Database generating method, map database device, and distribution server

Abstract

To provide various map services related to a shopping district.SOLUTION: In a database generating method, a processor executes: a determination step for determining roads that satisfy predetermined conditions as shopping district roads, by referring to a map database 30 including road data 31 that is data of individual roads constituting a road network, and including feature data 32 that is data of features containing at least buildings; a shopping district road registration step for extracting the shopping district roads determined by the determination step, from the map database 30, and for storing data indicating the extracted roads as shopping district road data showing shopping district roads, in a shopping district database 40; and a shopping district feature registration step for extracting features adjacent to the extracted shopping district roads by referring to the map database 30, and for storing data indicating the extracted features as shopping district feature data 43 showing shopping district features included in a shopping district, in association with positional relationships between the shopping district roads and the shopping district features, in the shopping district database 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a database generation method, a map database device, and a distribution server. [Background technology]

[0002] Navigation systems can provide a variety of map services, such as route searches to destinations, navigation to specific locations, and place name searches for specific locations (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-056584 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Shopping districts have unique characteristics that distinguish them from other places, such as the high volume of foot traffic. However, the above-mentioned map services have not yet performed route searches that focus on shopping districts.

[0005] The present invention has been made in light of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a database generation method, a map database device, and a distribution server that can provide various map services related to shopping streets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a database generation method according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: A database generation method for generating shopping mall data used to provide a service that meets a user request, comprising: The processor: a determining step of determining that a road that satisfies predetermined conditions is a shopping street road by referring to a map database having road data, which is data on individual roads that make up the road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings; a shopping street road registration step of extracting the shopping street road determined in the determination step from the map database and storing data indicating the extracted road in the shopping street database as shopping street road data indicating the shopping street road; A shopping street feature registration step is executed in which, by referring to the map database, features adjacent to the extracted shopping street road are extracted, and data indicating the extracted features is stored in the shopping street database as shopping street feature data indicating shopping street features included in the shopping street, with the positional relationship between the shopping street road and the shopping street feature associated with each other.

[0007] A map database device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: A map database device for use in a shopping mall data output system that has road data, which is data on individual roads that make up a road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings, and outputs data on shopping malls that meet user requests, comprising: The map database device storing data indicating an area satisfying a predetermined condition extracted from the map database as shopping mall area data indicating a shopping mall area; storing data indicating roads included in the shopping mall area in a shopping mall database as shopping mall road data indicating shopping mall roads; storing data indicating features adjacent to the shopping street road as shopping street feature data indicating shopping street features included in the shopping street in association with the shopping street road; When the shopping mall data output system receives an input of a user request, it is used for processing to output shopping mall feature data that matches the user request and shopping mall road data associated with the shopping mall feature data.

[0008] A distribution server according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: A distribution server that distributes data of shopping malls that match user requests, a map database having road data, which is data on individual roads that make up a road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings; a shopping street database having shopping street road data indicating roads included in a shopping street area, which is an area that satisfies a predetermined condition, and shopping street feature data indicating shopping street features that are adjacent to the shopping street roads and associated with the shopping street road data; an input unit that accepts input of a user request regarding data on the shopping mall; a search unit that searches the shopping mall database to extract the shopping mall feature data that matches the user request and the shopping mall road data associated with the shopping mall feature; an output unit that outputs the shopping street feature data extracted by the search unit and the shopping street road data associated with the shopping street feature data; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide various map services relating to shopping streets. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a shopping mall database. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shopping mall indicated by shopping mall data. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of large-scale shopping mall data. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a polygon of a shopping street. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a polygon of a shopping street. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of a polygon of a shopping street. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a polygon of a shopping street. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the service providing system of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of a shopping mall data generation process in the service providing system of FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a shopping mall data providing process in the service providing system of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following embodiments, the terms "have," "include," or "contain" also mean "consist of" or "consist of."

[0012] <Service provision system> As shown in FIG. 1, a service providing system 1 according to this embodiment includes a map database device 2, a shopping mall data output system 3, and an information input device 4. The map database device 2 and the shopping mall data output system 3 form a distribution server 10. The map database device 2 is a database of map data used to provide various map-related services. The shopping mall data output system 3 is an interface for providing information registered in the map database device 2 to various services. The information input device 4 is an information processing device for updating the contents of the map database device 2. A shopping mall refers to an area where shops are concentrated or a street where shops are lined up, regardless of its size.

[0013] <Map database device> A more detailed description will be given of the map database device 2. As shown in FIG.

[0014] The map database 30 is a database in which road information is registered and for providing the road information. The map database 30 includes road data 31, feature data 32, and link data 33.

[0015] The road data 31 is data on individual roads that make up a road network. As shown in Fig. 2, the road data 31 includes a set of a road ID (IDentification) 31a, which is identification information for each road, position data 31b, and connection information.

[0016] The connection information is information about roads that connect to the road. The connection information includes an entry road ID 31c, which is identification information for the entry road, and an exit road ID 31d, which is identification information for the exit road. The road data 31 is registered in the map database 30 for each road.

[0017] 3 shows, for example, roads R1, R2, R3, and R4. Road data 31 is provided for the roads R1 to R4, and the IDs of the corresponding roads R1 to R4 are registered in the entry road ID 31c and exit road ID 31d of the road data 31 for each road R1 to R4. In addition, the road data 31 also includes lane data for each lane that makes up the road.

[0018] Returning to Fig. 1, the feature data 32 is data on features. Features include at least buildings. As shown in Fig. 2, the feature data 32 includes a set of feature ID 32a, which is identification information of the feature, name data 32b, which is information indicating the name of the feature, use data 32c, which indicates the use of the feature, position data 32d, and shape data 32e, registered for each feature.

[0019] If the building is for commercial use, data indicating that it is for commercial use is set in the usage data 32c. At least one representative position of the feature (for example, the position of an entrance / exit) is set in the position data 32d. Information indicating the shape of the bottom surface of the feature, i.e., its footprint, is set in the shape data 32e. The position data 32d and the shape data 32e may be integrated as information on a sequence of multiple points representing the shape of the feature.

[0020] For example, in the map shown in Fig. 3, features B1 to B7 and B11 to B16 exist around roads R1 to R4. Feature data 32 is registered for each of the features B1 to B7 and B11 to B16, for example.

[0021] Roads and features adjacent to the roads are registered in association with each other in the link data 33. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the link data 33 is composed of a pair of a road ID 31a and a feature ID 32a. Using the link data 33 makes it possible to identify features adjacent to roads.

[0022] <Shopping District Database> Returning to FIG. 1, the shopping street database 40 includes shopping street area data 41, shopping street road data 42, and shopping street feature data 43. The shopping street area data 41 is data indicating the area of ​​the shopping street. The shopping street road data 42 is data indicating shopping street roads, which are roads included in the area of ​​the shopping street. The shopping street feature data 43 is data indicating shopping street features, which are features included in the shopping street.

[0023] <Shopping district area data> 2, the shopping mall area data 41 is data relating to the entire area of ​​the shopping mall. The shopping mall area data 41 includes a shopping mall ID 41a, a shopping mall name 41b, location data 41c, shape data 41d, a road ID 41e, a feature ID 41f, link data 41g, and entrance / exit data 41h.

[0024] The shopping mall ID 41a is identification information unique to the shopping mall. The shopping mall name 41b is name data indicating the name of the shopping mall. The location data 41c is information indicating the location of the shopping mall area. The shape data 41d is data indicating the outline shape of the shopping mall area on a map.

[0025] Road ID41e is the road ID of a road included in the shopping district. Feature ID41f is the feature ID of a feature included in the shopping district. For example, in the shopping district area data 41 of the first shopping district M1 shown in FIG. 3, the road IDs of roads R1, R2, and R3 are registered as road ID41e, and the feature IDs of features B1 to B7 are registered as feature ID41f. In the shopping district area data 41 of the second shopping district M2, the road IDs of roads R2, R3, and R4 are registered as road ID41e, and the feature IDs of features B11 to B16 are registered as feature ID41f.

[0026] The link data 41g indicates the connection relationship between the roads included in the shopping district and the features included in the shopping district. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the link data 41g stores the road ID of road R1 and the feature ID of feature B1 in association with each other. By referring to the link data 41g, it is possible to identify features adjacent to the roads.

[0027] The entrance / exit data 41h is data indicating the location of the entrance / exit of the shopping mall. The location of the entrance / exit is a location at the end of the shopping mall area and included in the shopping mall road. In addition, the entrance / exit data 41h of the first shopping mall M1 is registered with location information of the entrances G1, G2, and G3 shown in FIG. 3, for example, and the entrance / exit data 41h of the second shopping mall M2 is registered with location information of the entrances G2, G3, and G4 shown in FIG. 3, for example.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, road data 31, which is data indicating roads included in a shopping street, is registered in the shopping street road data 42. Feature data 32, which is data indicating features included in a shopping street, is registered in the shopping street feature data 43. For example, road data 31 of road R1 included in first shopping street M1 is registered in the shopping street road data 42, and feature data 32 of feature B1 included in first shopping street M1 is registered in the shopping street feature data 43. Furthermore, as mentioned above, road ID 41e of road R1 and feature ID 41f of feature B1 included in first shopping street M1 are registered in the shopping street area data 41 of first shopping street M1 shown in FIG. 3, and the road ID 41e of road R1 and the feature ID 41f of feature B1 are linked by link data 41g.

[0029] Furthermore, there is also a large-scale shopping district (third shopping district) formed by connecting several shopping districts. In Fig. 3, a large-scale shopping district L1 is formed, including a first shopping district M1 and a second shopping district M2. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, in addition to the shopping district area data 41 corresponding to the first shopping district M1 and the shopping district area data 41 corresponding to the second shopping district M2, information on the large-scale shopping district L1 including the first shopping district M1 and the second shopping district M2 may be registered as large-scale shopping district data 44 in the shopping district database 40.

[0030] 4, the large-scale shopping mall data 44 of the large-scale shopping mall L1 includes a shopping mall ID 44a indicating the identification information of the shopping mall of the large-scale shopping mall L1, a shopping mall name 44b indicating the name of the large-scale shopping mall L1, position data 44c indicating the position of a representative point of the large-scale shopping mall L1, shape data 44d indicating the shape of the large-scale shopping mall L1 on the map, a shopping mall ID 44e which is the identification information of the first shopping mall M1, and a shopping mall ID 44e which is the identification information of the second shopping mall M2. The shape of the large-scale shopping mall L1 on the map is a shape that combines the shape of the first shopping mall M1 on the map and the shape of the second shopping mall M2 on the map.

[0031] When displaying a shopping street on a map, a polygon of the shopping street can be generated and displayed based on the position data 41c and shape data 41d or the position data 44c and shape data 44d. As shown in Fig. 5, the polygon of the shopping street can be expressed as a collection of shapes of each building belonging to the shopping street. When this polygon of the shopping street is viewed on a wide-area map, it is expressed as a point cloud as shown in Fig. 6.

[0032] The polygon of the shopping district may be a combination of polygons of roads included in the shopping district and polygons of features included in the shopping district. FIG. 7 shows polygon P1 of roads included in the shopping district (polygon representing the area of ​​the roads) and polygon P2 of roads included in the shopping district (polygon representing the area of ​​the features). In this case, the position data 41c and shape data 41d, and the position data 44c and shape data 44d may include position and shape data of the roads in addition to the position and shape data of the entire area of ​​the shopping district. The polygon of the shopping district may also be one (polygon P3) that represents the outline of the entire area including the roads included in the shopping district and the features included in the shopping district, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0033] The position data 42c and shape data 42d may be integrated as a sequence of multiple points representing the shape. A polygon of the shopping street can also be generated from the sequence of multiple points representing the shape. In this way, there are no particular limitations on the representation format of the polygon of the shopping street, as long as it is possible to recognize the overall shape of the area or the shapes of individual roads and features.

[0034] <Shopping street data output system> Returning to Figure 1, the shopping mall data output system 3 provides various services to the client system 5, which is a user terminal, based on the information registered in the shopping mall database 40. These services include a search processing service, a route search and guidance service, and a statistical analysis service. The search processing service is a service that provides information about a shopping mall when a shopping mall is searched for. The route search and guidance service is a service that searches for routes around the shopping mall and provides guidance. The statistical analysis service is a service that provides the results of statistical analysis processing related to the shopping mall.

[0035] To provide these services, the shopping mall data output system 3 includes an input unit 11, a search unit 12, an output unit 13, a route search unit 14, an extraction unit 15, a movement history storage unit 16, an analysis unit 17, a determination unit 18, and a registration unit 19, as shown in FIG.

[0036] The input unit 11 receives input of a user request related to shopping mall data from the client system 5 via a communication network. For example, if the request is to search for a shopping mall, the user request includes information about the shopping mall to be searched (e.g., the name of the shopping mall). If the request is for route search or guidance, the user request includes information that the service content is route search or guidance, the departure point, destination, intermediate points, departure time or arrival time, etc. Furthermore, if the request is for statistical analysis, the user request includes information about the shopping mall to be subjected to statistical analysis processing (e.g., the name of the shopping mall) and the content of the statistical analysis processing, etc.

[0037] The search unit 12 searches the shopping street database 40 and extracts data related to the shopping street that matches the user request, i.e., shopping street area data 41, shopping street road data 42 associated with the shopping street area data 41, and shopping street feature data 43 associated with the shopping street road data 42.

[0038] For example, if a user request from a client system 5 received by the input unit 11 is a search for a shopping district, the search unit 12 uses the name of the shopping district included in the request as a key to refer to the shopping district database 40 and extracts shopping district area data 41, shopping district road data 42, and shopping district feature data 43.

[0039] The output unit 13 outputs the shopping street area data 41, the shopping street road data 42 associated with the shopping street area data 41, and the shopping street feature data 43 associated with the shopping street road data 42, which have been extracted by the search unit 12, to the client system 5 via a communication network (not shown). The client system 5 can display the shopping street area data 41, the shopping street road data 42, and the shopping street feature data 43 on a map displayed on the screen of the client system 5, for example, as polygons of the shopping street on the map, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0040] Because shopping streets are busy with people, it is often desirable to provide guidance on routes that avoid shopping streets when determining a route for a car. Therefore, when a request from client system 5 received by input unit 11 includes a route search request, route search unit 14 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination. If the searched route includes a shopping street, route search unit 14 searches for a route that avoids the shopping street.

[0041] When a request from the client system 5 received by the input unit 11 includes a request to search for a route from an arbitrary point to a shopping mall, the extraction unit 15 refers to the shopping mall database 40 to acquire the shopping mall area data 41, extracts the entrance / exit data 41h from the shopping mall area data 41, and sends it to the route search unit 14. The route search unit 14 searches for a route from the arbitrary point to the shopping mall. The route search unit 14 outputs the search result of a route from the arbitrary point including the location of at least one entrance / exit to the output unit 13 as the route search result. The output unit 13 outputs the route search result to the client system 5.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 1, the map database device 2 can store movement history data 50. The movement history storage unit 16 stores the movement history data 50 of mobile objects passing through the entrances and exits of the shopping mall. The analysis unit 17 analyzes the movement history data 50. Specifically, the analysis unit 17 performs statistical analysis processing based on the shopping mall area data 41 extracted from the shopping mall database 40 and the movement history data 50 in the shopping mall area extracted from the movement history storage unit 16, and the output unit 13 outputs the results of the statistical analysis processing to the client system 5.

[0043] For example, surveillance cameras are installed at the entrances and exits of a shopping street. Furthermore, the movement history storage unit 16 can collect video data from the surveillance cameras via a communication network. Movement history data of people (moving objects) captured in the video data is generated, and stored as movement history data 50 in the map database device 2 in association with shopping street area data 41. In response to a request sent from the client system 5 via the input unit 11, the analysis unit 17 performs statistical analysis based on the shopping street area data 41 indicating the shopping street area extracted from the shopping street database 40, the shopping street road data 42, the shopping street feature data, and the movement history data 50 in the shopping street area extracted from the movement history storage unit 16. The results of the statistical analysis include, for example, analysis results on the flow of people in the shopping street. The output unit 13 outputs the results of the statistical analysis to the client system 5. The results of this statistical analysis can be used, for example, to clarify the flow of people entering and exiting the shopping street, which can be used to install signs in effective locations or to improve the sales strategies of each store. Furthermore, the results of such statistical analysis processing on shopping streets can also be used in urban planning.

[0044] The determination unit 18 refers to the map database 30 and determines that a road that satisfies predetermined conditions is a shopping street road. Various conditions can be set as the predetermined conditions. For example, conditions can be generated based on information on a website about the shopping street, measurement videos, or surveys (surveys, measurement results), and such information can be defined as the predetermined conditions. Information input or specified by the information input device 4 can also be used as the predetermined conditions.

[0045] The registration unit 19 extracts the shopping street road determined in the determination step from the map database 30, and stores data indicating the extracted road as shopping street road data 42 indicating the shopping street road in the shopping street database 40. The registration unit 19 refers to the map database 30 to extract features adjacent to the extracted shopping street road, and stores the data indicating the extracted features as shopping street feature data 43 indicating the shopping street features included in the shopping street, associating the positional relationship between the shopping street road and the shopping street feature in the shopping street database 40. Information indicating such positional relationship is link data 41g.

[0046] <Information input device> Returning to Fig. 1, the information input device 4 is a terminal device used by an administrator who manages the map database device 2. The information input device 4 is configured so that operation input can be performed while viewing the image display output. The information input device 4 is used to update the registered contents of the map database device 2.

[0047] <Hardware configuration> The distribution server 10 of the service providing system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is realized, for example, by a computer 20 having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 9 executing a software program. Specifically, the computer 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, which is a processor that controls the entire device, a main memory 22 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external memory 23 configured from a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a hard disk, an operation unit 24 configured from devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display 25 configured from a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal monitor, a communication interface 26 that performs data communication with an external computer, and an internal bus 28 that connects these.

[0048] The program 29 is loaded from the external memory 23 into the main memory 22 and executed by the CPU 21. This realizes the functions of the computer 20. When executing the program 29, the CPU 21 performs data communication with an external computer via the communication interface 26 as necessary. In this embodiment, the program 29 executed by the CPU 21 includes the program of the distribution server 10.

[0049] The functions of the distribution server 10 can be implemented in a computer system consisting of one or more computers, each including one or more processors and one or more storage devices, including non-transitory storage media. The multiple computers each have the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 9 and realize the functions of the distribution server 10 while communicating via an interconnected communication network. For example, some of the functions of the distribution server 10 may be implemented in one computer, and others may be implemented in other computers. A computer realizing the map database device 2, a computer realizing the shopping mall data output system 3, and a computer realizing the information input device 4 may be provided. The functions of the distribution server 10, particularly the map database device 2, may be realized by a cloud computer.

[0050] <Shopping street data generation process> Next, a method for generating a database for generating shopping mall data, which is executed by the distribution server 10 of FIG. 1, that is, a shopping mall data generation process, will be described.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 10, the determination unit 18 of the distribution server 10, in response to an operation input from the information input device 4, refers to a map database 30 having road data 31 and feature data 32, and determines that a road that satisfies predetermined conditions is a shopping street road (step S1; determination step).

[0052] Next, the registration unit 19 extracts road data 31 of the shopping street road determined in the determination step from the map database 30, and stores the extracted road data 31 in the shopping street database 40 as shopping street road data 42 indicating the shopping street road (step S2; shopping street road registration step).

[0053] Next, the registration unit 19 refers to the map database 30 to extract feature data 32 adjacent to the extracted shopping street road, and stores the extracted feature data 32 as shopping street feature data 43 indicating the shopping street features included in the shopping street in the shopping street database 40 in association with the positional relationship between the shopping street road and the shopping street feature (step S3; shopping street feature registration step). The positional relationship between the shopping street road and the shopping street feature is associated by link data 41g, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0054] Next, the distribution server 10 determines whether or not to complete the registration of the shopping mall data (step S4). Here, the determination is made based on whether or not there is a road that satisfies a predetermined condition. If there is a road that satisfies the predetermined condition and the registration is not to be completed (step S4; No), the determination is negative and the distribution server 10 returns to step S1. If there is no road that satisfies the predetermined condition and the registration is to be completed (step S4; Yes), the determination is positive and the distribution server 10 ends the process.

[0055] <Shopping street data provision processing> Next, the process of providing data from the shopping mall database 40, i.e., the process of providing shopping mall data, will be described. As shown in Fig. 11, the input unit 11 waits until it receives a request from the client system 5, including a user request (step S21; No). When the input unit 11 receives a request from the client system 5 (step S21; Yes), the search unit 12, route search unit 14, extraction unit 15, or analysis unit 17 of the distribution server 10 executes the respective processes in response to the request (step S22).

[0056] For example, the search unit 12 searches the shopping street database 40 to extract data related to the shopping street that matches the user request, i.e., shopping street area data 41, shopping street road data 42 associated with the shopping street area data 41, and shopping street feature data 43 associated with the shopping street road data 42. The route search unit 14 also searches for a route from the departure point to the destination. If the searched route includes a shopping street, the route search unit 14 searches for a route that avoids the shopping street. The route search unit 14 can also search for a route from a specified point to the shopping street based on the locations of the entrances and exits of the shopping street extracted by the extraction unit 15. The analysis unit 17 performs statistical analysis processing based on the shopping street area data 41 extracted from the shopping street database 40 and the movement history data 50 in the shopping street area extracted from the movement history storage unit 16.

[0057] The output unit 13 outputs the processing result of step S22 to the client system 5 (step S23). After executing step S23, the distribution server 10 waits again until it receives a request from the client system 5 including a user request (step S21; No).

[0058] <Summary> As explained in detail above, according to the database generation method of this embodiment, road data 31 of roads that satisfy predetermined conditions is extracted from the road data 31 and feature data 32 that constitute the map database 30, and feature data 32 of features adjacent to the roads is extracted. Furthermore, shopping street data is generated based on the extracted road data 31 and feature data 32. In this way, using this shopping street data, map data that is used to provide various map services related to shopping streets can be automatically generated.

[0059] In addition, according to the map database device 2 of this embodiment, when input of a user request from a user is accepted, shopping street feature data 43 that matches the user request and shopping street road data 42 associated with the shopping street feature data 43 are output.

[0060] Furthermore, the distribution server 10 according to this embodiment can provide a client system 5 with a service that meets a user's request by referencing the shopping mall database 40. For example, a client system 5 that requests a shopping mall search can be provided with the shopping mall area data 41, shopping mall road data 42, and shopping mall feature data 43 that are the search targets. A client system 5 that requests a route search can search for a route and provide the search results to the client system 5. A client system 5 that requests a statistical analysis of a shopping mall can be provided with the results of a statistical analysis process.

[0061] The map database device 2 also stores large-scale shopping mall data 44. In this way, it is possible to provide a hierarchical map service relating to a large-scale shopping mall L1 including a first shopping mall M1 and a second shopping mall M2, each of the first shopping malls M1 and second shopping malls M2 included therein, and each of the stores included in the shopping mall.

[0062] The processing related to the shopping district is at least one of a route search process that searches for a route that avoids the shopping district, a guidance process to the shopping district, a search process that searches for the shopping district, and a statistical analysis process that performs an analysis related to the shopping district. In this way, various map services can be provided for each of the compound floors of the shopping district.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the shopping street data generation process generates the shopping street database 40 by combining the roads included in the shopping street and the features adjacent to the roads. However, this is not limited to this. Based on the position data 31b of the road data 31, feature data 32 located within a predetermined range from the position may be extracted, and the extracted feature data 32 may be added as shopping street feature data 43. By adjusting the distance described above, it is possible to change the depth of the features included in the shopping street from the road.

[0064] In the above embodiment, it is determined whether the road data 31 included in the map database 30 is included in the shopping street, and the shopping street road data 42 is generated separately from the road data 31. However, this is not limited to this. A shopping street flag indicating whether the road is in the shopping street or not may be generated, and the shopping street flag may be added to the road data 31, and the added data may be used as shopping street map data. The same applies to features.

[0065] The hardware and software configurations of the distribution server 10 are merely examples and can be changed and modified as desired.

[0066] The core processing portion of computer 20, which is composed of CPU 21, main memory 22, external memory 23, operation unit 24, display 25, communication interface 26, internal bus 28, etc., can be realized by using an ordinary computer system rather than a dedicated system. For example, a computer program for executing the above operations may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium (such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM) and distributed, and the computer program may be installed on a computer to configure distribution server 10 that executes the above processing. Alternatively, distribution server 10 may be configured by storing the computer program in a storage device of a server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and then downloading the program into an ordinary computer system.

[0067] When the functions of distribution server 10 are realized by sharing the functions between an OS (operating system) and an application program, or by cooperation between the OS and the application program, only the application program portion may be stored in a recording medium or storage device.

[0068] It is also possible to superimpose a computer program on a carrier wave and distribute it over a communications network. For example, the computer program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communications network and distributed over the network. The computer program may then be started and executed under the control of an operating system in the same way as any other application program, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed.

[0069] This invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain this invention and do not limit the scope of this invention. That is, the scope of this invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0070] The present invention can be applied to providing a map service relating to a shopping mall. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 Service providing system, 2 Map database device, 3 Shopping street data output system, 4 Information input device, 5 Client system, 10 Distribution server, 11 Input unit, 12 Search unit, 13 Output unit, 14 Route search unit, 15 Extraction unit, 16 Movement history storage unit, 17 Analysis unit, 18 Determination unit, 19 Registration unit, 20 Computer, 21 CPU, 22 Main memory, 23 External memory, 24 Operation unit, 25 Display, 26 Communication interface, 28 Internal bus, 29 Program, 30 Map database, 31 Road data, 31a Road ID, 31b Position data, 31c Entrance road ID, 31d Exit road ID, 32 Feature data, 32a Feature ID, 32b Name data, 32c Use data, 32d Position data, 32e Shape data, 33 Link data, 40 Shopping street database, 41 Shopping street area data, 41a Shopping street ID, 41b Shopping street name, 41c Location data, 41d Shape data, 41e Road ID, 41f Feature ID, 41g Link data, 41h Entrance / exit data, 42 Shopping street road data, 43 Shopping street feature data, 44 Large-scale shopping street data, 44a Shopping street ID, 44b Shopping street name, 44c Location data, 44d Shape data, 44e Shopping street ID, 50 Movement history data, B1-B7, B11-B16 Features, G1-G4 Entrance / exit, M1 First shopping street, M2 Second shopping street, L1 Large-scale shopping street, R1-R4 Road, P, P1, P2, P3 Polygon

Claims

1. A database generation method for generating shopping mall data used to provide a service that meets a user request, comprising: The processor: a determination step of determining a road that satisfies predetermined conditions as a shopping street road by referring to a map database having road data, which is data on individual roads that make up the road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings; a shopping street road registration step of extracting the shopping street road determined in the determination step from the map database and storing data indicating the extracted road in the shopping street database as shopping street road data indicating the shopping street road; a shopping street feature registration step of extracting features adjacent to the extracted shopping street road by referring to the map database, and storing data indicating the extracted features in the shopping street database in association with a positional relationship between the shopping street road and the shopping street feature as shopping street feature data indicating the shopping street features included in the shopping street; How to generate the database.

2. A map database device for use in a shopping mall data output system that has road data, which is data on individual roads that make up a road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings, and outputs data on shopping malls that meet user requests, comprising: The map database device storing data indicating an area satisfying a predetermined condition extracted from the map database as shopping mall area data indicating a shopping mall area; storing data indicating roads included in the shopping mall area in a shopping mall database as shopping mall road data indicating shopping mall roads; storing data indicating features adjacent to the shopping street road as shopping street feature data indicating shopping street features included in the shopping street in association with the shopping street road; The shopping mall data output system is used for processing, when receiving an input of a user request, to output shopping mall feature data that matches the user request and shopping mall road data associated with the shopping mall feature data. Map database device.

3. A distribution server that distributes data of shopping malls that match user requests, a map database having road data, which is data on individual roads that make up a road network, and feature data, which is data on features including at least buildings; a shopping street database having shopping street road data indicating roads included in a shopping street area, which is an area that satisfies a predetermined condition, and shopping street feature data indicating shopping street features that are adjacent to the shopping street roads and associated with the shopping street road data; an input unit that accepts input of a user request regarding data on the shopping mall; a search unit that searches the shopping mall database to extract the shopping mall feature data that matches the user request and the shopping mall road data associated with the shopping mall feature; an output unit that outputs the shopping street feature data extracted by the search unit and the shopping street road data associated with the shopping street feature data; A distribution server comprising:

4. An extraction unit is further provided to extract one or more entrance / exit data indicating the positions of entrances / exits of the shopping mall, The location of the entrance / exit is an end point of the shopping street area and is included in the shopping street road. The distribution server according to claim 3 .

5. a route search unit that searches for a route from a specified point to the shopping mall in response to a request from the input unit; The route search unit outputting, to the output unit, a route from the specified point including the position of at least one of the entrances and exits as a result of the route search; The distribution server according to claim 4.

6. a movement history storage unit that stores movement history data of a moving object passing through an entrance / exit of the shopping mall; an analysis unit that analyzes the movement history data; Furthermore, the analysis unit executes a statistical analysis process based on shopping mall area data indicating the shopping mall area extracted from the shopping mall database and the movement history data in the shopping mall area extracted from the movement history storage unit, and outputs a result of the statistical analysis process to the output unit. The distribution server according to claim 3 .

Images