Method for providing indoor map search service and apparatus for implementing the same

Abstract

To provide a method that enables easy and intuitive searching of various types of facility information, such as amenities and public facilities, within an indoor map.SOLUTION: The method for providing an indoor map search service according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of rendering and displaying, on a map screen, a base map and an indoor map corresponding to a point of interest on the base map; and displaying, in the region of the map screen, a facility information search UI that enables searching for facility information included in the indoor map.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for providing an indoor map search service and a device for implementing the same, and more particularly to a method for providing an indoor map search service that enables facility information included in an indoor map to be easily and intuitively searched for, while preferentially displaying search results for points and facilities included in the indoor map, and a device for implementing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, lifestyle changes have been occurring, with an increasing number of people visiting large shopping malls, with the emergence of the term "mall living area," which refers to a place where restaurants, cafes, shopping, and cultural activities can all be found in one place. Large shopping malls, which make up such mall living areas, are spacious buildings or structures with multiple floors. Because the building structures are complex, customers looking for large shopping malls need to easily view interior maps of such malls.

[0003] Here, there are attempts to display an indoor map for a specific building or structure while still using a map from an already provided map application (hereinafter referred to as a "background map" for ease of explanation).

[0004] Indoor maps include various facilities such as public facilities like toilets, elevators, stairs, escalators, and medical facilities, as well as convenience facilities like information desks and stroller rental stations. However, there is a problem in that it is difficult for users to easily identify the desired facility from among these facilities on the indoor map.

[0005] Here, when providing indoor maps, it is necessary to simplify searches for various facility information and improve the user experience. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method that allows easy and intuitive searching of various types of facility information, such as convenience facilities and public facilities, within an indoor map.

[0007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method that enables a user to preferentially display search results for points and facilities included in an indoor map when performing a search.

[0008] However, the problem to be solved by the present disclosure is not limited to those mentioned above, and may include objectives that are not mentioned but can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Specific means for achieving the object of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0010] A method for providing an indoor map search service according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of displaying a background map and an indoor map for a point of interest on the background map on a map screen, and displaying a facility information search UI in an area of ​​the map screen that enables searching for facility information included in the indoor map.

[0011] The above-described method may further include, when receiving a user selection on the facility information search UI, displaying a facility type selection UI from which one or more facility types can be selected.

[0012] In the above-mentioned method, displaying the facility type selection UI may include at least one of displaying the facility type selection UI in an expanded form of the facility information search UI, displaying the facility information search UI in place of a conventional UI displayed on the map screen, and displaying the facility information search UI in a certain area of ​​the map screen.

[0013] In the above-described method, when a user selection for the facility information search UI is additionally received while the facility type selection UI is displayed, the facility type selection UI can be removed.

[0014] In the above-described method, the facility type selection UI can be displayed in a scrollable manner.

[0015] In the above-described method, the one or more facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI may include at least one of a restroom, an elevator, an escalator, stairs, an escalator, a medical facility, an information desk, and a stroller rental station.

[0016] The above-described method may further include a step of displaying identifiers at the locations of one or more facilities in the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type in response to a user selection of any one of the facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI.

[0017] In the above-described method, if there are multiple facilities in the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type, any one of the multiple identifiers corresponding to each of the multiple facilities may be displayed in a manner that is distinguishable from the remaining identifiers.

[0018] In the above-described method, the one identifier displayed to be distinguished from the remaining identifiers may correspond to the facility closest to the user's current location.

[0019] The above method may further include a step of displaying detailed information about a facility corresponding to one of the identifiers in an area of ​​a map screen.

[0020] In the above-described method, the map screen may include a floor level display UI for displaying floor information of the indoor map, and the facility information search UI may be displayed adjacent to the floor level display UI.

[0021] In the above-described method, the map screen may include a search window and a plurality of category selection buttons below the search window, and the plurality of category selection buttons may include the facility information search UI.

[0022] In the above-described method, some of the category selection buttons may be changed to facility type buttons and displayed in response to a selection on the facility information search UI.

[0023] An apparatus for providing an indoor map search service according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can operate to display a background map and an indoor map for a point of interest on the background map on a map screen, and to display a facility information search UI in one area of ​​the map screen, which enables searching for facility information included in the indoor map.

[0024] A computer-readable recording medium including computer-executable instructions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can perform an indoor map search service providing method, in which the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, to display a background map and an indoor map for a point of interest on the background map on a map screen, and to display a facility information search UI in one area of ​​the map screen, which enables a search for facility information included in the indoor map.

[0025] A method for searching for points in an indoor map according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of sending a search request, and if an indoor map is displayed on a map screen displayed on a user terminal, sending identification information for the indoor map, and receiving search results corresponding to the search request (the search results include first search results for one or more points in the indoor map).

[0026] The above method may further include displaying the search results on a screen of the user terminal, and the first search result may be displayed to be distinguished from the remaining search results.

[0027] In the above-described method, displaying the first search results in a manner that distinguishes them from the remaining search results may include displaying a predetermined number of the first search results above the remaining search results.

[0028] In the method described above, displaying the first search result in a distinctive manner compared to the remaining search results includes displaying the first search result on the entire screen of the user terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] The method for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure allows users to easily search for various types of facility information, such as convenience facilities and public facilities, within an indoor map.

[0030] The indoor map search service providing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can improve the user experience by preferentially displaying search results for points and facilities included in an indoor map when a user performs a search.

[0031] However, the effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and additional effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the description below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters shown in such drawings.

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart for schematically illustrating a method for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3]1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 4A] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 4B] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 8A] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 8B] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure through a map screen. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for searching facility information within an indoor map according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 10 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a method for displaying search results in a map application according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a method for displaying search results in a map application according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The various embodiments described herein are provided for the purpose of clearly explaining the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments. The technical idea of ​​the present disclosure includes various modifications, equivalents, alternatives, and embodiments obtained by combining all or part of the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments presented below or the specific description thereof.

[0035] Terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs, unless defined otherwise.

[0036] As used herein, terms such as "include," "can include," "comprise," "can comprise," "have," "can have," and the like, mean the presence of a subject feature (e.g., a function, an operation, or a component) and do not exclude the presence of other additional features. That is, such terms should be understood as open-ended terms that include the possibility of including a second embodiment.

[0037] In this specification, the singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, the plural expression includes the singular expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Throughout the specification, when any part includes any element, it does not mean that other elements are excluded, but that other elements may also be included, unless otherwise specified.

[0038] Furthermore, the terms "module" or "module" used in this specification refer to a software or hardware component, and the "module" or "module" may perform either function. However, the meaning of "module" or "module" is not limited to software or hardware. A "module" or "module" may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium, or may be configured to execute one or more processors. Thus, as an example, a "module" or "module" may refer to a component such as a software component, an object-oriented software component, a class component, and a task component, as well as a process, a function, an attribute, a procedure, a subroutine, a segment of program code, It may include at least one of a driver, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, database, data structure, table, array, or variable. The components and "modules" or "units" may refer to functions provided therein that may be combined into fewer components and "modules" or "units" or further separated into additional components and "modules" or "units."

[0039] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a "module" or a "unit" may be implemented with a processor and memory. A "processor" should be broadly interpreted to include a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine, etc. In some environments, a "processor" may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. A "processor" may also refer to a combination of processing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such combination. Additionally, a "memory" should be broadly interpreted to include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. "Memory" refers to various types of processor-readable media such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage devices, registers, etc. Memory is said to be in electronic communication with a processor if the processor can read information from and / or store information in the memory. Memory that is integrated into a processor is in electronic communication with the processor.

[0040] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated in the context, the terms "first," "second," "initial," "second," and the like are used to distinguish one object from another when referring to multiple similar objects, and do not limit the order or importance of those objects.

[0041] As used herein, phrases such as "A, B, and C," "A, B, or C," "A, B, and / or C," or "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and / or C," "at least one selected of A, B, and C," "at least one selected of A, B, and / or C," and the like refer to each listed item or all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, "at least one selected of A and B" refers to all of: (1) A, (2) at least one of A, (3) B, (4) at least one of B, (5) at least one of A and at least one of B, (6) at least one of A and B, (7) at least one of B and A, and (8) A and B.

[0042] As used herein, the phrase "based on" is used to describe one or more factors that influence the decision, act of judgment, or behavior described in the phrase or sentence in which it appears, and does not exclude additional factors that influence the decision, act of judgment, or behavior.

[0043] As used herein, the expression that a component (e.g., a first component) is "connected" or "coupled" to another component (e.g., a second component) means that the component is not only directly connected or coupled to the other component, but also that the component is connected or coupled via a new component (e.g., a third component). Taste.

[0044] As used herein, the expression "configured to" may mean "set to," "capable of," "modified to," "made to," "capable of," or similar, depending on the context. This expression is not limited to the meaning of "specially designed in terms of hardware." For example, a processor configured to perform a specific operation refers to a generic-purpose processor that can perform that specific operation by executing software.

[0045] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings and the description of the drawings, identical or substantially equivalent components may be assigned the same reference numerals. In addition, in the following description of various embodiments, duplicated descriptions of identical or corresponding components may be omitted, but this does not mean that the components are not included in the embodiments.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] 1 , a system 1 for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a server 100 for providing map information, and a user terminal UE200 which is a device for displaying the map information on a user interface of a map application based on the map information provided by the server 100. When a user's search request is input via the user terminal 200, the search request is transmitted to the server 100, and the server 100 can obtain search results corresponding to the search request from a map database DB120 and provide the search results to the user terminal 200.

[0048] In one embodiment, the server 100 includes a communication module 105 for transmitting and receiving various data including map information and search requests to and from the user terminal 200, a map service providing module 110 for obtaining map information from a map DB 120 and providing the map information to the user terminal 200, a search engine 115 for performing a search on the map DB 120 in response to a search request received from the user terminal 200 to obtain search results, and the map DB 120 that stores map information. The server 100 may be a general-purpose server that provides various services in addition to providing map services including an indoor map search service, but for convenience of explanation, the present disclosure will mainly describe the provision of map services.

[0049] In one embodiment, the map DB 120 includes a background map DB 121 that stores background map information and an indoor map DB 123 that stores indoor map information. Here, the map information in the embodiment according to the present disclosure is a concept that encompasses background map information and indoor map information including facility information.

[0050] The background map information includes a background map displayed on the user interface of a map application executed on the user terminal 200 and a plurality of first points of interest (Points of Interest) on the background map. The first points of interest include points of interest (POIs). Here, the background map displays buildings, roads, various facilities, etc. in lines or figures. Alternatively, depending on user settings, the background map may display buildings, roads, various facilities, etc. in three dimensions or in satellite photos, but is not limited thereto. The first points of interest may be pre-designated points or may include points affiliated through various contracts or promotions. The first points of interest include not only position (coordinate) information of the points of interest on the background map, but also detailed information about the first points of interest. Here, the user can select the first points of interest via the map screen of the user terminal 200. Upon selecting an indicator (eg, a marker) associated with any one of the points of interest, detailed information about the selected first point of interest may be provided, such as in the form of a point panel.

[0051] The indoor map information includes an indoor map provided and displayed for at least some of the first points of interest displayed on the background map, and a plurality of second points of interest (POIs) for the first points of interest for which the indoor map is displayed. Here, indoor maps are not provided for all of the first points of interest, but may be provided for some of the first points of interest for which indoor maps are available, such as for points of interest that are larger than a certain size or that are pre-designated because of affiliation with the server (or an entity managing the server). For example, first points of interest for which indoor maps are provided include, but are not limited to, buildings or structures including multi-level or multi-storey shopping malls, marts, airports, underground shopping arcades, etc. Furthermore, if the first point of interest is a shopping complex, the indoor map of the first point of interest may include multiple shopping arcades, restaurants, convenience facilities, etc. within the shopping complex as multiple second points of interest. In this way, the first point of interest may be a large building or structure in which multiple second points of interest are located, and in some cases, the first point of interest and the second point of interest may represent the same location. The first and second points of interest may each be displayed using an indicator (eg, a marker) or icon at a corresponding location on the map.

[0052] In one embodiment, the indoor map DB 123 includes facility information 125. The facility information 125 includes information on public facilities such as toilets, elevators, stairs, escalators, medical facilities, etc., and convenience facilities such as information desks and stroller rental stations, among the points on the indoor map, but specific examples of the facility information 125 are not limited. Such facility information 125 may be stored by dividing it into floors for each indoor map (i.e., point of interest having an indoor map).

[0053] Meanwhile, although FIG. 1 shows that the map DB 120 is included in the server 100, a separate external server that builds at least one of the background map DB 121 and the indoor map DB 123 may be provided, and at least a portion of the map DB may be stored in such an external server and then provided to the server 100.

[0054] In one embodiment, the map service providing module 110 obtains map information to be provided to the user terminal 200 from the map DB 120 in response to a request from the user terminal 200. As an example, the map service providing module 110 receives a request generated and transmitted by the user terminal 200 via the communication module 105 in response to a user operation (e.g., input such as panning, zooming in, or zooming out of the map, or searching for a location) made by the user on the user interface of a map application running on the user terminal 200, and the map service providing module 110 can provide, via the communication module 105, map information corresponding to a map screen displayed on the user interface of the map application in response to such a request from the user terminal 200.

[0055] In one embodiment, the map service providing module 110 includes a search engine 115. The search engine 115 generates search results by searching the map DB 120 in response to a search request received from the user terminal 200. However, the search engine 115 may be implemented as a module separate from the map service providing module 110, and is not limited thereto.

[0056] In one embodiment, when a search request received by the search engine 115 from the user terminal 200 is a user selection on a facility information search UI (User Interface) on a map screen, the search results include coordinate information and a list of one or more facilities on the indoor map of the corresponding floor. The facility information search UI, which will be described in detail later, is a button that allows you to easily search for facility information on the indoor map displayed on the map screen.

[0057] In another embodiment, if the search request received by the search engine 115 from the user terminal 200 is a search term input by the user via a search window displayed on a map screen, the search results include a list of points corresponding to the search term, but if an indoor map is displayed on the map screen of the user terminal, the corresponding list of points includes a first list of points for points within the indoor map. Here, the first list of points for points within the indoor map may have a higher priority than other list of points within the search results.

[0058] Although not shown, the server 100 may include a processor and a memory, and the memory may store computer-readable instructions for implementing various functions of the server 100. The processor executes such computer-readable instructions to implement various modules such as the map service providing module 110 and the search engine 115 shown in Fig. 1. Meanwhile, the memory may include a map DB or may be configured separately from the map DB, but this is not a limitation.

[0059] The user terminal 200 refers to any type of entity having a communication module 205, which is a mechanism for communicating with the server 100. For example, the user terminal 200 may include a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a wearable device, etc., and includes all types of terminals that can connect to a wired / wireless network. The user terminal 200 may also include any computing device implemented by at least one of an agent, an application programming interface (API), and a plug-in. The user terminal 200 may also include an application source and / or a client application.

[0060] In one embodiment, the user terminal 200 includes a communication module 205, an input module 210, and a display module 215. The user terminal 200 may include a processor and a memory, and the memory may store computer-readable instructions for implementing various functions of the user terminal 200. The processor may implement various modules, including the communication module 205, the input module 210, and the display module 215, by executing the computer-readable instructions.

[0061] The communication module 205 can be communicatively connected to the communication module 105 of the server 100 via a network (not shown). The network refers to a connection structure that allows information exchange between nodes such as a plurality of user terminals and servers. For example, the network can include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet (WWW), a wired and wireless data communication network, a telephone network, a wired and wireless television communication network, a controller area network (CAN), and an Ethernet. Wireless data communication networks include, but are not limited to, 3G, 4G, 5G, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project: registered trademark), 5GPP (5th Generation Partnership Project), LTE (Long Term Evolution), WIMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), Wi-Fi, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), PAN (Personal Area Network), RF (Radio Frequency), Bluetooth (registered trademark) network, NFC (Near-Field Communication) network, satellite broadcasting network, analog broadcasting network, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) network, etc.

[0062] The input module 210 is an interface for receiving user input, and includes a touch screen, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, an image sensor, and the like.

[0063] The display module 215 is a module for processing the map information and search results received from the server 100 and displaying the map screen and search results on the user interface of the map application executed on the user terminal 200 .

[0064] FIG. 2 is a flowchart for schematically illustrating a method for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] 2 , in a method for providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, first, in step S10, a background map 230 is displayed on a map screen by the user terminal 200. Here, a plurality of first points of interest POIs are displayed on the background map 230 on the map screen. The user terminal 200 receives background map information including the background map 230 and the plurality of first points of interest POIs from the server 100.

[0066] In step S20, in response to receiving the user's input, the user terminal 200 displays an indoor map 280 for the specific first point of interest on the map screen. The indoor map 280 includes floor polygon information that displays the structure of the specific floor of the first point of interest 240, which is the display target of the indoor map, in graphics or lines. Here, a plurality of second points of interest (POIs) are displayed on the indoor map (i.e., the floor polygon information). Information about the indoor map 280 is acquired by the user terminal 200 requesting and receiving information about the indoor map 280 from the server 100 in response to receiving the user's input. Here, the user's input (i.e., operation on the map screen) may be an input or a combination of inputs that enlarges the scale level of the map screen to a pre-specified first level or higher and causes the specific first point of interest, for which the indoor map can be displayed, to be within a viewpoint (or field of view) of the map screen.

[0067] In one embodiment, the information about the indoor map 280 may include facility information 125. The facility information 125 may include information about public facilities such as restrooms, elevators, stairs, escalators, and medical facilities, and convenience facilities such as information desks and stroller rental stations, i.e., location (coordinate) information and detailed information, among the points on the indoor map.

[0068] In step S30, a facility information search UI that allows easy search for facility information within the displayed indoor map is displayed in one area of ​​the map screen. As a non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the facility information search UI 252 may be displayed on the left side of the indoor map adjacent to the zoom button 250 and the floor level display UI 275. As another example, the facility information search UI may be displayed below the search window.

[0069] In step S40, in response to a user selection on the facility information search UI, one or more A facility type selection UI that allows a user to select a facility type is displayed. As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, in response to a user selection on the facility information search UI 252, a facility type selection UI 252a may be displayed in an expanded form of the facility information search UI. As another example, in response to a user selection on the facility information search UI, the facility type selection UI may be displayed in a pop-up form, some buttons already displayed on the map screen may be changed to buttons that constitute the facility type selection UI, or the facility type selection UI may be additionally displayed in a partial area of ​​the map screen.

[0070] Here, the one or more facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI may be types related to public facilities and convenience facilities including at least one of toilets, elevators, escalators, stairs, escalators, medical facilities, information desks, and stroller rental stations.

[0071] On the other hand, if a user selection for the facility information search UI is additionally received while the facility type selection UI is displayed, the facility type selection UI is removed.

[0072] In step S50, in response to a user selection of one of the facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI, identifiers are displayed at the positions of one or more facilities on the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type. As an example, as shown in Fig. 6, in response to a user selection of one of the facility types (e.g., an escalator) displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a, identifiers 292a and 292b may be displayed at the positions of the facilities corresponding to the selected facility type.

[0073] In one embodiment, when there are multiple facilities in the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type, among the multiple identifiers corresponding to each of the multiple facilities, a default or user-selected identifier may be displayed in a different, distinct form compared to the remaining identifiers. For example, without limitation, when the selected facility type is an escalator, an identifier for a main escalator located in the center of the building (i.e., a default identifier) ​​or an identifier for an escalator selected by the user may be displayed in a relatively distinct size compared to the remaining identifiers.

[0074] In one embodiment, detailed information about a facility corresponding to a default or user-selected identifier (e.g., reference numeral 293 shown in FIG. 6) may be displayed in an area of ​​the map screen. Such detailed information about the facility may be included in facility information 125 included in the indoor map information received from the server 100.

[0075] According to an embodiment of the method for providing an indoor map search service of the present disclosure, a facility information search UI is displayed in one area of ​​a map screen, thereby enabling facility information such as convenience facilities or public facilities in an indoor map to be easily searched for by type without having to enter a separate search term, thereby enabling a search for facility information in an indoor map to be performed easily and intuitively, thereby improving the user experience.

[0076] 3 to 9 are exemplary diagrams for explaining a process of providing an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure via a map screen.

[0077] Hereinafter, an indoor map search service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9 via a map screen of a map application executed on a user terminal.

[0078] First, referring to FIG. 3, when a user executes a map application through a user terminal 200, a map screen may be provided for a default location, the user's current location, or a location the user previously viewed through the map application. A background map 230 is displayed on the map screen, and a plurality of first points of interest 235 are displayed on the background map 230. The first points of interest 235 may include, for example, stores, restaurants, hair salons, residential buildings, and public buildings such as subways.

[0079] 3, when the scale level of the map screen is equal to or higher than a predetermined level and one or more first points of interest 240 for which an indoor map can be displayed are present within the viewpoint (or field of view) of the map screen, area information 245 (e.g., a polygonal form such as a rectangle) for the one or more first points of interest 240 for which an indoor map can be displayed is displayed. Such area information 245 may be included in the indoor map information received from the server 100. By displaying the area information 245, the user can easily identify the first points of interest 240 for which an indoor map can be displayed.

[0080] In addition, a zoom-in / zoom-out button 250 is provided at the bottom left of the map screen, allowing the user to zoom in or out on the map screen. The user can zoom in or out on the map screen using touch input 255, such as pinching two fingers apart or together, without using the zoom-in / zoom-out button 250.

[0081] In addition, a shortcut button tray 260 including a plurality of shortcut buttons for accessing functions such as home, public transportation, navigation, user information, etc. or setting screens may be provided at the bottom of the map screen. Also, a scale display bar 253 may be displayed at the bottom right of the map screen.

[0082] Meanwhile, the upper section of the map screen includes a search window 270 for searching for a location or point, and a road search button 272 for accessing a road search service that provides a route guidance function to a desired point may be provided on the right side of the search window 270. A lower section of the search window 270 may include category selection buttons 265 indicating location categories such as restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, accommodations, and arboretums. When a specific category button, for example, the restaurant category button, is selected, points of interest corresponding to the restaurant category are displayed on the map screen. The map screen also includes a button 266 that allows a 3D distance view of the selected point to be displayed, and a map settings button 267 that allows settings for the view of the map to be configured.

[0083] 4A , when a user zooms in on the map screen shown in FIG. 3 via the zoom in / out button 250 or touch input 255, etc., and the scale level of the map screen reaches a pre-specified first level or higher, an indoor map 280 (i.e., floor polygon information) for a specific floor of one first point of interest within the viewpoint for which an indoor map can be displayed may be displayed. Also, one or more second points of interest 290 may be displayed on the indoor map 280. The second points of interest 290 displayed on the indoor map 280 may be located within the indoor map 280.

[0084] In one embodiment, facility information regarding public facilities 290a such as restrooms, elevators, stairs, escalators, medical facilities, etc., and convenience facilities 290b such as information desks, stroller rental stations, etc., may be set to be displayed always or with priority compared to the second points of interest.

[0085] In one embodiment, facility information including information on public facilities 290a and convenience facilities 290b may be set to be initially transmitted and received at once for all floors of the building or structure to be displayed on the indoor map, rather than being transmitted and received every time the indoor map on the map screen is updated or the floor selected by the user using the floor level selection unit is changed.

[0086] In one embodiment, when an indoor map 280 is displayed on a map screen, a zoom in / out button 250, a floor level display UI 275, and a facility information search UI 252 may be displayed adjacent to each other in one area (e.g., the left side) of the map screen. In the example of Fig. 4A, the zoom in / out button 250 is displayed on a speed button tray 260 in the lower left section of the map screen, with the floor level display UI 275 displayed thereon and the facility information search UI 252 displayed thereon, but this is not limiting.

[0087] In one embodiment, when an indoor map 280 is displayed on a map screen, a floor level display UI 275 of the building or structure for which the indoor map 280 is displayed may be displayed in one area of ​​the map screen (e.g., the lower left side). Here, the floor level display UI 275 may not only highlight (e.g., circle) the floor for which the indoor map (floor polygon information) is displayed, but may also center the floor level display UI 275. For example, in the example of FIG. 4A , an indoor map of one floor is displayed, and the first floor for which the indoor map is displayed is highlighted in the center of the floor level display UI 275, which is displayed in the lower left side of the map screen. The user can change the floor of the indoor map by scrolling the floor level display UI 275 or touching / clicking on a specific floor.

[0088] In one embodiment, a facility information search UI 252 may be displayed in one area of ​​the map screen, for example, on the left side of the map screen, adjacent to the zoom in / out buttons and the floor level display UI. The facility information search UI 252 is a button that allows a user to easily search for facility information on an indoor map displayed on the map screen. Through the facility information search UI 252, a user can easily search for facility information, such as convenience facilities or public facilities, on the indoor map without having to enter a separate search term.

[0089] 4B , access to the indoor map 280 (i.e., triggering the display of the indoor map 280) can be triggered not only by zooming in on the area of ​​the map screen where the indoor map is located, but also by receiving a user search request (e.g., input of a search term) through the search window 270. The search request can also be triggered when the search request is for a point of interest located within a specific indoor map. For example, in the example of FIG. 4B , if a user inputs the store name “VANS” into the search window 270 and selects the VANS Pangyo Hyundai Department Store from the search list provided as the search result for the search request, the indoor map 280 in which the point of interest (i.e., the VANS Pangyo Hyundai Department Store) is located is displayed. In this case, the indoor map 280 in which the second point of interest corresponding to the search request is located and an indicator 291 indicating the location of the point of interest on the indoor map 280 are displayed, and a facility information search UI 252 that allows easy search of facility information for the corresponding indoor map 280 can be displayed in one area of ​​the map screen.

[0090] 4B, a point panel 251 that allows detailed information about a selected second point of interest to be viewed may be provided on the map screen. The point panel 251 may be expanded, for example, by scrolling, and when expanded, more detailed information about the point may be displayed. The point panel 251 may also include a route search button 272a, which, when selected, may provide guidance on a route to the selected second point of interest using a route search service of the map application.

[0091] 5, in response to a user selection on the facility information search UI 252, a facility type selection UI 252a that allows selection of one or more facility types may be displayed in an expanded form of the facility information search UI 252. That is, when the facility information search UI 252 is displayed above the floor level selection section 275, the facility type selection UI 252a may be displayed in the facility information search UI 252. 52 may be displayed as being extended upward.

[0092] In one embodiment, when the facility type selection UI 252a is displayed in an expanded form in the facility information search UI 252, the facility type selection UI 252a is removed if the user selects the facility information search UI 252 again. In other words, the display / removal of the facility type selection UI 252a is repeated every time the user selects the facility information search UI 252.

[0093] In another embodiment, the facility type selection UI may be displayed in the form of a pop-up window in response to a user selection of the facility information search UI 252, and the pop-up window may be removed when the user selects a specific facility type. Alternatively, some buttons already displayed on the map screen may be changed to buttons constituting the facility type selection UI, or the facility type selection UI may be additionally displayed in some area (empty space) of the map screen.

[0094] In one embodiment, the one or more facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a may be types for public facilities and convenience facilities, including at least one of a restroom, an elevator, an escalator, stairs, an escalator, a medical facility, an information desk, and a stroller rental station, but are not limited thereto, and various facility types may be displayed depending on the settings. For example, various facility types, such as a popular facility that is only available in a specific location (e.g., a promotional location for a specific brand that is not officially available in Korea), can be displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a to make it easy for the user to search.

[0095] In one embodiment, the facility type selection UI 252a is displayed in a scrollable manner, for example, when the user receives a touch input that scrolls the facility type selection UI 252a from top to bottom or bottom to top. Here, multiple facility types may be displayed even in a limited area. That is, in the example of FIG. 5, escalators, elevators, and restrooms are displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a, but other facilities may be displayed as selectable by the user's scrolling input.

[0096] 6, in response to a user selection of any one of the facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a, identifiers 292a and 292b can be displayed at the locations of one or more facilities corresponding to the selected facility type 252a′ in the indoor map 280. In the example of FIG. 6, in response to a user selection of an escalator 252a′ from among the facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI 252a, it can be seen that the escalator 252a′ facility type is highlighted and, at the same time, identifiers 292a and 292b are displayed at the locations corresponding to the escalator.

[0097] In one embodiment, if there are multiple facilities in the indoor map 280 corresponding to the selected facility type 252a', a default or user-selected identifier 292a among the multiple identifiers corresponding to the multiple facilities may be displayed in a different, distinct form compared to the remaining identifiers 292b. In the example of Figure 6, if the selected facility type 252a' is an escalator, the identifier 292a for the main escalator located in the center of the building (i.e., the default identifier) ​​or the identifier 292a for the user-selected escalator may be displayed in a size that is relatively distinct compared to the remaining identifiers 292b. However, the display form of the identifiers is not limited to this and can be modified in various ways.

[0098] In one embodiment, detailed facility information 293 corresponding to the identifier 292a, which is set by default or selected by the user, may be displayed in an area of ​​the map screen. The detailed information 293 may include specific explanations of the facility, such as "escalator up / down."

[0099] 7, one of the facilities of the selected facility type 252a' may be selected based on the user's current location 295, and the identifier 292a of the selected facility may be displayed to be distinguished from the remaining identifiers 292b, while detailed information 293 for the selected facility may be displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when a user selection of a current location button 254 located in the lower right corner of the map screen is received, the user's current location 295 may be displayed on the map screen, and the identifier 292a of the facility closest to the current location 295 may be highlighted and displayed.

[0100] 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating a method for displaying a facility information search UI according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0101] 8A, category selection buttons 265 indicating location-related categories such as restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, accommodations, and arboretums are provided at the bottom of search window 270. According to one embodiment, one of the category selection buttons 265 may be configured as a facility information selection button 265a. That is, compared to facility information selection button 252 described with reference to FIG. 4A, facility information selection button 265a shown in FIG. 8A differs in that it is provided as one of the category selection buttons. Meanwhile, facility information selection button 265a is displayed only when an indoor map is provided on the map screen currently being viewed by the user, but is not limited thereto.

[0102] 8B, when facility information selection button 265a is selected from category selection buttons 265 in FIG. 8A, category selection button 265 may be changed to one or more facility type buttons 265b indicating facility types. That is, one or more facility type buttons 265b may be buttons indicating facility types such as elevator, toilet, escalator, etc. Alternatively, one or more facility type buttons 265b constituting the facility type selection UI may be displayed in one area of ​​the map screen.

[0103] In this way, the user experience can be improved by allowing the user to easily select facility information by utilizing the category selection buttons 265 below the search window 270 without utilizing additional spatial areas on the map screen.

[0104] Next, referring to FIG. 9 , when a user moves the map screen of FIG. 8A or 8B so that the indoor map moves off-center on the map screen, or when the map screen is reduced via the zoom button 250 or touch input 255, etc., to a scale level below the first level, the display of the indoor map is terminated. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 , when the indoor map moves off-center on the map screen, even if the scale level of the map screen is above the first level, only area information 245 of the indoor map may be displayed instead of the indoor map. Furthermore, the multiple second points of interest 290 on the indoor map may be rendered and displayed as points of interest for the entire building, rather than points of interest for each floor, after conflict processing. In another embodiment, when the indoor map moves off-center on the map screen, only background map information, i.e., the background map and multiple first points of interest, may be displayed, and the indoor map information may not be displayed.

[0105] On the other hand, according to one embodiment, if a user alternates between displaying and not displaying an indoor map through operation of the map screen, the floor of the indoor map last displayed is set to be displayed again the next time the indoor map is displayed.

[0106] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a facility information search method within an indoor map according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0107] 10 , in a method for searching for a location within an indoor map according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, first, in step S110, the server 100 receives a search request transmitted by the user terminal 200. The user terminal 200 may transmit the search request to the server 100. Such a search request includes a search term input by the user terminal 200 via a search window on the map screen.

[0108] In step S120, according to an embodiment, if an indoor map is displayed on the map screen, the user terminal 200 transmits identification information for the indoor map together with the search request or separately. Here, the server 100 may receive the identification information for the indoor map.

[0109] In step S130, the server 100 obtains search results corresponding to the search term. Here, in one embodiment, the search results corresponding to the search term may include a first search result for points in the indoor map, and the first search result is distinguished from the remaining search results by assigning a different identifier or the like. The points in the indoor map may include facilities such as toilets, elevators, and escalators, as well as points of interest such as stores and restaurants. The search results may be obtained by the search engine 115 (or the map service providing module 110) searching the map DB 120 of the server 100.

[0110] In step S140, the server 100 transmits the search results, including the first search results for the indoor map, to the user terminal 200, and the user terminal 200 receives the search results.

[0111] In step S150, the user terminal 200 displays the search results on the screen. Here, the first search result for a point in the indoor map may be displayed preferentially or distinctly from the remaining search results.

[0112] 11 and 12 are exemplary diagrams illustrating a method for displaying search results in a map application according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0113] 11, among the overall search results, a predetermined number (e.g., three) of first search results 273a for the indoor map may be displayed at the top along with an explanation 273b indicating that the points are within the indoor map. When a "See more" button is selected by the user, the first search results 273a are expanded to display more than the predetermined number. Furthermore, among the overall search results, the remaining search results 273b other than the first search results 273a for the indoor map may be displayed in a list below the first search results 273a.

[0114] In the example of Figure 11, as search results for the search term (search request) "elevator," the first search result 273a for the elevator in the currently displayed Itabashi Hyundai Department Store is displayed at the top, and the remaining search results 273b are displayed below that.

[0115] 12, a first search result 274b for an indoor map among the overall search results may be displayed on the entire screen together with a description 273b indicating that the location is within the indoor map. When a user selects an overall search result display button 273c, the overall search result may be displayed on the entire screen instead of the first search result 274b.

[0116] In the example of FIG. 12, it can be seen that the first search result 274b, which is a search result related to the search term (search request) "toilet" and is related to the currently displayed toilet in the Itabashi Hyundai Department Store, is displayed on the entire screen. When the user selects the "Toilet Entire Search Result Display" button, which is the entire search result display button 273c, the first search result 274b is displayed on the entire screen. Alternatively, the entire search results may be displayed on the entire screen.

[0117] As described above, according to the embodiment, by displaying the first search result and the remaining search results for the indoor map in a distinguishable manner or by displaying the first search result preferentially, the user can easily identify points on the indoor map, which has the advantage of improving the user experience.

[0118] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the server 100 may determine whether the search term is related to a facility (e.g., a public facility, a convenience facility, etc.), and may display the first search result for the indoor map separately from the remaining search results only if it is determined that the search term is related to a facility. When a user inputs a search term related to a facility while viewing an indoor map, the possibility that the user is searching for a facility in the indoor map is relatively high, and therefore, the user experience in this case may be improved.

[0119] It is apparent that each step or operation of the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by a computer including one or more processors by executing a computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0120] The computer-executable instructions stored in the recording medium can be implemented as a computer program programmed to perform the corresponding steps. Such a computer program can be stored in the computer-readable recording medium and executed by a processor. The computer-readable recording medium may be a non-transitory readable medium. Here, the non-transitory readable medium refers to a medium that stores data semi-permanently and can be read by a device, rather than a medium that stores data for a short period of time, such as a register, cache, or memory. Specifically, the programs for executing the various methods described above may be stored and provided in a non-transitory readable medium, such as a semiconductor memory device, such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory device; a magnetic disk, such as an internal hard disk or a removable disk; an optical-magnetic disk; and a non-volatile memory, including a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disk.

[0121] The methods according to various examples disclosed herein may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a storage medium such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store server, or an intermediary server.

[0122] As described above, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can understand that the present disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be understood to be illustrative in all respects and not limiting. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims below rather than the detailed description, and all modifications and variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0123] The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive, and many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the drawings, specification, and claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language used herein has been chosen primarily for ease of reading and for instructional purposes, and not to delineate or limit the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0124] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to limit or exhaust the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

[0125] Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by this detailed description, but rather by any claims of an application based thereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 1: Indoor map search service provision system 100: Server 105: Communication module 110: Map service providing module 115: Search Engine 120: Map database 121: Background map database 123: Indoor map database 125: Facility Information 200: User equipment (UE) 205: Communication module 210: Input module 215: Display module

Claims

1. A method for providing an indoor map search service, comprising: displaying a background map and an indoor map for points of interest on the background map on a map screen; displaying a facility information search UI in one area of ​​the map screen, which enables a user to search for facility information included in the indoor map; A method for providing an indoor map search service, including:

2. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a facility type selection UI from which one or more facility types can be selected when a user selection is received from the facility information search UI.

3. Displaying the facility type selection UI includes: Displaying the facility type selection UI in an expanded form of the facility information search UI; Displaying the facility information search UI instead of the conventional UI displayed on the map screen; Displaying the facility information search UI in one area of ​​the map screen; The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 2 , further comprising at least one of the following steps:

4. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 3 , wherein when a user selection for the facility information search UI is additionally received while the facility type selection UI is displayed, the facility type selection UI is removed.

5. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 2 , wherein the facility type selection UI is displayed in a scrollable manner.

6. 3. The indoor map search service providing method of claim 2, wherein the one or more facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI include at least one of a restroom, an elevator, an escalator, stairs, an escalator, a medical facility, an information desk, and a stroller rental station.

7. 3. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 2, further comprising: in response to a user selection of one of the facility types displayed in the facility type selection UI, displaying identifiers at positions of one or more facilities on the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type.

8. 8. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 7, wherein, when there are a plurality of facilities in the indoor map corresponding to the selected facility type, one of a plurality of identifiers corresponding to each of the plurality of facilities is displayed in a manner that is distinguishable from the remaining identifiers.

9. The indoor map search service providing method of claim 8 , wherein the one identifier displayed to be distinguished from the remaining identifiers corresponds to a facility closest to a user's current location.

10. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of displaying detailed information about a facility corresponding to one of the identifiers in an area of ​​a map screen.

11. the map screen includes a floor level display UI for displaying floor information of the indoor map, 10. The facility information search UI according to claim 1, wherein the facility information search UI is displayed adjacent to the floor level display UI. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 1.

12. the map screen includes a search window and a plurality of category selection buttons below the search window; The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of category selection buttons include the facility information search UI.

13. The indoor map search service providing method according to claim 12 , wherein in response to a selection on the facility information search UI, some of the plurality of category selection buttons are changed to facility type buttons and displayed.

14. An apparatus for providing an indoor map search service, The device comprises: Displaying a background map and an indoor map for a point of interest on the background map on a map screen; An indoor map search service providing device that operates to display, in one area of ​​the map screen, a facility information search UI that enables a search for facility information included in the indoor map.

15. A computer-readable recording medium containing computer-executable instructions, The computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, an operation of displaying a background map and an indoor map for a point of interest on the background map on a map screen; an operation of displaying a facility information search UI in one area of ​​the map screen, which enables a user to search for facility information included in the indoor map; A computer-readable recording medium for performing an indoor map search service providing method including:

16. A method for searching for a point in an indoor map, comprising: sending a search request; transmitting identification information for an indoor map when the indoor map is displayed on a map screen displayed on the user terminal; receiving search results corresponding to the search request, the search results including first search results for one or more points within the indoor map; A method for searching for a location in an indoor map, including:

17. The method comprises: The method further includes a step of displaying the search results on a screen of the user terminal; The method of claim 16 , wherein the first search result is displayed in a manner that distinguishes it from the remaining search results.

18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the first search results in a manner that distinguishes them from the remaining search results comprises displaying a predetermined number of the first search results above the remaining search results.

19. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the first search result in a manner that distinguishes it from the remaining search results comprises displaying the first search result on the entire screen of the user terminal.

Images