JP3842069B2

JP3842069B2 - Station name input selection display method and system in route search

Info

Publication number: JP3842069B2
Application number: JP2001126148A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 浩一奥津
Original assignee: 株式会社駅前探険倶楽部
Priority date: 2001-04-24
Filing date: 2001-04-24
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-24
Also published as: JP2002316645A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、駅名を入力して経路案内を行うシステムにおける駅名入力選択方法及びそのシステムに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
最近、ある所へ行きたいがどのような経路で行けばよいかわからないとき、インターネットを用いて簡便にその経路を知るシステムが普及してきている。
【０００３】
このような場合、最寄の駅が判明している場合、ユーザが入力する乗車駅名と下車駅名からその経路を検索しその結果を表示する仕組みになっている。
【０００４】
このように経路を検索する場合、乗車駅名及び下車駅名の入力は必須であり、直接、キーなどで入力するとすれば、特に小型で、入力キーが限られている携帯電話、ＰＨＳ、携帯情報端末などでは、非常に煩わしいので、前方一致する駅名を選択肢として表示しその中からユーザに調べたい駅名を選択させる方法を採るのが通常である。
【０００５】
ところが従来の、上記のような経路案内システムでは、選択肢として表示される駅は例えば五十音順に表示されるなど、常に固定的であった。
【０００６】
したがって、首都圏に住んでいるユーザが、実際の経路を調べるために、先ず乗車駅名を例えば図７（ａ）に示すような経路案内の最初の乗車駅入力画面で、例えば「赤坂」と入力したとする。すると、全国の駅データベースから前方一致する駅を検索するので、「赤坂」という駅名は、群馬、山梨、東京、福岡にあるので、図７（ｂ）に示すように、この順序で選択肢として表示され、これらの後に「赤坂見附」、「赤坂上」、「赤坂田」などが続く表示が通常される。ユーザはこれらの選択肢から乗車しようとしている駅名を選択確定する。例えば「赤坂（東京）」を選択して、次に下車駅名の入力について例えば図８（ａ）に示すように「府中」と入力したとすると、乗車駅の時と同じく図８（ｂ）に示すように、「府中」という駅名は、広島、東京、千葉にあるので、これらの駅の他に前方一致で検索された「府中競馬場前」、「府中本町」が続く表示がされる。
【０００７】
これは、選択肢の駅名検索が「乗車駅」、「下車駅」共に五十音順やＪＩＳコード順などの同じ検索法で行われているため、図７（ｂ）及び図８（ｂ）の画面で表示される選択肢の表示順序は変わらない。ところが多くの場合、ユーザが行動する範囲はある程度限られており、例えば上記のように東京都内で乗車する経路案内を調べでは、ユーザの行動範囲から同一地域内の同県乃至は隣接県の駅名を選択することが多いと考えられ、遠方の別地域で同名の駅への経路を調べるような状況は稀であり、通常あまり考えられない。
【０００８】
ところが従来の場合には、ユーザは図８（ｂ）の下車駅の選択では第１候補の「府中（広島）」を選択せず、プルダウンメニューなど複数候補を表示させて２番目の「府中（東京）」をわざわざ選択する必要があり、煩わしかった。また、乗車駅選択で「赤坂（東京）」を指定しているにも拘わらず遠方の駅名が高い順位で表示されることにも違和感があった。
【０００９】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上述のように、従来の経路案内システムでは、同名の駅が存在する場合、その駅名の選択肢の表示順序が固定されており、よく選択する駅名であっても、優先順位が低い場合には、常にプルダウンメニューを表示して選択する必要があった。
【００１０】
したがって、この発明は上記問題点を解決し、経路案内システムにおいて複数の候補駅名が表示される場合にも、ユーザが選択決定しなければならない下車駅を、乗車駅に近い同県内や地域の選択肢駅名を、ユーザが選択する可能性の高い駅名として高い優先順位で表示することにより、一般のパソコンはもとより、小型表示画面でしかもキー操作も限られる携帯情報端末などで、ユーザが使い易い駅名選択入力表示方法などを提供することを目的とする。
【００１１】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、本発明の請求項１によれば、乗車及び下車の駅名を入力して経路を検索する経路案内における駅名入力選択表示方法であって、前記乗車駅として入力された駅の存在する地域を検索する検索ステップと、この検索ステップにより検索された地域内に前記下車駅として入力された駅があるか否かを検知する検知ステップと、この検知ステップにより前記地域内に前記下車駅として入力された駅があることが検知されたときこの地域内の駅名を、他の地域内に存在する同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する表示ステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１２】
本発明の請求項２によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する地域を検索するステップと、このステップにより検索された前記地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索するステップと、このステップにより前記地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記地域内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示するステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１３】
本発明の請求項３によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する都道府を検索するステップと、このステップにより検索された前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索するステップと、このステップにより前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一都道府県の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示するステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１４】
本発明の請求項４によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたときそれらの乗車駅の駅名をそれらの駅が存在する地域名と共に表示し選択を促すステップと、このステップにより乗車駅の駅名が選択されたときこの選択された地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより前記選択された地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示するステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１５】
本発明の請求項５によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたときそれらの乗車駅の駅名をそれらの駅が存在する都道府県名と共に表示し選択を促すステップと、このステップにより乗車駅の駅名が選択されたときこの選択された都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示するステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１６】
本発明の請求項６によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索するステップと、このステップにより下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する都道府県を検索するステップと、このステップにより検索された前記都道府県及びその隣接都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索するステップと、このステップにより前記都道府県及びその隣接都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一都道府県の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて最も高い優先順位で、また隣接都道府県の下車駅の駅名を次の優先順位で、各々選択肢として表示するステップとから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示方法を提供する。
【００１７】
本発明の請求項７によれば、乗車及び下車の駅名を入力して経路を検索する経路案内における駅名入力選択表示システムであって、前記下車駅として入力された駅名と同名の駅が複数ある場合、乗車駅として入力された駅の存在する地域を検索する手段と、この手段により検索された地域内に前記下車駅として入力された駅がある場合にこの駅名を他の前記地域内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００１８】
本発明の請求項８によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する地域を検索する手段と、この手段により検索された前記地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索する手段と、この手段により前記地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記地域内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００１９】
本発明の請求項９によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する都道府を検索する手段と、この手段により検索された前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索する手段と、この手段により前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一都道府県の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００２０】
本発明の請求項１０によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたときそれらの乗車駅の駅名をそれらの駅が存在する地域名と共に表示し選択を促す手段と、この手段により乗車駅の駅名が選択されたときこの選択された地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により前記選択された地域に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００２１】
本発明の請求項１１によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により乗車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたときそれらの乗車駅の駅名をそれらの駅が存在する都道府県名と共に表示し選択を促す手段と、この手段により乗車駅の駅名が選択されたときこの選択された都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により前記都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一地域の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて高い優先順位で選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００２２】
本発明の請求項１２によれば、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路を検索する経路案内の検索に際して、乗車駅及び下車駅の駅名を入力されてこの下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あるか検索する手段と、この手段により下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名が複数あることが検索されたとき前記入力された乗車駅の存在する都道府県を検索する手段と、このステップにより検索された前記都道府県及びその隣接都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があるか検索する手段と、この手段により前記都道府県及びその隣接都道府県に前記入力された下車駅の駅名と同一の駅名があることが検索されたとき、この乗車駅と同一都道府県の下車駅の駅名を他の前記都道府県内の同名の駅に比べて最も高い優先順位で、また隣接都道府県の下車駅の駅名を次の優先順位で、各々選択肢として表示する手段とから成ることを特徴とする経路検索における駅名入力選択表示システムを提供する。
【００２３】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の各実施形態について図面を用いて説明する。なお、以下で述べている駅名は、鉄道に限らず、バス（停留所）、航空機（飛行場）、船舶（港）など、他の交通手段のものも含む概念である。また以下の説明において、県には都道府を含めて用いている場合もある。
【００２４】
図１に、本発明の一実施形態の全体構成を示す。図１において、インターネット１１には、経路案内を行う経路案内サーバ１２及び、このサーバに経路案内の検索を依頼するユーザ端末１３が接続されている。これらのサーバ及びユーザ端末は通常、非常に多く存在するがここでは、説明を簡単にするため、各々１台のみを記載している。
【００２５】
経路案内サーバ１２には、インターネットへの入出力を行う入出力部１４と、ユーザ端末へ送る画面を構成する画面構成部１５、乗り換え案内の経路検索のための経路検索エンジン１６、その経路の経路データベース１７、駅名が県毎にまとめられている同一県データベース（ＤＢ）１８及び隣接県がまとめられている隣接県ＤＢ１９から構成されている。この経路案内サーバ１２では、入出力部１４を通じてユーザ１３端末から乗車駅、下車駅などの検索条件を受取り、経路検索エンジン１６で検索する。経路検索エンジン１６により検索された結果は画面構成部１５で画面構成され、入出力部１４を通じてユーザ端末へ送られる。
同一県ＤＢ１８の内部には検索する駅名とその駅が存在している県名との関係を示すテーブルがあり、隣接県ＤＢ１９は県名が選択されるとその隣接県となる県の関係を示すテーブルがある。それらは入力された駅（前方一致の駅名も含む）が何処の県に存在するか、それぞれの県の隣接県がどの県であるかを識別するときに参照されるようになっている。
【００２６】
図２に本発明による経路検索の場合の駅名入力選択表示方法の一実施形態における処理の流れを示す。
【００２７】
経路検索を行う場合、ユーザは図１のユーザ端末１３を用いステップＳ２０１で、まず図７（ａ）に示すような乗車駅入力画面において、乗車駅を個所７１に乗車駅として、駅名，例えば「赤坂」を入力する。
【００２８】
この駅名の情報はユーザ端末１３から経路案内サーバ１２内の同一県ＤＢ１８に送られる。この同一県ＤＢ１８には、図３に示すような各県毎にその県内にある駅名がまとめられたテーブルが記憶されている。このテーブルにより、ステップＳ２０２において、例えば五十音順検索などにより、入力された駅名と同じ駅名が複数あるかどうか調べられる。
検索結果が１件のみの場合は、乗車駅が一義的に確定するのでステップＳ２０６に進む。
【００２９】
図３に示したテーブルの場合、上記入力された「赤阪」なる駅名はＤ３１、Ｄ３２、Ｄ３３に示すように、群馬県、東京都、福岡県に存在することがわかる。
【００３０】
このように入力された駅名と同一の駅が複数ある場合は、ステップＳ２０３において、検索結果として同名の駅を選択肢として表示する。このときユーザ端末１３に表示されていないが検索された駅名にその駅が所在する県名とが組合せられて図７（ｂ）に示すようにユーザ端末１３に表示される。この場合、都道府県名の５０音順に、赤坂（群馬）、赤坂（山梨）、赤坂（東京）、赤坂（福岡）の順に表示されている。
【００３１】
次にステップＳ２０４において、即ち、この場合のユーザが東京都の赤坂を選択したい場合には、同名の「赤坂」のうち、東京都の「赤坂（東京）」を図７（ｃ）に示すようにカーソルを移動して選択することになる。
【００３２】
次に、ステップＳ２０５で乗車駅が確定したか調べられ、乗車駅が確定していないときは、ステップＳ２０１に戻って乗車駅の再入力を促す。確定している時はステップＳ２０４で選択した乗車駅（確定した乗車駅）の所在する県名Ｄ３２（東京都）がステップＳ２０６において乗車県データとして一時記憶され、ユーザが下車駅を入力するのを待つ。
【００３３】
次にステップＳ２０７において、ユーザによって下車駅名として図４（ａ）に示すように例えば「府中」が入力されたとする。すると、ステップＳ２０８において乗車駅入力のときと同様に、入力された駅名と同名の駅があるか調べられる。このとき、検索結果は図示していないファイルに検索された駅名にその駅が所在する県名とが組合せられた下車駅リストが一時作成される。
【００３４】
同名の駅名が一件のみの場合は乗車／下車駅が唯一の組合せで決るので下車駅が確定して、ステップＳ２１６の経路検索をする。
【００３５】
一方、ステップＳ２０８において同名の駅が複数件検索された場合は、ステップＳ２０９へ進み、乗車駅と同じ県内の駅があるか調べられる。上記のように入力された場合、ステップＳ２０６で一時記憶された乗車駅の都道府県名「東京都」（Ｄ３２）と検索された複数（下車駅リスト）の同名駅の県名とをそれぞれ比較する。
【００３６】
この場合、図３に示したテーブルでは、赤坂の入力のとき選択された東京都と同じ都道府県に、下車駅として入力された府中がある。したがって、ステップＳ２１０で図３（ｂ）に示すように、同一県名にある駅名「府中（東京）」を最も優先して表示し、次に５０音順で続く「府中競馬場」、「府中本町」を次位の優先順位で下車駅の選択肢として表示する。
【００３７】
次にステップＳ２１１おいて、下車駅として入力された駅名と同じ駅が乗車駅の隣接県に存在するかどうか、図１に示した隣接県データベース１９により調べる。隣接県データベース１９に記憶されているテーブルの例を図５に示す。
【００３８】
上記例の場合乗車駅は東京都の赤坂であり、図５に示したテーブルによれば、乗車駅所在都道府県である東京都Ｄ５１のの隣接県はＤ５２に示すように埼玉県、千葉県、神奈川県、山梨県及び長野県がある。図３のテーブル上によれば下車駅として入力された駅名、府中は隣接県である、千葉県にもある（Ｄ３５）。そこでステップＳ２１１からステップＳ２１２に移り、次に隣接県内の駅名を中位優先度で表示することになり、図４（ｃ）に示すように府中本町の次に府中（千葉）を表示する。
【００３９】
なお、ここに示した隣接県ＤＢ１９内のテーブルは、中位の優先度を付ける都道府県の範囲を定義するものであり、図示したものに限定されずシステム設定者の意図に合わせて範囲を変えて定義することができる。
【００４０】
更に、複数抽出された駅名のなかでステップＳ２０９とステップＳ２１０で検知されなかった残りの駅名「府中（広島）」を、ステップＳ２１３において乗車駅から遠隔地の選択肢として低位の優先順位で表示する。
【００４１】
上記の場合図３のＤ３６に示すように、下車駅として入力した府中は、乗車駅の同一県である東京都及び隣接県以外に広島県にもあるので、図３（ｄ）に示すようにステップＳ２１１において府中（広島）を次に表示する。
以上のステップまでで図３（ｄ）に示すように乗車駅にほぼ近い順（県のレベルの遠近）で表示され、この場合最上位にある「府中（東京）」がカーソルを移動することなしにステップＳ２１４で、ユーザにより下車駅が選択されると、ステップＳ２１５において、下車駅が確定したか確認される。
【００４２】
下車駅が確定されると、ステップＳ２１６に移り、経路案内サーバ１２内で経路検索エンジン１６が経路ＤＢ１７を用いて乗車駅から下車駅までの経路が検索され、ステップＳ２１７でその結果が、ユーザ端末１３の画面上に表示されて、経路検索が終了する。
【００４３】
以上述べたようにこの実施形態では、下車候補駅の検索を従来の同名駅検索と同様に行った後、検索された駅名にその駅が所在する県名とが組合せられた下車駅リストから乗車駅に近い同県、隣接県、それ以外の県の駅順に並び換えるので、通常ユーザが選択する乗車駅に近い同名駅が選択肢表示の最上位に表示される。
【００４４】
通常、ユーザが経路検索を行う通常の場合、まず同じ都道府県内の駅に行く可能性が高く次の隣接都道府県に行く可能性が高い。したがってこの実施形態によれば、都道府県が同じ場合だけでなく、異なる場合にも隣接県、その他の都道府県の表示順序で下車駅名が表示されることになり、選択される可能性の高い順序に下車駅名が表示されることになり、ユーザとしては使い易い利点がある。
【００４５】
ところで、上記実施形態では、下車駅名が入力されたとき、日本全国に同じ名称の駅が複数あるかまず調べた。しかし、この処理を行うことなく、乗車駅のある都道府県と同一の県、隣接県次にそれ以外の県というように順次検索していくこともできる。図６にこのような手順による本発明の他の実施形態の処理の流れを示す。
【００４６】
乗車駅の確定し、その駅名の一時記憶までは図２と同様に行われるので、図６ではその後の手順のみを示す。図２のステップＳ２０６の次に、ステップＳ６０７でユーザによって下車駅名「府中」が入力される。
【００４７】
すると、ステップＳ２０６で乗車県データとして一時記憶された都道府県に入力された下車駅名があるかステップＳ６０８において検索される。入力された下車駅名がその都道府県にあるか調べられ、ある場合にはステップＳ６０９に移り、都道府県名をカッコ書きで後に付けその駅名を最も優先して表示する。一方、その都道府県に入力下車駅名がない場合には、次のステップＳ６１０に進む。
【００４８】
上記の場合、図３に示した同一県ＤＢ１８のテーブルにおいて、赤坂がある都道府県、即ち東京都Ｄ３２の含まれる駅名Ｄ３７に下車駅として入力された「府中」があるので、図３の（ｂ）に示すように、ステップＳ６０９よりその駅名に都道府県をカッコ書きで付加し、府中（東京）として下車駅選択肢表示の上位の空欄に表示する。
【００４９】
ステップＳ６１０では、乗車駅の存在する都道府県の隣接県に入力された下車駅と同一の駅があるか検索される。
【００５０】
次にステップＳ６１０において隣接県データベース（図５）に示される乗車駅所在県（Ｄ５１）の隣接県（Ｄ５２）には埼玉県、千葉県、神奈川県、山梨県、長野県（千葉以外は該当無しの為図示略）に入力された下車駅名があるか検索される。
【００５１】
この場合の例では千葉県の「府中」が検知されて、ステップＳ６１１より下車駅選択肢表示の中位の選択肢として、先に書き込まれた上位の選択肢の次に表示される（図４（ｃ））。隣接県に同名の駅がないは次ステップであるステップＳ６１２に進む。
【００５２】
ステップＳ６１２において乗車駅と同一県と隣接県以外の他の県について、図５に示す県／駅リストの各県を参照して、入力された下車駅名があるか検索される。本例では広島県の「府中」が検索されて、ステップＳ６１３において図３（ｄ）に示すように、下車駅選択肢表示の下位の選択肢として、先に書き込まれた中位の選択肢の次に表示される。
【００５３】
他の県にも下車駅として入力された駅名がない場合には何も書き込まず次のステップＳ６１４に進み、ユーザによって下車駅の選択がなされる。
【００５４】
これで全ての都道府県についての検索が終わるので、ユーザは下車駅をカーソルを移動して確定入力する。ステップＳ６１５でユーザにより下車駅の確定が行われると、一組の乗車／下車駅が決るのでステップＳ６１６に移り、経路案内サーバ１２内の経路検索エンジン１６及び経路ＤＢ１７で、乗車駅から下車駅までの経路の検索がなされる。
【００５５】
次にステップＳ６１７でその結果がユーザ端末１３の画面に表示されて、経路検索が終了する。
【００５６】
この第２の実施形態に依れば、下車候補駅の検索を乗車駅と同県から先ず行い、その後、隣接県、その他の件へと検索をして行くので、図２で示した検索と同様に、通常ユーザが選択する乗車駅に近い同県の同名駅が選択肢表示の最上位に表示される。
【００５７】
この上記実施形態によれば、全国に同じ駅名が複数あっても、乗車駅確定後にはユーザ出発地を県レベルで把握するので、同じ駅名の下車駅が複数存在していても、乗車駅近く、即ち同県或いは隣接県内の同名駅を優先して選択肢として表示するので、複数の選択肢から自分の選択したい駅名を容易に選択でき、多くの場合のユーザの行動様態では、一番上に表示される駅名をそのまま選択すればよいので操作がし易い駅名選択入力表示方法を提供できる。
【００５８】
また、ユーザが遠隔地（選択地域以外）の下車駅を選択する必要がある場合にも、本発明のように下車駅の選択肢の表示順を乗車駅のとの遠近に関連させた優先順位より表示をすることで、ユーザが遠方の駅で下車するという感覚と一致する選択操作を行うことになり、ユーザが使い易い駅名選択入力表示方法を提供することができる。
【００５９】
上記実施形態では、いずれも、下車駅があるかどうかの一次基準を都道府県単位としてていた。しかし本発明はこれに限られず、都道府県の代りにある特定の地域とすればよく、この特定された地域に下車駅があればこれを優先して表示するようにすればよい。
【００６０】
上記実施形態では、駅名として漢字の同名の駅がある場合について説明したが、ひらがな、アルファベットなど表音文字で入力したときに同名となるが駅ある場合にも、同様に本発明を適用できる。このような場合には、同名の駅が複数ある頻度が高くなり、本発明を適用して効果がある場合が増大する。
【００６１】
本発明では意図する駅名が優先して表示されるので、携帯電話、ＰＨＳとか、モバイル端末機器などのように、表示画面が小さく順位の低い選択肢を選択することが不便な場合に、特にその効果が顕著である。
【００６２】
【発明の効果】
以上、説明したように本発明によれば、同名の駅が複数ある場合にユーザが選択する可能性の高い下車駅の駅名を優先して表示するので、経路検索において選択が容易で使い易い駅名入力選択表示方法及びシステムが得られる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明一実施形態の構成を示す図。
【図２】本発明一実施形態の方法の処理の流れを説明するための図。
【図３】本発明一実施形態において、同一県ＤＢにあるテーブルの１例を示す図。
【図４】本発明一実施形態における下車駅名入力及び選択の画面例を示す図。
【図５】本発明一実施形態において、隣接県ＤＢにあるテーブルの１例を示す図。
【図６】本発明の他の実施形態の方法の処理の流れを説明するための図。
【図７】経路選択の際に表示される乗車車駅名入力画面と候補駅表示例を示す図。
【図８】従来の経路選択の際に表示される下車車駅名入力画面と候補駅表示例を示す図。
【符号の説明】
１１・・・インターネット、１２・・・ユーザ端末、１３・・・経路案内サーバ、１４・・・入出力部、１５・・・画面構成部、１６・・・経路検索エンジン、１７・・・経路ＤＢ、１８・・・同一県ＤＢ、１９・・・隣接県ＤＢ。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a station name input selection method and system in a system for performing route guidance by inputting a station name.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, when a user wants to go to a certain place but does not know what route to go to, a system for easily knowing the route using the Internet has become widespread.
[0003]
In such a case, when the nearest station is known, the route is searched from the boarding station name and the getting-off station name input by the user, and the result is displayed.
[0004]
When searching for a route in this way, it is essential to enter the name of the boarding station and the name of the station to get off, and if entered directly with a key or the like, the cell phone, PHS, and portable information terminal are particularly small and have limited input keys. In such cases, it is very troublesome, and it is usual to use a method in which the station name that matches the front is displayed as an option, and the user is allowed to select the station name to be checked.
[0005]
However, in the conventional route guidance system as described above, the stations displayed as options are always fixed, for example, displayed in the order of the Japanese syllabary.
[0006]
Therefore, a user living in the Tokyo metropolitan area first inputs the name of the boarding station, for example, “Akasaka” on the first boarding station input screen for route guidance as shown in FIG. Suppose that Then, since the station that matches the front is searched from the national station database, the station name “Akasaka” is in Gunma, Yamanashi, Tokyo, and Fukuoka, so it is displayed as an option in this order as shown in FIG. 7B. In general, a display in which “Akasaka Mitsuke”, “Akasaka Kami”, “Akasakada”, etc. are followed is usually performed. The user selects and confirms the name of the station to be boarded from these options. For example, if “Akasaka (Tokyo)” is selected and then “Fuchu” is input as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, as for the input of the name of the disembarking station, FIG. As shown, since the station name “Fuchu” is in Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Chiba, in addition to these stations, “Fuchu Racecourse” and “Fuchuhonmachi”, which are searched forwardly, are displayed.
[0007]
This is because the search for station names of choices is performed by the same search method such as the order of Japanese syllabary or JIS code for both “boarding station” and “get off station”, and therefore, in FIGS. 7B and 8B. The display order of options displayed on the screen does not change. However, in many cases, the range in which the user behaves is limited to some extent. For example, when examining the route guidance to get on in Tokyo as described above, the station name of the same prefecture or the adjacent prefecture in the same region is determined from the user's range of action. In many cases, it is rare to check the route to the station with the same name in another distant area, and it is usually not considered.
[0008]
However, in the conventional case, the user does not select the first candidate “Fuchu (Hiroshima)” in the selection of the lower station in FIG. 8B, but displays a plurality of candidates such as a pull-down menu to display the second “Fuchu ( Tokyo) ”had to be selected and it was annoying. In addition, even though “Akasaka (Tokyo)” is specified in the boarding station selection, distant station names are displayed in a high ranking.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional route guidance system, when there is a station with the same name, the display order of options for the station name is fixed, and even if the station name is often selected, if the priority is low, It was necessary to always display the pull-down menu for selection.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and even when a plurality of candidate station names are displayed in the route guidance system, the user has to select the getting-off station in the prefecture or region close to the boarding station. Station names are displayed with high priority as station names that are highly likely to be selected by the user, so that the user can select the station name that is easy for the user to use on a personal computer or a portable information terminal with a small display screen and limited key operations. An object is to provide an input display method and the like.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to claim 1 of the present invention, there is provided a station name input selection display method in route guidance for searching a route by inputting a station name of boarding and getting off, Said A search step to search for the area where the station entered as the boarding station exists, and this Search There is a station entered as the getting-off station in the area searched by the step A detection step for detecting whether or not, this Detection By step When it is detected that there is a station input as the getting-off station in the area, the station name in this area Display as an option with higher priority than stations of the same name in the area display The present invention provides a station name input selection display method in route search characterized by comprising steps.
[0012]
According to claim 2 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are inputted, and there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the getting-off station. A step of searching, a step of searching for an area where the input boarding station exists when a search is made that there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the getting-off station by this step, and the region searched by this step If there is a search for whether there is a station name identical to the station name of the input station, and if it is found in this area that there is a station name identical to the station name of the input station, Station name input in route search, characterized by comprising the step of displaying the station name of a station under the same area as the station as an option with higher priority than other stations of the same name in the above-mentioned area To provide a-option display method.
[0013]
According to claim 3 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is inputted, and there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the getting-off station. A search step, a search step for a prefecture where the input boarding station exists when a search is made that there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station by this step, and a search is performed by this step. The step of searching whether the prefecture has the same station name as the station name of the input station, and by this step, it is determined that the prefecture has the same station name as the station name of the input station. And a step of displaying the station name of the station in the same prefecture as the boarding station as an option with higher priority than the stations of the same name in the other prefectures. Providing station name input selection display method in.
[0014]
According to claim 4 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are input, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the boarding station. And when searching that there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the boarding station by this step, displaying the station name of those boarding stations together with the area name where those stations exist, and prompting selection, When a station name of the boarding station is selected in this step, a step of searching whether there are a plurality of station names identical to the input station name of the getting-off station in the selected area, and the input in the selected area by this step If there is more than one station name that is the same as the station name of a given station, the station name of the station that is in the same area as this boarding station is selected with a higher priority than the stations of the same name in other prefectures. Be made of the step of displaying provides station name input selection display method in the route search, wherein the limb.
[0015]
According to claim 5 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are input, and there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the boarding station. A search step, and when this step finds that there are multiple station names identical to the station name of the boarding station, the station name of those boarding stations is displayed together with the name of the prefecture in which those stations exist, and a step for prompting selection When the station name of the boarding station is selected in this step, a step of searching for a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station in the selected prefecture is performed, and the input to the prefecture is performed in this step. When a search is made that there are multiple station names that are the same as the station name of the exit station, the station name of the exit station in the same area as this boarding station is given a higher priority than other stations of the same name in the other prefectures. Be made of the step of displaying provides station name input selection display method in the route search, wherein the 択肢.
[0016]
According to claim 6 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are inputted, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station. A step of searching, a step of searching for a prefecture where the input boarding station exists when a search is made that there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station by this step, and the step of searching by the step A step of searching for a station name in the prefecture and its neighboring prefectures that is the same as the station name of the inputted getting-off station, and in this step, the same as the station name of the getting-off station inputted in the prefecture and its neighboring prefectures. When the station name is searched, the station name of the same station in the same prefecture as this boarding station has the highest priority compared to the station of the same name in the other prefectures, and the neighboring prefectures. Station names of prefectures detraining station in the following order, to provide a station name input selection display method in the route search, characterized in that comprising a step of respectively displayed as choices.
[0017]
According to claim 7 of the present invention, there is a station name input selection display system in route guidance for searching for a route by inputting a station name of getting on and getting off, and there are a plurality of stations having the same name as the station name inputted as the getting off station. If there is a station that is input as the boarding station and there is a station that is input as the getting-off station in the area searched by this means, this station name is the same name in other areas And a station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising means for displaying as an option with higher priority than other stations.
[0018]
According to claim 8 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is inputted, and there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the getting-off station. Means for retrieving, means for retrieving an area where the input boarding station exists when it is retrieved by this means that there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the getting-off station, and the area retrieved by this means Means for searching for whether there is a station name that is the same as the station name of the input station, and if this means that there is a station name that is the same as the station name of the input station in the area There is provided a station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising means for displaying a station name of a lower station in the same area as the station as an option with a higher priority than other stations of the same name in the other areas. .
[0019]
According to claim 9 of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station. Means for searching, and when this means finds that there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the disembarking station, the means for searching for the prefecture where the input boarding station exists is searched. Means for searching whether the prefecture has the same station name as the input station name, and that means that the prefecture has the same station name as the input station name. Station name input in route search, characterized in that it comprises a means for displaying the station name of the same station in the same prefecture as this boarding station as an option with higher priority than other stations of the same name in the other prefectures. Selection display To provide a Temu.
[0020]
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are input, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the boarding station. Means for searching, and when this means finds that there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the boarding station, means for displaying the station name of those boarding stations together with the area name where those stations exist, and prompting selection, When the station name of the boarding station is selected by this means, the means for searching whether there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the input getting-off station in the selected area, and the input to the selected area by this means When it is found that there are multiple station names that are the same as the station name of the exit station, the station name of the exit station in the same area as this boarding station is selected with a higher priority than the stations of the same name in other prefectures Means to display as Providing station name input selection display system in route search, characterized in that it consists of.
[0021]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are input, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the boarding station. Means for searching, and means for displaying the name of the boarding station together with the name of the prefecture where the station is located and prompting selection when it is found that there are a plurality of station names identical to the station name of the boarding station by this means When the station name of the boarding station is selected by this means, a means for searching for a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the input getting-off station in the selected prefecture, and the input to the prefecture by this means When it is found that there are multiple station names that are the same as the station name of the exit station, the station name of the exit station in the same area as this boarding station is selected with a higher priority than the stations of the same name in other prefectures Hand to display as Providing station name input selection display system in route search, characterized in that it consists of a.
[0022]
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when searching for route guidance for searching for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, the station names of the boarding station and the getting-off station are input, and there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station. Or means for searching for a prefecture where the input boarding station is present when the means is searched for a plurality of station names that are the same as the station name of the getting-off station. A means for searching for a station name in the prefecture and its neighboring prefectures that is the same as the station name of the inputted getting-off station, and by this means, the same as the station name of the inputted getting-out station in the prefecture and its neighboring prefectures. When the station name is searched for, the station name of the same station in the same prefecture as this boarding station has the highest priority compared to the station of the same name in the other prefectures, and the station in the adjacent prefecture. Station name In the following order, to provide a station name input selection display system in route search, characterized in that comprising a means for each display as options.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The station names described below are not limited to railroads, but also include other transportation means such as buses (stops), airplanes (airfields), and ships (ports). In the following description, prefectures may include prefectures.
[0024]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a route guidance server 12 that performs route guidance and a user terminal 13 that requests the server to search for route guidance are connected to the Internet 11. There are usually a large number of these servers and user terminals, but only one is shown here for the sake of simplicity.
[0025]
The route guidance server 12 includes an input / output unit 14 that inputs and outputs to the Internet, a screen configuration unit 15 that configures a screen to be sent to the user terminal, a route search engine 16 for route search for transfer guidance, and a route of the route The database 17, the same prefecture database (DB) 18 in which station names are collected for each prefecture, and the adjacent prefecture DB 19 in which adjacent prefectures are collected. In this route guidance server 12, search conditions such as a boarding station and a getting-off station are received from the user 13 terminal through the input / output unit 14 and searched by the route search engine 16. The result searched by the route search engine 16 is screen-configured by the screen configuration unit 15 and sent to the user terminal through the input / output unit 14.
Within the same prefecture DB 18, there is a table showing the relationship between the name of the station to be searched and the name of the prefecture where the station exists, and the adjacent prefecture DB 19 shows the relationship between the prefectures that become the adjacent prefectures when the prefecture name is selected. There is a table. They are referred to when identifying in which prefecture the inputted station (including the name of the station with the same prefix) exists and in which prefecture the neighboring prefecture of each prefecture is.
[0026]
FIG. 2 shows a flow of processing in an embodiment of a station name input selection display method in the case of route search according to the present invention.
[0027]
When performing a route search, the user first uses the user terminal 13 of FIG. 1 in step S201. First, on the boarding station input screen as shown in FIG. 7A, the boarding station is set as the boarding station at the location 71 and the station name, for example, “ Enter "Akasaka".
[0028]
This station name information is sent from the user terminal 13 to the same prefecture DB 18 in the route guidance server 12. The same prefecture DB 18 stores a table in which station names in each prefecture as shown in FIG. Based on this table, in step S202, it is checked whether there are a plurality of station names that are the same as the input station name, for example, by searching in alphabetical order.
If there is only one search result, the boarding station is uniquely determined, and the process proceeds to step S206.
[0029]
In the case of the table shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the inputted station name “Akasaka” exists in Gunma, Tokyo and Fukuoka prefectures as indicated by D31, D32 and D33.
[0030]
When there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as input in this way, a station having the same name is displayed as an option as a search result in step S203. At this time, although not displayed on the user terminal 13, the name of the searched station is combined with the name of the prefecture where the station is located and displayed on the user terminal 13 as shown in FIG. In this case, Akasaka (Gunma), Akasaka (Yamanashi), Akasaka (Tokyo), and Akasaka (Fukuoka) are displayed in the order of the Japanese syllabary of the prefecture name.
[0031]
Next, in step S204, that is, when the user in this case wants to select Akasaka in Tokyo, among “Akasaka” of the same name, “Akasaka (Tokyo)” in Tokyo is shown in FIG. Move the cursor to to select.
[0032]
Next, it is checked in step S205 whether the boarding station is confirmed. If the boarding station is not confirmed, the process returns to step S201 to prompt the user to re-enter the boarding station. When it is confirmed, the prefecture name D32 (Tokyo) where the boarding station selected in step S204 (final boarding station) is located is temporarily stored as boarding prefecture data in step S206, and the user inputs the stop station. wait.
[0033]
Next, in step S207, it is assumed that, for example, “Fuchu” is input by the user as the name of the disembarking station as shown in FIG. Then, in step S208, it is checked whether there is a station having the same name as the input station name as in the case of boarding station input. At this time, as a search result, a station list that is a combination of a station name searched for in a file (not shown) and a prefecture name where the station is located is temporarily created.
[0034]
If there is only one station name with the same name, the boarding / getting-off station is determined by a unique combination, so the getting-off station is fixed and the route search in step S216 is performed.
[0035]
On the other hand, when a plurality of stations having the same name are searched in step S208, the process proceeds to step S209, and it is checked whether there is a station in the same prefecture as the boarding station. When input is performed as described above, the prefecture name “Tokyo” (D32) of the boarding station temporarily stored in step S206 is compared with the prefecture names of a plurality of the same name stations searched (list of getting off stations). .
[0036]
In this case, in the table shown in FIG. 3, there is a Fuchu entered as a disembarking station in the same prefecture as the Tokyo selected when Akasaka was entered. Therefore, in step S210, as shown in FIG. 3B, the station name “Fuchu (Tokyo)” in the same prefecture name is displayed with the highest priority, followed by “Fuchu racetrack”, “Fuchu.” "Honmachi" is displayed as an option for getting off at the next priority.
[0037]
Next, in step S211, the adjacent prefecture database 19 shown in FIG. 1 checks whether or not a station having the same station name as the getting-off station exists in the adjacent prefecture of the boarding station. An example of a table stored in the adjacent prefecture database 19 is shown in FIG.
[0038]
In the case of the above example, the boarding station is Akasaka in Tokyo, and according to the table shown in FIG. 5, the neighboring prefectures of Tokyo D51 which is the prefecture where the boarding station is located are Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, There are Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture. According to the table in FIG. 3, the station name input as the getting-off station, Fuchu is also in the neighboring prefecture, Chiba prefecture (D35). Therefore, the process moves from step S211 to step S212, and station names in adjacent prefectures are displayed with medium priority. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, Fuchu (Chiba) is displayed next to Fuchuhonmachi.
[0039]
The table in the adjacent prefecture DB 19 shown here defines the range of prefectures to which medium priority is given, and is not limited to the one shown in the figure. The range is changed according to the intention of the system setter. Can be defined.
[0040]
Further, the remaining station name “Fuchu (Hiroshima)” that has not been detected in step S209 and step S210 among the plurality of extracted station names is displayed with low priority as a choice of a remote location from the boarding station in step S213.
[0041]
In the above case, as shown in D36 of FIG. 3, Fuchu entered as a disembarking station is located in Hiroshima prefecture in addition to Tokyo and neighboring prefectures where the boarding station is the same, as shown in FIG. 3 (d). In step S211, Fuchu (Hiroshima) is displayed next.
Up to the above steps, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), they are displayed in the order that is almost closest to the boarding station (prefecture level perspective). In this case, “Fuchu (Tokyo)” at the top does not move the cursor. In step S214, when the user selects the getting-off station, it is confirmed in step S215 whether the getting-off station is confirmed.
[0042]
When the getting-off station is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S216, and the route search engine 16 searches for the route from the boarding station to the getting-off station using the route DB 17 in the route guidance server 12, and the result is obtained in step S217 as the user terminal. 13 is displayed on the screen, and the route search is completed.
[0043]
As described above, in this embodiment, after a search for a candidate for a stop is performed in the same manner as a conventional search for a station with the same name, a boarding is performed from a list of stop stations where the searched station name is combined with the name of the prefecture where the station is located. Since the stations are rearranged in the order of the same prefecture close to the station, adjacent prefectures, and other prefectures, the station with the same name closest to the boarding station selected by the normal user is displayed at the top of the choice display.
[0044]
Normally, in a normal case where the user performs a route search, the user is likely to go to a station in the same prefecture first, and is more likely to go to the next adjacent prefecture. Therefore, according to this embodiment, not only when the prefectures are the same, but also when they are different, the station names are displayed in the display order of the neighboring prefectures and other prefectures, and the order in which they are likely to be selected. The station name is displayed on the display, which is easy for the user to use.
[0045]
By the way, in the said embodiment, when the getting-off station name was input, it was investigated first whether there were multiple stations of the same name in the whole country of Japan. However, without performing this process, it is also possible to search sequentially such as the same prefecture as the prefecture where the boarding station is located, the adjacent prefecture, and the other prefectures. FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of another embodiment of the present invention according to such a procedure.
[0046]
Since the boarding station is confirmed and the station name is temporarily stored in the same manner as in FIG. 2, only the subsequent procedure is shown in FIG. Next to step S206 in FIG. 2, the user enters the station name “Fuchu” at step S607.
[0047]
Then, in step S608, a search is made as to whether there is a station name input to the prefecture temporarily stored as boarding prefecture data in step S206. It is checked whether or not the input station name is in the prefecture. If there is, the process proceeds to step S609, where the name of the station is given priority and displayed in parentheses. On the other hand, if the prefecture does not have an input stop station name, the process proceeds to the next step S610.
[0048]
In the above case, in the table of the same prefecture DB 18 shown in FIG. 3, there is “Fuchu” entered as a disembarking station in the prefecture where Akasaka is located, that is, the station name D37 included in Tokyo D32. ), A prefecture is added to the station name in parentheses from step S609, and the station is displayed as a Fuchu (Tokyo) in the upper blank of the getting-off station option display.
[0049]
In step S610, it is searched whether there is the same station as the getting-off station input in the neighboring prefecture of the prefecture where the boarding station exists.
[0050]
Next, in step S610, the neighboring prefecture (D52) of the boarding station location (D51) shown in the neighboring prefecture database (FIG. 5) is Saitama prefecture, Chiba prefecture, Kanagawa prefecture, Yamanashi prefecture, Nagano prefecture (not applicable except for Chiba). Therefore, a search is made as to whether there is an exit station name inputted in (not shown).
[0051]
In this example, “Fuchu” in Chiba Prefecture is detected, and is displayed next to the upper option written earlier as the intermediate option of the getting-off station option display from step S611 (FIG. 4C). ). If there is no station with the same name in the adjacent prefecture, the process proceeds to step S612, which is the next step.
[0052]
In step S612, the prefectures other than the same prefecture as the boarding station and the neighboring prefectures are searched with reference to each prefecture in the prefecture / station list shown in FIG. In this example, “Fuchu” in Hiroshima Prefecture is searched, and as shown in FIG. 3D in step S613, it is displayed next to the middle option written earlier as the lower option of the getting-off station option display. Is done.
[0053]
If there is no station name input as a disembarkation station in other prefectures, nothing is written and the process proceeds to the next step S614, and the disembarkation station is selected by the user.
[0054]
This completes the search for all prefectures, and the user moves the cursor to enter the final station and confirms the input. When the user determines the getting-off station in step S615, a set of boarding / getting-off stations is determined, so that the process moves to step S616, and the route search engine 16 and the route DB 17 in the route guidance server 12 move from the boarding station to the getting-off station. The route is searched.
[0055]
In step S617, the result is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 13, and the route search ends.
[0056]
According to the second embodiment, the search for the candidate station is first performed from the boarding station and the prefecture, and then the search is performed to the neighboring prefectures and other matters. Similarly, the station with the same name in the prefecture close to the boarding station selected by the normal user is displayed at the top of the option display.
[0057]
According to this embodiment, even if there are a plurality of the same station name in the whole country, since the user departure place is grasped at the prefecture level after the boarding station is confirmed, even if there are a plurality of stations under the same station name, it is near the boarding station In other words, the same name station in the same prefecture or adjacent prefecture is displayed as a choice, so you can easily select the station name you want to select from multiple choices, and in most cases the user's behavior will be displayed at the top Therefore, it is possible to provide a station name selection input display method that is easy to operate.
[0058]
Also, when the user needs to select a stop station at a remote place (other than the selected area), the priority order that associates the display order of the choice of the stop station with the distance to the boarding station as in the present invention. By performing the display, a selection operation that matches the feeling that the user gets off at a distant station is performed, and a station name selection input display method that is easy for the user to use can be provided.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiments, the primary standard for determining whether there is a getting-off station is the prefecture unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a specific area instead of a prefecture, and if there is a stop station in this specified area, it may be displayed with priority.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, a case has been described where there is a station with the same name in Chinese characters as a station name. In such a case, the frequency with a plurality of stations having the same name increases, and the number of cases where the present invention is effective is increased.
[0061]
Since the intended station name is displayed with priority in the present invention, the effect is particularly advantageous when it is inconvenient to select an option with a small display screen and a low ranking, such as a mobile phone, PHS, or mobile terminal device. Is remarkable.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of stations having the same name, the station name of the getting-off station that is likely to be selected by the user is displayed with priority, so that the station name that is easy to select and easy to use in the route search is displayed. An input selection display method and system are obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the processing flow of the method according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table in the same prefecture DB in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for entering and selecting a getting-off station name in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a table in an adjacent prefecture DB in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the processing flow of a method according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a boarding station name input screen and candidate station display examples displayed when a route is selected.
FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a getting-off station name input screen and a candidate station display displayed when a conventional route is selected.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Internet, 12 ... User terminal, 13 ... Route guidance server, 14 ... Input / output part, 15 ... Screen structure part, 16 ... Route search engine, 17 ... Route DB, 18 ... same prefecture DB, 19 ... adjacent prefecture DB.

Claims

It is a station name input selection display method in route guidance that searches for a route by inputting the station name of boarding and getting off,
A search step of searching for an area where the station input as the boarding station exists;
A detection step for detecting whether or not there is a station input as the getting-off station in the area searched by the search step;
When it is detected by this detection step that there is a station input as the getting-off station in the area, the station name in this area is selected as an option with a higher priority than stations of the same name existing in other areas. A station name input selection display method in route search, comprising: a display step for displaying.

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a step of inputting whether the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input and searching for a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station,
A step of searching for an area where the input boarding station exists when it is searched that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by this step;
A step of searching whether there is a first station having the same station name as the input station name in the area where the boarding station searched by this step exists ;
When it is found by this step that there is a first station having the same station name as the input station name in the area where the boarding station exists , the first station of the boarding station in the same area as the boarding station is searched . A station name input selection display method in route search, comprising: a step of displaying as a choice with higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the area where the boarding station exists .

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a step of inputting whether the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input and searching for a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station,
Retrieving the prefectures in the presence of the inputted boarding station when the station of the same station name and station name of detraining station is retrieved that are multiple This step
A search for whether there is a station name identical to the station name of the input getting-off station in the prefecture where the boarding station searched by this step exists ;
When the first station station name and the same station name of the input detraining station to present prefecture of the boarding station that has been retrieved in this step, said detraining station of the departure station of the same prefecture A station name input selection display method in route search, comprising: displaying a first station as an option with a higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the prefecture where the boarding station exists .

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a step of inputting whether the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input and searching for a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the boarding station,
When it is found that there are multiple stations with the same station name as the station name of the boarding station by this step, the step of displaying the station name of those boarding stations together with the area name where those stations exist, and prompting the selection,
When the station name of the boarding station is selected by this step, a step of searching whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the input station name of the getting-off station in the selected area;
When station name and the same station name in this step by the selected and the input to the region the detraining station is searched that there are multiple, the ride the first station station name of detraining station of the departure station and the same area A station name input selection display method in route search, characterized by comprising the step of displaying as a choice with a higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the area where the station exists .

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a step of inputting whether the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input and searching for a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the boarding station,
A step of facilitating display selected with prefecture name of the station of station name of those boarding station their station exists when station station name and the same station name of departure station This step is searched that there is a plurality,
When the station name of the boarding station is selected by this step, a step of searching whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the input getting-off station in the selected prefecture,
In this step, when it is found that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the inputted station name in the prefecture where the getting-off station exists, the station name of the getting-off station existing in the same area as the boarding station is searched . And displaying the first station as an option with a higher priority than the second station of the same name outside the prefecture, and a station name input selection display method in route search.

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a step of inputting whether the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station is input and searching for a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station,
A step of searching for a prefecture where the input boarding station exists when it is found that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by this step;
A step of searching whether there is a station having the same station name as the station name of the input stop station in the prefecture where the boarding station searched by this step exists and its neighboring prefectures;
When it is found by this step that there is a station having the same station name as the station name of the input getting-off station in the prefecture where the boarding station exists and its neighboring prefectures, the getting-off station of the same prefecture as the boarding station The first station with the name of the station has the highest priority compared to the prefecture where the boarding station is located and the second station with the same name outside the neighboring prefecture, and the station name of the next station in the adjacent prefecture . A station name input selection display method in route search, comprising the steps of displaying each station as an option in the following priority order:

A station name input selection display system in route guidance that searches for a route by entering a station name of getting on and off,
When there are a plurality of stations having the same name as the station name input as the getting-off station, means for searching for an area where the station input as the boarding station exists,
When there is a station input as the getting-off station in the area where the boarding station exists searched by this means , the first station of this station name is designated as the second station of the same name outside the area where the boarding station exists. A station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising means for displaying as an option with higher priority than

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a means for searching whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by inputting the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station,
Means for searching for an area where the input boarding station exists when it is searched that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by this means;
Means for searching whether there is a station having the same station name as the station name of the input getting-off station in the area where the boarding station searched by this means exists ;
When it is searched for by this means there is a station station name and the same station name of an existing local on the input detraining station of the boarding station, the first station station name of detraining station of the departure station and the same area Station name input selection display system in route search, characterized in that it comprises means for displaying as an option with higher priority than the second station of the same name outside the area where the boarding station exists .

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a means for searching whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by inputting the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station,
Means for searching for a prefecture where the input boarding station exists when it is searched that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by this means;
Means for searching whether there is a station having the same station name as the station name of the input getting-off station in the prefecture where the boarding station searched by this means exists ;
By this means, when it is found that there is a station having the same station name as the input station name in the prefecture where the boarding station exists , the first station name of the station in the same prefecture as the boarding station is searched . Station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising: means for displaying as a choice with higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the prefecture where the boarding station is located .

When searching for route guidance for searching the route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a means for searching for whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the boarding station name by inputting the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station,
Means for prompting selection by displaying the station names of those boarding stations together with the area names where those stations are located when it is found that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the boarding station by this means;
Means for searching if there is a plurality of stations having the same station name as the input station name when the station name of the boarding station is selected by this means;
When it is found by this means that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the input station name in the selected area , the first station having the station name of the station in the same area as the boarding station is selected. A station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising means for displaying as an option with higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the area where the boarding station exists .

When searching for route guidance for searching the route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a means for searching for whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the boarding station name by inputting the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station,
When it is found that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the boarding station by this means, the station name of those boarding stations is displayed together with the name of the prefecture where those stations exist, and prompts selection.
Means for searching if there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the input station name in the selected prefecture when the station name of the boarding station is selected by this means;
When it is found by this means that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the input station name in the prefecture where the boarding station exists , the first station name of the station in the same area as the boarding station is searched . Station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising: means for displaying as a choice with higher priority than a second station of the same name outside the prefecture where the boarding station is located .

When searching for route guidance to search for a route from the boarding station to the getting-off station, a means for searching whether there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by inputting the station name of the boarding station and the getting-off station,
Means for searching for a prefecture where the input boarding station exists when it is searched that there are a plurality of stations having the same station name as the station name of the getting-off station by this means;
Means for searching whether there is a station name identical to the station name of the input exit station in the prefecture where the boarding station searched by this step exists and its neighboring prefectures;
By this means, when it is found that there is a station having the same station name as the station name of the input getting-off station in the prefecture where the boarding station exists and its neighboring prefectures, it is a getting-off station in the same prefecture as the boarding station. The first station with the name of the station has the highest priority compared to the prefecture where the boarding station is located and the second station with the same name outside the neighboring prefecture, and the station name of the next station in the adjacent prefecture . Station name input selection display system in route search, characterized by comprising: means for displaying each station as an option in the following priority order.