JP2006163992A - Map and information provision system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a map and an information provision system using the map, capable of linking printed matter and a database on a network without needing a new display space. <P>SOLUTION: This information provision system comprises: a server having the database wherein information for liking the database and an ID pattern showing the information are associated and registered, a means receiving an image, a means extracting the ID pattern distributively included in the reception image, a means retrieving the information registered in the database correspondingly to the extracted ID pattern, and a means sending out the retrieved information; and a cellphone having a camera photographing the image, a transmission means transmitting the image photographed by the camera to the server, and a reception means receiving the information sent from the server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a map and an information providing system using the map, and more particularly to a map and an information providing system using the map for adding more detailed information about the notation on the map.

  Information required when a map user refers to a map is often not only information on a destination location or building position but also information on these. For example, the traffic route to the destination, the transportation means, the time and cost required for movement, and if the destination location is a building, the presence or absence of a parking lot may also be mentioned.

  Conventionally used printed maps display notation characters such as building names along with building outlines and topography. As information that a map user can obtain by referring to the map, it is almost where in the area the name indicated by the written characters is located. This is because a large amount of information cannot be displayed because the display space is limited.

  Various databases that can be accessed via a network such as the Internet have already been constructed for the various types of information described above. Linking the printed matter and the database on the network has already been performed such as displaying a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) where the database on the network exists or displaying a barcode indicating the URL.

  A user who wants to obtain information accesses the URL displayed directly, or accesses the URL indicated in the analysis result by photographing the barcode with the camera of the mobile phone.

  The information necessary for map users to refer to the map is not only the location information of the destination and the location of the building, but also various information related to them. Is inconvenient because only the characters such as the building name are displayed along with the outline and topography of the building.

  Linking the printed matter with the database on the network has already been done such as displaying a URL or displaying a barcode indicating the URL. However, on a map with limited display space, It is difficult to display other than the topography and building name.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above. A map and a map capable of linking a printed matter and a database on a network without requiring a new display space are provided. The purpose is to realize the information providing system used.

An information providing system according to the present invention includes a database in which information for linking a database on a network and an ID pattern indicating the information are registered in association with each other, means for receiving an image, and a received image. A server having means for extracting the included ID pattern, means for searching for the information registered in the database corresponding to the extracted ID pattern, and means for sending the searched information When,
A mobile phone having a camera that captures an image, a transmission unit that transmits an image captured by the camera to the server, and a reception unit that receives the information transmitted from the server;
Consists of.

An information providing system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a database in which information for linking a database on a network and an ID pattern indicating the information are associated and registered, means for receiving the ID pattern, A server having means for searching for the information registered in the database corresponding to the received ID pattern, and means for sending the searched information;
A camera that captures an image, a means for extracting the ID pattern distributed and included in the image captured by the camera, a transmission means for transmitting the extracted ID pattern to the server, and a transmission from the server. A mobile phone having receiving means for receiving said information coming;
Consists of.

  In the map according to the present invention, the notation of the building and the terrain on the map is performed by the background notation in which information for linking the database on the network is distributed and the notation information printed on the background notation image.

  In the present invention configured as described above, when the map user captures the background notation described on the map with the camera of the mobile phone and transmits it to the server, the map is registered in the database in the server, and the background notation Information corresponding to the ID pattern included in the URL, for example, a URL indicating the location of the service server is returned, and various services can be used by using this information.

  Since the ID pattern is distributed on the background notation, even if notation information is printed on the background, it does not hinder the map.

(1) Outline of Embodiment In the present invention, buildings and terrain on a map are described by an image indicating information for linking databases on a network.

  The above image defines an ID pattern in the frequency domain and inverse Fourier transforms this. By performing such inverse Fourier transform, an ID pattern is dispersed throughout the screen (ID image: hereinafter referred to as an ID background image).

  The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment prints notation information including characters, images (designs), and the like on the ID background image.

  In the portion where the notation information is printed, the ID background image is damaged, but the ID pattern can be restored by Fourier transforming the pattern of the remaining portion of the ID background image.

  Experiments have confirmed that the original ID pattern can be restored even if the ID background image is lost to about 50%.

  In the present embodiment, a map in which notation information is printed on an ID background image is taken by a mobile phone camera and transmitted from the mobile phone to a URL server.

  The URL server receives the captured image data from the mobile phone, and performs Fourier transform to extract the ID pattern.

  The URL server stores the ID pattern and the URL in association with each other, searches for the URL associated with the extracted ID pattern, and transmits it to the mobile phone.

Connect to the website specified by the URL sent from the URL server and use the service provided by the website. As described above, in this embodiment, the URL is related to the map via the ID background image. It has been.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the present embodiment.

  First, in the present embodiment, an ID pattern 10 that is ID information is defined in the frequency domain.

  The ID pattern 10 is information for linking a database on the network, which indicates a URL in this embodiment, and is composed of an ID pattern component 16 in which points are distributed on the circumference of an inner circumference circle and an outer circumference circle. .

  The origin of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis is on the low frequency side, and the higher the frequency is, the farther from the origin.

  When the ID pattern 10 is subjected to inverse Fourier transform, an ID background image 11 in the real space is obtained. The ID background image 11 has a pattern diffused throughout the image.

  When the ID pattern 10 is defined, it is desirable to select the ID pattern 10 in which the ID background image 11 after the inverse Fourier transform is dispersed over the entire image as described above.

  The ID background image 11 can be obtained by inverse Fourier transforming the ID pattern 10, but conversely, the ID pattern 10 can be obtained by Fourier transforming the ID background image 11.

  As described above, when an appropriate ID pattern is selected and Fourier transformed, information for restoring the ID pattern is diffused throughout the ID background image 11, and resistance to processing such as compression and clipping occurs.

  That is, since the information defining the ID pattern is diffused throughout the image, the ID pattern can be restored from the information remaining in the image even when the image is enlarged or reduced or partially cut out.

  In this embodiment, when creating a map with the map making device, an ID pattern is printed as a background notation for each section (for example, a building such as a school or a hospital) written on the map.

  When creating a map, an ID background image 12 obtained by binarizing the ID background image 11 is generated to reduce the amount of data. Then, the density of the ID background image 12 is adjusted so that the notation information can be visually recognized to obtain the background notation 13, and a map in which the notation information (for example, map symbols and notation characters) 14 is printed on the background notation 13 is produced. .

  When digital image data obtained by photographing the map 13 with a camera is Fourier transformed, an ID pattern 15 is obtained.

  In the ID pattern 15, the ID pattern component 16 ′ is restored and a frequency component 17 based on the notation information 14 is formed. Since the frequency component 17 based on the notation information 14 tends to be distributed toward the low frequency side, the frequency component 17 and the ID pattern component 16 'can be distinguished, and the ID pattern component 16' can be extracted.

  As described above, the ID pattern component 16 ′ restored by the ID pattern 15 is extracted, and the degree of coincidence with the ID pattern component 16 of the ID pattern 10 is confirmed to identify the ID information included in the map. can do.

(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment.

  The information providing system 1 includes a URL server 2, a map making device 3, a map 4, a mobile phone 5, and a service server 6.

  Further, FIG. 2 shows one map making device 3 and one mobile phone 5, but there are a plurality of them.

  The URL server 2 includes an ID database in which an ID pattern 10 (see FIG. 1) is associated with a URL, and provides an ID background image to the printer 3 or a URL to the mobile phone 5 by using the ID database. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the logical configuration of the ID database.

  The ID database 19 includes items such as “ID registration number”, “ID pattern”, “URL”, and “notation name”.

  The “ID registration number” is a management number for managing ID patterns and URLs, and is uniquely assigned to each set of ID patterns and URLs.

  The “ID pattern” stores an image defining the ID pattern (corresponding to the ID pattern 10 in FIG. 1).

  “URL” stores a URL which is connection information for connecting to a predetermined website.

  In “notation name”, for example, a name to be indicated on a map of a school or a hospital is stored.

  In the ID database 19, an ID pattern and a URL are stored in association with each other, and the URL can be obtained by specifying the ID pattern.

  Next, an ID information providing function to the map making device 3 included in the URL server 2 will be described.

  The URL server 2 and the map creation device 3 can be connected via a network such as the Internet, for example, and the URL server 2 provides ID information to the map creation device 3 in the form of an ID background image via the network. A map maker who uses the map making device 3 refers to the ID database shown in FIG. 3 by a written name or the like, acquires an ID background image to be printed on the map, and prints it by the printer 7.

  In the present embodiment, the URL server 2 generates an ID background image by performing inverse Fourier transform on the ID pattern, and further binarizes the ID background image (corresponding to the ID background image 12 in FIG. 1). Send to.

  As described above, by binarizing the ID background image and transmitting it to the map making device 3, image processing in the map making device 3 becomes unnecessary and the URL server 2 sends data to the map making device 3. The amount can also be reduced.

  The above operation is merely an example, and the URL server 2 may transmit an ID pattern to the map making device 3, and the map making device 3 may perform inverse Fourier transform and binarization, or inverse Fourier. It is good also as performing up to conversion with the URL server 2, and the map production apparatus 3 binarizing.

  Next, a URL providing function to the mobile phone 5 included in the URL server 2 will be described.

  The URL server 2 (FIG. 2) receives photographed image data obtained by photographing the map 4 from the mobile phone 5 via a network such as the Internet.

  The map 4 is a map created by the map creation device 3, and as shown in FIG. 5, the description information 21 is printed with the background notation 20 as the background.

  When the URL server 2 receives the captured image data from the mobile phone 5, the URL server 2 performs a Fourier transform to restore the ID pattern.

  Next, the URL server 2 extracts the restored ID pattern and compares it with the ID pattern registered in the ID database 19.

  Next, the URL server 2 transmits the URL associated with the ID pattern specified by the verification to the mobile phone 5.

  In the present embodiment, the URL server 2 is configured to perform Fourier transform of the photographed image and extraction of the ID pattern. However, the mobile phone 5 is configured to perform extraction until the ID pattern is transmitted to the URL server 2. May be.

  When the ID pattern is extracted by the URL server 2, it is not necessary to provide the mobile phone 5 with an image processing function for ID pattern extraction, and the load on the mobile phone 5 can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when the ID pattern is extracted by the mobile phone 5, it is not necessary to receive photographed image data due to a photographing mistake in the mobile phone 5 and it is not necessary to perform image processing in the URL server 2. 2 load can be reduced.

  Next, the map making apparatus 3 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an example of the map making apparatus 3.

  The map making apparatus 3 includes an image data receiving unit 25, an image data storage unit 26, an image data selecting unit 27, a print information generating unit 28, a printing unit 29 (the printer 7 in FIG. 2), a print content generating unit 30, and an information input unit. 31 or the like.

  The image data receiving unit 25 has connection information to the URL server 2, connects to the URL server 2 via the network, and receives the binarized ID background image from the URL server 2.

  The ID background image transmitted from the URL server 2 to the image data receiving unit 25 and the image data receiving unit 25 is an ID registration number transmitted after the map maker 3 using the map making device searches the URL server 2. Alternatively, the URL server 2 may determine the ID background image to be transmitted, and the map maker using the received cartography device may determine the arrangement.

  The image data storage unit 26 is configured using a storage medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, for example, and stores the ID background image received by the image data receiving unit 25 from the URL server 2. The image data storage unit 26 can store a plurality of ID background images, and each ID background image stored in the image data storage unit 26 is configured to be identifiable by an ID registration number.

  When printing the map 4, the image data selection unit 27 selects an ID background image to be printed from the ID background image stored in the image data storage unit 26.

  As the selection method, for example, various methods such as selecting a plurality of ID background images stored in the image data storage unit 26 in association with the notation information can be considered.

  The information input unit 31 includes a numeric keypad, function keys, a reading device, an input / output device for various storage media, and the like.

  The print content generation unit 30 generates map information to be printed based on various data input via the information input unit 31. Of the print contents, items printed on the ID background image (such as the notation information 21 in FIG. 5) constitute notation information.

  The print information generation unit 28 acquires the ID background image selected by the image data selection unit 27 (ID image acquisition unit), and acquires the print content generated by the print content generation unit 30 (notation information acquisition unit: print The content includes notation information to be printed over the ID background image).

  The print information generation unit 28 (print information generation unit) arranges the print information by placing the notation information acquired from the print content generation unit 30 in a partial area of the ID background image acquired from the image data selection unit 27. Generate.

  The arrangement of the notation information is performed by overwriting the notation information on the ID background image. That is, the information of the portion where the notation information is printed in the ID background image is replaced with the notation information.

  For this reason, in the area where the notation information is printed, the information of the ID background image is lost, but it is possible to restore the ID pattern from the remaining portion to the extent that it can be collated with the original image of the ID pattern. .

  Experiments have shown that the ID pattern can be restored even if the ID background image is lost up to about 50% in area.

  For this reason, the print information generation unit 28 arranges the area where the ID background image and the notation information are printed to be 50% or less of the area of the ID background image.

  In addition, the print information generation unit 28 has a function of adjusting the density of the ID background image and the notation information independently.

  This is because when the ID background image is darkly printed, the notation information is difficult to visually discern, so that the ID background image is thinned within a range where the ID pattern can be reproduced.

  In addition, the notation information and other printed contents can be adjusted to a lightness suitable for visual observation.

  A map maker who uses the map making device 3 operates the map making device 3 using the shade adjustment screen displayed on the display device of the map making device 3, so that the density of the ID background image and the printed content is increased. Can be fine-tuned.

  The shading information set by the map maker using the map making device 3 is recorded in the printing information by the print information generating unit 28, and the printing unit 29 creates the map 4 by the set shading.

  The printing unit 29 (printing unit) prints on a printing medium according to the printing information generated by the printing information generation unit 28 and creates the map 4.

  As a method for adjusting the density of an image, there are a density gradation method for changing the density in a pixel (cell) as a printing unit and an area gradation method for changing a dot area ratio in a pixel. Any of these methods may be used, but the printing unit 29 employs an area gradation method.

  The ID background image is composed of digital data. However, in the case of performing area gradation by a digital method, it is generally performed to form pixels with binary dots.

  Therefore, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, the printing unit 29 associates the area gradation with a single binary dot having a rectangular shape (other shapes may be used), and the area level is determined by the arrangement of the binary dots. It has a function to adjust the key.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, a dot having a small area in the pixel 63 corresponds to one binary dot in the pixel 64, and a medium dot in the pixel 65 is changed to three binary dots in the pixel 66. Further, the dots having a large area in the pixel 67 are made to correspond to nine binary dots in the pixel 68.

  As described above, the printing unit 29 stores the correspondence between the area gradation and the binary dots, and acquires the arrangement of the binary dots according to the lightness and darkness set by the print information generation unit 28 (binary Dot acquisition means).

  FIG. 6 shows an example of area gradation, and various correspondences of the arrangement of binary dots for performing area gradation are conceivable.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the map making device 3.

  The map making apparatus 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, an input device 54, a display device 55, a printing device 56 (the printer 7 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4). , A communication control device 57, a storage device 58, a storage medium drive device 59, an input / output I / F (interface) 60, and the like are connected by a bus line 50.

  The CPU 51 performs various arithmetic processes and information processing according to a predetermined program stored in the ROM 53, and controls each component constituting the map making apparatus 3. For example, the CPU 51 receives an ID background image from the URL server 2. And generating data for creating a map by combining the ID background image and the print content.

  The ROM 53 stores basic programs and data for operating the map making device 3, and the RAM 52 is a readable / writable memory that provides a working area for the CPU 51 to operate.

  The input device 54 is hardware constituting the information input unit 31 (FIG. 4), and includes a numeric keypad, function keys, a data input device for inputting map information, and the like.

  The display device 55 includes a display device that displays character information and image information, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a CRT, and the like.

  The communication control device 57 is a functional unit that connects the map making device 3 to the Internet, and the map making device 3 communicates with the URL server 2 and other server devices via the communication control device 57.

  The printing device 56 is hardware that constitutes the printing unit 29 (FIG. 4).

  The storage medium drive device 59 is a functional unit that drives the attached removable storage medium and reads and writes data.

  Examples of the readable / writable storage medium include optical discs such as a CD-ROM.

  The map making apparatus 3 can install a program or the like from a storage medium attached to the storage medium driving device 59, and reads the ID background image stored in the storage medium and stores it in the image data storage unit 26.

  The storage device 58 is a large-capacity readable / writable storage device composed of, for example, a hard disk. The storage device 58 includes a program storage unit 61 that stores programs and a data storage unit 62 that stores data.

  The program storage unit 61 stores various programs that can be executed by the CPU 51 such as an OS (Operating System), a communication program, and a map creation program.

  The OS is a program for causing the CPU 51 to perform basic control for operating the map making device 3 such as management of input / output of files and control of various functional units.

  The communication program is a program for causing the CPU 51 to perform control for performing communication via the Internet by the communication control device 57.

  The data storage unit 62 stores an ID background image downloaded from the URL server 2.

  The map preparation program is a program for causing the map preparation device 3 to create a map, and controls ID background image selection processing, map information processing, print content generation, print information generation, print processing, and the like. This is a program for the CPU 51 to execute. The data storage unit 62 stores an ID background image downloaded from the URL server 2, map information input from the input device 54, and the like.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the map creation device 3 creates a map.

  First, the information input unit 31 receives map information (step 6).

  Next, the image data selection unit 27 selects an ID background image to be printed from the image data storage unit 26. (Step 10).

  Next, the print content generation unit 30 generates print content that defines the content to be printed based on the map information received by the information input unit 31.

  Next, the print information generation unit 28 receives the ID background image from the image data selection unit 27, receives the print content from the print content generation unit 30, and generates print information using these (step 15). Here, the notation information is overwritten on the ID background information in the print contents.

  Next, the printing unit 29 prints a map using the printing information generated by the printing information generation unit 28 (step 20).

  As described above, the map creation device 3 prints the notation information with the ID background image as the background, and as a result, the map 4 in which the ID pattern as shown in FIG. 4 is embedded is created.

  Next, the mobile phone 5 (see FIG. 2) will be described. The mobile phone 5 is a mobile phone having a camera function and an Internet connection function.

  The mobile phone 5 includes a camera, a display unit, operation keys, input keys, and the like.

  The mobile phone 5 includes an information processing unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable and Programmable ROM), for example, and a readable / writable memory for storing various programs and data. The medium is built-in.

  The CPU of the mobile phone 5 performs various types of information processing according to programs stored in a ROM or other storage medium.

  For example, when the CPU acquires the background image data on the map, transmits the acquired captured image data to the URL server 2, or receives the URL from the URL server 2 and connects to the service server 6. Provides working memory.

  An application program for photographing a map and connecting to the service server 6 is stored in the storage medium.

  The CPU executes this application program, thereby connecting to the URL server 2 and transmitting the captured image data of the map, and receiving the URL transmitted by the URL server 2 according to the transmitted captured image data. A function of connecting to a website specified by the URL using the received URL can be realized.

  Further, a browser program is also stored in the storage medium, and the CPU realizes a browser function by this browser program.

  The camera of the mobile phone 5 includes an optical system including a lens and the like, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) that converts an image of a subject projected by the optical system into digital data. When a user photographs a map with a camera, photographed image data is generated by the CPU.

  The display unit of the mobile phone 5 is configured by a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays information related to a call such as a telephone number, and displays various screens transmitted from a website via the Internet by a browser.

  The operation keys of the cellular phone 5 are provided for the user to perform various kinds of operations on the screen displayed on the display unit 72 such as selecting an icon displayed on the display unit or selecting a link. ing.

  The input key of the mobile phone 5 is a key for inputting numbers, characters, symbols, and the like to the mobile phone 5.

  Next, the service server 6 (FIG. 2) will be described.

  The service server 6 is a web server and operates a website specified by a URL.

  An operator of the website can provide characters, still images, moving images, sounds, link information, and the like to the terminal device on the website.

  The hardware configuration of the service server 6 is basically the same as that of the URL server 2.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for connecting the mobile phone 5 to the service server 6.

  First, the user activates the application of the mobile phone 5 and photographs the ID background pattern on the map by the mobile phone 5. Thereby, the mobile phone 5 acquires the captured image data of the map (step 30).

  Next, the mobile phone 5 connects to the URL server 2 and transmits the acquired captured image data to the URL server 2 (step 35).

  The URL server 2 receives the captured image data from the mobile phone 5 (step 40).

  Next, the URL server 2 performs Fourier transform on the captured image data, and extracts an ID pattern from the data after Fourier transform (step 45).

  Further, the URL server 2 performs a search by collating the extracted ID pattern with an ID pattern registered in advance in the ID database, and specifies an ID pattern included in the captured image data (step 50).

  When specifying the ID pattern, the URL server 2 acquires the URL associated with the ID pattern in the ID database and transmits it to the mobile phone 5 (step 55).

  The mobile phone 5 receives the URL from the URL server 2 (step 60), and uses this to connect to the service server 6 (step 65).

  The service server 6 accepts the connection from the mobile phone 5, transmits the top page screen data to the mobile phone 5, and continues to provide the service to the mobile phone 5 (step 70).

  The service provided by the service server 6 includes, for example, the traffic route to the destination, the means of transportation, the time and cost required for movement, the presence / absence of a parking lot, etc. In this embodiment, the printed matter is linked to the database on the network. This is done without the need for a new display space.

  The mobile phone 5 configured as described above can capture a map and automatically connect to a website specified by the map ID background image.

  Note that. In this embodiment, the Fourier transform of the captured image and the extraction of the ID pattern are performed by the URL server 2. This processing is performed by the mobile phone 5, and the extracted ID pattern is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the URL server 2. It can also be configured as follows.

  In this case, the application program stored in the storage medium describes information for causing the CPU to execute processing for Fourier transform of the captured image data and processing for extracting the ID pattern from the data after Fourier transform. Has been.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the URL server 2 and the mobile phone 5 when the ID pattern is extracted by the URL server 2, and FIG. 11 is the URL server when the ID pattern is extracted by the mobile phone 5. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 5.

  In the configuration in which the extraction of the ID pattern shown in FIG. 10 is performed by the URL server 2, the mobile phone 5 includes a camera 502 that captures an image, and a transmission unit 501 that transmits the image captured by the camera 502 to the URL server 2. Receiving means 503 for receiving URL information sent from the URL server 2, and URL setting means 504 for connecting to the service server 6 using the URL information received by the receiving means 503. In addition, the URL server 2 includes a database 201 having the contents shown in FIG. 3 in which information for linking a database on the network and an ID pattern indicating the information are registered in association with each other, and an image from the mobile phone 5. Receiving means 204 for receiving the ID pattern, extracting means 203 for extracting the ID pattern included in the received image, searching means 202 for searching the URL information registered in the database 201 corresponding to the extracted ID pattern, and The transmission means for sending the searched URL information to the mobile phone 5.

  On the other hand, in the configuration in which the extraction of the ID pattern shown in FIG. 11 is performed by the mobile phone 5, the mobile phone 5 takes the camera 502 that takes an image and the ID pattern that extracts the ID pattern included in the image image taken by the camera 502. Extraction means 506, transmission means 501 for transmitting the extracted ID pattern to URL server 2, reception means 503 for receiving information sent from URL server 2, and service server based on information received by reception means 503 6 is configured by URL setting means 504 connected to the network. In addition, the URL server 2 includes the database 201 having the contents shown in FIG. 3 in which the information for linking the database on the network and the ID pattern indicating the information are registered in association with each other, and the ID from the mobile phone 5. The receiving unit 204 includes a receiving unit 204 that receives a pattern, a unit that searches for URL information registered in the database 201 corresponding to the received ID pattern, and a transmitting unit 205 that transmits the searched URL information.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 5 is configured to perform processing such as taking a map. However, other types of terminals may realize the same function.

  For example, it may be configured by a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a game machine, a personal computer, and the like on which a camera and the application are mounted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a modification of the ID background image.

  In the example shown in FIG. A hollow area 82 is provided on the ID background screen 80, and notation information 81 is printed therein.

  Thus, by making the periphery of the area for printing the print content blank, it is possible to make the print content easier to see.

  Since the ID background image can be restored to the extent that the ID pattern can be identified even if it is lost to about 50%, a part of such an ID background screen can be deleted.

  In the present embodiment described above, the Fourier transform is adopted as the embedding of the ID pattern using the frequency domain. This is an example, and other transforms include, for example, DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). And wavelet transform, and naturally these may be used.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information provision system 1 of embodiment shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a logical structure of the ID database provided in the URL server 2 in FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a map making device 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the content of the map 4 produced with the map production apparatus 3. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of performing gradation expression. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a map making device 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map making device 3. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for connecting a mobile phone 5 to a service server 6. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a URL server 2 and a mobile phone 5 when an ID pattern is extracted by the URL server 2. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a URL server 2 and a mobile phone 5 when an ID pattern is extracted by the mobile phone 5. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of the printing method of ID background image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information provision system 2 URl server 3 Map production apparatus 4 Map 5 Mobile phone 6 Service server 7 Printer 10,15 ID pattern 11,12 ID background image 13,20 Background notation 14,21 Notation information 16,16 'ID pattern component 25 Image data reception unit 26 Image data storage unit 27 Image data selection unit 28 Print information generation unit 29 Printing unit 30 Print content generation unit 31 Information input unit

Claims (3)

A database in which information for linking a database on a network and an ID pattern indicating the information are registered in association with each other, means for receiving an image, and the ID pattern distributed and included in the received image A server having means for extracting, means for searching for the information registered in the database corresponding to the extracted ID pattern, and means for sending the searched information;
A mobile phone having a camera that captures an image, a transmission unit that transmits an image captured by the camera to the server, and a reception unit that receives the information transmitted from the server;
An information provision system consisting of A database in which information for linking a database on a network and an ID pattern indicating the information are associated and registered, means for receiving the ID pattern, and registration in the database corresponding to the received ID pattern A server having means for retrieving the information that has been retrieved, and means for transmitting the retrieved information;
A camera that captures an image, a means for extracting the ID pattern distributed and included in the image captured by the camera, a transmission means for transmitting the extracted ID pattern to the server, and a transmission from the server. A mobile phone having receiving means for receiving said information coming;
An information provision system consisting of   A map characterized in that notation of buildings and terrain on a map is performed by an ID background image in which information for linking a database on a network is distributed and notation information printed on the ID background image.

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