JP2012198557A - Map display method and computer system, and map server, location information providing server, and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce loads on maintenance management of a system providing location information such as advertisement and a map concerning a location.SOLUTION: A map system 100 and location information providing system 20 are interconnected via a network. The map system 100 is a versatile map providing server which provides a map of the vicinity of a required location. The location information providing system 20 is a server which provides other location information such as advertisement concerning a location of a shop or the like. The location information providing system 20 stores display control information, that is, information required for displaying a map on the map system 100, in association with the location information. The location information providing system 20 can perform map display by using the display control information despite whether being managed by the map system 100 or not. Thus, the two servers can independently operate, and loads on maintenance management can be reduced.

Description

  The present invention relates to site guidance using an electronic map.

  With the spread of electronic maps that can be displayed by computers, the association between base information and maps has come to be performed. The bases mean various stores, facilities, and scenic spots, and the base information means advertisements and other guidance information related to these bases. The association between the two is realized, for example, using a link of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). By providing the site information as an HTML file and providing a link to the electronic map in the HTML file, the map can be displayed in response to the request of the viewer. The map is usually generated from a general-purpose map database not related to the base based on the position of the base. Association in this manner is particularly useful for site guidance via the Internet.

  Conventionally, the base information and the map database are usually managed in an integrated manner in order to smoothly transfer the position information. Since advertisements and other base information are changed relatively frequently, it is necessary to update the entire system including the map database and check the operation each time. The map database has a very large amount of data, and the burden of updating the map database is very large. This burden has become so large that it cannot be overlooked as the number of providers of base information increases. In addition, since the update of the base information is entrusted to the provider of the electronic map, there has been a problem that the base information provider cannot perform timely and flexible information update. Furthermore, there has been a problem that the provider of the base information needs to disclose the base information to the manager of the map database. For this reason, it has been difficult to disclose know-how and other information that is desired to be concealed together with a map in a Web page whose access is restricted by a password or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and provides a site guidance system that enables flexible updating of site information and reduces the management load of a database in the guidance of site information including a map. For the purpose. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system capable of providing site guidance without disclosing site information to the outside.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problem, in the present invention, a site information providing server for providing site information and a map server for providing a map are separated and connected to each other by a network. It was constructed. The base information means information obtained by excluding information provided by the map server from various related information related to the base, and means information obtained by removing at least the map information provided by the map server. The related information includes, for example, base advertisements, guide information, and the like, and may further include an approximate map that does not depend on the map server.

  In the present invention, the map server and the site information providing server are not simply operated as a distributed system connected by a network, but are operated as independent systems, and appropriate timing such as when map display is requested. The site guidance is given while taking cooperation. Means for realizing such cooperation will be described in sequence, separately for the registration of the base information and the like and the execution of the base guidance.

  In the present invention, a data registration system for registering base information and the like is configured by providing a display control information transmission unit in a map server. The display control information transmission unit has a function of generating display control information required for displaying a map relating to a site using general-purpose map data, and transmitting the display control information to the site information providing server. The site information providing server holds the display control information and outputs it to the map server in response to a map display request, thereby realizing a map display according to the site. That is, the display control information from the map server to the base information providing server can realize display of a map corresponding to the base while maintaining the independence of the two. According to such a system, since it is not necessary to transfer the base information to the map server side, there is an advantage that the base guidance can be realized without disclosing the base information to the map server.

  The generation of the display control information can be realized, for example, by providing a map data holding unit, an input unit, and a display control information generation unit in the map server. The map data holding unit holds general-purpose map data not related to the base. That is, the map data unique to the base is not held, but map data that can output various maps according to the designation is held. The input unit inputs designation related to the display of a map related to the base. As an input method, an operation unit provided in the map server itself may be used, or input may be performed via a network. An interface for inputting a display specification may be displayed for a client connected to the map server, and the above specification may be input using this interface. The display control information generation unit generates display control information based on the input information.

  The display control information may include various information for controlling the map display by the map server. For example, it is desirable that the display control information include coordinates that specify the location of the base. By doing so, a map around the base can be appropriately displayed. It is also desirable to include information that specifies the display mode of the map. Information specifying the display mode can include, for example, information related to a map display scale, a map size, and a symbol indicating a base. When the map server can display a so-called three-dimensional map, the display control information may include designation of two-dimensional display and three-dimensional display.

  The format of the display control information can be arbitrarily set. For example, the display control information can be generated in a format that can be directly transmitted to the map server when requesting the display of a map related to the base. As such a format, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) format including display control information as a parameter can be used. If it carries out like this, display control information can be quickly transmitted to a map server at the time of map display. In this case, it is also preferable to encrypt the display control information. Since the display control information is generated by the map server and is used by the map server itself when displaying the map, it can be easily encrypted and decrypted. By encrypting the display control information, the format for displaying the map by the map server can be concealed, so that unauthorized access to the map server can be avoided.

  As described above, the designation of display can be input from a customer system connected to the map server via a network.

  When such a configuration is applied, in order to avoid unauthorized access to the map server, the map server preferably includes an authentication unit that restricts access based on information for identifying a customer system on the network. . As information used for authentication, address information such as an IP address of a customer system or a URL can be used.

  In this invention, a base information provision server can be set as the structure provided with a base information data holding part, an input part, and a display control information holding part, for example. The base information data holding unit holds base information about the base. The input unit inputs display control information generated in the map server. The display control information holding unit holds the input display control information in association with the base information. The association can be performed by various methods. For example, a method of giving common identification information to the base information and the display control information can be adopted. By performing such association, a map display corresponding to the base information can be realized.

  In the present invention, a site guidance system that provides site guidance can be constructed by providing the following information to the site information providing server and the map server. That is, the base information providing server includes a display control information holding unit and a display control information transmission unit. The display control information holding unit holds the display control information described above in advance in association with the base. The display control information transmission unit directly or indirectly transmits this display control information to the map server when a map display request regarding the base is made. Direct transmission means transmission by direct communication between the base information providing server and the map server, and indirect transmission means transmission via a client or the like that mediates information between the two. With this configuration, information necessary for displaying the map of the base is transferred to the map server.

  One map server uses general-purpose map data not involved in the base, and presents a map related to the base based on the display control information delivered from the base information providing server.

  In the present invention, when a display device for displaying related information is connected to the base information providing server and the map server via a network, the display control information is indirectly transmitted via the display device. It can be performed.

  When the display control information is indirectly transmitted in this way, the display control information is once transmitted to the map server, and the display request information is generated in a predetermined format including the display control information by the map server. After receiving from the map server, it may be transmitted indirectly to the map server via the display device. When the display control information is held in a manner that cannot be used directly by the map server, this corresponds to a mode in which the map server temporarily converts the display control information to an appropriate format. By doing so, it is possible to flexibly set the format of the display control information held in the base information providing server without changing the map display function of the map server.

  When transmitting the display control information indirectly, it is desirable to transmit the information with at least the display control information encrypted. By doing so, unauthorized access to the map server can be avoided. The encryption for such a purpose does not need to be applied to the entire information delivered to the map server, and it is sufficient that it is performed at least for the display control information. For example, when the display control information is transmitted in a state where it is included in a URL parameter, only the parameter portion needs to be encrypted.

  In the present invention, the display of the map may be performed directly from the map server to the display device, or may be performed indirectly. As the latter mode, for example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the map information generated by the map server is received from the map server by the base information providing server and presented to the outside such as a display device. At this time, the base information providing server may present the map data after processing such as addition of the base information.

  If at least part of the display control information is encrypted, the map server decrypts the display control information and presents the map. In the present invention, as described above, the encryption can be performed in advance by the map server. By adopting such a configuration, decoding can be performed very easily. In addition, the encryption method can be concealed from the outside. Of course, the encryption may be performed by the site information providing server.

  In the present invention, the information provided from the base information providing server to the map server may include time information related to whether or not the map is affected. In this case, the map server presents the map when the time information satisfies a preset condition for enabling the map presentation.

  In this way, the time during which the map can be provided can be limited, and there are various advantages depending on the mode. As a 1st aspect, the display of a map can be made impossible after a certain time. By doing so, it is possible to avoid accessing the map server for a long period of time with the same display control information, and it is possible to limit unauthorized use of the map server. Such control is particularly effective when the map server provides a map for a fee. The first mode corresponds to, for example, a method that includes the generation time of the display control information as time information and restricts the map display within a certain period from the generation time. This fixed period may be presented from the base information providing server, or may be registered in advance in the map server. As another method, a time limit permitting display may be included as time information.

  Further, as a second aspect, the map display may be limited to a certain time or later. By doing this, it is possible to refrain from disclosure of the location for a certain period while disclosing the location information. For example, it can be used when providing information on opening a new store. Also in the second aspect, a method of including the generation time of display control information as time information, permitting the presentation of a map after a certain period of time from that time, and a method of including the time of permitting the presentation of the map as time information, etc. Can be taken. The time information described above may be generated by the base information providing server, or may be generated together with the map server when the display request information is generated.

The present invention may be configured as a map server and a site information providing server which are sub-combinations of the system, in addition to the configuration of the entire site guidance system described above. Moreover, in these systems, you may comprise in aspects, such as the data registration method for registering beforehand data required for site guidance, the site guidance method which performs site guidance.
Furthermore, the present invention may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize these data registration and site guidance functions. Moreover, you may comprise as a recording medium which recorded these programs and electronic map data. The recording medium includes a flexible disk, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk, IC card, ROM cartridge, punch card, printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of a computer (memory such as RAM or ROM). ) And external storage devices can be used.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the base guidance system as 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the functional block in connection with registration of data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process sequence at the time of data registration. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen at the time of data registration. It is explanatory drawing which shows the functional block involved in base guidance. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process sequence of base guidance. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen at the time of base guidance. It is a flowchart of a map data generation process. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the base guidance system as 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the base guidance system as 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the base guidance system as 4th Example.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described by dividing it into the following items.
A. First embodiment:
A1. System configuration:
A2. Data registration:
A3. Location information:
A4. effect:
B. Second embodiment:
C. Third embodiment:
D. Fourth embodiment:

A. First embodiment:
A1. System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a site guidance system as a first embodiment. The site guidance system includes a customer system 10, a map system 100, and a browsing computer 14. The customer system 10 includes a base information providing system 20 and a registration computer 12. Each of these systems is connected via the Internet INT. The connection of each system does not necessarily use the Internet, and a limited network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a network using a dedicated line may be used.

  In this embodiment, the map system 100 is a server that provides a map via the Internet. The map system 100 includes a map database 120 that holds a general-purpose electronic map. The map display unit 140 is a functional block constructed in software, and provides a map in the vicinity of the requested point with reference to the map database 120 in response to a request from the outside. In the present embodiment, the map system 100 also has a function of providing a map related to a predetermined base in cooperation with the base information providing system 20 in addition to the function of providing a map in this way. As a functional block for realizing such cooperation, the map system 100 includes a registration information providing unit 110. The registration information providing unit 110 has a function of transmitting information necessary for realizing cooperation from the map system 100 to the base information providing system 20. In this embodiment, such cooperation is performed for a predetermined customer. The customer database 130 holds information regarding the target customer. This information can include not only information related to whether or not cooperation with the map system 100 is possible, but also customization information corresponding to the customer regarding such cooperation.

  As described above, the customer system 10 includes the base information providing system 20 and the registration computer 12. In the present embodiment, both are connected via the Internet INT, but may be connected locally. However, if the connection is made via the Internet INT, the registration computer 12 has an advantage that an unspecified computer can be used as long as it is connected to the Internet.

  The base information providing system 20 has a function of providing various base information for a predetermined base related to a customer. The bases mean various stores, facilities, and scenic spots, and the base information means advertisements and other guidance information related to these bases. In order to realize such a function, the base information providing system 20 includes the following functional blocks constructed in software.

  The registration unit 30 has a function of registering the base information according to an instruction from the registration computer 12. The base information is registered in the base information database 40. The registered base information is referred to by the information display unit 60 and displayed on the browsing computer 14.

  In the present embodiment, not only the information registered in the base information database 40 but also a map in the vicinity of the base is provided by a request from the browsing computer 14. The provision of this map is performed by the map system 100 described above. Since the map system 100 includes a general-purpose map database 120, in order to display a map in the vicinity of the base, information required for map display such as the position of the base (hereinafter referred to as display control information). ) To the map system 100. The site information providing system 20 holds display control information related to the site in the display control information database 50 in advance. As will be described later, this display control information is information generated in advance by the map system 100 together with the registration of the base information.

  A general-purpose personal computer can be used as the browsing computer 14 and the registration computer 12. In addition to the personal computer, various terminals such as a mobile phone and a PDA can be used. In the present embodiment, information provided in the form of Web pages from the map system 100 and the base information providing system 20 can be displayed by a browser. The display of the provided information is not limited to the browser, and various application software can be used.

  In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, one customer system and one browsing computer 14 are shown. However, as is well known, a large number of them can be provided on the Internet.

A2. Data registration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks involved in data registration. Of the systems shown in FIG. 1, only the portions related to data registration are shown in detail. As described above, each system is connected via the Internet INT.

  In the customer system, the base information database 40, the display control information database 50, the registration unit 30, and the registration computer 12 in the base information providing system 20 are involved. In the map system 100, a registration information providing unit 110, a map database 120, and a customer database 130 are involved. The base information database 40 and the display control information database 50 can also be constructed as one integrated database.

  The registration unit 30 is provided with more detailed functional blocks as illustrated. The registration screen providing unit 31 has a function of causing the registration computer 12 to display an interface screen used when registering the base information and the like. More specifically, it has a function of generating an interface screen in the form of a Web page by HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like and outputting it to the registration computer 12.

  The site information input unit 32 has a function of inputting site information from the registration computer 12. The input base information is registered in the base information database 40. In this embodiment, the base information is registered in the base information database 40 as text data such as “base name, base address ...”. In the drawing, the case where the base information “base name, base address ...” is registered in the base identified by the reference number “aaa” is schematically illustrated. The base information database 40 may hold the base information itself, or may manage only the location, that is, the path in the base information providing system 20. The site information may be generated by HTML in the form of a Web page that is provided to the browsing computer 14 later. In such a case, an HTML file name such as “bbb.htm” can be registered in the site information database 40 at the site specified by the reference number “aaa”.

  The display control information input unit 33 has a function of inputting display control information required for map display using the map system 100 from the map system 100. The input display control information is held in the display control information database 50. In the drawing, a state in which display control information “LAT (latitude), LON (longitude)...” Is held for the base identified by the reference number “aaa” is schematically shown. The contents of the display control information can be set in various ways and will be described in detail later. The display control information is associated with the base information by the reference number. By using a unique reference number for each base, the customer system can hold base information and display control information for a plurality of bases.

  On the other hand, the detailed information block shown in the figure is also prepared in the registration information providing unit 110 of the map system 100. The authentication unit 111 has an authentication function that restricts access to the map system 100. Authentication is performed based on the registered contents of the customer database 130.

  The registration interface display unit 112 has a function of providing an interface related to registration of map display control information to the registration computer 12. This is a function similar to the registration screen providing unit 31 of the base information providing system 20. The registration content includes location information of the base. In order to make it possible to easily specify position information, the registration interface display unit 112 also performs map display for position information registration using the map database 120. The contents registered through such an interface are transferred to the display control information transmission unit 113. The display control information transmission unit 113 transmits the registered content to the display control information input unit 33 of the base information providing system 20 in a predetermined format.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing procedure at the time of data registration. Information transmission between the registrant PC, that is, the registration computer 12, the base information providing system 20, and the map system 100 is shown in time series. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen at the time of data registration. The display screen by the base information providing system 20 is illustrated on the left side, and the display screen by the map system is illustrated on the right side. The contents of data registration processing will be described with reference to these drawings.

  Data registration is started by an “initial screen request” from the registration computer 12 to the site information providing system 20 (step St10). This request is made by inputting the URL of the base information providing system 20 in a browser activated on the registration computer 12. In response to this request, the site information providing system 20 displays an initial screen (step St11).

  The initial screen V1 is illustrated in the upper left of FIG. In the present embodiment, on the initial screen, a menu including two types of base information registration and display control information registration can be selected. The base information registration and the display control information registration do not necessarily need to be two menus. For example, a link to the display control information registration screen may be provided in the base information registration screen so that both can be performed as a series of operations.

  When the registrant selects the base information registration menu, a base information registration screen request is transmitted to the base information providing system 20 (step St12). The site information providing system 20 performs screen display in response to this request (step St13).

  The base information registration screen V2 is illustrated in the lower left of FIG. Here, items such as reference numbers, names, classifications, and advertisements can be input for the bases. More information may be included. The information may be a document or may include an image. In addition to the detailed map provided by the map system 100, a schematic map in the vicinity of the base may be included. As described above, the reference number of the map system 100 is information used for associating the base information with the display control information, and is information specific to the base. The reference number is information used only in the base information providing system 20, and can be set independently without considering the relationship with the map system 100. Although the reference number is used here, various types of information capable of associating the base information with the display control information can be used.

  The registrant uses this screen to set the base information (step St14). The site information providing system 20 registers the set site information in the site information database 40 (step St15). In the present embodiment, the base information is managed only by the base information providing system 20, so that it is not necessary to present it to the map system 100. Therefore, the customer can also include information that is desired to be kept secret outside in the base information.

  After the registration of the base information, when the registrant selects the display control information registration menu on the initial screen V1, a request for the registration screen is transmitted to the base information providing system 20 (step St16). In this embodiment, the display control information is registered with the map system 100. Accordingly, the site information providing system 20 transmits HTML including link information to the map system 100 from the site information providing system 20 to the registration computer 12 in response to the request for the display control information registration screen. The access destination is switched to the map system 100 (step St17). That is, the access destination of the registration computer 12 is switched to the map system 100. Switching of the access destination from the base information providing system 20 to the map system 100 may be performed by a so-called redirect function.

  By the redirection, the registration computer 12 accesses the map system 100. At this time, the redirect source, that is, the URL of the base information providing system 20 is delivered to the map system 100 (step St18). The map system 100 performs authentication based on this URL (step St19). Access to the map system 100 is permitted only when the received URL is registered in the customer database 130. That is, access is permitted only when a transition is made from a specific server registered in the customer database 130. For the authentication, it is possible to use various information capable of specifying the site information providing system 20, such as an IP address and a server name, in addition to the URL.

  When the access is permitted, the map system 100 displays a setting screen for icons and the like on the registration computer 12 (step St20). The registrant sets icons and the like using this setting screen (step St21).

  A setting screen V3 for icons and the like is illustrated in the upper right of FIG. Here, the icon means a symbol used to display the position of the base on the map. As illustrated, various icons prepared by the map system 100 are displayed on the setting screen. The registrant can specify an icon to be used by clicking with the mouse.

  In this setting screen V3, a map search method is also specified. As shown in the figure, a menu for selecting a search from a postal code or a search from an address is selected. The registrant can select any method. This selection is only used in the map display for registering the base position, and is not used in the actual base guidance.

  When the setting of the icon or the like is completed, the map system 100 displays a map for registering the location of the base (step St22). This map is displayed based on the previously specified search condition. The registrant sets the location of the base using this map (step St23).

  The map display V4 for registration is illustrated in the lower right in FIG. In this way, the map and display scale near the base are displayed. A button or the like for moving the position of the map may also be provided. The registrant can register the location of the base by clicking on the part of the map with a mouse or the like. In addition, by clicking on the display scale, the scale of the map that is initially displayed during the site guidance can be set. The coordinates of the clicked position on the screen are converted into the latitude and longitude of the base by the map system 100.

  When various settings related to the display of the map are thus completed, the map system 100 transmits the set of set information to the base information providing system 20 as display control information (step St24). The site information providing system 20 assigns a reference number to the received display control information and registers it in the display control information database 50 (step St25).

  In this embodiment, the map control system 100 and the base information providing system 20 communicate display control information directly without going through the registration computer 12. Such transmission can be realized using, for example, HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) or FTP (File Transport Protocol). The information may be indirectly transmitted to the base information providing system 20 via the registration computer 12. Such transmission can be realized, for example, by including display control information as a parameter in the URL when redirecting from the map system 100 to the base information providing system 20.

  In conjunction with the transmission of the display control information, the map system 100 transmits an HTML including a link back to the base information providing system 20 from the map system 100 to the registration computer 12, thereby specifying the access destination as the base information providing system. 20 (steps St26 and St27). In response to this, the site information providing system 20 displays an initial screen or a completion screen (step St28), thereby completing a series of data registration processing. Switching from the map system 100 to the base information providing system 20 may be performed by so-called redirection.

  The display control information can include various kinds of information related to the display of the map other than those exemplified above. For example, although the location information of the base is expressed by latitude and longitude, various coordinates can be used depending on the configuration of the map system 100. When using a map system that provides a map of a relatively narrow area, orthogonal coordinates may be used. Needless to say, various display formats such as a latitude / longitude format, a minute / second format, a millisecond format, and a decimal rate format can be used.

  In addition, the display control information may include a map size. The size can be specified by, for example, the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the map. These display control information may be encrypted and transferred. As will be described later, since the display control information is used by the map system 100, the content of the display control information may be encrypted so that the base information providing system 20 cannot decrypt it. By performing such encryption, the map system 100 can conceal the contents of the display control information from third parties including the site information providing system 20, and can avoid unauthorized use of the map system 100. .

  In the above description, the case where the base information is registered first is exemplified, but the display control information may be registered first.

A3. Location information:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing functional blocks involved in site guidance. Of the systems shown in FIG. 1, only the portions related to the site guidance are shown in detail. As described above, each system is connected via the Internet INT.

  In the customer system, the base information database 40, the display control information database 50, and the information display unit 60 in the base information providing system 20 are involved. In the map system 100, a map display unit 140, a map database 120, and a customer database 130 are involved. Further, a browsing computer 14 is involved as a device for browsing these pieces of information. The base information database 40 and the display control information database 50 can also be constructed as one integrated database.

  In the information display unit 20, detailed functional blocks are prepared as shown in the figure. The site information providing unit 61 displays the site information in the form of a web page in response to a request from the browsing computer 14. This display is performed based on data registered in the base information database 40.

  When the viewer requests display of a map related to the base, the request is transferred to the display control information transmission unit 62. The display control information transmission unit 62 transmits the display control information held in the display control information database 50 to the map system 100. As will be described later, the map system 100 returns a URL for providing a map based on the display control information. The URL receiving unit 63 passes this URL from the map system 100 to the base information providing unit 61. When the site information providing unit 61 redirects the access destination of the browsing computer 14 based on this URL, a map corresponding to the site is provided by the map system 100.

  One map system 100 is also provided with detailed functional blocks shown in the figure. The authentication unit 142 has a function of determining whether display control information can be received from the display control information transmitting unit 62. Such authentication is performed by restricting access based on the IP address of the base information providing system 20 based on the contents of the customer database 130, for example. When the reception is permitted, the display control information is transferred from the base information providing system 20 to the URL generation unit 143. The URL generation unit 143 generates a URL for map display based on the display control information. The URL parameter includes display control information.

  The map display unit 141 displays a map using the map database 120 in response to the map display URL transmitted from the browsing computer 14.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing procedure for base guidance. Information exchange between the browser PC, that is, the browsing computer 14, the base information providing system 20, and the map system 100 is shown. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen during site guidance. The display screen by the base information providing system 20 is illustrated on the left side, and the display screen by the map system 100 is illustrated on the right side.

  The site guidance is started by requesting the site information from the browsing computer 14 to the site information providing system 20 (step St50). In response to this, the site information providing system 20 displays the site information (step St51).

  A base information display example V11 is shown on the left side of FIG. The base information shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the browser of the browsing computer 14 as a Web page. In addition to the base information, a button “MAP” for requesting display of a map is also displayed.

  When the viewer presses the “MAP” button, a map display request is transmitted to the base information providing system 20 (step St52). In response to this, the site information providing system 20 transmits the display control information held in the display control information database 50 to the map system 100 (step S53).

  The display control information is transmitted directly between the base information providing system 20 and the map system 100 without using the browsing computer 14. The communication method is the same as the transmission of display control information at the time of data registration. The display control information may be transmitted indirectly via the browsing computer 14. The map system 100 authenticates the access authority of the site information providing system 20 during this communication. In this embodiment, authentication based on the IP address of the site information providing system 20 is performed. That is, the map system 100 permits access only to a server having a specific IP address registered in the customer database 130. The authentication can be performed using information such as the URL and server name of the site information providing system 20 in addition to the IP address.

  The map system 100 generates a map display URL based on the display control information thus received (step St54), and returns the URL to the base information providing system 20 (step St55). In this embodiment, a URL including display control information in the parameter is generated. Also, the display control information is encrypted and included. This encryption is for concealing the parameter format in the URL from the outside. Since the map system 100 has a function of providing a map based on display control information included in the URL, if the format of the display control information is known to a third party, the map system 100 is illegally used. There is a possibility that. In the present embodiment, display control information is encrypted from the viewpoint of avoiding such unauthorized use. Since the generated URL is used by the map system 100 itself, various known methods such as a method using a secret key can be easily applied.

  In this embodiment, the encryption is performed when the URL is generated. However, the encryption may be performed in advance when the display control information is generated. It may be possible to specify for each customer whether or not to perform encryption.

  Similarly, from the viewpoint of restricting unauthorized use of the map system 100, information regarding the time when the map system 100 generates the URL may be included in the map display URL. By limiting the expiration date of the URL, it is possible to avoid displaying a map over a long period of time by repeatedly using the URL once generated.

  The site information providing system 20 redirects the access destination of the browsing computer 14 to the map system 100 based on the received URL (step St56). As a result, the display control information is passed as a parameter from the browsing computer 14 to the map system 100 (step St57). The map system 100 generates map data based on this information (step St58), and displays the map on the browsing computer 14 (step St59).

  A map display example V12 is shown on the right side of FIG. A map near the base is displayed according to a display scale registered in advance. A set icon is displayed at the base. A map moving button for moving the map and a display scale may be displayed together. In addition, it is good also as what provides a link in an icon so that it can return to the display V11 of base information by clicking an icon.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the map data generation process. This corresponds to processing when the map system 100 generates map data based on the display control information. Here, it is assumed that the display control information is encrypted, and that the display control information includes information related to the URL generation time.

  This process is started when a map display is requested. When the process is started, the map system 100 acquires URL parameters (step S100). As described above, since this parameter is encrypted, the map system 100 decrypts this parameter to obtain display control information (step S102).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time after the URL is generated exceeds a predetermined threshold value Tlim (step S104). The predetermined threshold Tlim is a value corresponding to the expiration date of the generated URL, and can be arbitrarily set. For example, this value may be set individually for each customer. In this case, the threshold value Tlim is held in the customer database 130.

  If the elapsed time exceeds Tlim, the map system 100 determines that the expiration date of the URL has passed, and displays an error message on the browsing computer 14 to avoid unauthorized use (step S106). ).

  If the elapsed time is within Tlim, a map is drawn based on the display control information (step S108). Here, of the display control information, information such as base coordinates and display scale is used. Information such as the size of the map may be used.

  Next, a designated icon is placed on the drawn map (step S110). Along with the installation of the icon, a process of providing a link to the base information providing system 20 may be performed. By transmitting the map data thus generated to the browsing computer 14 (step S112), the map can be displayed.

A4. effect:
The base guidance system according to the present embodiment described above has the following various advantages.

  First, there is an advantage that the map system 100 and the base information providing system 20 can be operated as independent systems. In the system of the present embodiment, the map of the base is realized by transmitting display control information to the map system 100. The display control information is information generated at the time of registration of the base information, and it is not necessary for the map system 100 to continue to manage the base information providing system 20 after the display control information is generated. Thus, by operating both as an independent system, the burden of managing the base information regarding many customers is eliminated for the map system 100. Regardless of the map system 100, the customer, that is, the base information providing system 20, can update the base information and perform other maintenance management flexibly and quickly. For both parties, the disadvantages associated with handling huge databases will be reduced.

  Secondly, there is an advantage that the flexibility of the map system 100 can be maintained by performing map display using the display request URL generated by the map system 100. The map system 100 can be a general-purpose system that outputs a map according to a request, not a system unique to the site guidance system. The function block that generates the display request URL functions as a kind of API (Application Program Interface), and thus a flexible system construction can be realized.

  Thirdly, unauthorized use of the map system 100 can be avoided by encrypting the information exchanged. Moreover, since this encryption is performed by the map system 100, very high secrecy can be ensured.

  Fourth, there is an advantage that the base information can be concealed from the map system 100. This is because the base information providing system 20 can manage the information necessary for display and the base information independently of the map system 100 in the present embodiment. As a customer, it is possible to set a password or the like to restrict access to a Web page presenting base information.

  Fifth, unauthorized use of the map system 100 can be avoided based on the elapsed time after the URL is generated. The map presentation can be restricted by various other methods. Instead of the elapsed time after the generation, a time limit permitting the presentation of the map may be transmitted. The map system 100 does not present a map after this time. Conversely, the display of the map may be limited to a predetermined time or later. For example, the map may be provided only after a certain period of time has elapsed from the generation of the URL, or the map may be provided only after a predetermined time transmitted with the URL has been exceeded. In this way, the map presentation timing can be adjusted.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a site guidance system as a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the case where a map display URL is generated from the display control information when the map is displayed has been illustrated. The second embodiment exemplifies a case where a map display URL is generated in advance.

  The hardware configuration and main functional blocks of the site guidance system in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The map system 100A of the second embodiment is different in that a URL generation unit 117A is provided instead of the display control information transmission unit 113 (see FIG. 2) in the first embodiment.

  The diagram also shows information exchange during data registration and site guidance. In order to avoid complication of the drawing, steps common to the first embodiment are omitted.

  In the second example, as in the first example, the registrant accesses the map system 100A from the registration computer 12 and registers the location information of the base (step St100). In the map system 100A, in response to this registration content, the URL generation unit 117A generates a display request URL. The format of the URL is the same as the URL generated when the map is displayed in the first embodiment. It is desirable to encrypt the parameter part.

  The URL generated in this manner is transmitted to the base information providing system 20A (step St101) and stored in the display control information database (step St102).

  At the time of site guidance, the browsing computer 14 makes a map display request to the site information providing system 20A (step St103). In response to this, the site information providing system 20A performs redirection based on the display request URL (steps St104 and St105). The map system 100A displays a map based on this URL (step St106). In the second embodiment, since a display request URL is stored in advance, the step of generating this URL can be omitted.

C. Third embodiment:
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the case where a map is provided from the map system to the browsing computer 14 is illustrated. In the third embodiment, a case where a map is provided from the map system to the browsing computer 14 via the base information providing system is illustrated.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a site guidance system as a third embodiment. The hardware configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the functional blocks related to map display are different from those of the first embodiment. In the third example, a map display unit 141B is provided instead of the URL generation unit 143 in the first example as a functional block for transmitting information from the map system 100B to the base information providing system 20B. The base information providing system 20B includes an HTML generation unit 64B as a functional block for presenting a map to the browsing computer 14.

  Data registration in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. That is, when the registrant registers the location of the base (step St110), the map system 100B generates display control information and registers it in the base information providing system 20B (steps St111 and St112).

  At the time of site guidance, the browsing computer 14 makes a map display request to the site information providing system 20B (step St113). In response to this, the base information providing system 20B transmits display control information to the map system 100B (step St114). In the map system 100B, the map display unit 141B draws a map based on the display control information, and transmits the generated map data to the base information providing system 20B (step St115).

  In the site information providing system 20B, the HTML generating unit 64B generates a map display Web page based on the map data by using HTML and transmits it to the browsing computer 14 (step St116). The map display Web page may include base information in addition to the map.

D. Fourth embodiment:
In the first embodiment, the case of generating a URL for map display based on the display control information is exemplified. On the other hand, the display control information may be transferred to the map system as it is when the map is displayed.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a site guidance system as a fourth embodiment. The hardware configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the functional blocks related to map display are different from those of the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the URL generation unit 143, the URL reception unit 63, etc. in the first embodiment are unnecessary.

  Data registration in the fourth embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. That is, when the registrant registers the location of the base (step St120), the map system 100C generates display control information and registers it in the base information providing system 20C (steps St121 and St122).

  At the time of site guidance, the browsing computer 14 makes a map display request to the site information providing system 20C (step St123). In response to this, the base information providing system 20C transmits display control information to the map system 100C (steps St124 and St125). This transmission is realized by redirecting to the map system 100C and passing display control information as its parameter. Based on this display control information, the map system 100C displays a map on the browsing computer 14 (step St126).

  According to the second to fourth embodiments, the map systems 100A to 100C and the base information providing systems 20A to 20C can be operated independently. In these embodiments, it is desirable to encrypt the information exchanged as in the first embodiment. Further, a system for registering data and a system for displaying a map may be operated independently.

  As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. For example, each of the above processes may be realized by hardware as well as by software.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Customer system 12 ... Registration computer 14 ... Browsing computer 20, 20A, 20B, 20C ... Base information provision system 30 ... Registration part 31 ... Registration screen provision part 32 ... Base information input part 33 ... Display control information input part 40 ... base information database 50 ... display control information database 60 ... information display part 61 ... base information provision part 62 ... display control information transmission part 100, 100A, 100B, 100C ... map system 110 ... registration information provision part 111 ... authentication part 112 ... Registration interface display unit 113 ... display control information transmission unit 120 ... map database 130 ... customer database 140 ... map display unit 141, 141B ... map display unit 142 ... authentication unit

Claims (20)

A data registration system for registering data in advance so that related information including a map can be provided for a predetermined base,
A map server that holds general-purpose map data not involved in the base;
For the base, a base information providing server that holds base information that is a guide excluding at least a map of the related information,
The map server and the site information providing server are connected via a network,
The map server uses the general-purpose map data to generate display control information required for displaying a map related to the base, and includes a display control information transmission unit that transmits the display control information to the base information providing server. system. A map server that provides a map of a predetermined location,
A map data holding unit for holding general-purpose map data not involved in the base;
An input unit for inputting designation regarding display of a map related to the base;
A map server comprising: a display control information generating unit that generates and outputs display control information required for displaying a map related to the base using the general-purpose map data based on the input information. The map server according to claim 2,
The map server in which the display control information includes coordinates for specifying the position of the base. The map server according to claim 2,
A map server in which the display control information includes information for specifying a display mode of the map. The map server according to claim 2,
The display control information is a map server that is generated in a format that can be directly transmitted to the map server when a display of a map relating to the base is requested. The map server according to claim 2,
A predetermined customer system is connected to the map server via a network,
The said input part is the map server which performs the said designation | designated input from the said customer system via this network. The map server according to claim 6, wherein
A map server comprising an authentication unit that restricts access to the map server based on information for identifying the customer system on a network. A base information providing server that provides related information including a map for a predetermined base,
The base information providing server is connected to a map server capable of providing a map based on predetermined display control information via a network,
About the base, a base information data holding unit that holds base information that is a guide excluding at least a map among the related information,
An input unit for inputting the display control information regarding the base generated in the map server;
A site information providing server comprising a display control information holding unit that holds the display control information in association with the site information. A site guidance system comprising a map server and a site information providing server connected via a network, and providing related information including a map for a predetermined site,
The site information providing server includes:
A display control information holding unit for holding display control information necessary for displaying a map related to the base on the map server in association with the base;
A display control information transmitting unit that directly or indirectly transmits the display control information to the map server when a map display request for the base is made;
The map server
A map data holding unit for holding general-purpose map data not related to the base;
The said map server is a base guidance system provided with the map presentation part which presents the map regarding the said base based on the said display control information. A base information providing server that provides related information including a map for a predetermined base,
The site information providing server is connected via a network to a map server that presents a map according to predetermined display control information,
Regarding the base, a base information presentation unit that presents base information other than a map;
A display control information holding unit that holds the display control information in advance in association with the base;
A base information providing server comprising: a display control information transmitting unit that directly or indirectly transmits the display control information to the map server when a map display request for the base is made. The base information providing server according to claim 10,
The base information providing server is also connected to a display device for displaying the related information via the network.
The display control information transmitting unit is a base information providing server that indirectly transmits the display control information via the display device. The base information providing server according to claim 11,
Prior to the operation of the display control information transmitting unit, the display control information is once transmitted to the map server, and the map server receives display request information processed into a predetermined format including the display control information. With information acquisition means,
The display control information transmitting unit is a base information providing server that transmits the display request information. The base information providing server according to claim 11,
The display control information transmitting unit is a base information providing server that performs the transmission in a state where at least the display control information is encrypted. The base information providing server according to claim 10,
A base information providing server comprising a map guide unit that receives map data generated by the map server based on the display control information from the map server and presents the map data to the outside. The base information providing server according to claim 10,
The display control information transmitting unit is a base information providing server that also transmits time information related to whether or not a map can be provided in the map server. A map server that provides a map of a predetermined location,
The map server is connected to a base information providing server that holds display control information necessary for displaying a map related to the base in advance in association with the base through a network,
A map data holding unit for holding general-purpose map data regardless of the base;
A map server comprising: a map presenting unit that receives the display control information directly or indirectly from the base information providing server and presents a map relating to the base based on the display control information. The map server according to claim 16, wherein
The display control information is information that is at least partially encrypted,
The map presenting unit is a map server that presents the map by decoding the display control information. The map server according to claim 17, wherein
Prior to the operation of the map providing unit, the display control information is received from the base information providing server, display request information including the display control information is generated in a predetermined format, and returned to the base information providing server. A display request information generation unit;
The map providing unit is a map server that presents a map based on the display request information. The map server according to claim 16, wherein
The information received from the base information providing server includes time information related to whether the map can be provided,
The map presentation unit is a map server that presents the map when the time information satisfies a preset condition for enabling the presentation of a map. In an environment in which a base information providing server, a map server, and a data registration client are connected via a network, data that can provide related information including a map for a predetermined base is sent to the base information providing server using the registration client. A data registration method for registering in advance,
Registering the base information, which is a guide excluding at least a map of the related information, in the base information providing server;
Using the map displayed by the map server, designating the location of the base for the map server;
A data registration method comprising: causing the map server to generate display control information required for displaying a map related to the base using the general-purpose map data, and transmitting the display control information to the base information providing server.

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