JP3466534B2 - Map store registration device and registration method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map store registration device.
And the location of each particular store for registration
In order to generate map information
A map that performs the process of registering with the degree and latitude data
Shop registration device and registration method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet, services that provide electronic maps that can be viewed on a Web browser are becoming widespread. Recently, as a corporate advertisement form, it is becoming more common to announce the company's products and services on the Internet, so information providing services that show the location of each company's store on an electronic map have also appeared. Normally,
Create an image with an icon indicating the location of the store on the map around the target store, and create this image on the Web.
By providing from the server, information will be provided to general users. For general users, we
b The provided electronic map can be browsed on the browser.

As described above, in order to provide the service of providing the electronic map of the vicinity of the store, it is necessary to register the position information of each store in advance. As the position information on the map, data of longitude and latitude are usually used, and the data of longitude and latitude must be registered for each store. However, in practice, it is not necessary to manually enter the numerical values indicating the longitude and latitude, but by specifying the position by clicking one point on the map displayed on the display screen with the mouse, etc.
It is general to register each store position using a program having a function of automatically registering the longitude and latitude data of the point.

[0004]

When operating an electronic map providing system for providing store location information via the Internet, it is necessary to register each store location in advance as described above. The position registration work is
It is performed by an operation of designating a corresponding point on the map displayed on the display screen. In the case of a relatively small company, such registration work by designating points is not a heavy burden. However, for a company having a certain number of stores, the work of specifying the position on the display screen for each store is inefficient, and requires a lot of labor and time. Further, as the number of stores increases, the possibility of incorrect registration increases, and it becomes difficult to provide highly reliable position information.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention is a map store registration capable of efficiently registering position information of a large number of stores.
An object is to provide a device and a registration method.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] (1) In a first aspect of the present invention, a process of registering a large number of stores together with longitude and latitude data in order to generate map information indicating the location of each store. In the map store registration device for performing the above, a list input means for inputting store list data including at least a store name and an address for each store to be registered, and a building name for each existing building,
A residential map database that collects address, longitude and latitude data, and a wide area indicated by the upper part of the address.
A wide collection of longitude and latitude data for representative points about
The local area database is collated with the store list data entered by the list input means and the housing map database . For stores where a match is found , the longitude and latitude data is added to the store list data and a match is found. Inside
For stores that have
An upper matching process that matches only the upper part of the address
Wide area where a match was found by this upper matching process
Store the longitude and latitude data of the representative points of the ward in the store list
The automatic collating means added to the data is provided.

[0007]

(2) A second aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the map store registration apparatus according to the first aspect , the automatic collating means is provided with a function of setting a plurality of types of flags indicating the matching degree of the collation result for each store.

(3) A third aspect of the present invention relates to the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the map store registration device according to the first or second aspect , the automatic collating means performs an address collating process for collating an address in the store list data with an address in the residential map database, and a store name in the store list data. A function for performing name collation processing for collating with the building name in the housing map database is provided, and longitude and latitude data are added based on the results of these two collation processing.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

(4) In the fourth aspect of the present invention , a large number of stores can be computer-readable together with longitude and latitude data in order to generate map information indicating the location of each store using a computer. In the map store registration method to be registered in the recording means, a stage of preparing store list data including at least store names and addresses of individual stores to be registered, and building names, addresses, and longitudes of individual existing buildings. And the stage of preparing a residential map database that collects data of
Representative point about wide area indicated by upper part
Regional database that collects the longitude and latitude data of
And the step of providing a scan, using a computer, reading the information about each store from the store list data, search the house map database based on the information in the address or store name, compares the list of stores data and the house map database
However, for the stores where a match was found, store list data
If longitude and latitude data are added to the
For stores that have
An upper matching process that matches only the upper part of the address
Wide area where a match was found by this upper matching process
Store the longitude and latitude data of the representative points of the ward in the store list
The automatic matching process added to the
And recording the store list data to which the frequency data is added in a computer-readable recording means.

[0014]

(5) A fifth aspect of the present invention is based on the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the map store registration method according to the fourth aspect, a plurality of types of flags indicating the matching degree of the matching result for each store are set when the computer executes the automatic matching process.

(6) A sixth aspect of the present invention is based on the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the map store registration method according to the fourth or fifth aspect, when causing a computer to execute an automatic collation process, an address collation process that collates an address in the store list data with an address in the residential map database, and a store list. Name matching processing for matching the store name in the data with the building name in the housing map database is executed, and the longitude and latitude data are recognized based on the results of these two matching processings. Is.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments.

<<<< §1. Using the device according to the present invention
Service Form >> First, an example of the service form using the map store registration device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this block diagram, the electronic map providing system 1
Reference numeral 00 denotes a system in which the map store registration device according to the present invention is incorporated, and is actually composed of a plurality of computers including a Web server. The electronic map providing system 100 provides a service for providing map information to a large number of users 310, 320, 330 (actually, information terminal devices such as personal computers used by users) via the Internet 200. Have a function. In the service form shown here, the customer Web server 400 is further added.
Is connected to the Internet 200. Here, the meaning of “customer” of the customer Web server 400 means “customer” for a business entity that provides a map providing service using the electronic map providing system 100. That is, in this example, the business entity serving as the map provider receives the contract from the business entity serving as the customer, and carries out the map information providing service with the general user as the recipient. Here, the provided map information is information indicating the store position of the business entity serving as the customer.

A more concrete example of this service form will be described below. For example, suppose that the business entity serving as a customer is a business entity that conducts banking business under the name "○○ bank". The map provider that implements this service business using the electronic map providing system 100 is entrusted by a XX bank, which is a customer, to general users (general users of the bank). The position information of each branch is provided via the Internet 200. From the user's side, this service is as follows. First, the user browses the homepage of the XX bank using the Internet 200. FIG. 2 (a) is a screen diagram showing an example of such a home page. Such a homepage is ○○
It is a web page opened by the bank for general users,
The user can browse using a Web browser incorporated in a personal computer or the like. Here, when the user clicks the character string "base information" displayed on this home page with the mouse, a link is created in FIG.
The Web page as shown in (b) will be displayed. This Web page is based at the XX bank, that is,
It is a page showing a list of branches. Here, if the user further clicks the character string "Toranomon Branch" with the mouse,
A web page with a link is displayed as shown in FIG. 2 (c). This Web page is a page showing detailed information of XX Bank Toranomon Branch, and a map of the surrounding area (the lower half part of the figure) is displayed together with an outline of the branch and a photo of the building. In the figure, the icon "Circle B" on the map indicates the position of the Toranomon branch.

The home page of the XX bank shown in FIG. 2 (a) is provided by the customer Web server 400. In order to provide such a home page, it is necessary to prepare the data described in the HTML format in the customer web server 400. However, many companies currently publish their home pages on the web. Therefore, the customer Web server 400 is normally operating as an existing facility. On the other hand, Web pages as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C are provided by the electronic map providing system 100. Therefore, the XX bank will be able to use this service by performing a process of preparing a link button consisting of a character string of "base information" on the existing home page. In other words, FIG.
All the work of providing the Web pages shown in (b) and (c) will be performed by the business entity that is the map provider.

Of course, the information necessary to display the Web pages as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C must be prepared in advance by the bank and provided to the map provider. . Specifically, for each branch, it is necessary to prepare information such as a branch name and address, a brief description, a photograph of the building, and an icon image displayed on the map, and provide the information to the map provider. The map provider supplies this information to the electronic map providing system 10
0 will be registered and used for the operation of the above-mentioned service. At this time, if the branch office name, address, brief description, building photograph, icon image, etc. are prepared by the XX bank as digital data described in a predetermined format, registration work in the electronic map providing system 100 is performed. Is relatively easy. However, in order to display the map around the store as shown in the lower half of FIG. 2 (c), it is necessary to register the geographical position information of the store, that is, the longitude and latitude data. In this way, when registering the longitude and latitude data for each store, conventionally, an operation of designating the position of each store with a mouse or the like was performed while displaying a map on the display screen. However, in the case of a large company such as a bank, there are hundreds of stores nationwide, and it is very difficult for the operator to manually register the position of each store while looking at the display screen. It is not preferable because it imposes a heavy work load. The map store registration device according to the present invention has a feature of significantly reducing such a work load. Hereinafter, this feature will be described.

<<<< §2. Electronic map providing system 10
0 basic configuration >> Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an electronic map providing system 100 incorporating a map store registration device according to the present invention. As described above, the electronic map providing system 100 is actually a system including a plurality of computers including a Web server, but here, for convenience of description, as a set of functional blocks as illustrated, The configuration of the electronic map providing system 100 will be shown. As described above, the function of the electronic map providing system 100 is to provide the map information indicating the location of a specific store to a predetermined destination via the network. As shown, the electronic map providing system 100
The major components of this are the store registration unit 10 and the map providing unit 20.
And. The store registration unit 10 has a function of registering the locations of a large number of stores, and the map store according to the present invention.
It corresponds to a registration device. Also, the map providing unit 20
Has a function of providing an electronic map showing the location of the store based on the registered contents.

The store registration unit 10 includes a list input means 11,
The automatic collating means 12, the manual filling means 13, the house map database D1, and the CD-ROM map data D2. The list input means 11 has a function of inputting store list data L1 including at least a store name and an address for each store to be registered. Here, the store list data L1 is a customer (in the example of §1,
Ask the bank to prepare it as digital data. General bibliographic items such as store names and addresses can be prepared by the customer as the store list data L1, but special information such as longitude and latitude data can be prepared by the general customer. Is difficult. Therefore, the input store list data L1 includes at least information indicating the store name and address of each store, but does not include the longitude and latitude data regarding the position of the store. Therefore, in order to register the store in the store registration unit 10,
It is necessary to add the longitude and latitude data to each store. Automatic matching means 12 and manual filling means 1
Reference numeral 3 is a component that performs a process of adding the longitude and latitude data.

As will be described in detail later in Section 3, the automatic collating means 12 has a function of automatically adding longitude and latitude data, and the manual filling means 13 manually calculates the result of this automatic processing. It has a function to compensate. The automatic processing by the automatic matching means 12 is executed by the matching work using the house map database D1. Residential map database D1
Is a database that collects data of building names, addresses, longitudes and latitudes of each existing building. Although the word "house" is customarily used here, the house map database D1 is a database that includes not only so-called residential buildings but also data for office buildings and other commercial buildings. The automatic matching means 12 uses the store list data L input by the list input means 11.
1 and the house map database D1 are collated, and processing for adding the longitude and latitude data to the store list data L1 is performed. As will be described later, such automatic processing does not always provide a complete result. Therefore, the filling process by the manual filling means 13 is required. The store list data after the compensation processing is stored in the registration information storage means 14. Here, the store list data that has been input by the list input means 11 is “L1”,
The store list data that is automatically processed by the automatic matching unit 12 is referred to as “L2”, and the store list data that is filled by the manual filling unit 13 is referred to as “L3”.

The manual filling means 13 has a function of displaying a map image on the display screen and generating longitude and latitude data corresponding to a predetermined position designated on this map image, and based on an operator's instruction. Then, the longitude and latitude data is newly added to the store list data L2 (in the case where the longitude and latitude data cannot be automatically added by the automatic matching means 12), or already added. The data of the longitude and the latitude being displayed is confirmed, and if necessary, the correction is performed (in the case of the store where the data of the longitude and the latitude automatically added by the automatic collating means 12 are incorrect), the compensation processing is executed. In this embodiment, the process of displaying the map image on the display screen and generating the longitude and latitude data corresponding to the predetermined position designated on the map image is performed by the CD-RO.
This is done using the M map data D2. Of course, the manual compensation means 13 does not necessarily have to be the CD-ROM map data D2.
Is not required to be used, and any map data prepared in any format may be used. By executing such compensation processing, the shop list data L3 becomes shop list data with longitude and latitude data added for all shops. Store registration department 1
The purpose of 0 is to create store list data L3 with longitude and latitude data as efficiently as possible based on the store list data L1 given by the customer,
This is to perform a process of storing this in the registration information storage means 21 as information to be registered.

On the other hand, the map providing unit 20 includes a registration information storage unit 21, a map information generation / transmission unit 22, and a map creation unit 23.
It is composed of and. Stored in the registration information storage unit 21 is store list data L3 with longitude and latitude data prepared by the store registration unit 10. The map creating means 23 is a component having a function of creating image data of a map around the designated point by designating a predetermined point with the longitude and latitude data. In this embodiment, the map creating means 23 is provided with a database in which information on maps of all over Japan is stored as vector format data, with arbitrary longitude and latitude data in Japan and a predetermined scale factor. Is given, the process of drawing an image showing a map of a predetermined scale centered on the point indicated by the longitude and latitude is performed, and the image data of the map is created. Of course, by preparing a database that stores map information of all over Japan as raster format data and performing a process to extract a part of this raster format data, the area around the point indicated by the given longitude and latitude will be The map creating means 23 having a function of extracting image data may be used.

On the other hand, the map information generation / transmission means 22
Is a network (in the illustrated example, the Internet 20
0), when a specific store is designated, the store list data L3 with the longitude and latitude data stored in the registration information storage means 21 is referred to, and the longitude and latitude of the designated store are specified. It recognizes the data, gives the recognized longitude and latitude data to the map creating means 23 to create the image data of the map around the specified store, and uses the created image data to specify the map information to be provided. It has a function of generating and transmitting this to a providing destination (user) via a network. For example, when a link instruction to the base information is given from the home page shown in FIG. 2 (a), the map information transmission means 22 is shown in FIG. 2 (b) based on the information in the registration information storage means 21. Such a web page is transmitted to the providing destination (user). Then, on the web page shown in FIG. 2 (b), the user selects "Toranomon Branch".
When the character string is clicked, the data designating “Toranomon branch” is given to the map information generation / transmission means 22 via the Internet 200. Therefore, the map information generation / transmission means 22 refers to the store list data L3 with the longitude and latitude data, recognizes the longitude and latitude data of the "Toranomon branch", and supplies this to the map creation means 23. As a result, image data such as the map shown in the lower half of FIG. 2 (c) is created. Therefore, other information (the icon image of "Circle B" and the image shown in FIG.
(C) Detailed information about "Toranomon Branch" as shown in the upper half is combined to generate map information, which is transmitted to the user.

The above is the basic configuration and operation of the electronic map providing system 100. By such operation,
The service work as described in §1 becomes possible.

<<<< §3. Registration by the store registration unit 10
Process >> Next, the details of the registration process performed by the store registration unit 10 will be described with reference to a specific example. Here, a specific registration process will be described in the case where the shop list data L1 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided by a customer who provides leisure facilities mainly in Yamanashi Prefecture. The example of FIG. 4 is store list data in which serial numbers, store names, and addresses are respectively described for a total of 6 stores. As described above, the customer is requested to prepare such store list data L1 as digital data described in a predetermined format. In the illustrated example, the serial number is composed of simple four-digit numbers, but in practice, in consideration of receiving a large number of store list data L1 from a large number of customers, a customer code and the like are also included. It is preferable to set the detailed serial number including it. Further, here, in order to simplify the description, the store list data L1
Shows an example that consists of only the serial number, store name, and address, but in addition to this, in addition to this, information such as the description of each store, a photo of the building, an icon image displayed on the map, etc. Is generally included.

On the other hand, an example of the house map database D1 prepared in the store registration section 10 is shown in FIG. In Figure 5,
Although only the records corresponding to "1941-1947 Nagahama, Ashiwada-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture" are shown, actually, the housing map database D1 is prepared with all similar data for all of Japan as a database. ing. In this example, for each record in the database, five fields including an address number (a number assigned to identify one record), a building name, an address, a longitude, and a latitude are defined. In this residential map database D1, one record is basically formed for each building, and the name given to the building is “building name”.
It is described in the field. Housing map data is
Since it is usually managed as an electronic database, it can be used for such services.

The automatic collating means 12 collates the store list data L1 shown in FIG. 4 with the housing map database D1 shown in FIG. 5, and executes a process of adding longitude and latitude data to the store list data L1. . At this time, if a plurality of types of flags indicating the matching degree of the matching result for each store are set, it can be referred to when performing the filling process using the manual filling means 13. That is,
There is a difference in reliability between the longitude and latitude data added because a sufficient match was found by matching and the longitude and latitude data added because a certain match was found. Therefore, a flag indicating a sufficient match or a flag indicating a certain amount of match is set according to the degree of match, and this flag is presented to the operator who executes the compensation process using the manual compensation means 13. If you do
It becomes possible to provide a material for determining whether or not the compensation process is necessary. Note that more specific flag settings will be described later.

The automatic collating means 12 has a function of performing the following two collating processes. The first matching process is
It is an address matching process of matching the address in the store list data L1 with the address in the house map database D1. For example, the address of the second store "Patent Life" listed in the store list data L1 shown in FIG. 4 is "1942 Nagahama Ashiwada-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture", and this address is shown in FIG. It matches the address of the second record of the housing map database D1 shown. The second matching process is a name matching process for matching the store name in the store list data L1 with the building name in the house map database D1. For example,
No. 2 posted in the store list data L1 shown in FIG.
The store name “patent life” of No. 2 matches the building name of the second record of the housing map database D1 shown in FIG.

Such a collation process is performed by a search process for checking whether or not the character strings match, but in practical use, not only the exact match of the character strings is observed, but also a certain degree of freedom is given. It is preferable to perform a loose search. For example, the search is performed on the basis that half-width characters and full-width characters are treated the same, or that “1-2-3”, “1 of 2-3” and “1 chome 2-3” are treated the same. To do so. Further, if the customer who prepares the store list data L1 is requested to record the data in the predetermined format as described above, this collation processing can be smoothly performed. Automatic matching means 1
2 has a function of adding longitude and latitude data based on the results of these two matching processes. In this embodiment, the data of the longitude and latitude where the match is found is added to the store where the match is found in at least one of the address matching process and the name matching process.

For example, the store list data L shown in FIG.
In the case of the second store “Patent Life” listed in No. 1, there is a match in both the address collation process and the name collation process, so the second store of the store list data L1 shown in FIG. "138.43.25.60/35.29.52.60" which is the longitude and latitude data of the second record of No. 5 will be added. Even if a match is found in only one of the address matching process or the name matching process, similar longitude and latitude data will be added. However, there is a difference in reliability even if the same longitude and latitude data are obtained when a match is found in both the address matching process and the name matching process and when a match is found in only one of them. Will occur. Therefore,
A flag is set as a measure of this reliability. Specifically, in the case of this embodiment, the first flag I indicating that a match is found in both the address matching process and the name matching process, and the match is found only in the address matching process. A second flag II, a third flag III indicating that a match was found only in the name matching process, and a fourth flag IV indicating that no match was found in any matching process. Is defined,
The automatic collation means 12 performs a process of setting any one flag as a collation result for each store.

These four types of flags I to IV are I>II> II.
It shows that the reliability is high in the order of I> IV. The first flag I has the highest reliability because it indicates that a match has been found in both the address and the name. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned store “patent life”, the address and the name both match, and the first flag I is set. The reliability of the second flag II, which indicates that only the address matching process is matched, is higher than the reliability of the third flag III, which indicates that only the name matching process is matched. This is because the shop name or the building name is an element that is arbitrarily given to some extent, while the element is given according to the above. For example, the address "Awada-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture" is the only address in Japan, but there are multiple building names or store names "patent life" in Japan. Therefore, the reliability of the longitude and latitude data added when only the addresses match is fairly high, but the reliability of the longitude and latitude data added when only the names match is not so high. In this specification, what is included in the house map database D1 is customarily called “building name” (because the house map database D1 was originally prepared as a database for each building), and store list data The items recorded in L1 are referred to as “store names” to distinguish them as stores serving as business bases, but the entities are the same.

FIG. 6 shows the result of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the result of automatically adding longitude and latitude data to the store list data L1 shown in FIG.
Store list data L2 output from the automatic matching means 12
Becomes The symbols I to IV described in the flag column indicate the four types of flags I to IV described above. As described above, since the data of the longitude and the latitude of which the match is found is added to the store where the match is found in at least one of the address matching process and the name matching process, the flag I
For stores set to ~ III, some longitude and latitude data are added. However, in the present embodiment, some longitude and latitude data is also added to the store for which the flag IV is set.
The fourth flag IV is set in the fifth store “Tickle” in the list of FIG. 6 (that is, no match is found in the address matching process and the name matching process). This is the reason why the longitude and latitude data are added regardless.

However, it is meaningless to add completely deviated longitude and latitude data to the store to which the fourth flag IV is set. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the additional collation process, which is the upper collation process, is further executed for the store to which the fourth flag IV is set. This upper collation process is a process for collating only the upper part of the address. In order to perform this processing, apart from the residential map database D1, a wide area database that collects data of longitudes and latitudes of representative points in the wide area indicated by the upper part of the address is prepared. For example, the address "Kawaguchiko-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi" is a rough address consisting of only the upper part of the correct address such as "2909-2 Kawaguchi, Kawaguchiko-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi", and is called an address indicating a wide area. It will be. As a wide area database, prepare data about wide areas consisting only of the upper part of such addresses, and set representative points for each wide area (for example, closed areas that constitute the wide area). May be defined geometrically, such as the center point of the circumscribed rectangle, or may be set individually, such as the center position of a major city within the wide area). Then, the longitude and latitude data of each representative point should be prepared, and as for the store to which the fourth flag IV is set, as a result of the high-order matching process, the representative point of the wide area where the match is found Longitude and latitude data may be added.

For example, the store list data L shown in FIG.
For the fifth store “Tickle” in No. 1, no match was found in either the address matching process or the name matching process, so it is assumed that the fourth flag IV is set. In this case, the high-order matching process using the wide area district database is performed for the high-order address "Kawaguchiko-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture". As a result, a record "Kawaguchiko-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi" was searched, and the longitude and latitude data of the representative point "13" was found for this record.
If "8.46.34.47/35.30.44.76" had been set, this longitude and latitude data would be used for the fifth store "Tickle
(Tickle) ”may be added as longitude and latitude data. In the list shown in FIG. 6, the longitude and latitude data added to the fifth store “Tickle” is added by such a higher-level matching process. Of course, the longitude and latitude data added by such high-order matching processing is likely to be misaligned to some extent, and is actually data that cannot be used without correction processing. Even if it is, it is data indicating the longitude and latitude in the vicinity to some extent, and will be somewhat useful when performing the compensation processing later.

Thus, the shop list data L2 as shown in FIG. 6 is output by the automatic processing by the automatic collating means 12. Here, for the time being, longitude and latitude data are added to each store, but the reliability of these data is different. That is, it is possible to determine that the highly reliable longitude and latitude data is added to the store to which the first flag I is set and the store to which the second flag II is set. The longitude and latitude data added to the store set with the flag III of 3 is low in reliability, and the longitude and latitude data added to the store set with the fourth flag IV is hardly reliable. (In other words, it contains a very large error).

The operator uses the manual compensation means 13 to execute compensation processing for the longitude and latitude data of the store list data L2 output from the automatic verification means 12. At this time, if the flag set for each store is presented to the operator, the operator can refer to each flag to determine whether or not the compensation process is necessary for each store.

As described above, it is possible to entrust the operator with all the judgment as to whether or not the compensation process is necessary. However, in the present embodiment, for the store in which the first flag I and the second flag II are set, The longitude and latitude data added by the automatic matching means 12 is used as it is, and the filling processing by the manual filling means 13 is performed only for the stores to which the third flag III and the fourth flag IV are set. . This is the first flag I and the second flag
This is because it is expected that the automatic matching means 12 will add almost completely correct longitude and latitude data to a store for which II is set. In this way, by limiting the compensation processing by the operator only to the stores in which the third flag III and the fourth flag IV are set, the work load on the operator can be significantly reduced.

A specific filling process using the manual filling means 13 can be performed by the following procedure. For example, the third flag III is set for the third store “XX Lake Hotel” in the store list data L2 of FIG. Therefore, the CD-ROM map data D2
Using, the longitude and latitude data “138.46.24.99/35.3” added by the automatic matching means 12 is displayed on the display screen.
Display the map at the position of "0.00.54" and check whether it is correct or not. If the information cannot be confirmed only by the information of the CD-ROM map data D2, the work may be carried out by directly inquiring the "XX Lake Hotel" by telephone or by checking the pamphlet. If the added longitude and latitude data is incorrect, still recognize the correct position by some means and specify the correct position on the map displayed on the display screen using the CD-ROM map data D2. Therefore, the correct longitude and latitude data can be input.

In this way, by passing through the filling process by the manual filling means 13, the shop list data L3 with accurate longitude and latitude data is finally created. The created store list data L3 is registered in the registration information storage means 21 as described above, and the map providing unit 2
It is used for the use of 0.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the matching process in the automatic matching means 12. First, in step S1, data for one store is extracted from the store list data L1. For example, when store list data L1 as shown in FIG. 4 is given, first, the serial number 0001
"Kawaguchiko Patent Memorial Museum" data is extracted.

In the following step S2, the address collation processing is performed on the extracted data, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S4 via step S3, and the name collation processing (for the record whose address matches in step S2 The process of collating the building name with the store name to be collated) is performed. If the addresses also match here, it means that both the address and the name match, so the process proceeds to step S6 through step S5, and after setting the first flag I, in step S7, the matched longitude and Perform processing to add latitude data. If the names do not match in the step S4, it means that only the addresses match. Therefore, the steps S5 to S5 are performed.
After branching to 8 and setting the second flag II, in step S9, a process of adding longitude and latitude data in which the address matches is performed.

On the other hand, if there is no match in the address collation process of step S2, the process branches from step S3 to step S10 and the name collation process is performed. If they match here, only the names match, so
After step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, where the third flag III is set, and then, in step S13, a process of adding longitude and latitude data with matching names is performed. If they do not match in the name collation process of step S10, it means that neither the address nor the name match, so the process branches from step S11 to step S14, and after setting the fourth flag IV, In step S15, upper collation processing is executed. Normally, a match is obtained in this higher-level matching process, so step S16
After that, the process goes to step S17, and the longitude and latitude data of the representative point about the wide area where the upper address matches is added, but if the match is not obtained (in the upper address recorded in the store list data L1 If there is a mistake), no longitude and latitude data will be added to the store. Such processing,
If the processing is executed for all stores through step S18, the matching processing by the automatic matching means 12 is completed.

As described above, the third flag II is added thereafter.
Only in the store where I or the fourth flag IV is set, the filling process by the manual filling means 13 is executed, and it is confirmed manually whether the longitude and latitude data are correct by the operator's manual work, and if necessary, it is correct. Longitude and latitude data are entered. When the store list data L3 to which the correct longitude and latitude data are added is obtained by such a procedure, it may be registered in the registration information storage means 21.

In the procedure described above, it is premised that the longitude and latitude of the existing store are accurately registered, but in practice, the longitude and latitude slightly different from the actual longitude and latitude are registered. In some cases, it may be preferable to have them. For example, consider the map shown in FIG. here,
It is assumed that the position of the icon "Circle B" drawn in the central portion is the actual position of the store, and the longitude and latitude accurately indicating the position of this store are registered. As described above, the map creating means 23 in the system according to the present invention has a function of creating a map around the point designated by the longitude and latitude data. In this case, it is general to make settings so as to create a map with a predetermined scale factor centered on a designated point. Therefore, assuming that the map creating means 23 is set to create a map with a scale ratio as shown in FIG. 9 (a),
As shown in the figure, the map actually created is such that the position of the icon "Circle B" is at the center. In this way, if a decision is made such as "create a peripheral map so that the store position is always at the center", a generally satisfactory peripheral map can be obtained. However, in reality, the peripheral map created by such a unique work is not always the best map.

This is apparent by comparing FIG. 9 (a) and FIG. 9 (b). FIG. 9 (a) is a map created according to the rule that "the peripheral map is always created so that the store position is centered", and the position of the icon "Circle B" is the center. However, as shown in Fig. 8, there are railways and stations (the part marked "St.") in the vicinity of this store. The map of is a preferable map. In this way, when a large target object exists near the store, it is preferable to put the target object in the map even if the display position of the store is intentionally shifted from the center of the map. Of course, such a comprehensive judgment generally needs to be made at the operator's discretion. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the manual replenishment means 13 is provided with a function of performing replenishment processing in consideration of such operator's judgment. That is, the manual compensation means 13 can perform a correction for the specific store designated by the operator by shifting the latitude and longitude data indicating the original position of the store by a predetermined amount.

For example, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 9 (b), the longitude and latitude data for the store indicated by the icon "Circle B" is the longitude of the point Q deviated from the actual store position by a predetermined amount and Make sure to provide latitude data. By doing so, when the map creating means 23 is made to create a map around this store, since the latitude and longitude data of the point Q is given, as shown in FIG. A map will be created. In order to display the icon "Circle B", the latitude and longitude data indicating the original position of the store may be registered together.

<<<< §4. Map provided by the map provider 20
Providing Process >> The map providing process by the map providing unit 20 shown in FIG. 3 is as described above. That is, the map information generation / transmission means 22 stores the shop list data L3 with the longitude and latitude data stored in the registration information storage means 21 when a specific shop is designated via the Internet 200.
With reference to, the longitude and latitude data of the specified store is recognized, the recognized longitude and latitude data is given to the map creating means 23, and the image data of the map around the specified store is created and created. The function of transmitting the map information generated using the image data to the destination (user) via the network. With this function, the user can, for example, on the Web page shown in FIG.
Click the character string "Toranomon Branch", and click on Fig. 2 (c).
A web page with a peripheral map as shown in is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the Web page with a peripheral map for a specific store is a Web page that gives very convenient information to individual users, but in the unlikely event that If the content is incorrect, the social impact will be enormous. In particular, for a company such as a bank whose reliability is one of the products for sale, it is absolutely necessary to avoid the situation where incorrect information is disclosed on a Web page. Therefore, in the electronic map providing system according to the present invention, the map providing unit 20 is provided with a function of setting a map information providing period for each store so that highly reliable position information can be provided. The map information can be provided at the time of provision according to the setting contents. More specifically, multiple types of destination groups are defined as the destinations of the map, the provision time is set for each individual destination group, and the specific destination group is set according to the setting contents. Makes it possible to provide map information only at a specific time.

This will be described with reference to a specific example. Now, assume that the map provider installs the electronic map providing system 100 and requests an agent to perform business in order to carry out the service shown in FIG. 1 as a business. The agency will visit a number of companies that should be customers, outline the service that provides map information of the store, and recommend subscription to the service. Here, let's assume that an agency has received an application from a XX bank. This agency explains to the XX bank that the store list data L1 described in a predetermined format is necessary, and submits the store list data L1 in the form of being recorded on a medium such as a floppy disk. Ask you to do it.
○○ If the bank submits the store list data L1 as requested, based on this store list data L1, §3
The registration process as described above will be performed.

Here, an example will be described in which this registration processing is performed by the agent himself. As described above, when the operation is performed by the agency itself, the system that allows the personal computer installed in the agency's office to access the electronic map providing system 100 via the Internet 200. It is convenient to build. For example, the agency inserts the floppy disk received from the XX bank into the personal computer of the office, connects the personal computer to the electronic map providing system 100 via the Internet 200, and uses the list input means 11
According to the store list data L1 in the floppy disk
Is input into the electronic map providing system 100, and the matching process by the automatic matching means 12 is executed. Then, if necessary, the filling process using the manual filling means 13 may be performed by remote control. Alternatively, if a program that functions as the manual filling means 13 is prepared in the personal computer of the office of the agency and the CD-ROM map data D2 is inserted into this personal computer, the filling process is performed by the personal computer of the agency. It is also possible to do above.

Now, in the registration information storage means 21, the store list data L for each branch of the XX bank is stored.
3 (with the longitude and latitude data added) is prepared, and the map providing unit 20 is ready to provide the map information to an arbitrary destination. However, it is not preferable to immediately provide the map information to the general user at this point. As described above, if there is an error in the content of the provided information, the reliability of the company may be impaired. Therefore, it is preferable to perform a trial operation for a while after the store list data L3 is prepared. In this trial operation, multiple types of destination groups are defined as map destinations, the provision time is set for each individual destination group, and the specific destination group is set according to the settings. Can be realized by providing map information only at a specific time of provision.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, store list data L3 for six bases A to F (in this example, each branch of XX bank) of a company (in this example, XX bank). Let's assume that is registered. In this case, the map information about the six bases will be provided via the network, but three groups as shown in FIG. 10 are defined as the destinations. That is, three types of destination groups are defined: an agent as the destination group X, a company (in this example, XX bank) as the destination group Y, and a general user as the destination group Z. Here, the destination group Y is the destination group X
Further, the provision destination group Z includes the provision destination group Y.
Then, first, the period of the first test operation is set, and within this period, only the provision destination group X is provided (that is, only to the computer of the agency,
○ ○ Be sure to provide map information for each branch of the bank).
Since this agency is the sales person who actually negotiated with the XX bank, it is primarily responsible for checking the map information regarding the XX bank for errors. Therefore, within the period of this first test operation, necessary checks are completed, and if there is an error, the electronic map providing system 100
Is accessed and the process for correcting the error is performed using the manual compensation means 13.

Then, set the period of the second test operation,
Within this period, only the provision destination group Y is provided (that is, the computer of the agency and the ○).
○ Provide map information of each branch of the bank only to the bank computer). At this stage,
○ Because bank employees can be expected to perform checks, there is a possibility that mistakes may be overlooked by agents.
If an error is found, the agent will take corrective action. In the first test operation and the second test operation, the map information is not provided via the Internet 200 but is provided by using a closed network such as an in-house intranet. preferable.

When the test operation is completed in this way, it is finally open to the public. At the time of public release, provision of the provision destination group Z is performed. That is, the agency,
○ ○ Widely available to general users, including banks.
Specifically, general W using the Internet 200
It should be published as an eb page. In this way, the first trial operation period for agents, the second trial operation period for companies, the general disclosure period for general users, and so on.
If the method of disclosure is performed stepwise by changing the provision time for each recipient group, it becomes possible to disclose information with higher reliability.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing a specific example of such stepwise publication. In this example, the agency provision time is from March 1, 2000 to April 1, 2000.
It is set to 0 days, and the company provision time is set from March 10, 2000 to April 30, 2000,
Generally available from April 1, 2000 to 2001
The date is set to March 31 of the year. In this case, 200
The period from March 1, 2000 to March 9 is the period of the first test operation, and the period from March 10, 2000 to March 31, 2000 is the period of the second test operation. Four
The period from January 1st to March 31st, 2001 will be open to the public. The end of the agency supply period (April 10, 2000
(Sun) and the end of the company provision period (April 30, 2000)
May be aligned with the end of the general provision period (March 31, 2001). In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, the provision destination group X (agent) and the provision destination group Y ( (Company) is configured to be included in the provision destination group Z (general user), even if the settings shown in FIG. 11 are set, the agency and the company receive the same information provision as general users. There is no problem because you can.

In the case of a company having a large number of bases nationwide, such as a bank, there are many cases where the business start date is delayed depending on the base. In order to be able to deal with such a case, define a group consisting of multiple stores, set the provision time or destination group for each group, and set it for each store as well. It is good to put it. For example, if the “XX bank” shown in FIG. 10 is defined as one group, all the branches from the bases A to F are stores belonging to the same group. If another company, "XX Insurance", subscribes to this service, each store of this "XX Insurance" will form a different group. Then, as a table showing the publication date and the publication suspension date, FIG.
A company table as shown in (a) and a base table as shown in FIG. 12 (b) are prepared. Here, the company table shown in FIG. 12A is a table showing the settings for the entire group, and in this example, is a table to be applied to the entire store of the “XX bank”. The dates shown are
The date corresponds to the example of FIG. 11, and the dates of each release date described in FIG. 12 (a) indicate the start of each provision time shown in FIG. 11 and are described in FIG. 12 (a). The date of each publication stop date indicates the end of each provision period shown in FIG.
On the other hand, the base table shown in FIG. 12 (b) is a table showing the settings for each base, and actually,
Separate base tables are set for the respective bases A to F. The example shown in FIG. 12B is a table for the base C, that is, the Toranomon branch.

Normally, the setting of the company table and the setting of the base table are the same (or the base table having the same setting as the company table may be omitted). However, if the business start date is delayed for a specific base, the base table for the base is set uniquely.
For example, the example shown in Fig. 12 (b) is an example in which the business opening of the Toranomon branch is delayed for about half a year. Each publication date and each publication suspension date are set in the company table shown in Fig. 12 (a). In comparison, each is set to be delayed by half a year. In the case of this example, map information about bases other than the Toranomon branch will be open to the public on April 1, 2000, but map information on the Toranomon branch will be open to the public on October 1, 2000. It will be.

In this way, the setting contents for the group (for example, the setting contents of the company table in FIG. 12A) and the setting contents for the store (for example, the setting contents in the base table in FIG. 12B) are set. If they are different, prioritize the later time when the provision is started (publication date in the example shown) and prioritize the earlier time when the provision is stopped (publication stop date in the example shown). You just have to decide. By doing so, by setting the base table, it is possible to set a publication date that is later than the publication date of the company table for a specific base, but a publication date that is earlier than the publication date of the company table. Can't be set (although it can be set, it is meaningless because the later published date set in the company table takes precedence). Similarly, by setting the base table, it is possible to set a release stop date earlier than the release stop date in the company table for a specific base, but set a release stop date later than the release stop date in the company table. It cannot be done (it can be set, but it becomes meaningless because the earlier publication date set in the company table has priority). After all, when the above-described handling is performed, when the company table defines the provision time as shown in FIG. 11, the provision time for each individual base is shown as the provision time shown in FIG. It can be set arbitrarily with a degree of freedom that does not exceed the beginning and end of the period.

Finally, a specific method suitable for providing only specific destination groups at a specific providing time when providing map information for individual stores will be described. . The basic concept of this method is that a plurality of n server devices are prepared, and the i-th (1 ≦ i ≦ n) server device is in charge of providing map information to the i-th recipient group. The control is performed to store the registration information about the store in the server device in charge of the destination group set for the store only for the period corresponding to the provision time set for the store. Let us describe this for a specific example where n = 3.

Now, as shown in FIG. 13, three Web
The servers Sx, Sy, Sz are prepared. Here, each Web
It is assumed that the server has functions corresponding to the registration information storage means 21, the map information generation / transmission means 22, and the map creation means 23 shown in FIG. 3, and based on predetermined registration information,
It shall serve to provide store map information via the network. Moreover, the Web server Sx is a server in charge of providing map information to the destination group X (agent), and the Web server Sy is a server in charge of providing map information to the destination group Y (company). , Web
It is assumed that the server Sz is a server that is in charge of providing map information to the supply destination group Z (general user). Each server is connected with a router for connecting only to a group of providing destinations in charge. If the three servers are used to perform the stepwise disclosure by the operation as shown in FIG. 11, the registration information of the store to be provided is stored in the Web server Sx during the period when the agency is provided. In the state of being stored, the Web server Sy is provided during the period during which the company is provided.
Will be stored in the W
The control may be performed so that the eb server Sz is stored. Specifically, referring to the publication date and the publication suspension date described in the tables shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the registration information file is copied or deleted between the servers at predetermined time points. Processing may be performed. For example, the registration information file required as of March 10, 2000 is copied to the Web server Sy, and 2000
This file should be deleted as of April 30, 2013.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the customer We
Based from b server 400 to the link from the home page offered, although providing map information from the electronic map providing system 100 indicates a service mode to be performed, the present invention
When using the service, the
Service form is limited to such service form
Not of.

[0069]

As described above, the map store registration according to the present invention is performed.
According to the recording device and the registration method , it becomes possible to efficiently register the position information about many stores .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a service form using an electronic map providing system incorporating a map store registration device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a screen view showing a process of displaying a map according to the service form shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an electronic map providing system 100 incorporating a map store registration device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of store list data L1 shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the house map database D1 shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a specific example of store list data L2 output from the automatic matching unit 12 in FIG.

7 is a flow chart showing a procedure of a matching process in the automatic matching means 12 of FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a map that can be created by the map creating means 23 of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a mode of cutting out a part of the map shown in FIG.

10 is a block diagram showing an example of a map information providing mode by the map providing unit 20. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing an example in which different providing times are set for three providing destination groups.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a table for setting different providing times for three kinds of providing destination groups.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a method of using a plurality of servers to provide information only to a specific provision destination group at a specific provision time.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Store registration department 11 ... List input means 12 ... Automatic matching means 13: Manual compensation means 14 ... Registration information storage means 20 ... Map provider 21 ... Registration information storage means 22 ... Map information generation / transmission means 23 ... Map creation means 100 ... Electronic map providing system 200 ... Internet 310-330 ... User (personal computer) 400 ... Customer Web server D1 ... Housing map database D2 ... CD-ROM map data L1 to L3 ... Store list data Sx, Sy, Sz ... Web server

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP 2000-29899 (JP, A) JP 11-144943 (JP, A) JP 2000-35971 (JP, A) JP 6-66578 ( JP, A) JP-A-9-160970 (JP, A) JP-A-6-250585 (JP, A) JP-A-11-250079 (JP, A) Hiroaki Karasawa, Examination of heterogeneous database connection method, 43rd session Proceedings of National Convention, Japan, Information Processing Society of Japan, October 22, 1991, Volume 4, Pages 4-105, 4-106 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 G09B 29/00 JISST file (JOIS)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A map store registration device that performs a process of registering a number of stores together with longitude and latitude data in order to generate map information indicating the location of each store. List input means for entering store list data including at least the store name and address of each store, a residential map database that collects data of building name, address, longitude and latitude for each actual building, and the top of the address Fees for wide area indicated by parts
Wide-area district day that collects data of longitude and latitude of front points
Database, the store list data input by the list input means and the housing map database are collated, and a match is found.
For stores that were found, add longitude and latitude data to the store list data, and
For that, using the wide area database,
Performs upper matching processing that matches only the upper part,
The cost of the wide area where a match was found by this superior matching process
The data of the longitude and latitude of the front points are stored in the store list data.
Map for shops registration apparatus characterized by comprising: a look-means for adding the data, the. 2. The map store registration device according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic collating means is provided with a function of setting a plurality of types of flags indicating the degree of matching of the collation result for each store. A store registration device for maps. 3. The map store registration device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic collating means collates an address in the store list data with an address in the residential map database, and store list data. A function to perform name collation processing that collates the store name in the building with the building name in the housing map database is provided, and longitude and latitude data are added based on the results of these two collation processing. Characteristic map store registration device. 4. A map store registration method for registering a large number of stores in a computer-readable recording means together with longitude and latitude data in order to generate map information indicating the location of each store using a computer. In addition, for each store to be registered, the stage of preparing store list data including at least the store name and address, and the housing that collects the building name, address, longitude and latitude data for each actual building. The stage of preparing the map database and the cost for the wide area indicated by the upper part of the address.
Wide-area district day that collects data of longitude and latitude of front points
Database and read information about each store from the store list data using a computer, search the residential map database based on the address or store name information, the store
Collate the list data with the residential map database,
For stores where a match is found, the store list data
If longitude and latitude data are added to the
For stores that have
The upper matching process that matches only the upper part of the address
And a match was found by this upper-level matching process.
Store the longitude and latitude data of the representative points in the area
The automatic matching process to be added to the list data is executed and the longitude
And a step of recording the store list data to which the latitude data is added in a computer-readable recording means. 5. The map store registration method according to claim 4 , wherein a plurality of types of flags indicating the matching degree of the matching result for each store are set when the computer executes the automatic matching process. A method for registering a store for a map, which is characterized in that 6. The map store registration method according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein when the computer is caused to perform automatic collation processing, the address in the store list data is collated with the address in the residential map database. The process and the name matching process for matching the store name in the store list data with the building name in the house map database are executed, and the longitude and latitude data are recognized based on the results of these two matching processes. A method for registering a store for a map, which is characterized by being made possible.