JP2007067487A - Information processing system and positional information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accurate present position to a user even under an environment wherein position measurement is difficult in a system utilizing a satellite positioning system. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile terminal 20 includes: a means for photographing an object 30; a means for receiving positional information from a GPS satellite; and a means for transmitting terminal information cross-referencing the received positional information with image information of the photographed object to a service provider system 70. Further, the service provider system 70 includes: a means for storing a database wherein positional information of a facility is cross-referenced with image information of the facility to each facility and receiving terminal information from the mobile terminal 20; and a means for searching the positional information of a facility corresponding to the received terminal information and transmitting the searched positional information to the mobile terminal 20. Then the mobile terminal 20 receives the positional information transmitted from the service provider system 70 in response to the terminal information transmitted from the mobile terminal 20 and provides the positional information to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a mobile terminal device (a terminal device used for a mobile object including a person, including a mobile phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)), and in particular, obtains a position (current position) where the mobile terminal device exists. Regarding technology.

  As a technique for positioning, a satellite positioning system is known. The satellite positioning system includes a positioning satellite arranged in the satellite orbit of the earth, a control station that controls the satellite from the ground, and a receiving device that receives radio waves from the positioning satellite on the ground. The positioning accuracy measured by this satellite positioning system depends largely on the number of satellites captured and the reception sensitivity when receiving radio waves from the positioning satellite with the receiving device, and positioning errors of tens to hundreds of meters are likely. May occur. In particular, the satellite positioning system has a problem that the current position cannot be accurately measured under an environment such as a building in a city center, indoors, or underground facilities.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for compensating for a positioning error of a satellite positioning system. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, using a signal from a positioning satellite, a user's mobile terminal measures its own position and calculates its positioning error. The mobile terminal displays the measured current position together with the calculated error range. Thus, according to the technique of Patent Document 1, the user can visually grasp the current position and the error range of the current position.

JP 2003-215228 A

  However, Patent Document 1 has the following problems. Specifically, Patent Document 1 merely indicates the current position that has been measured together with the error range, and does not correct the current position that has been measured. For this reason, Patent Document 1 cannot present an accurate current position to a user in an environment where a positioning error is large (for example, a downtown area or indoors where there are many buildings or the like). Therefore, in Patent Document 1, for example, when a user is searching for a destination (such as a store), the current position as a reference may not be accurately grasped, so navigation that guides the user to the destination May not be able to fulfill its functions sufficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to present an accurate current position to a user even in an environment where position positioning is difficult in positioning of the current position using a satellite positioning system. There is.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is applied to an information processing system including a mobile terminal and an information processing apparatus connected to the mobile terminal via a network.

  Then, the mobile terminal includes a photographing unit that photographs the subject, a receiving unit that receives position information transmitted from a positioning satellite, and terminal information in which the received positional information is associated with image information of the photographed subject. Communication means for transmitting information to the information processing apparatus, and presentation means for presenting various types of information to the user. The information processing apparatus identifies the location information of the facility and the facility for each facility. Means for storing a database in which information associated with image information to be registered is registered; receiving means for receiving the terminal information transmitted from the mobile terminal; image information in the received terminal information; and the database Authentication means for authenticating the identity with the image information registered in the database, and when the authentication means authenticates the identity, the authentication means is associated with the authenticated image information from the database. Information search means for searching for location information, and information transmission means for sending facility information including the searched location information to the mobile terminal that has sent the terminal information, and the mobile terminal The presenting means receives the facility information transmitted by the information transmitting means via the communication means, and presents location information included in the received facility information to the user.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the mobile terminal can acquire the accurate position information where the photographed facility exists from the information processing apparatus via the network. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to present an accurate current position to the user even in an environment where it is difficult to perform highly accurate position positioning by the satellite positioning system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a position positioning system based on independent positioning using GPS (Global Positioning System) is taken as an example of the position positioning system, but the position positioning system is not particularly limited thereto. For example, instead of a position positioning system using single positioning using GPS, a correction information using type positioning system such as a differential system or RTK (Real Time Kinematic) system or a positioning system using a radio base station is applied. It doesn't matter.

  First, a schematic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of an information processing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in the figure, the information processing system of this embodiment includes a mobile terminal device 20 and a service provider system 70 connected to the mobile terminal device 20 via a network. Here, the mobile terminal device 20 and the service provider system 70 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network. The specific configuration of the network is not particularly limited, but in the following, a case where the network is configured by the mobile phone base station 40, the mobile phone station 50, and the Internet 60 is taken as an example.

  The mobile terminal device 20 is an information processing device that accepts various requests from the user and presents various information such as the current position to the user in accordance with the accepted request. The mobile terminal device 20 receives position information included in the GPS signal transmitted by the GPS satellite 10 and presents the position where the mobile terminal apparatus 20 is present to the user (the position positioning function will be described later with reference to FIG. 2). ), A shooting function for shooting a subject, and a communication function are provided. The mobile terminal device 20 makes a service request (such as a transmission request for “facility information” including position information indicating the current position of the facility 30) to the service provider system 70 via the network. The “facility information” including the position information to be transmitted in response to is received and presented to the user. In addition, although information processing apparatuses, such as a mobile telephone terminal, PDA, and PC, can be used for the mobile terminal apparatus 20, in this embodiment, the case where a mobile telephone terminal with a camera function is applied to the mobile terminal apparatus 20. Take an example. Further, it is assumed that the mobile terminal device 20 of the present embodiment is provided with a display 210 such as a liquid crystal panel that presents various information, and an operation panel 220 that accepts various requests from the user.

  The service provider system 70 receives a request (“facility information” transmission request) from the mobile terminal device 20 via the network, and transmits “facility information” corresponding to the received request to the mobile terminal device 20. Specifically, the service provider system 70 includes an information processing device 701 and a storage device 702 such as a hard disk device. The storage device 702 stores position information (information indicating latitude (north latitude) and longitude (east longitude)) and facility information for each facility (for each facility such as a hamburger shop and a convenience store) and image information (signboard, advertising doll). A database for registering facility information in association with image information) and customer information (name, telephone number, etc.) of a user who receives a service provided by the service provider system 70 is stored. The information processing device 701 executes desired information processing based on information stored in the database.

  Next, an outline of processing performed by the information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of guiding the position of the facility 30 to the user. Note that the facility 30 is assumed to be in an environment (for example, a high-rise building street or an indoor store) in which positioning with high accuracy is difficult with GPS. That is, it is assumed that the mobile terminal device 20 cannot present an accurate current position to the user only by the GPS signal from the GPS satellite 10 around the facility 30.

  In such a case, the user photographs a signboard or the like for identifying the facility 30 by the photographing function (camera function) of the mobile terminal device 20. In the illustrated example, the mobile terminal device 20 captures and acquires the facility name 31 (“hamburger shop A”) and the image information indicating the facility mark 32. The mobile terminal device 20 transmits information (hereinafter “terminal information”) in which the image information of the facility 30 obtained by photographing and the position information included in the GPS signal obtained from the GPS satellite 10 is associated (hereinafter “terminal information”) via the network ( Via the mobile phone base station 40, mobile phone station 50, and Internet 60).

  The service provider system 70 receives “terminal information” transmitted from the mobile terminal device 20 via the network. The service provider system 70 collates the stored database with the received “terminal information”. Specifically, the service provider system 70 searches the database and extracts information on facilities within a predetermined range from “position information” included in the received “terminal information”. The service provider system 70 determines whether or not the extracted “facility information” includes the same “image information” as the “image information” included in the “terminal information”. When the same “image information” is included in the facility information, the service provider system 70 identifies “position information” associated with the “image information” and includes the identified “position information”. The “facility information” is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20.

  The mobile terminal device 20 receives the “facility information” including the “location information” transmitted by the service provider system 70 and displays the received “facility information” including the “location information” on the display 210. As a result, the user can grasp an accurate position even in an environment where positioning by a positioning satellite is difficult, such as in a high-rise building or indoors.

  Next, the position positioning function of the mobile terminal device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the position positioning function of the mobile terminal device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the mobile terminal device 20 functions in conjunction with a GPS receiving function for receiving a GPS signal from the GPS satellite 10 (see FIG. 2A) or the GPS receiving device 11, and the GPS receiving device. 11 has a function of receiving the signal received by communication (see FIG. 2B). As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the mobile terminal device 20 and the GPS receiving device 11 may have a function of acquiring position correction information from the electronic reference point 12 through broadcasting or communication. The mobile terminal device 20 or the GPS receiver 11 can measure and display the position both indoors and outdoors.

  Further, both the GPS signal from the GPS satellite 10 and the signal from the GPS receiver 11 include “position information (including information indicating latitude (north latitude) and longitude (east longitude))” and “information indicating positioning accuracy”. It shall be assumed. Then, the mobile terminal device 20 displays the received “position information” and “information indicating positioning accuracy” on the display unit 21. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal device 20 uses the received “position information” and “information indicating positioning accuracy” to indicate an image indicating a mark indicating the current position on a map and information indicating positioning accuracy. The display screen is displayed on the display 210 (for example, the display screen 211 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed).

  In addition, although the mobile terminal device 20 uses the GPS signal from the GPS satellite 10 (or the signal from the GPS receiving device 11) and displays the current position on the map, the specific means is not particularly limited. It may be as follows.

  For example, the mobile terminal device 20 transmits position information included in the received GPS signal to a service center (not shown). When the service center receives the position information from the mobile terminal device 20, the service center generates map information with a mark indicating the current position (the position indicated by the position information) on the map around the received position information. Information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20. Then, the mobile terminal device 20 receives the map information from the service center and displays the received map information on the display 210.

  For example, the mobile terminal device 20 may hold map information in advance. In this case, the mobile terminal device 20 generates a display screen with a mark indicating the current position on the map using the position information included in the GPS signal and the held map information, and displays it on the display 210.

  Next, the functional configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment will be described. First, the functional configuration of the mobile terminal device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a functional configuration of the mobile terminal apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the mobile terminal device 20 includes an antenna 21, a GPS receiving unit 22, an image capturing unit 23 that functions as a camera, a control unit 24 that controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal device 20, an output unit 25, and an operation. Unit 26, communication processing unit 27, data processing unit 28, and storage unit 29. The control unit 24 is connected in circuit with the GPS receiving unit 22, the image capturing unit 23, the display unit 25, the operation unit 26, the communication processing unit 27, the data processing unit 28, and the storage unit 29.

  The GPS receiving unit 22 performs a process of receiving and demodulating a GPS signal (or a signal from the GPS receiving device 11) transmitted from the GPS satellite 10 via the antenna 21. The image photographing unit 23 photographs a subject (for example, a facility signboard) and acquires image information of the photographed subject. The output unit 25 outputs various types of information to the display 210 and a speaker (not shown). The operation unit 26 receives operation information input from an operation panel 220 (see FIG. 1) provided with a “numeric keypad”, “ON, OFF key”, and the like, and outputs the received operation information to the control unit 24. The communication processing unit 27 transmits / receives data to / from the service provider system 70 via the antenna 21. The storage unit 29 stores image information captured by the image capturing unit 23, “facility information” from the service provider system 70, and the like.

  The data processing unit 28 performs various types of information processing such as processing for generating data to be output to the output unit 25 and processing for generating “terminal information” to be transmitted to the service provider system 70. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the data processing unit 28 indicates the current position on the map by using the position information included in the GPS received signal when the GPS receiving unit 22 receives the GPS signal. The image is displayed on the output unit 25.

  Next, the functional configuration of the service information system 70 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a functional configuration of the service information system according to the present embodiment.

  The service provider system 70 includes the information processing device 701 and the storage device 702 as described above. The information processing apparatus 701 includes a network connection unit 71 for connecting to an external network such as the Internet 60, a transmission / reception unit 72 for transmitting / receiving various types of information, and an image processing unit 73 for authenticating the identity of the image information. A control unit 74 that controls the operation of the entire information processing apparatus, a storage unit 75 that stores various types of information, and a business processing unit 76 that accesses the storage device 702 and searches and updates a database.

  In the present embodiment, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus is not particularly limited. For example, a computer having a CPU, a memory, a network I / F, and the like can be used as the information processing apparatus 701. The function of the network connection unit 71 is realized by a network I / F, and the function of the storage unit 75 is realized by a memory. The storage unit 75 stores programs for realizing the functions of the transmission / reception unit 72, the image processing unit 73, the control unit 74, and the business processing unit 76. The functions of the transmission / reception unit 72, the image processing unit 73, the control unit 74, and the business processing unit 76 are realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the storage unit 75.

  Further, the storage device 702 of the service provider system 70 has a facility information database 77 that stores image information and location information related to facilities, a customer information database 78 that stores customer information related to service users, and service usage. A business information database 79 for storing history and the like is stored.

  Here, the data structure of each database stored in the storage device 702 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the facility information database 77 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the facility information database according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the facility information database 77 is expressed in a third normal form table format in a relational database.

  The facility information database 77 is for registering the location information of the facility, the image information for identifying the facility, the name of the facility, the service information provided by the facility (discount information, homepage information), etc. in association with each facility. It is a database. Specifically, the facility information database 77 includes a facility information table 770, a position information table 771, an image information table 772, and a facility detail table 773.

  The facility information table 770 includes fields 7701 and 7702 for registering “northern latitude” and “east longitude”, which are location information where the facility exists, and a field 7703 for registering information for identifying the facility (facility telephone number). And one record is configured. In this embodiment, the “facility telephone number” is used as information for identifying the facility, but this is merely an example. For example, an “ID number” may be determined for each facility, and “ID number” may be used instead of “facility telephone number” as information for identifying the facility.

  The position information table 771 registers fields 7711 and 7712 for registering “north latitude” and “east longitude”, which are position information where the facility exists, and “image number” designating image information for identifying the facility. And a field 7713 for a single record.

  The image information table 772 includes a field 7721 for registering “image number” and a field 7722 for registering “image”, and constitutes one record.

  The facility detail table 773 includes a field 7731 for registering “information for identifying a facility (facility telephone number)”, a field 7733 for registering “name of facility (facility name)”, and “ A field 7733 for registering “URL (Uniform Resource Locator)”, a field 7734 for registering “facility service information (discount information / coupon information)”, and “floor” which is image information for guiding the facility One record is configured with a field 7735 for registering “map”.

  Next, the customer information database 78 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the customer information database according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the customer information database 78 is expressed in a third normal form table format in a relational database.

  The customer information database 78 is a database for managing customer information using the service provider system 70. Specifically, the customer information database 78 has a customer information table 780 and a customer detail table 781.

  The customer information table 780 includes a field 7801 for registering a “user ID” for identifying a user (customer), a field 7802 for registering a “password” for authenticating the user, and a user. And a field 7803 for registering the “mail address” of the e-mail.

  In the present embodiment, since it is assumed that the mobile terminal device 20 and the service provider system 70 transmit and receive information by e-mail, the “mail address” is registered in the customer information table 780. .

  The customer detail table 781 includes a field 7811 for registering “mail address”, a field 7812 for registering “phone number” of the customer, a field 7813 for registering “name” of the customer, A field 7814 for registering the “birth date”, a field 7814 for registering the “sex” of the customer, a field 7816 for registering the “address” of the customer, and one record are configured. ing. As described above, if the customer detail table 781 is provided and the “birth date”, “gender”, “address”, etc. of the user are managed, the information for analyzing the service usage tendency of the information in the customer information database 78 is analyzed. It can be information.

  Next, the business information database 79 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating the data structure of the business information database according to the embodiment of this invention. In the example shown in the figure, the business information database 79 is expressed in a third normal form table format in a relational database.

  The business information database 79 is a database for registering service history information provided to the mobile terminal device 20. Specifically, the business information database 79 has a business information table 790.

  The business information table 790 includes a field 7901 for registering a “user ID” for identifying a user (customer), and “search date / time (year / month) when the business processing unit 76 of the service provider system 70 performs a search process. A field 7902 for registering “day)” and a field 7903 for registering “search information” searched by the business processing unit 76 constitute one record. By configuring the business information table 790 with such a data structure, the business information table 790 can be used for billing processing. For example, by counting the number of times of use based on “user ID” and “search date and time”, it can be used for a billing process for the user. Further, from the viewpoint of the facility information provider, the retrieved information can be an advertisement related to the facility. Therefore, by counting the number of times based on “search information” and “search date and time”, the business information database 79 can also be used for billing processing for the facility information provider.

  Next, the processing of the information processing system of this embodiment will be specifically described.

  First, processing performed in the mobile terminal device 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing performed by the mobile terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the image photographing unit 23 of the mobile terminal device 20 photographs the facility 30 according to the photographing instruction received by the operation unit 26 (photographs a signboard or the like that can identify the facility 30), and proceeds to the process of S22 (S21). Specifically, the user operates the operation unit 26 to give a shooting instruction to the mobile terminal device 20. The operation unit 26 outputs a shooting instruction from the user to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 receives a photographing instruction from the operation unit 26 and causes the image processing unit 24 to photograph an object (a signboard or the like that can identify the facility 30).

  In S <b> 22, the image capturing unit 23 outputs image information of the captured object to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 stores the image information received from the image capturing unit 23 in the storage unit 29. Note that the image information stored in the storage unit 29 is not captured by the image capturing unit 23 but may be acquired by e-mail or download from a URL, for example.

  Here, an object such as a signboard that can identify the facility 30 to be photographed by the image photographing unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an object photographed by the mobile terminal device 20 of the present embodiment. In the example shown in the figure, a signboard on which a character 31 indicating the name of the facility and a mark 32 of the facility are described is shown. Generally, the name or mark of a facility is used by a store or the like that provides a service to distinguish its service from another company. That is, image information obtained by photographing a signboard or the like on which the name or mark of the facility is written (may be a character or mark written on the wall of the store) can be used as information for identifying the store. It becomes possible. Therefore, in the present embodiment, image information obtained by photographing a store name or mark is used as information for identifying a facility.

  Note that what can be taken as an object in the present embodiment is not limited to a store name, a mark, or the like. It may be a symbol that can be used as a symbol in a commercial facility and the like and can be technically authenticated as an image with a certain degree of accuracy. For example, an advertising doll placed at a store or the like may be used as a target.

  Returning to FIG. Subsequently, the mobile terminal device 20 performs a process of receiving a GPS signal (S23). Specifically, after the user has photographed an object (a signboard or the like that can identify the facility 30), the user locates the current position using the position positioning function of the mobile terminal device 20 at the photographed location. That is, the user operates the operation unit 26 and requests the mobile terminal device 20 to receive a GPS signal (position information or the like) at the position where the object photographed in S21 exists. The operation unit 26 outputs a request from the user to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 demodulates the GPS signal received via the antenna 21 by the GPS receiving unit 22.

  The control unit 24 receives the GPS signal demodulated by the GPS receiving unit 22 and outputs the GPS signal to the data processing unit 28. The data processing unit 28 performs signal processing on the received GPS signal and stores it in the storage unit 29 (S24). Specifically, the data processing unit 28 extracts “position information (north latitude, east longitude)” and “information indicating positioning accuracy (positioning error)” from the received GPS signal, and obtains “position information (north latitude, east longitude). ) ”And“ Positioning error ”are stored in the storage unit 26 in association with the image information stored in S22.

  In the description of this flow, first, a process of photographing an object (such as a signboard that can identify the facility 30) is performed (S21 to 22), and then a process of receiving a GPS signal and acquiring position information is performed. Although (S23-24) is made, this is merely an example. First, a GPS signal may be received to acquire position information (S23 to S24), and then a process of photographing the object may be performed. It suffices if the GPS signal is received at the position where the photographed object is present, and the photographed image information is associated with “position information” and “positioning error” obtained from the received GPS signal.

  Next, the control unit 24 stores the image information stored in the storage unit 29, “position information (northern latitude, east longitude)” and “positioning error” associated with the image information, and the mobile terminal device 20. "Terminal information" including user information is transmitted to the service provider system 70 via the communication processing unit 27 (S25). Specifically, the control unit 25 instructs the data processing unit 28 to create “terminal information”. The data processing unit 28 reads “image information” stored in the storage unit 29 and “position information (northern latitude, east longitude)” and “positioning error” associated with the image information. In addition, the data processing unit 28 associates “customer information (user ID, telephone number, mail address, etc.)” with the read “image information”, “position information (northern latitude, east longitude)”, and “positioning error”. Create "terminal information". The data processing unit 28 transmits the created “terminal information” to the control unit 24. The customer information is assumed to be stored in advance in a predetermined area of the storage unit 29. The control unit 24 controls the communication processing unit 27 and transmits “terminal information” to the service provider system 70 via the antenna 21 (for example, the communication processing unit 27 transmits “terminal information” by e-mail or the like). To do).

  The service provider system 70 receives “terminal information” transmitted by the mobile terminal device 20. The service provider system 70 collates the received “terminal information” with the data in the facility information database 71 held by itself, and includes “location information” corresponding to “image information” in the “terminal information”. Information "is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20 (S70). The process of S70 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Subsequently, the mobile terminal device 20 receives “facility information” including the location information transmitted by the service provider system 70 (S26), and stores the received “facility information” in the storage unit 29 (S27). Specifically, the communication processing unit 27 of the mobile terminal device 20 receives “facility information” including location information transmitted by the service provider system 70 via the antenna 21, and stores the received “facility information”. 29.

  Finally, the control unit 24 reads the “facility information” stored in the storage unit 29 in S27 and presents it to the user via the output unit 25 (S28). For example, “facility information” is displayed on the display 210 of the mobile terminal device 20. Further, for example, the mobile terminal device 20 outputs “facility information” as audio data using a speaker.

  Next, the process (S70 described above) performed in the service provider system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a processing flow of the service provider system according to the embodiment of this invention.

  First, the transmission / reception unit 72 of the service provider system 70 receives “terminal information” from the mobile terminal device 20 via the network connection unit 71 (S71). The transmission / reception unit 72 stores the received “terminal information” in the storage unit 75 (S72). As described above, “terminal information” includes “image information”, “position information (north latitude, east longitude)”, “error (positioning error)”, and “customer information”. Here, it is assumed that “terminal information 800” shown in FIG. 5 has been received.

  Subsequently, a search range narrowing process is performed by the business processing unit 76 (S73). Specifically, the business processing unit 76 narrows down the search range of the facility information database 77 using “position information (north latitude, east longitude)” and “positioning error” included in the “terminal information 800” received in S71. Include.

  Next, within the search range narrowed down by the image processing unit 73, the “image information” registered in the facility information database 77 and the “image information” included in the “terminal information 800” received in S71. A process for authenticating the identity is performed (S74).

  As a result of the authentication processing in S74, there is data that matches the “image information” included in the “terminal information 800” received in S71 in the “image information” registered in the facility information database 77. Then, the position information corresponding to the corresponding image information is extracted, and the process proceeds to S78. On the other hand, if there is no matching data, the process proceeds to S78 as it is (S75 to 77).

  Here, the processing of S74 to S77 will be described with reference to the example of FIG. In the illustrated example, “terminal information 800” is “North latitude is 3542070”, “East longitude is 139344730”, and “Error (positioning error) is ± 100”. In this case, the business processing unit 76 narrows down the search range of the facility information database 77 using “location information (north latitude, east longitude)” and “error”. For example, the business processing unit 76 narrows the search range to records corresponding to “North latitude is 3542070 ± 100” and “East longitude is 139344730 ± 100”. That is, from the records registered in the facility information table 770 and the position information table 771, the search range is narrowed down to records having “North latitude is 3542070 ± 100” and “East longitude is 139344730 ± 100”. Next, the task processing unit 76 extracts the image number of the position information table 771 from the narrowed candidate records. The business processing unit 76 reads the extracted “image number” and “image information” corresponding to the “image number” from the image information table 7722, and outputs them to the image processing unit 73.

  The image processing unit 73 includes “image information (“ image information ”of candidate records narrowed down by the business processing unit 76)” received from the business processing unit 76 and “terminal information 800” received in S71. An authentication process for authenticating the identity with “image information (hamburger shop A)” is performed. Note that the image processing unit 73 sequentially performs authentication processing when there are a plurality of “image information” received from the business processing unit 76. In this example, since there is one matching data, the facility information is uniquely determined. The image processing unit 73 outputs “image number (“ 1 ”in this example)” corresponding to the matched “image information” to the job processing unit 76.

  The business processing unit 76 uses the above-mentioned narrowed candidate records and the “image number (“ 1 ”in this example”) ”corresponding to the matched“ image information ”, and the location information of the corresponding facility (north latitude 354221039, East 139344697) and "facility telephone number". Then, using the identified “facility telephone number” and the facility detail table 773, the task processing unit 76 extracts discount information, floor map images, and the like of the facility.

  In S78, the business processing unit 76 adds the “customer information” included in the “terminal information” received in S71 to the above-described processing result (specified “facility telephone number”), and the processing date (year, month, day). ) Is registered in the business information database 79 (FIG. 7).

  Further, the business processing unit 76 stores the processing results of S74 to S77 in the storage unit 75 (S79), and proceeds to the processing of S80. If the data matches in S75, the processing result is facility information such as location information, facility discount information, and floor map image. If the data does not match in S75, it indicates that there is no matching data. Information.

  In S80, the control unit 74 controls the transmission / reception unit 72, and the facility information stored in the storage unit 75 in S79 via the network connection unit 71 (matched facility location information, facility discount information, floor map image, etc.) (Facility information) is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20 (S80). In S75, if there is no data matching the received “image information” in the facility information database, the control unit 74 controls the transmission / reception unit 72 to “applicable” via the network connection unit 71. Information indicating that there is no data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20.

  The business processing unit 76 uses the data registered in the business information database 79, counts the number of times the user who has received the facility information is used, and uses it for a predetermined period (for example, one month). You may make it perform the accounting process according to the frequency | count. Further, when performing the billing process, the service provider system 70 may perform a process of authenticating the user. The method for authenticating the user is not particularly limited. For example, a “password” may be used. In this case, when transmitting the “terminal information”, the mobile terminal device 20 transmits a “password” for authenticating the user to the service provider system 70. The service provider system 70 performs a process of authenticating the user using the customer information database 78 (see FIG. 6) and “customer information” and “password” included in the “terminal information”. The service provider system 70 performs the processes of S73 to S79 described above only when the user can be authenticated.

  Further, the business processing unit 76 uses the data registered in the business information database 79 to respond to the number of times of use to the facility information provider (a store such as a store) registered in the service provider system. You may make it perform an accounting process.

  In the process of S77 described above, information on a plurality of facilities (“location information” and “facility telephone number”) may be extracted. Specifically, the business processing unit 76 uses the above-described narrowed candidate records and the “image number (“ 1 ”in this example)” corresponding to the matched “image information” to “ When specifying “location information” and “facility telephone numbers”, it may be possible to specify “location information” and “facility telephone numbers” of a plurality of facilities. This is because stores of the same series (convenience stores and fast food stores with the same signboard) may be present in the vicinity of the station and downtown.

  In such a case, the business processing unit 76 may give priority to a plurality of specified facilities. And the control part 74 transmits the information of the facility which gave priority to the mobile terminal device 20 via the transmission / reception part 72. FIG. The priority includes, for example, “position information (north latitude, east longitude)” included in “terminal information” from the mobile terminal device 20 and “position information (north latitude registered in the position information table 771) of a plurality of specified facilities. , East longitude) ”. Specifically, a difference value (“difference in north latitude”, “difference in east longitude”) is obtained for each identified facility, and the priority is determined by the magnitude of the difference value. Set higher priority for facilities with small difference values. As for the magnitude of the difference value, for example, for each identified facility, a “value obtained by adding the square of“ difference in north latitude ”and the square of“ difference in east longitude ”is obtained, and the magnitude of the value is calculated. Compare.

  Then, when receiving “facility information” of a plurality of facilities, the mobile terminal device 20 presents the “facility information” of the facilities with higher priority in order from the user's operation. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 20 presents the positions of a plurality of facilities to the user so that the priorities can be identified (for example, the number of the facility position and the priority is displayed on the display 210 of the mobile terminal device 20). To do).

  Finally, a display screen presented to the user by the mobile terminal device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen presented to the user by the mobile terminal device according to the embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 11A shows the screen 211 when the mobile terminal device 20 displays the current position without using the service provider system 70, and the facility information from the service provider system 70. Screens 212 and 213 are displayed. In the screens 211 and 212, it is assumed that the “star” on the screen indicates the current position.

  The screen 211 displays positioning accuracy information along with a map showing the current position. The screen 211 indicates that the positioning accuracy is low. The user can determine from the screen 211 that an accurate position cannot be confirmed only by the GPS signal. Note that the technique of presenting the positioning accuracy to the user using the received GPS signal can be realized by existing technology.

  Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the position information can be acquired from the service provider system 70 when the accurate position cannot be confirmed by the position measurement using the GPS signal. For example, the user searches for a nearby commercial facility and photographs a signboard or the like of the facility (for example, “hamburger shop A”). Further, the current position is acquired using the GPS signal at the position where the facility is photographed, and “terminal information” including the current position and image information obtained by photographing the facility is transmitted to the service provider system 70. The service provider system 70 performs the above-described processing of FIG. 10 and transmits “facility information” to the mobile terminal device 20.

  Then, the mobile terminal device 20 displays the screens 212 and 213 using the received “facility information”. On the screen 212, as with the screen 211, a map indicating the current position and positioning accuracy information are displayed. The screen 212 indicates that the positioning accuracy is high. The screen 212 allows the user to grasp the correct current position. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal device 20 displays the “location information” in the received “facility information” on the screen as highly accurate information.

  The screen 213 displays the floor map on the screen when the received “facility information” includes a “floor map” (a floor map of a building with “hamburger shop A”). The screen 213 allows the user to check the current position even when the user is in a building (convenient for checking the current position in a building with a large floor area).

  Also, the mobile terminal device 20 of the present embodiment can transmit the received “facility information” to other mobile terminal devices 20. For example, the user of the mobile terminal device 20 obtains “facility information (a floor map or a guide map with facilities)” from the service provider system 70 and transfers the “facility information” to the mobile terminal device 20 of the other party. It is also possible. In this way, by transferring the “facility information”, the user of the mobile terminal device 20 can smoothly wait for the other party.

  In FIG. 11B, when there is “discount information / coupon information of the facility (hamburger shop A)” in the received “facility information”, the “discount information / coupon information of the facility” is displayed. The screen 214 is shown. In this way, by obtaining “facility discount information / coupon information” so that it can be presented to the user, the user can check the discount information in front of the facility.

  Furthermore, not only the location of the facility photographed by the user, but also the same series of facilities in the vicinity of the facility photographed by the user (for example, A convenience store B station west exit first store and A convenience store B station west exit second store) The position may be presented to the user. In this case, when the service provider system 70 searches for “facility” using “terminal information”, in addition to the facility information of the specified facility, the service provider system 70 further includes the same series (for example, within 500 m) around the facility. The facility information (neighboring facility information) of the facility where the same image information is registered in the facility information database is searched. The service provider system 70 transmits the searched peripheral facility information to the mobile terminal device 20.

  Then, the mobile terminal device 20 presents, for example, a display screen 215 indicating the position of the surrounding facility as shown in FIG. 12 to the user using the received nearby facility information. On the display screen 215, the positions of facilities in the same series as the facilities photographed by the user are displayed as “stars”. The user can check the facility information around the current position on the display screen 214. Therefore, the user of this embodiment can confirm the position of the store of the same series nearby when a certain store is full, for example.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user of the mobile terminal apparatus can accurately grasp the current position even in an environment where position positioning is difficult in the conventional positioning method. Therefore, this embodiment can be expected to have an effect particularly in an environment such as a high-rise building district in a city center where a large number of commercial facilities are crowded, indoors of buildings, underground facilities, and the like.

  In addition, the information processing system according to the present embodiment enables the user of the mobile terminal device to accurately grasp the current position, so that it can be used for waiting for a third party holding the same mobile terminal device. . In addition, since various types of information related to the target facility can be acquired at high speed from an image captured by the mobile terminal device, the use thereof can be simplified compared to information retrieval using a conventional URL or the like.

  Furthermore, if the provider of the information processing system of the present embodiment charges the user of the mobile terminal device and the provider of various information related to the target facility, an economic effect can be expected. Further, since the provider of the facility type information can immediately provide information on the facility located at the position where the user is currently located, a high advertising effect regarding the facility can be expected.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the service provider system 70 receives a required facility information transmission request (for example, a transmission request for only a floor map) from a user of the mobile terminal device 20 and transmits only the requested facility information to the mobile terminal device 20. It may be. In this way, the service provider system 70 needs to communicate unnecessary information to the user, and the communication amount can be reduced.

  In the description of the above-described embodiment, “location information (north latitude, east longitude)”, “discount information / coupon”, “floor map (image)”, and “facility information” transmitted by the service provider system 70 Although “URL” has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the service provider system 70 provides correction information for correcting a positioning error from “position information” included in “terminal information” from the mobile terminal device 20 and “position information” specified from the facility information database 77. Then, the correction information may be included in the “facility information” and transmitted.

It is a figure for demonstrating schematic structure of the information processing system to which embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the position positioning function of the mobile terminal device 20 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of the mobile terminal device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of the service information system of this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the facility information database of embodiment of this invention in simulation. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the customer information database of embodiment of this invention in simulation. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the business information database of embodiment of this invention in simulation. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the process which the mobile terminal device of embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows an example of the target object which the mobile terminal device of this embodiment image | photographs. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of a process of the service agent system of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the display screen which a mobile terminal device of an embodiment of the present invention shows to a user. It is the figure which illustrated the display screen which a mobile terminal device of an embodiment of the present invention shows to a user.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... GPS satellite, 11 ... GPS receiver, 12 ... Electronic reference point, 20 ... Mobile terminal device, 21 ... Antenna, 22 ... GPS receiver, 23 ... Image taking part, 24 ... Control part, 25 ... Output part, 26 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS Operation part 27 ... Communication processing part 28 ... Data processing part 29 ... Memory | storage part 40 ... Cell-phone base station 50 ... Cell-phone station 60 ... Internet 70 ... Service provider system 71 ... Network connection part 72 ... Transmission / reception unit, 73 ... Image processing unit, 74 ... Control unit, 75 ... Storage unit, 76 ... Business processing unit, 77 ... Facility information database, 78 ... Customer information database, 79 ... Business information database, 701 ... Information processing Device, 702 ... Storage device, 770 ... Facility information table, 771 ... Location information table, 772 ... Image information table, 773 ... Facility detailed information table, 780 ... Customer Information table, 781 ... customer details table, 790 ... business information table

Claims (7)

An information processing system having a mobile terminal and an information processing apparatus connected to the mobile terminal via a network,
The mobile terminal
Photographing means for photographing the subject;
Receiving means for receiving position information transmitted from a positioning satellite;
Communication means for transmitting terminal information in which the received position information is associated with image information of the photographed subject to the information processing apparatus;
Presenting means for presenting various types of information to the user,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Means for storing, for each facility, a database in which position information of the facility is associated with image information for identifying the facility;
Receiving means for receiving the terminal information transmitted from the mobile terminal;
Authentication means for authenticating the identity between the image information in the received terminal information and the image information registered in the database;
When the authentication means authenticates the identity, an information search means for searching for position information associated with the authenticated image information from the database;
Information transmitting means for transmitting facility information including the searched location information to the mobile terminal that has transmitted the terminal information;
The presenting means of the mobile terminal is:
An information processing system that receives the facility information transmitted by the information transmitting unit via the communication unit and presents position information included in the received facility information to a user. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The authentication unit of the information processing apparatus includes:
From the database, image information associated with a predetermined range of position information is selected from the position information included in the received terminal information, and the selected image information and the image information in the terminal information are An information processing system that authenticates the identity of each other. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
In the database, in addition to the location information and image information, facility-related information including service information provided by the facility or a guide map for guiding the facility is associated with the facility. ,
The information search means of the information processing apparatus includes:
When searching for location information associated with the authenticated image information, further specify facility related information associated with the image information,
The information transmission means of the information processing apparatus includes:
In addition to the searched location information in the search result, the specified facility-related information is included in the facility information and transmitted,
The presenting means of the mobile terminal is:
An information processing system, wherein the facility-related information is presented to a user when the facility-related information is included in the received facility information. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The communication means of the mobile terminal transmits the received facility information to another mobile terminal, and further receives the facility information transmitted by another mobile terminal,
The presenting means presents the facility information from another mobile terminal to a user. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An information processing system characterized in that each time facility information registered in the database is transmitted to the mobile terminal, the facility is charged. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An information processing system characterized in that a user of a mobile terminal is charged each time information registered in the database is transmitted to the mobile terminal. A position information presentation method performed by an information processing system having a mobile terminal having a photographing unit and an information processing apparatus connected to the mobile terminal via a network,
The information processing apparatus stores, for each facility, a database in which is registered information that associates the location information of the facility with image information that identifies the facility,
The mobile terminal
Photographing a subject by the photographing means;
Receiving position information transmitted from a positioning satellite;
Transmitting terminal information in which the received position information is associated with image information of the photographed subject to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Receiving the terminal information transmitted from the mobile terminal;
Authenticating the identity of the image information in the received terminal information and the image information registered in the database;
When the identity is authenticated by the authentication step, searching the position information associated with the authenticated image information from the database;
Transmitting the facility information including the searched location information to the mobile terminal that has transmitted the terminal information; and
The mobile terminal
A location information presentation method comprising: receiving the facility information transmitted by the information processing apparatus, and presenting the location information included in the received facility information to a user.

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