each map image search system / service.

  In the present invention, a map image (search result) URL analysis method 61, a display scale conversion table 62, a display size conversion table 63, and a movement operation conversion table 65 described later are created for each map image search system / service 20, It is assumed that management is performed by the rule DB 16 shown in FIG. The direction (Dir) of the movement operation conversion table 65 shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the number of the display location button 28 described at the right end of the figure.

(3) Map image addition processing:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of map image addition processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  When the user clicks the map image addition operation, for example, when the user clicks the “add map image” button 22 from the input device 40, the operation receiving unit 11 receives this addition operation request (step 41).

  At this time, the map image control unit 13 displays a frame 23 for designating an additional position of the map image on the browser area 21 on the display device 50 (see step 42, FIG. 4A).

  Next, the user operates the frame 23 displayed on the display device 50 and arranges it at a place where the user wants to obtain a map image (step 43).

  Thereafter, when the operation receiving unit 11 receives from the input device 40 that the arrangement of the frame 23 has been completed, the map image control unit 13 newly adds one item to the map image management table 14. At this time, the number next to the ID indicating the previously registered item is registered in the ID, and the coordinates of the center of the frame 23 in the browser area 21 are registered in the display position (step 44).

  Further, the display scale and display size of the base map image (ID: 0) are copied to the display scale and display size (step 45).

(4) Search expression generation processing:
Next, the search formula generation unit 15 generates a search formula for acquiring a map image corresponding to the arrangement relationship with the base map image.

  First, the search expression generation unit 15 refers to the map image management table 14, and displays the display position (Xn, Yn) of the frame 23, the latitude / longitude (E0, N0) of the base map image, and the display scale (ZMo). Obtain (step 46).

  Next, based on the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule 64 (the expression shown below) in the rule DB 16, it corresponds to the display position (Xn, Yn) of the frame 23, that is, the arrangement relationship with the base map image. The latitude / longitude (En, Nn) of the place displayed by the map image to be displayed is derived (step 47).

ここで、ＲＥ，ＲＮは、ブラウザ領域２１上での変位量を、基準とする表示スケール（ＺＭorg）の地図画像上での変位量に変換するための比率である。また、βは基準とする表示スケール（ＺＭorg）での変位量をベースとなる地図画像の表示スケール（ＺＭo）での変位量に変換するための倍率であり、下記に示す式により算出される。

Here, RE and RN are ratios for converting the displacement amount on the browser area 21 into the displacement amount on the map image of the reference display scale (ZMorg). Β is a magnification for converting the displacement amount on the reference display scale (ZMorg) into the displacement amount on the display scale (ZMo) of the base map image, and is calculated by the following equation.

β = (1 / ZMo) / (1 / ZMorg)
The reference display scale (ZMorg) and the values of RE and RN are calculated in advance for each map image search system / service 20 and stored in the rule DB 16.

  For example, in a certain map image search system / service 20, when the display size of the map image is (470, 300) and the display scale (reference display scale: ZMorg) is 1/25000, the display range of the map image is ( 0.2.45.5,0.1.34.5), RE and RN are calculated from the following equations.

よって、図４（ｂ）に示すように、フレーム２３の表示位置（Ｘ１，Ｙ１）が、（−４７０，０）、ベースとなる地図画像の緯度・経度（Ｅ０，Ｎ０）が、(139.10.50.0, 35.30.50.0)、表示スケール（ＺＭo）が1/25000である場合、フレーム２３の表示位置（Ｘ１，Ｙ１）に対応する地図画像の緯度・経度（Ｅ１，Ｎ１）は、以下に示す式から算出される。

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the display position (X1, Y1) of the frame 23 is (−470, 0), and the latitude / longitude (E0, N0) of the base map image is (139.10. 50.0, 35.30.50.0) and the display scale (ZMo) is 1/25000, the latitude / longitude (E1, N1) of the map image corresponding to the display position (X1, Y1) of the frame 23 is expressed by the following equation: Is calculated from

（Ｅ１，Ｎ１）＝(139.8.5.5, 35.30.50.0)となる。

(E1, N1) = (139.8.5.5, 35.30.50.0).

  Next, the search expression generation unit 15 refers to the map image management table 14, acquires the display scale (ZMn) and the display size (SZn) indicated by the ID of the map image to be added (frame 23), and stores them in the rule DB 16. The display scale conversion table 62 and the display size conversion table 63 are used for conversion into corresponding numbers (step 48).

  Then, based on the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16, the latitude / longitude (En, Nn) derived in step 47, the display scale (ZMn) converted in step 48, and the display size (SZn) are calculated. A search expression for the map image search system / service 20 is generated (step 49).

Here, in the map image URL analysis method 61, as described in the above (2), the URL of the map image acquired as a search result is:
http://map.ne.jp/serv.cgi?MAP=E139.10.50.0N35.30.50.0&ZM=8&SZ=0
URL of the map image search system / service 20 (http://map.ne.jp/serv.cgi), latitude (E139.10.50.0), longitude (N35.30.50.0) of the display location, It is described that the displayed map image has a display scale (ZM = 8) and a display size (SZ = 0).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the retrieval formula for acquiring the map image corresponding to the display position of the frame 23 is the previously derived latitude / longitude (E1, N1) = (139.8.5.5, 35.30). .50.0), display scale (1/25000) → (ZM = 8), display size (470,300) → (SZ0),
http://map.ne.jp/serv.cgi?MAP=E139.8.5.5N35.30.50.0&ZM=8&SZ=0
It is expressed.

  Then, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the search formula generated by the search formula generation unit 15 and acquires a map image (search result) corresponding to the search formula (step 50).

  Thereafter, the display control unit 18 displays the acquired map image 25 at the position indicated by the frame 23 (step 51), and the latitude / longitude (E1, N1) of the location displayed by the map image in the map image management table 14. Register (step 52).

  Through the above map image addition operation, the user can easily add multiple maps that display the desired location by specifying the location from which the map image is acquired based on the first acquired map image. An image can be acquired (see FIG. 4A).

(5) Display size changing operation processing:
Next, a processing procedure when converting the display size of the map image displayed on the browser 21 individually / batch will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 10 with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a display size changing operation in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a display size changing process in one embodiment of the present invention.

  A menu for changing the display size of the map image from the input device 40, for example, selecting a map image whose display size is to be changed, selecting the “display size” button 26 from the input device 40, or opening from a right click. When a new display size is selected, the operation receiving unit 11 receives this display size change request and acquires a new display size value (step 81).

  Further, the operation determination unit 12 determines whether the received display size change request is an individual operation on the map image or a collective operation on all displayed map images (step 82). Here, whether an individual operation or a batch operation is performed is determined by whether or not a batch operation option is attached, for example, whether a shift key is pressed at the same time when a display size change request is received.

  Next, the map image control unit 13 refers to the map image management table 14, acquires the ID of the selected map image, and updates the display size of the ID (step 83).

  If the received display size change request is a batch operation, the batch operation flag of the ID in the map image management table 14 is checked (step 84). The use of the collective operation flag will be described later.

  At this time, the ID of the selected map image is obtained by collating the position selected by the mouse cursor 24 using the display position and display size of each map image.

  Then, the search expression generation unit 15 acquires the latitude / longitude of the map image indicated by the acquired ID, the display scale, and the updated display size from the map image management table 14, and executes the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16. Based on this, a search expression for acquiring a new map image having a different display size is generated (step 85).

  At this time, in the display size changing process, unlike the map image adding process, the latitude / longitude of the currently displayed map image is used without calculating the latitude / longitude (step 47 in FIG. 8). Also, the display scale uses the value of the currently displayed map image, and uses a new value only for the display size.

For example, when the display size of the map image indicated by the ID “1” in the map image management table 14 is changed from “small” (SZ = 0) to “large” (SZ = 1), a new map image is acquired. The search formula for is
http://map.ne.jp/serv/cgiMAP=E139.8.5.5N35.30.50.0&ZM=8&SZ=1
It becomes.

  Next, the access unit 17 accesses the map image system / service 20 with the generated search formula, and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 86).

  Thereafter, the display controller 18 deletes the map image indicated by the ID on the browser area 21, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 87).

  In this way, the user can freely enlarge / reduce the display size of the arbitrarily selected map image, that is, the display range of the map image (see FIG. 9A).

  At this time, the display position of the map image is not changed. Therefore, even after changing the display size of the map image, the positional relationship between the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 and the location displayed at the center of each map image is associated.

(6) Display size batch change operation:
Here, when the display size change operation request from the user is a collective operation on all displayed map images, that is, when the collective operation flag is checked in the process of step 84 (Yes in step 88), Subsequently, the display size changing process is executed for the remaining map images on the map image management table 14.

  Specifically, the map image control unit 13 refers to the map image management table 14, acquires one map image ID to be processed, and changes the display size of the ID to the display size received in step 81. (Step 89).

  At this time, if the collective operation flag of the ID in the map image management table 14 is checked, that is, if the map image is selected by the user (Yes in step 90), the subsequent display size changing process is skipped.

  Next, the search expression generation unit 15 acquires the latitude / longitude, display scale, and changed display size of the map image indicated by the ID acquired with reference to the map image management table 14, and the map image URL in the rule DB 16 is acquired. Based on the analysis method 61, a search expression for acquiring a new map image having a different display size is generated (step 91).

  Next, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the generated search formula and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 92).

  Thereafter, the display control unit 18 deletes the map image indicated by the ID displayed on the browser area 21 of the display device 50, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 93).

  Thereafter, the processing from step 89 to step 93 is repeated for each map image data registered in the map image management table 14, and the display size is changed for all map images displayed on the browser area 21. When the operation is executed (Yes in step 94), the map image management table 4 is referred to and the batch operation check flag of the map image selected by the user is unchecked (step 95).

  In this way, the user can collectively change the display size of all map images displayed on the browser area 21 by giving an option for batch operation when performing a display size change operation on a certain map image. .

  At this time, since the display position of each map image is not changed, as shown in FIG. 9B, the display range constituted by a plurality of map images is enlarged or reduced as a whole.

(7) Display scale change operation:
Next, a processing procedure for changing the display scale of the map image displayed in the browser area 21 individually / in a batch will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 11 and a flowchart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a display scale changing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process of a display scale changing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The user performs an operation for changing the display scale of the map image, for example, selects a map image for which the display scale is to be changed, selects the “display scale” button 27 of the input device 40, or opens a new display scale by right-clicking. When the operation receiving unit 11 receives the display scale change request, the operation receiving unit 11 acquires a new display scale value (step 101).

  Further, it is determined whether the display scale change request received by the operation determination unit 12 is an individual operation on the map image or a collective operation on all displayed map images (step 102). Here, the determination of the individual operation or the collective operation is the same as the method described in the display size changing operation (5).

  Next, the map image control unit 13 refers to the map image management table 14, acquires the ID of the selected map image, and updates the display scale of the ID (step 103).

  If the received display size changing operation is a batch operation, the batch operation flag of the ID is checked (step 104).

  Then, the search formula generation unit 15 refers to the map image management table 14 to acquire the longitude / latitude, display size, and updated display scale of the map image indicated by the acquired ID, and the map image URL in the rule DB 16 Based on the analysis method 61, a search expression for acquiring a new map image with a different display scale is generated (step 105).

  At this time, the display scale changing process is different from the map image adding process in that the latitude / longitude is not calculated (step 47 in FIG. 8), and the latitude / longitude of the currently displayed map image is used. Also, the display size uses the value of the currently displayed map image, and a new value is used only for the display scale.

For example, when the display scale of the map image indicated by the ID “0” in the map image management table 14 is changed from 1/25000 (ZM = 8) to 1/12500 (ZM = 9), a new map image is acquired. The search formula for is
http://mpa.ne.jp/serv/cgi?MAP=E139.10.50.0N35.30.50.0&ZM=9&SZ=0
It becomes.

  Next, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the search formula generated by the search formula generation unit 15 and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 106).

  Thereafter, the display control unit 18 deletes the map image indicated by the ID on the browser area 21 of the display device 50, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 107). At this time, the display position of the map image is not changed.

  In this way, the user can freely view the display scale of the arbitrarily selected map image, that is, the details / wide area of the location displayed at the center of the map image (sensation of enlarging / reducing with a magnifying glass) (see FIG. 11 (a)).

  At this time, the display scale of the image is different, and as a result, a tear occurs at the boundary of the selected map image. However, even in this case, the positional relationship between the display position of the center of each map image on the browser area 21 and the location displayed at the center of each map image is associated.

(8) Display scale batch change operation:
Here, when the change operation of the display scale from the user is a collective operation for all displayed map images, that is, when the collective operation flag is checked in the process of step 104 (Yes in step 108), Subsequently, the display size changing operation is executed for the remaining map images in the map image management table 14.

  Specifically, the map image control unit 13 refers to the map image management table 14, acquires one map image ID to be processed, and displays the display scale of the map image with the ID received in step 101. The size is changed (step 109).

  At this time, when the collective operation flag of the ID is checked (Yes in step 110), that is, in the case of the map image selected by the user, the subsequent display scale changing process is skipped.

  Then, the search formula generation unit 15 acquires the latitude / longitude of the map image indicated by the acquired ID, the display size, and the changed display scale, and displays the display scale based on the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16. A search expression for acquiring a new map image having a different value is generated (step 111).

  Next, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the search formula generated by the search formula generation unit 15 and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 112).

  Thereafter, the display controller 18 displays the map image indicated by the ID displayed on the browser area 21, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 113).

  Thereafter, the processing from step 109 to step 113 is repeated for each map image registered in the map image management table 14, and the display scale changing operation is performed for all the map images displayed on the browser area 21. At the time of execution (step 114), the map image management table 14 is referred to and the batch operation check flag of the map image selected by the user is unchecked (step 115).

  In this way, the user can collectively change the display scale of all map images displayed on the browser area 21 by giving the option for batch operation when executing the display scale change operation for a certain map image. (Refer FIG.11 (b)).

  At this time, the location displayed at the center of each map image is not changed before and after the batch change operation of the display scale. As a result, the connection is broken at the boundary of each map image. That is, even after the batch change operation of the display scale, the correspondence between the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 and the display location (center portion) remains the same as the correspondence in the display scale before the batch change operation. .

  Therefore, it is conceivable to update the correspondence relationship between the display position and the display location of each map image to the correspondence relationship in the new display scale after the change in accordance with the display scale batch change operation, and the method will be described later. A first embodiment and a second embodiment will be described.

(9) Map image display location change processing:
Next, a processing procedure when changing the display location of the map image displayed in the browser area 21 individually / batch will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of map image display location change processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The user changes the display location of the map image, for example, selects a map image whose display location is to be changed, selects the direction in which the “display location” button 28 is present from the input device 40, or arbitrarily selects the map image in the selected map image. When the point is clicked, the operation receiving unit 11 receives this display location change request (step 121).

  When the “display location” button 28 is used, the selected direction (Dir) is acquired. When a certain location in the map image is clicked, the coordinates (xs, ys) of the clicked location are acquired. (Step 122). At this time, the coordinates of the clicked position have the origin at the center of the selected map image (see FIG. 4B).

  Further, the operation determination unit 12 determines whether the received display location change operation is an individual operation on the map image or a collective operation on all displayed map images (step 122). Here, the determination of the individual operation or the collective operation is the same as the method described in the display size changing operation process of (5) described above.

  Next, the map image control unit 3 refers to the map image table 14, obtains the ID of the selected map image (step 123), and if the received display location change request is a batch operation, The collective operation flag is checked (step 124).

  Then, the search expression generation unit 15 acquires the latitude / longitude (En, Nn), display size (SZn), and display scale (ZMn) of the map image indicated by the acquired ID. Based on these values and the selected direction (Dir) of the “display location” button received in step 121 or the coordinates (xs, ys) of the clicked position, The latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′) of the display location is calculated (step 125).

なお、上記の式はルールＤＢ１６中の表示位置−緯度・経度変換規則６４から導出され、ＲＥ，ＲＮ，ＺＭorgの意味、並びに、値は、前述の（４）の検索式生成処理と同一である。

The above expression is derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule 64 in the rule DB 16, and the meanings and values of RE, RN, and ZMorg are the same as those in the search expression generation process (4) described above. .

  At this time, (OffsetX, OffsetY) represents the amount of change in the display location. When the “display location” button 28 is used, it is acquired based on the movement operation conversion table 65 (see FIG. 7) in the rule DB 16. The converted Dir is converted into a corresponding value.

  On the other hand, when a certain place in the map image is clicked, the clicked position coordinates are used as they are, and (OffsetX, OffsetY) = (xs, ys).

  The moving operation conversion table 65 describes the correspondence between each direction (Dir) of the “display location” button on the reference display scale (ZMorg) and the amount of change in the display location. Each map image search system / service 20 is created in advance and managed by the rule DB 16.

  For example, the leftmost map image (map image indicated by ID1 of the map image management table 14) displayed in FIG. 4B is selected, and the upward direction (Dir = 0) of the “display location” button 28 is selected. In this case, the latitude / longitude (E1 ′, N1 ′) of the new display location of the map image indicated by ID1 is calculated from the following formula:

（Ｅ１’，Ｎ１’）＝（139.8.5.5, 35.31.1.0）となる。つまり、ＩＤ１が示す地図画像の表示場所が北へ移動する。

(E1 ′, N1 ′) = (139.8.5.5, 35.31.1.0). That is, the display location of the map image indicated by ID1 moves north.

  After that, the search expression generation unit 15 uses the calculated latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′) to generate a map image for displaying a new display location based on the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16. A search expression for acquisition is generated (step 126).

  Then, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the search formula generated by the search formula generation unit 15 and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 127).

  Thereafter, the display controller 18 deletes the map image indicated by the ID on the browser area 21 of the display device 50, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 128). At this time, the display position of the map image is not changed.

  Further, the map image management table 14 is referred to, and the latitude / longitude of the ID is stored and then updated to the calculated latitude / longitude (step 129). At this time, the latitude / longitude (Eold, Nold) of the ID previously registered in the map image management table 14, that is, the latitude / longitude before the display location change is performed for the batch conversion operation of the display location described later. Keep it.

  Thus, the user can freely change the display location of the arbitrarily selected map image (see FIG. 4B).

  At this time, before and after the display location change operation, the connection between the new display location of the selected map image and the display location of the remaining map images is broken. Therefore, a method for maintaining the correspondence between the map images, that is, the display position on the browser area 21 of each map image and the display location after the individual operation of the display location is described later. This will be described in Examples.

(10) Display location batch change operation processing:
Here, when the change request of the display location from the user is a batch operation for all displayed map images, that is, when the batch operation flag of the map image management table 14 is checked in the process of step 124 ( In step 130, the display location changing operation is subsequently executed on the remaining map images.

  Specifically, the map image control unit 13 refers to the map image management table 14 and acquires one map image ID to be processed (step 131).

  At this time, if the collective operation flag of the ID is checked (Yes in step 132), the subsequent display location changing process is skipped.

  Then, the search expression generation unit 5 refers to the map image management table 4 and the map image whose collective operation flag is checked, that is, the latitude / longitude (Ec, Nc) of the map image selected by the user, step 129. The latitude / longitude (Eold, Nold) stored in the memory in the apparatus and the latitude / longitude (En, Nn) of the map image indicated by the ID acquired in step 131 as the operation target are acquired as follows. The latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′) of the new display location of the map image that is the operation target is calculated by the equation shown in (step 133).

例えば、図４（ｃ）中の左側に表示されている地図画像（地図画像管理テーブル１４のＩＤ“１”が示す地図画像）を選択し、“表示場所”ボタン２８の上方向（Ｄｉｒ＝０）を選択した場合、図４（ｂ）中の中央に表示されている地図画像（ＩＤ０）の新たな表示場所の緯度・経度（Ｅ０’，Ｎ０’）は以下に示す式から算出され、

For example, the map image displayed on the left side in FIG. 4C (the map image indicated by the ID “1” in the map image management table 14) is selected, and the “display location” button 28 is moved upward (Dir = 0). ) Is selected, the latitude / longitude (E0 ′, N0 ′) of the new display location of the map image (ID0) displayed at the center in FIG.

となる。つまり、ＩＤ“０”が示す地図画像の表示場所もＩＤ“１”が示す地図画像の表示場所の移動量と同じだけ変化する。

It becomes. That is, the display location of the map image indicated by ID “0” also changes by the same amount as the movement amount of the display location of the map image indicated by ID “1”.

  Next, the search expression generation unit 15 uses the derived latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′), the display size of the map image to be operated, and the display scale, based on the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16. Generate a search expression for. Then, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the generated search formula, and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 134).

  Thereafter, the display control unit 7 deletes the map image indicated by the ID on the browser area 21, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 135). At this time, the display position of the map image is not changed.

  Further, the map image management table 14 is referred to, and the latitude / longitude of the ID is updated to the calculated latitude / longitude (step 135).

  Thereafter, the processing from step 131 to step 135 is repeated for each map image registered in the map image management table 14 to change the display location for all map images displayed on the browser area 21. At the time of execution (Yes in step 136), the map image management table 14 is referred to and the batch operation check flag of the map image selected by the user is unchecked (step 137).

  In this way, the user can collectively change the display location of all map images displayed on the browser area 21 by giving the option for batch operation when executing the change operation of the display location for a certain map image ( (Refer FIG.4 (c)).

  At this time, regardless of the display size and display scale of each map image, the amount of change of each map image (the amount of movement of the displayed location) is the display position change operation performed on the map image selected by the user, that is, It becomes equal to the amount of change in the selected map image. As a result, the correspondence between the positional relationship of each map image on the browser area 21 and the location displayed on each map image is maintained even after the collective operation of the display locations.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4C, the display range constituted by a plurality of map images moves as a whole while maintaining individual states such as the display scale and display size of each map image.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a display position changing process accompanying a batch change of the display scale will be described.

  When the method described in the above (8) is used as the display scale batch change operation, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), they are connected at the boundary of each map image, that is, on the browser area 21 of each map image. Correspondence between the display position of and the display location is broken.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is considered that the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 is changed in accordance with the change in the display scale of each map image.

  Specifically, after acquiring a new map image by the access unit 17 (step 112 in FIG. 12), the map image previously displayed by the display control unit 18 is erased, and updated to the acquired map image and displayed. A process for deriving a new display position of the acquired map image is added during the process of displaying on the device 50 (step 113 in FIG. 12).

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure for deriving a new display position of the acquired map image will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of processing for deriving a new display position of the acquired map image according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation shown in FIG. 14 is obtained by adding a new display position deriving process of the map image to the processing procedure of the batch change operation of the display scale shown in FIG.

  First, with reference to the map image management table 14, the map image for which the collective operation flag is checked, that is, the display position (Xc, Yc), latitude / longitude of the map image selected by the user in step 101 of FIG. Ec, Nc), the display scale (Zmc), and the latitude / longitude (En, Nn) of the map image acquired in step 109 as the operation target (step 131).

  Next, using these acquired values, a new display position (Xn ′, Yn ′) of the map image to be operated is calculated by the following formula (step 132).

なお、上記の式はルールＤＢ１６中の表示位置−緯度・経度変換記憶６４（前述の（４）検索式生成処理参照）の逆関数に相当し、ＲＥ，ＲＮ，ＺＭorgの意味、並びに、値は同一である。

The above expression corresponds to the inverse function of the display position-latitude / longitude conversion storage 64 in the rule DB 16 (see (4) search expression generation processing described above), and the meanings and values of RE, RN, and ZMorg are as follows. Are the same.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the map image displayed at the center (the map image indicated by the ID “0” in the map image management table 14) is selected, and the display scale is set to 1/25000 (ZM = 8) is changed to 1/12500 (ZM = 9), the new display position (X1 ′, Y1 ′) of the leftmost map image (ID “1”) in FIG. Calculated,

（Ｘ１’，Ｙ１’）＝（−９４０，０）となる。つまり、表示スケールが縮小した結果、ＩＤ“１”が示す地図画像の表示位置は、ＩＤ“０”が示す地図画像の表示位置から遠ざかることになる（図１５（ａ）参照）。

(X1 ′, Y1 ′) = (− 940, 0). That is, as a result of reducing the display scale, the display position of the map image indicated by ID “1” is far from the display position of the map image indicated by ID “0” (see FIG. 15A).

  Thereafter, the map image management table 14 is referred to, and the display position of the map image that is the operation target is changed to the new display position calculated in step 122 (step 133).

  In this way, by changing the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 in accordance with the change in the display scale of each map image, the display position and the display location of each map image on the browser area 21 are changed. Correspondence can be maintained (see FIG. 15A).

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a process for collectively changing the display scale using the selected map image as a base point will be described.

  When the method described in the above-described batch change operation of the display scale in (8) is used as the batch change operation of the display scale, as shown in FIG. Correspondence between the display position of the map image in the browser area 21 and the display location is broken.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when changing the display scale of the remaining map image in conjunction with the change of the display scale of the map image selected by the user, the display location of each map image is displayed together with the display scale of each map image. Think about changing.

  Specifically, instead of the process of generating a search expression corresponding to the updated display scale by the search generation unit 4 (step 111 in FIG. 12), the following process is executed.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure in the batch change operation of the display scale using the selected map image as a base point will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 16 is obtained by changing the search expression generation part of the processing procedure of the batch change operation of the display scale shown in FIG.

  First, the map generation management unit 14 refers to the map image management table 14, and the map image for which the batch operation flag is checked, that is, the display position (Xc, Yc) of the map image selected by the user in step 101 of FIG. The latitude / longitude (Ec, Nc), the display scale (ZMc), and the display position (Xn, Yn) of the map image acquired in step 109 as the operation target are acquired (step 141).

  Next, using these acquired values, the latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′) of the new display location of the map image to be operated is calculated by the following formula (step 142).

なお、上記の式はルールＤＢ１６中の表示位置−緯度・経度変換規則６４（前述の（４）検索式生成処理参照）から導出され、ＲＥ，ＲＮ，ＺＭorgの意味、並びに、値は同一である。

The above expression is derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule 64 in the rule DB 16 (see (4) search expression generation processing described above), and the meanings and values of RE, RN, and ZMorg are the same. .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the map image displayed at the center (the map image indicated by the ID “0” in the map image management table 14) is selected, and the display scale is set to 1/25000 (ZM = When changing from 8) to 1/25000 (ZM = 9), the latitude and longitude (E1 ′, N1 ′) of the new display location of the map image (ID “1”) at the left end of FIG. Calculated from the formula shown in

（Ｅ１’，Ｎ１’）＝(139.9.27.8,35.30.50.0)となる。

(E1 ′, N1 ′) = (139.9.27.8, 35.30.50.0).

  That is, as a result of the reduction of the display scale, the display location of the map image indicated by ID “1” approaches the display location of the map image indicated by ID “0” (see FIG. 15B).

  Thereafter, the search expression generation unit 15 refers to the map image management table 14 and changes the latitude / longitude of the map image to be operated to the new latitude / longitude calculated in step 142 (step 143).

  Then, the search expression generation unit 15 uses the derived latitude / longitude (En ′, Nn ′), the display size of the map image to be operated, and the updated display scale, and uses the map image URL analysis method 61 in the rule DB 16. Based on the above, a search expression is generated (step 144).

  Thereafter, the access unit 17 accesses the map image search system / service 20 using the generated search formula, and acquires a map image corresponding to the search formula (step 112).

  Thereafter, the display controller 18 deletes the map image indicated by the ID displayed on the browser area 21, updates the acquired map image, and displays it on the display device 50 (step 113).

  In this way, when the display scale of the remaining map image is changed according to the change in the display scale of the map image selected by the user, the user can select by changing the display location together with the display scale of each map image. The display scale can be collectively changed using the map image as a base point.

  At this time, the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 corresponds to the display location of each map image (see FIG. 15B).

[Third embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the change of the display position accompanying the individual change of the display location will be described.

  When the method described in the map image display location change process (9) is used as the individual display location change operation, as shown in FIG. 4B, a new display location of the selected map image and It is connected with the display location of the remaining map images, that is, the correspondence between the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 and the display location is broken.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is considered that when the display location is individually changed, the display position of the map image on the browser area 21 is changed in conjunction with the change of the display location.

  Note that, in the collective operation of the display locations, the display locations of all map images displayed on the browser area 21 change. As a result, even after the collective operation, the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 and the display location of each map image are in correspondence.

  Therefore, when the operation from the user is a batch operation, the conventional process (the method described in the display location change process (9) described above) is executed instead of the process shown in the present embodiment.

  Specifically, after a new map image is acquired by the access unit 17 (step 127), the map image previously displayed by the display control unit 18 is deleted, updated to the acquired map image, and displayed on the display device 50. A process of deriving a new display position of the acquired map image is added during the process of displaying (step 128).

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure for deriving a new display position of the acquired map image will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is obtained by adding a new map image display position derivation process to the processing procedure of the individual operation of the map image display location shown in the first half of FIG.

  First, the map image management table 14 is referenced, and the latitude / longitude (Eold, Nold), the display position (Xn, Yn) before the update of the map image selected by the user, and the latitude of the new display location calculated in step 125. Obtain longitude (En ′, Nn ′) (step 161).

  Here, in this embodiment, a display scale ZMb serving as a base for managing the correspondence between the display position of the map image in the browser area 21 and the display location of the map image is newly defined.

  Note that the value of ZMb is the value of the display scale ZMo whose ID is “0” in the initial state, and is updated to the display scale value after the batch change every time a batch change operation of the display scale occurs.

  Next, a new display position (Xn ′, Yn ′) of the map image to be operated is calculated by the following formula using the value acquired in step 161 and ZMb (step 162).

なお、上記の式中のＲＥ，ＲＮ，ＺＭorgの意味、並びに、値は、ルールＤＢ１６中の表示位置−緯度・経度変換規則６４（前述の（４）検索式生成処理参照）に同一である。

Note that the meanings and values of RE, RN, and ZMorg in the above formula are the same as the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule 64 in the rule DB 16 (see (4) search formula generation processing described above).

  For example, let us consider a case where the map image indicated by the ID “1” in the map image management table 14 is selected at the left end of FIG.

  At this time, the latitude / longitude of the new display location of the map image indicated by the ID “1” is changed from (139.8.4.5, 35.30.50.0) to (139.8.4.5, 35.31.12.1). When the value of ZMb is 1/25000, the new display position (X1 ′, Y1 ′) of the map image indicated by ID “1” is calculated from the following formula:

（Ｘ１’，Ｙ１’）＝（−４７０，３５）となる。

(X1 ′, Y1 ′) = (− 470, 35).

  That is, the display position of the map image indicated by ID “1” moves upward (see FIG. 18).

  Then, the map image management table 14 is referred to, and the display position of the map image that is the operation target is changed to the new display position calculated in step 162 (step 163).

  As described above, when the display location is individually changed, the display position of each map image on the browser area 21 is changed by changing the display position of the map image on the browser area 21 in conjunction with the change of the display location. It is possible to maintain the correspondence between the position and the display location of each map image.

  In the present invention, the operations shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 10, 12 to 14, 16, and 17 are constructed as programs, and are installed and executed on a computer that is used as an individual / collective operation device. Or can be distributed via a network.

  In addition, the built program can be stored in a portable storage medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, or a CD-ROM connected to a computer used as an individual / collective operation device, and installed in the computer. is there.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  The present invention is applicable to a map image display technique provided from a map image search system / service or the like.

It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of this invention. It is a principle block diagram of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an individual / collective operation system for a plurality of map images according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a display example of the map image in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the acquisition process of the map image used as the base in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the map image management table in one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of rule DB in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the addition process of the map image in one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the change operation of the display size in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the change process of the display size in one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the change operation of the display scale in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process of display scale change operation in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the change process of the display location of the map image in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process for deriving the new display position of the acquired map image of 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the change of the display position and display scale of the 1st, 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process procedure of the batch change operation of the display scale which makes the base point the selected map image of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process sequence at the time of deriving the new display position of the acquired map image of 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the change of the display position of the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 individual / batch operation device 11 operation receiving means, operation receiving section 12 operation determining means, operation determining section 13 first map image control means, map image control section 14 map image management table 15 search expression generating means, search expression generating section 16 Rule DB
17 access means, access section 18 display control means, display control section 18-1 display control means 18-2 second map image control means 20 map image search system / service 30 network 40 input device 50 display device

Claims (12)

In an apparatus that displays a plurality of map images presented via a network by one or more map image search systems / services having an apparatus having a function of providing an existing map image, and that can be operated individually or collectively In the individual / batch operation method for multiple map images,
An operation for receiving a map image selected from the user input device and various operation requests for the map image after combining a plurality of map images provided by the map image search system / service and displaying the list on the user display device. Receiving process,
An operation determination process for determining whether the received operation request is an individual operation on the selected map image or a collective operation on all displayed map images;
When the received operation request is a collective operation, a check is set for a collective operation flag corresponding to the selected map image in a map image management table for managing various data related to each map image. Map image control process,
Referring to a rule DB that manages various rules for acquiring map images from each map image search system / service, generates a search expression for acquiring a new map image after applying various operations to the selected map image A search expression generation process,
An access process of accessing the map image search system / service with the generated search formula and acquiring a map image corresponding to the search formula;
A display control process of updating the map image of the display device of the user to the map image acquired in the access process;
A second map image control step of updating the selected map image data in the map image management table to the acquired map image data;
When the operation request received from the user is a collective operation, the map image management table is referred to and the remaining map images displayed on the display device are processed after the search formula generation process. An individual / batch operation method for a plurality of map images, which is executed sequentially. When acquiring a display scale batch change operation request for multiple map images, when changing the display position on the display device in accordance with the change of the display scale of each map image,
In the second map image control process,
Based on the positional relationship between the display location of the map image selected by the user and the display location of the map image to be processed, the display location of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB is determined. A new display position of each map image in the display scale after the change, using an expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes the method of conversion to the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image The individual / batch operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1, wherein a search expression for acquiring a new map image is generated. When changing the display location of each map image along with the change of the display scale of each map image at the time of batch change operation of the display scale for multiple map images,
In the second map image control process,
Based on the positional relationship of the map image selected by the user and the map image to be processed on the display device, the display position of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB is Using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes the method for converting the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by the map image, the new display location of each map image on the changed display scale The individual / collective operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1, wherein a search expression for calculating and acquiring a new map image is generated. In the operation determination process, when it is determined that the display location is an individual change operation for a certain map image in a plurality of displayed map images, the display position on the display device is changed along with the change of the display location. If you want to
In the second map image control process,
The amount of movement of the latitude / longitude of the place where the map image selected by the user is displayed in accordance with the individual change operation request of the display place from the user is stored in the rule DB. Using the expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing the method of converting the display position of the map image into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image, the display on the display scale after conversion The individual / collective operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1, wherein the map image is converted into a moving amount of a display position on the apparatus, and a new display position of the map image is calculated. Multiple maps that display multiple map images presented via one network by one or more map image search systems / services that have a device that has a function to provide existing map images, and that can be operated individually or collectively An individual / batch operation device for images,
A map image management table for managing various data relating to each map image;
A rule DB that manages various rules for acquiring a map image from each map image search system / service;
An operation for receiving a map image selected from the user input device and various operation requests for the map image after combining a plurality of map images provided by the map image search system / service and displaying the list on the user display device. Receiving means;
Operation determining means for determining whether the received operation request is an individual operation on the selected map image or a batch operation on all displayed map images;
A first map image control means for setting a check on a batch operation flag corresponding to the selected map image in the map image management table when the received operation request is a batch operation;
A search expression generation means for generating a search expression for acquiring a new map image after applying various operations to the selected map image with reference to the rule DB;
Access means for accessing the map image search system / service with the generated search formula and acquiring a map image corresponding to the search formula;
Display control means for updating the map image of the display device of the user to the map image acquired in the access process;
Second map image control means for updating the selected map image data in the map image management table to the acquired map image data;
When the operation request received from the user is a collective operation, the search expression generation unit and the access unit are referred to the remaining map image displayed on the display device with reference to the map image management table. Repeating means for repeatedly executing the display control means and the second map image control means,
An individual / batch operation device for a plurality of map images. The map image management table is
The display position of the map image displayed on the display device, the latitude and longitude of the place where the map image is displayed, the display scale of the map image, the display size, the ID for identifying each map image, and the user at the time of collective operation The individual / collective operation device for a plurality of map images according to claim 5, wherein a collective operation flag for distinguishing the selected map images is stored. The rule DB is
Created in advance for each map image search system / service,
A map image URL analysis method describing a method of analyzing a URL of a map image presented by the map image search system / service and acquiring a latitude / longitude, a display scale, and a display size from the URL;
A display scale conversion table that converts the display scale acquired as a result of analysis into a specific value;
A display size conversion table that converts the display size acquired as a result of the analysis into a specific value;
A display-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes a method of converting the display position of each map image on the display device into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image;
6. An individual / batch operation apparatus for a plurality of map images according to claim 5, further comprising a movement operation conversion table describing a correspondence relationship between a button for changing the display location and an actual movement amount when the display location of the map image is changed. The second map image control means includes:
When acquiring a display scale batch change operation request for multiple map images, when changing the display position on the display device in accordance with the change of the display scale of each map image,
Based on the positional relationship between the display location of the map image selected by the user and the display location of the map image to be processed, the display location of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB is determined. A new display position of each map image in the display scale after the change, using an expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes the method of conversion to the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image The individual / collective operation device for a plurality of map images according to claim 5, further comprising: means for calculating and calculating a search formula for acquiring a new map image. The second map image control means includes:
When acquiring the display scale batch change operation request for multiple map images, when changing the display location of each map image with the change of the display scale of each map image,
Based on the positional relationship of the map image selected by the user and the map image to be processed on the display device, the display position of each map image on the display device stored in the rule DB is Using the formula derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule that describes the method for converting the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by the map image, the new display location of each map image on the changed display scale The individual / collective operation device for a plurality of map images according to claim 5, comprising means for calculating and generating a search formula for acquiring a new map image. The second map image control means includes:
When the operation determining means determines that the display location is an individual change operation for a map image in a plurality of displayed map images, the display position on the display device is changed along with the change of the display location. If you want to
The amount of movement of the latitude / longitude of the place where the map image selected by the user is displayed in accordance with the individual change operation request of the display place from the user is stored in the rule DB. Using the expression derived from the display position-latitude / longitude conversion rule describing the method of converting the display position of the map image into the latitude / longitude of the location displayed by each map image, the display on the display scale after conversion 6. A plurality of maps according to claim 5, further comprising means for converting into a movement amount of the display position on the device, calculating a new display position of the map image, and generating a search expression for acquiring a new map image. Individual / batch operation device for images. Multiple maps that display multiple map images presented via one network by one or more map image search systems / services that have a device that has a function to provide existing map images, and that can be operated individually or collectively An individual / batch operation program for images,
5. An individual / collective operation program for a plurality of map images, which causes a computer to execute processing used to realize the individual / collective operation method for a plurality of map images according to claim 1. Multiple maps that display multiple map images presented via one network by one or more map image search systems / services that have a device that has a function to provide existing map images, and that can be operated individually or collectively A storage medium storing an individual / batch operation program for images,
5. A storage storing an individual / collective operation program for multiple map images, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute processing used to realize the individual / collective operation method for multiple map images according to claim 1 is stored. Medium.

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