Map display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a map display device. This user terminal is provided with a display. The display is configured so as to display, on a map, a plurality of icons that respectively indicate positions of a plurality of rental points operated for a rental service of a mobile body. The display displays the plurality of icons in such a manner that each of the plurality of icons is distinguished according to an enterprise operating the rental point at the location represented by the icon. When two or more rental points among the plurality of rental points are provided in the same area, the display displays a single representative icon representing the two or more rental points on the map instead of two or more icons representing the two or more rental points, respectively, among the plurality of icons. The representative icons represent two or more enterprises operating two or more rental points in a mutually distinguishable manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a map display device. Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 5611081 discloses a navigation device. The device includes a region information retrieval unit and a region drawing unit. The region drawing unit overlaps and draws a logo image representing a facility-intensive region on a position on the map displayed on the display corresponding to a representative position within the facility-intensive region, based on the region information retrieved by the region information retrieval unit. At this time, the region drawing unit draws the logo image representing the facility-intensive region according to a display form or color corresponding to the total number of facilities existing in the facility-intensive region (see

[0026] and Figure 4 ).

[0003] In the rental business of a moving body (e.g., a car, a bicycle, or an electric scooter), the location of the rental point is important information for the user. This is because where the moving body can be borrowed and returned is directly related to the convenience of the user. There is a need for the user to easily grasp the location of the rental point of interest. In particular, the user sometimes wants to easily grasp the location of the rental point of an enterprise of interest. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure is made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a map display device for easily grasping the location of a rental point of an enterprise of interest to the user.

[0005] The map display device of the present disclosure includes a display.

[0006] The display is configured to display a plurality of icons on the map, each representing the location of a plurality of rental points operated for the rental business of a moving body.

[0007] Each of the plurality of rental points is operated by any one of a plurality of enterprises implementing the rental business.

[0008] The display displays the plurality of icons in such a way as to distinguish each of the plurality of icons according to the enterprise operating the rental point at the location represented by the icon.

[0009] When two or more of the plurality of rental points are provided in the same region, the display instead of the two or more icons respectively representing the two or more rental points among the plurality of icons, displays a single representative icon on the map that representatively represents the two or more rental points.

[0010] The representative icon represents two or more enterprises operating two or more rental points in a distinguishable form.

[0011] By forming the above-described structure, the user does not need to visually identify each of the two or more icons one by one in order to distinctively identify each enterprise operating rental points in the above area, but only needs to visually identify the representative icon. As a result, the user can easily grasp the locations of the rental points of the enterprise that the user is interested in (whether there is a rental point of the enterprise set in the above area) based on the representative icon.

[0012] In one aspect, two or more enterprises are respectively associated with two or more colors. The representative icon includes two or more regions respectively represented by two or more colors.

[0013] Colors can effectively prompt the user visually. By forming the above-described structure, each region of the representative icon represents the enterprise associated with the color representing the region. Thus, the user can particularly easily (intuitively) distinctively identify each of the two or more enterprises.

[0014] In one aspect, for each of the two or more regions, the more the total number of rental points operated by the enterprise associated with the color representing the region within the region, the larger the area of the region, or the two or more regions are respectively arranged in the order from more to less in terms of the total number.

[0015] By forming the above-described structure, the two or more enterprises are respectively distinguished on the representative icon according to the total number of rental points operated by the enterprise in the above area. Thus, it can enable the user to easily identify how many rental points of each enterprise are set in the above area, and in particular, can enable the user to easily identify the enterprise with the largest total number.

[0016] In one aspect, for each of the two or more regions, the more the total number, the larger the area of the region.

[0017] The representative icon includes two or more circles configured in a concentric circle shape.

[0018] The region represented by the color associated with the enterprise with the largest total number of rental points operated within the region among the two or more enterprises is the central region of the representative icon surrounded by the innermost circle among the two or more circles.

[0019] Since the above central region is arranged at the center of the representative icon, it can be considered that it can be more easily visually identified by the user intuitively compared with other regions among the above two or more regions. By becoming the above-described structure, the enterprise with the largest total number of the above rental points is represented by the above central region. As a result, the user can particularly intuitively identify the enterprise with the largest number.

[0020] In one aspect, the color representing the central region is the corporate color of the enterprise with the largest number.

[0021] The central area contains the logos of the largest number of enterprises.

[0022] The corporate colors and logos of the largest number of enterprises more effectively enable users to associate with the largest number of enterprises respectively. By forming the above structure, if a user visually recognizes the representative icon, the user will visually recognize both the corporate colors and logos of the largest number of enterprises. Thereby, it is possible to enable users to more reliably identify the largest number of enterprises.

[0023] According to the present disclosure, users can easily grasp the locations of the rental points of the enterprises they are interested in.

[0024] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a map display system according to an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of an HMI device displayed on a user terminal;

[0027] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device displayed on a user terminal in an embodiment;

[0028] Figure 4 is a flowchart exemplifying the processing executed in an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining a representative icon in Modification 1 of an embodiment;

[0030] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining various representative icons in Modification 2 of an embodiment. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the same or corresponding parts in the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned and their descriptions will not be repeated. The embodiments and their modifications can also be appropriately combined with each other.

[0032] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a map display system according to the present embodiment. Referring to Figure 1 , the map display system 1 includes a server 10 and a user terminal 20.

[0033] Server 10 communicates with other devices (e.g., user terminal 20) via network NW. Server 10 stores a map DB (Database) 12 and a rental point DB 14. The map DB 12 contains various map data. The rental point DB 14 contains various information related to rental points operated for the rental (sharing) business of moving bodies. A rental point is a space for renting and returning moving bodies. The moving body is, for example, a bicycle, an electric scooter, a two-wheeled motorcycle, or a car.

[0034] The rental point DB 14 contains ID information 142, type information 144, installation location information 146, and enterprise information 148. The ID information 142 represents the identification information of the corresponding rental point. The type information 144 represents the type of the moving body rented or returned at the corresponding rental point. The installation location information 146 represents the installation location of the corresponding rental point. The enterprise information 148 represents the name of the enterprise operating the corresponding rental point. In this example, multiple enterprises (including the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise described later) have implemented the rental business of moving bodies.

[0035] The user terminal 20 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone and functions as a portable map display device operated by the user. The user terminal 20 includes a storage device 21, a communication device 22, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 23, an HMI device 24, and a control device 28.

[0036] The storage device 21 stores a map application. The communication device 22 communicates with the server 10 via the network NW. The GPS 23 obtains position information indicating the current position of the user.

[0037] The HMI device 24 is, for example, a touch screen and includes an input interface (I / F) 26 and a display 27. The input interface 26 accepts operations (user operations) performed by the user. The user operations include a retrieval operation for using the map application to retrieve rental points on the displayed map. The user operations also include screen operations such as clicking, pinching in, and pinching out. The display 27 is configured to display a map according to a signal sent from the server 10 and display icons of various rental points on the map (details will be described later). The display 27 is also configured to display the current position of the user on the map according to the position information of the GPS 24. When the user moves and the current position changes, the area represented by the map automatically changes and changes in response to screen operations such as clicking.

[0038] The control device 28 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (both not shown). The CPU performs various arithmetic processes. The memory includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores programs executed by the CPU. The control device 28 detects user operations on the HMI device 24. In response to the user operations, the control device 28 performs various determination processes and controls the communication device 22 and the display 27.

[0039] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of the screen of the HMI device 24 displayed on the user terminal 20. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the moving body used in the rental business is a bicycle.

[0040] Refer to Figure 2 In (a) of, the screen 100 includes a map 102, a current map marker CP, a search window 105, and an icon group gr.

[0041] The map 102 is displayed during the use of the map application and represents the target area (in this example, the area around the user's current location). The user terminal 20 receives map information sent from the server 10 based on the map DB12 and displays the map 102 according to the map information. The map information includes target area information representing the target area. The current map marker CP is displayed based on the position information of the GPS 23 and represents the user's current position. On the map 102, other objects (not shown) representing facilities such as stores are also displayed, in addition to the current map marker CP, the search window 105, and the icon group gr.

[0042] The user inputs a search term into the search window 105. In this example, the user performs a search operation for a rental point for bicycle rental (bike sharing) on the map 102. In response to the search operation, the control device 28 of the user terminal 20 controls the communication device 22 to send a request signal for requesting rental point information to the server 10. The rental point information includes the number, installation location, and operating company information of rental points within the area around the user's current location. The request signal includes the search term input into the search window 105 and the position information representing the user's current location.

[0043] Server 10 responds to the request signal and determines the rental points and their operating enterprises within the above-mentioned region. This determination process is executed based on the search terms included in the request signal, the user's location information, and the type information 144, the setting location information 146, and the enterprise information 148 of the rental point DB 14. Server 10 generates rental point information based on the result of the above determination and sends it to the user terminal 20. If the communication device 22 receives the rental point information, the control device 28 controls the display 27 to display the icon group gr on the map 102.

[0044] The icon group gr includes N (N≥2) icons (in this example, icons 106A, 106B, 107A, 107B, 108A). These icons respectively represent the locations of the rental points P1A, P1B, P2A, P2B, P3A.

[0045] These rental points are set within the region represented by the map 102 and are operated by any one of the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise. Specifically, the rental points P1A, P1B are operated by the first enterprise, the rental points P2A, P2B are operated by the second enterprise, and the rental point P3A is operated by the third enterprise.

[0046] The display 27 displays the icon group gr in a manner that differentiates each icon of the icon group gr according to the enterprise operating the rental point at the location represented by the icon.

[0047] For example, the icons 106A, 106B representing the locations of the rental points of the first enterprise and the icons 107A, 107B, 108A representing the locations of the rental points of other enterprises (in this example, the second enterprise and the third enterprise) are displayed in a graphically distinguishable manner from each other. In this example, the first enterprise is associated with the first color (for example, red), and the icons 106A, 106B are represented by this color.

[0048] Similarly, the icons 107A, 107B representing the locations of the rental points of the second enterprise and the icon 108A representing the location of the rental point of the third enterprise are displayed in a graphically distinguishable manner from each other. In this example, the second enterprise is associated with the second color (for example, blue), and the icons 107A, 107B are represented by this color. The third enterprise is associated with the third color (for example, green), and the icon 108A is represented by this color.

[0049] By displaying the icon group gr in this way, the user can intuitively identify which enterprise's rental point location each icon represents. As a result, the user can easily grasp the locations of the rental points of the enterprise that the user is interested in (for example, the enterprise that the user likes, and in one example, the enterprise registered as a member).

[0050] If the user touches any one of the icons in the icon group gr, the display 27 can also display detailed information on the rental points at the positions represented by the touched icons, and display a user interface for reserving the rental points. The detailed information on the rental points includes, for example, the address of the rental point, the available time of the rental point, the operating company of the rental point, the number of rentable bicycles and the number of returnable bicycles at the rental point.

[0051] As a comparative example in the case where the single icon described later is not displayed, Figure 2 is shown in (b). Refer to Figure 2 In (b) of, the difference between the screen 120 and the screen 100 is that the icon group gr further includes icons 106C to 106E, 107C, 107D, and 108B. These icons represent the positions of the rental points P1C to P1E, P2C, P2D, and P3B, respectively.

[0052] The rental points P1C to P1E, P2C, P2D, and P3B are respectively operated by any one of the first company, the second company, and the third company. Specifically, the rental points P1C to P1E are operated by the first company, the rental points P2C and P2D are operated by the second company, and the rental point P3B is operated by the third company.

[0053] The icons 106B to 106E, 107C, 107D, and 108B are also represented as an icon set is. The rental points P1B to P1E, P2C, P2D, and P3B are densely arranged within the same area (area AR). The icons 106B to 106E, 107C, 107D, and 108B are an example of the "two or more icons" in the present disclosure. The rental points P1B to P1E, P2C, P2D, and P3B are an example of the "two or more rental points" in the present disclosure.

[0054] The area AR is an area having a specified shape and area. An area where a plurality of (specifically, a specified amount or more) rental points such as the area AR are dense is also referred to as a "rental point dense area".

[0055] Users often search for rental points at their travel destinations. Since the user terminal 20 is a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, the display 27 is generally small. On the other hand, in recent years, the number of companies participating in the rental business of mobile bodies has increased. As a result, a situation is likely to occur where the user tries to use the user terminal 20 to search for rental points operated by an enterprise of interest from among various rental points operated by various companies. The user terminal 20 has a display 27 with a limited size. The company is, for example, an enterprise that the user likes, and in one example, is an enterprise for which the user has registered as a member. In such a case, the user's need to easily grasp the location information of the rental points of the enterprise of interest may become particularly significant.

[0056] However, in Figure 2In the comparative example of (a), since a plurality of rental points are densely arranged within the area AR, a plurality of icons belonging to the icon set is are also dense. As a result, it is difficult for the user to easily grasp the positions of the rental points of the enterprises in which the user is interested (whether there is a rental point of the enterprise within the area AR) based on these icons.

[0057] The user terminal 20 according to the present embodiment has a configuration for solving the above problems. Hereinafter, this point will be described.

[0058] Figure 3 FIG. is an example of a screen of the HMI device 24 displayed on the user terminal 20 in the present embodiment. Refer to Figure 3 In (a), the difference between this example and the comparative example of Figure 2 (b) is that the screen 150 is displayed on the display 27 instead of the screen 120. The screen 150 includes a representative icon 200 instead of the icon set is.

[0059] The representative icon 200 is displayed as a single icon on the map 102. The representative icon 200 representatively indicates the rental points P1B to P1E, P2C, P2D, and P3B within the area AR instead of the icons 106B to 106E, 107C, 107D, and 108B. The representative icon 200 shows the total number n of rental points within the area AR in its central area (in this example, n = 7).

[0060] The representative icon 200 represents two or more enterprises operating these rental points in a distinguishable form (for this example, the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise) (in other words, shows the details of the operating enterprises of the rental points within the area AR). Specifically, the representative icon 200 includes regions 205, 210, and 215. The region 205 is represented by a first color associated with the first enterprise. The region 210 is represented by a second color associated with the second enterprise. The region 215 is represented by a third color associated with the third enterprise. The regions 205, 210, and 215 are an example of the “two or more regions” of the present disclosure.

[0061] Based on the representative icon 200, the user does not need to visually identify each of the icons 106B to 106E, 107C, 107D, and 108B in Figure 2 (b) one by one to distinguish the enterprises operating the rental points within the area AR, but only needs to visually identify the representative icon 200. As a result, the user can easily grasp the positions of the rental points of the enterprises in which the user is interested (whether there is a rental point of the enterprise within the area AR) based on the representative icon 200.

[0062] In an embodiment, the representative icon 200 includes regions 205, 210, and 215 respectively assigned to the first to third enterprises. Colors associated with the corresponding enterprises are marked in each region. Since the colors can effectively visually prompt the user, the user can particularly easily (intuitively) distinguish and identify the enterprises of the rental points within the operation area AR based on the representative icon 200.

[0063] For each of the regions 205, 210, and 215, the larger the total number of rental points operated by the enterprise associated with the color representing the region within the area AR, the larger the area of the region. For example, within the area AR, the first enterprise operates 4 rental points P1B to P1E, the second enterprise operates 2 rental points P2C and P2D, and the third enterprise operates 1 rental point P3B. Thus, among the regions 205, 210, and 215, the area of region 205 is the largest, the area of region 210 is the second largest, and the area of region 215 is the smallest.

[0064] With such a structure, each of the operating enterprises of the rental points within the area AR is distinguished on the representative icon 200 according to the total number of rental points operated by the enterprise within the area AR. Specifically, each operating enterprise is displayed in such a way that the larger the above-mentioned total number, the larger the region assigned to the enterprise. Thereby, it is possible to enable the user to easily identify how many rental points are set by each enterprise within the area AR, and in particular, it is possible to enable the user to easily identify the enterprise with the largest above-mentioned total number (hereinafter, also referred to as the "maximum enterprise"). In this example, the maximum enterprise is the first enterprise.

[0065] The size (area) of the representative icon 200 may also be determined according to the total number n of all the rental points within the area AR. In this example, the representative icon 200 has a size n (= 7) times that of other icons such as the icon 106A (hereinafter, also referred to as the "normal icon"). With such a structure, the more rental points there are within the area AR, the larger the representative icon 200, so that it is possible to more easily enable the user to identify the information related to these rental points. In addition, the total number n of all the rental points within the area AR is equivalent to the number obtained by summing up the total number of rental points operated by each operating enterprise within the area AR for each operating enterprise.

[0066] Refer to Figure 3 of (b). The difference between this example and the example of (a) of Figure 3 is that instead of the screen 150, the screen 160 is displayed on the display 27. The representative icon 200a is included in the screen 160 instead of the representative icon 200.

[0067] The representative icon 200a is different from the representative icon 200 in that it has the same size as the normal icon. In other respects, the representative icon 200a is the same as the representative icon 200 (for example, the regions 205a to 205c of the representative icon 200a are respectively assigned to the first to third enterprises).

[0068] By adopting such a structure, it is possible to avoid the situation where other objects (indicating facilities such as stores) near the representative icon 200a on the map 102 of the display 27 with a limited size are covered and hidden by the representative icon 200a. In addition, it enables the user to easily identify the respective operating enterprises of the rental points within the area AR.

[0069] Figure 4 It is a flowchart exemplifying the processing executed in the present embodiment. This flowchart starts when the above-described retrieval operation is performed on the HMI device 24. In addition, this flowchart starts when the current position of the user changes, when the user performs a screen operation (clicking, zooming out, zooming in, etc.), or when a predetermined period has elapsed. Hereinafter, the steps will be abbreviated as "S". The control device 28 executes the following S105, S120, S130, and S135 by executing a program stored in its memory.

[0070] Refer to Figure 4 The control device 28 of the user terminal 20 controls the communication device 22 to send a request signal for requesting rental point information to the server 10 (S105).

[0071] The server 10 responds to the request signal, determines the target area to determine the rental points and their operating enterprises within the area (S210). The server 10 generates the above-described target area information and rental point information according to the result of S210 and sends them to the user terminal 20 (S215).

[0072] The control device 28 of the user terminal 20 determines whether there is a rental point dense area within the target area in response to the reception of the target area information and the rental point information (S120). The control device 28 virtually divides the target area into a plurality of areas each having a predetermined shape and area on the map, for example. Moreover, the control device 28 determines whether there is a situation where a predetermined amount or more of rental points are concentrated in at least one of these areas according to the target area information and the rental point information.

[0073] When there is a rental point dense area (Yes in S120), the control device 28 controls the display 27 to display the representative icon representing a plurality of rental points within the area together with other normal icons on the map 102 (S130). In Figure 3In the example of (a), the control device 28 controls the display 27 so as to display the representative icon 200 together with the icons 106A, 107A, 107B, and 108A on the map 102.

[0074] When there is no area with a high density of rental points (No in S120), the control device 28 controls the display 27 so as to display an icon group composed of normal icons (for example, Figure 2 the icon group gr in (a) of ) on the map 102 (S135). After S130 and S135, the process moves to return.

[0075] As described above, according to the embodiment, when there is an area with a high density of rental points, the representative icon is displayed on the map 102. Thus, the user can easily grasp the positions of the rental points of the enterprises of their interest based on the representative icon.

[0076] Modification Example 1 of the Embodiment

[0077] The representative icon only needs to distinctively represent the operating enterprises of the rental points within the area with a high density of rental points, and may also be different from the representative icon 200 or 200a ( Figure 3 ).

[0078] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the representative icon in this Modification Example 1. Referring to Figure 5 , the representative icon 300 includes circles C1, C2, and C3, and is used instead of the representative icon 200 or 200a. These circles are arranged concentrically. Circle C1 is arranged innermost among circles C1 to C3. Circle C2 is arranged between C1 and C3. Circle C3 corresponds to the outer periphery (outline) of the representative icon 300.

[0079] The representative icon 300 includes regions 305, 310, and 315. Region 305 is displayed as the central region of the representative icon 300 surrounded by circle C1, and is the same as region 205 ( Figure 3 ), and is represented by the first color associated with the first enterprise. Region 310 is arranged between circles C1 and C2, and is the same as region 210, and is represented by the second color associated with the second enterprise. Region 315 is arranged between circles C2 and C3, and is the same as region 215, and is represented by the third color associated with the third enterprise.

[0080] In this example, each enterprise is distinguished on the representative icon 300 according to the total number of rental points operated by the enterprise in the area AR. Specifically, the larger the above total number, the larger the region allocated to the enterprise. In this example, in the order of the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise, the above total number decreases from more to less, so region 305 is the largest, region 310 is the second largest, and region 315 is the third largest.

[0081] Region 305 is disposed at the center of the representative icon 300, and thus can be considered to be more easily and intuitively recognized by the user as compared with regions 310 and 315. Accordingly, the central region (region 305) of the representative icon 300 is used to represent the first company, which is the company with the largest number of locations in the regional AR. As a result, the user can particularly intuitively recognize the company with the largest number of locations.

[0082] In this example, the color representing region 305 is the corporate color of the company with the largest number of locations (the first company), and region 305 includes the logo (e.g., "T") of the company.

[0083] The corporate color and logo of the company can more effectively make the user associate with the company. With the above-described configuration, when the user visually recognizes the representative icon 300, the user will visually recognize both the corporate color and the logo of the first company, which is the company with the largest number of locations. As a result, the user can reliably identify that the company with the largest number of locations is the first company. As a result, when the company of interest is the first company, the user can reliably grasp the location of the rental points of the company within the regional AR.

[0084] In this example, among regions 305, 310, and 315, only region 305 includes the logo of the company. Accordingly, as compared with an example in which regions 310 and 315 also include the logos of the second company and the third company, respectively, the information related to the company is reduced. As a result, it is easier for the user to identify that the first company is the company with the largest number of locations.

[0085] Modification Example 2 of the Embodiment

[0086] In this modification example, another example of the representative icon will be described. Figure 6 This is a diagram for explaining various representative icons in this modification example 2.

[0087] Refer to Figure 6 In the diagram (a), the representative icon 400 is different from the representative icons 200, 200a, and 300 in that it is represented by a pie chart. However, similar to these representative icons, the operating companies of the rental points within the regional AR can be represented in a distinguishable manner. The representative icon 400 includes regions 405, 410, and 415.

[0088] Region 405 is represented by a first color associated with the first company and includes the logo ("T") of the first company. Region 410 is represented by a second color associated with the second company and includes the logo ("U") of the second company. Region 415 is represented by a third color associated with the third company and includes the logo ("V") of the third company.

[0089] In the representative icon 400, the area of each region is related to the ratio of the total number of rental points operated by the enterprises representing that region within the rental point-intensive area to the total number n of rental points within that region. For example, the more the total number (ratio) of such enterprises, the larger the area of the region allocated to that enterprise. In this example, the above-mentioned areas decrease in the order of regions 405, 410, and 415.

[0090] Refer to Figure 6 In the diagram of (b) in reference, the representative icon 450 is different from the representative icon 400 in that it is not represented by colors (it is monochromatic). However, similar to the representative icon 400, it can also represent the operating enterprises of the rental points within the region AR in a distinguishable form. The representative icon 450 includes regions 455, 460, and 465. Regions 455, 460, and 465 respectively include the logos of the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise. In the representative icon 450, the more the above-mentioned total number (ratio) of enterprises, the larger the area of the region allocated to that enterprise. In addition, it is not necessary that the larger the total number, the larger the area of the representative icon. As will be described below, it can also be configured to be arranged in the order from the largest to the smallest of the above-mentioned total number.

[0091] Refer to Figure 6 In the diagram of (c) in reference, the representative icon 500 is different from the representative icons 200, 200a, 300, 400, and 450 in that it is not circular (in this example, it is a polygon). However, similar to these representative icons, it can also represent the operating enterprises of the rental points within the region AR in a distinguishable form.

[0092] The representative icon 500 includes regions 505, 510, and 515. Region 505 is represented by the first color and contains the logo of the first enterprise. Region 410 is represented by the second color and contains the logo of the second enterprise. Region 415 is represented by the third color and contains the logo of the third enterprise. In this example, the areas of the three regions are the same.

[0093] Regions 505, 510, and 515 are respectively configured to be arranged in the order from the largest to the smallest of the total number of rental points operated by the enterprises representing that region within the rental point-intensive area. In this example, in the order of the first enterprise, the second enterprise, and the third enterprise, the above-mentioned total number decreases from more to less. Therefore, regions 505, 510, and 515 are arranged one above the other. In addition, these regions can also be arranged horizontally for display. For example, regions 505, 510, and 515 can also be arranged in sequence from left (or right).

[0094] Refer to Figure 6In the diagram of (d), the representative icon 550 differs from the representative icon 500 in that it is not color-coded (it is monochrome). However, like the representative icon 500, it can also represent the operating companies of rental points in the area AR in a distinguishable form. The representative icon 550 includes regions 555, 560, and 565. The regions 555, 560, and 565 represent the logos of the first company, the second company, and the third company respectively. These regions are configured to be arranged in descending order according to the above total, similar to the example in the diagram of (c) of Figure 6 .

[0095] The representative icons 400, 450, 500, and 550 can be used to replace the representative icons 200, 200a, or 300 respectively. Based on the representative icons 400, 450, 500, and 550, similar to the representative icons 200, 200a, and 300, users can easily identify the details of the operating companies of rental points in the area AR. Therefore, users can easily grasp whether there are rental points of the companies they are interested in in the area AR.

[0096] Other variations

[0097] In the above-described embodiments and variations 1 and 2, the mobile object used in the rental business of the mobile object is a bicycle, but it can also be an electric scooter, a two-wheeled motorcycle, or a vehicle. In this case, the rental points operated by the company correspond to the spaces for renting / returning the above mobile objects. For example, when the above mobile object is a vehicle, the parking lot for renting / returning corresponds to the "rental point".

[0098] All aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative and not restrictive of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not defined by the above description, but rather by the claims, which are intended to cover meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within their scope.

Claims

1. A map display device, wherein: The map display device includes a display configured to display, on a map, a plurality of icons each indicating a location of a plurality of rental points operated for a rental business of a mobile body, The plurality of rental points are respectively operated by any one of a plurality of enterprises implementing the rental business. the display displays the plurality of icons in a manner that distinguishes each of the plurality of icons according to a business that operates a rental point at a location represented by the icon, When two or more rental points among the plurality of rental points are set up in the same area, the display displays a single representative icon representatively representing the two or more rental points on the map instead of the two or more icons among the plurality of icons respectively representing the two or more rental points, The representative icons represent two or more companies operating the two or more rental points in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from each other.

2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein: The two or more enterprises are associated with the two or more colors respectively. The representative icon includes two or more areas represented by the two or more colors respectively.

3. The map display device according to claim 2, wherein: For each of the two or more regions, the greater the total number of rental points operated by enterprises associated with the color representing the region within the region, the larger the area of ​​the region, or the two or more regions are configured to be arranged in order from most to least according to the total number.

4. The map display device according to claim 3, wherein: For each of the two or more regions, the greater the total number is, the larger the area of ​​the region is. The representative icon includes two or more circles arranged in a concentric circle shape, The area represented by the color associated with the largest number of rental points operated in the area among the two or more enterprises is the central area of ​​the representative icon surrounded by the innermost circle among the two or more circles.

5. The map display device according to claim 4, wherein: Indicates that the color of the central area is the corporate color of the largest company, The central area contains the logos of the largest number of enterprises.

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