Pictorial Map Overlay System for Position Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems struggle to accurately overlay and translate position information from paper-based pictorial maps onto electronic maps, as they lack built-in position identification and language translation capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with an acquisition unit to read pictorial maps, a reception unit to receive user input, and an output unit to overlay and translate position information using GPS, OCR, and image analysis technologies, connecting to an electronic map server for precise position estimation and language adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If paper-based pictorial maps are used for navigation, then ease of operation is improved, but position identification accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidposition identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of characteristic information extraction units and coordinate conversion units that bridge paper-based pictorial maps and electronic maps. This intermediary layer extracts landmark characteristics from the paper map, converts them to electronic map coordinates, and enables accurate position identification without requiring the user to directly handle complex coordinate systems, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving position identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the paper-based pictorial map by extracting characteristic information (landmarks, roads, buildings) and representing it in electronic map coordinates. This copying process preserves the intuitive visual structure of the paper map while enabling precise digital position identification through coordinate conversion and matching with electronic map data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If electronic maps with position identification information are used, then position identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition identification accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex task of position identification into multiple independent modules: characteristic information extraction units that identify landmarks, coordinate conversion units that transform coordinates, and matching units that align paper map features with electronic map data. This segmentation reduces device complexity by making each component's function clear and manageable while achieving high position identification accuracy through their coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically extracting characteristic information from paper-based maps and converting it to electronic map coordinates without requiring manual intervention. The characteristic information extraction units and coordinate conversion units work autonomously to bridge the two map types, reducing the need for complex user interfaces and manual configuration while maintaining high position identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If manual position transfer from paper map to electronic map is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of transferring position information from paper map to electronic map with an automated information processing system. Optical character recognition (OCR) technology and image processing algorithms automatically extract landmark names, positions, and characteristics from the paper map, then convert this information to electronic map coordinates, dramatically improving productivity while keeping device complexity manageable through standardized processing pipelines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-extracting characteristic information from paper-based maps and pre-converting coordinates before the actual navigation task. The characteristic information extraction units and coordinate conversion units prepare the data in advance, creating a ready-to-use digital representation that can be quickly matched with electronic map data, thereby improving productivity without requiring complex real-time processing during navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10952023B2Information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a reception unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires electronic pictorial map information based on a pictorial map. The reception unit receives information of a desired position to be output onto the pictorial map. The output unit outputs the position received by the reception unit onto the pictorial map information, based on characteristic information on the pictorial map information and electronic map information in which position identification information including the position to be output onto the pictorial map is set.