JP2009128454A - Map management device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve management of files such as an original map (A) created by a user in a GPS vehicle management application functioning in such a manner that a base station 11 receives information of the current location by radio from a mobile station 12 mounted on each vehicle 28 and superposes the current location of each vehicle 28 represented by a vehicle icon 21 on a map screen 20 in a display device 19 of the local station 11. <P>SOLUTION: Zones and regions of original maps (A) or the like are associated with latitude and longitude information. In order to display the information on the display device 19, the latitude and longitude information of the original map in a file read out from a hard disc device is detected, as well as the latitude and longitude information of the background screen 36 is calculated. The position of an image portion corresponding to the original map (A) or the like in the background screen 36 is determined based on the latitude and longitude information, and the image portion is pasted on the determined position and displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a map management apparatus, method, and program for rationalizing management of partial maps such as self-made maps.

  In Patent Document 1, a mobile station is installed in each vehicle such as a taxi, and the current location information of each mobile station is transmitted to the base station wirelessly (paragraph 0005 of Patent Document 1). In addition, displaying the current location and traveling direction of each vehicle on a map screen based on current location information from each mobile station (paragraph 0009 and FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1) is disclosed.

  In a GPS (Global Positioning System) vehicle management system using a wireless communication system, each vehicle is equipped with a GPS receiver together with a mobile station, and current location information detected by each GPS receiver is sent from the mobile station to the base station. Display the current location of each vehicle on the map screen.

  Commercially available map data is used for the map screen on the base station display. Because there is a high demand for maps in relatively large cities, maps with detailed information are available on the market, but maps with detailed information are prepared in places where few people live or in undeveloped areas. Often not.

  The GPS vehicle management system may be used for position management of construction vehicles. In such a case, a detailed map of an area to be developed or a construction site is required. However, since a detailed map is not commercially available in such an area, it is beneficial for the user to make a map for the corresponding area and use it on the map screen.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a first conventional user operation when calling a self-made map used for the GPS vehicle management system on the screen. FIG. 6 shows the first operation in a series of first user operations. The user moves the cursor to "File" on the menu bar and then clicks on it. This will bring up a drop-down list, and click "Open" from there. In this way, the file name assigned to the desired self-made map is input in the file name input field of the dialog box that pops up.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a second conventional user operation when calling a self-made map used for the GPS vehicle management system on the screen. A combo box dedicated to opening a self-made map file is prepared in the menu bar, and when the user clicks the down arrow on the right side of the combo box, a plurality of self-made map file names registered in the combo box are vertically aligned. Is displayed. The user clicks a desired file name from this list.
JP 2006-165726 A

  The user usually selects a file name of the self-made map that is easily associated with the location of the self-made map, but often cannot remember the region of the self-made map from the file name or mistakenly remembers it. In the file opening method of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the user cannot accurately grasp the area of the self-made map from the file name, cannot know which file can be opened for the desired area, or opens it by mistake, In addition, even if you open and view it, you may not remember which area it was.

  The objective of this invention is providing the map management apparatus, method, and program which enable a user to grasp | ascertain the location correctly about partial maps, such as a self-made map.

  According to the present invention, position information of the area is associated with each partial map. One or more partial maps displayed simultaneously on one screen are read from the storage device for each data, and the partial map screen on the background screen is based on the position information of the regional area of the background screen and the position information of the partial map. The position of the part is calculated, and the screen part of the partial map is pasted at the position of the background screen and displayed together with the background screen.

The map management apparatus of the present invention includes the following.
Partial map data storage means for storing the data in a storage device for each partial map;
First position information detecting means for detecting position information of the area of the partial map displayed on the display;
Second position information detecting means for detecting position information of the area of the background screen of the display; and a screen portion occupied by the partial map relating to the data read from the storage device in the background screen, the first and second Map display means for pasting and displaying at a position calculated based on the position information detected by the position information detecting means.

The map management method of the present invention includes the following steps.
A partial map data storage step for storing the data in a storage device for each partial map;
A first position information detecting step for detecting position information of the area of the partial map displayed on the display;
A second position information detecting step for detecting position information of the area on the background screen of the display; and a screen portion occupied by the partial map relating to the data read from the storage device in the background screen; A map display step of pasting and displaying the position at the position calculated based on the position information detected in the position information detection step.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to function as each means of the map management apparatus of the present invention described above.

  According to the present invention, the one or more partial maps that are read out from the storage device and displayed on one screen of the display device are arranged at an accurate position with respect to the background screen. Can be grasped correctly.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a GPS vehicle management system 10. The GPS vehicle management system 10 includes one base station 11 and a plurality of mobile stations 12. In FIG. 1, for simplification of the drawing, there is only one mobile station 12, and description of the others is omitted.

  The base station 11 includes a radio device 16, a PC (personal computer) 17, and a control device 18 as a modem interposed therebetween. While the GPS vehicle management application is being executed on the PC 17, a map screen 20 is displayed on the display 19 of the PC 17, and each vehicle is displayed with a vehicle icon 21 at the current location on the map. The direction of the vehicle icon 21 is matched to the traveling direction of the corresponding vehicle. As the traveling direction of each vehicle, for example, data information obtained from the GPS receiver 30 in the mobile station 12 may be used, or a history of each vehicle's current location (drawn from the previous current location to the current location) It can also be detected by the orientation of the vector. The wireless device 16 transmits transmission data by radio waves from the antenna 22 and extracts reception data from the radio waves captured by the antenna 22.

  The mobile station 12 is equipped with a vehicle 28 and includes a radio device 29, a GPS receiver 30, and a control device 31 as a modem interposed therebetween. The wireless device 29 transmits transmission data by radio waves from the antenna 32, and extracts reception data from the radio waves captured by the antenna 32. The GPS receiver 30 receives GPS radio waves and measures the current location. Information on the current location (position information on the own vehicle) that has been measured is sent to the base station 11 via the wireless device 29.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the map screen 20 displayed on the display 19 of the PC 17 of the base station 11. The map screen 20 includes a background screen 36 and self-made maps A, B, and C arranged in front of the background screen 36. The area information of the latitude and longitude is associated with the area area of the background screen 36 and the self-made maps A, B, and C. The area they occupy on the earth's surface can be uniquely determined by position information.

  The self-made maps A, B, and C are all rectangular regions, and the latitude and longitude corresponding to an arbitrary point on the background screen 36 can be calculated as appropriate. Therefore, if two different latitudes and longitudes can be grasped for each of the self-made maps A, B, and C, the area occupied by the local area of the self-made maps A, B, and C in the region area of the background screen 36 is calculated. The screen portions of B and C are pasted on the screen region corresponding to the region while matching the display scale to the background screen 36, and the screen portions of the self-made maps A, B, and C are accurately displayed on the background screen 36. Can be placed in place. The two points for grasping the latitude and longitude for each of the self-made maps A, B, and C are, for example, the vertices of the upper left corner and the lower right corner of a rectangle.

  The map screen 20 can be scrolled in the east, west, north, and south directions, and the scale can be changed. Files related to the self-made maps A, B, and C are stored in the built-in hard disk device of the PC 17, and these files are registered in the GPS vehicle management application. If a self-made map that overlaps at least partially with respect to the area of the background screen 36 of the map screen 20 exists, the GPS vehicle management application detects whether the overlapping self-made map can be taken, and the file corresponding to the self-made map is stored on the hard disk. The data is read from the device, and the screen portion of the self-made map is pasted and displayed at the corresponding position on the background screen 36.

  A user (typically an operator of the base station 11) can also create a folder for storing the file of the self-made map in the hard disk device of the PC 17, and store all the files of the self-made map in the folder. In addition, the self-made map files can be grouped for each region, for example, a dedicated folder is created in association with each group, and all the self-made map files of the same group can be stored in the folder. When the user selects and opens a folder during the execution of the GPS fleet management application, a background screen 36 of the regional area including the self-made maps of all the files in the folder is displayed on the display 19 and each self-made map is displayed. The background screen 36 is pasted and displayed at the corresponding position.

  The user can grasp the exact location of each self-made map based on the relative position relationship of the self-made map with respect to the background screen 36 on the display 19 or the relative position relationship between a plurality of self-made maps.

  If the user selects only some of the files, not all of the files in the folder, and opens them, the background screen 36 of the minimum region including the self-made map of the opened files. Is displayed on the display 19 and the region of the self-made map is displayed on the corresponding screen portion of the background screen 36 of the minimum region.

  When the user wants to display a predetermined self-made map, the user scrolls the screen so that the map screen 20 including the self-made map is displayed, then moves the cursor onto the self-made map on the screen, click. In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the user clicked the self-made map C. Thereby, the self-made map C is displayed on the whole screen like the 1st screen from the top of FIG. The user changes the selected self-made map in turn using the cursor keys of the keyboard instead of clicking the mouse, selects the desired self-made map, and then presses the line feed key to display the self-made map. You can also move to the screen. In order for the user to easily grasp the self-made map being selected, the edge of the selected self-made map can be emphasized or the color of the screen portion of the self-made map can be changed.

  When the user wants to re-edit a predetermined self-made map, (a) the self-made map to be edited when the area of the self-made map is pasted and displayed on the background screen as shown in the second screen from the top. After selecting, or (b) Select the self-made map you want to edit when the local area of the self-made map is pasted and displayed on the background screen as in the second screen from the top, After the map is displayed on the entire screen, editing is selected from a menu bar (not shown) or a menu displayed by right-clicking a mouse (not shown). Thereby, the self-made map is displayed on the entire screen as a map editing screen and can be edited.

  In the case of FIG. 2, the background screen 36 is a white map, but the background screen 36 may be created from commercially available map data, or the position of the self-created map with the background screen 36 as no background (no writing). Only the relationship may be grasped. In addition, when a user newly creates a self-made map from commercial map data, the user first displays the commercial map on the map screen 20 at an appropriate scale so that the position information can be automatically acquired. After the display, the rectangular area in which a self-made map is to be newly created can be designated by dragging the mouse to create a map of the rectangular area. Thereby, the position information corresponding to the rectangular area designated by the user is automatically taken in and associated with the self-made map.

  If the self-made map is a rectangle, the position information automatically captured for the self-made map can be the latitude and longitude at the points on both ends of one diagonal line. Alternatively, the latitude / longitude of one vertex of the rectangle and the vertical / horizontal latitude / longitude conversion distance of the rectangle may be used. It is preferable that the position information of the self-made map can be input manually.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process for determining the region of the background screen 36 for the self-made maps A, B, and C. The self-made maps A, B, and C are rectangular, and the latitude and longitude of the upper left and lower right vertex points have already been detected. The top, bottom, left, and right of the background screen 36 correspond to the north-south-west east of the map.

  In order for the background screen 36 to be a regional area that includes all the regional areas of the self-made maps A, B, and C, the point at the top left of the background screen 36 is the top left vertex of the self-made maps A, B, and C. Of the points, it must be north and west of the north and west. Further, the lower right apex point of the background screen 36 must be set to the south and east of the lower right apex points of the self-made maps A, B, and C, and to the east.

  The region of the background screen 36 is assumed to be a region in the northern hemisphere and an eastern hemisphere, for example, a region in Japan. Further, the top left vertex of the self-made map A is located north and west of the top left top of the self-made maps B and C, and the latitude and longitude are (Ay, Ax). On the other hand, the point at the lower right vertex of the self-made map B is located south of the point at the lower right vertex of the self-made maps A and C, and the latitude is By. The point at the lower right vertex of the self-made map C is located east of the point at the lower right vertex of the self-made maps A and B, and the longitude is Cx.

  The latitude and longitude of the upper left and lower right vertex points of the background screen 36 are calculated by the following equations. Here, x1 and y1 are distances in terms of longitude and latitude from the upper left vertex point of the self-made map A to the upper left vertex point of the background screen 36, and are constants. Moreover, x2 and y2 are distances in terms of longitude and latitude from the point of the lower right vertex of the self-made map C and the point of the lower right vertex of the self-made map B to the point of the lower right vertex of the background screen 36. , Constant.

Longitude of the top left corner of the background screen 36 = Ax−x1
Latitude of top left vertex of background screen 36 = Ay + y1
Longitude of the lower right vertex of the background screen 36 = Cx + x2
Latitude of the lower right vertex of the background screen 36 = By−y2

  Since the area of the background screen 36 is uniquely determined from the latitude and longitude of the upper left and lower right vertices of the background screen 36 calculated from the above formula, the area does not have to be a white map. It is also possible to call up a corresponding area from map data that is installed in the PC 17 and that is displayed on the screen 17 as a background screen 36, and to paste a self-made map thereon.

  Further, in a state where the self-made map A or the like is pasted on the background screen 36, the vehicle icon 21 or the vehicle map related to the vehicle icon 21 is displayed by displaying the map screen 20 of the screen with additional information added thereto. 28 can be identified at a glance at which point including the area such as the self-made map A, and can be used as a map for vehicle management during normal operation.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the map management device 45. A specific example of the map management device 45 is the above-described GPS vehicle management application executed in the base station 11. The map management device 45 is not limited to application to a vehicle management application, and can be applied to, for example, a geographic information system that adds various types of information on a map. The map management device 45 includes data storage means 46, first position information detection means 47, second position information detection means 48, and map display means 49. The map management device 45 can further include a partial map display means 52, an editing execution means 53, a receiving means 56, and a vehicle display means 57.

  The data storage unit 46 stores the data in the storage device 62 for each partial map 61. The first position information detecting means 47 detects the position information of the area of the partial map 61 displayed on the display unit 63. The second detection means 48 detects the position information of the area on the background screen of the display 63.

  The map display means 49 calculates the position that the partial map 61 relating to the data read from the storage device 62 occupies in the background screen based on the position information detected by the first and second position information detection means 47 and 48. Paste and display.

  The storage device 62 is a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk device. The data stored in the storage device 62 is data used as a basis for generating an image of the partial map 61 on the screen, and includes not only image data of image software but also vector data of graphic software. It should be noted that the partial map includes a map based on data obtained by the user photographing the site with a digital camera.

A specific example of the screen displayed on the display 63 by the map display means 49 is the screen of FIG. The detection of the first and second position information detection means 47 and 48 includes detection after calculation. For example, in the case of FIG. 3 described above, the latitude and longitude of the upper left and lower right vertices as the position information of the background screen 36 are based on the position information Ax, Ay, By, Cx of the self-made maps A, B, C. It is detected after calculating.

  For example, the data storage unit 46 stores the data for each partial map 61 in the storage device 62 as a file for each partial map 61. The position information of the region area for each partial map 61 may be stored in the same file as each partial map 61 or stored in a dedicated file different from the file of each partial map 61. It can also be stored in the device 62 or the like. The data for each partial map 61 can also be stored in each block of the same file and stored in the storage device 62 or the like.

  Thus, when one or more partial maps 61 are displayed on the display 63 on one screen, the partial map 61 is displayed together with the background screen, and the regional area of the partial map 61 is relative to the regional area of the background screen. Since the positional relationship or the relative positional relationship between the plurality of partial maps 61 is clarified and arranged and displayed, the user can clearly grasp the location of the partial map 61 to be called on the display unit 63.

  Typically, the partial map 61 is a user-created map such as the self-made maps A, B, and C described above. Typically, the area area of the background screen is an area area without any writing, a white map area, or a commercial area area.

  Preferably, when displaying the plurality of partial maps 61 simultaneously on one screen, the map display means 49 selects the region area of the background screen as a region area including the region areas of the plurality of partial maps 61. A specific example is the screen of FIG.

  That is, typically, the 1st position information detection means 47 detects the latitude longitude as the position information of the diagonal both ends about each rectangular partial map. The second position information detecting means 48 detects the maximum latitude, the maximum longitude, the minimum latitude and the minimum longitude from the latitude and longitude of the diagonal end points of each partial map detected by the first position information detecting means 47, and is rectangular. A background where the longitude / latitude at one end of the diagonal line of the background screen is greater than the maximum latitude and maximum longitude, and the longitude / latitude at the other end of the diagonal line of the rectangular background screen is less than the minimum latitude and minimum longitude Detected as screen position information. The map display means 49 displays the screen parts and background screens of a plurality of partial maps in which the first and second position information detection means 47 and 48 have detected the latitude and longitude of the opposite end points in the diagonal direction.

  Preferably, the map management device 45 further includes a partial map display means 52. When the user selects the partial map 61 displayed on the display device 63 together with the background screen, the partial map display means 52 shifts to a display screen on which only the partial map is displayed. A specific example of this is a transition from the top to the first screen when the self-made map C is clicked on the second screen from the top in FIG. A specific example of this is a transition from the top to the first screen when the self-made map C is clicked on the second screen from the top in FIG.

  Preferably, the map management device 45 further includes editing execution means 53. The editing execution means 53 shifts to the editing screen of the partial map 61 by a user's predetermined operation on the partial map 61. Specifically, the predetermined operation is an operation of selecting editing from a menu bar (not shown) or a menu displayed by right-clicking a mouse (not shown). These operations are, for example, (a) the upper part of FIG. After selecting the self-made map that you want to edit when the local area of the self-made map is pasted and displayed on the background screen as shown in the second screen, or (b) like the second screen from the top of FIG. This is done after selecting the self-made map to be edited when the area of the self-made map is pasted and displayed on the background screen and displaying the self-made map on the entire screen by a predetermined operation.

  The map management device 45 can include a receiving unit 56 and a vehicle display unit 57. The receiving means 56 receives the current location information from each mobile station equipped in each vehicle. On the screen including the background screen and the partial map 61 superimposed on the background screen, the vehicle display means 57 displays the icon of each vehicle overlaid on the current location of each vehicle based on the current location information.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the map management method 70. The map management method 70 is implemented in the map management device 45. The map management method 70 includes an editing routine (FIG. 5A) and a display routine (FIG. 5B). The editing routine includes S71 to S73. The display routine includes S78 to S81. The order of S79 and S80 may be reversed.

  In S <b> 71, the partial map data is read from the storage device 62 and used as the display 63. In S72, the partial map data is edited on the screen of the display 63. In S <b> 73, the partial map data is stored in the storage device 62 when the editing ends.

  In S <b> 78, the data is stored in the storage device 62 for each partial map 61. In S79, the position information of the area is detected for the partial map 61 displayed on the display 63. In S80, the position information of the area is detected for the background screen of the display 63.

  In S81, the screen portion occupied by the partial map 61 relating to the data read from the storage device 62 in the background screen is pasted and displayed at the position calculated based on the position information detected in S79 and S80.

  The processing of S71 to S73 and S78 corresponds to the function of the data storage means 46 of the map management device 45 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the specific aspect described about the function of the data storage means 46 is applicable also as a specific aspect about the process of S71-S73 and S78. Further, the processes of S79 to S81 correspond to the functions of the first position information detection means 47 to the map display means 49, respectively. Therefore, the specific mode described for the functions of the first position information detection unit 47 to the map display unit 49 can also be applied as a specific mode for the processing of S78 to S81. In the map management method 70, steps for executing processes corresponding to the functions of the editing execution unit 53, the reception unit 56, and the vehicle display unit 57 of the map management device 45 can be added as appropriate. The step corresponding to the editing execution means 53 is added after S81. Steps corresponding to the receiving means 56 and the vehicle display means 57 are also added after S81. In this case, the step corresponding to the receiving means 56 and the step corresponding to the vehicle display means 57 are arranged.

  The program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to function as each means of the map management device 45. Another program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to execute each step of the map management method 70.

  This specification discloses various inventions. The invention is not limited to each device and each method described in the section of the best mode of the invention, but one or a plurality of elements that have independent actions and effects are extracted from each device and each method. Or what changed the some element in the obvious range, and also what changed the combination of the 1 or several element between each apparatus and between each method are included.

It is a schematic block diagram of a GPS vehicle management system. It is explanatory drawing of the map screen displayed on the indicator of PC of a base station. It is explanatory drawing of the process which determines the area | region area | region of the background screen 36 with respect to a self-made map. It is a block diagram of a map management apparatus. It is a flowchart of a map management method. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional 1st user operation when calling the self-made map used for a GPS vehicle management system on a screen. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd conventional user operation when calling the self-made map used for a GPS vehicle management system on a screen.

Explanation of symbols

45: Map management device, 46: Data storage means, 47: First position information detection means, 48: Second detection means, 49: Map display means, 53: Editing execution means, 56: Reception means, 57: Vehicle Display means, 61: partial map, 62: storage device, 63: display, and 70: map management method.

Claims (11)

Partial map data storage means for storing the data in a storage device for each partial map;
First position information detecting means for detecting position information of the area of the partial map displayed on the display;
Second position information detecting means for detecting position information of the area of the background screen of the display; and a screen portion occupied by the partial map relating to the data read from the storage device in the background screen, the first and second Map display means for pasting and displaying at a position calculated based on the position information detected by the position information detecting means,
A map management device comprising:   The map management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial map is a user-created map.   The map management device according to claim 1, wherein the area area of the background screen is an area area where no writing is performed, a white map area, or a commercially available map area area.   The map management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partial map data storage unit stores data for each partial map in the storage device as a file for each partial map.   In the case where a plurality of partial maps are displayed simultaneously on one screen, the map display means selects a region area of the background screen as a region area including the region areas of the plurality of partial maps. The map management apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4. The first position information detection means detects latitude and longitude as position information of the diagonal end points of each rectangular partial map,
The second position information detecting means detects the maximum latitude, the maximum longitude, the minimum latitude and the minimum longitude from the latitude and longitude of the diagonal end points of each partial map detected by the first position information detecting means, The longitude / latitude of the point on one end of the diagonal line of the background screen is greater than the maximum latitude and the maximum longitude, and the longitude / latitude of the point on the other end of the diagonal line of the rectangular background screen is smaller than the minimum latitude and the minimum longitude. Detect something as the position information of the background screen,
The map display means displays a screen part and a background screen of a plurality of partial maps in which the latitude and longitude of both end points in the diagonal direction are detected by the first and second position information detection means. 5. The map management device according to 5. When the user selects a partial map being displayed together with the background screen on the display, a partial map display means for shifting to a display screen in which only the partial map is displayed;
The map management device according to claim 1, comprising: Editing execution means for shifting to the editing screen of the partial map by a predetermined operation of the user with respect to the partial map;
The map management device according to claim 1, comprising: A receiving means for receiving current location information from each mobile station installed in each vehicle; and a screen including the background screen and a partial map superimposed on the background screen, based on the current location information. Vehicle display means for displaying an icon of each vehicle on top of each other,
The map management device according to claim 1, comprising: A partial map data storage step for storing the data in a storage device for each partial map;
A first position information detecting step for detecting position information of the area of the partial map displayed on the display;
A second position information detecting step for detecting position information of the area on the background screen of the display; and a screen portion occupied by the partial map relating to the data read from the storage device in the background screen; A map display step for pasting and displaying on the position calculated based on the position information detected in the position information detection step of
A map management method comprising:   A program that causes a computer to function as each means of the map management device according to claim 1.

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