JP2006268488A - Image display system, terminal and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information display system in which various types of map information transmitted by a terminal can be shared between a plurality of terminals, and to provide a terminal and its program. <P>SOLUTION: A shared server has an index information DB and an index information retrieving means for transmitting a combination list including a plurality of addresses of map information suitable for received index information to a terminal. The terminal has a map information DB, an index information transmitting means for transmitting the index information to the shared server and receiving the combination list, a map information receiving means for receiving drawn data from a plurality of pieces of address information included in the list, a user interface control means for superimposing a plurality of pieces of drawn data so as to make their coordinates coincide on the same screen to display the plurality of pieces of drawn data, and a map information transmitting means for converting the map information into drawn data in a standard graphics data format and at the same coordinates and transmitting the drawn data to the other terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display system that can display image information having a coordinate system on a terminal, a terminal, and a program thereof.

  Map information is representative of image information having a coordinate system. A plurality of map servers that distribute a plurality of various types of map information are connected to the Internet. The terminal can receive map information from these map servers, display it on the display, and allow the user to view it.

  The map information has different specifications depending on the purpose (for example, road information, store information, etc.). Therefore, the user who operates the terminal needs to reconnect to a desired map server depending on the purpose. In addition, there is a system in which a single map server links a plurality of map servers having different specifications, synthesizes map information, and provides the map information to the terminal. However, it is extremely difficult to superimpose map information having different specifications at the data level.

  Under such circumstances, the present applicant has proposed a technique for displaying map information of different specifications provided from a plurality of map servers in a superimposed manner on a terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, the geographic information search server transmits a combination list including address information of a plurality of map servers to the terminal. The terminal receives the drawing data of the map information from these map servers and displays it superimposed on the same coordinates. Since superimposition can be performed at the drawing data level, new map information in which a plurality of map information is superimposed can be displayed to the user regardless of the specification of the map information.

Patent No. 3503397

  However, according to the technology based on Patent Literature 1, the object is to superimpose and display the map information provided by the map server, and it is not assumed that the map information provided by the terminal is superimposed and displayed. For example, the drawing information having the coordinate system drawn by the user by the user interface unit cannot be shared by other terminals unless the terminal uploads the map information to the map server. In particular, the conventional technology cannot be used for a group conference system in which image information is shared between terminals.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display system, a terminal, and a program thereof that can share various types of image information transmitted by a terminal among a plurality of terminals.

According to the image display system of the present invention,
A plurality of terminals that store and display image information having a coordinate system, and a shared server that can communicate with the terminals;
The shared server
An index information database storing index information for each image information stored by the terminal;
Index information search means for receiving index information from a terminal, searching for a plurality of image information matching the index information using an index information database, and transmitting a combination list including address information of the image information to the terminal ,
The terminal
An image information database storing image information;
Index information transmitting means for transmitting index information to a shared server and receiving a combination list from the shared server;
Image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information included in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
An image information request message is received from the other terminal, image information corresponding to the address information is searched using the image information database, and the image information is converted into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format. And image information transmitting means for transmitting the drawing data to the other terminal.

According to another embodiment of the image display system of the present invention,
The image information is map information having a coordinate system or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by means of user interface means,
The index information also preferably includes the area name, display range, display content, and / or maximum and minimum scale of the image information.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the image display system of the present invention,
The image information transmission unit of the terminal, when the image information stored in the image information database is updated, transmits an update message including the index information and address information to the shared server,
The index information search unit of the shared server preferably updates the index information for the address information included in the update message in the index information database.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the image display system of the present invention,
It is also preferable that the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner.

According to the present invention, in a terminal capable of storing and displaying image information having a coordinate system and communicating with a plurality of other terminals,
An image information database storing image information;
An index information database storing index information for each image information;
The index information is received from the other terminal, a plurality of image information that matches the index information is searched using the index information database, and if there is matching image information, the address information of the image information is transmitted to the other terminal. Index information transmission means;
Index information search means for transmitting index information to a plurality of other terminals, receiving address information of image information from the other terminals, and generating a combination list including the address information;
An image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information specified in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
Receives an image information request message from the other terminal, searches the image information stored in the address information using the image information database, and converts the image information into drawing data in the same graphics data format and the same coordinates And image information transmitting means for transmitting the drawing data to the other terminal.

Also, according to another embodiment of the terminal of the present invention,
The image information is map information having a coordinate system or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by means of user interface means,
The index information also preferably includes the area name, display range, display content, and / or maximum and minimum scale of the image information.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the terminal of the present invention,
It is also preferable that the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner.

According to the present invention,
In an image display program executed by a computer installed in a terminal capable of storing and displaying image information and communicating with a plurality of other terminals,
An image information database storing image information;
An index information database storing index information for each image information;
The index information is received from the other terminal, a plurality of image information that matches the index information is searched using the index information database, and if there is matching image information, the address information of the image information is transmitted to the other terminal. Index information transmission means;
Index information search means for transmitting index information to a plurality of other terminals, receiving address information of image information from the other terminals, and generating a combination list including the address information;
An image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information specified in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
The address information is received from the other terminal, the image information stored in the address information is searched using the image information database, the image information is converted into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format, A computer is executed as image information transmitting means for transmitting the drawing data to the other terminal.

According to another embodiment of the image display program of the present invention,
The image information is map information having a coordinate system or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by means of user interface means,
The index information also preferably includes the area name, display range, display content, and / or maximum and minimum scale of the image information.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the image display program of the present invention,
It is also preferable that the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner.

  According to the present invention, various types of image information transmitted by terminals can be easily shared among a plurality of terminals. In particular, since map information can be shared only by a combination list including a plurality of address information, it is not necessary to provide a separate map information sharing space. Therefore, map information is distributed among terminals on the WWW, and a load on a specific server is distributed. Map information in which users who operate terminals cooperate with each other can be provided.

  Further, the map information displayed in a superimposed manner does not exist in the terminal itself, but exists by referring to the original data stored in other terminals. Accordingly, not only the map information itself cannot be copied, but also the owner of the map information is specified. This is effective in terms of copyright protection.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Specifically, there are a first embodiment including a shared server and a second embodiment not including a shared server as embodiments of the present invention. In the following description, the coordinate system image information provided by the terminal is described as map information. However, for example, even if the drawing information has a coordinate system drawn by the user using the user interface unit of the terminal. Good. In this case, the use for a group conference system is assumed.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. These functions can of course be realized by a program executed by a computer installed in the shared server or terminal.

  The system of FIG. 1 is a case where a shared server is provided. The plurality of terminals 1 and the shared server 2 are connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 4. The LAN 4 is interconnected with the Internet 5, and the existing map server 3 is connected to the Internet 5. According to FIG. 1, the terminal A can communicate with a plurality of other terminals B to D, the shared server 2 and the map server 3.

  The shared server 2 includes an index information database 21 and an index information search unit 22.

  The index information database 21 stores index information for each piece of map information stored by the terminal. The index information includes, for example, the area name, display range, display content, and / or maximum / minimum scale of the map information. Therefore, the shared server 3 does not accumulate the map information itself.

Table 1 is an example of a table stored in the index information database 21.

  According to Table 1, with respect to the address information “http://www.kddilabs.co.jp/AAA” of the map information, the area name “Kamifukuoka City, Saitama Prefecture”, the display range “25 km square”, the display content “ It can be understood that “traffic information”, maximum and minimum scale “1 / 200,000 to 1 / 500,000”. The address information of the map information is represented by, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

  The index information search unit 22 receives index information corresponding to a map desired by the user from the terminal. For example, it is assumed that the user wants to display a map of “traffic information” and “drawing information” of “1 / 200,000” in “20 km square” of “Kamifukuoka City, Saitama Prefecture”. Such index information is determined by the terminal application based on the user's operation.

  The index information search unit 22 that has received the index information from the terminal uses the index information database 21 to search for a plurality of map information that matches the index information. And the index information search part 22 produces | generates the combination list containing the address information of the searched several map information. Then, the combination list is returned to the terminal.

A specific combination list format will be described below. The combination list is called MRL (Multiple Resource Locator) and includes a plurality of URLs.
MRL {URL of map information stored in terminal B
URL of map information stored in terminal C
URL of map information stored in terminal D}

  The terminal 1 includes a map information transmission unit 11, a map information reception unit 12, a user interface unit 13, a map information database 14, and an index information transmission unit 15.

  The map information database 14 stores map information. The map information is shared by other terminals.

  The index information transmission unit 15 transmits index information to the shared server 3 and receives a combination list from the shared server 3. The received combination list is notified to the map information receiving unit 12.

  The map information receiving unit 12 broadcasts a map information request message to a plurality of address information included in the combination list, and receives map information drawing data. The received drawing data has a standard graphics data format and has the same coordinates.

  The user interface unit 13 displays a plurality of drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide. The displayed map information is scrolled and enlarged / reduced by an operation application (for example, a WWW browser) such as a text field and a button. When it is designated that the displayed map information is out of range, the index information transmitting unit 15 is again notified to transmit new index information.

  The user interface unit 13 is configured such that map information itself displayed based on a plurality of drawing data cannot be stored. The superimposed map information exists only by referring to the original data stored in the other terminal. Thereby, duplication of the superimposed map information itself can be avoided.

  According to FIG. 1, the terminal A receives a plurality of drawing data from the terminals B to D and the map server 3. Drawing data serving as basic map information is received from the map server, black circle drawing data is received from the terminal B, black square drawing data is received from the terminal C, and black star drawing data is received from the terminal D. Then, the terminal A displays these drawing data superimposed so that the coordinates coincide.

  The map information transmitting unit 11 receives a map information request message from the other terminal, and searches for map information corresponding to the address information using the map information database 14. Then, the map information transmission unit 11 converts the map information into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format. Then, the map information transmission part 11 transmits drawing data to the other terminal.

  A standard graphics data format is specifically a PostScript (registered trademark of Adobe Systems Inc.). In order to use map information of different specifications, the difference in map information is absorbed by converting it into the drawing data. Therefore, a plurality of drawing data can be easily superimposed and displayed at the drawing level. Even drawing data in the raster image data format can be used as background drawing data or can be used by superimposing an image having a transparent attribute. Such a conversion function can be provided as middleware, and can be relatively easily implemented in many already-provided map information systems.

  The drawing data may be configured to have link information to other arbitrary terminals with respect to a specific element of the drawing data. As a result, functions similar to hyperlinks and clickable maps in the WWW can be realized.

  The map information receiving unit 12 has a function of an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) client, and the map information transmitting unit 11 has an HTTP server function. Thereby, drawing data can be exchanged between terminals only by a request / response message.

  When the map information stored in the map information database 14 is updated, the map information transmission unit 11 of the terminal transmits an update message including the index information and address information to the shared server 2. On the other hand, the index information search unit 22 of the shared server 2 updates the index information for the address information included in the update message in the index information database 21. Thus, when the map information accumulated by the terminal is updated, it is necessary to update the index information of the shared server.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the system of FIG.

(S201) For the terminal A, the index information transmitting unit 11 receives information related to the map desired by the user from the user interface unit 13, and determines the index information. Then, the index information transmission unit 11 transmits the index information to the shared server 2. For the shared server 2, the index information is received by the index information search unit 22.
(S202) For the shared server 2, the index information search unit 22 uses the index information database 21 to search for a plurality of map information that matches the index information. And the index information search part 22 produces | generates the combination list | wrist including the address information of the map information. The combination list is returned to terminal A. According to FIG. 2, for example, the combination list includes address information of the map information stored in the terminals B, C, D and the map server 3. For terminal A, the index information transmission unit 11 receives the combination list and notifies the map information reception unit 13 of the combination list.

(S203) For terminal A, the map information receiving unit 13 broadcasts a map information request message to a plurality of address information included in the combination list. According to FIG. 2, the map information request message is transmitted to the terminals B, C, D and the map server 3.

(S204) For terminal B, the map information transmission unit 11 receives a map information request message. The map information transmitting unit 11 uses the map information database 14 to search for map information corresponding to the address information. The retrieved map information is converted into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format. Then, the map information transmission unit 11 returns the drawing data to the terminal A.
(S205) Similarly to the terminal B, the terminal C returns map data drawing data C to the terminal A.
(S206) Similarly to terminal B, terminal D returns drawing data D of map information to terminal A.
(S207) As with the terminal B, the existing map data 3 also returns the map information Z of the drawing data to the terminal A.

  For the terminal A, when the user interface unit 13 receives the drawing data of the map information from the terminal and the map server based on all the address information included in the combination list, the coordinates of the drawing data are matched on the same screen. Overlay and display.

(S208) With respect to the terminal A, new index information is derived by the user scrolling or enlarging / reducing the displayed map information. Then, the index information transmission unit 11 transmits the index information to the shared server 2.
(S209) The shared server 2 returns a combination list for the received index information to the terminal A.
By repeating such a sequence, a map desired by the user is displayed on the terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. Of course, these functions can also be realized by a program executed by a computer installed in the terminal.

  The system of FIG. 3 is a case where there is no shared server. The plurality of terminals 1 can communicate with each other via a network. The system in FIG. 3 differs from that in FIG. 1 in that an index information search unit 16 and an index information database 17 are provided in the terminal.

  The index information database 17 stores index information for each map information stored in the map information database 14. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, a shared server is not required, which is suitable for network load distribution.

  The index information transmission unit 15 in the first embodiment transmits index information to the shared server 3, whereas the index information transmission unit 15 in the second embodiment broadcasts to a plurality of other terminals. Index information is transmitted. Therefore, it is necessary to configure a predetermined group between the terminals in advance. According to FIG. 3, for example, it is assumed that terminals A to D form a group.

  Furthermore, the index information transmission unit 15 receives address information only from terminals that possess map information that matches the index information. Then, the index information transmission unit 15 generates a combination list including a plurality of received address information. The combination list is notified to the map information receiving unit 12.

  The map information receiving unit 12 broadcasts a map information request message to a plurality of address information included in the combination list and receives map information drawing data. The operation of other functional blocks is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the system of FIG.

(S401) For the terminal A, the index information transmitting unit 15 transmits the index information to the plurality of other terminals constituting the group in a broadcast manner. This index information is received by the index information search unit 16 of the terminals B, C, and D.

(S402) For terminal B, the index information search unit 16 searches the index information database 17 and determines whether there is map information that matches the received index information. When it is determined that there is suitable map information, the address information of the map information in the terminal B is returned to the terminal A.
(S403) Also for the terminal D, when the index information search unit 16 determines that there is map information that matches the index information, the address information of the map information in the terminal D is returned to the terminal A.

  At this time, for the terminal C, if the index information search unit 16 determines that there is no map information that matches the index information, no response is made to the terminal A.

  For terminal A, the index information transmitting unit 15 generates a combination list including the address information received from terminals B and D in S402 and S403. This combination list is notified to the map information receiving unit 12.

(S404) For terminal A, the map information receiving unit 13 broadcasts a map information request message to the address information of terminals B and D included in the combination list. According to FIG. 4, for the terminal B, the map information request message is received by the map information transmitting unit 11.
(S405) For terminal B, the map information database is used to search for map information corresponding to the address information specified by the map information request message. The retrieved map information is converted into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format. Terminal B returns map data drawing data to terminal A. The drawing data of the terminal A is received by the map information receiving unit 12 and further notified to the user interface unit 13.
(S406) Similarly to the terminal B, the terminal D returns the map information D of the drawing data to the terminal A.

  For the terminal A, when the user interface unit 13 receives the drawing data of the map information from the terminal and the map server based on all the address information included in the combination list, the coordinates of the drawing data are matched on the same screen. Overlay and display.

  Thus, according to the present invention, various types of map information transmitted by terminals can be easily shared among a plurality of terminals.

  According to the above-described various embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can easily make various changes, modifications, and omissions in the technical idea and scope of the present invention. The above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be restrictive. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

It is a system configuration figure of a 1st embodiment in the present invention. It is a sequence diagram corresponding to the system of FIG. It is a system configuration figure of a 2nd embodiment in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram corresponding to the system of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal 11 Map information transmission part 12 Map information reception part 13 User interface part 14 Map information database 15 Index information transmission part 2 Shared server 21 Index information database 22 Index information search part 3 Map server 4 LAN
5 Internet

Claims (10)

A plurality of terminals that store and display image information having a coordinate system, and a shared server that can communicate with the terminals;
The shared server is
An index information database storing index information for each image information stored by the terminal;
Index information search means for receiving index information from the terminal, searching a plurality of image information matching the index information using the index information database, and transmitting a combination list including address information of the image information to the terminal And
The terminal
An image information database storing the image information;
Index information transmitting means for transmitting index information to the shared server and receiving the combination list from the shared server;
Image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information included in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of the drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
The image information request message is received from the other terminal, the image information corresponding to the address information is searched using the image information database, and the image information is drawn in the standard graphics data format and with the same coordinates. And an image information transmitting means for converting the drawing data to the other terminal. The image information is map information having a coordinate system, or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by the user interface means,
The image display system according to claim 1, wherein the index information includes a region name, a display range, display contents, and / or a maximum and minimum scale of the image information. The image information transmission unit of the terminal, when the image information stored in the image information database is updated, transmits an update message including the index information and address information to the shared server,
The image display according to claim 1, wherein the index information search unit of the shared server updates the index information for the address information included in the update message in the index information database. system.   The image display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner. system. In a terminal capable of storing and displaying image information having a coordinate system and communicating with a plurality of other terminals,
An image information database storing the image information;
An index information database storing index information for each image information;
The index information is received from the other terminal, a plurality of image information matching the index information is searched using the index information database, and when there is matching image information, the address information of the image information is set to the other information. Index information transmitting means for transmitting to the terminal;
Index information search means for transmitting the index information to a plurality of other terminals, receiving address information of the image information from the other terminals, and generating a combination list including the address information;
Image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information specified in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of the drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
The image information request message is received from the other terminal, the image information stored in the address information is searched using an image information database, and the image information is drawn in the standard graphics data format and with the same coordinates. And an image information transmitting means for converting the drawing data to the other terminal. The image information is map information having a coordinate system, or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by the user interface means,
The terminal according to claim 5, wherein the index information includes a region name, a display range, display contents, and / or a maximum and minimum scale of the image information.   The terminal according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner. In an image display program executed by a computer installed in a terminal capable of storing and displaying image information and communicating with a plurality of other terminals,
An image information database storing the image information;
An index information database storing index information for each image information;
The index information is received from the other terminal, a plurality of image information matching the index information is searched using the index information database, and when there is matching image information, the address information of the image information is set to the other information. Index information transmitting means for transmitting to the terminal;
Index information search means for transmitting the index information to a plurality of other terminals, receiving address information of the image information from the other terminals, and generating a combination list including the address information;
Image information receiving means for transmitting an image information request message to a plurality of address information specified in the combination list and receiving drawing data of the image information;
User interface control means for displaying a plurality of the drawing data superimposed on the same screen so that the coordinates coincide;
The address information is received from the other terminal, the image information stored in the address information is searched using an image information database, and the image information is converted into drawing data having the same coordinates in a standard graphics data format. And an image display program for causing the computer to execute as image information transmitting means for transmitting the drawing data to the other terminal. The image information is map information having a coordinate system, or drawing information having a coordinate system drawn by a user by the user interface means,
The image display program according to claim 8, wherein the index information includes a region name, a display range, display contents, and / or maximum and minimum scales of the image information.   The image display program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the user interface means of the terminal is configured not to be able to save the image information itself displayed in a superimposed manner.

Images