JP3630811B2 - Image creating apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image creation apparatus and method, and more particularly to an image creation apparatus and method for drawing / editing a map image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are map creation devices that can draw and edit maps on a personal computer or word processor. In this apparatus, two predetermined points are designated and a predetermined line is connected between them to draw a road or railroad track (hereinafter referred to as “road”) on the map.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described technique has the following problems. In other words, in the above device, it is difficult to draw a road with a curved line, and as a result of drawing, the road overlaps with a river or road already drawn, or the map image under the road is displayed. There is a fault that disappears. Furthermore, roads, bridges, and tunnels must be drawn separately, and a single road cannot be drawn at a stretch.
[0004]
The present invention is for solving the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to create a map image according to the relationship between a road and a tunnel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.
[0007]
An image creating method according to the present invention includes an altitude input step for inputting altitude information of a specific symbol, a coordinate input step for inputting coordinates, and a line connecting the coordinates continuously input by the coordinate input step. a step, the elevation information of the coordinates inputted by the coordinate input step, a calculating step of calculating the elevation information of the existing lines, and elevation information calculated by said calculation step, the altitude input in the altitude input step a comparing step of comparing the information, based on the comparison result obtained in the comparing step, characterized by comprising a drawing step of drawing the particular symbol between the inputted coordinates in the coordinate input step.
[0011]
The image creating apparatus according to the present invention, a first storage means for storing the coordinates inputted in succession to form a predetermined line, the altitude information of the input coordinate, elevation information of existing line On the basis of the comparison result obtained by the comparison means, the comparison means for comparing the altitude information calculated by the calculation means, the altitude information calculated by the calculation means, and the altitude information input in advance for a specific symbol. a second storage means for storing two of the coordinates one of altitude information is the input indicating the approximation, based on the data stored in said first and second storage means, to said second storage means And a plotting means for creating a map image in which the specific symbol is drawn between two stored coordinates .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
[Constitution]
FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
The central processing unit CPU1 is connected to each unit described below via the bus line BL6, and controls them according to a control program stored in the ROM 8. KB2 is a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse for moving a cursor and inputting / editing characters and figures. The LCD 3 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays characters and graphic information written in the video memory VRAM 4 in color. The PRT 7 is a printer for printing character / graphic information and the like. The FDD 5 is a device that drives a storage medium such as a floppy disk. The CPU 1 reads various programs such as a map creation program and various data from the storage medium set in the FDD 5, and writes calculation results and data in the middle of calculation to the same medium. The storage medium is not limited to a floppy disk, and a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or a magneto-optical disk can be used, or a hard disk or the like.
[0015]
The RAM 9 is a non-volatile memory, and its memory area is divided into several parts, and each is used for a specific purpose as shown in FIG. 1B. The area WORK of the RAM 9 is a work area used when the CPU 1 executes various programs such as a map creation program. Regions DD1, DD2,..., DDn are road data regions that store drawing data of each road as coordinates. Regions TD1, TD2,..., TDn are contour line data regions for storing drawing data of each contour line as coordinates. The area TH is an area for storing the altitude of the entrance and exit of the tunnel. Regions KD1, KD2,..., KDn are river data regions that store drawing data of each river as coordinates.
[0016]
In addition, the flag KFL stores whether or not the intersection between the road being drawn and the road, river, contour line, or the like has started. Coordinates (KX, KY) represent cursor coordinates.
[0017]
The data BFL1, BFL2,..., BFLm are used for identifying the road or river where the intersecting line is a road. (BX, BY) 1, (BX, BY) 2,..., (BX, BY) m store the intersection start coordinates between the road or river corresponding to each BFL and another line, and (EX, EY ) 1, (EX, EY) 2,..., (EX, EY) m store the intersection end coordinates between the road or river corresponding to each BFL and another line. Although not shown in detail, each of (KX, KY) (BX, BY) (EX, EY) is composed of two left and right data sets.
[0018]
[data structure]
Before describing the operation of this apparatus, the structure of road data DD and the like will be described.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the road data DD1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a road drawing state, which is composed of coordinates (XRn, YRn) and (XLn, YLn) for drawing the right and left ends of the road. Has been. This is because the width of one road is not always constant. The road data DD (coordinate group) having such a structure is prepared for the number n of roads.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the river data KD1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the river drawing state. The river data KD also has coordinates (XRn, YRn) and (XLn, YLn), and river data KD (coordinate group) is prepared for the number n of rivers.
[0021]
6 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the contour line data TD1, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a drawing state of two contour lines (elevation H1 and H2), and the contour line data TD is a line connecting the same elevations. It consists of a plurality of coordinates (Xn, Yn) and altitude H.
[0022]
Each coordinate may be connected with a straight line as shown in the figure, but a more natural curve can be obtained by connecting with a Bezier curve or a spline.
[0023]
[Operation]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment, which is executed by the CPU 1. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing examples of drawing states. As shown in FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the river has already been drawn, and the road is drawn by moving the cursor KS. In this example, the road is drawn. Will be explained.
[0024]
When the start of drawing is instructed, the intersection flag KFL is cleared to "0" and the counter i is cleared to 1 in step S1, and the process waits for the coordinates indicating the road to be input in step S2. The operator moves the cursor KS to a desired position, and then clicks the mouse button to indicate the left end of the road, for example, and then moves the cursor KS by the width of the road to indicate the right end of the road. Click the mouse button. The coordinates may be input by pressing a predetermined key instead of the mouse button. These coordinates are sequentially stored in the road data DDn.
[0025]
When the coordinates are input, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the coordinates (KX, KY) intersect a line representing a river or road. If not, the road is drawn in step S10, that is, one After connecting the previously input coordinates and the newly input coordinates with a line, the process returns to step S2.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, when crossing, the crossing flag KFL is checked in step S4, and if KFL = '0', the crossing is made for the first time. Therefore, in step S5, the crossing coordinates are set to the start coordinates (BX, BY). Set to i and set KFL = '1'. Next, in step S6, it is determined whether the intersection is a river or a road, the result is set in the classification data BFLi, and the process returns to step S2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the BFL, which includes road bits, river bits, and the like, and predetermined bits are set according to the determination result of step S6.
[0027]
Further, if KFL = '1' in step S4, it means that it intersects with the line on the opposite side of the river or road, so the intersection coordinates are set to end coordinates (EX, EY) i in step S7. When coordinates (BX, BY) i and (EX, EY) i are set, the coordinates for drawing the bridge or intersection are determined, and an object (a symbol such as a bridge or intersection) is drawn according to BFLi in step S8. In step S9, KFL is cleared and the counter i is incremented, and the process returns to step S2.
[0028]
By inputting the coordinates of the road in this manner, as shown in FIG. 9C, the road is drawn, and a bridge symbol is drawn at a portion where the road intersects the river. The drawing of the road can be ended by pressing a predetermined key of KB2 or the like.
[0029]
Next, a case where a tunnel symbol is drawn will be described. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not to draw a tunnel symbol based on the elevation H of the contour line and the tunnel elevation TH input in advance while drawing the road. That is, drawing of the tunnel symbol is started when the road reaches the tunnel entrance altitude TH1, and drawing of the tunnel symbol is finished when the road reaches the tunnel exit altitude TH2.
[0030]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment, which is executed by the CPU 1. 12A to 12C are diagrams showing examples of drawing states. As shown in FIG. 12A, it is assumed that contour lines have already been drawn, and a road is drawn by moving the cursor KS.
[0031]
When the start of drawing is instructed, the intersection flag KFL is cleared to "0" and the counter i is cleared to 1 in step S11, and the process waits for the coordinates indicating the road to be input in step S12. Here, an example in which the intersection flag KFL is used as a flag for drawing a tunnel symbol will be described. However, since it is actually necessary to consider the intersection with a river or the like, it is better to provide a dedicated flag separately. Good.
[0032]
When the coordinates are input, the altitude H of the coordinates (KX, KY) is calculated in step S13. In this case, when the input coordinates are in contact with the contour line, the elevation H can be easily obtained. However, when the input coordinates are sandwiched between the contour lines, the elevation H is obtained from the contour lines by, for example, primary interpolation. Next, in step S14, KFL is determined. If KFL = '0' (tunnel symbol drawing has not started), the altitude H is compared with the tunnel entrance altitude TH1 in step S15, and H≈TH1. If so, the drawing of the tunnel symbol is started in step S16, and the cursor coordinates (KX, KY) are substituted into the start coordinates (BX, BY) i, and KFL = '1' is set in step S17. If H ≠ TH1, a road is drawn in step S18. Specifically, H≈TH1 is determined by | H−TH | <α, and α may be set to a value according to the accuracy of the map, for example, 10 m or 100 m.
[0033]
If KFL = '1' in step S14, the altitude H is compared with the tunnel exit altitude TH2 in step S19. If H≈TH2, drawing of the tunnel symbol is terminated in step S20. Then, the cursor coordinates (KX, KY) are substituted into the end coordinates (EX, EY) i, KFL is cleared in step S21, and the counter i is incremented. If H ≠ TH2, a tunnel symbol is drawn in step S18.
[0034]
By repeating steps S12 to S21 in this way, roads and tunnel symbols are drawn as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C. When there are a plurality of tunnels, a plurality of entrance and exit elevations are stored in the area TH in the order in which roads are drawn.
[0035]
[Edit map]
When the coordinate input interval is inappropriate and the expected curve cannot be drawn, the predetermined input coordinates can be deleted in order from the last input coordinate by pressing the predetermined KB2 key. In addition, for example, by pressing a predetermined key, the cursor is tweezers shaped, a predetermined position of the line is grasped, and a new position can be added between the two coordinates by moving to a desired position.
[0036]
[Draw and save map]
The map data drawn by the above processing is recorded in each area of the RAM 9 as a continuous coordinate group indicating each data. The CPU 1 forms a map image in the VRAM 4 based on this coordinate group, and sends the image data to the LCD 3 to display the map, or sends it to the PRT 7 to print the map. Further, the data stored in each area of the RAM 9 can be sent to the FDD 5 and stored in a storage medium so that it can be saved as map data.
[0037]
Although not shown in the figure, map data can also be output to a communication line via an interface connected to the bus BL6. For example, a map can be displayed on another terminal via a LAN or a telephone line. You can also send a map to a remote terminal via. In such a case, the map image formed in the VRAM 4 can be compressed and transmitted, but if the map data stored in the RAM 9 is sent as it is, the transmission amount can be minimized.
[0038]
Moreover, if an area for storing data for displaying objects such as structures and buildings is allocated to the RAM 9, these objects can be displayed on the map, and characters and symbols can be displayed in the same manner. Can do.
[0039]
As described above, according to this embodiment, a road can be easily drawn with a curve, and a bridge symbol or a tunnel symbol is automatically written in a portion overlapping a new road and a river or road already drawn. In addition, the map information under the road does not disappear. Therefore, it is not necessary to draw the road, the bridge, and the tunnel separately, and a single road can be drawn at a stretch.
[0040]
[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), or a device (for example, a copier, a facsimile device, etc.) including a single device. You may apply to.
[0041]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0042]
Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.
[0043]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0044]
When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the program code corresponding to the above-described flowchart is stored in the storage medium. In brief, each module shown in the memory map example of FIG. Is stored in a storage medium. That is, at least “programming between coordinates”, “intersection determination”, and “specific symbol drawing” modules may be stored in the storage medium. Further, it is only necessary to store the program codes of at least the “coordinate connection”, “elevation calculation”, “elevation comparison”, and “specific symbol drawing” modules in the storage medium. Further, the program codes of at least the modules of “input coordinate storage”, “intersection determination”, and “intersection coordinate etc. storage” may be stored in the storage medium. Further, at least the program codes of the modules of “input coordinate storage”, “elevation calculation”, “elevation comparison”, and “storage of tunnel coordinates etc.” may be stored in the storage medium.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a map image can be created according to the relationship between a road and a tunnel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining data stored in the RAM shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of road data;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a road drawing state;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of river data;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a river drawing state;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of contour line data;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a drawing state of two contour lines (elevation H1 and H2);
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a map drawing state according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of a map drawing state according to the embodiment;
FIG. 9C is a view showing an example of a map drawing state according to the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of data BFL;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of a map drawing state according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of a map drawing state according to the embodiment;
FIG. 12C is a diagram showing an example of a map drawing state according to the embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a storage medium storing a program code according to the present invention.

Claims (4)

An altitude input step for inputting altitude information of a specific symbol;
A coordinate input step for inputting coordinates;
A connection step connecting the coordinates continuously input by the coordinate input step with a line;
The elevation information of coordinates inputted by the coordinate input step, a calculating step of calculating the elevation information of an existing line,
A comparison step of comparing the altitude information calculated in the calculation step with the altitude information input in the altitude input step ;
Image generation method for; and a drawing step of the comparison based on the comparison result obtained in step, to draw the particular symbol between the inputted coordinates in the coordinate input step. There are two elevation information input in the elevation input step, and the drawing step is a result of the comparison in the comparison step, from the position where the calculated elevation information and the input first elevation information are equal. The specific symbol is drawn between a position where the calculated altitude information is equal to the input second altitude information. 1 The image creation method described in 1. Image generating method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the particular symbol, wherein the symbol der Rukoto representing the tunnel. First storage means for storing coordinates that are successively input to form a predetermined line;
Altitude information of the inputted coordinates, and calculating means for calculating the altitude information of the existing line,
Comparison means for comparing the altitude information calculated by the arithmetic means with altitude information input in advance for a specific symbol ;
A second storage means for storing two of the basis of the comparison result obtained by the comparison means, coordinates the two altitude information is the input indicating the approximation,
Drawing means for creating a map image in which the specific symbol is drawn between the two coordinates stored in the second storage means based on the data stored in the first and second storage means; An image creating apparatus characterized by

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