JP2010085587A - Map display device, map display method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to display a note according to the characteristics of a region determined based on a note display displayed on a map.
A storage unit for storing map data having map image data divided into a plurality of meshes and annotation display data for each mesh and a display point to be displayed on a display unit are determined for each layer. And a city type that counts the number of annotation displays using one or more meshes including a display point and its surrounding area as a search range in a predetermined reference layer of a plurality of layers. When the display range including the determination layer 121 and the display layer and the display point to be displayed on the display unit 111 is determined, the annotation display data included in the display range is selected from the annotation display data in the display range of the display layer according to the counting result. And a display image synthesis unit 123 that synthesizes and displays a display image including a note display.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for superimposing and displaying annotations such as various names and marks on a map image, and more particularly, to a technique for displaying annotations with an appropriate density.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for adjusting the density of annotation display (spot display) on a map when a map image is displayed using a computer or the like. That is, Patent Document 1 describes that when the area occupied by the note name display on the display screen is greater than or equal to a specified allowable limit, the area is less than the allowable limit.
JP 2005-227340 A

  By the way, the number of notes displayed varies greatly depending on the characteristics of each region. For example, an area where people are concentrated, such as an urban area where development has progressed, has a larger number of notes, and is less in suburbs and mountainous areas where development has not progressed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to determine the characteristics of a region based on a note display displayed on a map.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a note display according to the characteristics of the region determined based on the note display displayed on the map.

  A map display device provided with a display unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is map data composed of a plurality of layers, and map image data divided into a plurality of meshes for each layer; Storage means for storing map data having a plurality of note display data for displaying a plurality of notes on the map image of each mesh, display point determining means for determining display points to be displayed on the display unit, and the plurality One or more meshes including a display point determined by the display point determination means and its surrounding area as a search range in a predetermined reference layer among the layers of the above-described layers, and the specified search range Counting means for counting the number of the annotation displays displayed based on the annotation data included in the mesh, a display layer to be displayed on the display unit, and When a display range including the display point is determined, note display selection means for selecting note display data to be included in the display range from the note display data in the display range of the display layer according to the counting result of the counting means. And a display image including a note display based on the map image data of the display range of the display layer and the note display data selected by the note display selection means, and the display image is displayed on the display unit. Image processing means.

  In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises city type determination means for determining a city type of the display point based on a counting result of the counting means, and the note display data includes attribute data indicating an attribute of each note display. The note display selection means specifies the attribute of the note display data according to the city type determined by the city type determination means, the display layer, and the scale of the map to be displayed, and within the display range of the display layer. The annotation display data having the specified attribute may be selected from the annotation display data.

  In a preferred embodiment, each time a display point is determined by the display point determination unit, the city type determination unit performs determination of a city type, and the annotation display selection unit determines the city type according to the determination result of the city type determination unit. When the determination result by the city type determination means is switched from the first city type to the second city type when the attribute of the note display data is specified, the note display selection means is Before the second city type is detected continuously for a predetermined number of times, the attribute of the note display data is specified according to the first city type, and the second city type is detected for the predetermined number of times continuously. Then, the attribute of the note display data may be specified according to the second city type.

  In a preferred embodiment, when the amount of displacement between the latest display point determined by the display point determination unit and the display point determined before the latest display point is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the city type determination unit Does not determine the city type, and the annotation display selection means identifies the attribute of the annotation display data according to the city type corresponding to the previously determined display point, the display layer, and the scale of the map to be displayed. You may do it.

  In a preferred embodiment, the counting means includes, in the search range, a first mesh including the display point and one or more second meshes around the first mesh, The number of annotation displays may be counted by weighting the number of annotation displays in the first mesh rather than the number of annotation displays in the first mesh.

  In a preferred embodiment, the annotation display data is constituted by a plurality of data entities respectively corresponding to the plurality of annotation displays on the map image, and the counting of the number of the annotation displays performed by the counting means is: The number of data entities may be counted.

  The city type determination device according to one embodiment of the present invention is map data composed of a plurality of layers, each map image data divided into a plurality of meshes for each layer, Storage means for storing map data having note display data for displaying a plurality of notes on a mesh map image, designation means for designating an urbanization determination reference point, and a predetermined one of the plurality of layers In the one reference layer, one or more meshes including the urbanization determination reference point and its surrounding area are specified as a search range, and displayed based on annotation data included in the mesh in the specified search range A counting means for counting the number of the displayed annotations, and a city type of the urbanization determination reference point based on a counting result of the counting means And a city type determination means.

  Hereinafter, a map display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, display of a map image will be mainly described, but the map display system according to the present embodiment may have a navigation function.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a map display system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this map display system includes one or more user terminals 1, 1,... That are map display devices, access points 7, 7 that perform wireless communication, and access points 7, 7. And a server 3 connected via a network 9. Each user terminal 1, 1,... Accesses the access point 7 using a wireless communication function and accesses the server 3 via the network 9, or the server 3 via the network 9 by wired communication. To access.

  The server 3 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose computer system having a communication function with the network 9 and stores map data. Then, map data is provided via the network 9 in response to requests from the user terminals 1, 1.

  The user terminals 1, 1,... May be any computer device having a function of communicating with the server 3, for example, a navigation system dedicated terminal, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, a general-purpose personal computer, But you can. The functions or configurations of the user terminals 1, 1,... Described below are based on predetermined hardware possessed by the user terminals 1, 1,... And predetermined software (computer program) that controls or operates them. Can be realized.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the user terminal 1.

  As shown in the figure, the user terminal 1 includes a display unit 111, an input unit 113, a GPS processing unit 115, a communication processing unit 117, a display point determination unit 119, a city type determination unit 121, and a display image. A synthesis unit 123, a map data storage unit 125, a city type table 131, and a note data selection table 133 are provided.

  The display unit 111 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, for example. The display unit 111 displays a screen to be provided to the user.

  The input unit 113 includes an operation unit such as a push button, a keyboard, a touch panel, or a pointing device. The input unit 113 receives input from the user.

  The GPS processing unit 115 is a current position detection unit of the user terminal 1. The GPS processing unit 115 includes a GPS antenna and a GPS signal processing unit that processes the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna and identifies the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the current position of the user terminal 1. Note that the user terminal 1 may include position detection means other than the GPS processing unit 115. For example, instead of the GPS processing unit 115, position detection means using WiFi radio waves of a wireless LAN may be used. The GPS processing unit 115 can be omitted. That is, the user terminal 1 may not include the GPS processing unit 115.

  The communication processing unit 117 communicates with the server 3 by wireless or wired communication. For example, the communication processing unit 117 acquires map data from the server 3 and stores it in the map data storage unit 125.

  The map data storage unit 125 stores the map data 200 acquired from the server 3 by the communication processing unit 117.

  FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the map data 200.

  As shown in the figure, the map data 200 is composed of a plurality of layers 210, 210,. The layers 210, 210,... Are hierarchized according to the scale of the map image, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A. The data of each layer 210 is configured in units of a mesh 220 obtained by dividing a map image into a predetermined size. Here, the layer having the finest mesh 220, that is, the layer having a detailed map image is defined as layer 1, and as the mesh size becomes coarse, the layers become layer 2 and layer 3, and 6 layers up to layer 6 having the coarsest mesh Also good.

  Each mesh 220 includes map image data 221 of each mesh and annotation data 223 on the map image of each mesh.

  The map image data 221 includes a plurality of polygon data and polyline data. Each polygon data and polyline data has attribute information and position information indicating their characteristics.

  The annotation data 223 includes a plurality of entities 225, 225,. Each entity 225, 225,... Is data for performing one note display (spot display). FIG. 4B is an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 111. The annotation display refers to, for example, various characters, symbols, figures, marks, and the like displayed on the map image as shown in FIG. 4B. Therefore, each entity 225, 225,... May include data such as characters, symbols, figures, marks, and the like. Each entity 225, 225,... Includes text data of various names (for example, place names (addresses), area names, river names, and names of various landmarks (buildings, structures), etc.) Image data such as a store mark may be included. Further, each entity 225, 225,... Includes data indicating the attribute of each note display. The attribute includes, for example, the type (address, intersection, convenience store, gas station, station, etc.) of each note display, and information on the position where each note display is arranged.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the display point determination unit 119 is based on the output of the input unit 113 or the GPS processing unit 115, the point included in the map displayed on the display unit 111, that is, the point where the map is to be displayed (display Point). For example, when a notification of position information (for example, latitude and longitude, an address, a name of a landmark, etc.) to be displayed on the display unit 111 is received from the input unit 113 or a map already displayed on the display unit 111 When the input for scrolling is received, or when the position information of the current position is received from the GPS processing unit 115, the display point determination unit 119 displays the display on the display unit 111 based on them. Point A is determined. Here, the display point A may be, for example, the latitude and longitude of a point (see FIG. 4B) displayed at a specific position (for example, the center) of the display unit 111.

  The city type determination unit 121 performs note display counting processing and city type determination processing to determine the city type of the display point determined by the display point determination unit 119. Here, the city type indicates the degree of congestion of the note display on the map, that is, the number (density) of the number of entities 225 of the note display data 223 per unit area. This is because the note display on the map is denser as the development (urbanization) progresses, that is, the number of entities 225 of the note display data 223 per unit area is larger. On the other hand, in regions where development is not progressing such as mountainous areas, note display is sparse, that is, the number of entities 225 of note display data 223 per unit area is small. Therefore, in this embodiment, the city type determination is performed on the assumption that the degree of congestion of the annotation display substantially indicates the degree of urbanization.

  Next, the note display counting process and the city type determination process performed by the city type determination unit 121 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a map image divided into predetermined reference layer meshes. The reference layer may be determined in advance as one of a plurality of layers.

  In the annotation display counting process, for example, the following process is performed. That is, when the city type determination unit 121 acquires the display point A determined by the display point determination unit 119, as shown in FIG. 5, one or more meshes including the display point A and its surrounding area in the reference layer are searched. It is specified as 320. Here, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the search range 320 may include a mesh 310 including the display point A and all meshes in contact with the mesh 310 (all meshes around the mesh 310) as the search range 320. Alternatively, the search range 320 may be only the mesh 310, or may be configured with five meshes including four meshes that are adjacent to the mesh 310 vertically and horizontally.

  The city type determination unit 121 acquires the annotation data 223 of each mesh 220 belonging to the search range 320 from the map data storage unit 125. Then, the city type determination unit 121 counts the number of entities 225 in the annotation data 223 of each mesh 220 for each mesh. Furthermore, the city type determination unit 121 calculates the total number of entities in the entire search range 320. When determining the total number of entities in the entire search range 320, the city type determination unit 121 may calculate the total after applying a predetermined weighting factor to the number of entities for each mesh. For example, the weighting factor of the mesh 310 to which the display point A belongs is made larger than the surroundings, or the weighting factor of the mesh that is adjacent to the mesh 310 in the vertical or horizontal direction is set to be greater than the weighting factor of the mesh that is adjacent in the diagonal direction. You may enlarge it. The city type determination unit 121 calculates the number of entities per mesh in the search range 320 (average number of entities) by dividing the total number of entities calculated here by the number of meshes in the search range 320.

  In the city type determination process, for example, the following process is performed. That is, the city type determination unit 121 determines a city type by referring to the city type table 131 based on the average number of entities calculated by the above-described annotation display counting process.

  Since the number of annotation-displayed entities varies depending on the layer, the above processing is preferably performed with a reference layer. Further, the reference layer may be a medium mesh layer (for example, layer 3). This is because it is easier to grasp the characteristics of the city if the determination is made within a wide range.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the city type table 131. That is, the city type table 131 stores the average number of entities 1311 and the city type 1313 in association with each other.

  In the note display counting process and the city type determination process described above, the city type of the display point A determined by the display point determination unit 119 is determined. However, the city type determination unit 121 determines the city type of other points. Can also be determined. That is, the city type determination unit 121 can determine the city type of a designated arbitrary point in the same procedure as described above.

  The city type determination unit 121 may determine the city type each time the display point A is determined by the display point determination unit 119. That is, each time the map image to be displayed on the display unit 111 is switched, the city type determination unit 121 may determine the city type of the display point A each time. Alternatively, on the contrary, when the map image to be displayed on the display unit 111 is scrolled and the scroll width is small, the city type determination unit 121 determines the city type of the display point A. It does not have to be done every time. That is, when the displacement amount between the latest display point A determined by the display point determination unit 119 and the immediately preceding display point is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the city type determination by the city type determination unit 121 is omitted, and the display image is displayed. The combining unit 123 may use past city type determination results. Alternatively, when the latest display point A determined by the display point determination unit 119 and the immediately preceding display point are included in the same mesh in a certain layer (for example, layer 1 of the most detailed mesh), the city Type determination may be omitted.

  The display image composition unit 123 performs an annotation display selection process for performing an annotation display selection process and an image process. In the image processing, a display image including the note display selected by the note display selection unit is synthesized and displayed on the display unit 111.

  The display image composition unit 123 performs, for example, the following processing as the note display selection processing. That is, when the map layer (display layer) to be displayed on the display unit 111 and the display range (display range) are determined, the display image composition unit 123 acquires the map image data 221 corresponding to the map layer from the map data storage unit 125. To do. The display range is determined by, for example, the display layer, the display time point A, and the scale of the map to be displayed. Therefore, the display image composition unit 123 may acquire the map image data 221 from the map data storage unit 125 according to, for example, the display layer to be displayed on the display unit 111, the display time point A, and the scale of the map to be displayed. Note that the scale of the display layer and the map displayed on the display unit 111 may be determined according to a user input or an instruction from another application (not shown) in the user terminal 1.

  The display image synthesizing unit 123 further acquires the entity 225 of the note data 223 included in the display range from the map data storage unit 125, and calculates the city type (or the average number of entities calculated by the city type determination unit 121). ) To select the note display to be displayed in the display range. For example, the display image synthesis unit 123 acquires the annotation display entity 225 included in the display range based on the display point A, the display layer, and the scale. Then, the display image synthesis unit 123 selects the entity 225 according to the city type determined by the city type determination unit 121 and the note data selection table 133.

  The annotation data selection table 133 defines the annotation display attributes to be included in the display image according to the layer and the city type.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the note data selection table 133. In the example shown in the figure, a table is configured for each layer. In each table, a scale range for displaying the note display is defined for each attribute and each city type. For example, in the example of the figure, when the city type is “around the big city terminal”, the “address name” is displayed when the scale is “120” or less, and the “gas station mark” is the scale “100” or less. “Expanded address name” is displayed when the scale is “80” or less, and “Convenience store display” is displayed when the scale is “60” or less.

  Note that the scale shown in the example of FIG. 7 is a display scale for each layer. The scale is larger as the numerical value is larger, and the map is smaller as the numerical value is smaller.

  The display image composition unit 123 performs, for example, the following processing as image processing. That is, the display image synthesizing unit 123 generates a synthesized image (see FIG. 4B) to be displayed on the display unit 111 by superimposing the annotation display on the map image. Then, the display image synthesis unit 123 causes the display unit 111 to display the image synthesized as described above.

  When the city type determination unit 121 performs the city type determination every time the display point A is switched, the determination result of the city type determination unit 121 may be unstable in the vicinity of the boundary where the city type is switched. Therefore, in order to avoid the influence of the blur, the display image composition unit 123 may be configured as follows, for example. That is, when switching from one city type to another city type, the city type adopted by the display image composition unit 123 in the note data selection process may be switched as follows, for example. That is, when the determination result by the city type determination unit 121 is continuously switched from the first city type (for example, “around the big city terminal”) to the second city type (for example, “urban area”), The display image synthesizing unit 123 performs the processing with the first city type until the second city type is detected continuously for a predetermined number of times or more. When the second city type is detected continuously for a predetermined number of times or more, the display image composition unit 123 performs subsequent processing using the second city type. Thereby, even if the determination result by the city type determination unit 121 is blurred near the boundary where the city type is switched, the display level of the note display can be switched stably without being influenced by the determination result.

  Next, a processing procedure in the user terminal 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a city type based on map data. In addition, before performing the following process, the communication processing part 117 acquires previously required map data from the server 3, and stores it in the map data storage part 125. FIG.

  First, the display spot determination unit 119 determines the display spot A (S11).

  When the city type determination unit 121 acquires the display point A determined by the display point determination unit 119, the city type determination unit 121 determines the mesh 220 of the search range including the display point A and its surrounding area in a predetermined reference layer. Then, referring to the map data storage unit 125, the annotation data 223 is acquired from the mesh 220 within the search range of the reference layer (S13).

  The city type determination unit 121 counts the total number of entities 225 in the note data 223 acquired in step S13 (S15). At this time, the city type determination unit 121 may perform weighting using the weighting coefficient as described above.

  The city type determination unit 121 calculates the average number of entities from the total number of entities counted in step S15 (S17).

  The city type determination unit 121 refers to the city type table 131 and identifies a city type corresponding to the average number of entities calculated in step S17 (S19).

  By the process described above, the city type of the display point can be determined based on the map data.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for synthesizing and displaying a display image.

  When the display layer, the display point A, and the display scale are specified, the display image composition unit 123 determines a display range to be displayed on the display unit 111 (S21).

  The display image composition unit 123 acquires the city type determined by the city type determination unit 121 (S23).

  The display image synthesizing unit 123 refers to the note data selection table 133 and specifies the attribute of the note display to be included and displayed on the display screen from the city type, the display layer, and the display scale (S25).

  The display image composition unit 123 acquires the map image data 221 and the annotation data 223 of the display range of the display layer from the map data storage unit 125 (S27).

  The display image composition unit 123 extracts the annotation display attribute entity 225 specified in step S25 from the note data 223 acquired in step S27. Then, a display image in which the annotation display based on the entity extracted here is superimposed on the map image based on the map image data 221 acquired in step S27 is synthesized (S29).

  Then, the display image synthesis unit 123 displays the display image on the display unit 111 (S31).

  Thereby, according to this embodiment, the note display according to the characteristic of the area where a map image is displayed can be performed.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a map display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a configuration diagram of a user terminal 1. FIG. It is a data structure of the map data 200. A is an explanatory diagram of a layer, and B is an example of a composite image. It is explanatory drawing of the search range. An example of the city type table 131 is shown. An example of the annotation data selection table 133 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which determines a city type based on map data. It is a flowchart which shows the synthesis | combination of a display image, and the procedure of a display.

Explanation of symbols

1 User terminal 111 Display unit 113 Input unit 115 GPS processing unit 117 Communication processing unit 119 Display point determination unit 121 City type determination unit 123 Display image composition unit 125 Map data storage unit 131 City type table 133 Note data selection table

Claims (9)

A map display device having a display unit,
Map data composed of multiple layers, map image data divided into multiple meshes for each layer, and annotation display data for displaying multiple annotations on the map image of each mesh Storage means for storing map data having:
Display point determining means for determining a display point displayed on the display unit;
One or more meshes including a display point determined by the display point determination unit and its surrounding area are specified as a search range in a predetermined reference layer of the plurality of layers, and the specified Counting means for counting the number of the annotation displays displayed based on the annotation data included in the mesh within the search range;
When a display range including the display layer to be displayed on the display unit and the display point is determined, a note to be included in the display range is determined from the annotation display data in the display range of the display layer according to the counting result of the counting unit. Note display selection means for selecting display data;
Image processing for combining the map image data of the display range of the display layer and a display image including a note display based on the note display data selected by the note display selection unit, and displaying the display image on the display unit A map display device comprising: means. A city type determination unit that determines a city type of the display point based on a counting result of the counting unit;
The note display data includes attribute data indicating attributes of each note display,
The note display selection unit specifies the attribute of the note display data according to the city type determined by the city type determination unit, the display layer, and the scale of the map to be displayed, and includes the display layer within the display range of the display layer. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the annotation display data having the specified attribute is selected from the annotation display data. Each time a display point is determined by the display point determination unit, the city type determination unit determines a city type, and the note display selection unit determines the attribute of the note display data according to the determination result of the city type determination unit. When configured to do identification,
When the determination result by the city type determination unit is switched from the first city type to the second city type, the note display selection unit is configured to detect the second city type continuously after a predetermined number of times. The attribute of the note display data is specified according to the first city type, and after the second city type is detected continuously for the predetermined number of times or more, the attribute of the note display data is determined according to the second city type. The map display device according to claim 2, wherein the map display device performs identification. When the amount of displacement between the latest display point determined by the display point determination unit and the display point determined before the latest display point is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the city type determination unit determines the city type. Not
3. The annotation display selection unit specifies an attribute of the annotation display data according to a city type corresponding to the previously determined display point, the display layer, and a scale of a map to be displayed. The map display device described. The counting means includes
The search range includes a first mesh including the display point and one or more second meshes around the first mesh,
5. The number of the annotation display is counted by weighting the number of the annotation display in the first mesh rather than the number of the annotation display in the second mesh. The map display device described in 1. The annotation display data is constituted by a plurality of data entities respectively corresponding to a plurality of annotation displays on the map image,
The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the counting of the number of the annotation displays performed by the counting unit is a counting of the number of the data entities. Map data composed of multiple layers, map image data divided into multiple meshes for each layer, and annotation display data for displaying multiple annotations on the map image of each mesh Storing map data having a storage means;
Determining a display point to be displayed on the display unit;
In one predetermined reference layer of the plurality of layers, one or more meshes including the determined display point and its surrounding area are specified as a search range, and the mesh within the specified search range Counting the number of note displays displayed based on the note data included in;
When a display range including the display layer to be displayed on the display unit and the display point is determined, a note to be included in the display range is determined from the annotation display data in the display range of the display layer according to the counting result of the counting unit. Selecting display data,
Combining the map image data of the display range of the display layer and a display image including a note display based on the selected note display data, and displaying the display image on the display unit. Method. A computer program for displaying a map,
When executed on a computer,
Map data composed of multiple layers, map image data divided into multiple meshes for each layer, and annotation display data for displaying multiple annotations on the map image of each mesh Storing map data having a storage means;
Determining a display point to be displayed on the display unit;
In one predetermined reference layer of the plurality of layers, one or more meshes including the determined display point and its surrounding area are specified as a search range, and the mesh within the specified search range Counting the number of note displays displayed based on the note data included in;
When a display range including the display layer to be displayed on the display unit and the display point is determined, a note to be included in the display range is determined from the annotation display data in the display range of the display layer according to the counting result of the counting unit. Selecting display data,
A computer that combines the map image data of the display range of the display layer and a display image including a note display based on the selected note display data and displays the display image on the display unit. program. Map data composed of a plurality of layers, each map image data divided into a plurality of meshes for each layer, and a plurality of annotations on each mesh map image Storage means for storing map data having note display data;
A designation means for designating the urbanization judgment reference point;
In one predetermined reference layer of the plurality of layers, one or more meshes including the urbanization determination reference point and its surrounding area are specified as a search range, and the mesh within the specified search range Counting means for counting the number of the annotation display displayed based on the annotation data included in
An apparatus for determining a city type from map data, comprising: a city type determining means for determining a city type of the urbanization determination reference point based on a counting result of the counting means.

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