JP6583604B2 - Map file acquisition system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to map acquisition, and more specifically, to a map file acquisition system that can download a map file in the vicinity without accurately grasping its current position.

  When traveling on unguided land, maps have been used as an indispensable item, but the medium has changed dramatically. That is, maps using paper media have been mainstream before, but maps as electronic media are becoming mainstream nowadays. In addition, paper media maps are often viewed by hand, but electronic media maps are used on personal computers (PCs), tablet-type terminals such as ipad (registered trademark), smartphones, or PDA (Personal Data Assistance). ) Etc.

  For example, when foreigners visiting Japan use smartphones, they use SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) contracted with a destination communication carrier or mobile data communication by data roaming using a SIM contracted with a communication carrier in a country of residence. It can be used. However, in order to use SIM, a predetermined procedure is required and additional costs are required. When mobile data communication using data roaming is used, a high data communication cost must be paid. Therefore, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) that enables the use of a smartphone without relying on SIM or mobile data communication is expected as a promising method. However, in Japan, a wireless LAN communication network is used so that it can be used comfortably everywhere. It is not yet fully maintained.

  By the way, when trying to check a surrounding map with a smartphone, a map file including the current location is downloaded and used. Alternatively, if a wide-area map is already stored in the smartphone, the surroundings of the current location are specified and enlarged. However, it is not easy for foreign tourists and other people who are unfamiliar with the land to grasp their current location, that is, it is not so easy to download a map around the current location or to enlarge the surroundings of the current location. is not.

  Of course, if a satellite positioning system GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) such as GPS (Global Positioning System) is used, the current location can be specified without requiring the user's knowledge and judgment, but the satellite positioning system. The range in which GNSS can be used is limited to an area where satellite radio waves can be received such as outdoors, and it is difficult to specify the current location by the satellite positioning system GNSS indoors.

  On the other hand, the need for indoor navigation is increasing recently, and various indoor positioning techniques have been researched and developed to meet this need. Indoor positioning methods include, for example, a positioning method using an access point of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), an IMES (Indoor Messaging System) in which positioning is performed by placing a radio wave transmitter in the room, and a fast blinking LED as a signal Examples include a positioning method using visible light communication and a positioning method using infrared communication.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for allowing a mobile terminal to acquire a web site related to the current location by using a MAC (Media Access Control) address obtained from a wireless LAN access point or an SSID (Service Set Identifier). is doing.

JP 2014-123842 A

  Patent Document 1 uses an “address correspondence table” in which a MAC address of a wireless LAN access point and a web site page of a store in the vicinity of the wireless LAN access point are associated in advance. This is a technique in which a proxy server receives a MAC address and transmits a web site page corresponding to the MAC address to the mobile terminal.

  Although it is difficult to measure the current location with high accuracy, the method using the MAC address and SSID assigned to the wireless LAN access point as in Patent Document 1 is relatively easy without requiring special equipment or applications. This is an effective method in that the position can be measured. However, the current arrangement density of wireless LAN access points is not sufficient, and the connection is intermittent when used by a moving person.

  As described above, when a surrounding map is to be confirmed with a smartphone or the like, it is common to download a map file or to enlarge and use a stored wide-area map. However, the connection to the wireless LAN access point is intermittent therefore, will not be connected areas can not download the map, or the current position can not be determined whether to enlarge where can not be grasped. As a result, a person who is unfamiliar with the land cannot smoothly move to the target location.

  An object of the present invention is to solve a problem of the prior art, that is, to provide a map file acquisition system capable of continuously checking a map without interruption even indoors where a satellite positioning system GNSS cannot be used. It is.

  The invention of the present application is considered to be in the vicinity of the access point while it can be connected to the access point, and focuses on the point of downloading the map around the access point while it can be connected. It is an invention made based on an idea that did not exist.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention includes a “map storage unit” that stores a plurality of divided map files (map files obtained by dividing a predetermined range into planes) and a “terminal” that can be connected to an access point. . Among these, when connecting to the access point, the terminal acquires a connection point identifier (identifying the access point) and transmits the connection point identifier to the map storage means. Further, the terminal downloads the divided map file corresponding to the connection point identifier from the map storage means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention can also include a connection point information storage means in addition to the map storage means and the terminal. This connection point information storage means stores connection point information (including a connection point identifier of the access point and installation position information). In this case, when the terminal is connected to the access point, the terminal acquires the connection point identifier, transmits the connection point identifier to the connection point information storage unit, and acquires the access point installation position information from the connection point information storage unit. Further, the terminal transmits the acquired installation position information to the map storage means, and downloads a divided map file corresponding to the installation position information from the map storage means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention can also be provided with a terminal having destination input means and route search means. The destination input means inputs the destination, and the route search means searches for the route to the destination based on the destination and access point installation position information. The terminal in this case transmits the searched route information to the map storage means, and downloads a divided map file including this route from the map storage means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention can also include a terminal having destination input means. The terminal in this case transmits the input destination information to the map storage means, and downloads a divided map file including the destination from the map storage means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention may further include destination storage means and destination candidate guidance means. The destination storage means stores the destinations inputted by the destination input means and their input order, and the destination candidate guidance means guides the next destination candidate based on the inputted destinations. It is. The destination candidate guidance means, when a destination is input by the destination input means, searches for the next destination candidate based on the stored destination and the input order, and guides the destination candidate to the terminal. is there.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention may further include destination storage means and destination candidate search means. The destination storage means stores the destinations input by the destination input means and their input order, and the destination candidate search means searches for the next destination candidate based on the input destinations. It is. When the destination input means inputs the destination using the destination input means, the destination candidate search means searches for the next destination candidate based on the stored destination and the input order, and stores the divided map file including the destination candidate in the map. It is downloaded from the means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention can also be provided with a map storage means for storing divided map files of two or more different scales. The terminal in this case downloads a plurality of types of scaled divided map files corresponding to the connection point identifier (or installation position information) from the map storage means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention may further include a terminal having further features. In this case, the terminal downloads the divided map file corresponding to the connection point identifier (or the installation position information) and the peripheral divided map file set in advance for the divided map file from the map storage unit.

The map file acquisition system of the present invention has the following effects.
(1) A special device or application is not required, the approximate current location can be grasped relatively easily, and a map around the current location can be acquired.
(2) By downloading the map file, the map can be confirmed even when the access point cannot be connected while moving.
(3) By providing the destination input means and the route search means, a necessary map file to the destination can be acquired, so even unguided land can be surely moved to the destination.

The flowchart which shows the flow of the main processes of the map file acquisition system of this invention. The block diagram which shows the basic composition of the map file acquisition system 100 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the condition which acquires the division | segmentation map file near a user's present location. Explanatory drawing which shows the division | segmentation map of the periphery of the division | segmentation map near present location. Explanatory drawing which shows the map of a small scale. Explanatory drawing which shows the condition where the user who moved acquires the division | segmentation map file of a different place. The flowchart which shows the flow of the main processes of the map file acquisition system provided with the destination input means. The block diagram which shows the structure of the map file acquisition system provided with the destination input means. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which designated the point on the displayed map and input the destination. Explanatory drawing which shows the some division | segmentation map file containing the path | route searched by the path | route search means.

  An example of an embodiment of the map file acquisition system of the present invention will be described along the flow shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the main processing flow of the map file acquisition system of the present invention. Here, for convenience, a tablet-type terminal such as iPad (registered trademark), a smartphone, or a PDA (hereinafter collectively referred to as “portable terminal”) (hereinafter referred to as “user”). However, the case where it moves to the destination is demonstrated to an example.

  When the user approaches the wireless access point, the portable terminal is connected to the wireless access point (Step 10). FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the map file acquisition system 100 of the present invention. In this figure, a portable terminal 101 constituting the map file acquisition system 100 is connected to a wireless access point 200. Examples of the wireless access point 200 include WiMAX (registered trademark) and ZIGBEE (registered trademark), as well as wireless LANs such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity).

  By the way, the number of wireless access points 200 that can be connected to the portable terminal 101 is not limited to one. Here, since the installation position of the wireless access point 200 is regarded as the current location of the user, when there are a plurality of connectable wireless access points 200, it is preferable to connect to the wireless access point 200 installed closest to the user. . However, the distance between the user position and each wireless access point 200 is not obtained. Therefore, the strength (level) of the received signal from each wireless access point 200 is compared, and the one with the highest reception level is estimated as the closest wireless access point 200. In this case, the wireless access point selection unit included in the portable terminal 101 can automatically extract the highest reception level and connect to the wireless access point 200 corresponding to the reception level. Alternatively, each reception level can be displayed in a list on the portable terminal 101, and one of them can be designated by the user to connect to a desired wireless access point 200.

  When the portable terminal 101 is connected to the wireless access point 200, the portable terminal 101 acquires the connection point identifier of the wireless access point 200 as shown in FIG. 2 (Step 20). This connection point identifier is unique to the wireless access point 200 and can be exemplified by a MAC address, an SSID, and the like.

  When the portable terminal 101 acquires the connection point identifier of the wireless access point 200, the mobile terminal 101 inquires of the connection point information storage unit 102 about "access point installation position information" corresponding to the connection point identifier (Step 30). The connection point information storage unit 102 stores a table (table) in which the connection point identifier of the wireless access point 200 and its installation position information (that is, connection point information) are associated with each other. The point information storage means 102 or the control means provided in another device selects the installation position information of the corresponding wireless access point 200 based on the connection point identifier and causes the portable terminal 101 to acquire it (Step 40).

  When the portable terminal 101 acquires the installation position information of the wireless access point 200, it inquires of the map storage means 103 about the “division map file” corresponding to the installation position information (Step 50). Here, the divided map file will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which a divided map file near the current location of the user is acquired. As shown in this figure, a diagram obtained as a result of dividing a predetermined range into a plurality of planes (in this figure, 16 divisions) is a divided map, and a map that can be processed by a computer is a divided map file.

  The map storage means 103 stores a table (table) in which the installation position information and the divided map file are associated with each other, and the portable terminal 101 or the map storage means 103 or a control means provided in another device includes: A corresponding divided map file is selected based on the installation position information and downloaded to the portable terminal 101 (Step 60). In FIG. 3, the user connects to the wireless access point 200 at the point A, and acquires the divided map file Ms11 including the location.

  Up to this point, the installation position information is acquired based on the connection point identifier (Step 30 to Step 40), and the case of acquiring the divided map file using the installation position information as a clue has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the connection point identifier is used as a clue. A divided map file can also be obtained directly. That is, when the portable terminal 101 is connected to the wireless access point 200 (Step 10) and the connection point identifier is acquired (Step 20), the map storage unit 103 is inquired of the divided map file corresponding to the connection point identifier (Step 50). A predetermined divided map file is downloaded. In this case, the map storage unit 103 stores a table (table) in which the connection point identifier and the divided map file are associated with each other.

  When the divided map file near the current location is downloaded to the portable terminal 101, the divided map file is stored in the storage means included in the portable terminal 101 and displayed on the display means such as a display (Step 70). At this time, one divided map file near the current location can be downloaded as shown in FIG. 3, but a neighboring divided map file can also be downloaded together as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the divided map file Ms11 near the current location and the divided map files Ms12, Ms21, and Ms22 around it are downloaded. In this case, it is preferable to previously set a peripheral divided map file to be downloaded together for each divided map file.

  Further, the divided map file to be downloaded is not limited to a single scale, and two or more types of divided map files can be downloaded. The divided map shown in FIG. 5 has a scale of 1/1000, for example, and has a wide range of information, but detailed information cannot be obtained. On the other hand, the divided map shown in FIG. 3 has a scale of 1/500, for example, and although detailed information can be obtained, the range is limited. If both the small scale (1 / 1,000) and large scale (1/500) divided map files can be downloaded, it is preferable that a wide range can be confirmed and detailed information can be obtained. In this case, the map storage means 103 stores two or more types of divided map files with different sizes for the same place.

  When a divided map file near or around the current location is downloaded and further stored in the storage means of the portable terminal 101, the user can move depending on the information. Even if the connection with the wireless access point 200 is interrupted during movement, since the divided map file is already stored in the portable terminal 101, the information can always be confirmed. When the user continues to move and can connect to the wireless access point 200 at a different location, Steps 10 to 70 in FIG. 1 are repeated, and the divided map file at the different location is downloaded. In FIG. 6, the user who has moved to the vicinity of the point B has acquired the divided map file Ms33 in the vicinity.

  If the divided map file downloaded every time it moves is stored, the capacity of the storage means of the portable terminal 101 may be insufficient. Therefore, when the divided map file is stored so as to exceed the cache capacity of the portable terminal 101, the portable terminal 101 may be set so as to be deleted in order from the old divided map file.

  The map file acquisition system 100 of the present invention can also incorporate a mechanism for downloading a map around a designated destination. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main processing flow of the map file acquisition system 100 provided with the destination input means, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the main configuration. The mechanism for specifying the destination will be described below.

  When the user approaches the wireless access point 200 and the portable terminal is connected to the wireless access point 200 (Step 10), the user designates the destination that is the current destination (Step 80). The destination is specified using the destination input means provided in the portable terminal 101. As a method, a desired store is selected from the list or displayed on the display means of the portable terminal 101. A point on the map can be designated, and various methods conventionally used can be adopted. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a destination is input by designating a point on the displayed map. When the destination is input, position information such as the coordinates (latitude / longitude) of the point is acquired (Step 90).

  As shown in FIG. 8, the map file acquisition system 100 of the present invention can also be provided with destination storage means 104 for storing the input destination. Usually, a plurality of destinations are set during movement, such as “after moving to point A, go to point B and then eat at point C”. That is, in one process (for example, movement within a predetermined time), there are a plurality of destinations input by the destination input means. If this destination and the input order of destinations (such as point B after point A) are stored in the destination storage means 104, destination candidates (one or more) will be presented from the next time. Alternatively, a divided map file containing the destination candidate can be downloaded.

  For example, the destination candidate guidance unit shown in FIG. 8 stores the past history input next to the destination from the destination storage unit 104 according to the input destination (or the estimated current location of the user). It is possible to search and display the list as “destination candidates” in descending order of input. In addition, the destination candidate guide means can also present a wireless access point 200 close to (for example, within a predetermined range) the connected wireless access point 200 (that is, the current location of the user) as a destination candidate. In this case, a nearby wireless access point 200 can be used as a destination candidate regardless of the input destination, or the wireless access point 200 based on the input destination (for example, in that direction) Can also be a land candidate.

  Alternatively, the destination candidate search unit shown in FIG. 8 stores the past history input next to the destination from the destination storage unit 104 in accordance with the input destination (or the estimated current location of the user). A search is performed to extract “destination candidates” that are frequently input, and a divided map file including the destination candidates is downloaded from the map storage unit 103 to the portable terminal 101.

  When the portable terminal 101 acquires the installation location information of the connected wireless access point 200 (Step 40) and further acquires the location information of the destination (Step 90), the mobile terminal 101 searches for a route using these as the start and end points (Step 100). . The route search is performed by route search means provided in the portable terminal 101 (FIG. 8). At this time, it is preferable to select a “route” connecting the starting point and the ending point based on information such as roads and passages prepared in advance.

  When the portable terminal 101 searches for a route by the route search means, the map storage means 103 is inquired of the divided map file including the route (Step 50), the corresponding divided map file is downloaded (Step 60), and is displayed on the display means. (Step 70). In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of divided map files (Ms12, Ms13, Ms23, Ms33, Ms34 in the figure) may be downloaded. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a plurality of divided map files including routes searched by the route search means.

  Up to this point, the case where a plurality of divided map files including the searched route are downloaded has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 9, only the divided map file including the input destination is downloaded. It is also possible to have a mechanism that does not download the divided map file along the way. Therefore, in this case, the portable terminal 101 does not necessarily need to have a route search means.

  The map file acquisition system of the present invention can be used not only indoors but also in a wide range outdoors. It can be used effectively for various people who have portable terminals, and is more effective when used by people who are not familiar with the land, such as foreign tourists.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Map file acquisition system 101 Portable terminal 102 Connection point information storage means 103 Map storage means 104 Destination storage means 200 Wireless access point

Claims (5)

Map storage means for storing a plurality of divided map files obtained by dividing a predetermined range into planes;
A terminal that can be connected to an access point;
Destination storage means for storing the destinations input by the destination input means provided in the terminal and the input order;
A destination candidate guidance means for guiding a next destination candidate,
When the terminal is connected to the access point, the terminal acquires a connection point identifier that identifies the access point, and further transmits the connection point identifier to the map storage unit, and the division corresponding to the connection point identifier. Download the map file from the map storage means,
When the user inputs a destination that is the current destination by the destination input means, the destination candidate guidance means selects the next destination candidate based on the past input order stored in the destination storage means. Searching , guiding an access point within a predetermined range from the connected access point as a next destination candidate, and displaying the destination candidate on the terminal,
A map file acquisition system characterized by that. Map storage means for storing a plurality of divided map files obtained by dividing a predetermined range into planes;
A terminal that can be connected to an access point;
Connection point information storage means for storing connection point information including a connection point identifier for specifying the access point and installation position information of the access point;
Destination storage means for storing the destinations input by the destination input means provided in the terminal and the input order;
A destination candidate guidance means for guiding a next destination candidate,
When the terminal is connected to the access point, the terminal obtains the connection point identifier associated with the access point, and transmits the connection point identifier to the connection point information storage unit to obtain the installation position information of the access point. Acquired,
Further, the terminal transmits the acquired installation position information to the map storage means, and downloads the divided map file corresponding to the installation position information from the map storage means,
When the user inputs a destination that is the current destination by the destination input means, the destination candidate guidance means selects the next destination candidate based on the past input order stored in the destination storage means. Searching , guiding an access point within a predetermined range from the connected access point as a next destination candidate, and displaying the destination candidate on the terminal,
A map file acquisition system characterized by that. The terminal includes destination input means for inputting a destination, and route search means for searching for a route to the destination based on the destination and the installation position information of the access point.
Furthermore, the terminal transmits the searched route information to the map storage unit, and downloads the divided map file including the route from the map storage unit.
The map file acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein: The map storage means stores the divided map file of two or more different scales of different sizes,
The said terminal downloads the said division | segmentation map file of the multiple types of scale corresponding to the said connection point identifier or the said installation position information from the said map memory | storage means, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Crab map file acquisition system.   The terminal downloads the divided map file corresponding to the connection point identifier or the installation position information, and a peripheral divided map file set in advance with respect to the divided map file from the map storage means. The map file acquisition system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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