JPH07306865A - Information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the information terminal device which can easily offer, for example, detailed area-limited map information together with total outline map information. CONSTITUTION:The terminal device 11 is connected to a central information center 13 by a communication line 12 and map information is in hierarchical structure having detailed information together with the whole data base and outline information. The outline information is stored in the outline data base 20 on the terminal device 11 and the detailed information is stored in the whole data base 24 at the information center 13 together with the outline information. According to input operation by a user 14, a retrieval means 19 reads outline map information out of the outline data base 20 and a display means 17 displays it. Further, a command is supplied to the information center 13 through the communication line 12 and corresponding detailed information is read out of the whole data base 24 and displayed on the terminal device 11, thereby reducing the degree of use of the communication line 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, in an information service network consisting of a combination of a central information center and a plurality of terminal devices, more detailed information is collected by the terminal devices to determine the utilization of communication lines. The present invention relates to an information terminal device improved so as to be reduced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a terminal device is used to obtain some kind of information, a database of information is installed in a central information center such as personal computer communication, and the kind of information requested by the terminal device is set. Etc. is input to issue an information center command, and the information center retrieves and outputs information corresponding to the input command. Then, the retrieved and output information is transmitted to the corresponding terminal, and the detailed contents of the information requested by each terminal device are displayed and output.

When collecting such information, all the information that the user wants to obtain is accumulated in the information center, and this information is transmitted and received to and from the terminal device via the communication line. The usage of communication lines such as telephone lines becomes very large, and the usage time increases together with the usage fee, making it difficult to effectively use the communication lines.

In order to reduce the utilization of such a communication line, a database similar to the information center is installed in the terminal device as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-20069, and the terminal device and the information center are connected to each other. It is conceivable that only the index will be communicated between them. However, when a large-scale database is required, a large-capacity information storage device is required for each information terminal, and the database must be updated in each terminal device as the terminal device becomes larger. And maintenance becomes very difficult.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in particular, collecting detailed information without increasing the scale of a terminal device, especially using a communication line or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information terminal device that can be easily performed.

[0006]

An information terminal device according to the present invention is an information service including an information center, a plurality of terminal devices, and communication means for connecting the information center and the plurality of terminal devices, respectively. In the system, the first storage means installed in the information center stores all databases including detailed data in the hierarchical database, and the second storage means installed in the terminal device stores the database. Memorize the outline data in
Based on a search command provided in the terminal device and input from the input means, the relevant rough data is retrieved from the rough database stored in the second storage means and output to the information center, and the retrieved rough data in the information center. The detailed data corresponding to is output from the first storage means, transmitted to the terminal device and displayed by the display means, and the terminal device recognizes the detailed data of the intended information.

Here, the terminal device is further provided with a third storage means, and the detailed data transmitted from the information center is stored in the third storage means. A priority order is set based on the number of times the detailed information is used.

[0008]

In the information terminal device configured as above,
The database is hierarchized and divided into a rough database and a detailed database, and the rough database is held in the terminal device. Then, the outline data is searched and selected by the input means in each terminal device, the searched outline data is sent to the information center, and all the data accumulated in the information center is converted into the outline data. The corresponding detailed data is selected, returned to the terminal device, and displayed and output to the user. Therefore, each terminal device only needs to store and store the rough data having a limited capacity, and the size of the terminal device can be surely reduced. However,
The detailed data stored in the large-scale storage means of the information center is read out based on this rough data, and the detailed data is sent to the terminal device and displayed.
Users can access even detailed information.

If the third storage means is installed in the terminal device, the detailed data read from the information center is stored in the terminal device, and frequently used information is promptly displayed and output to the user. The convenience is given and the effect is exerted on the frequency of use of the communication means.

That is, the user accesses the database on the side of the first terminal device and retrieves the rough data requested by the user. Since this rough data is searched from the database of the second storage means installed in the terminal device,
No communication means are used. When the user wants more detailed information, this terminal device accesses the information center, and the detailed information can be obtained from the first storage means in this information center through the communication means, and Can be provided for. That is, much more detailed information than the database held by the terminal device can be easily obtained.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration, and in this embodiment, a map guide information terminal device 11 using a map database is provided as a database. This terminal device 11 is connected to a central information center 13 via a communication line 12 such as a telephone line. Here, in such a map guide device, the terminal device 11 is installed in a service area or a station of a highway, a convenience store, and the like, and services such as route guidance and map output are provided to the user 14.

The map guidance information terminal device 11 includes an operation panel unit 15 installed so that the user 14 can operate and visually recognize it.
The information input means 16 set corresponding to the above is provided, and information such as an area required by the user 14 is input to the input means 16. The operation panel unit 15 is further provided with a display unit 17 for displaying an image to inform the user 14 of desired information, and an output device 18 such as a printer.

The information input by the input means 16 of the operation panel 15 is input to the search means 19, and the search means 19 stores the general map data installed in the terminal device 11. Give a command to the database 20,
Search the map of the area corresponding to the entered information. This search means 19 gives a command to the communication means 21,
Communication is performed with the central information center 13 via 12. In the search means 19, the map data output from the schematic map database 20 is further used on the operation panel.
15 sets of display means 17 and output means 18 are supplied to the user 14
Is displayed and output.

The central information center 13 connected to the terminal device 11 via the communication line 12 is provided with the communication means 22 connected to the communication line 12, and the communication means 22 is provided with the general means via the search means 23. It is connected to all databases 24 including a map database and a detailed map database, and based on the area information sent from the terminal device 11, reads detailed map information of the relevant area from all the databases 24. This detailed map information is transmitted to the terminal device 11 via the communication line 12, and information can be exchanged between the terminal device 11 and the central information center 13 using the communication line 12.

FIG. 2 shows a hierarchical structure of the map database stored in the general database 20 of the terminal device and the total database 24 of the information center 13. This database is, for example, the general information 31 and a plurality of general information 321. 322
, And the detailed information 3311, 3312, ..., 3321, 3322, ... Corresponding to the respective outline information 321, 322 ,.
It is composed by the hierarchy of.

All the databases 24 of the central information center 13 have map information in the range of all the hierarchies 35 of this hierarchical structure, and cover, for example, the level of a residential map of Japan. The general information 31 has map data of a scale of 1 / 256,000 to 1 / 640,000, and the general information 321, 322, ... Has map data of a scale of 1 / 160,000 to 1 / 40,000. have. Further, the detailed information 3311, 3312, ..., 3321, 3322, ... Has a scale of residential map of 1/10000 to 1/1000, for example. Such a map database requires a very large capacity, and is frequently updated at the level of the residential map, and the usual database is updated and managed so as to be updated.

The general database 20 of the information terminal device 11 for performing map guidance includes all databases of the central information center 13.
Up to 24, the general information 31 and the general hierarchy 36 including the general information 321, 322, ... Have the same database. However, it does not have a detailed map database such as a residential map. The detailed map database has a very large amount of information and is frequently requested to be updated, but the capacity of the general database 20 of the terminal device 11 which does not have such a detailed map database is It can be very small compared to the total database capacity.

[0018] If the scale is between 1 / 256,000 and 1 / 40,000, even if the map data for roads necessary for route guidance is included, the map of Japan will have a capacity of several hundred megabytes. It can be recorded sufficiently with a capacity of a recording device such as a CD or a hard disk which is usually commercially available.

In the map guide device configured as described above, the user 14 inputs the area information and the like of the necessary map information to the input means 16 of the terminal device 11. The information input here is, for example, area information such as an address or a place name, which is input using an input device such as a keyboard, or C
The input may be made according to the touch key or the like shown on the display means 17 such as RT.

The search means 19 searches the general database 20 according to the input information. In this case, if the map required by the user 14 is a map with a scale of about 1 / 50,000, the search means 19 only needs to search the general database 20 installed in the terminal device 11. The retrieved map data is displayed on the display means 17, and if necessary, the output device 18 outputs the map data to an information recording medium such as a copy or an IC card.

When the user 14 requests detailed map information such as housing information, the search means 19 is connected to the central information center 13 from the communication means 21 via the communication line 12.
Communicate with. In the information center 13, according to the information sent from the terminal device 11, the searching means 23 searches the entire database 20 including detailed map information, reads out the necessary detailed map data, and sends it to the terminal device 11. The detailed map data thus sent to the terminal device 11 is displayed on the display means 17 and is output to the user 14 by the output means 18.

In this way, the database to be used is selected according to the information requested by the user 14, and for example, for the user 14 who only needs the rough information, the processing in the terminal device 11 is performed. Only, a high-speed information service that does not require communication processing time is enabled. Also,
When the user 14 wants even detailed information, the huge database 24 installed in the information center 13 can be used, so that the range of information services for the user 14 can be effectively provided. Can be expanded.

The hierarchical structure of such a database has a very advantageous effect on updating the database. That is, since the outline database 20 included in the terminal device 11 is literally outline data, the update frequency is very low. On the other hand, the entire database 24 of the information center 13 needs to be updated a lot, especially in the range of detailed data.

For example, in the general database 20 of the terminal device 11, since the scale is, for example, 1 / 50,000, it may be updated only when the road is changed. Since it covers up to the level,
For example, every time an individual moves, the database needs to be rewritten. Therefore, by hierarchizing the database, the information center 13 can be updated daily by the administrator and the terminal device 11
The summary database 20 of when summary information changes,
For example, it is only necessary to update once a month.

In such a map guide device, a terminal device
There is a high possibility that the detailed information required by the place installed in 11 will be duplicated. For example, when the terminal device 11 is installed in a convenience store or the like, there is a tendency that a lot of detailed information such as a house map around the installation area is requested. In consideration of such a point, the information accessed by the user 14 is temporarily stored in the terminal device 11, and when the next user requests the same information again, the terminal device does not use the communication line 12. It is effective to be able to provide the detailed information stored in 11.

Here, the detailed information temporarily stored in the terminal device 11 is limited by the capacity of the storage device installed in the terminal device 11. However, by setting the priority of the stored detailed information, It is only necessary to effectively use the limited storage capacity. For example, the priority is determined based on the number of times the detailed information has been used, the date and time of use, and the like. Specifically, those used a lot in the past are stored for as long as possible, and those used recently are stored for a longer period than those used in the past.

The terminal device 11 stores the detailed information as described above.
If the priority is set for the stored information, the detailed map of the area where a large event is held can be processed by the database of the terminal device 11, and the residential map of the specified area can be processed. The processing of information including is performed very efficiently.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing when the processing in such a terminal device 11 is improved. In step 101, the detailed information is temporarily stored in the terminal device 11 in response to the user's request for detailed information. Determine if it exists in memory. If it is confirmed that the detailed information is temporarily stored,
After proceeding to step 102 to read out and output the detailed information, at step 103 the number of uses of the detailed information is increased by "1". Then, the order of all the detailed information in the temporary storage is updated with the maximum order of the detailed information retrieved in step 104.

When it is determined that the detailed information requested in step 101 does not exist in the memory in the terminal device 11, the process proceeds to step 105 and the corresponding detailed information is obtained from the central information center 13 via the communication line 12. And output the display. In step 106, it is determined whether or not there is a new storage location for the detailed information in the storage device in the terminal device 11. If there is, the process proceeds to step 107 to set the number of times of use to “1” and set the order to the end, Temporarily stored and saved in the device 11.

When it is determined in step 106 that there is no new storage location in the temporary storage device, the process proceeds to step 108, and the number of times of use of all information in the temporary storage device is reduced by one.
In this case, the minimum number of uses is "1". Step 109
Then, the number of times of use of the detailed information acquired this time is set to "1" and the order is maximized, and it is determined in the next step 110 whether or not the weight of the detailed information acquired this time is the minimum. If it is determined in step 110 that it is the minimum, the process proceeds to step 111, and processing is performed in which the current detailed information is not stored in the temporary storage device.

When it is determined in step 110 that the weight of the detailed information obtained this time is not the minimum, the process proceeds to step 112, and the detailed information of the minimum weight stored in the temporary storage device is discarded. Then, in step 113, the detailed information of this time is stored in the temporary storage device. Step 11
In step 4, the order of the detailed information this time is set to the maximum, and the order of all the detailed information in the temporary storage device is reassigned.

In the above embodiments, the case where the map database is used as the database has been described.
The same can be done for other databases. For example, in the case of a database of books and documents, the terminal device 11 uses the author, publisher, abstract, price, etc. as general information.
To have in database 20. The database 24 in the central information center 12 can be hierarchized so as to have the entire text of the book as data. In this case, when the terminal device 11 is configured to temporarily store detailed information with high degree of use, the latest best-selling information that is likely to be used most often is the information terminal device without using the communication line. It is output only by processing and can be supplied to the user.

[0033]

As described above, according to the information terminal device of the present invention, detailed information can be obtained in a large number of terminal devices installed in a place suitable for a user's service without increasing the scale of the terminal device. Can be easily collected without particularly using many communication lines and the like, and information services such as map information and book information can be efficiently executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an information terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of information in the terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Terminal device, 12 ... Communication line, 13 ... Central information center,
14 ... User, 15 ... Operation panel, 16 ... Input means, 17 ... Display means, 18 ... Output means, 19,23 ... Search means, 20 ... Summary database, 21,22 ... Communication means, 24 ... Full database.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information service system comprising an information center, a plurality of terminal devices, and a communication means for connecting each of the information center and the plurality of terminal devices, wherein detailed data in a hierarchical database is displayed. First installed in the information center that stores all databases including
Storage means, second storage means installed in the terminal device for storing the rough data in the database, input means provided in the terminal device, and a search command input from the input means. Based on the summary data stored in the second storage means, the summary data is retrieved from the summary database and is output to the information center via the communication means; and details corresponding to the retrieved summary data. Display means provided in each of the terminal devices for outputting data from the first storage means, transmitting the data to the terminal device that has been searched and input, and displaying detailed data corresponding to the rough data, An information terminal device, wherein detailed data of desired information is recognized by the terminal device. 2. The terminal device is further provided with a third storage means, and the detailed data transmitted from the information center is accumulated in the third storage means and read by a command from the input means. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal device is displayed. 3. The information terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the third storage means includes a means for setting a priority order based on the number of times of use of the accumulated detailed information. 4. A map information service system comprising an information center, a plurality of terminal devices, and a communication means for connecting each of the information center and the plurality of terminal devices, in a hierarchical map database area. First storage means installed in the information center for storing an entire database including a limited number of detailed data, and second storage means installed in the terminal device for storing schematic data in the database , Input means provided in the terminal device for inputting information related to a requested map area by a user, and stored in the second storage means based on a search command corresponding to the information input from the input means. The summary data of the relevant area is searched from the summary database and output to the information center via the communication means in response to a request for detailed data. Rough data search means, detailed data corresponding to the searched rough data is output from the first storage means and transmitted to the terminal device that has been searched and input, and detailed data of an area corresponding to the rough data is output. Display means provided in each of the terminal devices to be displayed, and in response to a request for general data, the requested map information can be displayed by processing of only the terminal device, and when the detailed data is requested, the first storage An information terminal device, wherein the detailed data stored by the means is transmitted to the terminal device via the communication means and displayed.