JP2012185399A - Map image processing device and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map image which enables a viewer to easily find out desired information.SOLUTION: Following representative latitude and longitude information defining a preset first region, a map image processing device acquires: a second map image which has a second scale ratio larger than a first scale ratio as well as a size of a second region smaller than the first region; and a first map image having the first scale ratio. Then, the map processing device generates an interpolation image, which is to be displayed in a region subtracting the second region from the first region to continuously connect the first map image and the second map image as a map, by the following processes: to generate the interpolation image by converting an image, in the first map image, included in the region inside the first region less the region occupied by the second map image displayed on the first scale ratio; and to generate a display map image by superimposing the generated interpolation image as well as the second map image on the first map image at a position defined by the representative latitude and longitude information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a map image.

  In recent years, a viewer can browse a map image provided on the Internet via a browser. In the map image provided on the Internet, the viewer can change the scale of the map and provide additional information such as the building object model and store type superimposed on the map image. Some are. In recent years, an image captured by an imaging device equipped with a positioning device such as GPS is arranged so as to be viewable on a map in accordance with information on the shooting location.

  For example, when a landmark such as an icon is arranged and displayed on a map image, the icon may overlap depending on the scale of the map, and the viewer may not easily find the target landmark. In Patent Document 1, the map scale is automatically changed so that the number of landmarks to be displayed on the map image is equal to or less than a predetermined number, thereby overlapping the landmark information to the viewer. The technology to be provided is disclosed.

JP 2003-114615 A

  However, if the scale is changed so that the landmarks do not overlap as in Patent Document 1, the amount of information provided to the viewer is small, that is, the range of the map becomes narrow. That is, the viewer has to repeatedly change the scale ratio in order to search for one landmark, for example.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a map image that allows a viewer to easily find desired information.

In order to achieve the above object, a map image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.
A map image processing apparatus for generating a display map image having a first area having a different scale ratio in the first map image, and setting means for setting representative longitude and latitude information defining a position of the first area; A first map image having a first scale ratio and a second map having a second scale ratio larger than the first scale ratio and a size of a second area smaller than the first area. A first acquisition means for acquiring a second map image defined by the representative longitude and latitude information, and a first map displayed in an area excluding the second area from the first area, Interpolating means for generating an interpolated image that makes the map image and the second map image continuous as a map, an interpolated image generated by the interpolating means, and a second map image on the first map image, A generator that generates a display map image by superimposing it at the position specified by the degree information. And the interpolation means is included in a region in the first region excluding a region occupied when the second map image is displayed at the first scale ratio among the first map images. The image is converted to generate an interpolated image.

  With this configuration, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a map image that allows a viewer to easily find desired information.

The block diagram which showed the function structure of PC concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure of the display map image of the normal mode which concerns on embodiment Figure of display map image of magnifier mode according to embodiment Flowchart of display map image drawing processing according to embodiment Flowchart of scale ratio determination processing according to Embodiment 1 The table which showed the scale rate of the map image acquirable from the map server which concerns on embodiment Flowchart of interpolation image generation processing according to the embodiment Table for determining fisheye filter coefficients according to an embodiment The figure for demonstrating the scaling factor determination process which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Flowchart of scale ratio determination processing according to Embodiment 2 The table which prescribed | regulated the relationship of the difference of the number of scale steps and the width of an interpolation area | region which concerns on Embodiment 2 The figure for demonstrating the width | variety of the interpolation area | region which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. The figure for demonstrating the width | variety of the interpolation area | region which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, one embodiment described below is an example in which the present invention is applied to a personal computer (PC) capable of generating a map image having partial areas with different scale ratios as an example of a map image processing apparatus. explain. However, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of generating a map image having partial areas with different scale ratios. Further, in this specification, in order to distinguish between map images having different scale ratios and map images to be displayed, each map image is defined and described as follows.

-Display map image: The final map image presented to the viewer
(Including map images with different scale ratios)
-1st map image: Map image which has the 1st scale rate which mainly comprises a display map image-2nd map image: A part area | region of a 1st map image is set rather than the 1st scale rate. Big second
Map image obtained by scaling to scale

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a PC 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The CPU 101 is a block that controls the operation of each block constituting the PC 100. The CPU 101 controls the operation of each block by reading out the operation program of each block included in the PC 100 stored in the ROM 102 and the recording medium 108, which will be described later, for example, and developing the program in the RAM 103. The ROM 102 is a non-volatile memory, and stores information such as parameters necessary for the operation of each block in addition to the operation program of each block provided in the PC 100. The RAM 103 is a volatile memory, and functions as a main memory of the CPU 101 in which intermediate data generated in the operation of each block is temporarily stored.

  In the present embodiment, the operation of each block included in the PC 100 is described as being controlled by the operation program of the block. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each block performs the same processing as the operation program. It may be configured by a circuit.

  The mouse 104 and the keyboard 105 are user interfaces that receive input from the viewer included in the PC 100, and the operation content input by the viewer operating the mouse 104 and keyboard 105 is transmitted to the CPU 101.

  The media drive 106 is an interface of an external recording medium that is detachably attached to the PC 100, such as a memory card or an external HDD, for example, and reads data from the connected external recording medium and data to the external recording medium Controls writing and the like.

  The external connection I / F 107 is an interface for connecting to an external device included in the PC 100. The external connection I / F 107 is connected to a server, an external device, or the like via the network 200, and transmits and receives data between the device and the PC 100. It becomes possible.

  The recording medium 108 is a recording device built in the PC 100 such as a built-in memory, HDD, or SSD (Solid State Drive), and records programs such as applications and libraries and various data.

  The display unit 109 is a display device such as an LCD, for example, and displays GUI data recorded in the ROM 102 or the recording medium 108 or a display image drawn on a GPU (not shown), thereby providing information to the viewer. Present.

  In the present embodiment, when a viewer executes a map browsing program on the PC 100, map images in two types of display modes of “normal mode” and “magnifying glass mode” are displayed on the display unit 109. Here, the GUI displayed in each mode will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 shows a normal mode GUI according to the present embodiment. The figure is an example of a program window displayed on the display area of the display unit 109, a map display area 201 in which a map image is displayed, an icon 202 for switching between a normal mode and a magnifying glass mode, and a scale ratio A slider 203 for changing is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the map image displayed in the map display area 201 is described as being acquired from a map server (not shown) existing on the network 200 via, for example, the external connection I / F 107. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and the map image to be displayed may be acquired from an external recording medium connected to the media drive 106 or the recording medium 108.

  Specifically, the CPU 101 reads out, for example, the current size (number of pixels) of the map display area 201, the scale ratio of the map image to be displayed (display map image), and the range information of the display map image from the RAM 103, A display map image is requested from the map server. The information on the range of the display map image may be position information on the map such as the longitude and latitude of the center of the display map image and the longitude and latitude of the diagonal vertex of the display map image. The CPU 101 transmits each piece of information of the display map image described above to the map server, thereby receiving the display map image and displaying the acquired display map image in the map display area 201.

  In the present embodiment, an image having longitude and latitude information within the range of the display map image is superimposed and displayed on the display map image displayed in the map display area 201. An image having longitude / latitude information is an image having coordinate information (longitude / latitude information) on a map in advance, such as image data in which the geographical coordinates of a photographed location called a so-called geotag are included in header information, as described above. Shall be pointed to.

  The CPU 101 reads an image 204 having such longitude and latitude information from, for example, an external recording medium connected to the recording medium 108 or the media drive 106, and displays it on the map display area 201 according to the longitude and latitude information of the image. To place. The image arranged on the display map image may be a thumbnail image, for example, and the thumbnail image may be obtained from header information of an image having longitude and latitude information, for example. That is, the image having longitude and latitude information is not limited to image data in which longitude and latitude information is included in the header information, and may be a representative image of moving image data having longitude and latitude information. At this time, the CPU 101 acquires information on the display resolution (number of pixels) of the image having longitude and latitude information to be arranged on the display map image, and associates it with each of the images displayed on the display map image, for example, in the RAM 103. Remember.

  The slider 203 can be changed, for example, by the user operating the mouse 104 or the keyboard 105, and the scale ratio of the displayed map image is determined by the indicated position of the slider 203. The operation of the slider 203 may be performed by the viewer dragging the icon at the designated position directly, or may be operated by the wheel operation of the mouse 104 or the up / down or left / right keys of the keyboard. When the designated position of the slider 203 is changed, the CPU 101 obtains each information of the display map image after the change again, and requests a map map server for a display map image with a new scale ratio.

  In the normal mode, the display range of the display map image is changed according to the drag operation performed by the viewer using the mouse 104 in the map display area 201. For example, when the viewer moves the mouse 104 upward, if the upward direction of the map display area 201 corresponds to the north, the display range of the display map image moves to the south as a whole. Similarly, when the viewer moves the mouse 104 to the right, the display range of the display map image moves to the west as a whole.

  FIG. 3 shows a magnifying glass mode GUI according to the present embodiment. The figure is an example of a program window displayed on the display area of the display unit 109 as in FIG. 2, and has the same window configuration as in FIG.

  In the magnifying glass mode, the viewer places a position corresponding to the representative longitude and latitude information of a part of the circular area 301 (first area, enlarged display frame) on the display map image displayed in the map display area 201. The map image in which the map information is enlarged can be presented to the viewer. The viewer can set a circular area 301 having a predetermined size around the point designated by operating the mouse 104. In the area, a map image (second map image) having a scale ratio (second scale ratio) larger than the scale ratio (first scale ratio) of the first map image mainly constituting the display map image. Is displayed. The representative longitude / latitude information is information on longitude / latitude defining the display range on the map of the second map image displayed in the set circular area 301. In the present embodiment, Information on the longitude and latitude of the center point of the circular area 301 becomes representative longitude and latitude information.

  Note that. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the second map image having a large scale ratio is not displayed in the entire first area in the magnifier mode. This is because, when the second map image is displayed in all of the first area, there is an area that is lost due to a different scale ratio, and therefore, for example, roads and tracks are continuous at the boundary of the first area. Because it will not. In the present embodiment, the second map image is displayed in a circular area 302 (second area) that is a concentric circle of the first area and is smaller in size than the first area. In addition, an interpolation image (deformed image) in which the first map image and the second map image are continuous as a map is generated in the interpolation region 303 excluding the second region from the first region. It shall be displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the first region on the display map image is described as being circular, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the shape of the first region displayed as the magnifier mode may be a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, or a free shape. According to the present invention, there is a second area having a different scale ratio inside the first area, and the first interpolation area excluding the second area from the first area is outside the first area. An interpolated image in which the map image and the second map image in the second region are continuous as a map may be displayed.

(Display map image drawing process (magnifying glass mode))
A specific process of the display map image drawing process of the PC 100 according to the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the CPU 101 reading out a corresponding processing program stored in, for example, the ROM 102, developing it in the RAM 103, and executing it. In addition, this display map image drawing process is demonstrated as what is started, for example when a map image display program is performed and it sets to magnifier mode.

  Further, in the present embodiment, for the sake of brevity, the first map image having the first scale ratio that mainly constitutes the display map image is displayed in the normal mode immediately before switching to the magnifying glass mode. A description will be given assuming that the displayed map image is used. That is, in the magnifier mode, the scale ratio of the first map image is fixed, and the display range on the map is fixed unless the window size is changed. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and the display range of the first map image on the map may be changeable. When the CPU 101 is switched to the magnifying glass mode, the CPU 101 acquires information such as the scale ratio of the display map image displayed in the normal mode, the display range (latitude and longitude) on the map, the display resolution, and the like in the RAM 103. It shall be remembered.

  In step S <b> 401, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the viewer has operated the mouse 104 to set the center position of the first region for displaying map images with different scale ratios. The CPU 101 moves the process to S402 when an instruction input for setting the center position of the first region is made by the viewer, and repeats the process of S401 when the instruction input is not made.

  In step S402, the CPU 101 acquires representative longitude and latitude information at the center position of the first area set in step S401. Specifically, the CPU 101 acquires the coordinates of the center position of the set first area in the map display area 201, and information on the range of the first map image stored in the RAM 103 and the first scale ratio. The longitude and latitude of the center position is calculated from information and the like.

  In S403, the CPU 101 searches the recording medium 108 for an image having longitude and latitude information to be arranged on the display map image included in the display range of the first map image, and displays the display resolution and longitude and latitude information of the corresponding image. To get.

  In S404, the CPU 101 determines the scale ratio (second scale ratio) of the second map image displayed in the second area in the first area. Here, the determination process of the 2nd scale ratio is demonstrated in detail using the flowchart of FIG.

(Scale ratio determination process)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for determining the scale ratio of the second region. In this embodiment, when there are a plurality of images having longitude and latitude information arranged in the second region, the scale ratio of the second region is determined so that the plurality of images do not overlap on the display map image. Shall. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, consider a case where images 901, 902, and 903 having longitude and latitude information are arranged on the first map image in the normal mode. At this time, when the mode is changed to the magnifying glass mode and the center point of the first area 910 is set as shown in FIG. 9B, the second area 920 is set so that the images 902 and 903 do not overlap. The scale factor will be determined.

  That is, the present invention temporarily changes the scale ratio of only a part of an image that is arranged overlapping with the scale ratio of the displayed display map image without changing the scale ratio of the entire display map image. By doing so, the overlapping images can be presented without overlapping the viewer.

  In step S <b> 501, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the minimum scale ratio of the second scale ratio is set. Specifically, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the minimum scale ratio of the second scale ratio is stored in the RAM 103. In the present embodiment, since the second map image has a scale ratio larger than at least the scale ratio of the first map image, the minimum scale ratio of the second scale ratio can be acquired from the map server. Among them, the scale ratio is set to one larger than the scale ratio (first scale ratio) of the first map image. Note that the information on the scale ratio of the map image that can be acquired from the map server is received in advance as a table as shown in FIG. 6 from the map server and stored in the RAM 103, for example. The CPU 101 moves the process to S503 if the information of the minimum scale ratio of the second scale ratio is stored in the RAM 103, and moves the process to S502 if not stored.

  In step S <b> 502, the CPU 101 refers to the first map image scale ratio (first scale ratio) information stored in the RAM 103 and the map image scale ratio table that can be acquired from the map server. A scale factor that is one larger than the scale factor is stored in the RAM 103 as the minimum scale factor. For example, when the scale ratio of the first map image is 1/50000, 1/25000, which is a scale ratio one level higher than the scale ratio, is determined as the minimum scale ratio of the second map image. At this time, in order to determine the scale ratio in the following steps, the CPU 101 temporarily sets the determined minimum scale ratio as the current second scale ratio.

In S503, when the CPU 101 acquires a map image having a predetermined size of the second area at the current second scale ratio, the image having the longitude and latitude information acquired in S403 is included in the map image. It is determined whether or not they are arranged so as to overlap each other. That is, in the map image of the size of the second area having the current second scale ratio, the CPU 101
(1) It is determined whether or not there are a plurality of images having longitude and latitude information to be arranged, and (2) there is an overlapping area between the overlapping images when the plurality of images are arranged.

  Specifically, the CPU 101 converts the longitude and latitude information of all the images to be arranged on the display map image acquired in S403 into coordinates on the map display area 201 on the map image having the current second scale factor, It is determined whether or not the coordinates are included in the second area (determination (1)). In the present embodiment, since the second area displayed in the magnifier mode is defined by a circle centered on the point designated by the viewer, the CPU 101 uses the coordinates of the center point at the current second scale factor. And the center coordinate of each image is determined whether or not the distance is equal to or smaller than the radius of the second region.

If the CPU 101 determines that there are a plurality of images arranged in the map image of the size of the second area having the current second scale ratio in the determination of (1), each of the plurality of images is determined. Then, it is determined whether or not there is an area overlapping with another image. Specifically, for example, when a plurality of images are arranged on the current second scale map image, the CPU 101 calculates the coordinates of the upper left corner and the lower right corner of each of the plurality of rectangular images in the map image, It is determined whether the display area overlaps every two images. For example, the coordinates of the upper left corner of one image are (x ₁ , y ₁ ), the coordinates of the lower right corner are (x ₂ , y ₂ ), and the coordinates of the upper left corner of the other image are (x ₃ , y ₃ ). If the bottom coordinate is (x ₄ , y ₄ ),
(X ₁ <x ₄ ) ∧ (y ₁ <y ₄ ) ∧ (x ₃ <x ₂ ) ∧ (y ₃ <y ₂ )
When satisfying, the CPU 101 may determine that the display areas of the two images overlap. If the above conditions are satisfied, the CPU 101 moves the process to S504, and if not, moves the process to S507.

  In step S <b> 504, the CPU 101 changes the current second scale factor to a scale factor that is one step larger than the current second scale factor among the map image scale factors that can be acquired from the map server. At this time, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the second scale ratio to be changed is the maximum scale ratio that can be acquired from the map server (S505). If the second scale ratio to be changed is not the maximum scale ratio that can be acquired from the map server, the CPU 101 returns the process to S503 and determines the presence or absence of images that are arranged again at the changed scale ratio. . If the second scale factor to be changed is the maximum scale factor that can be acquired from the map server, the CPU 101 determines the second scale factor as the maximum scale factor in S506 and determines the main scale factor. Complete the process.

  If it is determined in S503 that there is no overlapping image, the CPU 101 determines the current second scale ratio from among the map image scale ratios that can be acquired from the map server. The scale is reduced by one step (S507). At this time, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the second scale ratio to be changed is the minimum scale ratio (S508). If the second scale ratio to be changed is not the minimum scale ratio, the CPU 101 moves the process to S510, and if it is the minimum scale ratio, the CPU 101 moves the process to S509 and sets the minimum scale ratio to the second scale ratio. To determine and complete the scale ratio determination process.

  In S510, as in S503, the CPU 101 determines whether or not there are images that are arranged to overlap at the scale rate after the change. If there is an image that is arranged so as to overlap at the scale rate after the change, the CPU 101 moves the process to S507 and makes a determination by changing the scale rate to one step smaller. If there is no overlappingly arranged image at the changed scale ratio, the CPU 101 moves the process to S511, determines the changed scale ratio as the second scale ratio, and completes the present scale ratio determination process. .

  Thus, the scale factor of the second region is determined so that images displayed in the region are displayed without overlapping when displayed. In step S <b> 405, the CPU 101 acquires a map image of the size of the second area having the second scale ratio determined in the scale ratio determination process described above from the map server (first acquisition).

  In S <b> 406, the CPU 101 causes an unillustrated GPU to generate an interpolated image that is displayed in an area obtained by removing the second area from the first area and that continues the first map image and the second map image as a map. . Here, the interpolation image generation processing will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Interpolated image generation processing)
In step S <b> 701, the CPU 101 transforms the first map image having the first scale ratio that mainly constitutes the display map image into the interpolation area excluding the second area from the first area and draws the area to be drawn. Get information.

  Since the map image having the second scale ratio larger than the first scale ratio of the first map image is displayed in the second area, the area to be transformed and drawn into the interpolation area is the first area. This is an area obtained by removing the range of the map image of the second area from the map image of the first area having the scale ratio. That is, an area obtained by removing the area occupied when the map image of the second area (second map image) is displayed as the map image of the first scale ratio from the map image of the first area is interpolated. It becomes an area to be transformed into an area for drawing.

For example, the CPU 101 may represent the range of the interpolation area by using the distance r (the radius of a circle centered on the point) from the point designated by the viewer in S401. In other words, the range of the interpolation area is indicated by the viewer, which is indicated by the range of the second map image displayed in the size of the second area having the second scale ratio in the map image of the first scale ratio. the radius r ₂ around the point which is, by using the radius r ₁ of the first region,
r ₂ ≦ r ≦ r ₁
It can be expressed as That is, the map image of the area that is transformed into the interpolation area and drawn by excluding the second area from the first area has the coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the center point to be enlarged and instructed by the viewer. make use of,
(X−x ₀ ) ² + (y−y ₀ ) ² = r ²
However, r ₂ ≦ r ≦ r ₁
It can be expressed. The CPU 101 stores the range in the first map image in which the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate satisfy the mathematical formulas defined as described above in the RAM 103 as a region to be drawn after being transformed into the interpolation region.

When the first scale factor is 1 / 50,000, the second scale factor is 1/25000, and the radius of the second area is 50 pix, the radius r of the range of the second map image at the first scale factor is r. ₂ is
It becomes.

  In step S <b> 702, the CPU 101 determines a coefficient of a fish-eye filter for changing the shape of the interpolation area into the shape of the interpolation area with respect to the pixels in the area to be drawn after being changed into the interpolation area defined in step S <b> 701. A fisheye filter is a filter that applies image processing that produces an effect as if it was taken with a fisheye lens of a camera. The fisheye lens is a lens that does not correct distortion aberration, and by applying a filter having an effect equivalent to that of the lens, an effect of contracting the peripheral portion instead of enlarging the central portion can be obtained.

  The coefficient of the fisheye filter is determined by a table constituted by the first scale factor and the second scale factor, for example, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the CPU 101 refers to the table for calculating the fisheye filter coefficient stored in the ROM 102 and determines the fisheye filter coefficient. For example, when the first scale factor is 1 / 50,000 and the second scale factor is 1/25000, the fisheye filter coefficient c is 10. As the fisheye filter coefficient increases, the degree of image distortion at a position away from the center when the filter is applied increases.

  In the present embodiment, the fisheye filter is applied to generate an interpolation image to be drawn in the interpolation area. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in order to generate an interpolated image, for example, a filter that executes image processing called punching may be applied. In addition, a feature point of the first map image at the boundary portion of the first region and a feature point of the second map image at the boundary portion of the second region that can be regarded as the same feature point as the feature point are splined. You may apply the image processing connected by a curve or a Bezier curve.

  In step S <b> 703, the CPU 101 applies a fish-eye filter using the fish-eye filter coefficient determined in step S <b> 702 to the map image included in the region to be drawn after being transformed into the interpolation region in the first map image, and the interpolation is performed on the interpolation region. An interpolation image to be drawn is generated by a GPU (not shown).

Pixel position fisheye filter in the image prior to applying (x _{b, y b)} pixel of the pixel position by applying a fisheye filter (x _{a, y a)} When moving in, after application and before the application The relationship of the pixel positions is as shown in Equation 1.

However,

That is, the fisheye filter is an inverse function of F _x and F _y and can be expressed as follows.

  By applying the fisheye filter, the CPU 101 can generate an interpolation image. The interpolated image has a shape of a region excluding the second region from the first region, and is an image continuous as a map with the first map image or the second map image at each boundary.

  Using the interpolated image generated in this way, the first map image, and the second map image, the CPU 101 generates a display map image to be presented to the viewer in the display unit 109 in S407. Specifically, the CPU 101 causes a GPU (not shown) to generate a composite image in which an interpolation image and further a second map image are superimposed around the position on the first map image instructed by the viewer.

  In step S <b> 408, the CPU 101 reads an image to be arranged on the display map image included in the display range of the first map image from the recording medium 108 (second acquisition), and is generated according to the longitude and latitude information of the image. The image arranged on the displayed map image is generated. Note that the coordinates of the image arranged on the first map image or the second map image of the display map image are a pixel coordinate system (the right direction is a positive x-axis, When the downward direction is positive on the y-axis, it can be expressed by the conversion formula of Formula 3.

Here, (x, y) indicates the center coordinates of the image to be arranged in the pixel coordinate system with the origin at the upper left corner of the map image to be arranged. X _image and Y _image indicate the longitude and latitude of the image, and X ₀ and Y ₀ indicate the longitude and latitude of the pixel of the map image displayed at the origin of the pixel coordinate system. D _longitude and _{D Latidude} is the distance longitude and latitude one degree Atari each unit becomes km. S is a scale ratio of the map image, d is a coordinate conversion coefficient from the positioning system to the pixel coordinate system, and the unit is pixel / km.

Equation 3 is an expression when the longitude and latitude of the image to be arranged is east longitude and north latitude. In the case of west longitude, a negative sign is added to X _image and X ₀ of the x component, and in the case of south latitude, the y component _Let Y _image and Y ₀ be a negative sign.

  The coordinates of the image (image on the deformed image) arranged in the interpolation image of the display map image are calculated as the coordinates of the first scale image in the pixel coordinate system with the upper left corner of the interpolation area as the origin. The calculation may be performed by applying the filter of Formula 2.

  After causing the GPU to generate an image in which an image having longitude and latitude information is arranged on the display map image in this way, the CPU 101 transmits an image in which the display map image is arranged in the map display area 201 to the display unit 109 in S409. To display and complete the process.

  In the present embodiment, in S505, when the scale rate after change is the maximum scale rate that can be acquired from the map server, the second scale rate is used regardless of whether or not the images to be arranged overlap. Has been described as determining the maximum scale ratio. Even when the second scale ratio is determined to be the maximum scale ratio, if the images to be arranged overlap, the CPU 101 may perform the following when arranging the overlapped images on the display map image. .

(1) Place one of the overlapping images as a representative image on the display map image (1-1) Switch the representative image to another overlapping image over time (1-2) Operation such as mouse over When receiving input to display a representative image,
(2) The overlapping images are not representative images, and the display resolution is reduced so that they do not overlap.

  As described above, the map image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a first map image having a first area with a different scale ratio that allows a viewer to easily find desired information. Images can be provided. Specifically, the map image processing device has a second scale ratio larger than the first scale ratio according to the representative longitude and latitude information that defines the set position of the first area, and more than the first area. A second map image having a small second area size is acquired. Also, a first map image having a first scale ratio is acquired. Further, an interpolated image that is displayed in a region obtained by removing the second region from the first region and that continues the first map image and the second map image as a map is generated as follows. The map image processing apparatus converts an image included in an area in the first area, excluding an area occupied when the second map image is displayed at the first scale ratio, from the first map image. Then, an interpolation image is generated. Then, the generated interpolated image and further the second map image are superimposed on the position defined by the representative longitude and latitude information on the first map image to generate a display map image.

  By doing in this way, the viewer of the map image can change the scale rate in the direction of enlarging only a part of the area without changing the overall scale rate of the displayed map image. , It can be displayed so that there is no area that is blocked by the map image of the area and is not displayed. Further, when an image having longitude and latitude information is arranged and displayed on a map image, the viewer can select a desired scale factor of the map image in the area to be enlarged so that the arranged images do not overlap. Images can be found easily.

(Embodiment 2)
In Embodiment 1 described above, the size of the second area for displaying the map image (second map image) at the second scale has been described as being predetermined, but in Embodiment 2, it is determined. A method for dynamically changing the size of the second region based on the second scale ratio will be described.

  For example, when the first scale ratio is 1 / 500,000 and the second scale ratio is 1/10000, the ratio of the second scale ratio to the first scale ratio is 50 times. At this time, for example, compared to the case where the ratio is 5 times, the information amount of the map information included in the area to be drawn after being transformed into the interpolation area is 10 times, so the interpolation image drawn in the interpolation area is It becomes more compressed. In other words, the larger the ratio of the second scale ratio to the first scale ratio, the greater the deformation amount of the map image included in the area to be transformed into the interpolation area to generate an interpolation image. There is a possibility that the person cannot recognize the contents of the map of the interpolation image drawn in the interpolation area.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the larger the ratio of the scale ratio of the second map image to the scale ratio of the first map image, the smaller the second area, that is, the larger the interpolation area. A control method for changing the size of the second area will be described. In addition, since this embodiment is described as processing executed in the PC 100 having the same functional configuration as that of the above-described first embodiment, description regarding functions is omitted for each block included in the PC 100.

(Scale ratio determination process)
Hereinafter, specific processing of the scale determination processing of the PC 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the CPU 101 reading out a corresponding processing program stored in, for example, the ROM 102, developing it in the RAM 103, and executing it. Note that this scale ratio determination process is executed as a one-step definition process in the display map image drawing process in the magnifier mode, as in the first embodiment. Note that in the scale ratio determination process of the present embodiment, the description of the steps for performing the same process as the scale ratio determination process of the first embodiment described above will be omitted, and only the process characteristic to the present embodiment will be described. Although S1003 and S1004 are executed at different timings, they are steps for performing the same processing as S1001 and S1002 described later, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, since the number of scale ratios of the map image that can be acquired from the map server is determined in advance, the ratio of the current second scale ratio to the first scale ratio can be easily processed. In order to do this, it shall be defined by the difference in the number of scale steps. The following description will be made assuming that a table as shown in FIG. 11 in which the size of the interpolation area is associated with the difference in the number of scale ratios is stored in the ROM 102 in advance.

  If it is determined in S501 that the minimum scale ratio information is already stored in the RAM 103, or if the minimum scale ratio information is stored in S502, the CPU 101 determines in S1001 the first scale ratio and the current first scale ratio. The difference in the number of scale ratios from the scale ratio of 2 is calculated. Specifically, the CPU 101 refers to a map image scale ratio table acquired from the map server (FIG. 4), and the number of scale ratio steps between the first scale ratio and the current second scale ratio. Calculate the difference.

In step S1002, the CPU 101 refers to a table that defines the size of the interpolation area stored in the RAM 103, and obtains information on the size of the interpolation area corresponding to the difference in the number of scale levels calculated in step S1001. To do. As in the first embodiment, the range of the area is determined by the radius of a circle centered on the point designated by the viewer. In the table of FIG. 11, the range of the interpolation area is determined in advance. It is expressed as a radial width based on the radius r ₁ of the region.

For example, when the first scale ratio is 1/250000 in the second stage and the current second scale ratio is 1/25000 in the fourth stage, the difference in the number of scale stages is 3, and the radius of the interpolation area The width of the direction is defined as “3/10 × r ₁ ” with reference to the table of FIG. That is, the radius r ₂ of the second region is the remainder “7/10 × r ₁ ”.

  In this way, the CPU 101 obtains information on the range of the second area and the interpolation area, and determines whether or not images having longitude and latitude information to be arranged on the display map image overlap in steps after S503. .

  By doing in this way, even if the ratio of the 2nd scale ratio with respect to the 1st scale ratio is large in the display map image of the magnifying glass mode generated by the map image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the browsing The person can view the interpolated image displayed after being deformed in a recognizable manner.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the width of the interpolation area has been described as being fixed. However, in the present embodiment, a method for changing the width of the interpolation area in accordance with the position of the image arranged in the second area will be described. To do. Note that, similarly to the second embodiment, this embodiment will be described as processing executed in the PC 100 having the same functional configuration as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description of the function of each block included in the PC 100 is omitted.

  Hereinafter, a process in which the CPU 101 changes the width of the interpolation area in accordance with the position of the image arranged in the second area will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

  12 and 13, each of the first region 1201 and the second region 1202 or the second region 1301 having different widths of the interpolation region, and a plurality of longitude and latitude information arranged in the second region. An image 1203 is shown. The first area and the second area are areas defined by concentric circles centered on the point 1204 designated by the viewer.

  In FIG. 12, among the images arranged in the second area, for the image having the maximum distance from the designated point 1204, the CPU 101 determines the distance between the image and the point 1204, and a predetermined first number. Compare the distance that defines the range of the two regions. As a result of the comparison, when it is determined that the distance is long, the CPU 101 narrows the width 1205 of the interpolation area.

  In FIG. 13, among the images arranged in the second area, the CPU 101 determines a distance between the image and the point 1204 in advance for an image having the maximum distance from the designated point 1204. Compared with the distance defining the range of the second region. As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the distance is short, the CPU 101 increases the width 1302 of the interpolation area.

  That is, the CPU 101 performs interpolation so that not only the center of the image arranged in the second area but also all the areas of the image (for example, four vertices in the case of a rectangular image) are included in the second area. The width of the area, that is, the range of the second area is changed. That is, the range of the second area is determined so that at least the image arranged in the second area does not overlap and the area where the image is displayed does not overlap the interpolation area.

For example, the center coordinate in the second map image of the rectangular image having the maximum distance from the point 1204 instructed by the viewer is (x _g , y _g ), and the number of pixels of the maximum image is horizontal. An explanation will be given taking a [pix] × vertical b [pix] as an example. At this time, among the vertices of the image having the maximum distance from the point 1204 instructed, the distance l to the vertex having the largest distance from the point 1204 is
Indicated by That is, the distance l is a radius r ₂ that defines the range of the second region. Note that the width w of the interpolation area is set to w = r ₁ −l using a radius r ₁ that defines the range of the first area.
Can be expressed as

Further, the width w of the interpolation area is set to, for example, 1/5 × r ₁ ≦ w ≦ 1/2 × r ₁
By doing so, it is possible to set so that the interpolation area is not too large or the interpolation area is not too small. Note that this process may be executed immediately before S503 or S510, as in the second embodiment.

  As a result, the image arranged in the second area can be viewed by the viewer without overlapping the map image in the interpolation area, and the deformation amount of the image displayed in the interpolation area is minimized. The display map image can be presented to the viewer.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the first area has been described as being composed of the second area and one interpolation area, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, at least, for example, the interpolation area is divided into a plurality of areas in the interpolation area, and different filters are applied to each interpolation area so that, for example, the image is distorted as the area is distant from the point designated by the viewer. Also good.

  As described above, the first to third embodiments have been described in detail based on the embodiment of the present invention. However, the shape of the magnifying glass in the magnifying glass mode is not limited to a circle but may be a polygon such as a rectangle or an ellipse. And

  In the first to third embodiments, in the magnifying glass mode, the center area and the interpolation area are displayed separately. However, how to divide the area and how to distort the map in the interpolation area are not limited to this. For example, the radius of the central region may be set to a minimum size that can be said to be almost a point of about several pixels, and the region that extends the interpolation region over the entire magnifier may be divided.

  Alternatively, the interpolation area may be divided into three or more areas on a concentric circle, and the distortion may be increased in the outer interpolation area.

  Further, the method of distorting the interpolation area is not limited to the fisheye filter. For example, a spherical filter may be used to distort the image in the interpolation area.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (15)

A map image processing apparatus that displays an image associated with position information by arranging it at a corresponding position on a map,
A generating means for generating an enlarged display frame for superimposing and displaying on the map, wherein a central portion of the region on the map hidden under the enlarged display frame is enlarged, and the periphery of the central portion Generating means for generating a deformed image obtained by deforming an area on the map hidden under the enlarged display frame by distorting the part;
Further, an arrangement means for arranging an image to be arranged in the area on the map hidden under the enlarged display frame at a position corresponding to the position information in the deformed image;
A map image processing apparatus comprising:   2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a determining unit that determines a scale ratio so that an image arranged on the deformed image does not overlap in order to display the enlarged central portion in the enlarged display frame. The map image processing apparatus described in 1.   The map image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit applies a fish-eye filter to the peripheral portion. A method of controlling a map image processing apparatus that displays an image associated with position information arranged and displayed at a corresponding position on a map,
The generating means is a generating step of generating an enlarged display frame for superimposing and displaying on the map, and an area on the map hidden under the enlarged display frame is enlarged, A generating step for generating a deformed image obtained by deforming an area on the map that is hidden under the enlarged display frame by distorting a peripheral portion of a central portion;
An arrangement step in which the arrangement means arranges an image to be arranged in the area on the map hidden under the enlarged display frame at a position corresponding to the position information in the deformed image;
A control method for a map image processing apparatus, comprising: A map image processing device for generating a display map image having a first area having a different scale ratio in a first map image,
Setting means for setting representative longitude and latitude information defining the position of the first region;
The first map image having a first scale ratio, and a second area having a second scale ratio larger than the first scale ratio and a second area size smaller than the first area. A first acquisition means for acquiring a second map image defined by the representative longitude and latitude information,
Interpolation means for generating an interpolated image for displaying the first map image and the second map image as a map, which is displayed in an area excluding the second area from the first area;
The display map image is generated by superimposing the interpolated image generated by the interpolation unit and the second map image on the first map image at a position defined by the representative longitude and latitude information. Generating means,
The interpolation means is included in an area in the first area excluding an area occupied when the second map image is displayed at the first scale ratio, among the first map images. A map image processing apparatus, wherein an image is converted to generate the interpolated image. Second acquisition means for acquiring an image having longitude and latitude information;
Arrangement means for arranging an image having longitude and latitude information acquired by the second acquisition means on the display map image generated by the generation means according to the longitude and latitude information;
The map image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: Further comprising a determining means for determining the second scale factor,
The determination means determines that the plurality of images having the longitude and latitude information are to be arranged by the arrangement means in an area where the second map image is superimposed on the display map image. The map image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second scale factor is determined so that the image of the second map does not overlap the displayed map image.   The placement unit is configured such that the second scale factor is a maximum scale factor of the map image that can be acquired by the first acquisition unit, and an image having a plurality of longitude and latitude information is on the display map image. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when it is determined that the second map image overlaps in an overlapped area, any one of the plurality of images is arranged as a representative image. Map image processing device.   The map image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the arrangement unit switches the representative image to a plurality of other images over time.   10. The map image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the arrangement unit arranges the plurality of images side by side when receiving an input for displaying the representative image. 10.   The placement unit is configured such that the second scale factor is a maximum scale factor of the map image that can be acquired by the first acquisition unit, and an image having a plurality of longitude and latitude information is on the display map image. 8. The map image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when it is determined that the second map image is overlapped in an overlapped area, the plurality of images are reduced and arranged.   The first acquisition means includes the second region such that an entire image having longitude and latitude information included in the region where the second map image is superimposed on the display map image is included in the region. The map image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the size of the map image is determined.   The said 1st acquisition means makes the said 2nd area | region small, so that the ratio of the said 2nd scale ratio with respect to the said 1st scale ratio is large. The map image processing apparatus described in 1. A control method for a map image processing apparatus for generating a display map image having a first area having a different scale ratio in the first map image,
A setting step in which the setting means sets representative longitude and latitude information defining the position of the first region;
The first acquisition means includes a first map image having a first scale ratio, a second scale ratio larger than the first scale ratio, and a second area smaller than the first area. A first map step of acquiring a second map image of a size, the second map image defined by the representative longitude and latitude information;
An interpolation step for generating an interpolated image in which the first map image and the second map image are continuously displayed as a map, wherein the interpolating means displays in the region excluding the second region from the first region; ,
The generation unit superimposes the interpolation image generated in the interpolation step and further the second map image on the first map image at a position defined by the representative longitude and latitude information, and the display map A generation step of generating an image,
In the interpolation step, the interpolation means excludes an area occupied when the second map image is displayed at the first scale ratio in the first map image, in the first area. A method for controlling a map image processing apparatus, comprising: generating an interpolated image by converting an image included in a region.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the map image processing apparatus of any one of Claims 5 thru | or 13.