WO2015155478A1

WO2015155478A1 - Method and device for accessing local information by means of map recognition

Info

Publication number: WO2015155478A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/050919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yves ROUBINET
Original assignee: Roubinet Yves
Priority date: 2014-04-08
Filing date: 2015-04-08
Publication date: 2015-10-15
Also published as: FR3019669B1; FR3019669A1

Abstract

The device for accessing local information by means of map recognition, comprises: a printed map (10) comprising at least one marker (12) printed on the surface of same, representative of an access to a database, in correspondence with the map, said at least one marker being formed by the representation of at least one geographical element (11) constituting the map and an electronic device comprising a touch screen, an image sensor and a software programme for recognising a marker in a captured image, for retrieving, from the database, a piece of information data associated with the recognised marker and for displaying, on the touch screen, the retrieved piece of information data in the form of graphic representations, characterised in that the graphic representations are displayed persistently on the touch screen, regardless of the orientation of the electronic device, and in that the device for accessing local information comprises at least one marker (12) comprising a sight (13) consisting of a geometric shape separate from the content of the printed map (10), the software recognising the sight in order to recognise the marker comprising said sight.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACCESSING LOCAL INFORMATION BY

PLAN RECOGNITION

Technical area.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for accessing local information by plane recognition. It applies in particular to provide additional information to users consulting a plan and is in the field of communicating print media.

State of the art

Maps or printed plans are known for displaying various types of information, relating to the geography of a region, a city, a zone of activities or a cultural or leisure route. . The purpose of these plans is to provide information about these geographic areas to users. These plans can be fixed, in which case they are usually present on display media where they can be mobile, in which case they usually take the form of flyers. In order to deliver informative data, the plans incorporate representations of geographical elements on their surface, which can be materialized by schematic representations, such as the representation of the road network and buildings, or symbolic representations such as the representation of equipment, monuments or remarkable sites. This informative data can also be materialized by designations such as names of public places (agglomerations, roads, administrations ...) or private places (companies, shops ...).

There are plans, containing a large amount of informative data, whose surface is divided by a grid, the areas obtained are easily identifiable by planar Cartesian coordinates. The data sought by the user are thus easily identifiable.

When a user consults a plan, he looks for one or more specific information. He can search, for example, for a position on the particular plan or service he wishes to obtain in a given geographical area of the plan. The display mode of the information may then be inappropriate for need of the user. Indeed, the plans as known display all the informative data on the same medium. The user desiring precise information is therefore forced to filter the informative data provided by the plan. This can lead to a long and laborious search. In addition, when the amount of unwanted informational data is important, they may obscure the information sought. It is therefore necessary that the display mode and access to information concerning a geographical area is set so as not to disturb the user's reading.

On the other hand, the existing printed plans contain only a limited amount of informative data specific to their nature. A transit plan for a geographic area provides only information about the routes of the different transmission lines, just as a plan for an area of operation provides only information relating to companies in the geographical area concerned. A given plan therefore only meets a specific need of a part of the users.

In addition, the informative data of known printed plans can vary very little in time, because the updates involve the creation and printing of new plans or the overprinting of an old plan in order to add to them. information. Thus, the data delivered must be fixed or not very subject to changes. The amount of informative data is therefore naturally limited, and can not relate to events whose duration is limited in time.

In addition, the information provided by the plan is not adapted to the profile of all users. Indeed, tourists do not have the same needs as professionals or residents of the same geographic area.

There is also known mapping software for viewing a plan on an electronic device screen. These softwares make it possible to navigate the plane and modify the display scale of the plane. These software deliver plan information. However, this information is usually superficial and specific to a specific area. Indeed, these software are dedicated to a given use, for example, the representation of the public transport network, the calculation of routes, the representation of road traffic or weather forecasts. The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these disadvantages. For this purpose, the present invention aims, in a first aspect, a device for accessing local information by plane recognition, which comprises:

a printed plan comprising at least one marker printed on its surface, representative of an access to a database, in correspondence with the plane, said at least one marker being formed by the representation of at least one constituent geographical element of the plan and

an electronic device comprising a touch screen, an image sensor and a software for recognizing a marker in a captured image, retrieving from the database, an informative data item associated with the recognized marker and displaying, on the touch screen, informative data retrieved in the form of graphic representations, characterized in that the graphic representations are displayed in a persistent manner on the touch screen, regardless of the orientation of the electronic device, and that the local information access device comprises at least one marker having a viewfinder consisting of a geometric shape independent of the contents of the printed plan, the software recognizing the viewfinder to recognize the marker that includes the viewfinder.

Thanks to these provisions, a user can have access to all types of local information, relative to a geographical area represented by the plan. Moreover, whatever the size and shape of the marker, it is easily identifiable through the viewfinder, and the plan is readable for the user, which allows it to be able to acquire without gene the information printed on its surface. Also, these provisions make it possible to have access to local information in a simple and free way. In addition, user comfort of the device is provided to the user as the graphical representations materializing the informative data are displayed persistently on the touch screen, regardless of the orientation of the electronic device.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the database stores at least one marker identifier. According to an additional feature of the invention, the database stores at least one local information datum specific to a plane, associated with a marker identifier.

These provisions allow one or more informative data to be linked to a given plan. Each plan therefore contains its own information and can meet the information needs of users who may use it.

According to a second aspect, the present invention aims at a method for accessing local information by plane recognition which comprises:

a step of capturing an image of a plane by an image sensor of an electronic device,

a step of recognizing a marker printed on the surface of the plane by an image recognition and information processing software installed on the electronic apparatus, said marker being representative of an access to a base of data, in correspondence with the plane, said marker being formed by the representation of a constituent geographical element of the plane,

a step of searching the informative data associated with the identifier of said marker,

- A step of displaying at least one informative data relating to the plan, via a touch screen of the electronic device.

According to particular characteristics, at least one step of displaying at least one informative data relating to the captured plane comprises:

a step inviting the user to select at least one action relating to the data item presented, and

a step of carrying out this action.

Thus, the user can perform an action specific to an informative data it receives, without leaving the image recognition software and information processing.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a printed plan for a device for accessing local information, comprising at least one marker printed on its surface, representative of an access to a database, in correspondence with the plan, said at least one marker being formed by the representation of at least one geographic element constituting the plane. With this provision, the marker does not cause any reading gene to the user.

According to particular features, a marker comprises a viewfinder consisting of a geometric shape independent of the contents of the plane.

According to particular characteristics, the geometric shape independent of the content of the plane consists of a discontinuous line.

These provisions allow the user to locate the marker on the surface of the plane, and the software to recognize the marker.

According to particular characteristics, the plane has only a single marker printed on its surface, the latter allowing the identification of the plane containing it.

According to particular characteristics, the plane comprises several markers printed on its surface, each of these markers making it possible to identify a predetermined zone of the plane comprising them.

Thus, the plan can be very precise and contain a large number of representations of geographical elements without altering the search for information of the user. The plan therefore has no dimensional constraints. Brief presentation of figures and drawings.

Other advantages, objects and features of the present invention will appear on reading the description of at least one preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a plane according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an electronic device in the reading mode of a plane;

FIG. 3 schematically represents an organization of informative data and

FIG. 4 is a logic diagram representing steps of the method of a particular embodiment that is the subject of the present invention.

Description of an embodiment of the invention The invention aims at providing users with a tool for accessing local information, relating to a geographic area represented on a printed plan. By plan, it is understood that any graphic representation of a geographical area such as a map or an orientation table.

According to one particular embodiment, the present invention comprises a printed plan 10 designed to be recognized by an electronic device 20 comprising an image recognition and information processing software, dedicated to the implementation of the present invention. The recognition of the plan is made from an image sensor which is equipped with the electronic device 20. For example, the electronic device 20 is a smartphone (or "ordiphone") with a touch screen. Touchscreen means in this text that the screen is equipped with a device that allows to select some of its areas by digital contact. The electronic device 20 is connected to at least one informative data storage database 30, remote or not. Indeed, this database can be at an address on a computer network, for example on a server or on data storage means internal to the electronic device 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printed plan 10 which is the subject of the invention comprises at least one graphic identification element printed on its surface and formed by the representation of at least one geographic element 1 1 constituting the plane. The graphic element of identification is materialized by a marker 12, formed, for example, by an area delimited by a line formed of discontinuous lines, this line conforming to the forms of the representation of the roads, buildings or infrastructures appearing on the plan, and forming a closed circuit. The marker 12 may also be constituted by a logotype, a reproduction of a monument by photograph or drawing, the combination of representations of geographical elements of the plane, the written representation of a datum or a geographical point (latitude and longitude ) or the combination of a shape and a color.

Marker 12 being arranged so as not to interfere with the geographical elements 1 1 constituting the plane 10, this characteristic allows to cause any reading gene to the user. When the plane 10 comprises only one marker 12, said marker makes it possible to identify the plane 10 including it. Moreover, as described above, the plane 10 may contain several markers 12 distributed on its surface. The number of these markers 12, varying according to the final application of the plan and the needs of users, is, for example, between two and a hundred. Thus, the plan 10 can be very precise and contain a large number of representations of geographical elements January 1 without altering the search for information of the user. Indeed, the plane 10 is then divided into zones, each represented by a marker 12, each of the markers 12 allowing the identification of one of these zones. Preferably, each marker has a unique identifier, for example, its shape, to differentiate it from others. This identifier, stored in the database, is associated with at least one local informative data.

Furthermore, the marker includes a viewfinder 13 printed on the plane, consisting of a geometric shape independent of the contents of the printed plan. The term viewfinder represents, in this text, one or more graphic elements for visual recognition. This device is therefore useful to the user for locating the marker 12 in the printed plan 1, but also to the software recognition and information processing for the same purpose. Indeed, the software recognizes the viewfinder 13 to recognize the marker 12 which includes the viewfinder 13. Advantageously, the viewfinder 13 is indicated in legend on the plan.

In FIG. 1, the viewfinder 13 is formed by a discontinuous line, and coincides with the perimeter of the marker 12. However, it can be formed of any geometric shapes, regardless of the shape of the marker 12.

Given these provisions, it is possible to integrate access to local information by plan recognition to already printed plans, by printing one or more viewers on these plans, and by creating markers 12 and informative data. corresponding. Thus, in an environmentally friendly and inexpensive way, it is possible to significantly increase the amount of information delivered by a plan already printed, and to update the information it contains.

Once the viewfinder 13 is located, and the marker 12 picked up by the image sensor of the electronic device 20, the marker 12 is recognized by the image recognition and information processing software, dedicated to the in of the present invention, installed on the apparatus. The identifier of the tag 12 captured is then transmitted to the database in order to retrieve the informative data 30 relating to the plane 10 or to the area of the plane 10 targeted.

According to these provisions, the marker 12 is constituted of a form readable by the human eye, allowing the user to locate it on a printed plane 10, and of a shape that is not readable to the human eye, processed by the image recognition and information processing software for recognizing the marker 12.

Once the informative data retrieval step 30, in relation with the recognized marker 12, has been completed, the electronic apparatus 20 is able to present these data from the local information relating to the recognized area of the plane or plane. to the user.

The informative data 30 correspond, for example, to opening and closing times, telephone numbers, addresses and descriptions of companies, services and administrations or to the representation of the public transport networks and transit times.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus is provided with a touch screen 21, constituting a man-machine interface, through which the informative data relating to the area of the plane 10 or to the plane 10 may be presented to the user. 'user. As shown in FIG. 3, the informative data 30, organized in a taxonomic form, respect a hierarchy, so that the flow of information is developed, from the most general to the most particular informative data.

These data are modeled on the touch screen 21 in the form of graphical representations 22. These graphical representations 22 are, for example, icons, tabs or buttons, forming menus and representing general informative data directing the user afterwards. their selection towards more precise informative data, thus inviting him to express his request in a more and more precise manner.

During the use of the device, the user selects, via the touch screen 21, the graphical representation 22 corresponding to the general information data 30 in which the information he wishes is located, and then has access to a or more specific order data. As shown in Figure 3, during a search, the user browses the flow of information through the through a succession of choices in each menu, according to its expectations, in order to achieve the information data 30 sought. For example, a user looking for the phone number of a company Y must indicate that the nature of his research concerns a company, by selecting the graphic representation ad hoc, in a first menu. This selection showing a list of companies in the geographical area covered by the plan, the user must select the company Y in this second menu. Finally, the user must select the graphical representation corresponding to the telephone number of the company Y.

The choices expressed by the user, through the menus proposed, are transmitted to a database, and the informative data 30 relating to these choices are transmitted to the user via the touch screen 21 of the electronic device 20.

The informative data 30 made available to the users are not specific to a specific area, these data can represent all types of information for the same printed plan 10. Thus, only one printed plan 10 is sufficient to cover the needs of all the users. users.

Preferably, once the marker 12 has been recognized by the image recognition and information processing software, the graphical representations 22 embodying the information data 30 are displayed in a persistent manner on said screen 21, independently of the orientation of the image. 20. Thus, unlike the known augmented reality devices, once the graphical representations 22 modeled on the touch screen 21, the user can move his electronic device 20 to his convenience while searching for or reading the local information desired, for example, to read this information in an appropriate reading position. The informative data may be subject to updates of a significant frequency or not, so as to provide users with valid information for a limited time. This information is, for example, related to temporary events such as sports competitions, musical concerts, cultural exhibitions or all events taking place in the geographical area covered by plan 10. This feature allows the local information access device to be scalable, simple, fast and inexpensive, depending on the information to be made available to users.

Advantageously, a search function is available through a dedicated field, in which the user can write keywords corresponding to the object of the information sought.

In embodiments, the user can, concomitantly or as a result of the delivery of an informative data 30, perform one or more actions related to this data item 30. These actions are managed by the image recognition software and information processing. Thanks to these provisions, the user can, following the knowledge of the address of an establishment on the map, be guided by geolocation to this address. It can also connect to an institution's website or establish a telephone call by selecting the proposed telephone number. In order to accomplish these actions, the image recognition and information processing software may have access to informative data not presented to the user by the touch screen 21, such as geolocation coordinates. Thus, informative data 30 delivered by the printed plan 10 may not be visible to the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first step 100 of the method consists in capturing an image of a printed plane 10, or a printed plane zone 10, by means of the image sensor of the electronic device 20. marker 12 printed on the surface of the plane 10 is then recognized by the image recognition and information processing software installed on the electronic device 20, preferably on the basis of the viewfinder 13 of the marker 12, during a recognition step 101. The next step is the transmission 102 of an identifier of the marker 12 to the database. This identifier makes it possible, during the next step 103, to search for the informative data associated with the tag 12 captured. This informative data 30, once found, is transmitted to the electronic device 20, during the transmission step 104. Next, at least part of the informative data associated with the tag 12 captured are presented to the user through the touch screen 21, during the display step 105. Following the display of informative data 30, the user can navigate the flow of information, through the selection of the graphical representation 22 of his choice. This navigation is represented by the step of deepening the search for information 106. Moreover, the user can also, as represented in step 107, launch an action from the selection of an ad hoc graphic representation 22 on the basis of informative data received. This action is performed by the image recognition and information processing software.

In embodiments, the marker identifier 12 is the marker 12 itself.

The information delivered by the electronic device 20 may be available in several languages depending on the geographical location of the plan 10 and / or according to the language chosen by the user.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive any arrangements and variants of the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent as defined by the claims below.

Claims

1 / Device for accessing local information by plan recognition comprising:

a printed plane (10) comprising at least one marker (12) printed on its surface, representative of an access to a database, in correspondence with the plane, said at least one marker being formed by the representation of minus one geographical element (1 1) constituting the plan and

an electronic device (20) comprising a touch screen (21), an image sensor and a software for recognizing a marker in a captured image, retrieving from the database, an informative data item (30) associated with the recognized marker and display on the touch screen, the informative data retrieved in the form of graphical representations (22), characterized in that the graphical representations are displayed persistently on the touch screen, regardless of the orientation of the electronic apparatus, and that the local information access device comprises at least one marker (12) comprising a viewfinder (13) consisting of a geometric shape independent of the contents of the printed plane (10) , the software recognizing the viewfinder to recognize the marker that includes this viewfinder.

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the database stores at least one marker identifier (12).

3 / Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the database stores at least one local informative data (30) specific to a plane (10), associated with a marker identifier (12).

4 / Method for accessing local information by plane recognition comprising:

a step of capturing an image of a plane (10) by an image sensor of an electronic device (20),

a step of recognizing a marker printed on the surface of the plane by an image recognition and information processing software installed on the electronic apparatus, said marker being representative of an access to a database, in correspondence with the plan, said marker being formed by the representation of a geographic element (1 1) constituting the plane,

a step of searching for informative data (30) associated with the identifier of said marker,

- A step of displaying at least one informative data relating to the plane, via a touch screen (21) of the electronic device.

5 / A method according to claim 4, wherein, at least one step of displaying at least one informative data item (30) relating to the captured plane (10) comprises:

a step of carrying out this action.

6 / printed plan (10) for local information access device according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one marker (12) printed on its surface, representative of access to a database , in correspondence with the plane, said at least one marker being formed by the representation of at least one geographic element (1 1) constituting the plane.

A plane (10) according to claim 6, wherein a marker comprises a viewfinder (13) consisting of a geometric shape independent of the contents of the plane.

8 / Plan (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the geometric shape independent of the contents of the plane consists of a discontinuous line.

9 / Plan (10) according to claim 6, which comprises a single marker (12) printed on its surface, the latter allowing the identification of the plane having it.

10 / Plan (10) according to claim 6, which comprises a plurality of markers (12) printed on its surface, each of these markers to identify a predetermined area of the plane comprising them.