Map management system and map management method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a map management system for managing a map data asset. The system comprises: a map data acquisition unit that acquires raster-format map data representing a map in which a feature disposed in a target space and a text indicating the feature are visually indicated; a map data analysis unit that analyzes the map data and extracts the text in the map as a feature object; and a map data asset generation unit that generates a map data asset on the basis of the acquired map data and the extracted feature object. The map data analysis unit calculates position information related to the position where the text is disposed in the map. The map data asset generation unit generates the map data asset in which the map data, the feature object, and the position information are associated with one another.

Description

Map management system and map management method

[0001] The present invention relates to a map management system and a map management method.

[0002] At large commercial facilities, shopping districts, stations, airports, sports venues, event venues, museums, tourist destinations, and the like (hereinafter referred to as "destinations") where many people gather for some purpose, maps (guide maps) printed on paper are generally prepared for distribution to guide visitors so that they do not get lost. In recent years, maps have also been digitized and are sometimes provided on digital signage, websites, apps, and the like. Visitors (users) can, for example, view maps provided on websites using a browser and enter the name or category of the destination store or facility as a keyword to search for the required information and check the search results.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a department store navigation system that guides customers to the desired product sales location in a department store that handles a wide variety of products. This system reads a barcode printed on an advertisement with a barcode reader on the customer's terminal, and the data is automatically captured by a department store server. The system compares the data with product data and product sales floor layout data stored on the department store server, calculates the shortest route to guide the customer to the product sales location, and provides the map data obtained to the customer's terminal.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 listed below discloses a raster map search device that easily searches for and highlights data stored in a raster map. Specifically, the raster map search device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a raster map storage unit that stores raster map information in advance, an area identification means that extracts raster map information corresponding to a identified area, a raster layer generation means that generates a raster layer, a vector conversion means that extracts graphic data from the raster map information and generates vector data, a pattern data storage unit that stores pattern data in advance, a search data identification means that identifies search data, and a highlight display data generation means that extracts vector data corresponding to the search data from the vector data included in the raster map information based on the vector data, the pattern data, and the search data, and generates a vector layer for highlighting the vector data.

[0005] JP 2004-133768 A JP 2006-267228 A

[0006] To build a system like the one described in Patent Document 1, the design had to be customized based on the layout of the target facility and each product sales floor, resulting in significant costs and time. Furthermore, existing digital map systems, such as Google Maps, use vector data and can flexibly handle various operations such as scrolling, zooming in, zooming out, and rotation. However, it is not realistic to build a system from scratch that can handle such vector map data while customizing it. Meanwhile, despite the trend toward digitalization, paper maps are still produced and distributed for the convenience of visitors. Furthermore, for small tourism associations and organizations that find it difficult to secure sufficient budgets, building a system presents significant hurdles due to the cost involved.

[0007] Furthermore, the raster map search device shown in Patent Document 2 extracts graphic data from raster map information to generate vector data, and does not assume that raster format maps will be used as is, nor does it take into account the names of features (facilities, etc.) on the map.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a map management system that is highly usable while utilizing existing paper maps and simple digital maps (map data).

[0009] Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a map management system that allows users to search for desired locations, facilities, and other features in raster-format map data and visually view the results of that search.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for easily generating map data assets for use in such a map management system.

[0011] The present invention, which aims to solve the above problems, comprises the following invention-specific matters or technical features.

[0012] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a map management system that manages map data assets adapted for display on a screen of a user interface of an information processing device. The map management system includes: a map data acquisition unit that acquires raster-format map data representing a map that visually displays features located in a target space and text representing the features; a map data analysis unit that analyzes the map data and extracts the text from the map as feature objects; and a map data asset generation unit that generates a map data asset based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects. The map data analysis unit calculates location information related to the location of the text on the map. The map data asset generation unit generates the map data asset by associating the map data, the feature objects, and the location information.

[0013] The map data acquisition unit may acquire the map data obtained by scanning a map drawn on a paper medium.

[0014] In addition, when the map data analysis unit determines that the text is a reference sign that does not have a name meaning of the feature, it can further extract the text with the name meaning associated with the reference sign in the legend area shown on the map as the feature object.

[0015] The map data asset generation unit may associate position information relating to the placement position of the text determined to be the reference sign with the feature object corresponding to the text associated with the reference sign in the legend area.

[0016] The map data management system may further include a map data library that stores the map data, and the map data asset generator may generate, as part of the map data asset, an object table that associates the map data stored in the map data library with the feature objects.

[0017] The map data analyzer may identify categories for the features in the map, and the map data asset generator may associate the identified categories with the feature objects in the object table.

[0018] The map data asset may include a map management table that manages the map data stored in the map data library, and the object table may be associated with the map data stored in the map data library via the map management table.

[0019] The map management system may further include an icon data library that stores icon data representing icons indicating the feature objects, and the map data asset generation unit may generate the object table for the feature objects, associating the location information of the feature objects with the icon data stored in the icon data library.

[0020] The map management system may further include a front-end processing unit that controls the display of a map screen on the user interface based on the map data stored in the map data library, and a search engine that searches the map data assets based on a received search query and identifies feature objects corresponding to the search query.

[0021] The front-end processing unit may control the display of an icon represented by icon data associated with the feature object identified by the search query in a superimposed manner at a corresponding position on the map screen displayed on the user interface.

[0022] In addition, when multiple map data are obtained based on the search query, the front-end processing unit can control so that a map indicator indicating the relationship between the feature object and the multiple map data is displayed on the map screen.

[0023] Another aspect of the present invention provides a map management method by a map management server that manages map data assets adapted for display on a screen of a user interface of an information processing device. The map management method includes: acquiring raster-format map data representing a map on which features arranged in a target space and text representing the features are visually displayed; analyzing the map data to extract the text from the map data as feature objects; and generating a map data asset based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects. Here, analyzing the map data includes calculating location information related to the locations of the features in the map. Furthermore, generating the map data asset includes generating the map data asset by associating the map data, the feature objects, and the location information.

[0024] Furthermore, according to another aspect, the present invention can also be realized as a computer program that causes a computing device to execute a map management method for managing map data assets adapted for display on a screen on a user interface of an information processing device, or a recording medium on which the computer program is non-temporarily recorded.

[0025] In this disclosure, the term "means" does not simply mean physical means, but also includes cases where the functions of the means are realized by software. Also, the functions of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

[0026] Furthermore, in this disclosure, a "system" includes a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), regardless of whether each device or functional module is physically configured as a single entity or as separate entities.

[0027] According to the present invention, a user-friendly map management system can be obtained while utilizing existing paper maps and simple digital maps (map data). Furthermore, according to the present invention, map data assets that can be used in such a map management system can be easily generated.

[0028] Other technical features, objects, effects, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration model of a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a map referenced in a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of a map referenced in a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a map data asset in a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration model of a map data analysis unit in a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a map data asset generation process by a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a browser screen displayed on a user interface of a user information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a browser screen displayed on a user interface of a user information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a browser screen displayed on a user interface of a user information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a browser screen displayed on a user interface of a user information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a computing device in a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described below. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications (e.g., by combining the various embodiments) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or ratios.

[0031] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the map management system 1 includes, for example, a map management server 10, an administrator information processing device 20, and a user information processing device 30, which are communicatively connected via a communication network. Note that while the figure illustrates a cloud-based map management system 1, the present invention is not limited to this and may also be a stand-alone system.

[0032] The map management system 1 is a system that manages map data assets adapted for display on the screen of the user interface of the user information processing device 30. The map data assets include map data and various data related to the map data (see FIG. 4 ). In this disclosure, the map data handled by the map management system 1 is raster-format map data that represents a "map" visually displaying features located within a target space and text (names and character symbols) representing the features. In this sense, it is distinguished from vector-format map data, but the use of vector-format map data in the map management system 1 is not excluded. For example, the map data asset 400 may include raster-format map data as well as equivalent vector-format map data. This allows the geographic management system 1 to selectively display, for example, a map based on raster-format map data and a map based on vector-format map data. Hereinafter, raster-format map data may be simply referred to as "map data" unless it is necessary to distinguish it from map data in other formats.

[0033] The map management server 10 is a computing device that executes predetermined processes in response to requests from the administrator information processing device 20 and the user information processing device 30. As an example, the map management server 10 generates a map data asset 400 in response to a request for generating a map data asset 400 (hereinafter referred to as a "map data asset generation request") from the administrator information processing device 20. The map data asset generation request is associated with, for example, original map data, and the map management server 10 acquires the map data based on the map data asset generation request. As another example, the map management server 10 refers to the map data asset 400 in response to a request or query for searching for a facility or the like (hereinafter referred to as a "search query") from the user information processing device 30, and provides the user information processing device 30 with the search results. The map management server 10 is also configured to be able to access, for example, a database 12 for storing and managing the map data asset 400. The database 12 may be configured as a part of the map management server 10 or may be configured as a separate entity. The hardware configuration of a computing device in which the map management server 10 is implemented is exemplified in FIG. 11, but since it is well known, a detailed description of the configuration will be omitted here.

[0034] The administrator information processing device 20 is a computing device operated by an administrator to generate and manage the map data asset 400. The administrator information processing device 20 may be, for example, a personal computer such as a laptop computer or a desktop computer, or a tablet computer, but is not limited to these, and may be any device configured to implement the present invention. In the present disclosure, the administrator information processing device 20 may be configured to include a scanner (not shown) that scans paper drawings or documents (i.e., maps) and outputs digital image data. For example, under the operation of the administrator, the administrator information processing device 20 acquires map data by scanning a paper map with a scanner (not shown), and then sends a map data asset generation request to the map management server 10 to generate the map data asset 400. Alternatively, the administrator information processing device 20 may acquire map data by taking a snapshot of a paper map with a camera (not shown). Alternatively, the administrator information processing device 20 may acquire map data from an image file related to an electronic map.

[0035] The user information processing device 30 is a computing device operated by a general user to use (view, etc.) the map data asset 400. The user information processing device 30 may also be, for example, a personal computer such as a notebook computer or a desktop computer, or a tablet computer, but is not limited to these, and may be any device configured to implement the present invention. For example, a device such as a touch-panel digital signage installed in a facility or the like is also a form of the user information processing device 30. In the present disclosure, the user information processing device 30 accepts keywords related to a target feature from a user and transmits a search query based on the keywords to the map management server 10. In response, the map management server 10 references the map data assets stored in the database 12 and provides the search results to the user information processing device 30. For example, based on the search results, the user information processing device 30 displays a screen in which the searched feature, etc. is superimposed on a map represented by map data so as to be visually distinguishable.

[0036] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the map management server 10 is shown as a functional configuration model including, for example, a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a communication interface unit 130. Such a functional configuration model is realized on a computing device by executing a map data management program under the control of a processor module (not shown) in cooperation with various software and / or hardware resources.

[0037] The control unit 110 comprehensively controls and executes various processes (tasks) in the map management server 10. In this example, the control unit 110 includes a map data acquisition unit 111, a map data analysis unit 112, a map data asset generation unit 113, a front-end processing unit 114, and a search engine 115. Details of these functional configurations in the control unit 110 will be described later.

[0038] The storage unit 120 stores a map data management program and various programs required for executing the program. The storage unit 120 stores a data library of map data, text data, icon data, etc., as well as various tables for managing these data libraries, as map data assets 400. For example, the storage unit 120 is realized by the database 12 under the control of the control unit 110.

[0039] Map data is raster data representing a "map" that visually shows features (e.g., roads, pathways, facilities, and installations) located within a target space and text representing the features (e.g., their names, character symbols, etc.). For example, map data is stored in a predetermined location in the storage unit 120 as image files in formats such as GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and BMP. Text data is data related to text representing features (e.g., their names, character symbols, etc.) in the map. The text may include reference symbols that do not have a name or concept meaning for the feature (e.g., a reference character symbol such as "1A" used to indicate a facility "restaurant"). Maps using such reference symbols typically have a legend area separate from the actual map area, in which the names of the reference symbols are indicated. For example, in a floor map of a shopping mall, reference symbols are assigned to each section within the floor (e.g., stores, facilities, etc.), and the reference symbols and text are often associated and displayed in the legend area. Icon data is data representing icons (illustrations or graphic elements) indicating features. For example, the icon may be a facility icon that represents a facility or the like using a graphical element, or a pin icon that indicates a location on a map. The icon data may include, for example, animation data so that the icon is visually distinguishable.

[0040] For example, FIG. 3A shows a floor map of a commercial facility. The floor map shown in FIG. 3A includes a map area 310 and a legend area 320. The map area 310 depicts features such as stores, elevators, escalators, stairs, and restrooms. These features are extracted as feature objects, as described below. In the figure, the proper names of stores are indicated as "Store (Number)" for convenience. Some facilities, such as elevators, escalators, stairs, and restrooms, are indicated by icons serving as reference symbols and associated with text (names) in the legend area 320. Furthermore, in FIG. 3A, each facility is visually distinguished by category, such as "Cosmetics," "Bags," "Precious Metals," and "Miscellaneous Goods" (the names of the categories themselves are omitted for convenience). In the example shown in FIG. 3B, each facility (feature) in the map area 310 is also indicated by a reference symbol, and in the legend area 320, each facility is categorized and associated with text.

[0041] The map shown here is merely an example, and the map area 310 and legend area 320 may be provided on a separate sheet of paper or on the back side, for example. The map is not limited to a floor map, and may be a guide map of a town or an event venue, for example. Furthermore, the map may be one in which text associated with some features is indicated by display elements such as leader lines for layout convenience.

[0042] 2 , the communication interface unit 130 controls communication so that the administrator information processing device 20 and the user information processing device 30 can access the map management server 10 via a communication network. For example, under the control of the control unit 110, the communication interface unit 130 controls communication so that the administrator information processing device 20 and the user information processing device 30 can access the map management server 10.

[0043] 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a map data asset in a map management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the map data asset 400 is composed of, for example, a map management table 410, an object table 420, and several data libraries 430. In this example, the data library 430 is composed of a map data library 430a and an icon data library 430b. Although not shown, the data library 430 may also include a category data library.

[0044] The map management table 410 is composed of records including items such as a map ID, type, map name, and map data path. The map ID is an identifier assigned to each piece of map data. The type is the data type of the map data, and in this example, either raster format or vector format is indicated. The map name is the name of the map represented by the map data, and in this example, the map data is classified into several hierarchical levels. The map data path is the file path of the map data library 430a that stores the map data. In the example of a floor map of a shopping mall shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, map data for each floor can be registered in the map data library 430a.

[0045] The object table 420 is composed of records including items such as object ID, name, map ID, location information, category, and icon data path. The object ID is an identifier assigned to the extracted feature object. The name is text indicating the feature. The map ID is an identifier indicating the map data that was the subject of analysis. Therefore, by referencing the map ID, it is associated with the map data stored in the map data library 430a via the map management table 410. The location information is the location coordinates of the feature object. The category indicates the category of the feature object. The icon data path is the file path of the icon data library that stores icon data for visually displaying the feature object.

[0046] Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 110 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 again.

[0047] The map data acquisition unit 111 acquires map data representing a map to be displayed on the screen. For example, based on a map data asset generation request transmitted from the administrator information processing device 20, the map data acquisition unit 111 acquires map data associated with the request. The map data acquisition unit 111 may be configured integrally with a function of acquiring map data in the administrator information processing device 20. Alternatively, the map data acquisition unit 111 may acquire map data stored in a map data library that has not yet been incorporated into a map data asset. The map data acquisition unit 111 assigns a map ID to the acquired map data.

[0048] The map data analysis unit 112 analyzes the map data, extracts text indicating features in the map as feature objects, calculates their position information, and associates them with each other. The map data analysis unit 112 will be described in detail later.

[0049] The map data asset generation unit 113 generates a map data asset 400 based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects and text objects. That is, the map data asset generation unit 113 generates an object table that associates feature objects with their location information for the acquired map data. The map data asset generation unit 113 also registers predetermined attribute information and file paths in the map management table 410 according to the map ID. As a result, the map data in the map data library 430a and the object table 420 are treated as part of the map data asset.

[0050] Furthermore, the map data asset generating unit 113 associates the recognized categories with the feature objects in the object table 420 based on a category data set, which will be described later.

[0051] The front-end processing unit 114 controls the display of a map based on the map data stored in the map data library on the screen of the user interface of the administrator information processing device 20 and / or the user information processing device 30. This allows the user to view the map screen via the user interface.

[0052] Furthermore, when a user inputs a keyword related to a desired feature via the user interface, the front-end processing unit 114 controls the display of a screen in which the identified feature is visually distinguished, allowing the user to easily find the desired feature through an interactive search, even on a map screen based on raster map data.

[0053] The search engine 115 references the object table 420 based on a search query received from the user information processing device 30 via the front-end processing unit 114 and outputs search results for the search query. For example, in response to the search query "facility A store 01," the search engine 115 references the object table 420 to search for "store A" in "facility A." The search engine then references the map management table 410 to retrieve map data associated with "facility A" from the map data library 430a and outputs the retrieved data together with the location coordinates and icon data for "store A." Alternatively, in response to the search query "facility A restaurant," the search engine 115 references the object table 420 to retrieve "restaurant" in "facility A." In this case, the search engine 115 may extract one or more stores categorized in the "restaurant" category in "facility A" for each floor. The search engine 115 references the map management table 410 to retrieve the extracted map data for each floor from the map data library 430a and outputs the retrieved data together with the location coordinates and icon data for each store (restaurant). In response to this, the front-end processing unit 114 performs control so that an icon based on the icon data is displayed on the map screen in addition to the map represented by the map data, in order to visually distinguish the searched features, etc. on the map (see FIG. 8, etc.). When multiple map data are acquired for a feature identified by the search engine 115, the front-end processing unit 114 performs control so that a predetermined map indicator is generated and displayed on the map screen (see FIG. 10). The predetermined map indicator is a display object that indicates the relationship between a specific feature object and multiple map data.

[0054] 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a map data analysis unit in a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the map data analysis unit 112 includes, for example, an object extraction unit 1121, a legend area recognition unit 1122, a position information calculation unit 1123, an object association unit 1124, and a category recognition unit 1125.

[0055] The object extraction unit 1121 analyzes map data and uses character recognition technology to recognize text indicating features shown on the map and extract it as a feature object. Taking a floor map as an example, the object extraction unit 1121 analyzes map data related to the floor map and extracts text indicating the names of features, such as floor levels, store names, and building structures, sections, and facilities, such as restrooms, as feature objects. In this sense, the object extraction unit 1121 does not need to recognize complex graphical elements indicating features, such as building structures, sections, and facilities, on the map. In particular, with raster-format map data, graphical elements are often not correctly recognized due to pixel resolution, which can result in excessive manual correction work. Therefore, text-based recognition is highly significant. On the other hand, in floor maps, facilities such as restrooms are often depicted using illustrations or standard graphical elements that are easily recognizable to anyone, without the text "restroom" being specifically written. The object extraction unit 1121 can recognize such illustrations indicating restrooms and estimate their text. Note that the text recognized by the object extraction unit 1121 is not limited to the name of a feature, but may include, for example, the name of a category of features.

[0056] Furthermore, when analyzing the map data, the object extraction unit 1121 may determine whether the recognized text indicates a reference symbol that does not have the name meaning of a feature. If the object extraction unit 1121 determines that the recognized text indicates a reference symbol that does not have the name meaning of a feature, the object extraction unit 1121 cooperates with the legend area recognition unit 1122 to identify a legend area 320 shown on the map and recognize the text in the identified legend area 320. The legend area 320 is an area that displays reference symbols associated with features on the map and text indicating the name meaning of the associated features. The object extraction unit 1121 then extracts, as a feature object, the text having the name meaning associated with the reference symbol recognized in the identified legend area. Alternatively, when analyzing the map data, the legend area recognition unit 1122 may first recognize and identify the legend area 320 on the map, and then the object extraction unit 1121 may extract, as a feature object, the text having the name meaning associated with the reference symbol recognized in the legend area 320.

[0057] Furthermore, when analyzing map data, the object extraction unit 1121 can recognize leader lines that associate features with text. Leader lines are, for example, continuous lines such as simple straight lines or curved lines, or broken lines.

[0058] When analyzing map data, the position information calculation unit 1123 calculates position information of feature objects corresponding to the placement position of text indicating each feature on the map. For example, if the map is drawn on an A4 / landscape paper medium, the position information calculation unit 1123 calculates position information in a coordinate system with the upper left corner as the origin. For example, if the original text is written horizontally from left to right, the coordinate position of the upper left corner of the feature object is used as the position information of the feature object.

[0059] The position information calculation unit 1123 may also calculate the position information of the placement position of an illustration showing a feature on the map. Furthermore, when the position information calculation unit 1123 recognizes a leader line, it may calculate the position information of both ends of the leader line.

[0060] The object associating unit 1124 associates the extracted feature object with its position information. Furthermore, when it can be determined that the text located closest to the position of a graphical element representing a feature does not represent that feature, as in the case of "toilet" described above, the object associating unit 1124 can associate the position information of the graphical element representing the feature with the feature object corresponding to the estimated text.

[0061] In addition, when a legend area is identified, the object association unit 1124 associates the location information of the reference code in the map area with the feature object in the legend area by identifying the corresponding reference code in the legend area from the reference code associated with the feature in the map.

[0062] Furthermore, when the object associating unit 1124 recognizes a leader line, it associates the leader line with a feature object based on the position information of both ends of the leader line. For example, the object associating unit 1124 identifies one end of the leader line based on the position information of the feature object, and associates the position information of the other end with the feature object.

[0063] The administrator may add and / or modify the associations made by the object association unit 1124 to ensure the accuracy of the map data asset 400 .

[0064] The category recognition unit 1125 may recognize one or more categories for features in the map. Although not shown, the category recognition unit 1125 may include a category definition table that defines terms related to concepts of a predetermined category, such as "cosmetics," "bags," "precious metals," "miscellaneous goods," "restaurants," "travel," and "pets." Categories may be defined hierarchically, for example, with a higher-level category "restaurants" and lower-level categories such as "Japanese food," "Chinese food," and "Western food." The category recognition unit 1125 refers to the category definition table to identify and recognize text that indicates a category concept other than the name of a feature from among the text extracted by the object extraction unit 1121.

[0065] Furthermore, the category recognition unit 1125 matches the recognized text with categories in the legend area 320 on the map. For example, if "Store 13" is placed for the category "Cosmetics" in the legend area 320, the category recognition unit 1125 associates the feature object representing "Store 13" with "Cosmetics." Because categories are often color-coded in floor maps, tourist guide maps, and the like, the category recognition unit 1125 may complementarily check the consistency of the association based on the relationship between the color scheme of the features in the map area 310 and the background color of the text in the legend area 320.

[0066] The category recognition unit 1125 outputs a category data set made up of records associating each extracted feature object with a category to the map data asset generation unit 113 .

[0067] The administrator may add and / or modify the content of the category recognition by the category recognition unit 1125 so as to ensure the accuracy of the map data asset 400 .

[0068] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a map data asset generation process performed by a map management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. This process is realized by the map management server 10 executing a map management program under the control of a processor, in cooperation with various hardware resources.

[0069] As shown in the figure, the map management server 10 monitors whether a map data asset generation request has been received from the administrator information processing device 20 (S601). If the map management server 10 receives a map data asset generation request (Yes in S601), the map management server 10 acquires map data associated with the map data asset generation request and stores it in the map data library 430a (S602). At this time, the map management server 10 may create a record in the map management table 410 based on the acquired map data.

[0070] Next, the map management server 10 analyzes the acquired map data. Specifically, the map management server 10 uses character recognition technology to recognize each piece of text indicating a feature shown on the map represented by the map data, and extracts the recognition result as a feature object (S603). The map management server 10 then calculates the position information of the feature object corresponding to the placement position of the text on the map (S604). If the map management server 10 determines that the recognition result is a reference symbol that does not have any naming meaning for the feature, it extracts the text associated with the reference symbol in the legend area (described below) as a feature object.

[0071] Next, the map management server 10 attempts to recognize the legend area 320 shown on the map and determines whether the legend area 320 is present (S605). If the map management server 10 determines that the legend area 320 is not present on the map (No in S605), the map management server 10 associates the calculated position information with a feature object (S610). In this case, for a graphical element representing the recognized feature, the map management server 10 may determine text estimated from the graphical element as the feature object and associate the position information of the graphical element with the feature object. If the map management server 10 recognizes a leader line, it associates the feature object with a corresponding text object based on the position information of both ends of the leader line.

[0072] On the other hand, if the map management server 10 determines that the map contains a legend area 320 (Yes in S605), the map management server 10 recognizes the reference sign in the actual map area 310 in the map and also recognizes the reference sign in the legend area 320 (S606). Next, the map management server 10 recognizes the text associated with the reference sign in the legend area 320 as a feature object (S607). Next, the map management server 10 calculates position information of the reference sign in the map area 310 (S610), and determines the calculated position information as the position information of the feature object for the reference sign in the legend area 320 that corresponds to the reference sign (S610).

[0073] Then, the map management server 10 generates an object table 420 that associates the extracted feature objects with the location information (S613).

[0074] Next, an example of a search for a feature (such as a target facility) by a user on the map management server 10 that has generated the map data asset 400 as described above will be described.

[0075] (Specific Example 1) For example, a user accesses the map management server 10 via a browser on the user information processing device 30 and displays a map screen 700, such as that shown in FIG. 7, on the browser. Here, it is assumed that the floor map shown in FIG. 3A is displayed. That is, the map management server 10 references the map management table 410, reads map data from the map data library 430a, and transmits the map data to the user information processing device 30, thereby controlling the display of the map screen 700 on the browser of the user information processing device 30. The user can perform operations such as zooming in / out and rotating the map screen 700. For example, the user can use a compass function provided in the user information processing device 30 to rotate the map screen 700 so that the direction of the map screen 700 matches the direction in which the user is facing.

[0076] The user inputs a destination, for example, "Store 13" (actually a specific store name), into the search input field 701 on the map screen 700, and in response, the user information processing device 30 sends a search query to the map management server 10.

[0077] When the map management server 10 receives the search query, it searches the object table 420 to identify a record of a feature object that includes the name "Store 13." The map management server 10 then acquires the location information and icon data path of the identified record, and further acquires the icon data (image data) indicated by the icon data path. The map management server 10 then transmits the acquired location information and icon data to the user information processing device 30.

[0078] When the user information processing device 30 receives the location information and icon data transmitted from the map management server 10 in response to the search query, it calculates the location coordinates of the map screen on the browser based on the location information, and based on the calculated location coordinates, displays a pin icon 702 based on the icon data superimposed on the map screen 700, as shown in FIG. 8 . This makes it easier for the user to find the destination "Store 13." In particular, according to this embodiment, even though the original map data is in raster format, the user can perform an interactive search using text.

[0079] Alternatively, instead of the name of the destination feature (facility), the user can search the map using a specific concept (e.g., category) that indicates the feature. For example, the user enters "cosmetics" in the search input field 701 of the map screen 700 (not shown). In response to this, the user information processing device 30 transmits a search query to the map management server 10.

[0080] When the map management server 10 receives the search query, it similarly searches the object table 420 to identify records of feature objects that include "cosmetics." Here, it is assumed that "Store 13," "Store 19," and "Store 21" are stores classified into the category "cosmetics." The map management server 10 acquires location information and icon data corresponding to each identified feature object (store) and transmits them to the user information processing device 30.

[0081] When the user information processing device 30 receives the location information and icon data corresponding to each feature object (store), it calculates the location coordinates of the map screen on the browser based on the location information, and based on the calculated location coordinates, displays a pin icon 702 based on the icon data superimposed on the map screen 700, as shown in Figure 9, for example.

[0082] In the above example, the user inputs the desired facility and category after displaying the map screen 700 on the browser, but this is not limiting. For example, a search query such as "facility A cosmetics" may be entered on the initial screen or top screen for searching. In response to this, the map management server 10 may search for "facility A" and "cosmetics" and display the search results superimposed on the map screen 700 using pin icons 702.

[0083] (Specific Example 2) A user inputs, for example, "XX Mall Restaurant" into the search input field 701 on the top screen of a map search (not shown). In response to this, the user information processing device 30 transmits a search query to the map management server 10. Here, it is assumed that there are "restaurants" on the "1st floor" and "3rd floor" of "XX Mall."

[0084] When the map management server 10 receives a search query, it searches the object table 420 to identify records of feature objects that include "XX Mall" and "Restaurant." The map management server 10 acquires map data for the "1st floor" and "3rd floor" of "XX Mall" from the map data library 430a according to the map ID indicated by the identified record. The map management server 10 then acquires the location information and icon data path of the identified record, and further acquires the icon data indicated by the icon data path. Instead of acquiring map data for each identified record at once, the map management server 10 may provisionally acquire map data for, for example, the first record (1st floor), and then acquire the next map data in response to additional user operations.

[0085] Furthermore, when multiple map data are acquired, the map management server 10 generates a map indicator. The map indicator is a display object that indicates the relationship between a feature object and multiple map data. For example, in an "XX Mall" consisting of the first to third floors, if a "restaurant" is extracted on the "1st floor" and the "3rd floor," the "1st floor" and the "3rd floor" are highlighted.

[0086] The map management server 10 transmits a data set including the acquired map data, position information, icon data, and object data related to the map indicator to the user information processing device 30 .

[0087] When the user information processing device 30 receives a data set transmitted from the map management server 10 in response to a search query, the user information processing device 30 displays a search result screen, such as that shown in FIG. 10 , on the browser based on the received data set. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 10 , a "restaurant" is indicated by a pin icon 702 on a map screen 700 indicating the "first floor" of an "XX mall," and a map indicator 703 is also displayed. The map indicator 703 indicates that "restaurants" are located on the "first floor" and "third floor," and that the displayed floor map (map data) is for the "first floor." For example, the user can perform a selection operation on the map indicator 703 so that other map data is displayed. The map indicator 703 may be displayed in tab format, for example.

[0088] In this way, in this example, it is possible to perform a keyword search across the separately existing raster format map data, and present the search results to the user.

[0089] As described above, according to this embodiment, the map management system 1 can easily generate map data assets based on existing paper maps or simple digital maps (map data). Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by using such map data assets, it is possible to provide a user-friendly map screen even with raster-format map data.

[0090] Furthermore, the map management server 10 manages multiple maps in the map data asset 400, while also managing feature objects and their location information for raster-format map data, allowing the user to select feature objects on the map screen. For example, the user can select a feature on the map using a pointing device, a stylus, or their finger, and the user information processing device 30 can obtain location information for the feature object corresponding to the selected feature. Therefore, the map management server 10 can provide the user of the user information processing device 30 with various information about the feature object corresponding to the selected feature.

[0091] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0092] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order unless the results are inconsistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0093] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or substituted for specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the spirit of the present invention.

[0094] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Map management system 1 10...Map management server 110...Control unit 111...Map data acquisition unit 112...Map data analysis unit 1121...Object extraction unit 1122...Legend area recognition unit 1123...Location information calculation unit 1124...Object association unit 113...Map data asset generation unit 114...Front-end processing unit 115...Search engine 120...Storage unit 130...Communication interface unit 12...Database 20...Administrator information processing device 30...User information processing device 300...Map 400...Map data asset 410...Map management table 420...Object management table 430...Data library 700...Map screen

Claims

1. A map management system that manages map data assets adapted for display on a screen on a user interface of an information processing device, comprising: a map data acquisition unit that acquires raster-format map data representing a map in which features arranged in a target space and text indicating the features are visually displayed; a map data analysis unit that analyzes the map data and extracts the text in the map as feature objects; a map data asset generation unit that generates a map data asset based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects; a front-end processing unit that controls a map screen based on the map data to be displayed on the user interface; and a search engine that searches the map data assets based on a received search query and identifies feature objects corresponding to the search query, wherein the map data analysis unit calculates position information related to the position of the text on the map, and the map data asset generation unit generates the map data asset that associates the map data, the feature objects, and the position information, and the front-end processing unit controls a map in which an icon indicated by icon data associated with the feature object identified based on the search query is superimposed on the corresponding position on the map screen displayed on the user interface. Map management system.

2. A map management system as described in claim 1, wherein the map data analysis unit, when determining that the text is a reference symbol that does not have a name meaning for the feature, further extracts the text with the name meaning associated with the reference symbol in the legend area shown on the map as the feature object.

3. The map management system of claim 2, wherein the map data asset generation unit associates position information relating to the placement position of the text determined to be the reference symbol with the feature object corresponding to the text associated with the reference symbol in the legend area.

4. A map management system as described in claim 2, further comprising a map data library for storing the map data, wherein the map data asset generation unit generates an object table as part of the map data asset, which associates the map data stored in the map data library with the feature objects.

5. A map management system according to claim 4, wherein the map data analysis unit recognizes categories for the features in the map, and the map data asset generation unit associates the recognized categories with the feature objects in the object table.

6. A map management system according to claim 4, wherein the map data asset includes a map management table that manages the map data stored in the map data library, and the object table is associated with the map data stored in the map data library via the map management table.

7. A map management system as described in claim 4, further comprising an icon data library that stores the icon data representing the icon indicating the feature object, and wherein the map data asset generation unit generates the object table for the feature object, associating the location information of the feature object with the icon data stored in the icon data library.

8. The map management system according to claim 1, wherein the search engine retrieves multiple map data classified according to the same map ID in the map data asset based on the search query, and performs a cross-sectional search of the retrieved multiple map data.

9. A map management system as described in claim 8, wherein the front-end processing unit controls so that, when the plurality of map data are obtained based on the search query, a map indicator indicating the relationship between the feature object and each of the plurality of map data is displayed on the map screen.

10. The map management system according to claim 9, wherein the map indicator is displayed so as to distinguish between map data in which the feature object is identified and map data in which the feature object is not identified.

11. The map management system according to claim 1, wherein the map data acquisition unit acquires the map data by scanning a map drawn on a paper medium.

12. A map management method by a map management server that manages map data assets adapted for display on a screen on a user interface of an information processing device, comprising: acquiring raster-format map data representing a map on which features arranged in a target space and text indicating the features are visually displayed; analyzing the map data to extract the text from the map data as feature objects; generating a map data asset based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects; controlling a map screen based on the map data to be displayed on the user interface; searching the map data asset based on a received search query and identifying feature objects corresponding to the search query; analyzing the map data includes calculating location information related to the location of the features in the map; generating the map data asset includes generating the map data asset that associates the map data, the feature objects, and the location information; and controlling the display of the map screen includes controlling the display of an icon indicated by icon data associated with the feature object identified based on the search query so as to be superimposed on the corresponding position on the map screen displayed on the user interface.

13. A computer program causing a computing device to execute a map management method for managing map data assets adapted for display on a screen on a user interface of an information processing device, the map management method comprising: acquiring raster-format map data representing a map on which features arranged in a target space and text indicating the features are visually displayed; analyzing the map data to extract the text from the map data as feature objects; generating a map data asset based on the acquired map data and the extracted feature objects; controlling display of a map screen based on the map data on the user interface; searching the map data asset based on a received search query and identifying feature objects corresponding to the search query; analyzing the map data includes calculating location information related to the location of the features on the map; and generating the map data asset includes generating the map data asset by associating the map data, the feature objects, and the location information. the controlling the display of the map screen includes controlling the display of an icon represented by icon data associated with the feature object identified based on the search query in a manner superimposed on a corresponding position on the map screen displayed on the user interface.

Images