Map information providing device, map information providing method, map information providing program, and map information output device

Abstract

To provide map information only for an area required by a user exactly, rationally and satisfactorily for the user.SOLUTION: A designated area specifying unit 113 specifies, in consideration of layers, a subdivided area included in a designated area designated by a user. A designated area setting unit 115 records a subdivided area key of the subdivided area specified by the designated area specifying unit 113 in association with an area code on a user-specific area management file 106. A detail map providing unit 116 refers, based on a designated area code and a subdivided area key of a subdivided area corresponding to a map of an area to be displayed, received from a user terminal, to the user-specific area management file 106, and provides detail map information of map information DB 104 only for a subdivided area included in a designated area specified by the area code, out of subdivided areas specified by the subdivided area key from the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, method, and program for providing map information via a network such as the Internet, and an apparatus for receiving and outputting the provided map information. [Background technology]

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1 (described later), information providing devices that provide map information to client PCs (Personal Computers) via the Internet have been known for some time. The information providing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has two types of presentation modes: normal presentation and confirmation presentation. Normal presentation is a mode in which map information over a wide area is provided under conditions such as a fee, while confirmation presentation is a mode in which map information over a narrow area is provided to the person whose map is featured so that they can confirm the featured information. Patent Document 1 explains that charges can be imposed based on the time required for viewing, the amount of data output, etc. It is also common to set fees for each administrative boundary (administrative division) such as prefecture, city, ward, town, village, oaza, or town / district, and provide map information for a fee based on those administrative boundaries. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-99432 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since it is generally difficult for users to keep track of the amount of time spent viewing a map and to grasp the amount of map information data they have received, a method of charging based on the time spent viewing or the amount of data output is difficult for users to understand. Furthermore, if charging based on the time spent viewing or the amount of data output is used, a charge is incurred each time map information is viewed, which may not be reasonable for users. Furthermore, if fees are set per administrative boundary and map information is provided per administrative boundary, users must pay the fee set per administrative boundary even if the administrative boundary (administrative division) contains many areas for which map information is not referenced. In this case, charges are incurred even for map information for areas that are not used, making this charging method unreasonable for users.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide only map information of the area that a user needs, without excess or deficiency, and in a manner that is rational and acceptable to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the map information providing device of the invention described in claim 1 comprises: A map information providing device that provides map information to a map information output device connected via a network, In the same layer, the image is divided into a plurality of divided regions of the same area, but the areas of the divided regions are different between different layers. Identifying general map information that can be provided free of charge and information that can be provided for a fee Map information and a map information storage means for storing the map information; from the map information output device The general information provided free of charge by the map information providing device On the map Specified in a designated area specifying means for specifying the divided areas included in the designated area in consideration of hierarchical levels based on information indicating the outer edge of the designated area and the map information in the map information storage means; a designated area code assigning means for assigning a designated area code, which is identification information, to the designated area and providing the designated area code to the map information output device; a designated area setting means for recording a divided area key, which is identification information of the divided area specified by the designated area specifying means, and the designated area code assigned to the designated area in association with each other in an area management storage means; from the map information output device Included in the map request The designated area code , designated on the general map provided free of charge by the map information providing device The area management storage means is referenced based on the division area key of the division area corresponding to the map of the area to be displayed, and the map information storage means stores only the division areas included in the designated area specified by the designated area code among the division areas specified by the division area key from the map information output device. The aforementioned specific map providing means for providing specific map information; The present invention is characterized by comprising: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, it is possible to provide specific map information only for divided areas that belong to a specified area designated by a user, thereby preventing the provision of specific map information for areas that the user does not need, and providing specific map information in a manner that is reasonable and acceptable to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a map information providing system configured using a map information providing server device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a map information providing server device (map server) according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating quad division of a map. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the scale structure (hierarchical structure) of a quad divided region. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the size of a quad divided region at each scale. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining setting of a designated area through a map. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a process for specifying divided regions of a designated area. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating divided area keys for divided areas of a specified area. [Figure 9] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in a user-specific area management file of the map information providing server device (map server) according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a designated area and a detailed map provision area. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining an area where a detailed map is displayed and an area where a detailed map is not displayed. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a user terminal that is a map information output device. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) start cooperation. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) cooperate to set a designated area. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) cooperate to display a detailed map. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the device, method, and program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] [Example of map information system configuration] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a map information providing system configured using a map information providing server device according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the map information providing system according to this embodiment is configured by interconnecting a map information providing server device (hereinafter referred to as a map server) 1, a PC (Personal Computer) 4, and a mobile terminal 6 via a network 2. The mobile terminal 6 is realized as, for example, a smartphone or a tablet PC.

[0011] The network 2 is primarily the Internet, but also includes a mobile phone network, a telephone network, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and the like that connect the map server 1, network connection devices 3 such as routers, and mobile terminals 6 to the Internet. For this reason, in Fig. 1, the base station 5 is a base station for a mobile phone network or an access point for a wireless LAN.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, PC 4 is connected to network 2 via network connection device 3, such as a router, installed on the user's side. Although Fig. 1 shows a case where network connection device 3, such as a router, and PC 4 are connected by wire, if network connection device 3 is a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) router, network connection device 3 and PC 4 are connected wirelessly. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, mobile terminal 6 is connected to network 2 via base station 5.

[0013] The map server 1 is an embodiment of the map information providing device according to the present invention, and has the function of storing map information and providing map information in response to a map request provided via the network 2 to a requestor via the network 2. The PC 4 and the mobile terminal 6 are user terminals used by users of the map information, and are an embodiment of the map information output device according to the present invention. The PC 4 and the mobile terminal 6 have the function of transmitting a map request to the map server 1 via the network 2, receiving map information provided by the map server 1, displaying and presenting this to the user. In this specification, the term "user" refers to a person who receives and uses map information provided by the map server 1, and is a user of a user terminal.

[0014] A user of a PC 4 or a mobile terminal 6 can register with the map server 1 in advance, set a designated area, and receive a specific map for that designated area, provided that the user is willing to pay. In this embodiment, the specific map is a detailed map including detailed information, such as a residential map. Specifically, a detailed map, such as a residential map, includes detailed information independently collected and organized by the operator of the map server 1, such as the building, tenant, floor number, personal name, and lot number. The designated area is an area that the map server 1 provides to the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 as a general map for specifying the designated area, such as a city map or road map, which is widely available, and the user of the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 freely specifies (sets) on that general map.

[0015] Specifically, the designated area can be specified as the area inside a free-form curve entered freehand on the provided general map, or as a circular area by specifying the radius around the desired location. It can also be specified as an area inside a line connecting adjacent designated locations (points) by specifying multiple locations (points) on the general map. Of course, the designated area can also be specified based on administrative boundaries, as in the past.

[0016] Charges are determined mainly according to the area of ​​the designated area, with location also being taken into consideration in some cases. For example, a detailed map of a downtown area with more detailed information may be more expensive, while a suburban map may be cheaper than a downtown area. Conventionally, detailed maps were provided on an administrative boundary basis, requiring users to pay for detailed maps of areas they did not need. However, in the map information providing system of this embodiment, users of the PC 4 or mobile terminal 6 only need to pay for the provision of detailed maps of the designated area they truly need.

[0017] As described above, in the map information providing system of this embodiment, the map server 1 sets a designated area for each user in response to a request from the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6. The map server 1 provides a detailed map for the designated area set for each user, but does not provide a detailed map for areas outside the designated area. This allows the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 to receive, display, and use a detailed map for the designated area set by the user, while clearly indicating that a detailed map cannot be displayed for areas outside the designated area.

[0018] For simplicity of explanation, FIG. 1 shows only the PC 4 and the mobile terminal 6 as user terminals, but in reality, many user terminals can access the map server 1 via the network 2. User terminals include various terminal devices with communication functions, such as PCs, smartphones, and tablet PCs. Below, we will first explain the details of the map server 1, then provide an overview of user terminals such as the PC 4 and the mobile terminal 6, and then explain the map information utilization process (including the provision process) performed by the map server 1 and the user terminals in cooperation with each other.

[0019] [Map Server 1 Configuration Example] <Connection terminals, communication I / F, control unit, and storage device> 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the map server 1 according to the embodiment. The connection terminal 101T constitutes a connection end to the network 2, and the communication I / F (interface) 101 realizes a communication function via the network 2. That is, the communication I / F 101 receives data sent to the device itself via the network 2, converts the data into data in a format that can be processed by the device itself, and imports the data. The communication I / F 101 also converts data to be sent to a destination into data for transmission and transmits the data to the destination via the network 2.

[0020] The control unit 102 is a microprocessor configured by connecting a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and non-volatile memory, and controls each part of the map server 1. The storage device 103 is an auxiliary storage device consisting of a storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) and its driver, and is capable of writing, reading, changing, and deleting data from the storage medium. The storage device 103 stores and holds various data and programs required for processing, and is also used as a working area for temporarily storing intermediate results obtained in various processes.

[0021] <About the map database> The map DB (Data Base) 104 stores and holds map information for displaying general maps such as city maps, road maps, wide-area maps, local maps, national maps, and detailed maps (residential maps). The map information for displaying city maps, road maps, wide-area maps, local maps, national maps, and detailed maps is so-called drawing data made up of, for example, vector data, raster data, and note (annotation) data for drawing maps. Note that, hereinafter, the terms city maps, road maps, detailed maps, etc. refer to the respective types of map information that are drawing data for displaying maps.

[0022] In this embodiment, the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas of the same area on the same layer, and the areas of the divided areas differ between different layers. In this embodiment, the map information is divided into quads.

[0023] <<Quad division of map information>> FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating quad division of a map. The word "quad" means "four." Quad division of a map is a concept of dividing a map into four regions, and then further dividing each of the resulting regions into four, thereby repeatedly dividing the region into four. As shown in FIG. 3(A), for example, in a map expressed using the Mercator projection, quad division is performed by dividing the map into four equal regions (2×2) along the Greenwich meridian Gm and the equator Eq, which is set to scale 1 (first layer). Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3(B) and 3(C), each time the scale (layer) increases by 1 (the numerical value indicating the scale increases by 1), each divided region is further divided into four equal regions (2×2), thereby further subdividing the map.

[0024] As a result, the quad-divided map is divided into four 2x2 divisions at scale 1 as shown in Figure 3(A), and into 16 4x4 divisions at scale 2 as shown in Figure 3(B).Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(C), the map is divided into 64 8x8 divisions at scale 3.In this way, by dividing the divided areas of each scale into four, the quad-divided map is subdivided in stages (hierarchically) such that the area of ​​the divided areas becomes smaller and the number of divided areas increases as the scale (hierarchy) increases.In this specification, it is assumed that the larger the value indicating the scale, the lower the scale (the scale with more divisions), and the smaller the value indicating the scale, the higher the scale (the scale with fewer divisions).

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the scale structure of a quad divided region. In FIG. 4, the area of ​​the entire map at each scale is shown as being different to clearly show the scale structure. However, as shown in FIG. 3, in reality, the size of the entire map at each scale is the same, and the area of ​​the divided region at each scale becomes smaller as the scale (layer) increases. As described above using FIG. 3 and as shown in FIG. 4(A), the quad-divided scale 1 map is divided into four by the Greenwich meridian Gm and the equator Eq. In this case, "0," "1," "2," and "3" are assigned as divided region keys (quad keys) that serve as identification information for each divided region, in the order of bottom left → bottom right → top left → top right.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the quad-divided scale 2 map is obtained by further dividing each of the four divided areas in scale 1, which have been assigned division area keys "0," "1," "2," and "3," into four. Here, if we focus on the bottom left divided area in scale 1, whose division area key is "0," the scale 2 map is divided into four divided areas whose division area keys are "00," "01," "02," and "03." The divided areas with division area keys "1," "2," and "3" are also similarly divided into four in the scale 2 map, and division area keys are assigned to them.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(C), the quad-divided scale 3 map is one in which each of the 16 divided areas in scale 2 whose divided area keys are "00," "01," "02," "03," and "10" to "33" is divided into four. Therefore, when focusing on the divided area in scale 2 whose divided area key is "13" (the divided area on the right side of the second row from the bottom), the divided area key is divided into four divided areas: "130," "131," "132," and "133." The other divided areas in scale 2 are also divided into four in the scale 3 map, and divided area keys are assigned.

[0028] In this way, the first digit from the right of the division area key indicates the position of the division area among the four divided areas, and the numbers from the second digit from the right indicate the position of the division area on a higher scale. In other words, the division area key of a higher division area can be specified by omitting the lower division area keys. Therefore, it is possible to accurately specify the position on the map of the division area specified by that division area key.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the size of the quad divided area at each scale. In this embodiment, the map information stored in the map information DB 104 of the map server 1 is obtained by subdividing the divided areas in stages into 21 levels from scale 1 to scale 21. In FIG. 5, the column on the right shows the length (meters) of one side of the divided area at each scale. That is, the length of one side of the divided area at scale 1 is 20,037,500 m (meters), or 20,037.5 km (kilometers), and the length of one side of the divided area at scale 21 is 19 m.

[0030] In Figure 5, the left column shows the length of one side of the divided area at each scale using coordinate values. In other words, based on the Mercator projection, the format is such that coordinates are handled as the maximum value of 4 bytes + 1 (4294967295+1) around latitude 85 degrees, which is the maximum value expressed in the Mercator projection, instead of the 4-byte coordinate type. In this case, by handling it as a 4-byte integer, the coordinates will always be divisible when dividing the area based on the concept of scale. Note that the geodetic system is assumed to be the World Geodetic System.

[0031] Therefore, one side of the entire map is 4294967296 coordinates. Therefore, when the length of one side of the divided area at scale 1 is expressed in coordinate values, it is half of 4294967296 coordinates, or 2147483648 coordinates. As the scale increases, the coordinate value indicating the length of one side becomes half of the length of one side of the divided area at the previous scale, so when the length of one side of the divided area at scale 21 is expressed in coordinate values, it becomes 2048 coordinates, as shown in FIG. 5. In this way, the map information accumulated in map information DB 104 is divided into 21 tiers, from scale 1 to scale 21, into quads, and it is possible to identify the position on the map for each divided area at each scale.

[0032] <About user registration files and user area management files> The user registration file 105 of the map server 1 stores various information about users who have registered with the map server 1 via the user terminals 4, 6, etc. Specifically, the user registration file 105 stores information such as a user ID that identifies the user, a password, a user name, an email address, a telephone number, a postal code, an address, and a payment method. The user-specific area management file 106 stores information about the designated area set for each registered user. As will be described in more detail below, the user-specific area management file 106 stores the user ID, an area code that identifies the set designated area, and a divided area key (quad key) that identifies the divided area (quad) that belongs to the designated area.

[0033] <About the authentication processing unit and general map provision unit> The authentication etc. processing unit 111 performs processing to register user information in the user registration file 105 in response to a user registration request from a user terminal such as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6. Furthermore, the authentication etc. processing unit 111 performs authentication processing by referencing the information in the user registration file 105 in response to an authentication request from the user terminal of a registered user. A user who has been authenticated through this authentication processing can use the map information provided by the map server 1 through the user terminal.

[0034] The general map providing unit 112 performs processing to provide a general map for specifying a designated area, such as map information such as a city map or road map provided free of charge, in response to a general map request from the user terminal of a registered and authenticated user. The general map providing unit 112 provides information specifying the area to set the designated area included in the general map request, such as a city map or road map of the area corresponding to the instruction information, such as Minato Ward, Tokyo, or Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

[0035] A user terminal such as a PC 4 or a mobile terminal 6 displays the provided general map on its display, accepts input of instruction information for a designated area, and provides the map server 1 together with the user ID. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining setting of a designated area through a map. In FIG. 6, the map MP is provided to the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 from the map server 1 by the function of the general map providing unit 112 of the map server 1, and is displayed on the display of the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6. The map MP shown in FIG. 6 is a simplified map showing only a river Rv and multiple roads Rd, but in reality, the map will show river names, road names, place names, intersection names, etc.

[0036] The user of the PC 4 or mobile terminal 6 performs an operation to designate a designated area Ar1 on a map displayed on the display unit of the terminal. As described above, the designated area can be designated as an area inside a free-form curve input freehand using a pointing device on a provided general map, or as a circular area by specifying a radius around a desired location. It is also possible to designate an area inside a general map by designating multiple locations (points) and connecting adjacent designated locations (points) with straight lines.

[0037] In this embodiment, the designated area Ar1 indicated on the map MP is assumed to be the area inside a circle drawn freehand using a pointing device. Specifically, in this embodiment, the designated area Ar1 is designated as a circular area with a radius of approximately 3 km and a predetermined location as its center. For simplicity's sake, in FIG. 6, the designated area is assumed to be a circular area with a radius of approximately 3,054 m and a predetermined location as its center. In this case, the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 provides the map server 1 with information indicating the positions of multiple points on the circle that defines the outer edge of the designated area Ar1 on the map MP as designated area identification information. The designated area identification information also includes a user ID and password, making it possible to distinguish which user provided the information.

[0038] In this embodiment, the designated area identification information indicates the positions of each of a plurality of points on a circle that indicates the outer edge of the designated area Ar1, and is transmitted as, for example, a collection of latitude and longitude corresponding to each point as CSV (Comma Separated Value) data to the map server 1. Of course, this is just one example, and it is also possible to provide the map server 1 with the X and Y coordinate values ​​in the coordinate system of the map that is used that correspond to each point as information indicating the positions of each of a plurality of points on a circle that indicates the outer edge of the designated area Ar1.

[0039] Furthermore, if the designated area is not specified freehand but as the area inside a circle drawn by specifying the radius with the target position as the center, the latitude and longitude indicating the center position and the radius may be transmitted to the map server 1 as designated area identification information. In this case, the X and Y coordinate values ​​in the map coordinate system and the radius may also be transmitted to the map server 1 as designated area identification information. In short, it is sufficient to provide the map server 1 with information that can identify the outer edge of the designated area.

[0040] <Regarding the designated area identification unit, area code assignment unit, and user-specific area setting unit> The designated area identification unit 113 performs processing to identify the designated area Ar1 as a collection of divided areas (quad areas) taking into account the scale (hierarchy) based on designated area identification information transmitted from a user terminal such as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the processing to identify the divided areas of the designated area. The designated area identification unit 113 identifies the outer edge of the designated area based on information indicating the outer edge of the designated area included in the designated area identification information from the user terminal. Next, the designated area identification unit 113 identifies the divided areas included inside the outer edge of the designated area while taking into account the scale of the quad division.

[0041] As described above, the map information stored in the map information DB 104 is divided into layers (quad divisions), so if the outer edge of the designated area Ar1 on the map can be identified, the divided areas located inside it can also be identified. As described above, the radius of the circular designated area Ar1 is approximately 3000 m (3 km), so any divided area with a scale of 14 or less and a side length of 2466 m can be located inside the designated area Ar1. In this example, assume that a divided area with a scale of 14 is located in the center of the designated area Ar1, as shown in FIG.

[0042] Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, it can be determined that the divided area of ​​scale 15 is located outside of scale 14, and the divided area of ​​scale 16 is located outside of the divided area of ​​scale 15. Furthermore, the area within designated area Ar1 that is not filled by the divided areas of scales 14 to 16 is filled by the divided area of ​​scale 17, as shown in Fig. 7. In this way, in the example shown in Fig. 7, the entire designated area Ar1 can be determined by the 65 divided areas of scales 14 to 17.

[0043] Next, the designated area identification unit 113 identifies the divided areas belonging to the designated area Ar1, and then identifies the divided area keys (quad keys) of all the identified divided areas. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the divided area keys of the divided areas of the designated area. As described using FIG. 7, the divided areas belonging to the designated area Ar1 can be identified by scale (hierarchy). Furthermore, the map information DB 104 identifies the divided area keys assigned to each divided area by scale. Therefore, the designated area identification unit 113 identifies the divided area keys for each identified divided area belonging to the designated area Ar1, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0044] As explained using Fig. 4, the number of digits in the divided area key increases as the scale value increases, such that the divided area key for the divided area of ​​scale 1 has one digit, the divided area key for the divided area of ​​scale 2 has two digits, and so on. Therefore, the divided area key for the divided area of ​​scale 14 has 14 digits, and the divided area key for the divided area of ​​scale 15 has 15 digits. Therefore, for ease of explanation, in Fig. 8, information represented by letters and numbers 0 to 3, such as A0, B0, C0, ..., is shown as the divided area key assigned to each divided area.

[0045] That is, in Fig. 8, among the divided area keys indicated by alphabets and numbers, the portion indicated by numbers 0 to 3 indicates the position of the divided area in the scale. Also, in Fig. 8, among the divided area keys indicated by alphabets and numbers, the alphabet portion indicates the position of the divided area in a scale with a smaller scale value than the scale in question (higher scale). In this embodiment, to give a specific example of the relationship between higher and lower scales, if the scale in question is "scale 14," the higher scales are "scale 1 to scale 13," and the lower scales are "scale 15 to scale 21."

[0046] In this embodiment, the area code assigning unit 114 functions after the designated area identifying unit 113 identifies multiple divided areas belonging to the designated area and the divided area keys of those divided areas. The area code assigning unit 114 assigns an area code to the designated area whose divided areas have been identified. This area code is identification information for uniquely identifying the designated area in which all divided areas belonging to the designated area identified in accordance with designated area identification information from a user terminal such as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 have been identified.

[0047] The per-user area setting unit 115 generates per-user area management data based on the processing results of the designated area identification unit 113 and the area code assignment unit 114, and records this in the per-user area management file 106. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of data (per-user area management data) stored in the per-user area management file described above in the map server 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the per-user area setting unit 115 generates per-user area management data consisting of a user ID, password, area code, and divided area key, and records this in the per-user area management file 106.

[0048] 9, the user ID and password are added to the designated area identification information from the user terminal such as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6, and the area code is assigned by the area code assignment unit 114. Furthermore, the divided area key is assigned to the divided area identified by the designated area identification unit 113 that belongs to the designated area. In other words, the user-specific area management data in FIG. 9 indicates that the designated area with the area code "AR0001" specified by the user with the user ID "123456" is made up of divided areas identified by the following divided area key.

[0049] 7 and 8, the designated area Ar1 includes divided area A0 of scale 14, divided areas B0 to E3 of scale 15, and divided areas of scale 16 whose divided area keys are F0 to Q3. Furthermore, the designated area Ar1 includes divided areas of scale 17 whose divided area keys are R1 to γ3. In this way, the divided areas that make up the designated area Ar1 can be grasped.

[0050] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, some of the divided areas of scale 16 and scale 17 extend beyond the outer edges of the specified designated area Ar1. These areas can be specified by further subdivided divided areas. However, the designated area Ar1 is an area that provides a detailed map, and applying further subdivided divided areas to it may make the map difficult to see. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the designated area Ar1 is specified by four levels of divided areas from scale 14 to scale 17, with an appropriate amount of margin.

[0051] <About the Detailed Map Provider> The detailed map providing unit 116 refers to the data in the user-specific area management file 106 in response to a detailed map request from a user terminal such as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6, and performs processing to provide a detailed map in response to the detailed map request from the registered user. In this embodiment, the detailed map request from the user terminal includes a user ID, password, area code, and divided area key. Therefore, the detailed map providing unit 116 identifies the user-specific area management data registered in the user-specific area management file 106 based on the user ID, password, and area code included in the detailed map request from the user terminal.

[0052] Next, the detailed map providing unit 116 refers to the identified user-specific area management data based on the divided area key included in the detailed map provision request from the user terminal, and determines whether the divided area identified by the divided area key is a divided area within the contract range (designated area) for which a detailed map should be provided. If, based on the determination result, the divided area identified by the divided area key from the user terminal is a divided area within the contract range (designated area) for which a detailed map should be provided, the detailed map providing unit 116 provides a detailed map for that divided area to the requesting user terminal.

[0053] Furthermore, based on the determination result, the detailed map providing unit 116 determines that the divided area specified by the divided area key from the user terminal is a divided area outside the contract range (outside the specified area) for which a detailed map should be provided. In this case, the detailed map providing unit 116 returns an error code "402" to the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) response status for that divided area. As a result, the user terminal that made the detailed map request displays a detailed map for the divided area within the contract range, and displays a message indicating that a detailed map cannot be displayed for the divided area outside the contract range.

[0054] [Example of a detailed map provided by map server 1] Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the designated area and the detailed map provision area. The designated area Ar1 specified by the user of the map information, who is a user of the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6, is a circular area as shown in Fig. 10. In contrast, the area (detailed map provision area) ArX specified by the divided regions belonging to the designated area Ar1 has a portion that extends beyond the outer edge of the circular designated area Ar1. This detailed map provision area ArX is the detailed map provision area for which a detailed map is actually provided, specified in accordance with the designated area Ar1.

[0055] This allows the area for which a detailed map is provided to have the minimum necessary margin, preventing the detailed map from becoming unnecessarily difficult to see at the outer edge of the designated area Ar1, and also prevents the provider of the detailed map from unnecessarily harming his or her own interests by providing the detailed map.

[0056] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an area where a detailed map is displayed and an area where a detailed map is not displayed. Specifically, FIG. 11(A) shows only the upper portion of the map MP in FIG. 10. FIG. 11(B) shows an example in which a residential map of the requested area Ar1x shown in FIGS. 10 and 11(A) is requested and displayed on the display unit DP of a user terminal (e.g., a mobile terminal 6). As described above, the user terminal 6 provides the map server 1 with a user ID, password, area code, and segmented area key in order to display the residential map of the requested area Ar1x. In this example, as shown in FIG. 11(A), the user terminal 6 transmits G1, G3, H0, and H2 as segmented area keys, and requests the provision of detailed maps of the four segmented areas G1, G3, H0, and H2 with a scale of 16.

[0057] 11(A), the divided area specified by the divided area keys G1 and H0 is a divided area that makes up the specified area Ar1, so a detailed map of this part is provided. However, the divided area specified by the divided area keys G3 and H2 is not a divided area that makes up the specified area Ar1, so a detailed map of this part is not provided, and an error status "402" is returned in the HTTP response status for this part.

[0058] As a result, as shown in Figure 11(B), a detailed map of the divided areas G1 and H0 inside the detailed map provision area ArX shown by the dotted line within the requested area Ar1x shown in Figures 10 and 11(A) is displayed on the display unit DP of the user terminal 6. However, a detailed map of the divided areas G3 and H2 outside the detailed map provision area ArX shown by the dotted line within the requested area Ar1x shown in Figures 10 and 11(A) is not displayed on the display unit DP of the user terminal 6, and a message is displayed indicating that a detailed map is not being provided.

[0059] In this way, the user of the user terminal 6 can receive and display a detailed map within the detailed map provision area ArX, which is specified according to the designated area Ar1 that the user has specified. However, the user cannot receive a detailed map outside the detailed map provision area ArX, and as shown in FIG. 11(B), the relevant area is displayed in gray, for example, with a message indicating that the detailed map cannot be displayed. Therefore, the user of the user terminal 6 does not need to pay more than necessary to receive a detailed map that is wider than necessary. Furthermore, the detailed map provider, who is the operator of the map server 1, does not need to provide more detailed maps than necessary.

[0060] [Example of map information output device configuration] FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a user terminal that is a map information output device. As explained using FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the user terminals are assumed to be a PC 4 and a mobile terminal 6. In general, the PC 4 is mainly used indoors, while the mobile terminal 6 is portable and can be used outdoors. However, the configurations of the parts related to the use of map information are almost the same in the PC 4 and the mobile terminal 6. Therefore, here, an example of the configuration of the parts related to the use of map information in a user terminal will be explained, mainly using the case of the PC 4 as an example.

[0061] 12, connection terminal 401T constitutes a connection end to network 2, and communication I / F 401 realizes a communication function via network 2. In reality, as described using FIG. 1, connection terminal 401T is connected to a network connection device such as a router, and communication I / F 401 is connected to network 2 via the network connection device. Communication I / F 401 receives data transmitted to its own device via network 2, converts the data into data in a format that can be processed by its own device, and imports the data. Furthermore, communication I / F 101 converts data to be transmitted to a destination into data for transmission, and transmits the data to the destination via network 2. Note that when the user terminal is a mobile terminal 6, communication I / F 401 becomes wireless communication unit 601, and connection terminal 401T becomes wireless communication antenna 601A, similarly realizing a communication function.

[0062] The control unit 402 is a microprocessor configured by connecting a CPU, ROM, RAM, and nonvolatile memory, and controls each part of the user terminal (PC4 in this example). The storage device 403 is an auxiliary storage device consisting of a storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) and its driver, and is capable of writing, reading, changing, and deleting data from the storage medium. The storage device 403 stores and holds various data and programs required for processing, and is also used as a working area for temporarily storing intermediate results obtained in various processes.

[0063] The operation unit 404 is a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, or the like, and realizes the function of receiving instructions input from the user and supplying them to the control unit 402. The operation unit 404 cooperates with the control unit 402 to access the map server 1 in response to instructions input from the user, provide necessary information to perform user registration, and enable use of the map by undergoing authentication. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) required to access the map server 1 can be, for example, stored in advance in the non-volatile memory of the control unit 402.

[0064] The area designation map request unit 405 forms a general map request requesting the provision of a general map (such as a city map or road map) of the area where the designated area is to be set, and sends this to the network 2 via the communication I / F 401 and the connection terminal 401T, and transmits it to the map server 1. In this case, the area designation map request unit 405 requests the provision of a general map of the area where the designated area is to be set, in accordance with instruction information from the user input via the operation unit 404.

[0065] 6 and other figures, the area identification information providing unit 406 forms designated area identification information including information identifying the outer edge of the designated area in response to an instruction input for the designated area indicated on a general map displayed on the display unit 407, which will be described later. The area identification information providing unit 406 sends the formed designated area identification information to the network 2 via the communication I / F 401 and the connection terminal 401T, and transmits it to the map server 1.

[0066] The display unit 407 is configured using a display element such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and performs processing to display information and erase the displayed information according to the control of the control unit 402. Note that the display unit 407 is provided with a touch sensor 408, and the display unit 407 and the touch sensor 408 may form a touch panel. In particular, in the case of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet PC, the inclusion of a touch panel is an essential configuration.

[0067] As described above, the detailed map request unit 409 creates a detailed map request including a user ID, password, area code, and one or more divided area keys in response to instruction information from the user received through the operation unit 404. The user ID and password are information that are assigned to the user when the user registers with the map server 1. Furthermore, when a designated area is set through the area identification information providing unit 406, the area code is assigned to the designated area by the map server 1 and provided to the requesting user terminal.

[0068] Furthermore, the general map provided to the user terminal by the map server 1 has already been divided into quads. Therefore, the user scrolls or zooms in and out of the general map displayed on the display unit 407 to display a map of the area for which a detailed map is desired on the display unit 407, and requests the provision of a detailed map of that area. In this case, the detailed map request unit 409 identifies one or more divided area keys that make up the area. The detailed map request unit 409 then forms a detailed map request including the user ID, password, area code, and the identified one or more divided area keys, and sends this to the network 2 via the communication I / F 401 and the connection terminal 401T, and transmits it to the map server 1.

[0069] The detailed map display processing unit 410 cooperates with the control unit 402 to perform processing to display on the display unit 407 a detailed map (detailed map drawing data) sent from the map server 1 in response to a detailed map request sent from the device itself. The map server 1 provides detailed maps for divided areas that belong to a designated area that has been designated in advance via the detailed map providing unit 116. However, the map server 1 returns the error code "402" to the HTTP response status for divided areas that are outside the designated area.

[0070] For this reason, the detailed map display processing unit 410 of the user terminal displays the provided map information in the divided areas that belong to the designated area specified by the user of the device, as explained using Figure 11(B). However, for divided areas outside the designated area, the error code "402" is returned, and therefore the detailed map cannot be displayed in that divided area, so for example, the divided area is grayed out and a message indicating the reason why the detailed map cannot be displayed is displayed.

[0071] In this way, the user terminal as a map information output device realized as the PC 4 or the mobile terminal 6 realizes the function of making user registration and authentication requests to the map server 1. The user terminal can also receive a general map from the map server 1, identify a designated area on the general map, and set it in the map server 1. Furthermore, the user terminal can request the map server 1 to provide a detailed map, and display a detailed map for a pre-specified designated area based on the map information provided by the map server 1. However, for areas outside the designated area, the user terminal is not provided with information for displaying a detailed map, and therefore cannot display a detailed map, making it possible to clearly indicate that the user is outside the designated area.

[0072] [Linkage between user terminals 4 and 6 and map server 1] Next, the process performed by the user terminals 4 and 6, which are map information output devices, and the map server 1, which is a map information providing device, in cooperation with each other will be described with reference to a flowchart. For simplicity of explanation, the following description will be given assuming that the user terminal is a PC 4.

[0073] <Processing at the start of collaboration> 13 is a flowchart for explaining the processing when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) start cooperation. The control unit 402 of the user terminal 4 accesses the map server 1 via the network 2 using a browser or a dedicated application for using the map server 1 in response to an instruction input received through the operation unit 404 (step S101). The control unit 102 of the map server 1 receives access from the user terminal 4 (step S201), reads out an initial screen for using the map server 1 stored in the storage device 103, and provides it to the user terminal 4 (step S202). The initial screen is a screen on which executable processing such as user registration and login processing can be selected, and after login, processing such as providing a general map, setting a specified area, and using a map can be selected.

[0074] The control unit 402 of the user terminal 4 receives the initial screen provided from the map server 1 and displays it on the display unit 407 (step S102), and receives selection input for the initial screen through the operation unit 404 (step S103). After that, the user terminal 4 forms a processing execution request for the map server 1 in response to the selection input from the user, and transmits this to the map server 1 (step S104). The map server 1 receives the execution request from the user terminal 4 (step S203).

[0075] Thereafter, the control unit 102 of the map server 1 cooperates with the user terminal 4, controls each unit, and executes the target process (step S204). Similarly, the control unit 402 of the user terminal 4 cooperates with the map server 1, controls each unit, and executes the target process (step S105).

[0076] <Designated area setting process> Fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the processing when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) cooperate to set a designated area. The processing in Fig. 14 is executed when, after login, the designated area setting processing is selected in the processing in step S103 shown in Fig. 13, and the area designation map request unit 405 functions under the control of the control unit 402 to send a general map provision request to the map server 1. Specifically, in the processing in the flowchart in Fig. 14, the processing on the map server 1 side is executed in step S204 in Fig. 13, and the processing on the user terminal 4 side is executed in step S105. A specific description will be given below.

[0077] Assume that the user terminal 4 selects a process for requesting provision of a general map in order to set a designated area, and transmits the general map request to the map server 1. In this case, the control unit 102 in the map server 1 controls the general map providing unit 112 to provide a general map (such as a city map or road map) of the requested area to the requesting user terminal 4 (step S211). The control unit 402 of the requesting user terminal 4 receives the general map from the map server 1 and performs a process for displaying it on the display unit 407 (step S111). Thereafter, the control unit 402 of the user terminal 4 receives an instruction input for the designated area via the operation unit 404, and in response thereto, controls the area identification information providing unit 406 to form designated area identification information and transmit it to the map server 1 (step S112).

[0078] The map server 1 receives the designated area identification information from the user terminal 4 (step S212), and in response to this, the control unit 102 controls the designated area identification unit 113 to perform a process of identifying divided areas (step S213). As described with reference to Figures 7 and 8, the process of step S213 is a process of identifying the outer edge of the designated area in accordance with the information indicating the outer edge of the designated area, and identifying one or more divided areas in consideration of the scale of quad division so as to cover the entire inner surface of the designated area.

[0079] After identifying one or more divided areas, the control unit 102 of the map server 1 controls the area code assigning unit 114 to assign an area code to each designated area for each user (step S214), and transmits this to the requesting user terminal 4 (step S214). The requesting user terminal 4 receives the area code from the map server 1, stores it in the storage device 403 (step S113), and ends the processing shown in Fig. 14(A).

[0080] Furthermore, in the map server 1, the control unit 102 controls the user-specific area setting unit 115 to form the user-specific area management data described with reference to Fig. 9 and executes processing to store this in the user-specific area management file 106 (step S215). That is, the user-specific area setting unit 115 forms the user-specific area management data (Fig. 9) including the user ID and password of the user of the requesting user terminal, the area code assigned in step S214, and the segmented area keys of the one or more segmented areas identified in step S213. Thereafter, the user-specific area setting unit 115 stores the formed user-specific area management data in the user-specific area management file 106, and ends the processing of Fig. 14(B).

[0081] 14, the user holds an area code for uniquely identifying the designated area indicated through his / her user terminal 4, and can request and receive a detailed map for the designated area identified by this area code. On the other hand, the map server 1 can provide a detailed map for the designated area to a user who has registered and set a designated area, on the condition that the user agrees to pay a fee according to the designated area, but can control the provision of detailed maps for areas outside the designated area.

[0082] <Providing and displaying detailed maps> FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the processing when a map information output device (user terminal) and a map information providing device (map server) cooperate to display a detailed map. The processing in FIG. 15 is processing that is executed after a specified area has already been set in the map server 1 by the processing in FIG. 14. More specifically, the processing shown in the flowchart in FIG. 15 is processing that is executed when a map use processing is selected in the processing in step S103 shown in FIG. 13 after logging in to the map server 1. In this case, under the control of the control unit 402, the detailed map request unit 409 functions and transmits a map provision request to the map server 1. That is, in the processing in the flowchart in FIG. 15, the processing on the map server 1 side is executed in step S204 in FIG. 13, and the processing on the user terminal 4 side is executed in step S105, similar to the processing in FIG. 14.

[0083] A map usage process is selected, and a map usage request is sent to the map server 1. In the map server 1, the control unit 102 controls, for example, the general map providing unit 112 to provide a general map (such as a city map or road map) of the requested area to the requesting user terminal 4 (step S221). The control unit 402 of the requesting user terminal 4 receives the general map from the map server 1 and performs processing to display it on the display unit 407 (step S121). The processing of step S221 in the map server 1 and the processing of step S121 in the user terminal are basically the same as the processing of step S211 and step S111 shown in FIG. 14. The processing of step S221 and step S121 in FIG. 15 is processing by which the user terminal 4 receives a map for specifying the area for which a detailed map is requested.

[0084] In the user terminal 4, the control unit 402 functions to accept an operation input via the operation unit 404 to specify an area for which a detailed map is to be provided (step S122). In step S122, operations such as scrolling or zooming in and out of the displayed map are accepted, and an instruction to display a detailed map of the displayed area can be accepted while the map of the desired area is displayed. In the processing of step S122, when an instruction to display a detailed map is accepted, the control unit 402 of the user terminal 4 controls the detailed map request unit 409 to form a detailed map request and perform processing to send this to the map server 1 (step S123).

[0085] The detailed map request includes the user ID, password, the area code of the specified area set by the user, and the division area keys of the division areas that make up the map of the area displayed on the display unit 407. As described above, the general map provided by the map server 1 is divided into quads. Therefore, the general map holds a division area key for each division area at each scale (each layer), and the detailed map request unit 409 identifies the division area key for the division area of ​​the area for which a detailed map is desired to be displayed, based on the general map from the map server 1.

[0086] The map server 1 receives a detailed map request from the user terminal 4 (step S222). The control unit 102 of the map server 1 controls the detailed map providing unit 116 to determine whether the divided area key included in the detailed map request is a divided area within the contract (step S223). Specifically, the detailed map providing unit 116 refers to the corresponding user-specific area management data in the user-specific area management file 106 based on the user ID and area code of the received detailed map request. The detailed map providing unit 116 determines whether each of the one or more divided area keys included in the detailed map request is included in the area division key of the corresponding user-specific area management data.

[0087] Based on the determination result in step S223, the detailed map providing unit 116 returns a detailed map (drawing data of the detailed map) for the divided area within the contract identified by the divided area key, and returns a status "402" for the divided area outside the contract (step S224). In other words, the map server 1 transmits a detailed map to the user terminal 4 that has transmitted the detailed map request for each divided area for which provision of a detailed map has been requested, for divided areas within the specified area, and a status "402" for divided areas outside the specified area.

[0088] In the requesting user terminal 4, the control unit 402 receives the detailed map drawing data or status "402" provided for each divided area from the map server 1 (step S124). Thereafter, the control unit 402 controls the detailed map display processing unit 410 to display the detailed map in the divided areas within the specified area on the display unit 407, and gray out the divided areas outside the specified area, as shown in FIG. 11(B) (step S125). In this embodiment, the user terminal 4 superimposes a message indicating that the area is outside the specified area on the grayed-out portion, thereby clearly notifying the user why the detailed map is not displayed. This allows the user to take appropriate measures, such as re-setting the specified area and expanding it, if necessary.

[0089] 15, the process indicated by the dotted line can be repeatedly executed until an end operation is performed on the user terminal 4 and an end instruction is sent to the map server 1. This allows the user of the user terminal 4 to shift the area displaying the detailed map or zoom in or out as needed, and view a detailed map of the desired location in the specified area at the desired size.

[0090] 11(B), it is possible to display detailed maps for divided areas within a specified area and gray out divided areas outside the specified area. This allows the user of the user terminal 4 to set the area they require as the specified area on the map server 1, and to be provided with detailed maps for the specified area but not for areas outside the specified area.

[0091] [Effects of the embodiment] As described above, the map server 1 of this embodiment can provide detailed maps only for the divided areas that belong to the specified area specified by the user. This prevents the provision of map information for areas that the user does not need, and allows the provision of map information that is reasonable and acceptable to the user. In other words, the user can be provided with detailed maps of the areas that he or she needs.

[0092] Additionally, areas for which detailed maps are unavailable can be displayed in gray, and a message indicating that detailed maps are unavailable can be displayed, allowing users to clearly identify areas for which detailed maps are unavailable.

[0093] [Variations] In the above-described embodiment, the map is divided into quads to hierarchically divide the map, but the division of the map is not limited to quad division. For example, a regional mesh can be used, in which an area is divided into meshes of approximately equal size based on latitude and longitude. Regional meshes include primary meshes (each side is approximately 80 km long), secondary meshes (each side is approximately 10 km long), and tertiary meshes (each side is approximately 1 km long). Further divisions can be used as hierarchically divided map information. Alternatively, for example, the operator of the map server 1 can independently divide and hierarchically divide the map, allowing the location and size of each divided area to be identified. This can then be used as map information stored and held by the map server 1 of the present invention.

[0094] In the above-described embodiment, the user terminals 4 and 6 are described as displaying detailed maps on their display units, but this is not limiting. The present invention can also be applied to cases where detailed maps are printed out.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the specific map information provided by the map server 1 has been described as being a detailed map, such as a residential map, but is not limited to this. Specific maps include various maps with high added value, such as maps containing uniquely collected information, maps containing special information such as unique analysis results, and special maps with unique display formats. This allows users to be provided with specific maps only for the areas they need. Conversely, map information providers can provide specific map information only for the designated areas specified by users.

[0096] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a detailed map (specific map information) is displayed within the designated area specified by the user, and areas outside the designated area are displayed in gray, but this is not limited to this. The accuracy of information may differ between the designated area and outside the designated area, or the information displayed may differ. An example of the former is a detailed map including high-value-added information such as the building, tenant, floor number, individual names, and lot number displayed within the designated area, while outside the designated area, only the shape of the building (so-called house-shaped frame) on the detailed map is displayed. An example of the latter is a detailed map of the entrances and exits of buildings used for delivery, parking locations by vehicle type (standard passenger car, compact passenger car, light four-wheeler, etc.), store congestion status, an indoor map (floor map), etc. displayed within the designated area, while outside the designated area, a city map or road map is displayed.

[0097] In the latter example, it is not necessary to display all of the building entrance / exit information, parking locations by vehicle type, store congestion status, and indoor map; it is of course sufficient to display only one or more pieces of information selected by the user within the designated area. It is also possible to display congestion status and indoor maps for specified buildings within the designated area. Thus, this invention is suitable for application in various cases where the user appropriately sets the designated area and outputs different or distinct information within and outside the designated area.

[0098] [others] As can be seen from the above description of the embodiment, the function of the map information storage means of the map information providing device in the claims is realized by the map information DB 104 of the map server 1 in the embodiment. Also, the function of the designated area identification means of the map information providing device in the claims is realized by the designated area identification unit 113 of the map server 1, and the function of the designated area code assignment means of the map information providing device in the claims is realized by the area code assignment unit 114 of the map server 1. Also, the function of the designated area setting means of the map information providing device in the claims is realized by the user-specific area setting unit of the map server 1, and the function of the detailed map providing means of the map information providing device in the claims is realized by the detailed map providing unit 116 of the map server 1.

[0099] Of the processes described using the flowcharts of Figures 13 to 15, the processes described using the flowcharts of Figures 13(B), 14(B), and 15(B) provide one embodiment of a map information providing method according to the present invention. Also, of the processes described using the flowcharts of Figures 13 to 15, the programs that execute the processes described using the flowcharts of Figures 13(B), 14(B), and 15(B) provide one embodiment of a map information providing program according to the present invention.

[0100] The function of the area specific information providing means of the claimed map information output device is realized by the area specific information providing unit 406 of the user terminals 4 and 6, and the function of the detailed map requesting means of the claimed map information output device is realized by the detailed map requesting unit 409 of the user terminals 4 and 6. The function of the output processing means of the claimed map information output device is realized mainly by the display unit 407 and detailed map display processing unit 410 of the user terminals 4 and 6 working together. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 1...map information providing device (map server), 101T...connection terminal, 101...communication I / F, 102...control unit, 103...storage device, 104...map information DB, 105...user registration file, 106...user-specific area management file, 111...authentication etc. processing unit, 112...general map providing unit, 113...designated area identification unit, 114...area code assignment unit, 115...user-specific area setting unit, 116...detailed map providing unit, 2...network, 3...router etc. (network connection device), 4...PC, 5...base station, 6...mobile terminal, 401T...connection terminal, 401...communication I / F, 402...control unit, 403...storage device, 404...operation unit, 405...area identification map request unit, 406...area identification information providing unit, 407...display unit, 408...touch sensor, 409...detailed map request unit, 410...detailed map display processing unit

Claims

1. A map information providing device that provides map information to a map information output device connected via a network, a map information storage means for storing general map information that can be provided free of charge and specific map information that can be provided for a fee, the map information being hierarchically divided so that the map is divided into a plurality of divided areas of the same area on the same layer but the areas of the divided areas differ between different layers; a designated area specifying means for specifying the divided areas included in the designated area, taking into consideration hierarchical levels, based on information indicating the outer edge of the designated area specified on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device from the map information output device and the map information in the map information storage means; a designated area code assigning means for assigning a designated area code, which is identification information, to the designated area and providing the designated area code to the map information output device; a designated area setting means for recording a divided area key, which is identification information of the divided area specified by the designated area specifying means, and the designated area code assigned to the designated area in association with each other in an area management storage means; a specific map providing means for referencing the area management storage means based on the designated area code included in the map provision request from the map information output device and a division area key of a division area corresponding to a map of an area to be displayed that is designated on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device, and providing the specific map information of the map information storage means only for division areas included in the designated area specified by the designated area code, among the division areas specified by the division area key from the map information output device; A map information providing device comprising:

2. 2. The map information providing device according to claim 1, The general map information and the specific map information stored in the map information storage means are layered according to the number of divided areas by converting the Earth's surface into a plane and dividing it into four, and then repeatedly dividing each divided area into four. A map information providing device characterized by:

3. 2. The map information providing device according to claim 1, The designated area specifying means specifies a plurality of divided areas by changing the hierarchy from a divided area having a large area to a divided area having a small area so as to cover the designated area and reduce the portion outside the designated area. A map information providing device characterized by:

4. 2. The map information providing device according to claim 1, The specific map providing means provides an error status to a divided area that is not included in the designated area that is specified by the designated area code, among the divided areas that are specified by the divided area key from the map information output device. A map information providing device characterized by:

5. A map information providing method used in a map information providing device that provides map information to a map information output device connected via a network, comprising: a designated area specifying step of specifying the divided areas included in the designated area in consideration of hierarchical levels based on information indicating the outer edges of a designated area specified on a general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device from the map information output device, and map information stored in a map information storage means that stores the general map information that can be provided free of charge and specific map information that is provided for a fee, the map information being hierarchically divided into a plurality of divided areas having the same area within the same level but different areas between different levels; a designated area code assigning step of assigning a designated area code, which is identification information, to the designated area and providing the designated area code to the map information output device; a designated area setting step of associating a divided area key, which is identification information of the divided area specified in the designated area specifying step, with the designated area code assigned to the designated area and recording the associated divided area key in an area management storage means; a specific map providing step of referring to the area management storage means based on the designated area code included in the map provision request from the map information output device and a division area key of a division area corresponding to a map of an area to be displayed specified on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device, and providing the specific map information of the map information storage means only for division areas included in the designated area specified by the designated area code, among the division areas specified by the division area key from the map information output device; A map information providing method comprising:

6. A map information providing program executed by a computer installed in a map information providing device that provides map information to a map information output device connected via a network, a designated area specifying step of specifying the divided areas included in the designated area in consideration of hierarchical levels based on information indicating the outer edges of a designated area specified on a general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device from the map information output device, and map information stored in a map information storage means that stores the general map information that can be provided free of charge and specific map information that is provided for a fee, the map information being hierarchically divided into a plurality of divided areas having the same area on the same level but different areas on different levels; a designated area code assigning step of assigning a designated area code as identification information to the designated area and providing the designated area code to the map information output device; a designated area setting step of recording in an area management storage means a divided area key, which is identification information of the divided area specified in the designated area specifying step, and the designated area code assigned to the designated area in association with each other; a specific map providing step of referring to the area management storage means based on the designated area code included in the map provision request from the map information output device and a division area key of a division area corresponding to a map of an area to be displayed specified on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device, and providing the specific map information of the map information storage means only for division areas included in the designated area specified by the designated area code, among the division areas specified by the division area key from the map information output device; A map information providing program that executes the above steps.

7. A map information output device that receives map information provided from a map information providing device connected via a network and displays the map information, The map information providing device is configured to store hierarchically divided map information in which the map information is divided into a plurality of divided areas of the same area on the same level but the areas of the divided areas differ between different levels, and the map information providing device includes: a map information storage means for storing general map information that can be provided free of charge and specific map information that is to be provided for a fee; a designated area specifying means for specifying the divided areas included in the designated area in consideration of the level, based on information indicating the outer edge of the designated area on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device and the map information in the map information storage means; a designated area code assigning means for assigning a designated area code that is identification information to the designated area and providing the designated area code to the map information output device; a designated area setting means for correlating a divided area key, which is identification information of the divided area specified by the setting means, with the designated area code assigned to the designated area, and recording the associated divided area key in an area management storage means; and a specific map providing means for referring to the area management storage means based on the designated area code included in the map provision request from the map information output device and the divided area key of the divided area corresponding to a map of the area to be displayed, which is specified on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device, and providing the specific map information of the map information storage means only for the divided areas included in the designated area specified by the designated area code, among the divided areas specified by the divided area key from the map information output device, an area specification information providing means for providing the map information providing device with information indicating the outer edge of a designated area specified on the general map, which is provided free of charge from the map information providing device; a specific map request means for providing the map information providing device with a specific map request including the designated area code from the map information providing device and a division area key of a division area corresponding to a map of an area to be displayed designated on the general map provided free of charge from the map information providing device; an output processing means for outputting the specific map information for the divided area that has received the specific map information from the map information providing device, and outputting a message indicating that the specific map information cannot be displayed for the divided area that has not received the specific map information; A map information output device comprising:

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