JP2004021432A - Information providing method and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing method and system capable of acquiring much information, and easily grasping the number of stores or facilities within a specific range, and displaying the positions of the different kinds of stores or facilities on the same picture. <P>SOLUTION: In this information providing method for displaying icons corresponding to registered facilities or stores on a map, and for displaying the home pages of the facilities or stores by selecting the icons, the specific area of the map to be displayed is designated so that the number of facilities or stores existing in the designated area can be displayed for classifications. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information providing method and an information providing system, and more particularly to an information providing method and an information providing system capable of searching for information based on a displayed map.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many information providing methods and information providing systems using the Internet have been devised, and there are websites for transmitting various contents and services on the Internet. 2. Description of the Related Art When searching for contents or websites that a user wants to search on the Internet, a search engine (a search-only system used when searching necessary information from a vast amount of information) is widely used.
[0003]
With search engines, if you want to know the location of a company, store, facility, etc., even if you find the site from the search engine, the map is posted on the last page by tracing the page hierarchically from the top page In many cases, the operation is complicated.
[0004]
Also, if you go to a downtown area and play, if you know in advance the stores such as entertainment facilities, shopping, meals, etc., you can search on the Internet, but not so, what kind of facilities and stores are vague Search sites are unsuitable when you want to find out.
[0005]
Furthermore, with such a search engine, if you want to search for a hospital in a certain area, you have to search for and find each hospital using the municipalities as keys, and then check the location of each hospital. There are points.
[0006]
In order to solve the above problems, it is possible to search for restaurants, facilities, companies, etc. by combining the electronic map and the search function, and to display the location on the map with icons (functions, instructions, messages, etc. There is a map search engine indicated by a symbol represented by.
[0007]
In the map search engine, for example, a map of Japan is displayed on a display screen, and a pointer (a symbol indicating a position on the screen) is positioned at a place to be searched on the map of Japan, and clicked (pressing a mouse button). Then, an enlarged map centered on the clicked position is displayed. In addition, by positioning the pointer at the place where you want to search for the enlarged map and clicking, the enlarged map is displayed, and by performing the operation several times, icons are displayed at the positions of multiple facilities and stores The displayed map is displayed. Then, by placing a pointer on an icon corresponding to the facility or store desired to be searched and clicking on the icon, information on the facility or store is displayed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in many map search engines, map search sites collect and publish information on facilities and stores on the search site management side, requiring enormous effort to enter information, and the number of information postings is large. There is a problem that there is no. Also, since icons are only displayed on the map, the number of stores that meet the conditions in a specific area must be counted on the display screen, and it is not easy to know the number of stores There is a problem. Furthermore, for example, if you want to go to an office by car, even if you find the location of the office with a search engine or a map search site, the next time you try to find a parking lot, you will return to the previous display screen and perform the same operation Have to look for a parking lot at. Another problem is that even if the information on the parking lot is luckily posted on the same site, it cannot be displayed on the same screen as the office location.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to obtain a lot of information, and to easily grasp the number of stores and facilities in a specific area. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information providing method and an information providing system capable of displaying the positions of different types of stores and facilities on the same screen.
[0010]
Means and action for solving the problem
An information providing method and an information providing system according to the present invention are configured as follows to achieve the above object.
[0011]
A first information providing method (corresponding to claim 1) is an information providing method in which an icon corresponding to a registered facility or store is displayed on a map, and a homepage of the facility or store is displayed by selecting the icon. Then, by specifying a specific area of the displayed map, the number of facilities or shops existing in the specified area is displayed by type.
[0012]
According to the first information providing method, an icon corresponding to a registered facility or store is displayed on a map, and the homepage of the facility or store is displayed by selecting the icon. By specifying a specific area of the map to be displayed, the number of facilities or stores existing in the specified area is displayed by type, so that much information can be obtained. And the number of facilities can be easily grasped, and the positions of different types of stores and facilities can be displayed on the same screen.
[0013]
According to a second information providing method (corresponding to claim 2), in the above method, preferably, the registration of the facility or the store is performed by registering the information including the coordinates for specifying the position of the facility or the store. Characterized.
[0014]
According to the second information providing method, in order to register a facility or a store, information is registered using information including coordinates for specifying the position of the facility or the store. Since the coordinates can be calculated using the coordinates, the number of shops and facilities can be obtained quickly and accurately.
[0015]
A third information providing method (corresponding to claim 3) is characterized in that, in the above method, preferably, the coordinates are latitude and longitude.
[0016]
According to the third information providing method, since the coordinates are latitude and longitude, when the number of stores and facilities in a specific area is obtained, the calculation can be performed using the latitude and longitude as coordinates. Quickly and accurately determine the number of stores and facilities.
[0017]
A fourth information providing method (corresponding to claim 4) is characterized in that, in the above method, preferably, the specific area is the entire displayed map.
[0018]
According to the fourth information providing method, since the specific area is the entire displayed map, the number of stores or facilities in the area displayed on the screen can be easily grasped.
[0019]
A fifth information providing method (corresponding to claim 5) is characterized in that, in the above method, the specific area is preferably an area specified on a displayed map.
[0020]
According to the fifth information providing method, since the specific area is the area specified on the displayed map, the user arbitrarily specifies the area, and determines the number of stores or facilities in the area. It can be easily grasped.
[0021]
A sixth information providing method (corresponding to claim 6) is characterized in that, in the above method, preferably, the specific area is an area divided by prefecture or municipal.
[0022]
According to the sixth information providing method, the specific area is an area divided by prefecture or city, so that the user arbitrarily designates the specific area and stores or facilities within the area. Can be easily calculated and displayed.
[0023]
A first information providing system (corresponding to claim 7) includes a display device that displays an icon corresponding to a registered facility or store on a map, and displays a homepage of the facility or store by selecting the icon. A user terminal device having an input device for selecting an icon, a database for registering information on a plurality of maps, a plurality of stores and a plurality of facilities, and calculating the number of stores or facilities existing in a specific area. A server having an output operation means forms a network, a user terminal device accesses the server, displays a map on a display device, and specifies a specific area of the map to be displayed. It is characterized by displaying the number of facilities or stores existing in the specified area by type. As a result, much information can be obtained, the number of stores and facilities in a specific area can be easily grasped, and the positions of different types of stores and facilities can be displayed on the same screen. it can.
[0024]
According to the second information providing system (corresponding to claim 8), in the above-described configuration, preferably, the registration of the facility or the store is performed by registering the information including the coordinates for specifying the position of the facility or the store. Characterized.
[0025]
According to the second information providing system, the registration of a facility or a store is performed using information including coordinates for specifying the location of the facility or the store. Since the coordinates can be calculated using the coordinates, the number of shops and facilities can be obtained quickly and accurately.
[0026]
A third information providing system (corresponding to claim 9) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the coordinates are preferably latitude and longitude.
[0027]
According to the third information providing system, since the coordinates are latitude and longitude, when the number of stores and facilities in a specific area is obtained, the calculation can be performed using the latitude and longitude as coordinates. Quickly and accurately determine the number of stores and facilities.
[0028]
A fourth information providing system (corresponding to claim 10) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, preferably, the specific area is the entire displayed map.
[0029]
According to the fourth information providing system, since the specific area is the entire displayed map, the number of stores or facilities in the area displayed on the screen can be easily grasped.
[0030]
A fifth information providing system (corresponding to claim 11) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the specific area is preferably an area specified on the displayed map.
[0031]
According to the fifth information providing system, since the specific area is the area specified on the displayed map, the user arbitrarily specifies the area and determines the number of stores or facilities in the area. It can be easily grasped.
[0032]
The sixth information providing system (corresponding to claim 12) is characterized in that, in the above-described configuration, the specific area is preferably an area divided by a prefecture or a municipal government.
[0033]
According to the sixth information providing system, the specific area is an area that is divided into prefectures or municipalities. Therefore, the user arbitrarily specifies the specific area, and stores or facilities within that area. Can be easily calculated and displayed.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0034]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information providing method includes a map page search transmission display step (step ST100), a facility search facility number calculation display step (step ST200), an icon transmission display step (step ST300), and a facility or store site search step (step ST400). Consists of
[0035]
The map page search transmission display step (step ST100) is a step of searching for a map page requested by the user, transmitting and displaying the searched map page. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the map page search transmission display step (step ST100). First, the user requests a map page to be displayed from the user terminal device from a database of map pages created for each predetermined area registered using the latitude and longitude and the name of the prefecture / city / town as a parameter (step). ST101). At this time, the user can input the latitude / longitude or the name of the prefecture / city / city from the input terminal from the user terminal device, or move the user to an arbitrary position from the minimum scale map already displayed on the display device. The pointer may be positioned, and the request may be made by clicking and specifying the mouse.
[0036]
This map page request is sent from the user terminal device to the server of the information providing site. The server of the information providing site determines whether there is a request for a map page from the user terminal device in order to constantly monitor whether there is a map page request from the user terminal device (step ST102). If there is no request for a map page from the user terminal device, step ST102 is executed again. If there is a map page request from the user terminal device, it is determined whether the map page request is a request specifying a prefecture / city / town / village code as a parameter or a request specifying latitude and longitude as parameters ( Step ST103).
[0037]
If the map page request from the user terminal device is a request using the prefecture / city / town / village code as a parameter, the latitude / longitude corresponding to the specified prefecture / city / town / village code is searched from the map database. (Step ST104). Then, based on the latitude and longitude, a mesh ID of the mesh including the latitude and longitude (which is obtained by partitioning the whole country map into a predetermined size and divided, and each mesh ID is assigned) from the map database. Search and specify (step ST105).
[0038]
If the map page request from the user terminal device is a request using latitude and longitude as parameters, the map database is searched for the mesh ID including the latitude and longitude based on the latitude and longitude, and specified. (Step ST105).
[0039]
Next, map data corresponding to the mesh ID specified in step ST105 is extracted from the map database (step ST106). Thereafter, the extracted map data is sent to the user terminal device (step ST107).
[0040]
The user terminal device that has received the map data displays the map data on the display device (step ST108).
[0041]
The facility search facility number calculation display step (step ST200) is a step of designating a specific area of the map, searching for all facilities existing in the designated area, calculating and displaying the number of facilities. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the facility search facility number calculation display step (step ST200).
[0042]
First, the user specifies a specific area of the map from the user terminal device and sends it to the information providing site (step ST201). There are two types of area designation means: area designation based on latitude and longitude, and prefecture / city / town / village and partial area designation on the display screen. The switching of the mode for specifying each area is performed using a button or the like on the display screen. In the area specification by latitude and longitude, the whole display screen displaying the map is specified as an area when selecting a prefecture or city, town or village, or when moving the map.
[0043]
To specify a prefecture / city / town / village and a partial area on the display screen, the area is specified on the map by, for example, “drag and drop”. That is, the mouse is moved while holding down the button of the mouse, and the button is released at an arbitrary position. As a result, the inside of the rectangle having the position where the mouse button is pressed and the position where the button is released as one diagonal line is the designated area.
[0044]
The information providing site receives data relating to a specific area, that is, the center latitude and longitude and scale of the map data, or the latitude and longitude of the dragged position and the latitude and longitude of the dropped position (step ST202). Thereafter, the map range is calculated (step ST203). Next, the information providing site determines whether or not all the facilities in the specific area have been searched from the database (step ST204). If all the facilities have not been retrieved from the database, a facility that exists in a specific area for one facility is retrieved for each record based on parameters related to coordinates such as latitude and longitude of the database (step ST205). Next, all the searched records and the counted number of facilities are stored (step ST206).
[0045]
Here, the facility search in step ST205 is processed according to the four flowcharts shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a case where the code of the city, town, and village is transmitted to the server as a parameter. First, the map database is searched to extract the latitude and longitude from the municipal code (step ST210). Next, a map range from the center latitude and longitude, that is, four corners of the map displayed on the display screen shown in FIG. 5A, (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), The coordinates of four points (X4, Y4) are calculated (step ST211). For each record of the facility having the data structure described in detail later, the facility ID of the facility within the calculated map range, that is, the facility having the coordinates (X, Y) of the latitude and longitude indicated by the following inequality is extracted (step ST212). .
[0046]
(Equation 1)
X1 ≦ X ≦ X2, Y1 ≦ Y ≦ Y3
[0047]
The sorting is performed by the classification code of the extracted facility ID (step ST213). The classification code of the facility ID is counted for each classification code (step ST214).
[0048]
FIG. 4B shows a flowchart when the code of the prefecture is transmitted to the server as a parameter. The facility ID of the prefecture code is extracted from each record of the facility (step ST220). Next, sorting is performed by the classification code of the extracted facility ID (step ST221). Thereafter, the classification code of the facility ID is counted for each classification code (step ST222).
[0049]
FIG. 4C shows a flowchart when the code of the city, town, and village is transmitted to the server as a parameter. The facility ID of the municipal code is extracted for each record of the facility (step ST230). Next, sorting is performed by the classification code of the extracted facility ID (step ST231). Thereafter, the classification code of the facility ID is counted for each classification code (step ST232).
[0050]
FIG. 4D shows a flowchart in a case where the coordinates (X3, Y3) and (X2, Y2) shown in FIG. 5B selected by the user by drag and drop are transmitted to the server as parameters. First, the difference between the X-axis and the Y-axis is calculated from (X3, Y3) and (X2, Y2), and (X1, Y1) and (X4, Y4) are calculated (step ST240). Next, for each record of the facility, the facility ID of the facility having the coordinates (X, Y) of the latitude and longitude within the calculated map range, that is, within the range indicated by the following inequality, is extracted (step ST241).
[0051]
(Equation 2)
X1 ≦ X ≦ X2, Y1 ≦ Y ≦ Y3
[0052]
Next, sorting is performed by the classification code of the extracted facility ID (step ST242). Thereafter, the classification code of the facility ID is counted for each classification code (step ST243).
[0053]
After the processing in step ST205 as described above, step ST206 is executed, and it is determined whether or not all the facilities in the specific area have been searched from the database (step ST204).
[0054]
If the search is completed for all the facilities, the number of each facility in the specific area is sent to the user terminal device (step ST207). The user terminal device displays the received number of facilities in the specific area (step ST208).
[0055]
Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. When the area is specified by the latitude and longitude, first, a prefecture is selected from the national map displayed on the top page of the display screen (step ST250). Thereby, a list of cities, towns and villages is displayed on the right side of the display screen (step ST251). By selecting the facility display in the display (step ST252), the number of facilities in the map displayed on the display screen is displayed at the top of the display screen (step ST253). Further, the facility display in the area is displayed on the right side of the display screen (step ST254). By moving the map on the display screen (step ST255), the number of facilities displayed on the display screen at that time is displayed at the top of the screen, and the facilities in the area are displayed on the right side of the screen.
[0056]
The movement of the map is performed, for example, by clicking at the position of the pointer if the map page is within one mesh, so that the map page is translated in the screen so that the position of the pointer moves to the center of the screen. Is Accordingly, the subsequent map range data is transmitted to the information providing site, where the map range is calculated, the facility search is executed, and the facility data is transmitted to the user terminal device.
[0057]
By selecting no facility display on the display screen (step ST256), a list of municipalities is displayed on the right side of the screen (step ST257). By moving the map (step ST258), the municipalities displayed on the display screen are displayed in a list on the right side of the screen.
[0058]
When an area is selected by specifying a prefecture / city / town / village or an area, the prefecture is selected from the nationwide map on the top page displayed on the display screen (step ST260). Thereby, the number of facilities is displayed at the top of the screen (step ST261), and a list of municipalities is displayed at the right side of the screen (step ST262). When the normal mode is selected on the display, the process shifts to region selection based on latitude and longitude (step ST263). In the display, by selecting an area by moving the map or dragging and dropping (step ST264), the number of facilities in the area is displayed at the top of the screen. A list of cities, towns, and villages is displayed on the right side of the screen. Further, by selecting a city (step ST265), the number of facilities is displayed at the top of the screen (step ST266), and a list of cities, towns and villages is displayed on the right side of the screen (step ST267). When the normal mode is selected on the display, the mode shifts to an area selection mode based on latitude and longitude (step ST268). Further, by selecting an area by map movement or drag and drop on the display screen (step ST269), the number of facilities in that area is displayed at the top of the screen, and a list of municipalities is displayed on the right side of the screen.
[0059]
The icon transmission and display step (step ST300) is a step of transmitting and displaying the corresponding icon from the data on each facility searched. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the icon transmission display step (step ST300). The information providing site transmits all facility icon data (name, position, icon image, URL, etc.) from the facility all record stored in step ST206 to the user terminal device (step ST301). The user terminal device displays the facility icon on the map based on the received all facility icon data (step ST302).
[0060]
The facility site browsing step (step ST400) is a step in which a user clicks an icon to receive a Web page. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the facility site browsing step (step ST400). First, the user clicks an arbitrary icon. Thereby, the URL of the facility is specified, and the site is browsed (step ST401). The existing site determines whether there is a request from the user terminal device (step ST402). If there is no request from the user terminal device, step ST402 is repeatedly executed. If there is a request from the user terminal device, a Web page is sent (step ST403).
The user terminal device displays the received Web page (step ST404).
[0061]
By specifying a specific area of the displayed map as described above, the number of facilities or shops existing in the specified area is displayed for each type. Further, icons corresponding to registered facilities or stores are displayed on a map, and a homepage of the facility or store is displayed by selecting the icon. Thereby, much information can be obtained, the number of stores and facilities in a specific area can be easily grasped, and different types of stores and facilities can be displayed on the same screen. .
[0062]
Next, an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0063]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the information providing system 1 includes an information providing site computer system (server) 100 and a user browsing device (user terminal device) 200 or a user browsing device (user terminal device) 300 and a plurality of existing sites. .. 400 + n (n is a natural number) are connected by a network 500. The information providing site computer system 100 includes a request processing unit 10, a map database processing unit 11, a map database 12, a distribution processing unit 13, a facility database processing unit 14, a facility database 15, and a communication processing unit 16. The user viewing device 200 includes an input unit 21, a display unit 22, a control unit 23, and a communication processing unit 24. The user viewing device 300 includes an input unit 31, a display unit 32, a control unit 33, a communication processing unit 34, and a wireless processing unit 35. The existing site computer system 400 includes a request processing unit 40, a distribution processing unit 41, a database processing unit 42, a database 43, and a communication processing unit 44. The user browsing device 200 is a personal computer or a telephone equipped with a browser, and the user browsing device 300 is a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, or a car navigation system. Here, the existing site computer systems 401,..., 400 + n have the same configuration as the existing site computer system 400, and thus description thereof is omitted.
[0064]
The information providing site computer system 100, the user browsing device 200, the user browsing device 300, and the plurality of existing site computer systems 400 exchange information via the network 500.
[0065]
The request processing unit 10 of the information providing site computer system 100 always monitors whether there is a map page request from the user browsing devices 200 and 300. It is determined whether or not there is a request, and if there is no request for a map page from the user browsing devices 200 and 300, it is repeatedly determined whether or not there is a request for a map page. , 300, it is determined whether the map page request is a request specifying a prefecture / city / town / village code as a parameter or a request specifying a latitude / longitude parameter.
[0066]
The map database processing section 11 of the information providing site computer system 100 searches the map database 12 for the latitude and longitude corresponding to the specified prefecture / city / town / village code. Further, based on the latitude / longitude, the nationwide map is divided into meshes from the map database 12 and divided, and mesh IDs including the latitude / longitude are searched and specified from mesh IDs assigned to the respective maps. Further, map data corresponding to the specified mesh ID is extracted from the map database 12.
[0067]
The map database 12 of the information providing site computer system 100 is a database that stores, as data, a plurality of maps obtained by partitioning a nationwide map with a mesh of a specific size. FIG. 10 shows a configuration diagram of data stored in the map database 12. The map data includes, for each segmented map data, the mesh ID, scale, latitude 1 which is the latitude of the northernmost point of the mesh, latitude 2 which is the latitude of the southernmost point of the mesh, longitude 1 which is the longitude of the easternmost point of the mesh, Longitude 2, which is the westernmost longitude of the mesh, a data file consisting of a map image, the name of the prefecture and the latitude of the location of the prefecture, the local government, the prefectural government, the location of the prefecture, the longitude and the prefecture code, the name of the district and village, and the latitude of the government office, It consists of longitude, prefecture code, and city code.
[0068]
The distribution processing unit 13 of the information providing site computer system 100 sends the extracted map data to the user viewing devices 200 and 300, and sends the number of facilities in a specific area to the user viewing devices 200 and 300. Also, the stored all facility icon data (name, position, icon image, URL, etc.) is distributed to the user browsing devices 200 and 300.
[0069]
The facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100 determines whether or not all facilities in a specific area have been searched from the facility database 15, and based on parameters related to coordinates of the facility database 15 such as latitude and longitude. For the first facility, a facility existing in a specific area is searched. Further, all the searched records and the counted number of facilities are stored. Further, it is determined whether or not all the facilities in the specific area have been searched from the facility database 15.
[0070]
The facility database 15 of the information providing site computer system 100 is a database relating to information of facilities nationwide. FIG. 11 shows a data configuration diagram of the facility database 15. The facility data includes, for each piece of facility data, data including a name, a facility ID, an address, a prefecture code, a municipal code, a latitude, a longitude, a classification code, and a URL as one record, a classification code, a facility type, and an icon. It consists of data consisting of files.
[0071]
The communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100 performs a process of receiving request data from the user browsing device 200 or the user browsing device 300 and transmitting information from the information providing site computer system 100.
[0072]
The input units 21 and 31 of the user browsing devices 200 and 300 are provided by a user from a database of map pages created for each predetermined area registered using the latitude and longitude and the names of prefectures, cities, towns and villages as parameters. When requesting the map page to be displayed from the browsing devices 200 and 300, the user can input the latitude / longitude or the name of the prefecture / city / town / village, or select an arbitrary position from the smallest scale map already displayed on the display unit. Used when requesting by specifying the pointer by clicking on the mouse with the mouse. It is used when the user specifies a specific area of the map. Here, when selecting the entire displayed map as a specific area, or moving the pointer with the mouse (drag and drop) on the display screen to draw a rectangle and specifying it on the map using the rectangle Used for Further, it is used when clicking an arbitrary icon when performing a facility site search.
[0073]
The display units 22 and 32 of the user browsing devices 200 and 300 display the received map data, display the number of each facility in the specific area received, and further, based on the received all facility icon data. , Display the facility icon on the map. Further, the received Web page is displayed.
[0074]
The control units 23 and 33 of the user browsing devices 200 and 300 control the input unit 21, the display unit 22, and the communication processing unit 24.
[0075]
The communication processing units 24 and 34 of the user browsing devices 200 and 300 perform processing of transmitting request data and receiving information from the information providing site computer system 100 or the existing site computer system 400.
[0076]
The wireless processing unit 35 of the user browsing device 300 performs a process of mounting data transmitted by the communication processing unit 34 on a carrier wave which is a radio wave, extracting data from the carrier wave which is the radio wave carrying the data, and transmitting the data to the communication processing unit 34. . As the carrier wave, other radio frequency waves such as light besides radio waves are also conceivable, such as infrared rays and laser light.
[0077]
The request processing unit 40 of the existing site computer system 400 determines whether there is a request from the user browsing devices 200 and 300. If there is no request from the user browsing device, the request processing unit 40 repeatedly performs the determination. When there is a request from the browsing devices 200 and 300, a Web page is sent.
[0078]
The database processing unit 41 of the existing site computer system 400 performs a process of reading information on the existing site from the database, and performs a process of newly storing information in the database.
[0079]
The distribution processing unit 42 of the existing site computer system 400 performs a process of distributing the information read by the database processing unit to the requesting user viewing device.
[0080]
The database 43 of the existing site computer system 400 stores data such as information on the existing site.
[0081]
The communication processing unit 44 of the existing site computer system 400 receives the request data from the communication processing units 24 and 34 of the user browsing devices 200 and 300, and performs a process of transmitting information from the existing site computer system.
[0082]
Next, processing in the information providing system of the present embodiment will be described in detail. 12A shows the processing of the user browsing device 200, FIG. 12B shows the processing of the information providing site computer system 100, and FIG. 12C shows the processing of the existing site computer system 400. I have. The process of the user browsing device 300 is the same as the process of the user browsing device 200, and thus the description is omitted.
[0083]
Since the information providing site computer system 100, the user browsing device 200, and the existing site computer system 400 communicate with each other, the processing of the information providing system is performed by each of the computer systems and the user browsing device. This embodiment will not be described separately, but will be described as a flow of processing in the entire information providing system with reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C described above.
[0084]
In the processing of the information providing system according to the present embodiment, first, the user is registered by the input unit 21 of the user browsing device 200 using the latitude and longitude of the information providing site computer system 100 and the names of prefectures, municipalities, and municipalities as parameters. The user requests a map page to be displayed from the display unit 22 of the user viewing device 200 from the map database 12 of the map page created for each predetermined area (step ST500). At this time, the user inputs the latitude / longitude or the name of the prefecture / city / town / village from the user browsing device 200 from the input unit, or selects an arbitrary position from the minimum scale map already displayed on the display device. May be specified and requested by clicking the mouse.
[0085]
This map page request is transmitted by the communication processing unit 24 of the user browsing device 200, and is transmitted from the user browsing device 200 to the information providing site computer system 100.
[0086]
The communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100 receives request data from the user viewing device 200.
[0087]
The request processing unit 10 of the information providing site computer system 100 determines whether there is a map page request from the user terminal device in order to constantly monitor whether there is a map page request from the user terminal device. (Step ST501) If there is no request for a map page from the user browsing device 200, step ST501 is executed again. If there is a map page request from the user viewing device 200, it is determined whether the map page request is a request specifying a prefecture / city / town / village code as a parameter or a request specifying a latitude / longitude parameter. (Step ST502).
[0088]
If the map page request from the user terminal device is a request using a prefecture / city / town / village code as a parameter, the map database processing unit 11 of the information providing site computer system 100 specifies the map page database from the map page database. A latitude / longitude corresponding to the obtained prefecture / city / town / village code is searched (step ST503). Thereafter, based on the latitude / longitude, a mesh ID of a mesh including the latitude / longitude is searched and specified from the map database (step ST504).
[0089]
If the map page request from the user browsing device 200 is a request using latitude and longitude as parameters, the map database processing unit 11 of the information providing site computer system 100 executes the map database processing based on the latitude and longitude. And retrieves and specifies the mesh ID of the mesh including the latitude and longitude (step ST504).
[0090]
Next, map data corresponding to the mesh ID specified in step ST504 is extracted from the map database by the map database processing unit 11 of the information providing site computer system 100 (step ST505). Thereafter, the map data extracted by the communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100 is sent to the user browsing device (step ST506).
[0091]
The user browsing device 200 that has received the map data by the communication processing unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 displays the map data on the display unit (step ST507).
[0092]
Using the input unit 24 of the user browsing device 200, the user specifies a specific area of the map from the user terminal device and sends it to the information providing site computer system by the communication processing unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 (step ST508). .
[0093]
There are two types of area designation means: area designation based on latitude and longitude, and prefecture / city / town / village and partial area designation on the display screen. The switching of the mode for specifying each area is performed using a button or the like on the display screen. In the area specification by latitude and longitude, the whole display screen displaying the map is specified as an area when selecting a prefecture or city, town or village, or when moving the map.
[0094]
To specify a prefecture / city / town / village and a partial area on the display screen, the area is specified on the map by, for example, “drag and drop”.
[0095]
At the information providing site, the communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100 uses the communication processing unit 16 of the specific area, that is, the center latitude and longitude and scale of the map data, or the latitude and longitude of the dragged position and the latitude and longitude of the dropped position. It receives and calculates a map range (step ST509). Next, at the information providing site, the facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100 determines whether or not all facilities in a specific area have been searched from the database (step ST510). If not all facilities have been searched from the database, the facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100 exists in a specific area for the first facility based on parameters relating to coordinates such as latitude and longitude of the database. A facility is searched (step ST511). This search is performed based on the four methods shown in FIG. Next, the facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100 stores all the searched records and the counted number of facilities (step ST512). Thereafter, in the information providing site, it is determined whether or not all the facilities in the specific area have been searched from the database by the facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100 (step ST510).
[0096]
If the search for all facilities is completed by the facility database processing unit 14 of the information providing site computer system 100, the communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100 browses the number of facilities in a specific area by the user. It is sent to device 200 (step ST513). The user browsing device 200 causes the communication processing unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 to display the received number of facilities in the specific area on the display unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 (step ST514).
[0097]
The information providing site transmits all facility icon data (name, position, icon image, URL, etc.) from the facility all record stored in step ST to the user viewing device 200 by the communication processing unit 16 of the information providing site computer system 100. (Step ST515). The communication processing unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 displays the facility icons on the map on the display unit 24 of the user browsing device 200 based on the received all facility icon data (step ST516).
[0098]
First, the user clicks an arbitrary icon displayed on the display unit 24 of the user viewing device 200 with a mouse (not shown). Thereby, the URL of the facility is specified, and the communication processing unit 24 of the user viewing device 200 accesses the site (step ST517). In the existing site, the request processing unit 40 of the existing site computer system 400 determines whether or not there is a request from the user browsing device 200 (step ST518). If there is no request from the user viewing device, step ST518 is repeatedly executed. If there is a request from the user viewing device 200, the request is received by the communication processing unit 40 of the existing site computer system 400, the request processing unit retrieves a Web page from the database by the database processing unit, and the Web processing by the communication processing unit. The page is sent (step ST519). The Web page received by communication processing unit 24 of user viewing device 200 is displayed on the display unit (step ST520).
[0099]
Next, an example of an operation method of the input unit and the display unit of the user browsing device 200 when the user actually uses the information providing system will be described. FIG. 13 shows an input screen 600. The input screen 600 displays a text box 601 for inputting an address and a send button 602. The user inputs the address of the information providing computer system 100 specified in advance in the text box 601 using the input unit 201, and clicks the send button with a mouse (not shown). Thereby, for example, the homepage (top page) of the information providing site shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. On the top page, a Japan map 602 for map search, a text box 603 for address search, a map facility information table 604, and a table 605 are displayed.
[0100]
First, address search will be described. For example, Saitama Prefecture is input from the input unit. Thus, the input screen becomes as shown in FIG. Here, an enlarged map centered on the Saitama Prefectural Office is displayed. Icons of various facilities are also displayed on the map. At the top of the map, a table displaying facility names and the number of facilities is displayed, and at the right end, municipalities are displayed in order from the top centering on the prefectural office. By inputting Saitama City from the input unit on the screen or by clicking on Saitama City with a mouse (not shown), the display screen is changed to the display shown in FIG. At the top of the map, a table displaying the facility names and the number of facilities in the display screen is displayed, and at the right end, the facility names are displayed in order from the top centering on Saitama City Hall. On the screen, by inputting the hourly parking lot by the input unit or by clicking on the hourly parking lot with a mouse (not shown), the display screen is changed to the display shown in FIG. A map centered on the Saitama City Hall and an icon for the hourly parking lot are displayed, and at the right end, the names of the hourly parking lots are displayed in order of proximity to the center of the map. When the hospital is input on the screen with the input unit or the hospital is clicked with a mouse (not shown), the display screen is changed to the display shown in FIG. A map centered on the Saitama City Hall and a hospital icon are displayed, and the names of the hospitals are displayed at the right end in order from the closest to the center of the map. On this screen, for example, by clicking one icon, the homepage of the hospital is displayed.
[0101]
In the case of searching using the map of Japan shown in FIG. 14, the location of the district to be searched is clicked with a mouse (not shown). For example, when an arrow is brought to the position of Saitama prefecture and clicked, a map of Saitama prefecture shown in FIG. 15 is displayed.
[0102]
Further, in the display of the map of the figure, by drawing an arbitrary figure such as a rectangle by dragging and dropping with the mouse, the number of facilities in the arbitrary figure can be displayed by searching.
[0103]
Thereby, a lot of information can be obtained, and the number of stores and facilities in a specific area can be easily grasped.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.
[0105]
An information providing method in which icons corresponding to registered facilities or stores are displayed on a map and the homepage of the facility or store is displayed by selecting the icon, and a specific area of the displayed map is designated. By displaying the number of facilities or stores existing in a specified area by type, a large amount of information can be obtained, and the number of stores or facilities in a specific area can be easily grasped. And different types of stores and facilities can be displayed on the same screen.
[0106]
When registering a facility or a store, the registration is performed using information including coordinates for specifying the position of the facility or the store. Therefore, when calculating the number of stores or facilities in a specific area, calculation is performed using the coordinates. Can quickly and accurately determine the number of stores and facilities.
[0107]
Since the coordinates are latitude and longitude, when calculating the number of stores and facilities within a specific area, it can be calculated using the latitude and longitude as coordinates, so the number of stores and facilities quickly and accurately can be calculated. You can ask.
[0108]
Since the specific area is the entire displayed map, the number of stores or facilities in the area displayed on the screen can be easily grasped.
[0109]
Since the specific area is the area specified on the displayed map, the user can arbitrarily specify the area and easily grasp the number of stores or facilities in the area.
[0110]
Since the specific area is an area divided by prefecture or municipalities, the user can arbitrarily specify the specific area and easily calculate and display the number of stores or facilities in that area. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a map page search transmission display step.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a facility search facility number calculation display step.
4A and 4B are flowcharts of a facility search process. FIG. 4A shows a case where a code of a city, town, and village is transmitted to a server as a parameter. FIG. (C) is a case where the code of the city, town, and village is transmitted to the server as a parameter, and (d) is a case where the user has selected by drag and drop.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when calculating coordinates.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method of specifying a specific area and a method of displaying the specific area.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of an icon transmission and display step.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a facility site search step.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of data stored in a map database.
FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram of a facility database.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the information providing system of the present embodiment, wherein (a) is processing of a user browsing device, (b) is processing of an information providing site computer system, and (c) ) Is the processing of the existing site computer system.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an input screen.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display of a homepage (top page) of an information providing site.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an input screen.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display screen.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display screen.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Request processing section
11 Map database processing unit
12 Map database
13 Distribution processing unit
14 Facility Database Processing Department
15 facility database
16 Communication processing unit
21 Input section
22 Display
23 Control unit
24 Communication processing unit
31 Input section
32 Display
33 control unit
34 Communication processing unit
35 Wireless processing unit
40 Request processing unit
41 Distribution processing unit
42 Database processing unit
43 Database
44 Communication processing unit
100 Information providing site computer system
200 User browsing device
300 User browsing device
400 Existing site computer system
500 networks

Claims (12)

An information providing method for displaying an icon corresponding to a registered facility or store on a map and displaying a homepage of the facility or store by selecting the icon,
An information providing method, wherein by specifying a specific area of the displayed map, the number of the facilities or shops existing in the specified area is displayed for each type. 2. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the registration of the facility or the store is performed based on information including coordinates for specifying the location of the facility or the store. 3. The information providing method according to claim 2, wherein the coordinates are a latitude and a longitude. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is the entire displayed map. 2. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is an area specified on the displayed map. 2. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is an area divided by prefecture or city. A display device that displays an icon corresponding to the registered facility or store on a map, and displays the homepage of the facility or store by selecting the icon;
A user terminal device comprising an input device for selecting the icon,
A database for registering information of multiple maps, multiple stores, and multiple facilities,
A server comprising a calculating means for calculating and outputting the number of the stores or the facilities present in a specific area forms a network,
By accessing the server by the user terminal device, displaying the map on the display device, and specifying a specific area of the displayed map, the facility existing in the specified area. Alternatively, the information providing system displays the number of the stores by type. 8. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the registration of the facility or the store is performed by using information including coordinates for specifying the location of the facility or the store. The information providing system according to claim 8, wherein the coordinates are a latitude and a longitude. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the specific area is the entire displayed map. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the specific area is an area designated on the displayed map. 8. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the specific area is an area divided by prefecture or city.

Images