JP4885921B2 - Map server device and map server control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for distributing map image data using a map server.

  At present, electronic maps that can be used by computers are becoming popular instead of paper-based maps. This is because, unlike a paper map, an electronic map can be searched for by keyword, address, zip code, etc., and the map can be easily enlarged / reduced and is easy to use.

In addition, a service that holds the electronic map in a server device and makes it available through Web access is also provided. For example, when the user A wants to notify the user B of the meeting place or destination using such a service, the user A first accesses the server device and includes the meeting place or destination by a predetermined operation. Generate a map image and display it on your terminal. Then, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for displaying the map image data on the terminal of the user B is transmitted to the user B by clicking a “send” button displayed on the screen. User B accesses the URL with his / her terminal and transmits various parameters included in the URL to the server device, so that the map image showing the meeting point can be easily viewed.
JP 2004-279969 A

  However, the above conventional techniques have the following problems. That is, the URL for displaying the map image is usually the latitude / longitude information at the center of the map displayed by the user A on his / her terminal, the enlargement / reduction level of the image, the vertical / horizontal size of the map image, and the meeting point or destination. It is generated including parameters specifying the latitude and longitude information of the.

  These parameters are values determined by the user A performing a center point movement operation or enlargement / reduction operation on his / her terminal. For this reason, for example, the first problem that the user A needs to perform the above operation and adjust the displayed map image so that the points on the map to be notified to the other party such as the meeting place and the destination are within one screen. is there.

  Furthermore, even if such an adjustment operation is performed, there may be a case where the map image cannot be accommodated in one screen in the terminal of the user B after all because the resolution of the display of the transmission destination is low. There is also a second problem.

  In order to solve the first problem described above, the present invention automatically calculates the minimum rectangular area on the map including the point when the input of the point information of two or more points is received from the user A, and the minimum Provided is a map server device having a function of notifying a user B of parameters for displaying a rectangular area via mail or Web.

  Specifically, the map server device of the present invention is a map output unit for browsing a map with an Internet browser of a browsing terminal and information indicating a plurality of points on the map via the Internet browser of the browsing terminal. The minimum rectangular area information that calculates the minimum rectangular area information that is information indicating the minimum rectangular area on the map including the plurality of points based on the acquired point set information and the point set information acquisition unit that acquires the point set information A calculation unit, and a mail transmission unit that transmits a mail in which the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation is described in a URL format including its own address to the viewing terminal. In addition, instead of the mail transmission unit in the above configuration, the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation is output in a URL format including its own address so that the browsing terminal is displayed on the screen being browsed by the Internet browser. A map server device having a transmission unit is also provided.

  Further, in addition to the above configuration, the minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit that acquires the minimum rectangular area information described in the URL format including its own address via the browser of the browsing terminal, and browsing based on the acquired minimum rectangular area information There is also provided a map server device having a map acquisition unit that acquires a map that can be displayed on one screen on a display of a terminal.

  In addition, in order to solve the second problem, the display resolution of the partner terminal that browses the map by URL is acquired using the model information, and the display size of the map image to be further displayed according to the resolution, etc. There is also provided a map server device further provided with a function of adjusting

  Specifically, in addition to the above configuration, the minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit acquires the model information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal, and Display destination resolution acquisition means for acquiring display destination resolution information that is information indicating the resolution of the display of the model specified by the model information based on the acquired model information, and the map acquisition unit acquires the display There is provided a map server device characterized by having resolution-specific acquisition means for acquiring a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display based on pre-resolution information.

  In addition, a map server device having a function of directly acquiring the display resolution from a partner terminal that browses a map with a URL without using model information is also provided. Specifically, in addition to the above configuration, the minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit has resolution information acquisition means for acquiring the resolution information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal. The map acquisition unit is provided with a resolution-specific acquisition unit that acquires a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display based on the acquired display destination resolution information.

  In addition, when calculating a minimum rectangular area including two or more designated points, a map server device including a configuration that allows / disallows rotation (tilt) of the area, and when sending a URL via HTML mail A map server device having a function to transmit, a control method of these map server devices, and the like are also provided.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, for example, information on the map such as the meeting location and the destination that the user wants to notify can be accommodated in one screen without any special adjustment operation. . In addition, information on the map to be notified to the other party can be stored in one screen according to the resolution of the display of the transmission destination.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, claims 1 and 10 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claims 2, 3, 11, and 12 will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, claims 4 and 13 will be mainly described. In the fourth embodiment, claims 5 and 14 will be mainly described. In the fifth embodiment, claims 6 and 15 will be mainly described. In the sixth embodiment, claims 7 and 16 will be mainly described. In the seventh embodiment, claims 8 and 17 will be mainly described. In the eighth embodiment, claims 9 and 18 will be mainly described.

  Example 1

    <Overview>

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a service provided by using the map server device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, a certain user accesses the map server device of the present embodiment and displays a map on a terminal operated by the user. Then, a plurality of points on the map are designated such as a meeting place A and a destination B when shopping with a friend.

  Then, the map server device of the present embodiment specifies the minimum rectangular area α including the designated point. Then, a URL for displaying the specified minimum rectangular area α on the viewing terminal is generated as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, and notified to the user.

  Then, the user accesses the notified URL and, for example, maximizes and displays the minimum rectangular area on the display, so that the extra map area is not displayed and the visual information including the shopping gathering place and the destination is displayed. You can browse high-quality maps.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (0200) of this embodiment includes a “map output unit” (0201), a “point set information acquisition unit” (0202), and a “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit”. ”(0203) and“ Mail transmission unit ”(0204).

  Note that the functional blocks of the map server device described below can be realized as hardware, software, or both hardware and software. Specifically, if a computer is used, a CPU, a main memory, a bus, or a secondary storage device (a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, a storage medium such as a CD or a DVD, a read drive for the medium, etc.), information Input devices used for input, printing equipment, display devices, other hardware components such as external peripheral devices, interfaces for external peripheral devices, communication interfaces, driver programs for controlling these hardware, Other examples include application programs and user interface applications.

  Then, through the arithmetic processing of the CPU according to the program developed on the main memory, the data input from the input device or other interface etc. and stored in the memory or hard disk is processed and stored, or each of the above hardware and software An instruction for controlling the above is generated. The present invention can be implemented not only as a map server device but also as a method. A part of the invention can be configured as software. Furthermore, a software product used for causing a computer to execute such software and a recording medium in which the product is fixed to a recording medium are naturally included in the technical scope of the present invention (the same applies throughout the present specification). Is).

  The “map output unit” (0201) has a function for browsing a map with an Internet browser of a browsing terminal. For example, an arithmetic device such as a CPU, a main memory, a secondary storage device that stores map image data, the Internet It can be realized by hardware such as a communication IF (interface) for communicating with a browsing terminal via a network and a map output program.

  Specifically, when the map server device according to the present embodiment receives an HTTP request by access from the browsing terminal, the map server device acquires map image data from the secondary storage device in response to the request. Then, the map image data is returned as an HTTP response from the communication IF to the browsing terminal. In the browsing terminal, the returned map image data is processed by the Internet browser and displayed on the display.

  As described above, the map server device has a Web server function, and can return map image data in response to access from the viewing terminal and display the map image data on the viewing terminal.

  The “point set information acquisition unit” (0202) has a function of acquiring the point set information via the Internet browser of the viewing terminal. “Point set information” refers to information indicating a plurality of points on the map, and includes, for example, a facility / building name, address name, other landmark name, latitude / longitude information, etc. at a certain point.

  And this point set information acquisition part is realizable with CPU, main memory, communication IF, a point set information acquisition program, etc., for example. The point set information acquisition form is specifically a form in which the point set information input by the user while looking at the map displayed on the viewing terminal is acquired by being transmitted via an Internet browser. Can be mentioned.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a point set information input user interface on the viewing terminal. As shown in this figure, the map output from the map output unit is displayed on the viewing terminal. For example, the user clicks an arbitrary point A or point B on the map with a mouse cursor and designates a plurality of points by setting a pin. Or the input method which designates a some point by inputting an address into input window A 'and B' of the upper part of a screen is also mentioned. In addition, it may be configured such that a frequently used point can be easily input by providing check boxes such as the nearest station and bus stop on the user interface.

  For example, “latitude / longitude information” included in the map data is acquired and transmitted to the map server device as the point set information as shown in FIG. 4 for the plurality of points designated in this way. .

  The “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (0203) has a function of calculating the minimum rectangular area information based on the acquired point set information, and is realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a minimum rectangular area information calculation program, or the like. be able to.

  The “minimum rectangular area information” refers to information indicating the minimum rectangular area on the map including the plurality of points, and includes, for example, latitude / longitude information indicating a vertex of the rectangle. In order to calculate the minimum rectangular area, specifically, for example, the following processing is executed. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, points A, B, C, and D on the map are designated by the viewing terminal, and latitude / longitude information A (a1, a2), B (b1, b2), C ( c1, c2) and D (d1, d2) are acquired as the point set information. Here, in order to determine the longitude of the upper left vertex P of the minimum rectangular area including these four points, the map server device of the present embodiment compares the longitudes of the four points, and determines the minimum longitude (that is, the westmost point). Longitude) “b1” is the longitude of vertex P. This time, the latitudes of the four latitudes are compared, and the maximum latitude (that is, the latitude of the northernmost point) “a2” is set as the latitude of the vertex P.

  Further, in order to determine the longitude of the vertex Q at the lower right of the minimum rectangular area, the longitudes of the four points are compared, and this time, the maximum longitude (that is, the longitude of the eastmost point) “d1” is set as the longitude of the vertex Q. To do. Further, the minimum latitude (that is, the latitude of the southernmost point) “c2” is determined as the latitude of the vertex Q.

  However, in the calculation example of the minimum rectangular area, the points A, B, C, and D indicated by the point set information are shown in FIG. 26A among the areas obtained by dividing the map into four by the latitude 0 degree line and the longitude 0 degree line. Is a calculation example in the case of being included in all the areas (first quadrant of the XY Cartesian coordinate system) indicated by north latitude and east longitude shown in FIG. For example, when the points A, B, C, and D are all in the region shown in the south latitude and west longitude (third quadrant of the XY Cartesian coordinate system) shown in FIG. The point taking the west longitude is the point on the west side, and the point taking the minimum (south) latitude is the point on the most north side.

  As described above, if the latitude and longitude values are used as they are when calculating the minimum rectangular area information, it is necessary to perform calculation for each quadrant including a point. Therefore, in the minimum rectangular area information calculation program, for example, 180 degrees east longitude is “0” and 179 degrees east longitude is “1” (specifically, east longitude converts the longitude value to a negative value and adds 180), Further, it is preferable to hold table data that is indexed by setting west longitude 1 degree to “181” and west longitude 180 degrees to “360” (specifically, west longitude adds 180 to the longitude value as it is). Since the index value is larger on the west side (except when the minimum rectangular area loops east and west as shown in FIG. 26B), the longitude value is converted to the index value. After that, the longitudes of the upper left vertex P and the lower right vertex Q of the minimum rectangular area are determined by comparing the index values. Similarly, latitudes are similarly indexed with 90 ° north latitude being “0” and 90 ° south latitude being “180”, and using the index values, the latitudes of the upper left vertex P and lower right vertex Q of the smallest rectangular area are used. It is good to decide.

  Note that the above method is a method of calculating the minimum rectangular area in the case of a map drawn by the Mercator projection in which the northernmost point of the west is the upper left vertex of the minimum rectangular area. For example, in a map drawn by the Mollweide projection method or the orthographic projection method, the latitude / longitude line is not an orthogonal straight line, so there is a possibility that the westmost northernmost point is not necessarily the upper left vertex of the smallest rectangular area. Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to store the above-described index value as table data as a value corrected in accordance with the curvature of the latitude / longitude line.

  In addition, since a general map is a drawing in which a spherical surface is developed on a two-dimensional plane, it has the following feature points. That is, since there is no pole regarding longitude, it is described as looping in the east-west direction as described above. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26 (b), in the map developed in the horizontal direction around the longitude 0 line of the spherical surface, the minimum rectangular area including a point near 180 degrees east longitude (180 degrees west longitude) becomes a rectangle α. there is a possibility.

  Therefore, the following processing may be performed when determining the upper left vertex P and the lower right vertex Q in order to cope with the case where the minimum rectangular area is in a state of looping east and west on the map. That is, it is assumed that the longitude of each point indicated by the point set information is the longitude of the upper left vertex P of the minimum rectangular area. Then, the rectangular area determined in each case is calculated, and vertices P and Q that minimize the area are determined. It should be noted that in the normal map, there is a pole in the latitude direction, so it is not written to loop in the north-south direction. Therefore, since the height of the rectangle determined regardless of which point is assumed to be the upper left vertex P is constant, it is preferable to compare only the widths of the rectangles and specify the case where the rectangular area is minimum.

Specifically, first, assuming that the longitude of the point with the maximum index value is the longitude of the upper left vertex P, the minimum rectangle does not loop in the east-west direction. Accordingly, since the longitude of the point with the smallest index value is the longitude of the temporary lower right vertex Q, the distance l ₁ between the temporary upper left vertex P and the temporary lower right vertex Q is calculated clockwise.

Subsequently, assuming that the longitude of the point where the index value does not become the maximum is the longitude of the upper left vertex P, the minimum rectangle is looped in the east-west direction. In this case, the longitude of the provisional lower right vertex Q is the longitude of an adjacent point on the left side (indicator value increasing side) of the provisional upper left vertex P. Therefore, the provisional upper left vertex P and the provisional lower right vertex Q are clockwise. The distance l ₂ is calculated. For other points as well, distances l _3, l ₄ ,... With the temporary lower right vertex Q are calculated assuming that the upper left vertex P. Then, the distance comparison processing is performed, and the longitudes of the upper left vertex P and the lower right vertex Q that are the shortest distance are specified.

  As described above, the minimum rectangular area loops in the east-west direction on the map when a plurality of points indicated by the point set information are widely distributed on the map. Or it is a case where points are distributed in the vicinity of a development line (180 degrees east longitude = 180 degrees west longitude in FIG. 26) when the earth surface is developed on a two-dimensional plane.

  However, general service users of this map server device are likely to specify points within their own range of action, so it is basically not possible to specify points so that they are widely distributed on the map. It is impossible. Therefore, if a point is not specified in the vicinity of the development line, the complicated exception process assuming the minimum rectangular area of the loop shape as described above can be omitted. Therefore, designation of a map to be used in advance such as “Japan map” is received from the user, or position information of the user terminal is acquired from a position measurement system such as GPS. And you may comprise so that the map which a development line may come to the other side may be selected and used so that the area | region (for example, Japan) used by the user specified by those information may not be separated by a development line.

  In this way, a minimum rectangular area including a plurality of points indicated by the point set information can be specified by calculation. Note that the above calculation is a determination method in the case where the minimum rectangular region is always placed on the map (arranged along the sides in the east-west direction and the north-south direction). Therefore, when the minimum rectangular area is allowed to be tilted and placed on the map in an improper manner, the minimum rectangular area may be calculated as described later in the seventh embodiment, for example.

  And since the minimum rectangular area includes a plurality of points designated and input at the viewing terminal, for example, by maximizing and displaying the minimum rectangular area on the display, it is possible to display no extra map area, and A highly visible map including a plurality of target points can be displayed.

  The “mail transmission unit” (0204) has a function of transmitting, to the viewing terminal, a mail in which the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation is described in a URL format including its own address. For example, the CPU or the main memory It can be realized by a communication IF, a mail transmission program, or the like.

  Here, “describe the minimum rectangular area in the URL format including its own address” means that the host name of the URL is that of the map server itself, and parameters indicating the minimum rectangular area information in the URL are as follows, for example: Say to add to the description. Then, the mail transmitting unit transmits, for example, a mail including the URL described as such in the text.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail transmitted from the mail transmission unit. As shown in this figure, “longitude1 (longitude of vertex P)” and “latitude2 (latitude of vertex P)” are used by using the parameter definition syntax shown in, for example, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The URL including the minimum rectangular area information such as “” is described in the mail.

  Further, as shown in this figure, the URL includes an address composed of the host name or directory name of the map server device itself, such as "http: //...co.jp/map/". Therefore, when the URL is accessed at the viewing terminal to which this mail is transmitted, an HTTP request including the minimum rectangular area information is transmitted to the map server. Therefore, the map server acquires map image data of the minimum rectangular area specified by the minimum rectangular area information, and sends it back to the viewing terminal.

  In this way, it is possible to easily browse a map that includes a plurality of points designated by the viewing terminal and has a high visibility without displaying an extra area, using the URL transmitted by e-mail.

  Here, the destination address as the transmission destination may be configured to be simultaneously input by the user at the time of inputting the point set information at the viewing terminal, for example. Alternatively, the email address and the browsing terminal ID (or user ID) are associated with each other in advance so that they can be registered, and when the point set information is transmitted from the browsing terminal, the browsing terminal ID is included and transmitted. The e-mail address as the transmission destination may be specified.

  Further, the transmission destination may be a browsing terminal that first outputs a map from the map output unit, or other browsing terminals may be designated and used as the transmission destination.

    <Hardware configuration>

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the map server device when the functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the calculation of the minimum rectangular area and the URL transmission process will be described using this figure.

  As shown in this figure, the map server device has a “CPU” (0701) that interprets a program and executes various arithmetic processes, and a “main memory” (0702) that is expanded to process the program and data. I have. In addition, a “HDD” (0703) for storing map data, Web pages, and the like for a long period of time and a “communication IF” (0704) connected to a network and communicating with a browsing terminal are also provided. They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  As described above, the program is read into the “main memory”, and the “CPU” interprets the read program and executes various arithmetic processes according to the procedure indicated by the program. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to the “main memory” and “HDD”, respectively, and in the arithmetic processing of the “CPU”, data is used by specifying the address and accessing the stored data. Arithmetic processing can be performed.

  When the map server device receives a map output request (HTTP request) from the viewing terminal A via the “communication IF”, the map server device stores the map output request at the address 1 of the “main memory”. Then, the “CPU” interprets the map output program, acquires map data indicated by the location and scale indicated by the map output request from the map data held in the “HDD”, and addresses “main memory” 2 To store. Then, as a response to the map output request (HTTP response), the map data and the map display Web page held in the “HDD” are output from the “communication IF” to the browsing terminal.

  The browsing terminal A receives the web page and the map data, and displays a screen as shown in FIG. 3 on the display based on the data. The browsing terminal accepts designation of a plurality of points by user input, and generates point set information indicated by latitude and longitude information. Then, the generated point set information is transmitted to the map server device via the network by the program included in the Web page. In addition, when the user of the browsing terminal A wants to transmit a map to the browsing terminal B at this time, a field for inputting the email address of the browsing terminal B (user B) is provided on the Web page, and the point set information In addition, it may be configured to be transmitted to the map server device. Here, the mail address of the viewing terminal A (user A) itself may be input and transmitted.

  In the map server device, the point set information received by the “communication IF” according to the point set information acquisition program is stored in the address 3 of the “main memory”. Then, using the storage as a trigger, the “CPU” interprets the minimum rectangular area information calculation program and executes the following processing accordingly.

  First, the numerical value of the latitude for each point indicated by the point set information stored in the address 3 of the “main memory” is compared by the calculation processing of the “CPU”. Similarly, for the longitude, the numerical values are compared for each point. Then, the minimum longitude and the maximum latitude are specified as the latitude and longitude information of the top left vertex P of the minimum rectangular area. Further, the maximum longitude and the minimum latitude are specified as the latitude and longitude information of the lower right vertex Q of the minimum rectangular area. Then, assuming that the minimum rectangular area is placed on the map (arranged along the sides in the east-west direction and the north-south direction), the latitude and longitude information of the two points of the vertex PQ is calculated as the minimum rectangular area information, and “main memory” Is stored at address 4 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the mail transmission program, and generates a URL as shown in FIG. 6 using the latitude and longitude of the vertex PQ indicated by the minimum rectangular area information as a parameter and including its own address. The generated URL is stored at address 5 of the “main memory”.

  For example, as described above, the mail address addressed to the viewing terminal B transmitted and received from the viewing terminal A together with the point set information is stored in the address 6 of the “main memory”, and the mail address is set as the transmission destination. The mail including the URL stored in the address 5 of “ Then, the mail is transmitted via the “communication IF”.

  Then, for example, the browsing terminal B that has received the e-mail accesses the map server device including the minimum rectangular area information by accessing the URL described in the e-mail, and easily displays the map in the minimum rectangular area. Can be executed.

    <Process flow>

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow in the map server device of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, in response to a request from the browsing terminal, the map is output for browsing by the internet browser of the browsing terminal (step S0801). And if the point set information designated by the point input etc. with respect to the map displayed with the browsing terminal is acquired via the internet browser of a browsing terminal (step S0802), based on the acquired point set information, for example, minimum The minimum rectangular area information is calculated by calculating the vertex coordinates of the rectangular area (step S0803). Then, the minimum rectangular area information obtained by the calculation is described in a URL format including its own address in accordance with, for example, a syntax defined by HTTP, and a mail including the URL is transmitted to the viewing terminal (step S0804). .

  Then, the browsing terminal that has received the mail can easily execute the map display in the minimum rectangular area by accessing the URL described in the mail.

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device of the present embodiment includes a minimum rectangular area that includes a plurality of points designated by the browsing terminal and has no extra area displayed and has high visibility, for example, without any adjustment operation by the user. It can be easily identified. The map indicated by the minimum rectangular area can be easily browsed using the URL transmitted by mail.

  << Example 2 >>

    <Overview>

  The present embodiment is based on the above-described first embodiment, and when the URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device itself is notified to the browsing terminal, the browsing terminal is browsing instead of the notification function by mail transmission. It is a map server apparatus provided with the function to notify by making it display on this screen. The browsing terminal can easily share the map of the minimum rectangular area by notifying a friend of the URL displayed on the Web page.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (0900) of this example is similar to the first example in that “map output unit” (0901), “point set information acquisition unit” (0902), “Minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (0903). Since these structural requirements have already been described in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  And the map server apparatus of a present Example is replaced with the "mail transmission part" of Example 1, and has a "Web transmission part" (0904), It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The “Web transmission unit” (0904) has a function of outputting the minimum rectangular area information obtained by the calculation so that the browsing terminal can display it on the screen being browsed by the Internet browser in the URL format including its own address. For example, it can be realized by a CPU, a main memory, a Web transmission program, or the like.

  Specifically, for example, the point set information transmitted from the browsing terminal A is received as an HTTP request by the aforementioned point set information acquisition unit. Then, when the minimum rectangular area information is calculated based on the point set information, a URL including the calculation result and the address of the server itself is generated and returned to the browsing terminal A as an HTTP response. In this way, the browsing terminal A can interpret the HTTP response and display it as a Web page including the URL on the Internet browser. Therefore, the URL can be notified without separately inputting an e-mail address.

  In addition, in the browsing terminal A, the URL displayed in such a manner is separately attached to, for example, an e-mail or the user's own blog, so that the browsing terminal B, C,. be able to.

  Although not shown, the map server device according to the present embodiment may include a “wireless transmission unit” instead of the mail transmission unit or the Web transmission unit. This “wireless transmission unit” has a function of outputting the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation as information indicated in a URL format including its own address by short-range wireless communication. “Short-range wireless communication” refers to a communication function for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information between a plurality of viewing terminals. For example, optical wireless communication including infrared rays and radio waves such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). One example is wireless communication.

  The wireless transmission unit can be realized by, for example, a modulation circuit, a light emitter or a communication unit, a wireless transmission program, and the like. In the case of infrared communication, the wireless transmission unit has a modulation cycle indicating a URL calculated by a light emitter provided in one viewing terminal. It flickers, and the URL is transmitted when the light receiver of the other viewing terminal receives and demodulates the flicker cycle.

    <Process flow>

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the map server device of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, in response to a request from the viewing terminal, the map is output for viewing on the internet browser of the viewing terminal (step S1001). And if the point set information designated by the point input etc. with respect to the map displayed with the browsing terminal is acquired via the internet browser of a browsing terminal (step S1002), based on the acquired point set information, for example, the minimum The minimum rectangular area information is calculated by calculating the vertex coordinates of the rectangular area (step S1003). Then, the minimum rectangular area information obtained by the calculation is described in a URL format including its own address in accordance with, for example, the syntax defined by HTTP, and the URL is displayed on the screen that the browsing terminal is browsing on the Internet browser. (Step S1004). Alternatively, in place of step S1004, the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation is generated as information indicated in a URL format including its own address, and is output to other viewing terminals by short-range wireless communication such as infrared communication, for example. You may do it.

  The browsing terminal can easily execute map display in the minimum rectangular area by accessing the URL displayed on the screen being browsed by the Internet browser. Alternatively, by attaching the URL to, for example, a separate mail or the user's own blog, the URL can be notified to another user's viewing terminal and used.

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device of the present embodiment can display a URL including the minimum rectangular area and the address of the map server device on the screen being browsed by the browsing terminal. Therefore, the URL can be notified without separately inputting an e-mail address. Also, the browsing terminal can easily share the map of the minimum rectangular area by notifying a friend of the URL displayed on the Web page.

  Example 3

    <Overview>

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of map display by the map server device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11A, for example, the browsing terminal receives a mail describing a URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device. When the URL is accessed, the minimum rectangular area information is transmitted to the map server device, and the map of the minimum rectangular area is appropriately displayed on the viewing terminal.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (1200) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment and includes a “map output unit” (1201), a “point set information acquisition unit” (1202), “Minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (1203) and “Mail transmission unit” (1204). Further, on the basis of the second embodiment, a “Web transmission unit” (not shown) may be provided instead of the “mail transmission unit” (1204). Since these structural requirements have already been described in the first and second embodiments, the description thereof will be omitted.

  And the feature point of the map server apparatus of a present Example is a point which further has a "minimum rectangular area information acquisition part" (1205) and a "map acquisition part" (1206).

  The “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit” (1205) has a function of acquiring the minimum rectangular area information described in the URL format including its own address via the browser of the browsing terminal. For example, the CPU, main memory, communication IF The minimum rectangular area information acquisition program can be used. Specifically, there is a configuration in which the minimum rectangular area information is acquired by access from the browsing terminal using the URL notified to the browsing terminal by the function of the mail transmission unit or the Web transmission unit.

  The “map acquisition unit” (1206) has a function of acquiring a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display of the browsing terminal based on the acquired minimum rectangular area information, and for example, by a CPU, a main memory, or a map acquisition program realizable.

  The process of “acquiring a map that can be displayed on one screen on the display of the browsing terminal” in the map acquisition unit specifically acquires, for example, resolution information of a display at a display destination, and a minimum rectangular area according to the resolution There is a process of appropriately adjusting the scale and magnification of the map data. In addition, with regard to acquisition of the resolution, for example, there is a method of acquiring by including the display size of the map of the viewing terminal when acquiring the point set information.

  In the figure, the viewing terminal from which the map is first output and the point set information is input is the same as the viewing terminal of the transmission destination such as the mail including the URL, and the viewing terminal from which the minimum rectangular area information is acquired. Although the aspect is illustrated, of course, it is not limited to it.

  For example, the browsing terminal that has input the point set information may be different from the browsing terminal that displays the map data of the minimum rectangular area by accessing a URL transmitted by e-mail or the like. However, in such a case, there is a possibility that the map of the minimum rectangular area is not properly displayed on the latter viewing terminal due to a difference in display resolution. Therefore, it is preferable that the map data is acquired in accordance with the display resolution of the latter viewing terminal with the configuration described in the fourth embodiment and later.

    <Process flow>

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall processing flow related to map display, including the browsing terminal A that inputs the point set information and displays the map data of the minimum rectangular area, in addition to the map server device of the present embodiment. It is. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care. Moreover, although this figure has illustrated the aspect in which the browsing terminal which inputs point set information and displays the map data of minimum rectangular area information is the same, it is not limited to it. Embodiments in which the viewing terminal that inputs the point set information and the viewing terminal that displays the map data of the minimum rectangular area information are different will be described later in Embodiments 4 and 5.

  As shown in this figure, first, a map request is transmitted at the viewing terminal (step S1301). The map server device receives the map request and returns map data accordingly (step S1302).

  The viewing terminal receives the returned map data, displays a map on its own display (step S1303), and accepts input of point set information on the displayed map (step S1304). When the point set information is input via the user interface, the viewing terminal transmits the input point set information to the map server device (step S1305).

  In the map server device, when the spot set information transmitted from the viewing terminal is acquired (step S1306), the minimum rectangular area information is calculated based on the spot set information (step S1307). Then, a mail describing the URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device itself is returned to the viewing terminal (step S1308).

  The browsing terminal receives a mail describing a URL from the map server device (step S1309), and executes access to the map server device by clicking the URL (step S1310). For example, the resolution information of the browsing terminal may be transmitted by an add-on process incorporated in the Internet browser. The map server device acquires the minimum rectangular area information (step S1311), and the map data of the minimum rectangular area fits on one screen of the viewing terminal based on the minimum rectangular area information and, for example, the resolution information of the viewing terminal. The scale and magnification for display are determined, and map data corresponding to the determined scale and magnification is acquired (step S1312). Then, the acquired map data is returned to the viewing terminal (step S1313).

  The browsing terminal receives the map data returned from the map server device (step S1314) and displays it on its own display (step S1315).

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device according to the present embodiment can acquire a map of the minimum rectangular area that can be displayed on one screen on the display of the viewing terminal and transmit it to the viewing terminal.

  Example 4

    <Overview>

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a map display by the map server device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14A, map data having a resolution of “200 × 300” is acquired as a map indicating the minimum rectangular area. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, the scale of the map data is adjusted and displayed in accordance with the display resolution “320 × 400” of the display destination browsing terminal.

  In particular, in this embodiment, in order to determine the display resolution, the model information of the browsing terminal included in the communication data is used as will be described later.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (1500) of the present embodiment is based on the third embodiment and includes a “map output unit” (1501), a “point set information acquisition unit” (1502), It has a “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (1503), a “mail transmission unit” (1504), a “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit” (1505), and a “map acquisition unit” (1506). Further, based on the second embodiment, a “Web transmission unit” (not shown) may be provided instead of the “mail transmission unit” (1504). In addition, since these structural requirements have already been described in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  The feature points of the map server device of this embodiment are that the “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit” further includes “model information acquisition means” (1507) and “display destination resolution acquisition means” (1508), and “ The “map acquisition unit” has “acquisition means by resolution” (1509).

  The “model information acquisition unit” (1507) has a function of acquiring the model information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal. For example, the CPU, the main memory, and the model information acquisition It can be realized by a program. Specifically, for example, if the viewing terminal is a mobile phone or the like, information for identifying the model is included in the “User Agent header” in the communication data. Therefore, there is a method for obtaining the model information.

  The “display destination resolution acquisition unit” (1508) has a function of acquiring display destination resolution information which is information indicating the resolution of the display of the model specified by the model information based on the acquired model information. It can be realized by a CPU, a main memory, a display destination resolution acquisition program, or the like.

  Specifically, table data in which model information and resolution information are associated in advance is stored, and resolution information corresponding to the model information is acquired by referring to the table data. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an example of the display destination resolution information acquisition process. As shown in FIG. 16A, for example, the “User Agent header” included in the communication data when the viewing terminal transmits the minimum rectangular area information by accessing the URL is acquired. Then, model information such as “911A” indicated by the User Agent header is acquired.

  Subsequently, with reference to the table data as shown in FIG. 16B held in the HDD or the like, search processing is executed using the acquired model information “911A” as a key, and the resolution “vertical: 480”, For example, “horizontal: 640” is specified.

  In this way, the display resolution of the viewing terminal can be acquired using the model information included in the communication data. With the following configuration, the magnification and the like can be adjusted so that the map of the minimum rectangular area is displayed to the maximum according to the resolution.

  Further, the “display resolution” obtained here is not limited to the maximum / effective resolution of the display itself. For example, when a map is displayed via the browser of the viewing terminal, it is necessary to draw a browser GUI (toolbar, frame line, various operation buttons, etc.), so that the map is displayed at the full display resolution of the display itself. I can't. Thus, information indicating the resolution of the content display area excluding the drawing area of the browser GUI in the display may be acquired as the display destination resolution information.

  In such a case, display destination resolution information may be acquired as follows. For example, when the browser used in the browsing terminal is fixed (cannot be changed), the table type indicating the resolution for each model shown in FIG. It is preferable to prepare table data indicating the resolution of the content display area.

  Alternatively, if the browser used in the browsing terminal can be changed, table data indicating the vertical and horizontal GUI drawing areas (number of pixels) for each browser is stored separately from the model-specific resolution table shown in FIG. And good. Then, using the “browser-id” indicated in the header of the HTTP request as a key, the browser drawing area table data is referenced to obtain the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the drawing area of the browser GUI used in the browsing terminal. Then, it is preferable to obtain the display destination resolution by subtracting the number of vertical and horizontal pixels from the specified display resolution of each model.

  “Resolution-specific acquisition means” (1509) has a function of acquiring a map that can be displayed on one screen on the display based on the acquired display destination resolution information. For example, the CPU, the main memory, and a resolution-specific acquisition program Etc. can be realized.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an example of a map acquisition process in the resolution-specific acquisition unit. Here, in a general map server device, map data representing the same region is prepared for each of a plurality of scales such as “1/10000 Japan map” and “1/15000 Japan map”. In the case of a small-scale map, the amount of information contained on the map (number of displayed terrain, roads, etc., number of point names, etc.) is small, so it is convenient to use map data that is as large as possible. Is good.

  Therefore, first, the map data with the smallest scale is selected from the map data of the smallest rectangular area that can be displayed at the resolution of the display destination browsing terminal as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 17A, three types of map data having scales of 1/30000, 1/15000, and 1/10000 are held. Then, the calculated number of display pixels of the minimum rectangular area is calculated for each scale of map data. Then, the obtained resolution of the viewing terminal of the display destination is compared with the calculated number of display pixels, and the scale that is the largest among the vertical and horizontal dimensions within the display is determined. In the example of FIG. 17, since the resolution of the display destination is “640 × 480”, the map data having the display pixel number “600 × 400” of 2, 1/15000 of FIG. 17A is determined as the optimum scale. The

  Subsequently, the magnification is determined in order to display the map data on the full display. Specifically, for example, the display resolution and the ratio of the vertical and horizontal directions of the map data are calculated by the calculation processing of the map server device. Then, the smaller ratio among the calculated vertical and horizontal ratios is determined as the magnification. In this way, the magnification and the horizontal size of the map data are set to the same magnification, and the magnification that fits both in the vertical and horizontal directions in the display resolution of the display destination, 1.06 in the example of FIG. 17 is determined.

  In this way, for example, when the map data of the minimum rectangular area is shared and displayed between different viewing terminals, the minimum rectangular area including a plurality of points is displayed on the terminal without performing an adjustment operation for each user. It can be displayed appropriately within one screen.

  Note that the above example is an example, and when the map server device holds only one type of map data, there is no scale determination process, and only the magnification determination process may be performed. Alternatively, if the map data is raster data (an image data format in which an image becomes rough and visibility decreases when enlarged), only the scale determination process may be performed and the magnification determination process may not be performed.

  Further, in the adjustment process of the map data of the minimum rectangular area corresponding to the resolution of the display destination, a process such as rotation of the map data may be performed as described later. In that case, for example, the map data of FIG. 17 may be rotated 90 degrees and adapted to a horizontally long screen.

    <Hardware configuration>

  FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the map server device when the functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the map data size adjustment processing of the minimum rectangular area corresponding to the display destination resolution will be described using this figure.

  As shown in this figure, the map server device has a “CPU” (1801), “main memory” (1802), “HDD” (1803), and “communication IF” (1804) as in the first embodiment. And. They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  Here, the map server device transmits an email in which a URL for displaying the minimum rectangular area on the display is displayed to the browsing terminals A and B by the process described in the first embodiment. For example, when access using the URL is executed in the browsing terminal B, the map server device receives a map request for displaying the minimum rectangular area at the “communication IF” and receives the address 1 of “main memory”. To store.

  In the map server device, with the reception of this map request as a trigger, the “CPU” interprets the model information acquisition program, and “User Agent” data as shown in FIG. To get. Then, the model information indicated at a predetermined position in the “User Agent” data is acquired and stored in the address 2 of the “main memory”.

  Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the display destination resolution information acquisition program, and searches the model-specific resolution master as shown in FIG. 16B stored in the address B of “HDD” using the model information as a key. . Then, the resolution information of the viewing destination viewing terminal indicated by the model information is specified and stored in address 3 of “main memory”.

  Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the acquisition program classified by resolution, and first calculates vertical and horizontal pixels of the minimum rectangular area in each scale of map data stored in the “HDD”. Then, a comparison calculation process with the resolution of the display destination is performed, and a scale that is the maximum among the vertical and horizontal directions of the map data of the minimum rectangular area is determined and stored in address 4 of the “main memory”.

  Then, in order to determine the magnification, the ratio between the determined number of pixels of the map data and the display destination resolution is calculated for each of the vertical and horizontal directions by the arithmetic processing of the CPU. Since the vertical and horizontal ratios need to be equal, the smaller one of the vertical and horizontal ratios is determined as the magnification and stored in address 5 of the “main memory”. Then, the map image data for display generated by adjusting the map data of the minimum rectangular area at the determined scale and magnification is stored in the address 6 of the “main memory”, and the data is used as a reply to the map request as a viewing terminal. B is output from “communication IF”.

  In this way, the browsing terminal B displays the minimum rectangular area including a plurality of points input on the browsing terminal A on a single screen without any special operation simply by accessing the URL described in the mail. be able to.

    <Process flow>

  FIG. 19 shows the flow of the overall processing relating to map display including the browsing terminal A for inputting the point set information and the browsing terminal B for displaying the map data of the minimum rectangular area in addition to the map server device of this embodiment. It is a flowchart showing an example. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, a map request is transmitted from the viewing terminal A (step S1901). The map server device receives the map request and returns map data accordingly (step S1902).

  The browsing terminal A receives the returned map data, displays the map on its own display (step S1903), and accepts the input of the point set information on the displayed map. When the point set information is input via the user interface, the viewing terminal A transmits the input point set information to the map server device (step S1905).

  In the map server device, when the spot set information transmitted from the viewing terminal A is acquired (step S1906), the minimum rectangular area information is calculated based on the spot set information (step S1907). Then, the mail describing the URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device itself is transmitted to the browsing terminal B different from the browsing terminal A (step S1908).

  The browsing terminal B receives a mail describing the URL from the map server device (step S1909), and the map server device is accessed by clicking the URL (step S1910). The map server device refers to the User Agent included in the map (HTTP) request received at the time of access, and acquires the model information (step S1911). Subsequently, the map server device searches the table data using the model information as a key, and acquires display destination resolution information (step S1912). Then, based on the display destination resolution, for example, the scale and magnification for displaying the map data of the minimum rectangular area so as to fit within one screen of the browsing terminal B are determined, and map data corresponding to the determined scale and magnification is acquired. (Step S1913). Then, the acquired map data is returned to the browsing terminal B (step S1914).

  The browsing terminal B receives the map data returned from the map server device (step S1915) and displays it on its own display (step S1916).

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device according to the present embodiment can perform a plurality of operations without performing individual adjustment operations for each user, for example, when the map data of the minimum rectangular area is shared and displayed with one URL between different viewing terminals. The minimum rectangular area including the point can be appropriately displayed within one screen of the terminal.

  Example 5

    <Overview>

  As in the fourth embodiment, the present embodiment is a map server having a function of performing adjustment processing such as the scale and magnification of the map data in accordance with the display resolution of the viewing terminal that is the display destination of the map data in the minimum rectangular area. Device. The difference from the fourth embodiment is that the resolution information is acquired directly from the browsing terminal without using the model information.

  Specifically, for example, an add-on program that acquires and transmits the resolution information of the viewing terminal itself in an Internet browser is incorporated, so that the resolution information is directly transmitted when accessing a URL described in an e-mail or the like. Condition.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (2000) of the present embodiment is based on the third embodiment, based on the “map output unit” (2001), “point set information acquisition unit” (2002), It has a “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (2003), a “mail transmission unit” (2004), a “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit” (2005), and a “map acquisition unit” (2006). Further, on the basis of the second embodiment, a “Web transmission unit” (not shown) may be provided instead of the “mail transmission unit” (2004). In addition, since these structural requirements have already been described in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  The feature points of the map server device according to the present embodiment are that the “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit” further includes a “display destination resolution acquisition unit” (2007), and the “map acquisition unit” has “resolution-specific acquisition unit”. (2008).

  The “display destination resolution acquisition means” (2007) has a function of acquiring resolution information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal. For example, the CPU, the main memory, and the display destination This can be realized by a resolution acquisition program. Specifically, as described above, the display destination resolution acquisition program is incorporated as an add-on program in the Internet browser of the viewing terminal, and the display destination resolution information is automatically acquired. In addition, a configuration in which resolution information is acquired by inputting and transmitting resolution information in a Web page may be used.

  The “resolution-specific acquisition means” (2008) has a function of acquiring a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display based on the acquired display destination resolution information. Note that the map data adjustment process according to the display destination resolution is the same process as the resolution-specific acquisition unit of the fourth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Thus, unlike the fourth embodiment, the display destination resolution information is directly acquired without using model information, so that, for example, even in a high-function terminal capable of appropriately changing the resolution, map data of the minimum rectangular area is obtained. It can be displayed properly.

    <Process flow>

  FIG. 21 shows the flow of the entire processing related to map display including the browsing terminal A for inputting the point set information and the browsing terminal B for displaying the map data of the minimum rectangular area in addition to the map server device of the present embodiment. It is a flowchart showing an example. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, a map request is transmitted from the viewing terminal A (step S2101). The map server device receives the map request and returns map data accordingly (step S2102).

  The browsing terminal A receives the returned map data, displays the map on its own display (step S2103), and accepts the input of the point set information on the displayed map (step S2104). When the point set information is input via the user interface, the browsing terminal A transmits the input point set information to the map server device (step S2105).

  In the map server device, when the point set information transmitted from the viewing terminal A is acquired (step S2106), the minimum rectangular area information is calculated based on the point set information (step S2107). Then, the mail describing the URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device itself is transmitted to the browsing terminal B different from the browsing terminal A (step S2108).

  The browsing terminal B receives a mail describing the URL from the map server device (step S2109), and the access to the map server device is executed by clicking the URL (step S2110). For example, the resolution information of the browsing terminal B is also transmitted by an add-on process incorporated in the Internet browser. The map server device acquires display destination resolution information transmitted together with the access (step S2111). Then, based on the display destination resolution, for example, the scale and magnification for displaying the map data of the minimum rectangular area so as to fit within one screen of the browsing terminal B are determined, and map data corresponding to the determined scale and magnification is acquired. (Step S2112). Then, the acquired map data is returned to the browsing terminal B (step S2113).

  The browsing terminal B receives the map data returned from the map server device (step S2114) and displays it on its own display (step S2115).

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, even with the map server device of the present embodiment, when the map data of the minimum rectangular area is shared and displayed with one URL between different viewing terminals, for example, each user does not perform an adjustment operation individually. A minimum rectangular area including a plurality of points can be appropriately displayed within one screen of the terminal. Furthermore, for example, even in a high function terminal capable of appropriately changing the resolution, the map data of the minimum rectangular area can be appropriately displayed.

  Example 6

    <Overview>

  In the present embodiment, based on the above embodiment, when the minimum rectangular area including a plurality of points indicated by the point set information is calculated, the minimum rectangular area is placed in a normal position (the sides along the east-west direction and the north-south direction on the map) The map server device is characterized in that the calculation is performed as a rectangular arrangement).

  In this way, by limiting the arrangement mode of the minimum rectangular area as normal, the processing load of the minimum rectangular area can be reduced as compared with the case where the inclination of the rectangle is allowed and non-normal. In addition, since the display of the viewing terminal is in a normal position, the display direction of the minimum rectangular area can coincide with the east, west, south, and north directions when the display is displayed, and the map display can be easily grasped intuitively.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (2200) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment, “map output unit” (2201), “point set information acquisition unit” (2202), “Minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (2203) and “Mail transmission unit” (2204). Further, on the basis of the second embodiment, a “Web transmission unit” (not shown) may be provided instead of the “mail transmission unit” (2204). In addition, as a basic example of other embodiments, a “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit”, “map acquisition unit”, “model information acquisition unit”, “display destination resolution acquisition unit”, “resolution-specific acquisition unit”, etc. May be. In addition, since these structural requirements have already been described in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  And the feature point of the map server apparatus of a present Example is a point in which the minimum rectangular area information calculating part further has a "normal minimum rectangular area calculating means" (2205).

  The “minimum placed rectangular area calculation means” (2205) has a function of computing the placed minimum rectangular area information based on the acquired point set information. For example, the CPU, the main memory, the placed minimum rectangular area calculation program, etc. Can be realized. The “normal minimum rectangular area” refers to a minimum rectangular area whose sides extend in the east-west direction and the north-south direction on the map including the plurality of points. Therefore, the vertex coordinates of the normal minimum rectangular area can be calculated as a combination of coordinates of a plurality of points indicated by the point set information as shown in FIG. Therefore, the processing load on the minimum rectangular area can be reduced as compared with the case where the inclination of the rectangle is allowed and non-arranged.

  In addition, since the display of the viewing terminal is in a normal position, the display direction of the minimum rectangular area can coincide with the east, west, south, and north directions when the display is displayed. Therefore, the map display can be intuitively grasped easily.

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device according to the present embodiment can perform calculation by limiting the arrangement of the minimum rectangular area to the normal position. Therefore, the processing load on the minimum rectangular area can be reduced as compared to the case where the inclination of the rectangle is allowed and non-arranged. In addition, since the display of the viewing terminal is in a normal position, the display direction of the minimum rectangular area can coincide with the east, west, south, and north directions during display display. Therefore, the map display can be intuitively grasped easily.

  Example 7

    <Overview>

  FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the calculation of the minimum rectangular area in the map server device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23 (a), in the map server device of the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment 6, the minimum rectangular area is not aligned, that is, each side of the rectangle does not follow the east, west, north, and south directions on the map. The calculation is performed so that the area becomes the minimum after permitting the arrangement.

  Therefore, the area of the rectangular region can be calculated smaller than in the case of limiting to the normal position. That is, it is possible to display map data that is more detailed and increases the amount of information about a plurality of points around the minimum rectangular area.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (2400) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment, “map output unit” (2401), “point set information acquisition unit” (2402), It has a “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (2403) and a “mail transmission unit” (2404). Further, on the basis of the second embodiment, a “Web transmission unit” (not shown) may be provided instead of the “mail transmission unit” (2404). In addition, as a basic example of other embodiments, a “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit”, “map acquisition unit”, “model information acquisition unit”, “display destination resolution acquisition unit”, “resolution-specific acquisition unit”, etc. May be. In addition, since these structural requirements have already been described in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  And the feature point of the map server apparatus of a present Example is a point in which the minimum rectangular area information calculating part further has a "non-arrangement minimum rectangular area calculating means" (2405).

  The “rectified minimum rectangular area calculation means” (2405) has a function of calculating the non-rectified minimum rectangular area information based on the acquired point set information. For example, the CPU, the main memory, the non-rectified minimum rectangular area calculation It can be realized by a program. Note that the “non-rectangular minimum rectangular area” refers to a minimum rectangular area whose sides do not extend in the east-west direction and the north-south direction on the map including the plurality of points.

    <Brief description of effect>

  Therefore, the area of the non-positioned minimum rectangular area can be made smaller than that of the position minimum rectangular area. In other words, map data that is more detailed and has a larger amount of information can be displayed on the browsing terminal in the vicinity of a plurality of points included in the minimum rectangular area.

  Example 8

    <Overview>

  The present embodiment is provided with a function of transmitting the mail as an HTML mail in relation to the mail transmitted to the viewing terminal in which the URL including the minimum rectangular area information and the address of the map server device is described based on the above embodiment. This is a map server device.

  That is, since the URL becomes link active in the transmitted mail, the browsing terminal can easily access the map server device by simply clicking the URL of the received mail.

    <Functional configuration>

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the map server device according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “map server device” (2500) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment, “map output unit” (2501), “point set information acquisition unit” (2502), A “minimum rectangular area information calculation unit” (2503) and a “mail transmission unit” (2504). In addition, based on other embodiments, “minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit”, “map acquisition unit”, “model information acquisition unit”, “display destination resolution acquisition unit”, “resolution-specific acquisition unit”, “in-place minimum” It may have a “rectangular area calculation means” or a “non-normal minimum rectangular area calculation means”. In addition, since these structural requirements have already been described in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  And the feature point of the map server apparatus of a present Example is a point in which a map acquisition part further has an "HTML transmission means" (2505).

  The “HTML transmission unit” (2505) has a function of transmitting mail in the HTML format, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a communication IF, an HTML transmission program, or the like.

    <Brief description of effect>

  As described above, the map server device according to the present embodiment can transmit a mail whose URL is link active to the browsing terminal. Therefore, the browsing terminal can easily access the map server device simply by clicking the URL of the received mail.

Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a service provided by using the map server device according to the first embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 1. The conceptual diagram showing an example of the point set information input user interface in a browsing terminal for acquiring point set information in the map server apparatus of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the point set information acquired in the map server apparatus of Example 1. The figure for demonstrating an example of the calculation of the minimum rectangular area in the map server apparatus of Example 1. FIG. The figure showing an example of the mail transmitted from the mail transmission part of the map server apparatus of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the map server apparatus of Example 1. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of the process in the map server apparatus of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 2. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of the process in the map server apparatus of Example 2. The figure showing an example of the map display by the map server apparatus of Example 3 The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 3. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of the whole process containing the map server apparatus of Example 3. The figure showing an example of the map display by the map server apparatus of Example 4. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 4. The figure for demonstrating an example of the display destination resolution information acquisition process in the map server apparatus of Example 4. The figure for demonstrating an example of the map acquisition process in the acquisition means classified by resolution of the map server apparatus of Example 4. The figure showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the map server apparatus of Example 4. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of the whole process containing the map server apparatus of Example 4. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 5. The flowchart showing an example of the flow of the whole process containing the map server apparatus of Example 5. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 6. Conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the calculation of the minimum rectangular area in the map server device of the seventh embodiment The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 7. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the map server apparatus of Example 8. The figure for demonstrating an example of the calculation of the minimum rectangular area in the map server apparatus of Example 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

0200 Map server device 0201 Map output unit 0202 Point set information acquisition unit 0203 Minimum rectangular area information calculation unit 0204 Mail transmission unit

Claims (7)

A map output unit for browsing the map with an internet browser on the browsing terminal;
A point set information acquisition unit for acquiring point set information which is information indicating a plurality of points on the map via an Internet browser of a browsing terminal;
Based on the acquired point set information, a minimum rectangular area information calculation unit that calculates minimum rectangular area information that is information indicating a minimum rectangular area on a map including the plurality of points,
A mail transmitting unit that transmits a mail including a description of the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation in a URL format including the address of the map server device itself to the browsing terminal ;
Based on the acquired point set information, the minimum rectangular area information calculation unit calculates non-rectangular minimum rectangular area information indicating a minimum rectangular area whose side does not extend in the east-west direction and the north-south direction on the map including the plurality of points. A map server device having non-orientated minimum rectangular area calculating means.   Instead of a mail transmission unit, a request is provided that includes a Web transmission unit that outputs the minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation in a URL format including its own address so that the browsing terminal is displayed on the screen being browsed by the Internet browser. Item 2. The map server device according to Item 1.   The map server device according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmission unit that outputs, by short-range wireless communication, minimum rectangular area information obtained by calculation as information indicated in a URL format including its own address, instead of the mail transmission unit. . A minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit that acquires minimum rectangular area information described in a URL format including its own address via a browser of the browsing terminal;
A map acquisition unit that acquires a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display of the viewing terminal based on the acquired minimum rectangular area information;
The map server device according to claim 1, comprising: The minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit
Model information acquisition means for acquiring model information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal;
Display destination resolution acquisition means for acquiring display destination resolution information which is information indicating the resolution of the display of the model specified by the model information based on the acquired model information;
The map acquisition unit
The map server apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an acquisition unit for each resolution that acquires a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display based on the acquired display destination resolution information. The minimum rectangular area information acquisition unit has display destination resolution acquisition means for acquiring resolution information of the viewing terminal that is the transmission source of the minimum rectangular area information via the browser of the viewing terminal,
The map server device according to claim 4, wherein the map acquisition unit includes an acquisition unit for each resolution that acquires a map that can be displayed on a single screen on the display based on the acquired display destination resolution information. A map output step for browsing the map with an internet browser of the browsing terminal;
A point set information acquisition step of acquiring point set information which is information indicating a plurality of points on the map via an Internet browser of a browsing terminal;
Based on the acquired point set information, a minimum rectangular area information calculation step for calculating minimum rectangular area information, which is information indicating a minimum rectangular area on the map including the plurality of points,
The computer executes a mail transmission step of transmitting a mail including a description of the minimum rectangular area information obtained by the calculation in the URL format including the address of the map server device itself to the browsing terminal ,
The minimum rectangular area information calculating step calculates non-rectangular minimum rectangular area information indicating a minimum rectangular area whose sides do not extend in the east-west direction and the north-south direction on the map including the plurality of points based on the acquired point set information. The map server apparatus control method which has the non-arrangement minimum rectangular area calculation step to perform.

Images