JP3583974B2 - Route guidance information providing device and route guidance information providing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for providing route guidance information to a user terminal device through a communication line, and particularly relates to a route that can provide effective route guidance information to a user terminal device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal. The present invention relates to a guidance information providing apparatus and method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of terminal functions, it has become possible to send and receive various types of information through communication lines such as the Internet using small terminals with communication functions such as mobile phones and mobile terminals. There is a growing demand for using.
[0003]
There are several techniques for providing map information to such a mobile terminal. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-31452 describes that map information is deformed in order to provide map information that can be displayed on a small screen. However, such processing as orthogonalization of intersections and straightening of roads required for such deformation is processing that requires a very long processing time, and the data required for the processing is increased, so that the processing is fast and simple. It is very difficult to provide map information to the public.
[0004]
Further, in such map information, for example, information of landmarks important for specifying a turning intersection is provided with limited information such as expressed in notes, and actually, It is very difficult for a user to search for the landmark from the local environment, and there is a problem that the user often gets lost. To cope with such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-267671 assists a user in a search operation by superimposing and displaying information on what is captured in an input camera image. However, it is very difficult for a terminal such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal to attach a camera device and execute such processing in real time.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, it is difficult to provide a guide map easily to a user terminal device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal with the conventional technology, and it is strongly desired to realize a technology capable of solving the map. I have.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the conventional technology, and can provide effective route guidance information to a user terminal device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance information providing device and method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, data stored in the map database in advance Based on , Landmark data, and background data such as roads, railroads, and rivers are generated and stored as simplified as possible, and the data is used to search for data in an area including the route requested to be searched. Then, a route guidance map is generated by combining them. At this time, deformation is performed by converting the ratio of the length and width to the size of the area including the route and the output size. In addition, in order to simplify the background data as much as possible, a dead end road having no connection destination is calculated and deleted drawing information is stored. In addition, a route guidance image indicating the landscape in the traveling direction is generated and held in advance, and a route guidance image indicating the landscape in the traveling direction is added as the route guidance information, in addition to the route guidance map. Further, landmark-related information such as shop information and shop advertisements is generated and held, and this information is added to generate animated route guidance providing data.
[0008]
According to the present invention, data of an area including a route is searched for and combined with background data such as landmark data, roads, railways, and rivers generated based on data stored in a map database in advance. Accordingly, a route guidance map can be generated very quickly. This background data can delete unnecessary information in the route plan map by deleting dead-end roads, and can make the map easy to see even on a small-sized screen. In addition, thereby, the data capacity of the background data can be significantly reduced, and the processing can be speeded up.
[0009]
This route guide map can enlarge the note display area along the route by converting the aspect ratio according to the size of the area containing the route according to the output size, and display a lot of note information. Can be. In addition, since the range of the area including the route fits on the screen in a similar shape, a very easy-to-see route guidance map can be provided.
[0010]
Further, by adding a route guidance image indicating a scene in the traveling direction as well as the route guidance map as the route guidance information, it is possible to help the user to search for a landmark from the environment at the place.
[0011]
By providing these route guidance maps, route guidance images, shop information on the route, and images of advertisements in an animated form so that multiple images can be displayed continuously, small-sized routes can be displayed. There is no need to display shop information or advertisements on the guide map, and since it is animated, there is no need for the user to operate to view it, and such additional information is efficiently provided. can do. Here, animation refers to displaying a plurality of images consecutively, and animation refers to converting to a format that can be displayed as such an animation.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a route guidance map providing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a central processing unit (computer) 100, which is a main part of the route guidance map providing apparatus, receives a search request from a user terminal device (not shown) through a communication line 150, and transmits a search result. A communication unit 101, a route guidance information generating unit 102 for generating route guidance information based on a search request, and a device for providing the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 102 to a user terminal device. Provided data generating means 103 for generating data; landscape image data generating means 104 for previously generating tables for storing data used by the route guidance information generating means 102 and the provided data generating means 103; The apparatus includes a data generation unit 105 and a background data generation unit 106. The table storage device 110 stores the landscape image data storage table 111, the landmark data storage table 112, and the background data storage table 113 generated by the landscape image data generation unit 104, the landmark data generation unit 105, and the background data generation unit 106. Used to store. The work storage device 120 includes a route guide information generating unit 102, route guide map data 121 generated by the provided data generating unit 103, route guide image information 122, landmark related information 123, and route guide providing data 124 obtained by animating these. , And for temporarily storing data being processed.
[0013]
The map database 130 stores data of a sequence of coordinate points of a figure existing in a map, attributes given to the figure, data including a road network structure having links as roads and intersections as nodes. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the map database 140 includes information (provided image information) related to landmarks on the route, such as information on shops on the route, image information of advertisements, and the like. Hereinafter, roads are referred to as links, and intersections are referred to as nodes. The landscape image database 140 stores a large number of landscape images, and for each frame in the image, the position information (X, Y, Z) and the posture information (Roll) of the camera at which the frame was shot are stored. , Pitch, Yaw) and image information (RGB values of each pixel). The map database 140 and the landscape video database 150 may be connected to the route guidance map providing device via a communication line or the like.
[0014]
First, operations of the landscape image data generation unit 104, the landmark data generation unit 105, and the background data generation unit 106 will be described. These are used, for example, at the time of system start-up, by using one or both of the map database 130 and the landscape video database 140, and corresponding to the landscape image data corresponding to the service area of the route guidance map providing device (hereinafter referred to as the range). The storage table 111, the landmark data storage table 112, and the background data storage table 113 are generated in advance and stored in the table storage 110.
[0015]
The landscape image data generation unit 104 calculates the landscape image data in the range using the map database 130 and the landscape video database 140, and generates the landscape image data storage table 111. As shown in FIG. 2, the landscape image data storage table 111 stores, for the range, data describing landscape image information (RGB values of each pixel) in the link direction for the link connected to each node. Have.
[0016]
The operation of generating the landscape image data storage table 111 in the landscape image data generation unit 104 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[Step 301] The map database 130 is searched, and information on nodes included in the range is stored.
[Step 302] The map database 130 is searched for an unprocessed node, and information on a link connected to the node is stored.
[Step 303] The direction of the unprocessed link is calculated with reference to the node.
[Step 304] The landscape video database 140 is searched using the position of the node and the calculated direction of the link as a search key, and the information (RGB values of each pixel) of the landscape image is associated with the node and the link. It is stored in the image data storage table 111.
[Step 305] Until the processing is completed for all target links,
[Step 303] to [Step 304] are repeated.
[Step 306] Until the processing is completed for all target nodes,
[Step 302] to [Step 305] are repeated.
[0017]
The landmark data generation unit 105 calculates landmark data of the range using the map database 130, and generates the landmark data storage table 112. As shown in FIG. 4, the landmark data storage table 112 describes, for each node, attribute information and the like of a figure selected as a landmark for each region sandwiched by links connected to the node. The data is provided. The priority is used to efficiently control the arrangement of notes when generating a route guidance map. For example, if all the landmarks in the area cannot be included in the route guidance map due to a limitation on the display surface of the user terminal or the like, the low priority one is omitted. The provided image information is information in which shop information and advertisements are stored as images, and uses information included in an advertisement column or the like of the map database 130. If the information is not stored in the map database, an instruction is given in advance. It may be stored by doing.
[0018]
The operation of generating the landmark data storage table 112 in the landmark data generation means 105 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[Step 501] The map database 130 is searched, and information on nodes included in the range is stored.
[Step 502] The map database 130 is searched for an unprocessed node, and the attribute information of the figure closest to the node in an area sandwiched by links connecting to the node is stored.
[Step 503] Of the graphics retrieved in Step 502, the highest one is stored in the landmark data storage table 112 in association with the node and the link based on the predetermined priority order of the attribute information.
[Step 504] Steps 502 to 503 are repeated until the processing is completed for all the target nodes.
[0019]
Note that the priority order may be determined in advance with respect to the attribute assigned to the graphic stored in the map database 130 or the shape of the graphic.
[0020]
The background data generating means 106 calculates background data for the range using the map database 130, and generates the background data storage table 113. As shown in FIG. 6, the background data storage table 113 includes data in which line drawing information of background data such as roads, railways, and rivers is described. Note that the maximum and minimum values of the XY coordinates are used to perform a high-speed search for a line within a specified range. Further, the type code is used for effectively writing the line width and line type when drawing.
[0021]
The operation of generating the background data storage table 113 in the background data generating means 106 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[Step 701] The map database 130 is searched, and information on nodes and links included in the range is stored.
[Step 702] A connection relationship is calculated for an unprocessed node. If the connection destination of the node connected to the node is only the node (that is, a dead end), the link is deleted.
[Step 703] Step 270 is repeated until the processing has been completed for all target nodes.
[Step 704] Steps 702 to 703 are repeated up to a predetermined number of times.
[Step 705] The map database 130 is searched using a predetermined type as a search key, and drawing information of the figure is stored.
[Step 706] The node, the link, and the drawing information of the figure of the predetermined type that have been processed are stored in the background data storage table 113. This type may be determined in advance with respect to, for example, a water system type, an administrative boundary type, and a railway type.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the route guidance information generating means 102 and the provided data generating means 103 will be described. In the present route guidance information providing device, the communication means 101 receives a search request from the user terminal device via the communication line 150 and passes the search request to the route guidance information generation means 102. The route guidance information generation means 102 analyzes the search request, generates route guidance information including a route guidance map 121 and a route guidance image 122, and passes the route guidance information to the provision data generation means 103. The provision data generating means 103 adds, to the route guidance information, information 123 related to landmarks on the route, such as shop information and advertisement images, and generates animated route guidance provision data 124. The communication means 101 transmits the route guidance providing data 124 to the user terminal device that has made the search request through the communication line 150.
[0023]
The operation of generating the route guidance information in the route guidance information generating means 102 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[Step 801] The search request is analyzed, the map database 130 is searched, and information on the start point and end point of the requested route is stored.
[Step 802] The road network structure data of the range calculated from the start point and the end point is acquired from the map database 130, and a route is searched.
[Step 803] The landmark data storage table 112 is searched using the nodes constituting the route as search keys, and the obtained landmark data is sorted and stored in order of priority.
[Step 804] The landmark data storage table 112 is searched again using the area including the route as a search key, the obtained landmark data is sorted in order of priority, and added to the data held in step 803. And keep it.
[Step 805] The background data storage table 113 is searched using the area including the route as a search key, and the drawing information of the obtained background data is stored.
[0024]
[Step 806] A conversion parameter is calculated by comparing the aspect ratio of the area including the route with the aspect ratio of the output size.
[Step 807] Using the calculated conversion parameters, the stored coordinate information of the start and end points, landmark data, and background data is converted.
[Step 808] The information on the starting point and the ending point and the background data that are held are drawn in a predetermined area on the work storage device 120, for example.
[Step 809] From the held landmark data, a high-priority one is selected, and if it does not overlap with the landmark data that has already been drawn, it is similarly drawn over the predetermined area.
[Step 810] Step 809 is repeated until the density for the predetermined output size is satisfied.
[Step 811] The drawing results of steps 808 and 809 are set as the route guidance map 121 according to the requested output size and output format.
[Step 812] The landscape image data storage table 111 is searched using the nodes constituting the route as search keys, and the obtained image information is used as the route guidance image 122.
[0025]
The provided data generating means 103 searches the landmark data storage table 112 using the landmark data of the route guide map 121 as a search key, and stores landmarks on the route such as shop information and advertisement images designated in advance. Is acquired, and is set as landmark-related information 123. A user terminal such as animating using the image of the landmark related information 123 and the route guidance information composed of the route guidance map 121 and the route guidance image 122 generated by the route guidance information generating means 102. Data (route guidance providing data) 124 to be provided to the device is generated. The communication means 101 transmits the route guidance providing data 124 to the user terminal device.
[0026]
Next, the above-described processing procedure will be specifically described based on actual data.
The landscape image data generation unit 104 searches the map database 130 for a node 901 as shown in FIG. 9A, and holds information on a link connected to the node 901. Here, a link 902, a link 903, and a link 904 are provided. The direction of the link 902 is calculated with reference to the node 901. At this time, the direction is the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Here, the landscape video database 140 is searched using the position of the node 901 and the calculated link direction as search keys to obtain landscape image information (RGB values of each pixel) as shown at 905 in FIG. 9B. , Node 901 and link 902 are stored in the landscape image data storage table 111. Similar processing is performed on the links 903 and 904.
[0027]
Similarly, the landmark data generation unit 105 searches the map database 130 and holds the attribute information of the landmark figure closest to the node in the area sandwiched by the links connecting to the node. Here, it is assumed that the landmark figures 906, 907, and 908 are the closest figures in the respective regions with respect to the node 901 in FIG. The landmark data generation means 105 stores the highest one in the landmark data storage table 112 based on the predetermined priority order of the attribute information. Here, assuming that the priority of 906 is the highest, the corresponding landmark data is stored in the landmark data storage table 112. At this time, store information and provided image information such as advertisements are also stored.
[0028]
The background data generating means 106 calculates a connection relationship for each node with respect to the information of the nodes and links constituting the block as indicated by 1001 in FIG. 10, and the connection destination of the node connected to the node. However, if only the node is present, the link is deleted. In the case of FIG. 10, when the processing is completed for all the target nodes, the links 1002 and 1003 are first deleted. For example, the link 1003 of the node 1006 connected to the node 1005 is deleted because its connection destination is only the node 1005. The same applies to the link 1002. If you repeat the process further, 1004 Finally, the background data storage table 113 stores simplified background data drawing information with the paths 1002, 1003, and 1004 deleted.
[0029]
Further, a request for route guidance information of a certain start point and end point is received from the user terminal device, and the route guidance information generating means 102 acquires the information of the start point and end point, the road network structure data of the range from the map database 130, and determines the route. As a result of the search, it is assumed that each data as shown by 1100 in FIG. 11 is calculated. Here, the start point is Os, the end point is Og, the node near the current position is N1, the node near the destination position is Nn, and the nodes and links selected by the route search are N1 to Nn from N1 to Nn.
[0030]
The route guidance information generating means 102 searches the landmark data storage table 112 using Ni (i = 1 to n) as a search key, and sorts and retains the obtained landmarks in order of priority. The landmark data storage table 112 is searched again using the area including the route as a search key, and the landmark data obtained in the same manner is sorted in order of priority, and additionally stored. Finally, the background data storage table 113 is searched using the area including the route as a search key, and the obtained background data is stored.
[0031]
Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the area including the route is 400 m in height and 200 m in width. Therefore, if the output size is 400 dots in height and 300 dots in width, the coordinate value in the X direction is 3 / Perform conversion by doubling. In this way, the information of the start point and the end point and the background data are drawn, and the higher priority is selected from the landmark data until the density for the predetermined output size is satisfied. If they do not overlap, the selected landmark data is drawn and the route guidance map 121 is output. Finally, the route guidance information generating means 102 searches the landscape image data storage table using the nodes constituting the route as a search key, and outputs the route guidance image 122.
[0032]
The provided data generating means 103 searches the landmark data storage table 112 using the landmark data of the route guide map 121 as a search key, acquires shop information and an advertisement image designated in advance, and acquires landmark-related information. The information 123 is output. The image of the landmark related information 123 and the route guidance information composed of the route guidance map 121 and the route guidance image 122 are animated, and the provided data 124 is passed to the communication unit 101 as the route guidance providing data 124, and the communication is performed. Means 101 transmits to the user terminal device. Thus, an animation image including a route guidance map, a route guidance image, an image of a shop advertisement, and the like as shown in FIG. 12 is provided to the user terminal device. In FIG. 12, there are actually a plurality of route guidance images and advertisement images, and the user displays necessary images in the form of a parameter.
[0033]
Also, this route guide map can enlarge the note display area along the route by converting the aspect ratio according to the size of the area containing the route and the output size, and display a lot of note information. can do. In addition, since the range of the area including the route fits on the screen in a similar shape, a very easy-to-see route guidance map can be provided. This example is shown in FIG. When such processing is not performed on the route indicated by the thick line in FIG. 13, the processing becomes as shown by 1310 in FIG. 13. However, when this processing is performed, as shown by 1320 in FIG. Area can be secured.
[0034]
1 are described in a computer-executable program language and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a floppy disk, CD-ROM, or memory card. It is possible to provide.
[0035]
As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on one embodiment. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention. Nor.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained according to the present invention.
(1) A route guidance map is generated at a very high speed by searching and combining data of an area including a route with background data such as landmark data, roads, railways, and rivers stored in advance. There are effects that can be.
(2) The background data has an effect that unnecessary information on the route guidance map can be deleted by deleting the dead-end road, and the map can be easily viewed even with a small size. This also has the effect that the data capacity of the background data can be significantly reduced and the processing can be speeded up.
(3) The route guidance map can enlarge the note display area along the route by converting the aspect ratio according to the size of the area containing the route according to the output size, and display a lot of note information. There is an effect that can be done. In addition, since the range of the area including the route fits on the screen in a similar shape, there is an effect that a very easy-to-see route guidance map can be obtained. In addition, by adding a route guidance image indicating a scene in the traveling direction as well as the route guidance map as the route guidance information, there is an effect that it is possible to help the user to search for a landmark from the environment of the place. .
(4) By providing the route guidance map, the route guidance image, the shop information on the route, and the advertisement image in an animated form, the shop information and the advertisement are displayed on the small-sized route guidance map. Is not required to be displayed, and since the animation is performed, there is no need for the user to perform another operation in order to view the animation, and such additional information can be efficiently provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a route guidance information providing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a description example of a landscape image data storage table.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a landscape image data generation unit.
FIG. 4 is a description example of a landmark data storage table.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a landmark data generation unit.
FIG. 6 is a description example of a background data storage table.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a background data generation unit.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the route guidance information generating means.
FIG. 9 is a specific example for explaining operations of a landscape image data generation unit and a landmark data generation unit.
FIG. 10 is a specific example for explaining the operation of a background data generation unit.
FIG. 11 is a specific example for explaining the operation of the route guidance information generating means.
FIG. 12 is a specific example of route guidance information provided to a user terminal device.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the effect of converting the aspect ratio of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Communication means
102 Route guidance information generating means
103 Provided data generation means
104 landscape image data generation means
105 Landmark data generation means
106 Background Data Generation Means
111 landscape image data storage table
112 Landmark data storage table
113 Background Data Storage Table
121 route guidance map
122 route guidance image
123 Landmark related information
124 Route guidance providing data
130 Map Database
140 Landscape Video Database
150 communication line

Claims (8)

A route guidance information providing device that provides route guidance information through a communication line in response to a search request from a user terminal device,
Landmark data storage means for storing landmark data to be displayed on the route guidance map;
Background data storage means for storing background data such as roads, railways, and rivers to be displayed on the route guidance map;
Using the data stored in the landmark data storage means and the background data storage means, the aspect ratio of the area including the route and the aspect ratio of the output size were compared, and the aspect ratio was converted according to the output size. Route guidance information generating means for generating route guidance information including a route guidance map;
Providing data generating means for generating route guidance providing data for providing to the user terminal device from the generated route guidance information;
A route guidance information providing device comprising: A route guidance information providing device that provides route guidance information through a communication line in response to a search request from a user terminal device,
Landmark data storage means for storing landmark data to be displayed on the route guidance map;
Using the road network structure data stored in the map database, dead-end roads with no connected destinations are calculated and deleted, and drawing information of background data such as roads, railways, and rivers to be displayed on the route guidance map is stored. Background data storage means,
A route guidance information generating unit configured to generate route guidance information using the data stored in the landmark data storage unit and the background data storage unit;
Providing data generating means for generating route guidance providing data for providing to the user terminal device from the generated route guidance information;
A route guidance information providing device comprising: The route guidance information providing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The landmark data storage means uses, for each node, a link connecting to the node using attributes and shapes stored in a map database including road network structure data having roads as links and intersections as nodes. A route guidance information providing device for storing attribute information of a figure selected as a landmark for each region to be sandwiched. The route guidance information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing apparatus further includes a landscape image data storage unit that stores a landscape image in a traveling direction,
The route guidance information providing device, wherein the route guidance information generating means generates route guidance information including a route guidance image indicating a landscape of a traveling direction at an intersection on a route. The route guidance information providing device according to claim 4,
The landscape image data storage means uses the position information and the posture information of the photographed camera stored in the landscape video database, and, for a link connected to each node, information of a landscape image in the link direction. A route guidance information providing device, wherein the information is stored. The route guidance information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the provided data generation unit relates to the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit and a landmark on the route. A route guidance information providing apparatus, which generates animated route guidance providing data of the converted information. A route guidance information providing method for providing route guidance information through a communication line in response to a search request from a user terminal device,
A process of storing attribute information of landmark data to be displayed on the route guidance map in a landmark data storage table;
A process of storing drawing information of background data such as roads, railways, and rivers to be displayed on the route guidance map in a background data storage table;
Using the data stored in the landmark data storage table and the background data storage table, compare the aspect ratio of the area including the route and the aspect ratio of the output size, and convert the aspect ratio according to the output size. Generating route guidance information including the route guidance map,
A process of generating route guidance providing data for providing to the user terminal device from the generated route guidance information;
And a route guidance information providing method. A computer-readable recording medium recording a computer-executable program for implementing the route guidance information providing method according to claim 7.

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