JP2012037475A - Server device, navigation system and navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information associated with a photographic image with a photographic angle for a user.SOLUTION: A server device 1 includes a spot information database 11 which stores spot information including at least positions of spots on a map such as photographic places, photographic images obtained by photographing scenes at the spots or photographic images of scenes photographed from the spots, and photographic angles from which the respective photographic images are photographed; a control part 13 which performs spot information retrieval processing 132 for retrieving spot information satisfying retrieval conditions associated with a photographic image from the spot information stored in the spot information database 11; and a transmission and reception part 12 which transmits the spot information including a photographic angle from which the photographic image is photographed to an information terminal, which provides information associated with the photographic image for the user, through a communication network 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device, a navigation system using the server device and an information terminal, and a navigation device that is one of information terminals.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a map display device capable of displaying a position of a point within a predetermined range from a moving body on a map image and displaying a photographed image or the like in association with the position of the point (for example, , Cited reference 1).

JP 2009-68866 A

  In the conventional map display device or the like, since information is not provided regarding the shooting angle of the shot image, the user cannot correctly determine where to go when trying to experience the scenery of the shot image. An object of the present invention is to provide information about a captured image including a shooting angle to a user.

The server device according to one embodiment of the present invention can communicate with an information terminal including at least a navigation device, and for each point on a preset map, the position of the point, a captured image related to the point, and the shooting thereof Point information storage means for storing point information including at least an angle; point information search means for searching for information satisfying a preset search condition from the point information stored by the point information storage means; Point information transmitting means for transmitting the point information searched by the point information searching means to the information terminal.
A navigation system according to another aspect of the present invention is a navigation system including a server device and an information terminal including at least the navigation device, and the server device is configured for each point on a map set in advance. Satisfy a preset search condition from point information storage means for storing point information including at least a position, a photographed image related to the point and its photographing angle, and point information stored by the point information storage means Map information storage means for storing map data relating to a map, comprising: spot information search means for searching for information to be searched; and spot information transmission means for transmitting spot information searched by the spot information search means to the information terminal. And a map display means for displaying a map based on the map data and a point information transmission means. It includes a point information receiving means for receiving the location information, the captured image and the photographing angle is included in the location information received by the location information receiving means, and the photographed image display means for displaying on the map the map display means is displayed.
A navigation apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is a server apparatus that stores, for each point on a map set in advance, point information including at least the position of the point, a shot image related to the point, and a shooting angle thereof A navigation device capable of communicating with a map, a map data storage means for storing map data relating to the map, a map display means for displaying a map based on the map data, and point information for receiving point information transmitted from the server device Receiving means, and photographed image display means for displaying a photographed image and a photographing angle included in the spot information received by the spot information receiving means on a map displayed by the map display means.

  Since the shooting angle information is included in the shot image, the user can easily experience the scenery of the shot image.

It is an example of 1 structure of the navigation system containing the server apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the display screen which displayed the picked-up image based on the point information which the server apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention provided. It is an example of the functional block diagram of the server apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is one structural example of the navigation apparatus which is one structural object of the navigation system containing the server apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example (the 1) of the point information containing the imaging | photography angle in a navigation system. It is a figure for demonstrating the utilization example (the 2) of the point information containing the imaging | photography angle in a navigation system. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example (the 3) of the point information containing the imaging | photography angle in a navigation system. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example (the 3) of the point information containing the imaging | photography angle in a navigation system. It is a figure for demonstrating the utilization example (the 4) of the point information containing the imaging | photography angle in a navigation system.

  An example of the configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A navigation system 100 in FIG. 1 includes a server device 1 and information terminals such as a navigation device 2, a personal computer 3, and a mobile terminal 4 connected to the server device 1 via a communication network 5.

  Each of the information terminals is used for providing various information to the user in cooperation with the server device 1. Below, the navigation system 100 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is demonstrated by making the case where the navigation apparatus 2 mounted in the vehicle is used as a representative example.

  The server device 1 is connected to the communication line network 5 in a wired or wireless manner, and can communicate with the navigation device 2 via the communication line network 5. The communication line network 5 is constructed by, for example, a mobile phone line network or the Internet.

  The server device 1 includes a point information database 11 that stores point information including a point name and position information for each point on a preset map. The server apparatus 1 can transmit desired spot information from the spot information stored in the spot information database 11 to the navigation apparatus 2 in response to a spot information transmission request made by the navigation apparatus 2. Specifically, when a point information transmission request is made from the navigation device 2 to the server device 1, a search condition for the point information is transmitted via the communication line network 5. Based on the search condition transmitted from the navigation device 2, the server device 1 searches the point information stored in the point information database 11 for those satisfying the search condition, and uses the searched point information as the navigation device. 2 to send. The navigation apparatus 2 can receive the spot information transmitted from the server apparatus 1 and provide information regarding the received spot information to the user.

  Note that the point information stored in the point information database 11 is registered in advance as POI information (point of interest information on tourist spots and various facilities), and the user can connect the navigation device 2 via the communication line network 5. Registered based on the information transmitted to the server device 1. Hereinafter, the information transmitted from the navigation device 2 for registering the spot information in the spot information database 11 is referred to as registration information.

  The POI information used in the conventional navigation device includes, for example, location information expressed by location name, latitude and longitude, voice recognition data such as location name reading, icon, registration date, telephone number, Text information such as free time and business hours of parking information can be included. In the present embodiment, in addition to such POI information, a photographed image such as a photograph and information on the photographing angle and photographing date / time can be stored in the point information database 11 as point information together with position information. Note that the position information stored together with the photographed image as point information may represent the position of the photographing location where the photographed image was photographed, or may represent the position of the landscape or subject that is photographed in the photographed image. . Alternatively, both of these positions may be represented. That is, the captured image stored together with the location information of the predetermined location as the location information is a captured image relating to the location represented by the location information, and is taken at the location or taken from another location toward the location. It is a thing. Note that it is preferable that the position information of the point information can be selected when the user registers.

  An example of an information display method based on point information in the navigation device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a situation where a map 200 around the X bridge is displayed on the display monitor 22 of FIG. In FIG. 2, an icon 204 is displayed at the position of the shooting location Y on the map 200, and a shot image 201 and a shooting date 202 when the shot image 201 was shot are displayed in a balloon drawn from the icon 204. it's shown. Further, from the icon 204, a shooting angle 203 obtained by shooting the shot image 201 is displayed by an arrow.

  When the map screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, the navigation device 2 transmits information for specifying a map range including the map 200, for example, information such as the map center position and map scale to the server device 1 as a search condition. By doing so, a point information transmission request is made. Then, the server device 1 searches for point information based on the search condition transmitted from the navigation device 2. As a result, the spot information of the shooting location Y is retrieved and transmitted to the navigation device 2. This point information includes information indicating the latitude and longitude indicating the position of the shooting location Y, the shot image 201 obtained by shooting the X bridge from the shooting location Y, the shooting date 202 and the shooting angle 203, respectively. Based on such point information received from the server device 1, the navigation device 2 displays the icon 204 at the position of the shooting location Y on the map 200 and also displays the shot image 201, the shooting date 202 and the shooting angle 203. . Thereby, the map screen as shown in FIG. 2 can be displayed on the display monitor 22.

  It should be noted that the position information included in the point information transmitted from the server device 1 to the navigation device 2 represents the position of the shooting location Y as described above, and the position of the landscape or subject captured in the shot image 201, that is, The display method of the map screen may be changed depending on the case of representing the latitude and longitude of the X bridge. For example, when the position information in the spot information indicates the position of the shooting location Y, the shooting angle 203 is displayed as shown in FIG. 2, while when the position information indicates the scenery or the position of the subject in the shot image 201, the shooting angle is displayed. 203 is not displayed. Further, the display form of the icon 204 may be changed according to the difference in position information. In this way, the user can easily grasp whether the icon 204 represents the shooting location Y of the captured image 201 or the position of the X bridge captured in the captured image 201. . Further, according to the position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 2 is mounted, for example, the display method may be changed only when the vehicle approaches within a predetermined range from the position indicated by the spot information.

  Next, functions of the server device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a system block diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of the server device 1. In FIG. 3, the server device 1 exemplifies a transmission / reception unit 12, a control unit 13, and a storage unit 14 as representing functions of the server device 1.

  The transmission / reception unit 12 in FIG. 3 transmits / receives information to / from the communication network 5 based on the control of the control unit 13. For example, registration information and search conditions for point information transmitted from the navigation device 2 are received, or point information and the like are transmitted to the navigation device 2.

  The control unit 13 in FIG. 3 executes various processes for operating the server device 1. For example, the spot information registration process 131 for registering spot information in the spot information database 11 based on the registration information, the spot information search process 132 for searching spot information that matches the search conditions from the spot information database 11, and the spot information database 11 A route search process 133 for searching for a recommended route by setting a registered point or the like as a departure point, a destination, or a transit point is executed. In addition, processing such as authentication processing of a user who has connected to the server device 1 can be executed as necessary.

  The point information search process 132 acquires the search condition transmitted by the navigation device 2 or the search condition set by another process of the server device 1 and searches the point information database 11 based on the acquired search condition. For example, the current position is received from the navigation device 2 as a search condition, the point information around the current position is searched, or the point information of a point within a predetermined distance from the recommended route searched by the control unit 13 is obtained. Or search. The server device 1 transmits the searched spot information to the navigation device 2 via the transmission / reception unit 12.

  The route search processing 133 receives information such as search conditions, departure point, destination, and waypoint from the navigation device 2, and searches for a recommended route to the destination by the Dijkstra method based on the received information. .

  The storage unit 14 in FIG. 3 stores various data such as the point information database 11. In addition to the point information database 11, an access log of the server device 1, data for authenticating a user connected to the server device 1, map data used for route search processing, and the like are stored.

  Next, the navigation device 2 will be described using a configuration example shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the thing for vehicles is shown as an example of the navigation apparatus 2. 4 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a display monitor 22, a speaker 23, a GPS receiving unit 24, a gyro sensor 25, and an input device 26. Hereinafter, a moving body called a vehicle including the navigation device 2 is referred to as an on-board vehicle. A communication terminal 6 is connected to the navigation device 2 of FIG. 4 and performs wireless connection with the communication line network 5 as necessary. When the communication terminal 6 and the communication line network 5 are wirelessly connected, a radio base station (not shown) included in the communication line network 5 is used. The wireless base stations can wirelessly communicate with the communication terminals 6 in a predetermined communication area around the wireless base stations, and are scattered throughout the country. The communication terminal 6 may be a mobile phone, for example.

  The control unit 20 in FIG. 4 is a part that executes various processes for operating the navigation device 2, and includes a microprocessor, various peripheral circuits, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. Examples of processing executed by the control unit 20 include route search processing, map matching processing, route guidance processing, and the like. Many methods are known for these processes.

  The route search process executed by the control unit 20 searches for a recommended route from the current position of the mounted vehicle to the destination by the Dijkstra method based on a search condition set by the user. The destination may be input by the user of the navigation device 2 via the input device 26. The current position of the mounted vehicle can be specified by the control unit 20 using the GPS receiving unit 24 to calculate. The route search is executed based on the map data stored in the storage unit 21. When searching for a recommended route, not only the destination but also a waypoint may be selected. The navigation device 2 does not search for a recommended route, but transmits information such as a search condition, a departure place, a destination, and a waypoint to the server device 1, and the control unit 13 of the server device 1 performs route search processing 133. It may be executed.

  The route guidance process executed by the control unit 20 is to guide the driver using the display monitor 22 or the speaker 23 so that the driver can drive the mounted vehicle along the recommended route searched by the route search process. is there. The control unit 20 displays a map with a mark indicating the position of the mounted vehicle on the display monitor 22, and outputs voice guidance from the speaker 23.

  The storage unit 21 in FIG. 4 is a collection of storage media including a hard disk and stores various types of data including map data representing road maps, image data such as icons, and audio data. Data stored in the storage unit 21 is read from the storage unit 21 by the control unit 20 as necessary, and is used for various processes and controls executed by the control unit 20. In addition, the control unit 20 can store new data in the storage unit 21 and can update already stored data.

  The map data stored in the storage unit 21 includes information related to a node representing a place on the map, and information related to a link representing a road connecting the place represented by the node and the place. The information about the node includes position information, information about the location name, and the like. The information regarding the link includes information such as the length of the road represented by the link, information for determining the time taken to pass through the link, and information such as the road type and the direction in which the vehicle is permitted to pass. Based on these pieces of information, route search processing, map matching processing, route guidance processing, and the like are executed.

  The display monitor 22 in FIG. 4 is a device for displaying various images and videos, and a liquid crystal display or the like is used. By displaying the map and the current position of the mounted vehicle on the display monitor 22 based on the control of the control unit 20, the navigation device 2 can perform guidance along the recommended route. Moreover, the control part 20 can provide the user with information of the captured image including the imaging angle based on the spot information acquired from the server device 1 as shown in FIG.

  The speaker 23 in FIG. 4 outputs various audio information related to the traveling of the mounted vehicle under the control of the control unit 20. For example, voice guidance for guiding the mounted vehicle to the destination, a warning sound, or the like is output according to the route searched by the control unit 20.

  4 receives the GPS signal transmitted from the GPS satellite and outputs it to the control unit 20. The GPS signal includes the position and transmission time of the GPS satellite that transmitted the GPS signal as information for specifying the current position and the current time of the mounted vehicle. Therefore, the control unit 20 can calculate the current position and the current time of the on-board vehicle based on such information using GPS signals from a predetermined number or more of GPS satellites. The control unit 20 calculates the time change of the current position of the mounted vehicle calculated based on the GPS signal, and based on the time change of the current position of the mounted vehicle, the direction in which the mounted vehicle is traveling and the distance traveled Can be specified.

  The control unit 20 of the navigation device 2 is on which road the mounted vehicle is present based on the map data stored in the storage unit 21 or the locus of change of the current position of the mounted vehicle calculated as described above. To identify. Such a process is called a map matching process.

  The gyro sensor 25 in FIG. 4 is a sensor for detecting an angular velocity according to a change in the direction of the mounted vehicle. Based on the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 25, the direction of the mounted vehicle is obtained, and the direction in which the mounted vehicle is traveling can be specified.

  The GPS receiving unit 24 may not be able to receive a GPS signal when the mounted vehicle is traveling in a tunnel or in a service area under an overpass. The control unit 20 is based on the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 25, the traveling speed of the mounted vehicle transmitted from the mounted vehicle via a harness or wireless communication, and the map data stored in the storage unit 21. It is also possible to specify information regarding the current position and the direction of travel. The map matching process can also be executed based on the locus of the current position of the mounted vehicle specified in this way. You may use together the map matching process based on a GPS signal, and the map matching process based on an angular velocity, a running speed, etc.

  The input device 26 in FIG. 4 is a device for detecting various operations input from the user in order to operate the navigation device 2, and includes various input switches. The user operates the input device 26 to input, for example, a facility or a place name desired to be set as the destination, select a destination from registered locations registered in advance, or display on the display monitor 22. You can scroll the map in any direction. The input device 26 can be realized by an operation panel, a remote controller, or the like. Alternatively, the input device 26 may be a touch panel integrated with the display monitor 22.

  As described above, when the server device 1 stores the spot information including the shot image and the shooting angle and provides the spot information to the navigation device 2, the shot image and the shot corresponding to the specific position on the map are provided. A map screen as illustrated in FIG. 2 showing the angle can be displayed on the navigation device 2. Furthermore, by using such point information stored in the server device 1, various processes that are not conventionally performed in the navigation system 100 can be executed. Examples thereof will be described below as first to fourth application examples.

[First application example]
The first application example relates to route search processing. In the navigation system 100 of the first application example, the user displays the captured image on the map screen as described in FIG. 2 displayed on the display monitor 22 based on the spot information acquired by the navigation device 2 from the server device 1. Specify the shot image of the scenery you want to experience. The navigation device 2 selects a captured image designated by the user. The server device 1 or the navigation device 2 acquires spot information including the picked-up image selected in this way, and recommends a recommended route so as to pass the shooting location of the shot image in the direction based on the shooting angle based on the acquired spot information. Explore. Thereby, the user can actually experience the scenery of the captured image.

  The search for the recommended route as described above passing through the shooting location of the selected shot image in the direction based on the shooting angle of the shot image is performed by the route search processing 133 executed by the control unit 13 of the server device 1. Alternatively, it may be executed by the navigation device 2.

  When the server device 1 searches for a recommended route, the navigation device 2 that has received the designation of the photographed image from the user selects the designated photographed image, and uses information for specifying point information corresponding to the photographed image. The information is transmitted to the server device 1 together with information indicating a recommended route search condition, a departure place, a destination and the like. The server device 1 receives these pieces of information transmitted from the navigation device 2 by the transmission / reception unit 12 and identifies the point information corresponding to the selected captured image. Then, the route search processing 133 executed by the control unit 13 searches for the recommended route as described above based on the specified spot information.

  On the other hand, when the navigation device 2 searches for a recommended route, the navigation device 2 specifies the spot information related to the captured image selected by the user from the spot information already received from the server apparatus 1 and based on the spot information. To search for the recommended route as described above.

  For example, a recommended route through the shooting location of the selected shot image in the direction based on the shooting angle of the shot image is searched as follows. When the location information corresponding to the captured image selected by the user as described above is specified in the server device 1 or the navigation device 2, the shooting location of the captured image is based on the position information and the shooting angle information included in the location information. And the shooting angle. Here, although the position information included in the point information is considered as representing the position of the shooting location, it may represent the scenery or the position of the subject in the captured image. When the shooting location and the shooting angle are thus determined, the road that is closest to the shooting location is determined to be a road to be traveled, and a recommended route that passes the road in a direction closer to the direction indicated by the shooting angle is searched. That is, if the road closest to the shooting location is a road that can be passed in both directions, and two road directions facing each other are set for the road, the road direction is selected according to the direction indicated by the shooting angle. The recommended route is searched so as to pass along the road according to the direction of traffic. For example, the route search may be performed by setting two nodes at the end of the link indicating the road closest to the shooting location as a waypoint. At this time, the order of passing through the two nodes may be set according to the direction of traffic closer to the shooting angle.

  If the shooting angle is close to the shooting location on the road where the vertical line is separated, or if the difference between the direction of traffic on the road and the shooting angle is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, A waypoint may be set so that a certain road or lane can be passed. For example, on a road with a median that extends from north to south, if the shooting angle is facing west, pass the road on the west side of the median, and if the shooting angle is facing east, the median You should pass along the road on the east side. Thereby, the possibility that the user cannot experience the scenery due to an obstacle such as a median strip or an oncoming vehicle can be reduced.

  In addition, when the road closest to the shooting location can pass only in one direction, the recommended route may be searched so that the road can pass in the direction that can pass through the road regardless of the shooting angle. Furthermore, the road through which the recommended route passes may be determined based on the distance from the shooting location and the angle difference in the traffic direction with respect to the shooting angle. For example, it is possible to search for a recommended route so as to pass through a road having the smallest difference in the direction of travel with respect to the shooting angle among a plurality of roads within a predetermined distance from the shooting location.

  An example of searching for a recommended route according to the first application example is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, a recommended route 501, a photographed image 502, a photographing location 503, a photographing angle 504, and the like are displayed on the display monitor 22 of the navigation device 2 along with the map 500. In the situation of FIG. 5, the photographed image 502 is selected by the user as something he wants to experience. The recommended route 501 passes through a road adjacent to the shooting location 503 of the shot image 502 in the direction of travel closer to the shooting angle 504.

  In the first application example, the method for selecting the photographed image 502 of the scenery that the user wants to experience is to select the photographed image 502, the photographing location 503, or the photographing angle 504, open the menu, and set as a waypoint Various methods are assumed.

[Second application example]
The second application example relates to a method for displaying a recommended route searched by route search processing. In the second application example, when the recommended route searched in advance by the route search process is displayed on the navigation device 2, the shooting angle and the progression of the recommended route among the captured images registered as point information around the recommended route. Those whose difference from the direction is less than a predetermined value are displayed. Thereby, the user can confirm the recommended route that is more realistic. The recommended route used here is the recommended route searched in the first application example described above, that is, the recommended route that passes the shooting location of the selected captured image in the direction based on the shooting angle of the captured image. There may be. Alternatively, it may be a recommended route searched by a normal method based on a preset starting point or destination.

  An example in which the captured image is displayed on the recommended route confirmation screen is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the map 600 on the display monitor 22, the recommended route 603 from the departure point 601 to the destination 602, and point information 604 and points where the difference between the traveling direction of the recommended route 603 and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. A captured image of information 605 is displayed.

  The display method of the recommended route is not limited to displaying the entire recommended route on the display monitor 22 as shown in FIG. For example, the captured image and the captured angle may be appropriately displayed while performing a simulation of changing the display range of the map so that the recommended route is sequentially traced from the starting point to the destination. In addition, without displaying a map, among the captured images of point information registered around the recommended route, images whose difference between the shooting angle and the direction of travel of the recommended route is less than a predetermined value are displayed in a slide show format. The user may be confirmed. When displaying the captured images in the slide show format, the order of displaying the captured images may be, for example, the passing order in the recommended route.

  When the recommended route is searched for by the route search processing 133, the control unit 13 of the server device 1 uses the point information search processing 132 to capture the shooting information included in the point information of the points within the predetermined distance range from the recommended route. Only the difference between the angle and the traveling direction of the recommended route is less than a predetermined value is searched from the point information database 11. Then, the server device 1 transmits the recommended route (for example, the recommended route 603) and the searched spot information (for example, the spot information 604) to the navigation device 2 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The navigation device 2 receives the recommended route and point information, and displays a photographed image including a photographing angle together with the recommended route on the screen as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

  When the navigation device 2 searches for the recommended route, the navigation device 2 transmits information related to the recommended route to the server device 1. Subsequent processing is the same as when the route search processing is performed by the server device 1. That is, the control unit 13 of the server device 1 uses the point information search process 132 to set the difference between the shooting angle included in the point information and the traveling direction of the recommended route within the predetermined distance range from the recommended route. Only those that are less than the number are searched from the point information database 11, and the searched point information is transmitted to the navigation device 2 via the transmission / reception unit 12.

[Third application example]
The third application example relates to map display by the navigation device 2. In the third application example, on the screen of the navigation device 2 that is performing map display, only a photographed image at a photographing angle that can be viewed by the user from the current position of the mounted vehicle is displayed.

  In the third application example, the navigation device 2 acquires the current position of the mounted vehicle and transmits it to the server device 1. The server device 1 to which the current position of the mounted vehicle is transmitted executes the point information search process 132 by the control unit 13, and the position of the point information stored in the point information database 11 is determined from the current position of the mounted vehicle. The point information database 11 is searched for point information that is within a predetermined range and in which the direction from the current position of the mounted vehicle toward the position and the shooting angle of the shot image substantially match. Note that the position information included in the point information searched here may indicate the position of the shooting location as described above, or may indicate the position of the landscape or subject that is captured in the shot image. . Then, the server device 1 transmits the searched spot information to the navigation device 2 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The navigation device 2 that has received the spot information displays a captured image of the received spot information on the map displayed on the display monitor 22. This makes it possible to acquire landscape information that can be actually experienced by the user. The navigation device 2 preferably transmits information for specifying the map range displayed on the screen, for example, information such as the scale of the map and whether it is north-up or heading-up. In this case, the point information search process 132 can limit the point information to be searched to points within the map range displayed on the screen of the navigation device 2.

  In the navigation device 2, the current position of the mounted vehicle can be calculated based on the GPS signal or the like as described above. The navigation device 2 transmits the calculated current position of the mounted vehicle to the server device 1 via the communication terminal 6 or the like. For each piece of point information stored in the point information database 11, the server device 1 calculates, in the control unit 13, a direction from the received current position of the mounted vehicle toward the position. And the point information in which the direction from the present position of the mounted vehicle approximately matches the shooting angle of the captured image is searched.

  An example of the map display by the navigation device 2 in the third application example is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 displays the current position 701 of the mounted vehicle together with the map 700 on the display monitor 22 of the navigation device 2. Since the navigation device 2 is mounted on the mounted vehicle, the current position of the navigation device 2 matches the current position 701 of the mounted vehicle. In FIG. 7, the spot information accompanied by the photographed image 703 of the photograph A is further displayed at the photographing place 702, and the spot information accompanied by the photographed image 707 of the photograph B is displayed at the photographing place 706. Photo A was taken at a shooting angle 704 at a shooting location 702, and Photo B was taken at a shooting angle 708 at a shooting location 706. Since the direction 705 from the current position 701 of the navigation device 2 (equipped vehicle) to the shooting location 702 and the shooting angle 704 substantially coincide with each other, the spot information of the shooting location 702 is searched by the point information search processing 132. A captured image 703 based on the point information is displayed on the display monitor 22. Similarly, since the direction 709 from the current position 701 to the shooting location 706 and the shooting angle 708 substantially match, the spot information of the shooting location 706 is searched by the spot information search processing 132, and a shot image based on the spot information is obtained. 707 is displayed on the display monitor 22. In FIG. 7, the directions 705 and 709 are indicated by arrows, but these arrows may not be actually displayed.

  Here, another display example by the portable terminal 4 will be described. In the display examples described below, the mobile terminal 4 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PND (Portable Navigation Device), etc., and uses a function of detecting its current position based on a GPS signal, an electronic compass, and the like. It has a function of detecting the direction (direction) in which it is facing. When such a portable terminal 4 is facing the direction 801 at the current position 802 as shown in FIG. 8A, the portable terminal 4 detects such information and transmits it to the server device 1. The server device 1 receives the information of the current position 802 and the direction 801 transmitted from the mobile terminal 4, and based on the information, the server device 1 has a sector shape that spreads left and right within a predetermined angle range from the direction 801 with the current position 802 as the center. A search area 803 is set. Then, the spot information of the subject 807 taken at the spot 804 in the set search area 803 and the shooting angle 805 substantially coincides with the direction 806 from the current position 802 to the spot 804 is stored in the spot information database 11. Search from. The point information searched in this way is transmitted from the server device 1 to the mobile terminal 4, whereby a captured image of the subject 807 can be displayed on the screen 808 of the mobile terminal 4 as shown in FIG.

[Fourth application example]
The fourth application example relates to route guidance in the navigation device 2. In the fourth application example, when the mounted vehicle approaches an intersection, the navigation device 2 displays a captured image of the intersection on the screen. At this time, the photographed image may be displayed together with the photographing angle. Thereby, it is possible to perform intersection guidance that is easy for the user to understand.

  The fourth application example is executed as follows, for example. When the mounted vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the intersection, the navigation device 2 acquires the intersection and the approach direction to the intersection based on the map data stored in the storage unit 21. Is transmitted to the server device 1. The server device 1 receives these pieces of information transmitted by the navigation device 2 and executes a point information search process 132 based on the received information. That is, based on the received information, the position of the intersection where the onboard vehicle is approaching and the approach direction are determined. Then, the point information database 11 is searched for point information that has position information corresponding to the position of the intersection and whose difference between the approach direction to the intersection and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. The server device 1 transmits the searched spot information to the navigation device 2 via the transmission / reception unit 12. The navigation device 2 receives the transmitted spot information and displays a captured image of the intersection.

  The direction in which the moving body enters the intersection may be stored in map data, for example. It may be included in the data of the node corresponding to the intersection or stored in the data of the link corresponding to the road heading to the intersection.

  In the fourth application example, it may be added that the position represented by the position information in the point information is on the near side of the intersection. That is, when the current position of the navigation device 2 approaches the intersection, the position information indicating the position of the approaching direction from the intersection and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value, and the position closer to the approaching direction than the intersection. Is searched in the server device 1 and transmitted to the navigation device 2. The navigation device 2 that has received this point information displays a captured image of the intersection on the display monitor 22.

  FIG. 9 shows a display example of the display of the captured image at the intersection in the fourth application example. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a situation where the vehicle 901 is approaching the intersection 902 when the map 900 is displayed on the display monitor 22 of the navigation device 2. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the route for guiding the vehicle 901 is different. In FIG. 9 (a), the vehicle 901 is guided along the route 903, and in FIG. 9 (b), the vehicle 901 is routed. Guiding according to 904. In FIG. 9A, point information 905 in which the direction in which the vehicle 901 enters the intersection 902 along the route 903 and the photographing angle of the photographed image at the intersection substantially coincide with the photographed image of the photograph C is displayed. In FIG. 9B, point information 906 where the direction in which the vehicle 901 enters the intersection 902 along the route 904 and the photographing angle of the intersection substantially coincide with the photographed image of the photograph D is displayed. In addition, although the photograph C and the photograph D are what image | photographed the intersection 902, the imaging angle differs. Therefore, in FIG. 9A, the spot information 905 is displayed and the spot information 906 is not displayed. On the other hand, in FIG. 9B, the spot information 906 is displayed and the spot information 905 is not displayed.

  According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects are obtained.

  The server device of the present embodiment is capable of communicating with an information terminal including at least a navigation device via the transmission / reception unit 12, and includes position information of a photographed landscape point or a point where a landscape is photographed (photographing place), The spot information database 11 stores spot information including at least the shot image of the scenery of the position information or the scenery shot with the position information and the shooting angle at which each shot image was shot. The control unit 13 of the server device 1 can execute a point information search process 132 for searching for information satisfying a preset search condition from the point information stored in the point information database 11. And the server apparatus 1 can transmit the spot information searched by the spot information search process 132 to an information terminal via the transmission / reception part 12. FIG. By doing so, the server device 1 according to the present embodiment can provide the user's information terminal with information about the shooting angle together with the shot image, so that the user can easily experience the scenery of the shot image. Become.

  The embodiment described above can be implemented with the following modifications.

  In the embodiment and each application example described above, when the spot information search process 132 searches for spot information, a search condition related to the shooting date and time may be further added. For example, based on the shooting date and time, it is determined whether the photo was taken in the daytime or at night, and if the date and time for searching the location information is night, only the location information for the shooting date and time is searched and the location information is If the search date / time is daytime, only the day / time point information of the shooting date / time may be searched.

  In FIG. 4, the navigation device 2 is for a vehicle, but may be for other moving objects or pedestrians. Although the navigation apparatus 2 has been described above as a representative example of the information terminal, the same processing and control can be performed on other information terminals such as the personal computer 3 and the mobile terminal 4.

  Each embodiment and various modifications described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the features of the invention are not impaired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Navigation system 1 Server apparatus 2 Navigation apparatus 3 Personal computer 4 Portable terminal 5 Communication line network 6 Communication terminal 11 Point information database 12 Transmission / reception part 13 Control part 14 Storage part 20 Control part 21 Storage part 22 Display monitor 23 Speaker 24 GPS receiving part 25 Gyro sensor 26 Input device 131 Point information registration process 132 Point information search process 133 Route search process 200 Map 201 Photographed image 202 Photographed date 203 Photographed angle 204 Icon

Claims (25)

A server device capable of communicating with an information terminal including at least a navigation device,
For each point on the map set in advance, point information storage means for storing point information including at least the position of the point, a captured image related to the point, and a shooting angle thereof;
Point information search means for searching for information satisfying a preset search condition from the point information stored by the point information storage means;
A server apparatus comprising: point information transmitting means for transmitting the point information searched by the point information searching means to the information terminal. The server device according to claim 1,
The server apparatus, wherein the spot information stored in the spot information storage unit further includes a shooting date and time when the shot image is shot. In the server apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Registration information receiving means for receiving registration information for storing the spot information in the spot information storage means from the information terminal;
The point information storage unit stores the point information based on the registration information received by the registration information reception unit. In the server apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3,
Specific information receiving means for receiving, from the information terminal, information for specifying point information corresponding to a captured image selected from the screen of the information terminal;
Point information specifying means for specifying the spot information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selecting means from the spot information searched by the spot information searching means based on the information received by the specifying information receiving means. When,
Based on the point information specified by the point information specifying means, a road to be passed and its direction of travel are determined, and a recommended route from the preset starting point through the road in the direction of travel to the destination And a route search means for searching for a server. The server device according to claim 4,
The route search means determines, based on the spot information specified by the spot information specifying means, a road closest to the position of the spot represented by the spot information as the road to be passed, and the roads face each other. A server device characterized in that a traffic direction closer to a shooting angle represented by the point information is determined as a traffic direction of the road to be traveled, of the two traffic directions. In the server apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 5,
The point information search means searches for point information that is located within a predetermined distance from a recommended route searched in advance, and that the difference between the traveling direction of the recommended route and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. Server device. In the server apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 6,
A current position receiving means for receiving the current position of the information terminal transmitted from the information terminal;
The point information searching unit searches for point information of a point where the direction from the current position received by the current position receiving unit to the point substantially matches the shooting angle,
The point information transmitting unit transmits the point information of the point searched by the point information searching unit to the information terminal that has transmitted the current position. In the server apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 7,
The point information search means is located at a position corresponding to the intersection when the information terminal approaches a range of a predetermined distance from the intersection, and the difference between the direction of entering the intersection and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. Search for point information,
The point information transmitting unit transmits the point information searched by the point information searching unit to the information terminal approaching a predetermined distance from the intersection. A navigation system comprising a server device and an information terminal including at least a navigation device,
The server device
For each point on the map set in advance, point information storage means for storing point information including at least the position of the point, a captured image related to the point, and a shooting angle thereof;
Point information search means for searching for information satisfying a preset search condition from the point information stored by the point information storage means;
Spot information transmitting means for transmitting the spot information searched by the spot information searching means to the information terminal,
The information terminal
Map data storage means for storing map data relating to the map;
Map display means for displaying the map based on the map data;
Spot information receiving means for receiving spot information transmitted by the spot information transmitting means;
A photographed image display means for displaying a photographed image and a photographing angle included in the spot information received by the spot information receiving means on a map displayed by the map display means;
A navigation system comprising: The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein
The spot information stored in the spot information storage means further includes a shooting date and time when the shot image is shot,
The photographed image display means displays a photographed image, a photographing angle and a photographing date / time included in the spot information received by the spot information receiving means on a map displayed by the map display means. . The navigation system according to claim 9 or 10,
The information terminal further comprises registration information transmitting means for transmitting registration information for storing the spot information in the spot information storage means to the server device,
The server device
A registration information receiving means for receiving the registration information transmitted by the registration information transmitting means;
The navigation system characterized in that the spot information storage means stores the spot information based on the registration information received by the registration information receiving means. The navigation system according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The information terminal
Image selection means for selecting any one of the photographed images displayed by the photographed image display means;
Specific information transmitting means for transmitting information for specifying point information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selecting means to the server device;
The server device
Specific information receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the specific information transmitting means;
Point information specifying means for specifying the spot information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selecting means from the spot information searched by the spot information searching means based on the information received by the specifying information receiving means. When,
Based on the point information specified by the point information specifying means, a road to be passed and its direction of travel are determined, and a recommended route from the preset starting point through the road in the direction of travel to the destination A navigation system, further comprising: route search means for searching for The navigation system according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The information terminal
Image selection means for selecting any one of the photographed images displayed by the photographed image display means;
Spot information specifying means for specifying spot information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selecting means from the spot information received by the spot information receiving means;
Based on the point information specified by the point information specifying means, a road to be passed and its direction of travel are determined, and a recommended route from the preset starting point through the road in the direction of travel to the destination A navigation system, further comprising: route search means for searching for The navigation system according to claim 12 or 13,
The route search means determines, based on the spot information specified by the spot information specifying means, a road closest to the position of the spot represented by the spot information as the road to be passed, and the roads face each other. A navigation system characterized in that a traffic direction closer to a shooting angle represented by the point information is determined as a traffic direction of the road to be traveled. The navigation system according to any one of claims 9 to 14,
The point information search means searches for point information that is located within a predetermined distance from a recommended route searched in advance, and that the difference between the traveling direction of the recommended route and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. And navigation system. The navigation system according to any one of claims 9 to 15,
The information terminal
Current position acquisition means for acquiring a current position of the information terminal;
Current position transmitting means for transmitting the current position acquired by the current position acquiring means to the server device;
Further comprising
The server device
A current position receiving means for receiving the current position transmitted by the current position transmitting means;
The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the point information search unit searches for point information of a point where a direction from the current position received by the current position receiving unit to the point substantially matches a shooting angle. The navigation system according to any one of claims 9 to 16,
The point information search means is located at a position corresponding to the intersection when the information terminal approaches a range of a predetermined distance from the intersection, and the difference between the direction of entering the intersection and the shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. A navigation system characterized by searching point information. A navigation device capable of communicating with a server device that stores location information including at least a location of the location, a captured image related to the location, and a captured angle for each location on a map set in advance,
Map data storage means for storing map data relating to the map;
Map display means for displaying the map based on the map data;
Point information receiving means for receiving the point information transmitted from the server device;
A photographed image display means for displaying a photographed image and a photographing angle included in the spot information received by the spot information receiving means on a map displayed by the map display means;
A navigation device comprising: The navigation device according to claim 18,
The point information further includes a shooting date and time when the shot image was shot,
The photographed image display means displays the photographed image, photographing angle, and photographing date / time included in the spot information received by the spot information receiving means on the map displayed by the map display means. . The navigation device according to claim 18 or 19,
The navigation apparatus further comprising registration information transmitting means for transmitting registration information for causing the server apparatus to store the spot information to the server apparatus. The navigation device according to any one of claims 18 to 20,
Image selection means for selecting any one of the photographed images displayed by the photographed image display means;
A navigation apparatus, further comprising: specification information transmission means for transmitting information for specifying point information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selection means to the server device. The navigation device according to any one of claims 18 to 20,
Image selection means for selecting any one of the photographed images displayed by the photographed image display means;
Spot information specifying means for specifying spot information corresponding to the photographed image selected by the image selecting means from the spot information received by the spot information receiving means;
Based on the point information specified by the point information specifying means, a road to be passed and its direction of travel are determined, and a recommended route from the preset starting point through the road in the direction of travel to the destination A navigation device, further comprising: route search means for searching for a route. The navigation device according to claim 21 or 22,
The route search means determines, based on the spot information specified by the spot information specifying means, a road closest to the position of the spot represented by the spot information as the road to be passed, and the roads face each other. A navigation apparatus characterized in that, of two traffic directions, a traffic direction closer to a shooting angle represented by the point information is determined as a traffic direction of the road to be traveled. The navigation device according to any one of claims 18 to 23,
Current position acquisition means for acquiring a current position of the navigation device;
A current position transmitting means for transmitting the current position acquired by the current position acquiring means to the server device;
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the point information receiving unit receives, from the server device, point information of a point where a direction from the current position transmitted by the current position transmitting unit to the point substantially matches a shooting angle. The navigation device according to any one of claims 18 to 24,
The point information receiving means is located at a position corresponding to the intersection when the navigation apparatus approaches a range of a predetermined distance from the intersection, and a difference between a direction to enter the intersection and a shooting angle is less than a predetermined value. A navigation apparatus characterized by receiving point information.

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