JP4276186B2 - Coordinate assigning device, coordinate assigning method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for associating position coordinates based on address information.

  Conventionally, in the examination of marketing and sales plans, distributions obtained by showing customer residences on a map are effectively used. In recent years, since electronic maps have become widespread, a method of displaying a customer's residence distribution on an electronic map based on data for managing customer addresses and the like has also been adopted. In order to display the customer's residence distribution on the electronic map, it is necessary to give position coordinates such as latitude and longitude to the customer's address in advance. Position coordinates are assigned using a database that associates addresses with position coordinates.

  However, the above database does not necessarily cover all addresses. Also, the customer's address itself may be inaccurate. For these reasons, accurate position coordinates may not be given to customer addresses. Conventionally, when a position coordinate that completely matches the customer's address cannot be obtained, a representative point given to a chome, a town, or the like may be given.

  As described above, when position coordinates that do not necessarily correspond accurately to the customer's address are given, the credibility and effectiveness of the position coordinates may be impaired. In consideration of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to improve the effectiveness of a position coordinate given based on an address.

  The present invention is configured as a coordinate assigning device that associates position coordinates based on address information by including an input unit, a coordinate specifying unit, an index setting unit, and an output unit.

  The input unit inputs address information. Address information may be input on a case-by-case basis, or a plurality of addresses may be input together.

  The coordinate specifying unit searches for the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information. For this search, a database in which address information and position coordinates are associated in advance is referred to. The search is also performed with partial matching allowed. That is, when the position coordinates completely corresponding to the address information cannot be obtained, the search is performed by relaxing the conditions such as the address and the chome. Under the relaxed condition, for example, the position coordinates of the representative point with respect to a certain region corresponding to the condition can be given. Partial match means that the search is performed with relaxed conditions so as to include at least the residence corresponding to the address information.

  The index setting unit sets an accuracy index representing the accuracy of the specific result obtained in this way. The accuracy index can take various settings, as will be exemplified later.

  The output unit outputs position coordinates and an accuracy index. As long as the position coordinates and the accuracy index are output as associated data, the output mode is not limited.

  According to the coordinate providing device of the present invention, an accuracy index is given to the position coordinates. Therefore, it is possible to provide a determination material for objectively determining the credibility of the assigned position coordinates to the user. The user can effectively use the position coordinates based on this credibility.

  In the coordinate assigning device of the present invention, the accuracy index can take various forms.

  As a 1st aspect, the number of residences which satisfy the conditions in a search can be acquired from a database, and an accuracy index can be set based on this number of residences. The number of residences may be used, or the probability of adaptation expressed using the number of residences as a denominator may be used.

  As a 2nd aspect, an accuracy index can be set based on the parameter showing the area of the area including the place where the residence which satisfies the conditions in search exists. The area of the region may be used, or the diameter of a circle including the region or a circle having an area equivalent to the region may be used. The area is not limited to a circle, and various shapes such as a rectangle can be applied.

  When the address information is hierarchically configured based on administrative districts, as a third aspect, an accuracy index can be set based on the administrative district layer used for the search. The address information is usually hierarchically composed of “prefectures”, “city counties”, “machimura large letters”, “chome letters”, and the like. In such a configuration, the width of the corresponding region varies depending on the hierarchy. Therefore, the hierarchy used for the search can be used as an accuracy index. For example, it is possible to determine that the position coordinates given in the “chome character” hierarchy are more accurate than the position coordinates given in the “machimura large letter” hierarchy.

  In the coordinate assigning device of the present invention, in addition to the accuracy index, a specific type of base name near the representative point may be output. Such a base name can be extracted by referring to the map database. The specific type can be arbitrarily set. For example, facilities related to transportation such as a station or a bus stop may be extracted. Further, when there are many branches for a specific company, each branch may be extracted as a base. Moreover, it is good also as what attaches a telephone number with a coordinate. The telephone number can be obtained by referring to a telephone number database in which address information and a telephone number are associated in advance. By providing these pieces of information together, position coordinates can be used more effectively in business plans and the like.

  The coordinate assigning device of the present invention can be configured using a computer that includes various databases and operates stand-alone. Moreover, you may comprise as a system which connected the some computer with the network. You may comprise as a server which receives input of address information etc. via a network, and returns position coordinates etc.

  The present invention can also be configured as a map display device that displays a representative point on a map based on a position coordinate database in which the position coordinate of the representative point is associated with an accuracy index. As a position coordinate database, the database which stored the data produced | generated by the above-mentioned coordinate provision apparatus can be used, for example.

  In such a map display device, it is preferable that the representative point to be displayed can be controlled based on the accuracy index. This control inputs a selection condition for selecting a representative point to be displayed based on an accuracy index, extracts a representative point corresponding to the selection condition from the position coordinate database, and superimposes the representative points extracted together with the map. It is realized by displaying. By controlling the display in this way, the position of the representative point can be visually grasped according to the accuracy index.

  The present invention can be configured in various modes as well as the above-described coordinate providing device and map display device. For example, you may comprise as the coordinate provision method which provides the coordinate corresponding to address information using a computer. Moreover, you may comprise as a computer program for making a computer implement | achieve this coordinate provision function, and a recording medium which recorded this computer program.

  Here, as a recording medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of a computer (RAM or ROM) A variety of computer-readable media, such as memory) and external storage devices.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. System configuration:
B. Position coordinate setting process:
C. Accuracy indicator:
C1. Accuracy index based on the number of houses:
C2. Accuracy indicators based on area size:
D. Map display:
E. effect:
F. Variations:

A. System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coordinate providing system as an embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where a system is configured by using two computers 100 and 200 connected via a network is illustrated. It may be configured by a single computer. The computer 100 functions as a coordinate assigning device that assigns position coordinates based on an address. The computer 200 functions as a terminal of a user who requests the provision of coordinates, and transmits a customer address file to the computer 100 and receives a position coordinate assignment result. Moreover, based on the obtained position coordinates, there is also a function of displaying the customer's residence on a map.

  In the following examples, for convenience of explanation, the term “residence” is used, but this does not necessarily mean only the building in which it resides, but it means a general building where an address is given. Yes. Further, although the term “customer” is used, it is not necessarily limited to a person who has a business relationship, but means a general person to whom position coordinates are given.

  In the computer 100, the illustrated functional blocks are configured as software. Further, an address database 106 that stores addresses and position coordinates in association with each other and a telephone number database 107 that stores addresses and telephone numbers in association with each other are provided. The address database 106 and the telephone number database 107 may be provided by a recording medium such as a server separate from the computer 100 or a CD-ROM. In the present embodiment, latitude and longitude are used as position coordinates, but various coordinates such as orthogonal coordinates can be used. The display method of latitude and longitude can be arbitrarily set.

  The address file input unit 102 has a function of inputting an address file from the user's computer 200 via the network. An address file is a file in which a customer is associated with an address. For example, an interface screen that can be viewed with a browser is provided to the user's computer 200, and an address file can be acquired through the interface screen.

  The position search unit 104 has a function of searching for position coordinates based on the address file. This search is performed with reference to the address database 106 as appropriate. The location search unit 104 also has a function of searching the telephone number database 107. The accuracy index setting unit 108 sets an accuracy index for determining accuracy with respect to the position coordinate search result. The position coordinate output unit 110 has a function of transmitting the position coordinates and the accuracy index to the user's computer 200 in the form of a position coordinate file.

  In the user's computer 200, the functional blocks shown are configured in software. Here, only functional blocks for displaying the customer's residence on the map based on the position coordinates are shown. A map database 204 for displaying a map is also provided. The map database 204 may be provided by a recording medium such as a server separate from the computer 200 or a CD-ROM.

  The position coordinate file input unit 202 has a function of reading a position coordinate file transmitted from the computer 100. The command input unit 206 inputs various commands related to designation of a region to be displayed on a map, a display scale, and the like based on operations of a keyboard and a mouse. The map display unit 208 refers to the map database 204 to display a map, and displays the customer's residence on the map based on the position coordinate file.

B. Position coordinate setting process:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the position coordinate setting process. This is a process executed by the CPU of the computer 100 functioning as a coordinate assigning device.

  When this process is started, the CPU inputs an address file (step S10), and performs a position search process and a flag setting process (step S12). The position search is performed with reference to the address database 106 shown above. Here, in the address database 106, not all addresses and position coordinates are necessarily associated with each other. In addition, the address registered in the address file may contain an error. Due to these factors, when a position coordinate that completely matches the address cannot be obtained, the CPU searches for the position coordinate while relaxing the address condition according to the hierarchy of the administrative district. The flag is information indicating in which hierarchy the position coordinates are specified. Such a flag can be an accuracy index for determining the accuracy of position coordinates.

An example of flag setting is shown in the figure.
Flag = 0 means that in the address database 106, position coordinates having completely matched addresses up to the issue number have been obtained.
Flag = 1 means that the position coordinates have been obtained with the neighboring number of the address information.
Flag = 2 means that the position coordinates are obtained in block units. In this case, the position coordinates of the representative point set in the block are given.
Flag = 3 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set in units of characters and characters are given.
Flag = 4 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set in the unit of capital letters are given.
Flag = 5 means that the position coordinates of the representative point set in units of municipalities are given.

  Next, in order to set the accuracy index of the position coordinates, the CPU searches for the number of residences that match the condition and calculates the probability (step S14). In order to set an accuracy index from another viewpoint, the area of a region that matches the condition is calculated, and the radius of a circle that includes the region is calculated (step S16). These processes will be described in detail later.

  When the search for the position coordinates and the setting of the accuracy index are completed in this way, the CPU next searches for the nearest base and telephone number (step S18). The type of base to be searched can be specified by the user together with the provision of the address file. For example, when a setting is made to search for a station as a base, the nearest station nearby is searched based on the position coordinates set in step S12. In addition, as a base, it is possible to set a branch concerning the sales of the user. The telephone number search is performed with reference to the telephone number database 107 described above. As in the case of providing the coordinates, the search may be performed by relaxing the coincidence of the address. However, in the present embodiment, the telephone number that completely matches the address is presented due to the nature of the information called the telephone number. If no exact phone number is obtained, the phone number is not presented. The base and telephone number search processing may be omitted depending on user settings or the like.

  The CPU associates the information obtained above, that is, the position coordinates, flags, two types of accuracy indexes, the nearest base, and the telephone number, and outputs them as a position coordinate file (step S20). It is not always necessary to output all of the flags, the two types of accuracy indicators, the nearest base, and the telephone number, and at least a part can be selected as appropriate.

C. Accuracy indicator:
C1. Accuracy index based on the number of houses:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the number of residences. This index corresponds to the accuracy index set in step S14 of the position coordinate setting process (FIG. 2).

  In the upper part of the figure, a schematic map around the customer residence B to which position coordinates are to be assigned is displayed. As illustrated, the customer residence B is one of six cases existing along a so-called bag path. As described above, in the residence along the culvert path, an address may be given with the same number. In such a case, even if the position coordinates of the customer residence B are obtained by coincidence up to the number (flag = 0), there are six residences that satisfy the condition. Therefore, as shown in the lower part of the figure, the number of residences “6” or the probability “1/6” that the position coordinate corresponds to the customer residence B is an accuracy index. Any of them may be used.

  Although FIG. 3 illustrates the case where there are a plurality of residences that match up to the issue numbers, the accuracy index based on the number of residences can be similarly set for other tiers. For example, when the position coordinates are obtained for each block (flag = 2), the number of residences existing in the block or the probability obtained based on the number of residences can be used as an accuracy index.

C2. Accuracy indicators based on area size:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an accuracy index based on the area size. This index corresponds to the accuracy index set in step S16 of the position coordinate setting process (FIG. 2).

  In the figure, the case where the position coordinates are obtained with the block C as a unit (flag 2) is illustrated for the customer residence. In the upper part of the figure, a map of the customer residence and the neighborhood of the block C is shown. In general, it can be said that there is a high possibility that the larger the block is, the larger the difference between the obtained position coordinates and the position coordinates of the customer residence is. As the accuracy index, for example, as shown in the lower part of the figure, the area of the block C, the radius R of a circle that is almost circumscribed by the block C, and the like can be used. A circle radius equivalent to the area of the block C may be used. Not only a circular shape but also various regions such as a rectangular shape can be applied. In addition, an accuracy index based on the number of residences and the probability may be set.

  Although FIG. 4 illustrates the case where the position coordinates are obtained for each block, the accuracy index can be set in the same manner when the position coordinates are obtained at other levels.

D. Map display:
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the map display process. This process is executed by the CPU of the user's computer 200.

  When this process is started, the CPU inputs the designation of the display position and scale (step S30). Further, the housing selection conditions are input (step S32). The selection condition is set based on an accuracy index. For example, a flag value or range to be displayed can be given as a selection condition.

  The CPU extracts a residence that meets this selection condition (step S34) and displays a map (step S36). The extraction and display of the residence can be performed based on the position coordinate file. That is, a residence whose accuracy recorded in the position coordinate file satisfies the selection condition is extracted as a display target, and a mark for residence is displayed at the position coordinate recorded for the residence.

  The difference in the display mode according to the selection conditions is illustrated in the figure. For example, consider two selection conditions of flag = 0 and flag ≦ 2. In the example in the figure, when flag = 0, a pin-shaped mark is displayed for two houses corresponding to this condition. In the case of flag ≦ 2, a large number of residences corresponding to flag = 0, 1, 2 are displayed. The shape, color, etc. of the mark may be changed with the flags 0, 1 and 2. Here, the case where the flag is used as the selection condition is illustrated, but another accuracy index may be used as the selection condition.

E. effect:
According to the system of the present embodiment described above, an accuracy index is presented together with the position coordinates. Therefore, the user can objectively determine the accuracy of the set position coordinates, and can use the position coordinates in consideration of the error.

  In the system of this embodiment, the nearest base and telephone number are also presented. Therefore, it is possible to further effectively utilize the position coordinates, such as checking the distribution of customers in association with the bases, or contacting the telephone. In this case, the accuracy index of the position coordinate can also be used as an accuracy index for the nearest base.

  At the time of map display, since the display of the residence can be controlled according to the selection condition based on the accuracy index, the distribution of the residence can be visually grasped according to the accuracy index.

F. Variations:
In the embodiment, the case where the position coordinate is searched from the address file and the accuracy index is set is illustrated. The present invention can also be configured as a system for setting an accuracy index for a file whose position coordinates are already set for an address file. In such a case, for the data for which the flag shown in step S12 of FIG. When the flag is not set, the accuracy index can be set by re-execution of the entire process of FIG.

  In the embodiment, the accuracy index display can take various forms. In addition to the map display shown in FIG. 5, it may be presented in the table format shown in FIG. Although FIG. 5 illustrates the selection condition based on the accuracy index, the selection condition based on the nearest base may be used together.

    Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above control processing may be realized by hardware in addition to software.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the coordinate provision system as an Example. It is a flowchart of a position coordinate setting process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the accuracy parameter | index based on the number of residences. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the accuracy parameter | index based on the area width. It is a flowchart of a map display process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Computer 102 ... Address file input part 104 ... Position search part 106 ... Address database 107 ... Telephone number database 108 ... Accuracy index setting part 110 ... Position coordinate output part 200 ... Computer 202 ... Position coordinate file input part 204 ... Map database 206 ... Command input unit 208 ... Map display unit

Claims (4)

A coordinate assigning device that associates position coordinates based on address information,
An input unit for inputting an address file including address information and position coordinates corresponding to the address information;
Referring to the address information and the position coordinates and the pre-association database, and the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information, and the coordinate specifying unit configured to specify by searching even partial match to permit,
An index setting unit that sets an accuracy index representing the accuracy of the specific result;
An output unit for setting and outputting the accuracy index in the input address file ;
With
The index setting unit
(i) A process of obtaining the number of residences satisfying the conditions in the search from the database, and setting the accuracy index based on the number of residences;
(ii) a process of setting the accuracy index based on a parameter representing a size of an area including a place where a residence satisfying the condition in the search exists;
(iii) Processing for setting the accuracy index based on the administrative division layer used for the search when the search is performed using the address information configured hierarchically based on the administrative division When,
A coordinate assigning device that executes any one of the processes. It is the coordinate provision apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The coordinate assigning device is constructed as a server connected to a network,
The input unit receives the address file transmitted from the other computer to the server via the network;
The said output part is a coordinate provision apparatus which outputs the address file in which the said accuracy index was set to another computer via the said network. A coordinate assigning method that is executed by a computer and associates position coordinates based on address information,
Inputting an address file including address information and position coordinates corresponding to the address information;
Referring to the address information and the position coordinates and the pre-association database, and the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information, and specifying by searching even partial match to permit,
Setting an accuracy index representing the accuracy of the specific result;
Setting and outputting the accuracy index in the input address file ,
The accuracy index setting step includes:
(i) obtaining the number of residences satisfying the conditions in the search from the database, and setting the accuracy index based on the number of residences;
(ii) setting the accuracy index based on a parameter representing a size of an area including a place where a residence satisfying the condition in the search exists;
(iii) a step of setting the accuracy index based on a layer of the administrative district used for the search when the search is performed using the address information configured hierarchically based on the administrative district When,
One of the methods for giving coordinates. A computer program for associating position coordinates based on address information using a computer,
A function of inputting an address file including address information and position coordinates corresponding to the address information;
Referring to advance correspondence database and address information and the position coordinates, a function of the position coordinates of the representative point corresponding to the input address information, identifying by searching even partial match to permit,
A function of setting an accuracy index representing the accuracy of the specific result;
A computer program for realizing a function of setting and outputting the accuracy index in the input address file by a computer,
The accuracy index setting function is:
(i) a function of acquiring the number of residences satisfying the conditions in the search from the database, and setting the accuracy index based on the number of residences;
(ii) a function of setting the accuracy index based on a parameter representing a size of an area including a place where a residence satisfying the condition in the search exists;
(iii) A function of setting the accuracy index based on the administrative district layer used for the search when the search is performed using the address information configured hierarchically based on the administrative district When,
A computer program that is either

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