JP2006285028A - Apparatus and method for creating map image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve appearance of a map image. <P>SOLUTION: A map image creating apparatus 100 creates a map image for displaying on a screen by editing a map data. An acquisition section 122 of the map image creating apparatus 100 acquires a map data including an object data and a marker data which is related to the object data. A marker data extracting section 142 extracts a plurality of marker data from the acquired map data. A priority determining section 124 determines an arrangement priority of the extracted plurality of marker data. An arranging section 126 arranges the extracted plurality of marker data on the map image by relating to the extracted object data according to the determined arrangement priority. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map image generation apparatus and method for generating a map image.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a technique for generating a map image that is easy to see and understand for a user by changing the layout of symbols representing objects such as stations, parks, and roads on a map data and a character string related to the object . This map image is used as a store guide map or a traffic guide map to be published in publications such as various information magazines and guide books, or in a flyer for supermarkets or real estate property guides. As a technique related to this map image generation, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of preventing overlapping of character strings attached to an object by increasing the display area of a dense area of the object on the map. Has been.
JP 11-237833 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, for example, when a character string attached to an object is long, even if the display area of a dense area is increased, character strings related to adjacent buildings may overlap each other, and a map image Looks worse. If the appearance of the map image is deteriorated, the user is shunned and the inconvenience that the product value of the map image is lowered occurs. Therefore, it is preferable to improve the appearance of the map image regardless of the length of the character string.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a map image generation apparatus and method that improve the appearance of a map image.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to a map image generation device. This device is a map image generation device that generates a map image to be displayed on a screen, and obtains map data including object data and landmark data associated with the object data, The first extraction unit that extracts a plurality of landmark data from the acquired map data, the priority order determination unit that determines the placement priority of the plurality of extracted landmark data, and the extracted placement priority A placement unit that places a plurality of landmark data on the map image in association with the object data.

  For example, this apparatus may arrange on a map image in order from mark data having a high arrangement priority. Thereby, for example, by arranging the mark data so as not to overlap with the already arranged mark data, the overlap of the mark data can be prevented, and as a result, the appearance of the map image can be improved.

  A first storage unit that stores a table in which attributes of the object data are associated with the arrangement priority of the mark data; a second extraction unit that extracts the attributes of the object data from the extracted mark data or object data; And the priority order determining unit refers to the table and determines the arrangement priority order of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the first extracting unit from the attributes of the object data extracted by the second extracting unit. Good.

  The arrangement unit may arrange the mark data so as not to overlap the mark data already arranged on the map image. The placement unit may sequentially place the plurality of extracted landmark data in accordance with the determined placement priority.

  A determination unit that determines whether or not the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data; when the decision unit determines that the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data, The mark data may not be arranged on the map image.

  The landmark data includes symbol data characterizing the object data and character data corresponding to the symbol data, and the arrangement unit arranges the character data following the symbol data when the landmark data is arranged on the map image. And when the determination unit determines that the character data in the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data, the arrangement unit uses another mark already arranged around the previously arranged symbol data. An area that does not overlap with data may be searched, and character data may be arranged in the searched area.

  A second storage unit that stores a standard arrangement position relationship indicating a standard arrangement position relationship between the symbol data and the character data is further provided, and the arrangement unit has the smallest deviation in the change in the arrangement position relationship with respect to the stored standard arrangement position relationship. Character data may be arranged so as to be smaller.

  It further includes an operation unit for operating the character data included in the mark data arranged on the map image, and the character data included in any one of the mark data arranged on the map image by the operation unit is When operated, the arrangement unit may arrange the whole mark data arranged on the map image again according to the decided arrangement priority.

  The operation unit rotates characters of the character data included in the landmark data arranged on the map image, and the object data arranged on the map image has a narrow aspect and the object data extends. When the angle formed by the direction and the vertical direction of the screen is within a first predetermined value, the operation unit causes the vertical direction of the character data to be an angle within a second predetermined value with respect to the vertical direction of the screen. As described above, the characters of the character data included in the landmark data may be rotated.

  A receiving unit that receives an instruction from the user, and a landmark data placement unit that newly places the landmark data on the map image according to the received instruction, and when the new landmark data is placed by the landmark data placement unit The arrangement unit may re-arrange the entire landmark data arranged on the map image with the highest priority given to the newly placed landmark data.

  A route setting unit for setting a route from the departure point to the target point on the map image is further provided, and when the route is set by the route setting unit, the arrangement unit is arranged on the map image so as not to overlap the set route. The entire marked data may be rearranged again according to the determined arrangement priority.

  Another aspect of the present invention relates to a map image generation method. The method includes a step of acquiring map data including target data and landmark data associated with the target data, a step of extracting a plurality of landmark data from the acquired map data, and a plurality of extracted Determining the placement priority of the landmark data, associating the extracted plurality of landmark data with the target data according to the determined placement priority, the target data and the target data associated with the target data Generating a map image in which the landmark data is arranged.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for generating an easy-to-view map image.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a map image generation apparatus according to Embodiment 1. This map image generation device 100 sets an edit range on map data that is master data, and generates a map image that is easy for the user to view by performing edit processing on the map data in the set range. Note that the map data includes object data representing objects such as stations, parks, and roads, and landmark data such as “Tokyo Station” associated with the objects. The map image may be an image including at least one object data, and it does not matter whether the image is in the middle of editing processing or final. This map image is used as a store guide map or a traffic guide map to be published in various information magazines, guidebooks and other publications, or in a flyer for supermarkets or real estate property guides. In addition, this map image may be used as content provided via a mobile terminal.

  The mark data is data useful for distinguishing between the object data on the screen, and includes symbol data and character data. The mark data may be composed of symbol data alone or character data alone. The object data, character data, and symbol data indicate not only objects, characters, and symbols but also images including images specified by the object data, character data, and symbol data. For example, if the object data represents a post office (hereinafter referred to as “post office object data”), the landmark data representing the post office (hereinafter referred to as “post office landmark data”) is a map of the post office. Symbol data representing a symbol (hereinafter referred to as “post office symbol data”) and character data representing a post office name such as “ABC post office” (hereinafter referred to as “post office character data”) are included.

  The map image generation device 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes a reception unit 102, a display unit 104, a map data storage unit 110, a priority table storage unit 112, a map information storage unit 114, and an image generation unit 120. . The image generation unit 120 includes an acquisition unit 122, a priority order determination unit 124, an arrangement unit 126, a determination unit 128, an area setting unit 130, a scale derivation unit 132, an output unit 134, and an extraction unit 140. Prepare.

  The receiving unit 102 detects a mouse operation and a keyboard operation from the user, and receives an input instruction from the user. The map data storage unit 110 stores a plurality of map data with different scales, for example, map data with a scale of 1 / 10,000, 1 / 5,000, 1 / 50,000 and 1 / 200,000. Map data at a scale of 1 / 10,000 of the map data at a reduced scale is the most detailed map, while map data at a scale of 1 / 200,000 is the widest map. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the scale of the map data when describing each configuration, the description of the map data for each scale is omitted as appropriate. In the first embodiment, the position of the object data on the map data is expressed by latitude and longitude, and information regarding the latitude and longitude is stored in a map information storage unit 114 described later. As another example, the position of the object data on the map data may be expressed by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate.

  The map information storage unit 114 stores detailed information related to the object data arranged on the map data, for example, mark data corresponding to the object data, and map information such as position information and attributes of the object data in a table format. is doing. For example, if the object data indicates a post office building, “ABC post office” is stored as landmark data, the latitude / longitude of the post office is stored as position information, and “post office” is stored as attribute information. The map information in the map information storage unit 114 is linked to the object data on the map data. That is, the map image generating apparatus 100 can refer to the map information related to the object data in the map information storage unit 114 from the object data on the map data, and further from the position information related to the object data in the map information storage unit 114. The object data on the map data can be specified.

  The acquisition unit 122 acquires map data of any scale from among a plurality of map data of different scales stored in the map data storage unit 110. In the first embodiment, which scale map data is to be acquired is determined in advance by the system administrator or the like at the time of initial setting. As another example, the receiving unit 102 receives an input instruction on which scale map data is to be acquired from the user when generating a map image, and the acquiring unit 122 receives the scale map data according to the received input instruction. You may get it. The map data acquired by the acquisition unit 122 is displayed to the user via a display (not shown) by a display unit described later.

  The display unit 104 displays the map data acquired by the acquisition unit 122 via a display (not shown) to the user. The map data may cover a wide area, and only a part of the map data may be displayed on the screen. As described above, the area to be displayed first is determined in advance at the time of initial setting, but it is also possible to display map data of another area by an input instruction from the user. In this case, a search unit (not shown) inside the map image generation apparatus 100 searches for map data of an area including an address and a station neighborhood included in the keyword received from the user by the receiving unit 102. Furthermore, the display unit 104 displays a map image generated by the map image generation device 100 to the user, in addition to an operation screen that receives an operation related to a map image generation process.

  The region setting unit 130 sets a temporary processing region, which is a temporary processing region, on the map data acquired by the acquiring unit 122 based on a user input instruction received by the receiving unit 102. Furthermore, the area setting unit 130 sets an area to be subjected to editing processing by expanding the temporary processing area (hereinafter simply referred to as “editing area”) on the map data. Specifically, when a rectangular frame that is a temporary processing area is set on the map data by the user, the area setting unit 130 uses the longer one of the vertical and horizontal lines of the rectangular frame of the area as a reference. As described above, the edit target region is generated by adjusting the aspect ratio of the rectangular frame to match the aspect ratio of the output map image. The mark data associated with the object data included in the map data in the edit target area thus generated is dynamically arranged on the map image by the arrangement unit 126 described later.

  The scale deriving unit 132 derives a scale based on the length on the screen between any two points on the boundary line of the editing target region set by the region setting unit 130 and the actual distance between the two points. Specifically, when the length between two points on the boundary line of the editing target area is 10 centimeters on the screen and the actual distance between the two points is 1 kilometer, the scale deriving unit 132 Derive a solution for a scale such as 1 / 10,000. In the first embodiment, if the scale derived by the scale deriving unit 132 is 1 / 20,000 or less, the acquiring unit 122 acquires map data having a scale of 1/10000. Further, if the derived scale is 1 / 20,000 to 1 / 5,000, map data of a scale of 1/25 thousand is obtained, and the derived scale is 1/10 to 3 / 5,000. If the scale is 1 / 10,000, map data with a scale of 1 / 50,000 is acquired, and if the derived scale is 1 / 100,000 or more, map data with a scale of 1 / 100,000 is acquired.

  When the derived scale is different from the scale of the map data displayed by the display unit 104, the acquisition unit 122 acquires the map data of the derived scale from the map data storage unit 110, and the display unit 104 is currently displayed. The map data is switched to the acquired map data and displayed. As a result, the map image generating apparatus 100 automatically switches to the map data of the optimum scale according to the size of the editing target area, so that the user does not need to be aware of the change of the map data scale.

  The extraction unit 140 includes a landmark data extraction unit 142 and an attribute extraction unit 144. The landmark data extraction unit 142 extracts a plurality of landmark data from the map data in the editing target area set by the area setting unit 130 in the map data acquired by the acquisition unit 122. Specifically, the landmark data extraction unit 142 refers to the map information storage unit 114, compares the latitude / longitude representing the range of the editing target region with the latitude / longitude of the target object data, and determines the landmark data included in the editing target region. The landmark data to be extracted is specified by searching. For example, if the range of the edit target region is “131 degrees east longitude 40 degrees north latitude” to “132 degrees east longitude 132 degrees north latitude 40 degrees”, the landmark data extraction unit 142 refers to the map information storage unit 114 and satisfies the conditions of the range. Identify landmark data of the object data.

  The attribute extraction unit 144 refers to the map information stored in the map information storage unit 114 and extracts the attribute of the object data from the landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142. Specifically, the attribute extraction unit 144 specifies the attribute of the object data to be extracted by referring to the map information of the landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142. For example, when the landmark data extraction unit 142 extracts the landmark data “ABC Post Office”, the attribute extraction unit 144 refers to the map information of the landmark data “ABC Post Office” stored in the map information storage unit 114. Then, “post office” is extracted as an attribute of post office object data. As another example, the attribute extraction unit 144 may extract the attribute of the target data from the target data associated with each of the landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142.

  The priority determining unit 124 refers to the priority table that associates the attribute of the object data stored in the priority table storage unit 112 with the arrangement priority of the landmark data, and the target extracted by the attribute extracting unit 144 The arrangement priority order of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142 is determined from the attribute of the object data. For example, in this priority order table, “post office” indicating the attribute of the object data is associated with “third place” which is the placement priority order of the mark data. The priority order determination unit 124 refers to the placement priority order of the landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142, and determines the placement priority order of the landmark data “ABC Post Office”, for example, as the third place. In the first embodiment, the arrangement priority determined by the priority determining unit 124 is a relative order of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extracting unit 142.

  The arrangement unit 126 sequentially arranges the plurality of extracted landmark data in association with the target object data on the map image in accordance with the arrangement priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 124. In the first embodiment, the arrangement unit 126 arranges the character data following the symbol data when arranging the landmark data on the map image.

  The determination unit 128 determines whether the mark data to be placed arranged by the placement unit 126 overlaps other mark data. When the determination unit 128 determines that the character data in the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data, the arrangement unit 126 overlaps with other mark data already arranged around the previously arranged symbol data. An area that cannot be detected is searched, and character data is arranged in the searched area. For example, the vicinity of the symbol data may refer to a range within 0.1 minutes above and below the latitude and longitude of the symbol data. As another example, when the determination unit 128 determines that the mark data to be arranged overlaps other mark data, the arrangement unit may not arrange the mark data to be arranged on the map image.

  The output unit 134 outputs a map image in which a plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142 is associated with each target object data as an electronic file or a paper medium. As described above, the map image output by the output unit 134 is used as a store guide map or a traffic guide map that is published in publications such as various information magazines and guide books.

  Hereinafter, the map image generating operation by the map image generating apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows an operation screen operated by the user when generating a map image. The operation screen 20 includes a map display screen 22, a finished vertical size column 30, a finished horizontal size column 32, a keyword column 34, a search button 36, a map image generation button 38, and a cancel button 40. When the power of the map image generating apparatus 100 is turned on, map data is acquired from the map data storage unit 110 by the acquisition unit 122, and part or all of the acquired map data is displayed on the map display screen 22 by the display unit 104. Is displayed. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a part of the map data is displayed on the map display screen 22 by the display unit 104. As described above, the area and scale of the map data initially displayed on the map display screen 22 are determined in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 2, post office object data 10 forming a rectangle is arranged on the map data displayed on the map display screen 22. Post office landmark data 12 is associated with the post office object data 10, and the post office landmark data 12 includes post office symbol data 14 and post office character data 16. There is also mark data that does not have symbol data, such as the mark data 18 marked “X station”. In order to avoid complication of the figure, some landmark data are omitted in FIG.

  In the finished vertical size column 30, the vertical size of the map image output by the output unit 134 is input, while in the finished horizontal size column 32, the horizontal size of the map image is input according to a user input instruction. As an example, 100 mm is input in the finished vertical size column 30 and the finished horizontal size column 32 shown in FIG. Although the size can be input in units of millimeters in the first embodiment, the input in units of centimeters may be enabled as another example.

  In the keyword column 34, keywords relating to an address, a station name, and the like are input according to a user input instruction. When a keyword is entered in the keyword field 34 and the search button 36 is pressed by the user, a search unit (not shown) in the map image generating apparatus 100 searches for map data in an area including the address and the vicinity of the station included in the keyword. To do. The display unit 104 displays the map data of the area searched by the search unit on the map display screen 22. For example, when the keyword “X station” is input to the keyword column 34 and the search button 36 is pressed, the display unit 104 displays map data of a region including the vicinity of the X station to the user.

  Next, the region setting unit 130 sets the temporary processing region 50 and the editing target region 60 on the map data displayed on the map display screen 22 based on the input instruction from the user received by the receiving unit 102. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the temporary processing area and the edit target area are set on the map data displayed on the map display screen. The user points an arbitrary point on the map data displayed on the map display screen 22 using an external device such as a mouse. Next, the user points another point on the map data in the same manner. Hereinafter, the first point point is referred to as a first point point 52, and the next point point is referred to as a second point point 54. When the first point point 52 and the second point point 54 are set on the map data, the map image generating apparatus 100 temporarily stores a rectangular frame having the first point point as the upper left corner and the second point point as the lower right corner. A processing area 50 is generated.

  When the temporary processing area 50 is generated on the map data, as described above, the aspect ratio of the temporary processing area 50 is set to the aspect ratio of the size input in the finished vertical size column 30 and the finished horizontal size column 32. Be controlled. At this time, the aspect ratio is controlled based on the longer one of the vertical line and the horizontal line of the temporary processing area 50. For example, when the length of the vertical line of the generated temporary processing area 50 is 100 mm and the length of the horizontal line is 30 mm, the finished vertical size and the finished horizontal size are both set to 100 mm in the above example. Therefore, the horizontal line of the temporary processing area 50 is expanded from 30 millimeters to 100 millimeters so that the aspect ratio becomes 1: 1 on the basis of the length of the longer vertical line. The range expanded by the region setting unit 130 is the editing target region 60, and the map data included in this range is the editing processing target.

  When the edit target area is set on the map data displayed on the map display screen 22, the scale deriving unit 132 derives the scale. For example, if the length of the vertical line of the edit target area is 100 millimeters and the actual distance is 1 kilometer, the scale deriving unit 132 outputs “1 / 10,000” as the scale. Thereby, the scale of the map data to be switched, that is, the scale of the map image to be generated is determined. As described above, when the derived scale is different from the scale of the map data displayed on the map display screen 22 by the display unit 104, the display unit 104 switches the currently displayed map data to the map data of the derived scale. To display.

  Returning to FIG. 2, at the timing when the map image generation button 38 is pressed by the user, the map image generation device 100 starts a map image generation process. When the cancel button 40 is pressed by the user, the map image generation device 100 stops the map image generation process started by pressing the map image generation button 38.

  FIG. 4 shows a map information table storing map information related to object data included in the map data. The map information table 200 includes an identification number column 202, an object data column 204, a landmark data column 206, an attribute column 208, and a position information column 210. The identification number column 202 holds a number for identifying each record stored in the map information table 200. The object data column 204 holds information indicating the object of the object data included in the map data, for example, information indicating the shape of the object. The landmark data column 206 holds landmark data associated with the object data. The attribute column 208 holds information related to the attributes of the object data or the landmark data. The position information column 210 includes a latitude column 212 and a longitude column 214. The latitude column 212 and the longitude column 214 hold the position information of the object data expressed by the latitude and longitude on the map data, respectively. For example, as shown in the record 216 of the identification number “1”, the attribute of the “square type” object data located at the latitude “131 degrees 41 minutes” and the longitude “35 degrees 40 minutes” is “post office”. Mark data of “ABC post office” is associated.

  For example, if the edit target area is a rectangular frame, the landmark data extraction unit 142 extracts the map data by searching for a record in the map information table having the latitude and longitude within the range formed by the four vertices of the rectangular frame. Identify landmark data to be used. For example, if the latitude and longitude of the four vertices of the rectangle are “131 degrees north latitude 35 degrees north latitude”, “132 degrees north latitude 35 degrees north latitude”, “131 degrees north longitude 36 degrees north latitude” and “132 degrees north longitude 36 degrees north latitude”. The landmark data extraction unit 142 extracts landmark data having position information of “131 degrees east longitude to 132 degrees east longitude” and “40 degrees north latitude to 41 degrees north latitude”. That is, in this example, all the landmark data corresponding to the identification numbers “1” to “3” are to be extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142.

  FIG. 5 shows a priority table in which the attribute of the object data stored in the priority table storage unit is associated with the arrangement priority of the landmark data. As shown in FIG. 5, the priority order table 250 has information regarding the placement priority order of the mark data with respect to the attributes of the object data for each scale. The priority item column 252 holds the placement priority of the mark data indicated by “1st” to “5th”. In the first embodiment, “first place” is the highest placement priority, and hereinafter, the placement priority is lowered as the number increases. The scale item column 254 holds the scale of the map image to be generated. The attribute holding column 256 holds the attributes of the object data such as “station” and “post office”. Although not shown, the arrangement position of the symbol data and the arrangement position of the character data may be held in the latitude / longitude format.

  For example, when the scale deriving unit 132 derives the scale of “1 / 10,000”, the map is switched to “1 / 10,000” of the map data. With reference to the line indicated by “1”, the arrangement priority of the plurality of landmark data is determined for the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142. Specifically, when there are three pieces of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142 and the attributes of the landmark data are “station”, “office”, and “post office”, the attribute of “station” Mark data having the attribute “office” and the mark data having the attribute “post office” are determined to be the second priority.

  As described above, the arrangement priority determined by the priority determining unit 124 is a relative order of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extracting unit 142. As another example, the arrangement priority determined by the priority determination unit 124 may be the absolute rank of the landmark data shown in the priority table 250. In this case, the landmark data having the “station” attribute and the landmark data having the “office” attribute are determined as the first priority, and the landmark data having the “post office” attribute is determined as the third priority. In any case, the landmark data having the attribute “post office” is arranged after the landmark data having the attribute “station” and the landmark data having the attribute “office”.

  Note that both the landmark data of the attribute “station” and the landmark data of the attribute “office” have the first priority, and the order of arrangement on the map image may be first, but in the first embodiment, It is assumed that the storage position in the cell is relatively higher, that is, the mark data of the attribute “station” is arranged by the arrangement unit 126 before the mark data of the attribute “office”. Thus, the landmark data extracted by the landmark data extracting unit 142 is sequentially arranged on the map image in association with the object data according to the arrangement priority determined by the priority determining unit 124.

  By the way, if the placement priority of the landmark data is determined from each landmark data, it is necessary to have a table that holds the correspondence relationship between the landmark data and the placement priority of the landmark data. Becomes enormous. In the first embodiment, the placement priority of the landmark data is determined from the attribute of the target data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the attribute associated with the placement priority of the landmark data may be the attribute of the subject data. The amount of data can be reduced compared to the case where the parameter to be attached is landmark data.

  Movement of post office character data when it is determined by the determination unit 128 that the mark data to be arranged, for example, post office character data of “ABC Post Office” overlaps with other landmark data, for example, “D City Hall”. The situation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows how the post office character data is moved around the post office symbol data by the placement unit. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the arrangement unit 126 moves the post office character data 16 around the post office symbol data 14 in the clockwise direction around the post office symbol data 14. When the arrangement unit 126 detects an area that does not overlap with other character data during the movement process of the post office character data 16, the arrangement unit 126 arranges the post office character data 16 at the detected location.

  In the first embodiment, the arrangement unit 126 moves the post office character data 16 in the clockwise direction. However, as another example, the arrangement unit 126 may move the post office character data 16 in the counterclockwise direction around the post office symbol data 14. Good. Furthermore, the start position of the movement is not limited to the right side of the post office symbol data 14, but may be a location such as the upper left side or the lower right side.

  FIG. 7 shows a map image generated by the map image generation device. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The map image 150 is generated by performing an editing process on the editing target area on the map data as described above. Speaking of the city hall landmark data 23 and the post office landmark data 12 included in the map image 150, the attribute of the city hall landmark data 23 has a higher priority than the attribute of the post office landmark data 12 as shown in FIG. , The arrangement unit 126 arranges the map image 150 first. The post office landmark data 12 arranged later is arranged so as not to overlap with the city hall landmark data 23 already arranged. That is, when the post office character data 16 is arranged on the right side of the post office symbol data 14, it is determined by the determination unit 128 that it overlaps with the city hall landmark data 23, and therefore the arrangement unit 126 does not overlap with the city hall landmark data 23. Post office character data 16 is arranged below the post office symbol data 14 which is an area.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of map image generation processing according to the first embodiment. When the power of the map image generation device 100 is turned on, the acquisition unit 122 acquires map data including target object data and landmark data associated with the target data stored in the map data storage unit 110. (S10). The display unit 104 displays the map data acquired by the acquisition unit 122 to the user via a display (not shown) (S12). In the finished vertical size column 30, the vertical size of the map image to be generated is input, and in the finished horizontal size column 32, the horizontal size of the map image to be generated is input in accordance with the user's input instruction (S14). When a keyword is entered in the keyword field 34 and the search button 36 is pressed by the user, a search unit (not shown) inside the map image generation device 100 searches for map data in an area including the address and the vicinity of the station included in the keyword. (S16).

  When the temporary processing area 50 is set on the map data, the area setting unit 130 changes the aspect ratio of the temporary processing area 50 to the aspect ratio of the size input in the finished vertical size column 30 and the finished horizontal size column 32. Thus, the editing target area is set on the map data (S18). When the region to be edited is set on the map data displayed on the map display screen 22 by the region setting unit 130, the scale deriving unit 132 derives the scale of the map data to be switched (S20). When the derived scale is different from the scale of the map data displayed on the map display screen 22 by the display unit 104, the display unit 104 switches the currently displayed map data to the acquired map data and displays it.

  When the map image generation button 38 is pressed by the user, the landmark data extraction unit 142 uses a plurality of landmarks from the map data in the editing target area set by the area setting unit 130 in the map data acquired by the acquisition unit 122. Data is extracted (S22). At this time, the attribute extraction unit 144 further refers to the map information table 200 stored in the map information storage unit 114, and the object data from each of the plurality of landmark data or object data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142. Are extracted (S24).

  The priority determining unit 124 refers to the priority table 250 that associates the attributes of the object data and the placement priority of the landmark data stored in the priority table storage unit 112, and is extracted by the attribute extraction unit 144. From the attributes of the object data, the arrangement priority of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142 is determined (S26). When character data is arranged subsequent to the symbol data by the arrangement unit 126, the determination unit 128 determines whether or not the character data included in the mark data to be arranged arranged by the arrangement unit 126 overlaps other mark data. Judgment is made (S28).

  When the determination unit 128 determines that the character data to be arranged overlaps with other landmark data (Y in S28), the arrangement unit 126 searches for an area that does not overlap with other already-placed landmark data (S30). The character data to be arranged is arranged in the searched area (S32). On the other hand, when the determining unit 128 determines that the character data to be arranged does not overlap with other landmark data (N in S28), the arranging unit 126 associates the character data to be arranged with the object data and maps the image data. It arrange | positions above (S32). After performing the processing of step 26 to step 30 for each of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the landmark data extraction unit 142, a final map image is generated. The output unit 134 outputs the final map image generated in this way (S34).

  Conventionally, the map image producer manually adjusts the arrangement position of the mark data so that the mark data does not overlap with each other while referring to the map data serving as a base image for generating the map image. However, in this case, the map image producer has to check whether or not the character strings overlap while looking at the screen, and it takes a lot of time for the map image generation work or inconvenience of overlooking the overlap of the mark data. Sometimes. According to the first embodiment, the above-mentioned problem can be avoided by automatically placing the landmark data at a position that does not overlap with the landmark data already arranged by the map image generating apparatus 100. Furthermore, by arranging the mark data so as not to be automatically overlapped by the map image generating apparatus 100, it is possible to easily generate a high-quality map image having a good appearance in a short time.

Embodiment 2
In the first embodiment, when the determination unit determines that the character data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data, the arrangement unit, for example, places the character data around the symbol data in the clockwise direction around the symbol data. In the second embodiment, the character data is arranged so that the deviation of the change in the arrangement position relationship with respect to the standard arrangement position relationship indicating the standard arrangement position relationship between the symbol data and the character data is minimized.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration of the map image generation apparatus according to the second embodiment. The map image generation device 100 according to the second embodiment is newly provided with a positional relationship storage unit 116 compared to the map image generation device 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The positional relationship storage unit 116 stores a standard layout positional relationship indicating a standard layout positional relationship between the symbol data and the character data. Specifically, the positional relationship storage unit 116 represents the relative positional relationship between the post office symbol data 14 and the post office character data 16 on the map data, for example, on the map data, as representing the standard arrangement positional relationship. Information indicating a positional relationship such as whether the post office character data 16 is on the right side or on the left side with respect to the post office symbol data 14 is stored. This information may be expressed as a latitude / longitude difference between the post office symbol data 14 and the post office character data 16. The arrangement unit 126 arranges the character data so that the deviation of the change in the arrangement positional relationship with respect to the stored standard arrangement positional relationship is minimized.

  FIG. 10A shows an example of a standard arrangement positional relationship indicating a standard arrangement positional relationship between symbol data and character data on map data, while FIG. 10B shows an arrangement position relative to the standard arrangement positional relationship. A state in which character data is arranged on a map image so as to minimize the shift in the relationship change is shown. In addition, about the structure similar to FIG. 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. As shown in FIG. 10A, post office character data 16 representing “ABC post office” is arranged at a position immediately adjacent to the post office symbol data 14. The arrangement positional relationship between the symbol data and the character data shown in FIG. 10A is the standard arrangement positional relationship with respect to the post office landmark data 12, and the standard arrangement positional relationship is stored in the positional relationship storage unit 116. In FIG. 10A, the standard arrangement position relationship regarding the post office mark data 12 is shown as an example, but actually, the standard arrangement position regarding the respective mark data on the mark data on the map data. A relationship exists, and the relationship is stored in the positional relationship storage unit 116 for each landmark data.

  The arrangement unit 126 arranges the post office character data 16 on the map image so that the deviation of the change in the arrangement positional relationship with respect to the standard arrangement positional relationship regarding the post office landmark data 12 is minimized. FIG. 10A shows the arrangement positional relationship between the post office symbol data 14 and the post office character data 16 when the deviation of the change in the arrangement positional relationship of the post office landmark data 12 with respect to the standard arrangement positional relationship is the smallest. This is a case where it matches the arrangement positional relationship. Further, with regard to the post office character data 16, as the post office character data 16 is gradually shifted from the position forming the standard arrangement position relationship shown in FIG. The displacement of the change in the arrangement positional relationship with is increased.

  The arrangement unit 126 first arranges the post office character data 16 at a position in the first area 17 shown in FIG. 10B, which is the case where the deviation of the change in the arrangement position relationship is the smallest. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the arrangement unit 126 arranges the post office character data by moving the area where the post office character data 16 is stored. When the determination unit 128 determines that the position of the post office character data 16 in the first area 17 is a position that overlaps with other landmark data, the arrangement unit 126 next selects the position in the second area 19, for example. Post office character data 16 is arranged in Similarly, when it is determined by the determination unit 128 that they overlap, the arrangement unit 126 next, for example, has a distance difference between the first region 17 and the first region 17 larger than the distance difference between the first region 17 and the second region 19. Post office character data 16 is arranged at the position of the three area 21.

  The layout of landmark data such as the positional relationship between symbol data and character data on map data is often designed by a designer who is an expert. Therefore, it is desirable to reflect the layout of the landmark data on the map data also in the generated map image. According to the second embodiment, a map image that realizes a layout close to the layout of the landmark data on the map data can be easily generated, and the quality of the map image is improved.

Embodiment 3
In the first embodiment, the map image generating apparatus 100 arranges the mark data on the map image so as not to overlap other mark data. However, in the second embodiment, the map image generating apparatus 100 includes a plurality of mark data arranged on the map image. When the character data included in any one of the landmark data is operated, the arrangement unit rearranges the whole landmark data arranged on the map image according to the decided arrangement priority.

  FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a map image generation apparatus according to the third embodiment. The map image generation device 100 according to Embodiment 3 is newly provided with an operation unit 136 as compared to the map image generation device 100 according to Embodiment 1. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. The operation unit 136 operates character data included in the landmark data arranged on the map image. When the character data included in any one of the plurality of landmark data arranged on the map image is operated by the operation unit 136, the arrangement unit 126 determines the whole landmark data arranged on the map image. Re-arrange according to the arranged arrangement priority. The operation of character data includes, in addition to moving, correcting and deleting character data, changing the character size of character data, and processing for mutual conversion to Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana and Roman characters.

  FIG. 12A shows a map image before the character data is manipulated by the user, while FIG. 12B shows a map image after the user has changed the character size of the character data. . The same components as those in FIG. On the map image 150 shown in FIG. 12A, post office landmark data 12 and city hall landmark data 23 are shown. Although other landmark data and object data are arranged on the actual map image 150, they are omitted in this figure for convenience of explanation.

  When the receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to change the character size of the character data from the user via the operation screen, the operation unit 136 sets the character size of the character data included in the landmark data arranged on the map image 150. Manipulate. FIG. 12B shows a map image 150 after the character size of the character data is reduced by the operation unit 136 as an example. When the size of the character data is reduced by the operation unit 136, the arrangement unit 126 rearranges the entire landmark data arranged on the map image in accordance with the decided arrangement priority.

  In FIG. 12A, the post office character data 16 is arranged at a position below the post office symbol data 14 by the arrangement unit 126. When the operation unit 136 is operated to reduce the size of the character data arranged on the map image 150, the city hall landmark data 23 and the post office landmark data 12 are rearranged. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12B, the arrangement unit 126 can arrange the post office character data 16 in the empty space around the right side of the city hall landmark data 23 generated by reducing the size of the character data.

  When the character data arranged on the map image is moved, modified or deleted, or the character size is changed, an empty space may be generated on the map image by the operation of the character data. In this case, character data that could not be placed in the empty space can be placed, but by newly placing character data in the free space, the newly placed character data overlaps with other character data. May end up. That is, by newly arranging character data, it becomes necessary to determine whether character data overlaps or does not overlap in a chain, and the processing becomes complicated. According to the third embodiment, when the character data included in any one of the plurality of landmark data arranged on the map image is operated, the whole landmark data arranged on the map image is simply By re-arranging, the arrangement of the landmark data can be easily optimized.

Embodiment 4
In the third embodiment, the size of the character data in the plurality of landmark data arranged on the map image is changed by the operation unit. In the fourth embodiment, the landmark data arranged on the map image by the operation unit. The character of the character data contained in is rotated. The map image generation device 100 according to Embodiment 4 has the same configuration as the map image generation device 100 according to Embodiment 3. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Embodiment 3, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The operation unit 136 has a narrow aspect of the object data arranged on the map image, and an angle formed between the direction in which the object data extends and the vertical direction of the screen is a first predetermined value, for example, 30. When the angle is within the degree, the operation unit 136 sets the character data included in the mark data so that the vertical direction of the character data is a second predetermined value with respect to the vertical direction of the screen, for example, an angle within 30 degrees. Rotate characters.

  Here, as the object data having a narrow aspect, for example, linear object data such as a station, a river, and a road can be cited. The direction in which the object data extends indicates, for example, the direction in which river water flows. Further, the vertical direction of the character data indicates a direction that can be visually recognized as the vertical direction when the user looks at the character. For example, if the character string “Tokyo Station” is arranged in the horizontal direction on the screen, the upward direction of the character data is the direction from the line that divides the character string in half in the horizontal direction toward the top of the character string. The downward direction of the character data indicates a direction from the line divided in half toward the lower part of the character string. On the other hand, when the character string “Tokyo Station” is arranged in the vertical direction on the screen, the upward direction of the character data is the upper part of the character string from the line obtained by dividing the character string in half in the horizontal direction. The direction toward the character “east”, and the downward direction of character data refers to the direction from the line divided in half to the character “station” at the bottom of the character string. Note that the vertical direction of the screen refers to a direction in which the user can visually recognize the vertical direction when viewing the screen.

  FIG. 13A shows a map image before the characters of the character data are rotated by the operation unit, while FIG. 13B shows the map after the characters of the character data are rotated by the operation unit. An image is shown. The same components as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. On the map image 150 shown in FIG. 13A, Y station character data 64 is shown associated with Y station object data 62. In addition to the Y station character data 64, a plurality of landmark data is arranged in the actual map image 150. However, for convenience of explanation, it is omitted in this figure.

  The Y station object data 62 arranged on the map image shown in FIG. 13A has a narrow aspect and is formed by a direction 68 in which the Y station object data 62 extends and a vertical direction 66 of the screen. Is an angle θ within a first predetermined value, for example, 30 degrees. A two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 13A indicates the vertical direction 69 of the character data. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13B, the operation unit has an angle φ formed by the vertical direction 69 of the Y station character data 64 and the vertical direction 66 of the screen within a second predetermined value, for example, 30 degrees. The characters of the Y station character data 64 are rotated so that the angle becomes.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the direction 68 in which the character data of the object data having a narrow aspect extends is within a predetermined angle with the vertical direction 66 of the screen, for example, within 30 degrees, and the vertical direction of the character data. When 69 and the vertical direction 66 of the screen are at a predetermined angle, for example, 30 degrees or more, it may be difficult for the user to visually recognize that the object data is Y station. According to the fourth embodiment, the characters of the Y station character data 64 are set so that the vertical direction 69 of the Y station character data 64 is at an angle within a second predetermined value, for example, 30 degrees, with respect to the vertical direction 66 of the screen. The appearance of the map image can be improved by rotating.

Embodiment 5
In the first embodiment, the map image generating apparatus 100 arranges the mark data to be arranged on the map image so as not to overlap other mark data. However, in the fifth embodiment, the map data generating apparatus 100 instructs the user to add mark data. The map image generating apparatus 100 additionally arranges new landmark data on the map image according to the instruction.

  FIG. 14 shows a configuration of a map image generation device according to the fifth embodiment. The map image generation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment is further provided with a landmark data arrangement unit 138 in addition to the map image generation device 100 according to the first embodiment. Further, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The landmark data arrangement unit 138 newly arranges the landmark data on the map image 150 in accordance with the input instruction from the user received by the reception unit 102. When new landmark data is arranged by the landmark data arrangement unit 138, the arrangement unit 126 rearranges the whole landmark data arranged on the map image 150 again with the highest priority given to the arranged new landmark data. .

  FIG. 15A shows a map image before new landmark data is arranged by the landmark data arrangement unit, while FIG. 15B shows a state after new landmark data is arranged by the landmark data arrangement unit. The map image of is shown. The same components as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 15A, the post office character data 16 associated with the post office object data 10 overlaps with other object data 70. In addition to the post office landmark data 12, a plurality of landmark data are arranged on the actual map image 150. However, for the sake of convenience of explanation, they are omitted in this figure.

  FIG. 15B shows, as an example, a map image 150 after the star mark data 72 is arranged in association with the object data 70 by the mark data arrangement unit 138 in accordance with a user instruction. When new landmark data is arranged by the landmark data arrangement unit 138, the arrangement unit 126 newly arranges the whole landmark data arranged on the map image 150 according to the arrangement priority determined by the priority determination unit 124. The placed mark data is given the highest priority and rearranged again. Therefore, the star mark data 72 can be arranged on the map image 150 in preference to the post office mark data 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15B, the post office character data 16 is rearranged to the left adjacent position of the post office symbol data 14 by the arrangement unit 126 so as not to overlap with the newly arranged star mark data 72. ing.

  An instruction to add new landmark data is made according to the user's will to place the mark data on the map image. According to the fifth embodiment, when the landmark data is newly added, by placing the added landmark data with the highest priority, it is possible to generate a map image that reflects the user's intention and has a good appearance, As a result, a service with high user merit can be provided.

Embodiment 6
In the first embodiment, the map image generating apparatus 100 arranges the mark data on the map image so as not to overlap with other mark data. However, in the sixth embodiment, the map image generating apparatus 100 receives a route setting instruction from the user, The image generating apparatus 100 sets a route from the departure point to the target point on the map image.

  FIG. 16 shows a configuration of a map image generation apparatus according to the sixth embodiment. In the map image generation device 100 according to the sixth embodiment, a route setting unit 146 is further provided in the map image generation device 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. The route setting unit 146 sets a route from the departure point to the target point on the map image in accordance with the input instruction from the user received by the receiving unit 102. This route may be set by tracing the road between the departure point and the target point on the map image displayed on the map display screen 22 with a mouse. When the route is set by the route setting unit 146, the placement unit 126 rearranges the entire landmark data placed on the map image according to the determined placement priority order so as not to overlap the set route. In this case, the placement unit 126 may place the newly set route again with the highest priority.

  FIG. 17A shows a map image before the rearrangement processing by the placement unit is performed when the route is set by the route setting unit, while FIG. 17B shows the route set by the route setting unit. The map image after rearrangement by the arrangement unit is performed is shown. The same components as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 17A, the route 74 represented by the thick line overlaps with the post office landmark data 12. In addition to the post office landmark data 12, a plurality of landmark data is arranged in the actual map image 150. However, for convenience of explanation, it is omitted in this figure.

  When the route 74 is set by the route setting unit 146, the placement unit 126 determines the entire landmark data arranged on the map image 150 by the priority order determining unit 124 so as not to overlap the set route 74. In accordance with the arrangement priority order, the newly arranged mark data is given the highest priority and is re-arranged. Therefore, the route 74 can be arranged on the map image 150 in preference to the post office landmark data 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17B, the post office character data 16 is rearranged to the left adjacent position of the post office symbol data 14 by the arrangement unit 126 so as not to overlap the newly set star landmark data 72. ing.

  An instruction to set a route from the departure point to the target point is given by the user's will to display the route on the map image. According to the sixth embodiment, when a new route is set, a map image that reflects the user's intention and has a good appearance is generated by arranging the route so that other landmark data does not overlap the set route. As a result, a service with high user merit can be provided.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. . Such modifications are listed below.

  In the first embodiment, the arrangement unit 126 sequentially arranges the plurality of extracted landmark data on the map image according to the arrangement priority determined by the priority determination unit 124. However, as a modification, the arrangement unit 126 For example, the mark data is gradually arranged on the map image from the left side to the right side of the screen, and after the arrangement process is completed, the overlapping mark data is arranged by the priority determining unit 124. You may rearrange according to the priority. Even in this case, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be enjoyed.

  In the first embodiment, the placement unit 126 places the character data after placing the symbol data when placing the landmark data on the map image. As a modification, the placement unit 126 places the symbol data first and then places the character data. Alternatively, the symbol data and the character data may be arranged at the same timing. In this case, when the determination unit 128 determines that the mark data to be arranged overlaps the mark data already arranged on the map image, the arrangement unit 126 may not arrange the mark data to be arranged. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the mark data from overlapping each other and improve the appearance of the map image.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the map image generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation screen operated by the user when producing | generating a map image. It is a figure which shows a mode that a temporary process area | region and an edit object area | region are set on the map data displayed on the map display screen. It is a figure which shows the map information table which stored the map information regarding the object data contained in map data. It is a figure which shows the priority table which matched the attribute of the target data stored in the priority table storage part, and the arrangement | positioning priority of landmark data. It is a figure which shows a mode that a post office character data is moved around a post office symbol data by an arrangement | positioning part. It is a figure which shows the map image produced | generated by the map image production | generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of map image generation processing according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the map image generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the standard arrangement positional relationship which shows the standard arrangement positional relationship of the symbol data and character data on map data, (b) is a change of the arrangement positional relationship with respect to a standard arrangement positional relationship. It is a figure which shows a mode that character data is arrange | positioned on a map image so that the shift | offset | difference may become the smallest. It is a figure which shows the structure of the map image generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the map image before a character data is operated by the user, (b) is a figure which shows the map image after the character size of character data is changed by the user. . (A) is a figure which shows the map image before the character of a character data is rotated by the operation part, (b) shows the map image after the character of the character data is rotated by the operation part. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the map image generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the map image before new landmark data is arrange | positioned by the landmark data arrangement | positioning part, (b) is the map image after new landmark data is arrange | positioned by the landmark data arrangement | positioning part. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the map image generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 6. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the map image before a rearrangement process by an arrangement | positioning part is performed when a path | route is set by the path setting part, (b) is arrangement | positioning when a path | route is set by the path setting part It is a figure which shows the map image after the rearrangement by a part was performed.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 62, 70 Object data, 12, 23, 72 Mark data, 14 Post office symbol data, 16 Post office character data, 100 Map image generation device, 112 Priority table storage unit, 116 Position relation storage unit, 122 Acquisition , 124 priority determination unit, 126 arrangement unit, 128 determination unit, 136 operation unit, 138 landmark data arrangement unit, 140 extraction unit, 142 landmark data extraction unit, 144 attribute extraction unit, 146 route setting unit, 150 map image, 250 Priority table.

Claims (12)

A map image generation device that generates a map image to be displayed on a screen,
An acquisition unit that acquires map data including the object data and landmark data associated with the object data;
A first extraction unit for extracting a plurality of the landmark data from the acquired map data;
A priority determining unit that determines an arrangement priority of the extracted plurality of landmark data;
According to the determined arrangement priority, an arrangement unit that arranges the extracted plurality of landmark data on the map image in association with the object data;
A map image generation device comprising: A first storage unit for storing a table in which attributes of target object data and arrangement priority of landmark data are associated with each other;
A second extraction unit that extracts attributes of the object data from the extracted landmark data or the object data;
The priority order determination unit refers to the table and determines an arrangement priority order of the plurality of landmark data extracted by the first extraction unit from attributes of the object data extracted by the second extraction unit. The map image generation device according to claim 1, wherein:   The map image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement unit arranges the mark data so as not to overlap with the mark data already arranged on the map image.   4. The map image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement unit sequentially arranges the plurality of extracted landmark data according to the determined arrangement priority order. 5.   The arrangement unit further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data, and when the mark data to be arranged overlaps with other mark data by the determination unit, the arrangement unit 5. The map image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the mark data to be arranged is not arranged on the map image. 6.   The landmark data includes symbol data characterizing the object data and character data corresponding to the symbol data, and the placement unit follows the symbol data when placing the landmark data on the map image. The character data is arranged, and when the determination unit determines that the character data in the mark data to be arranged overlaps other mark data, the arrangement unit displays the symbol data previously arranged. 6. The map image generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an area that does not overlap with other already-placed landmark data is searched for in the periphery, and the character data is arranged in the searched area. A second storage unit for storing a standard arrangement positional relationship indicating a standard arrangement positional relationship between the symbol data and the character data;
The map image generation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the arrangement unit arranges the character data so that a shift in a change in the arrangement positional relationship with respect to the stored standard arrangement positional relationship is minimized. An operation unit for operating the character data included in the landmark data arranged on the map image;
When character data included in any one of the plurality of landmark data arranged on the map image is operated by the operation unit, the arrangement unit displays the entire landmark data arranged on the map image. The map image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the map image is rearranged again according to the determined arrangement priority order. The operation unit rotates characters of character data included in landmark data arranged on the map image,
When the object data arranged on the map image has a narrow aspect and an angle formed between the direction in which the object data extends and the vertical direction of the screen is within a first predetermined value, The operation unit rotates the characters of the character data included in the landmark data so that the vertical direction of the character data is at an angle within a second predetermined value with respect to the vertical direction of the screen. The map image generation device according to claim 8. A reception unit for receiving instructions from the user;
In accordance with the received instruction, a landmark data placement unit for newly placing landmark data on the map image;
Further comprising
When new landmark data is arranged by the landmark data arrangement unit, the arrangement unit arranges the whole of the landmark data arranged on the map image again with the highest priority given to the arranged new landmark data. The map image generating device according to claim 1, wherein the map image generating device is corrected.   Further comprising a route setting unit for setting a route from the departure point to the target point on the map image, and when the route is set by the route setting unit, the placement unit does not overlap the set route, The map image generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the entire landmark data arranged on the map image is rearranged again in accordance with the determined arrangement priority. Obtaining map data including the object data and landmark data associated with the object data;
Extracting a plurality of the landmark data from the acquired map data;
Determining an arrangement priority of the plurality of extracted landmark data;
Associating the extracted plurality of landmark data with the object data according to the determined arrangement priority;
Generating a map image in which the object data and landmark data associated with the object data are arranged;
A map image generation method comprising:

Images