JP2014186444A - Facility search device, facility search method, and facility search program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow facility searches to be conducted over appropriate areas in order to provide facility search results that do not cause users to waste time and efforts.SOLUTION: A control unit 102 obtains a search reference position and search conditions from a search request that is received from a user terminal 3 through a communication I/F 101. A congestion level specific search area determination unit 111 refers to information, according to the search reference position, in a congestion level data file 106 that stores information indicating human congestion levels of meshes with a specific mesh size that are arranged without space on a map, and determines a search area identifying an area that consists of continuous meshes that are based on congestion levels. A facility search processing unit 112 conducts a facility search on the search area according to the search conditions, and a search result is provided to the user terminal 3 through the communication I/F 101.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program that enable a search (search) for a target facility such as a restaurant or a store of various goods.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facility search services have been provided that provide facility information in response to a request from a mobile phone terminal or the like through a map information providing site provided in a server device on the Internet and provide detailed information about the facility. Various inventions have been made regarding technologies for providing facility search services.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a facility corresponding to an input genre is searched from a map area including the current position, and a straight line distance from the current position is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined value. An invention related to a facility search device for performing a search is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, a facility corresponding to the first genre is searched for the first search range, and if there is no corresponding facility, the second genre of the subordinate concept of the first genre is targeted for the second search range. An invention relating to a facility guidance device for searching for a facility corresponding to the above is disclosed.

  The inventions described in these Patent Documents 1 and 2 both search for facilities within the search range defined by the distance from the current position, and are used when searching for a target facility in the vicinity of the current position. It is preferable.

JP 2006-017528 A JP 2011-209240 A

  In the case of the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, the search area is determined with the current position as the center, so a circular area centered on the current position is basically the search range. In this case, for example, if only the east side performs a peripheral search at a station in a downtown area, the west, south, and north areas that are not downtown areas also belong to the search range, and thus an efficient search may not be possible.

  In particular, as described above, for example, as a result of performing a peripheral search at a station where only the east side is a busy street, one of the few stores on the west side of the station is listed as a candidate in the list of search results and goes to that store Suppose that In this case, if the store is closed or full, if you move to a store in the downtown area on the east side of the station, you will have to travel longer or return the way you came. Time and effort are wasted.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to perform a facility search within an appropriate range so that the result of the facility search does not cause a user to waste time and labor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the facility search device of the invention according to claim 1
A map database that stores map information including detailed information about the facility;
Congestion degree information storage means for storing information indicating the degree of congestion of people for each mesh of a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map;
Reference position acquisition means for acquiring a search reference position;
Search condition receiving means for receiving input of search conditions;
Based on the search reference position, referring to the information of the congestion level information storage unit, an area setting unit that specifies an area made of a continuous mesh according to the congestion level and sets a search area;
Facility search means for referring to the map database for the set search area and searching for facilities that match the search conditions;
Output means for outputting a search result in the search means.

  According to the facility search apparatus of the invention described in claim 1, the map database stores map information including detailed information about the facility, and the congestion degree information storage means has a predetermined size provided on the map without any gaps. Information indicating the degree of congestion of people is stored for each mesh. When the search reference position is acquired through the reference position acquisition unit and the input of the search condition is received through the search condition reception unit, the area setting unit first refers to the information of the congestion degree information storage unit based on the acquired search reference position. Then, the search area is set by specifying an area composed of continuous meshes according to the degree of congestion. Thereafter, the facility search means refers to the map database for the set search area, searches for facilities that match the search conditions, and the output means outputs the search results.

  As described above, since the search area is set by specifying the area composed of continuous meshes according to the degree of congestion, the area with few people is not set as the search area. Therefore, the facility search can be performed in an appropriate range so that the result of the facility search does not cause a waste of time and labor to the user.

  According to the present invention, by appropriately setting the search area from the viewpoint of the degree of congestion, the facility search is appropriately performed so that the search result does not waste the user's time and labor, and the result Can provide.

It is a figure for explaining the example of composition of the facility search device of an embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a setting of a search area. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a facility search process executed by a user terminal device 3; It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the input screen used in the facility search process in the user terminal device. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a facility search process executed by the search server device 1. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the setting of search area AR. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the setting of search area AR.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the apparatus, method, and program of the present invention will be described. The facility search device of the present invention can be realized as a single device (a so-called stand-alone device) using, for example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal device. However, since the facility retrieval apparatus of the present invention performs facility retrieval using map information (map data), it is preferable that the facility retrieval device can be easily used even when away from home.

  Therefore, in the embodiment described below, an example is described in which a facility search device is configured by connecting a search server device and a user terminal device, which is a high-function mobile phone terminal called a smartphone, through a network. To do. As a result, the user can carry around the user terminal device and easily search for the desired facility regardless of the location.

[Configuration example of facility search device]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of the facility search apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the facility search device of this embodiment is configured by connecting a search server device 1 and a user terminal device 3 through a network 2. The search server device 1 according to this embodiment holds a map database including detailed information about various facilities, executes facility search processing in response to a request from the user terminal device 3, and sends the search result to the user terminal device. 3 is provided.

  The network 2 is mainly the Internet, but also includes, for example, a mobile phone network and various local area networks (LANs) that connect from the user terminal device 3 described later to the Internet. The user terminal device 3 is a high-function mobile phone terminal called a smartphone, and mainly realizes a function as an information input / output device.

  And the facility search apparatus which consists of the search server apparatus 1 and the user terminal device 3 of this embodiment has a circular search area centering on the current position of the user terminal apparatus 3 as in the conventional facility search apparatus. It does not set facility search. In the facility search device of this embodiment, the search server device 1 collects and holds information indicating the degree of congestion of people for each mesh of a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map. The mesh on the map is obtained by dividing the area into mesh areas without gaps based on the latitude and longitude. In this embodiment, the mesh means a rectangular area of about 250 m × 250 m, for example. .

  Then, the search server device 1 refers to information indicating the degree of congestion on the basis of the search reference position such as the current position of the user terminal device 3 and specifies an area composed of continuous meshes according to the degree of congestion. Set. That is, the search server device 1 can set an area with many people as a search range based on the actual congestion level of people. Then, the search server device 1 performs facility search using the set map information of the search area according to the search condition from the user terminal device 3 and provides the result to the user terminal device 3.

  Although only one user terminal device 3 is shown in FIG. 1, actually, a large number of user terminal devices 3 access the search server device 1 through the network 2 and provide the search server device 1. A facility search service is available. Hereinafter, each of the search server device 1 and the user terminal device 3 constituting the facility search device of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[Configuration Example of Search Server Device 1]
First, a configuration example of the search server device 1 will be described. The basic configuration of the search server device 1 is shown in the block diagram on the upper end side of FIG. In the search server device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the communication I / F 101 converts a signal received through the network 2 into data that can be processed by the own device, or converts various data for transmission into signals compliant with the protocol. For example, the data is converted and sent to the network 2. Note that I / F is an abbreviation for interface.

  The control unit 102 controls each unit of the search server device 1 and is configured by connecting a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) through a CPU bus (not shown). Computer device. The control unit 102 also functions as an application execution unit that executes various applications. The storage device 103 includes a hard disk as a recording medium, and performs writing / recording holding / reading / deleting various application programs and data obtained by various processes to the hard disk.

  Each of the map DB 104 and the network DB 105 is formed on a large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk, and stores and holds predetermined data. Here, the character “DB” is an abbreviation for database.

  The map DB 104 stores and holds various map information (map data) such as vector data, raster data, and annotation data for drawing a map in association with latitude / longitude information. Specifically, the map information stored in the map DB 104 is formed for each predetermined type (for each layer) such as a road, a railway, a river, a mountain, a commercial facility, a financial institution, a house, and a sign.

  The map DB 104 also holds base information called so-called POI (point of interest) information for various stores and various facilities included in each layer, and various bases such as topographic feature points. ing. For example, when there is a base (restaurant) that provides food and drink on the map, what kind of food and drink is the restaurant, what is the scale, and what customers are many? Detailed information such as noka is arranged.

  The network DB 105 stores and holds automobile road network data and pedestrian road network data including node data and link data. In the case of road network data for automobiles, the node data represents points such as landmarks, buildings, facilities, intersections, branch points, and bending points. In addition, the link data indicates a route through which an automobile such as an expressway, a national road, a prefectural road, a municipal road, and a private road can pass through a line segment connecting node data. Each link data is associated with information such as the number of the node constituting the link, the link cost, and the link type.

  In the case of road network data for automobiles, the link cost represents a load applied to the user when traveling on the road represented by the link. In this embodiment, the link cost is set according to the length of the road represented by the link. The link cost may be set according to the time required to travel on the road represented by the link. The link cost is referred to when searching for a route with the minimum link cost by the so-called Dijkstra method. The link type is information indicating whether the link part is one of an expressway, a national road, a prefectural road, a municipal road, or a private road. In addition, the link data includes detailed information such as the width of the link.

  The basic data configuration of the pedestrian road network data is the same as that of the automobile road network data described above. However, the link data managed by the pedestrian road network data is for pedestrians that can pass through ordinary roads that can be passed by pedestrians, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian bridges, buildings and parks attached to various roads. This is for roads where pedestrians can pass, such as passageways.

  The congestion degree data file 106 is also formed on a large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk. The congestion degree data file 106 stores and holds information indicating the degree of congestion of a person counted for each mesh having a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map. Here, the information indicating the degree of congestion is obtained by obtaining permission from a large number of users using a GPS-compatible mobile phone, and applying the distribution of location information transmitted from the GPS-compatible mobile phone to the total population of Japan. It is converted into a superposition on the map. In other words, the degree of congestion for each mesh held in the congestion degree data file 106 is the number of people (estimated number of people) that will be present in the mesh.

  In this embodiment, in the congestion degree data file 106, the distribution of the location information of the cellular phone terminal for each hour is used, such as from 13:00 to 14:00 and from 14:00 to 15:00. The estimated number of people staying at is used as the degree of congestion. The congestion data file 106 holds not only the estimated number of people in the last hour for each mesh but also the estimated number of people in the past, and the information indicating the estimated number of people in the past can be used. .

  The congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 uses the current position of the user terminal device 3 or the designated position designated by the user of the user terminal device 3 as a search reference position, refers to the information of the congestion degree data file 106, and searches the search area. Set. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of setting a search area. FIG. 2A shows an example of search area setting performed by the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111, and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a setting of a search area.

  The congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 of this embodiment refers to the data stored in the congestion degree data file 106, and the degree of congestion of the mesh including the search reference position from the user terminal device 3 and the meshes located around the mesh. Refer to Here, the meshes located around the mesh include not only those adjacent to the mesh including the search reference position, but also meshes that are at least two or three away from the mesh including the search reference position.

  When meshes having a high degree of congestion continue, an area composed of the plurality of continuous meshes is set as the search area AR. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, it is assumed that a user having the user terminal device 3 is located at a search reference position P in front of a predetermined station. In this case, it is assumed that the degree of congestion of the mesh including the search reference position P is as high as, for example, 5000 or more as shown by the oblique lines in FIG. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, since the downtown area is formed in the area below the station on the map of FIG. 2A, following the mesh including the search reference position P, FIG. Assume that the congestion degree of the two meshes on the lower side of the station of A) is high, for example, 4000 to 5000 people. The congestion degree of other meshes is assumed to be 1000 or less, for example.

  In this case, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 sets, as the search area AR, an area including three continuous meshes indicated by hatching in FIG. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2B, a circular area having a predetermined radius is set as the search area AR-J with the search reference position P being the current position of the user having the user terminal device 3 as the center. . For this reason, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the search area AR-J includes areas above the station where the downtown area is not formed and areas on the left and right sides of the station (areas with low congestion).

  However, as described with reference to FIG. 2A, the congestion level corresponding search area setting unit 111 of the search server device 1 is made of a mesh with a high congestion level by referring to the information of the congestion level data file 106. An area can be set as the search area AR. In other words, the congestion level corresponding search area setting unit 111 can appropriately set the search area AR without including a mesh with a low congestion level in the search area.

  The facility search processing unit 112 refers to the POI data in the area corresponding to the set search area AR in the data stored in the map DB 104, and searches for facilities that match the search conditions provided by the user terminal device 3. . Then, the facility search processing unit 112 forms a search result list by listing the search results, and provides this to the user terminal device 3 that is the search request source.

  The detailed information providing unit 121 acquires detailed information about the corresponding facility from the POI data of the map DB 104 in response to a request for providing detailed information on the facility from the user terminal device 3 that has provided the search result list, and obtains this from the request source Provided to the user terminal device 3. In response to a request for providing map information about the facility from the user terminal device 3 that provided the search result list, the map information providing unit 122 acquires a map of the surrounding area of the facility from the map DB 104, and obtains this map from the requesting user terminal. Provided for apparatus 3.

  Further, the map information providing unit 122 obtains a map indicating the route from the search reference position to the facility from the map DB 104 in response to a request for providing route information from the user terminal device 3 that provided the search result list to the facility. This can also be provided to the requesting user terminal device 3. Note that the network data of the network DB 105 is used for route search. The search result from the facility search processing unit 112, the detailed information from the detailed information providing unit 121, and the map information from the map information providing unit 122 are sent to the network 2 through the communication I / F 101, and the requesting user Provided to the terminal device 3.

  Then, the congestion degree totaling unit 123 obtains permission from each of a large number of users using the GPS-compatible mobile phone, totals the distribution per unit time of the position information transmitted from the GPS-compatible mobile phone, The estimated number of persons is calculated and updated to the congestion degree data file. The distribution of the position information transmitted from the GPS-compatible mobile phone for each mesh can be obtained by various methods. For example, for each mesh, the average number of position information for each predetermined time can be set as the distribution, or the number of GPS-compatible mobile phone terminals staying for a predetermined time or more for each mesh can be set as the distribution. Also, for each mesh, for each unit time (for example, every hour), add the number of first visitors and the number of people who entered the mesh per unit time, and from this mesh per unit time Various methods can be used such as subtracting the number of people who have gone out to obtain the distribution.

  In the search server device 1 having such a configuration, based on a facility search request from a user, a search area is appropriately set in consideration of the degree of congestion for each mesh, and a facility located in this search area is searched. You can search for facilities as targets.

[Configuration example of user terminal device 3]
Next, a configuration example of the user terminal device 3 will be described. The basic configuration of the user terminal device 3 is shown in the block diagram on the lower end side of FIG. In the user terminal device 3 shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication unit 301 converts a signal received through the network 2 into data that can be processed by the own device, or signals various data for transmission in accordance with the protocol. Or sent to the network 2. A transmission / reception antenna 301 </ b> A is connected to the wireless communication unit 301.

  The control unit 302 controls each unit of the user terminal device 3 and is a computer device configured by connecting a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM through a CPU bus (not shown). The control unit 302 also functions as an application execution unit that executes various applications. The storage device 303 includes a nonvolatile memory as a recording medium, and performs writing / recording holding / reading / deleting various application programs and data obtained by various processes to the nonvolatile memory.

  The operation unit 304 includes hardware keys provided in the user terminal device 3, receives an operation input from the user, and supplies the received information to the control unit 302. The hardware keys provided in the operation unit 304 are, for example, a power on / off key, several function keys for executing basic functions, and the like. The time control unit 305 manages the current date, current day, and current time. The GPS unit 306 and the GPS antenna 306A measure the current position of the own device.

  The display unit 307 receives various image data and video data, converts them into video signals, and displays images and videos corresponding to the video signals on its own display screen. The touch panel 308 affixed to the display screen of the display unit 307 constitutes a so-called software key together with information displayed on the display screen. Therefore, the control unit 302 can recognize the instruction input from the user based on the information indicating the user's designated position from the touch panel 308 and the information displayed on the display screen of the display unit 307 corresponding to the designated position. It is like that.

  The request forming unit 309 forms a search request for a facility including a search reference position and a search condition under the control of the control unit 302, and sends the request to the network through the wireless communication unit 301 and the transmission / reception antenna 301A. Transmit to device 1. Here, the search reference position is a current position acquired through the GPS unit 306 or an indicated position (target position) input through the touch panel 308. The search conditions are various condition information for searching, such as the genre of the facility to be searched, the budget, and the presence / absence of a parking lot, which are input through the touch panel 308.

  The result output unit 310 forms display information to be displayed on the display unit 307 from the search result received from the search server device 1 under the control of the control unit 102, and supplies the display information to the display unit 307. As a result, the search result is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 307. As described above, the result output unit 310 realizes a function of outputting the search result through the display unit 307. The result output unit 310 also realizes a function of outputting through the display unit 307 when receiving detailed facility information or map information.

  As described above, the user terminal device 3 of this embodiment is a high-function mobile phone terminal. However, in the user terminal device 3 in FIG. 1, the call processing unit, the transmitter, the receiver, etc. for realizing the call function, which are not directly related to the facility search process, the attitude of the own device, Description is omitted for each part such as a sensor unit for detecting a direction, a voice output unit that emits a ringtone or a warning sound, a voice message, and a speaker.

  As will be described in detail later, the user terminal device 3 having such a configuration forms a facility search request and transmits it to the search server device 1 in response to an instruction input from the user, and searches for the facility from the search server device 1. Receive the result and present it to the user. In addition, when receiving detailed facility information or map information from the search server device 1, the user terminal device 3 also realizes a function of providing this to the user.

[Facility search processing executed in the facility search device]
Next, the details of the facility search process performed in the facility search device including the search server device 1 and the user terminal device 3 as described above will be described. In the facility search device according to this embodiment, the search server device 1 performs server-side facility search processing, and the user terminal device 3 performs terminal device-side facility search processing. As a result, the search server device 1 and the user terminal device 3 cooperate to perform a facility search process and provide the search result to the user of the user terminal device 3. In the following, the processing in the search server device 1 and the processing in the user terminal device 3 will be described separately.

[Facility search processing in user terminal device 3]
First, a facility search process on the user terminal device 3 side including a process of receiving an instruction input from a user that triggers the start of the facility search process will be described. 3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining the facility search process executed by the user terminal device 3, and FIG. 5 explains an example of an input screen used in the facility search process by the user terminal device 3. FIG.

  In the processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the user terminal device 3 selects an item for executing a target facility search process such as “facility search” from a predetermined menu displayed on the display unit 307. Is executed by the control unit 302. When the processes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are executed, the control unit 302 first accesses the search server device 1 using a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) stored and held in the storage device 303 or the like. An input screen for facility search processing is acquired (step S101).

  And the control part 302 displays the input screen for the facility search acquired from the search server apparatus 1 on the display part 307 (step S102). The facility search input screen displayed in step S102 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a reference position input field N1, a genre selection input field N2, and a telephone number of the target facility. , A facility name, an address, etc. input field N3 and a search execution button BT are provided.

  Then, the control unit 302 receives input of necessary information such as a search reference position and a search condition through the touch panel 308 (step S103). In step S103, when a touch operation is performed on the reference position input field N1, a selection button for the current position and a selection button for input of the reference position are displayed. When the current position selection button is touched, the current position acquired through the GPS unit 306 is specified as the search reference position. In addition, when the reference position input selection button is touched, a software keyboard is displayed. For example, “Shinjuku Station West Exit”, “Shibuya Station Hachiko-mae”, etc. You will be able to make input. Then, a place (position) specified by the input place name or the like is specified as a search reference position.

  In step S103, when a touch operation is performed on the genre selection input field N2 through the touch panel 308, for example, “gourmet”, “leisure / tourism / sports”, “hotel / inn”, etc. Genre selection items are displayed and can be selected. When a touch operation is performed on the target item field, more detailed selection items are displayed and can be selected. In this way, the user can input search conditions by selecting a target item from the displayed menu. Therefore, for example, a target search condition can be input, such as “gourmet” → “tonkatsu / tempura”.

  In some cases, the user knows the telephone number, name, and address of the target facility. In this case, when the user performs a touch operation on the input field N3 such as the telephone number, the facility name, and the address of the target facility, a software keyboard is displayed on the display unit 307 and the target facility is displayed via the touch panel 308. The phone number, facility name, and address are accepted. In this case, the user does not need to input a genre as a search condition.

  After the processing in step S103, the control unit 302 controls the request forming unit 309 to form a facility search request, which is sent to the network 2 through the wireless communication unit 301 and the transmission / reception antenna 301A, and the search server device. 1 (step S104). The search request includes the search reference position and search conditions received in step S103, and includes identification information of the user terminal device 3 that is the transmission source, information indicating that the request is a facility search request, and the like.

  Thereafter, the control unit 302 receives the search result of the facility addressed to itself through the transmitting / receiving antenna 301A and the wireless communication unit 301 (step S105), and determines whether the search result is received (step S106). . If it is determined in step S106 that the search result has not been received, the processing from step S105 is repeated. Further, it is assumed that it is determined that the search result is received in the determination process of step S106. The control unit 302 controls the result output unit 310 to form display information indicating the search result to be displayed on the display unit 307 from the received search result, and supplies the display information to the display unit 307 to display the search result. The information is displayed on the part 307 (step S107).

  In step S107, when a facility is searched by specifying a genre, for example, a search result list as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display unit 307 as a facility search result. The Thereafter, the control unit 302 receives an operation input for the facility search result display screen displayed as shown in FIG. 5B through the touch panel 308 (step S108). Then, the control unit 302 determines whether or not the “return” button provided on the lower left side is operated on the search result display screen displayed as shown in FIG. 5B (step S109). ).

  If it is determined in the determination process in step S109 that the “return” button has been operated, the process from step S102 is repeated, and the input screen for facility search shown in FIG. It is possible to input a reference position and a search condition. If it is determined in the determination process in step S109 that the “return” button has not been operated, the process proceeds to the process illustrated in FIG. 4, and the control unit 302 determines that the search result list illustrated in FIG. It is determined whether or not the “details” button S1, S2,... In the display column for each item has been selected (step S110).

  If it is determined in step S110 that the “details” button has been selected, the control unit 302 controls the request generation unit 309 and the result output unit 310 to execute a detail display process (step S111). In step S111, the search server device 1 is requested to provide detailed information regarding the facility displayed in the display area including the selected “detail” button, and the details provided from the search server device 1 in response to this request. Detailed information display processing for displaying information and the like is performed. When the detailed information display process in step S111 ends, the process from step S107 shown in FIG. 3 is performed. Accordingly, the display returns to the display of the search result list shown in FIG. 5B, and the display returns to the state in which detailed information about other facilities can be displayed and viewed.

  In the detailed information display process in step S111, when the detailed information of the facility is displayed, map information around the facility or a display instruction of the route from the search reference position to the facility can be received. In this case, the search server device 1 is requested to provide a map showing the route around the facility where the detailed information is displayed and a route, and the map information provided from the search server device 1 is received accordingly. Is displayed.

  If it is determined in step S110 that the “details” button has not been selected, the control unit 302 is provided on the lower right side of the search result display screen displayed as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the “END” button is operated (step S112). If it is determined in step S112 that the end button has not been operated, a process corresponding to the operation, for example, a search result list scroll process, is performed (step S113). After the process of step S113, the control unit 302 repeats the process from step S108 shown in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S112 that the end button has been operated, a predetermined end process is executed (step S114), and the processes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are ended. Note that the predetermined end processing performed in step S114 transmits a facility search processing end request to the search server device 1 or deletes the displayed search result list to display the facilities shown in FIGS. This includes a process for returning to the display screen before executing the search process.

  In this embodiment, even when the facility search process is performed by inputting the telephone number, the facility name, and the address of the target facility, the search result is output in the manner shown in FIG. Detailed information and map information can be displayed. For example, when a facility is searched based on a facility name, when a target facility is a chain store or the like, a plurality of facilities having the same facility name may be searched.

  As described above, the user terminal device 3 according to the present embodiment transmits the search request and the like to the search server device 1 by executing the processing shown in FIGS. A search result or the like provided from the apparatus can be received and output. Thereby, a user who is a user of the user terminal device 3 can use the search result and the like through the user terminal device 3.

[Facility search processing in the search server device 1]
Next, facility search processing on the search server device 1 side that performs facility search in response to a request from the user terminal device 3 will be described. As described with reference to FIG. 5A, from the user terminal device 3 of this embodiment, it is also possible to perform a facility search in a pinpoint manner using the telephone number, facility name, and address of the target facility. . However, since the facility search apparatus according to this embodiment is particularly characterized in how the search area is set, in the following, the user terminal device 3 responds to a search request including a search condition such as a search reference position and a genre. A case where facility search processing is performed will be described.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the facility search process executed by the search server device 1. The processes shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are always executed in the control unit 102 of the search server device 1. The control unit 102 constantly monitors whether or not the access from the user terminal device 3 has been received through the communication I / F 101 (step S201), and the determination process in step S201 is performed until the access to the own device is received. Is repeated.

  When it is determined in the determination process in step S201 that access to the own device has been received, the control unit 102 provides the input terminal in the form shown in FIG. Step S202). Then, the control unit 102 receives a search request from the access source user terminal device 3 through the communication I / F 101 (step S203), and determines whether the search request has been received (step S204). If it is determined in step S204 that the search request has not been received, the control unit 102 repeats the processing from step S203.

  Assume that it is determined in the determination process in step S204 that a search request from the access source user terminal device 3 has been received. In this case, the control unit 102 extracts a search reference position and a search condition from the received search request (step S205). Then, the control unit 102 supplies the search reference position to the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 and controls to set the search area (step S206).

  In step S206, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 refers to the data of the congestion degree data file 106 based on the supplied search reference position under the control of the control unit 102, and starts from a continuous mesh having a high congestion degree. Is set as the search area AR. In this case, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 refers to the congestion degree of each mesh of the congestion degree data file 106 within a predetermined range determined based on the search reference position, and is a search area including continuous meshes having a high congestion degree. Set. Here, the predetermined range determined on the basis of the search reference position can be easily specified as a range having a radius of 1 km centered on the search reference position.

  In addition, the congestion level corresponding search area setting unit 111 determines a lower limit value of the congestion level based on the congestion level of the mesh including the search reference position, and does not include a mesh having a lower congestion level than the lower limit value in the search target. Can be. For example, if the degree of congestion of the mesh including the search reference position is 5000 or more, the lower limit value can be set to 2000 or more, 3000 or more. Then, as described with reference to FIG. 2A, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 sets, as the search area AR, an area composed of continuous meshes with a high degree of congestion, based on the search reference position. .

  Next, the control unit 102 supplies the search condition extracted in step S205 to the facility search processing unit 112, and searches for a facility that matches the search condition in the search area AR set in step S206. The processing unit 112 is controlled (step S207). By the processing in step S207, the facility search processing unit 112 refers to the information in the map DB 104 and performs a search process for the facilities in the search area AR according to the search conditions.

  Then, the control unit 102 sends the search result obtained by the search processing in step S207 to the network 2 through the communication I / F 101 and transmits it to the user terminal device 3 that is the search request source (step S208). Thereafter, the control unit 102 proceeds to the process illustrated in FIG. 7 and receives a request from the user terminal device 3 that has transmitted the search result via the communication I / F 101 (step S209).

  Then, the control unit 102 determines whether or not a request from the user terminal device 3 that provided the search result has been received (step S210), and when determining that the request has not been received, repeats the processing from step S209. Due to the repeated processing, a request is received from the user terminal device 3. Further, it is assumed that it is determined that the request from the user terminal device 3 that provided the search result has been received by the determination process in step S210. In this case, the control unit 102 determines whether or not the received request is a request for returning the processing due to the operation of the “return” button in the user terminal device 3 (step S211).

  In the determination process of step S211, when it is determined that the received request is a request for returning the process, the control unit 102 repeats the process from step S203 illustrated in FIG. When it is determined that the received request is not a request for returning the process, the control unit 102 determines whether or not the received request is a request for providing detailed information of the instructed facility (step S212).

  Assume that in the determination process in step S212, it is determined that the received request is a request for providing detailed information of the instructed facility. In this case, the control unit 102 acquires detailed information of the instructed facility from the map DB 104 and provides it to the request source, or acquires map information about the instructed facility from the map DB 104 and provides it to the request source. The process which performs is performed (step S213). When the process of step S213 ends, the process from step S209 is repeated.

  Further, it is assumed that it is determined in the determination process in step S212 that the received request is not a request for providing detailed information on the instructed facility. In this case, the control unit 102 determines whether or not the received request is an end request for facility search processing (step S214). If it is determined in step S214 that the received request is not an end request for facility search processing, the request from step S209 is repeated because it is not a valid request. Thereby, the request from the user terminal device 3 that provided the search result can be received again.

  Further, in the determination process of step S214, when it is determined that the received request is a facility search process end request, a predetermined end process such as releasing the connection with the requesting user terminal device 3 is performed ( Step S215), the processing from Step S201 shown in FIG. 6 is repeated. As a result, access from the user terminal device is newly accepted.

  As described above, the search server device 1 according to the present embodiment executes the processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, thereby responding to the search request including the search reference position and the search condition from the user terminal device 3. A search area can be set in consideration of the degree of congestion, and the facility search can be performed appropriately. Thereby, it is possible to provide a search result of a more appropriate facility to a user who is a user of the user terminal device 3.

[Effect of the embodiment]
In this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 2A, the search server device 1 uses information indicating the degree of congestion for each mesh in the congestion degree data file 106, and continuously according to the degree of congestion. A search area AR is set by specifying an area composed of meshes. Then, the search server device 1 can search for a facility that matches the search condition in the search area AR set according to the degree of congestion.

  As a result, unlike the conventional example shown in FIG. 2B, the search area is a circular area having a predetermined radius with the search reference position as the center. Since it can be set as the search area AR, the facility search can be performed more appropriately, and the search result can be provided to the user through the user terminal device 3. That is, a facility search can be performed in a more appropriate search area, and a more appropriate facility can be recommended (recommended) to the user.

[Modifications, etc.]
8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining another example of setting the search area AR. In the search server device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 2A, the search area is set in units of a predetermined mesh. However, it is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, similarly to the case of FIG. 2 (A), an area having a predetermined width is provided around a reference area KA made of a continuous mesh in consideration of the degree of congestion. You may set and use as search area AR which extended the range to include. In such a case, although it does not belong to a mesh with a high degree of congestion, it is possible to make a search target without leaking a prosperous store located in the vicinity thereof. The predetermined width is an arbitrary width equal to or less than the length of one side of the mesh, and specifically, for example, a width such as 30 m, 50 m, 70 m, or the like.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2A, it has been described that the search area AR can be set in the direction in which the downtown area is formed by considering the degree of congestion for each mesh. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a mesh (area) with a high degree of congestion exists on the lower side and the left side of FIG. 9 adjacent to the mesh including the current position and the search reference position P that is the target position input by the user, as shown in FIG. In such a case, the area including these can be set as the search area AR. That is, the search area AR can be appropriately set according to the degree of congestion.

  In setting the search area AR, it is only necessary to find a mesh having a high degree of congestion adjacent to the mesh including the current reference position and the search reference position P that is the target position input by the user. In this case, as described above, the lower limit value (reference value) of the congestion level included in the search area is determined according to the congestion level of the mesh including the search reference position P, and the mesh whose congestion level is lower than the lower limit value. The search area AR can be appropriately set by making it not the target of the search area.

  Further, for example, a circular area having a predetermined radius with the search reference position P as the center is set as a settable range of the search area AR, and a search area made of a highly congested mesh is set in the settable range. Also good. Note that the predetermined radius in this case may be determined in advance such as 500 m, 750 m, or the like. Of course, the configuration may be such that the user can set and change the predetermined radius.

  Further, as described above, the congestion degree data file 106 obtains and holds the hourly congestion degree for each mesh, and also holds information indicating the past congestion degree for each mesh. That is, the congestion degree data file 106 statistically holds the congestion degree. For this reason, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 can set the search area AR using the congestion degree for the latest one hour for each mesh. In addition, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 can set the search area AR by using the congestion degree for the past several hours for each mesh or using the congestion degree for the past one day.

  Of course, the search area AR can also be set using a relatively long-term congestion degree such as the past one month, the past several months, the past one year, or the like. Further, for example, the search area AR is set using the congestion degree of the same time zone for the past several days, or the search corresponding area is set based on the congestion degree of the search corresponding day of the week for the past several weeks. Can be used as statistical information in various ways to set a search area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the basic mesh size is 250 m × 250 m, but is not limited thereto. For example, a smaller mesh such as 50 m × 50 m or 100 m × 100 m may be used. Also, larger meshes such as 500 m × 500 m and 750 m × 750 m may be used. Further, the mesh shape is not limited to a square. As long as the area can be divided into mesh areas without gaps on the map based on latitude and longitude, the shape of the mesh may be rectangular or other polygonal shapes.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the facility search apparatus is configured by the search server apparatus 1 and the user terminal apparatus 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By providing the user terminal device 3 with related functions such as the map DB 104, the congestion degree data file 106, the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111, and the facility search processing unit 112, a so-called stand-alone facility search apparatus may be configured. it can.

  The map DB 104 and the congestion degree data file 106 are provided in a predetermined server device on the network 2, and the user terminal device 3 includes a congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111, a facility search processing unit 112, and the like. A processing function is provided. In this way, the facility search apparatus can be configured. In other words, the user terminal device 3 can be configured to have some or all of the functions of the search server device 1 described with reference to FIG.

[Others]
As can be seen from the description of the above-described embodiment, the map database 104 and the congestion degree data file 106 of the search server apparatus 1 realize the functions of the map database and the congestion degree information storage means of the facility search apparatus. In addition, the function of the reference position acquisition means of the facility search device is the cooperation of the GPS unit 306, the touch panel 308, the wireless communication unit 301, the communication I / F 101 of the search server device 1, and the control unit 102. Realized.

  Further, the function of the search condition reception means of the facility search device is that the touch panel 308, the request forming unit 309, the wireless communication unit 301, the communication I / F 101 of the search server device 1, and the control unit 102 cooperate. Has been realized. Further, the function of the area setting means and the facility searching means of the facility search device is realized by the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111 and the facility search processing unit 112 of the search server device 1.

  Further, the function of the output means of the facility search device is that the communication I / F 101 of the search server device 1, the control unit 102 and the wireless communication unit 301, the control unit 302, the result output unit 310, and the display unit 307 of the user terminal device 3 cooperate. Realized by working.

  The method shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 corresponds to the facility search method of the present invention. Also, a program for performing the processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is formed and installed in a server device on the network so as to be executable. Also, a program for performing the processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is formed and mounted so as to be executable on a user terminal device such as a mobile phone terminal, a high-function mobile phone terminal, or a tablet PC having a communication function. By doing in this way, the facility search apparatus of this invention is realizable with the server apparatus and user terminal device in which the said program was mounted.

  Also, an information processing apparatus that forms a program for executing processes other than the processes for transmitting and receiving information among the processes shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, and includes a map DB and a congestion degree data file By mounting so as to be executable, a so-called stand-alone facility search apparatus can be realized.

  Therefore, each function of the congestion degree corresponding search area setting unit 111, the facility search processing unit 112, the detailed information providing unit 121, the map information providing unit 122, and the congestion degree totaling unit 123 of the search server device illustrated in FIG. It can also be realized as a function of the control unit 102 by software executed in 102. Further, the functions of the request generation unit 309 and the result output unit 310 of the user terminal device 3 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be realized as functions of the control unit 302 by software executed by the control unit 302.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Search server apparatus, 101 ... Communication I / F, 102 ... Control part, 103 ... Storage device, 104 ... Map DB, 105 ... Network DB, 106 ... Congestion degree data file, 111 ... Congestion degree corresponding search area setting part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 ... Facility search process part, 121 ... Detailed information provision part, 122 ... Map information provision part, 123 ... Congestion degree totaling part, 2 ... Network, 3 ... User terminal device, 301 ... Wireless communication part, 301A ... Transmission / reception antenna, 302 ... Control unit 303 ... Storage device 304 ... Operation unit 305 ... Time control unit 306 ... GPS unit 306A ... GPS antenna 307 ... Display unit 308 ... Touch panel 309 ... Request forming unit 310 ... Result output unit

Claims (6)

A map database that stores map information including detailed information about the facility;
Congestion degree information storage means for storing information indicating the degree of congestion of people for each mesh of a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map;
Reference position acquisition means for acquiring a search reference position;
Search condition receiving means for receiving input of search conditions;
Based on the search reference position, referring to the information of the congestion level information storage unit, an area setting unit that specifies an area made of a continuous mesh according to the congestion level and sets a search area;
Facility search means for referring to the map database for the set search area and searching for facilities that match the search conditions;
An facility search apparatus comprising: output means for outputting a search result obtained by the search means. The facility search device according to claim 1,
The area setting means sets a lower limit value of the congestion level based on the congestion level of the mesh to which the search reference position belongs, and sets a mesh having a congestion level equal to or higher than the lower limit value as a specific target. The facility search device according to claim 1 or 2,
The congestion level information storage means stores the congestion level calculated for each predetermined time for each mesh,
The facility setting device, wherein the area setting means sets a search area by using the most recently calculated congestion level or by using the congestion level for a predetermined period in the past. A facility search device according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3,
A search server device and a mobile communication terminal are connected through a network.
The search server device includes:
The map database, the congestion degree information storage means, the reference position acquisition means, the search condition reception means, the area setting means, the facility search means, and the output means,
The reference position acquisition means receives and acquires the search reference position transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the own device through the network,
The search condition receiving means receives and acquires the search condition transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the own device through the network,
The output means outputs a search result to the mobile communication terminal through the network,
The mobile communication terminal is
In response to an instruction input from the user or through a current position acquisition unit, a reference position acquisition unit that acquires a search reference position;
Reference position transmitting means for transmitting the acquired search reference position to the search server device through the network;
Search condition accepting means for accepting input of search conditions from a user;
Search condition transmission means for transmitting the input search condition to the search server device through the network;
A search result receiving means for receiving a search result addressed to the own device transmitted from the search server device through the network;
A facility search apparatus comprising: output means for outputting a received search result. A reference position acquisition step of acquiring a search reference position through reference position acquisition means;
A search condition receiving step for receiving an input of the search condition through the search condition receiving means;
Based on the search reference position, the area setting means refers to the information of the congestion degree information storage means for storing information indicating the degree of human congestion for each mesh of a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map, An area setting process for specifying a search area by specifying an area composed of continuous meshes according to the degree of congestion;
A facility search step in which the facility search means refers to the information of the search area set in a map database storing map information including detailed information about the facility, and searches for a facility that matches the search condition;
An output step of outputting a search result in the search step through an output means. A facility search program executed by a computer installed in an information processing apparatus,
A reference position acquisition step of acquiring a search reference position through reference position acquisition means;
A search condition receiving step for receiving an input of the search condition through the search condition receiving means;
Based on the search reference position, the area setting means refers to the information of the congestion degree information storage means for storing information indicating the degree of human congestion for each mesh of a predetermined size provided without a gap on the map, An area setting step for setting a search area by specifying an area composed of continuous meshes according to the degree of congestion,
A facility search step in which facility search means refers to information in the search area set in a map database that stores map information including detailed information about the facility, and searches for a facility that matches the search condition;
An output step of outputting the search result in the search step through the output means. A computer-readable facility search program.

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