Abstract:
A map preparation apparatus includes a position information acquisition section, an input information acquisition section, and a selection section. The position information acquisition section acquires position information of a user who is moving. The input information acquisition section acquires input information including a date and time when the user starts moving and a date and time when the user finishes moving. The selection section selects map information from preregistered map information on the basis of the position information acquired by the position information acquisition section and on the basis of the input information acquired by the input information acquisition section. The selected map information includes a route in a ratio equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. The route is taken from the date and time when the user starts moving to the date and time when the user finishes moving.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-083920 filed Apr. 12, 2013. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    (i) Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a map preparation apparatus and a computer-readable medium. 
         [0004]    (ii) Related Art 
         [0005]    A map preparation apparatus of the related art has been proposed which displays, for example, a travel route, a vehicle in which a user rode, and image information shot by the user riding in the vehicle on a map. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map preparation apparatus including a position information acquisition section, an input information acquisition section, and a selection section. The position information acquisition section acquires position information of a user who is moving. The input information acquisition section acquires input information including a date and time when the user starts moving and a date and time when the user finishes moving. The selection section selects map information from preregistered map information on the basis of the position information acquired by the position information acquisition section and on the basis of the input information acquired by the input information acquisition section. The selected map information includes a route in a ratio equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. The route is taken from the date and time when the user starts moving to the date and time when the user finishes moving. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of a map preparation system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a map preparation server; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a terminal; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of input information; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of tour history information; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of map information; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of point-of-interest information; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of an input information accepting screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams for describing an operation of selecting map information and point-of-interest information; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of edited map information; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an exemplary basic operation performed by the map preparation server; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of an exemplary tour-history-information acquisition operation performed by the map preparation server; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart of an exemplary operation of selecting points of interest and map information, which is performed by the map preparation server; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a detailed map-information selection operation performed by the map preparation server; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an exemplary map-information editing operation performed by the map preparation server; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a schematic view of another exemplary configuration of an input information accepting screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  are diagrams for describing an operation of selecting map information and point-of-interest information; 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a schematic view of another exemplary configuration of edited map information; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart of an exemplary operation of generating a route candidate, which is performed by the map preparation server. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     How to Use System 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of a map preparation system. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a map preparation system  6  has a configuration in which a map preparation server  1  which generates map information, a terminal  2  carried by a user  3 , and a printer  4  which prints the map information generated by the map preparation server  1  on a sheet of paper are connected via the Internet  5  so as to be capable of communicating with each other.  FIG. 1  illustrates only one terminal  2  and only one printer  4 , but multiple terminals  2  and multiple printers  4  may be connected via the Internet  5 . 
         [0029]    The user  3  moves with the terminal  2 , for example, for sightseeing. The terminal  2 , which is, for example, a cellular phone, obtains position information, and transmits the obtained position information to the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0030]    The map preparation server  1  receives position information obtained while the user  3  moves with the terminal  2 , and generates map information corresponding to a route from the start to the end of the tour, in response to a request of the user  3 . Specifically, the map preparation server  1  selects map information suitable for the route of the tour taken by the user  3 , from pieces of map information stored in advance, and generates new map information by superimposing the route taken by the user  3  and point-of-interest information described below on the selected map information. A map which is called a tourist map obtained through deformation to facilitate sightseeing is used as the map information in many cases, but a map created through orthographic map projection may be used. 
         [0031]    The map information generated by the map preparation server  1  is transmitted to the terminal  2  to be displayed on a display unit of the terminal  2 , or is transmitted to the printer  4  to be printed on a sheet of paper. 
         [0032]    In the first exemplary embodiment, a case in which the user  3  requests the map preparation server  1  to generate map information after the user  3  finishes a tour will be described. 
       Configuration of Map Preparation Server 
       [0033]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0034]    The map preparation server  1  includes a controller  10  that is constituted by, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and that controls the units included in the map preparation server  1  and executes various programs, a storage unit  11  that is an exemplary storage device which is constituted by a recording medium, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, and which stores information, and a communication unit  12  that communicates with the outside via a network. 
         [0035]    The controller  10  executes a map preparation program  110  in the storage unit  11 , thereby functioning as, for example, a position information acquisition section  100 , an input information acquisition section  101 , a tour history acquisition section  102 , a route generation section  103 , a map selection section  104 , a map editing section  105 , and a map output section  106 . 
         [0036]    The position information acquisition section  100  obtains position information  111  from the terminal  2  via the communication unit  12 , and stores the position information  111  in the storage unit  11 . 
         [0037]    The input information acquisition section  101  obtains input information  112  which is input to the terminal  2  via the communication unit  12 , and stores the input information  112  in the storage unit  11 . In the first exemplary embodiment, at least a tour start time and a tour end time are obtained as the input information  112 . 
         [0038]    The tour history acquisition section  102  generates tour history information  113  indicating a route including time information, from the position information  111  obtained by the position information acquisition section  100 , and stores the tour history information  113  in the storage unit  11 . 
         [0039]    The route generation section  103  generates a route candidate from the tour start time to the tour end time on the basis of the input information  112  and the tour history information  113 . 
         [0040]    The map selection section  104  selects one piece from pieces of map information  114  registered in advance, on the basis of the route indicated by the tour history information  113  and the route candidate generated by the route generation section  103 . 
         [0041]    The map editing section  105  edits the map information  114  selected by the map selection section  104  by adding the route, the route candidate, and point-of-interest information  115  described below to the map information  114 . 
         [0042]    The map output section  106  outputs the map information  114  edited by the map editing section  105  to the terminal  2  or the printer  4 . 
         [0043]    The storage unit  11  stores, for example, the map preparation program  110  for causing the controller  10  to function as the sections  100  to  106 , the position information  111 , the input information  112 , the tour history information  113 , the map information  114 , and the point-of-interest information  115 . 
         [0044]    The point-of-interest information  115  is position information of sightseeing targets, such as a tourist attraction, a landmark, and a restaurant, (hereinafter referred to as “points of interest”). 
       Configuration of Terminal 
       [0045]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the terminal  2 . 
         [0046]    The terminal  2  includes a controller  20  that is constituted by, for example, a CPU and that controls the units included in the terminal  2  and executes various programs, a storage unit  21  that is an exemplary storage device which is constituted by a recording medium, such as a HDD or a flash memory, and which stores information, a communication unit  22  that communicates with the outside via a network, a position information acquisition unit  23  that receives global positioning system (GPS) information as position information of the terminal  2 , an operation unit  24  constituted by a touch pad or operation keys, and a display unit  25  such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
         [0047]    The controller  20  executes a terminal control program  210  in the storage unit  21 , thereby functioning as, for example, a position information recording section  200 , a position information output section  201 , an input information reception section  202 , an input information output section  203 , and a map display section  204 . 
         [0048]    The position information recording section  200  temporarily records position information  211  obtained by the position information acquisition unit  23  in the storage unit  21 . 
         [0049]    The position information output section  201  outputs the position information  211  recorded by the position information recording section  200 , to the map preparation server  1  via the communication unit  22 . 
         [0050]    The input information reception section  202  receives input information  212  which is input by the user  3  operating the operation unit  24 , and temporarily stores the input information  212  into the storage unit  21 . 
         [0051]    The input information output section  203  outputs the input information  212  received by the input information reception section  202 , to the map preparation server  1  via the communication unit  22 . 
         [0052]    The map display section  204  receives the map information  114  which is generated by the map preparation server  1  and which is output to the terminal  2 , via the communication unit  22 , and displays the map information  114  on the display unit  25 . 
         [0053]    The storage unit  21  stores, for example, the terminal control program  210  for causing the controller  20  to function as the above-described sections  200  to  204 , the position information  211 , and the input information  212 . 
         [0054]    A configuration may be employed in which the tour history acquisition section  102  of the map preparation server  1  is included in the terminal  2 , and in which the tour history information  113  is generated in the terminal  2 . Other sections and other information in the map preparation server  1  may be implemented in the terminal  2  as appropriate, and vice versa. Alternatively, the entire configuration may be centrally implemented in the terminal  2 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the input information  112 . 
         [0056]    The input information  112 , which is input by the user  3  using the terminal  2 , includes a tour start time indicating a time when a tour starts, a tour start position indicating a latitude and a longitude, which is exemplary information about a position from which the tour starts, a tour end time indicating a time when the tour ends, and a tour end position indicating a latitude and a longitude where the tour ends. In the first exemplary embodiment, at least a tour start time and a tour end time may be input in order to specify the tour history information  113 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the tour history information  113 . 
         [0058]    The tour history information  113 , which is information indicating a route generated by recording the position information of the user  3  with the time information, includes a tour history ID for identifying a tour, a time as the time information, and a latitude and a longitude as the position information. 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the map information  114 . 
         [0060]    As the map information  114 , for example, a map created by a public office or a local association may be used, and a map whose scale is deformed may be used. The map information  114  includes a map ID for identifying map information, a map name indicating the map information name, latitudes and longitudes of the four corners of the map, and a category of the map information. Instead of the latitudes and the longitudes of the four corners of a map, latitudes and longitude of at least two vertexes among the four corners (for example, the vertexes on a diagonal line) may be included. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the point-of-interest information  115 . 
         [0062]    The point-of-interest information  115 , which is position information of sightseeing targets, such as a tourist attraction, a landmark, and a restaurant, includes a point-of-interest ID for identifying a point of interest, a name of the point of interest, a latitude and a longitude as position information of the point of interest, a category of the point of interest, and an advertisement of the point of interest. 
       Operations of Map Preparation Server 
       [0063]    The operations in the exemplary embodiment will be described by classifying the operations into (1) a basic operation, (2) a tour-history-information acquisition operation, (3) an operation of selecting points of interest and map information, and (4) a map-information editing operation. 
       (1) Basic Operation 
       [0064]    The user  3  carries the terminal  2 , and moves for sightseeing with the terminal  2 . When a tour starts, the user  3  operates the operation unit  24  to input an instruction to start the tour, to the terminal  2 . 
         [0065]    The position information recording section  200  of the terminal  2  obtains the position information  211  at predetermined time intervals, and the position information output section  201  transmits the position information  211  to the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0066]    The map preparation server  1  receives the position information  211  from the terminal  2 , and stores the position information  211  as the position information  111  in the storage unit  11 . 
         [0067]    When the user  3  finishes the tour, the user  3  operates the operation unit  24  to input an instruction to end the tour, to the terminal  2 . 
         [0068]    When a tour history generation section (not illustrated) of the map preparation server  1  receives the instruction to end the tour, via the terminal  2 , the tour history generation section generates the tour history information  113  on the basis of the position information  111  from the tour start to the tour end. The tour history information  113  is not limited to that stored in the map preparation server  1 , and may be information which is generated in advance by the user  3  and stored in a server other than the map preparation server  1  and which is obtained from the outside server. 
         [0069]    After the user  3  finishes the tour, the user  3  inputs input information to request generation of map information. In this operation, the user  3  first operates the terminal  2  so as to display a screen for inputting the tour start time and the tour end time as the input information. 
         [0070]    In response to the operation of the user  3 , the input information reception section  202  of the terminal  2  displays the input information accepting screen on the display unit  25 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of the input information accepting screen displayed on the display unit  25  of the terminal  2 . 
         [0072]    An input information accepting screen  202   a  which is displayed on the display unit  25  of the terminal  2  includes an input box  202   a   1  for inputting a tour start time and a tour end time, and a button  202   a   2  for requesting generation of map information. 
         [0073]    The user  3  inputs a tour start time and a tour end time in the input box  202   a   1 , and operates the button  202   a   2  to request generation of map information. At least a tour start time and a tour end time need to be input to specify the tour history information  113 . An exemplary equivalent operation may be employed in which all pieces of the tour history information  113  are displayed, and in which the user  3  is requested to select pieces of tour history information whose time range is included in (or overlapped by) the range from a tour start time to a tour end time, from the displayed tour history information candidates. 
         [0074]    The input information reception section  202  of the terminal  2  stores the tour start time and the tour end time which are input in the input box  202   a   1 , as the input information  212  in the storage unit  21 . 
         [0075]    The input information output section  203  of the terminal  2  outputs the input information  212  to the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an exemplary basic operation performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0077]    The input information acquisition section  101  of the map preparation server  1  obtains the input information  212  from the terminal  2 , and stores the input information  212  as the input information  112  in the storage unit  11  (in step S 1 ). 
         [0078]    The tour history acquisition section  102  obtains pieces of the tour history information  113  included between the tour start time and the tour end time on the basis of the input information  112  (in step S 2 ). The detail of step S 2  will be described below in “(2) Tour-history-information acquisition operation”. 
         [0079]    The map selection section  104  selects the point-of-interest information  115  and the map information  114  on the basis of the route indicated by the tour history information  113  obtained by the tour history acquisition section  102  (in step S 3 ). The detail of step S 3  will be described below in “(3) Operation of selecting points of interest and map information”. 
         [0080]    The map editing section  105  generates map information by superimposing the generated route and the selected point-of-interest information  115  on the map information  114  selected by the map selection section  104  (in step S 4 ). 
         [0081]    The map output section  106  outputs the map information edited and generated by the map editing section  105 , to the terminal  2  or the printer  4  (in step S 5 ). 
         [0082]    When the map information is output to the terminal  2 , the terminal  2  receives the generated map, and displays the map on the display unit  25 . When the map information is output to the printer  4 , the printer  4  receives the generated map information, and prints the map on a sheet of paper. 
       (2) Tour-History-Information Acquisition Operation 
       [0083]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of an exemplary tour-history-information acquisition operation performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0084]    The tour history acquisition section  102  searches the tour history information  113  on the basis of the tour start time and the tour end time in the input information  112  (in step S 20 ). The search result may be only pieces of the tour history information  113  whose time range is included completely in the range from the tour start time to the tour end time, or may be pieces of the tour history information  113  whose time range is overlapped by the range. 
         [0085]    If the tour history information  113  as the search result in step S 20  is present (Yes in step S 21 ), the tour history information  113  for the tour is obtained (in step S 22 ). 
         [0086]    If the tour history information  113  as the search result is not present in step S 21  (No in step S 21 ), new tour history information  113  is generated by displaying a map on the display unit  25  of the terminal  2  to make the user  3  draw a route taken by the user  3 , or by using a route taken by the most users (in step S 23 ). Examples of the case in which the tour history information  113  as the search result is not present include a case in which a tour has not been actually made, a case in which the tour history information  113  fails to be generated due to the terminal  2  having difficulty obtaining position information, and a case in which some pieces of position information are missing so that the tour history information is not completed. In the case where some pieces of position information are missing, a new route is generated only for the missing section by using the above-described method. 
       (3) Operation of Selecting Points of Interest and Map Information 
       [0087]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart of an exemplary operation of selecting points of interest and map information, which is performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0088]    The map selection section  104  selects the point-of-interest information  115  about points of interest which are present in a predetermined area with respect to the route indicated by the tour history information  113  obtained in step S 2 , as points of interest which have been passed (in steps S 30  and S 31 ). 
         [0089]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams for describing an operation of selecting the map information  114  and the point-of-interest information  115 . 
         [0090]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , “Kamakura station”, “Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine”, “Noodle shop in forest”, “Jufuku Temple”, “Museum of modern art”, “Myoden Temple”, and “Eisho Temple” are registered in the point-of-interest information  115 . In this case, the map selection section  104  refers to the latitudes and the longitudes in the point-of-interest information  115  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and selects “Kamakura station”, “Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine”, “Noodle shop in forest”, and “Jufuku Temple” as points of interest which have been passed and which are present in the predetermined area with respect to the route indicated by the obtained tour history information  113 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0091]    The map selection section  104  selects pieces of the point-of-interest information  115  which are present outside of the predetermined area with respect to the route, as points of interest which have not been passed (in step S 32 ). In steps S 31  and S 32 , points of interest may be automatically selected on the basis of preference information of the user  3  which is provided as additional information, or may be selected by the user  3 . 
         [0092]    The map selection section  104  refers to the latitudes and the longitudes in the point-of-interest information  115  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and selects “Museum of modern art”, “Myoden Temple”, and “Eisho Temple” as points of interest which have not been passed and which are present outside of the predetermined area with respect to the route, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0093]    The map selection section  104  selects map information which matches a condition, from pieces of the map information  114  on the basis of the route indicated by the obtained tour history information  113  and the selected point-of-interest information (in step S 33 ). The operation of selecting the map information  114  will be described in detail in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0094]    The map editing section  105  obtains the route indicated by the obtained tour history information  113 , the selected point-of-interest information  115 , and the selected map information  114  (in step S 34 ), and the process proceeds to step S 4 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a detailed map-information selection operation in step S 33 , which is performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0096]    The map selection section  104  searches for map information including the tour start position and the tour end position (in step S 330 ). The tour start position and the tour end position are specified from the obtained tour history information  113  on the basis of the tour start time and the tour end time. In the searching of the map information  114 , high priority is assigned to a map called a tourist map obtained through deformation to facilitate sightseeing. 
         [0097]    If the map information  114  as the search result is present (Yes in step S 331 ), a route image is generated to draw the route indicated by the tour history information  113  on the map information  114  (in step S 332 ). 
         [0098]    The map selection section  104  selects one or more pieces of the map information  114  such that the generated route image is drawn within the area of the selected map information  114  (in step S 333 ). 
         [0099]    If the map information  114  selected in step S 333  is present (Yes in step S 334 ), and if pieces of the extracted map information are present (Yes in step S 335 ), the map selection section  104  selects optimal map information  114  (in step S 336 ), and the process proceeds to step S 34 . In the selecting of optimal map information  114 , a piece of the map information  114  may be selected so that a ratio of the route image drawn on the selected map information  114  to the map area is close to a predetermined ratio, or so that the area in which the route image is drawn is located in a center area of the map information  114 . These may be provided to make the user  3  select optimal map information  114 . Alternatively, a category may be determined on the basis of the point-of-interest information  115  selected in steps S 30  and S 31 , and a piece of the map information  114  having a category which matches the determined category may be selected. 
         [0100]    If the map information  114  as the search result is not present in step S 331  (No in step S 331 ), that is, if a map called a tourist map obtained through deformation to facilitate sightseeing is not present, a general map, that is, a map created through orthographic map projection is selected. A map may be used by cutting an area including the tour start position and the tour end position from a tourist map obtained through deformation or a general map. 
         [0101]    If the map information  114  such that the generated route image is drawn within the area of the map information  114  is not present in step S 334  (No in step S 334 ), a piece of the map information  114  is selected so that the ratio of the route image portion which is drawn outside of the map information  114  to the entire route image is equal to or smaller than a predetermined ratio (in step S 338 ). 
         [0102]    If the map information selected in step S 338  is present (Yes in step S 339 ), the process proceeds to step S 335 . If the map information selected in step S 338  is not present (No in step S 339 ), a general map, that is, a map created through orthographic map projection is selected (in step S 337 ). 
         [0103]    Through the above-described operation, when “Map around Kamakura station”, “Map of Kamakura temples”, and “Map of restaurants (in Kamakura)” are registered in the map information  114  as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the map selection section  104  refers to the items in the map information  114  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and selects “Map of Kamakura temples” as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . 
       (4) Map-Information Editing Operation 
       [0104]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an exemplary map-information editing operation performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0105]    The map editing section  105  generates map information by superimposing the route image and the points of interest on the selected map information  114  on the basis of the tour history information  113 , the map information  114 , and the point-of-interest information  115  obtained in steps S 2  and S 3  (in step S 40 ), and checks the quality of the map (in step S 41 ). 
         [0106]    In the checking of the quality of the map, for example, it is checked that the route image is drawn within the map area, that the points of interest are not drawn on the route image, and that the size of the map is not too large for that of the route. 
         [0107]    For example, the map editing section  105  corrects the edited map information  114  or adds a comment on the edited map information  114  (in step S 42 ), and the process proceeds to step S 5 . For example, when a point of interest is drawn on the route image, the map editing section  105  corrects the map information  114  so that the point of interest is moved to a position where the point of interest is not drawn on the route image. When a section of the route image is drawn outside of the map information  114 , or when the size of the map is too large for that of the route, the map editing section  105  adds a comment about such a state, for example, to the outside of the map information  114 . 
         [0108]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of an exemplary configuration of edited map information  114 . 
         [0109]    Map information  114   a  includes a route  113   a  which the user  3  has taken, a point of interest  115   a   1 , close to which the user  3  has not passed, and a point of interest  115   a   2 , close to which the user  3  has passed. 
       Effects of First Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0110]    According to the above-described exemplary embodiment, after the user  3  finishes a tour, a tourist map is selected as the map information  114  on the basis of a route, along which the user  3  has moved, and the tourist map is edited by superimposing the route and the point-of-interest information  115  about points of interest, some of which the user  3  has passed and some of which the user  3  has not passed, on the tourist map, so as to be displayed, enabling selection of the map information  114  suitable for the route, along which the user  3  has moved. 
         [0111]    As a secondary effect, the points of interest which the user  3  has passed are displayed as a record as well as a proposal that concerns a visit of the points of interest which have not been passed and that is provided when the user  3  makes a tour next time. In addition, instead of a general map, for example, the map information  114  in which emphasis and abbreviation are used to facilitate sightseeing is used, enabling the map information  114  suitable for the purpose of a tour of the user  3  to be selected. 
       Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0112]    In a second exemplary embodiment, a case in which the user  3  requests the map preparation server  1  to generate map information in the middle of a tour will be described. Unless otherwise specified, operations similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment will not be described. 
       (1) Basic Operation 
       [0113]    When the user  3  requests generation of a map in the middle of a tour, the user  3  operates the operation unit  24  to notify the terminal  2  that the user  3  is in the middle of the tour. 
         [0114]    Receiving the notification that the user  3  is in the middle of the tour, via the terminal  2 , the map preparation server  1  generates the tour history information  113  on the basis of the position information  111  from the tour start position to the current position of the tour. 
         [0115]    The user  3  inputs input information to request generation of map information. In this operation, the user  3  first operates the terminal  2  so as to display a screen for inputting the tour start time, a tour end time, and a tour end position as the input information. 
         [0116]    Receiving the operation of the user  3 , the input information reception section  202  of the terminal  2  displays an input information accepting screen on the display unit  25 . 
         [0117]      FIG. 16  is a schematic view of another exemplary configuration of an input information accepting screen displayed on the display unit  25  of the terminal  2 . 
         [0118]    An input information accepting screen  202   b , which is displayed on the display unit  25  of the terminal  2 , includes an input box  202   b   1  for inputting a tour start time, a tour end time, and a tour end position, and a button  202   b   2  for requesting generation of map information. 
         [0119]    The user  3  inputs the tour start time, a tour end time, and a tour end position in the input box  202   b   1 , and operates the button  202   b   2  to request generation of map information. 
         [0120]    The input information reception section  202  of the terminal  2  stores the tour start time, the tour end time, and the tour end position which are input in the input box  202   b   1 , as the input information  212  in the storage unit  21 . 
         [0121]    The input information output section  203  of the terminal  2  outputs the input information  212  to the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0122]    In the subsequent operations of the map preparation server  1 , an operation of selecting point-of-interest information from the tour start position to the current position in the middle of the tour is similar to that in the “first exemplary embodiment”. 
         [0123]    How to generate a route from the current position to the scheduled tour end time and position (hereinafter, referred to as a “route candidate”) is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment, and will be described below in detail. 
         [0124]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart of an exemplary operation of generating a route candidate, which is performed by the map preparation server  1 . 
         [0125]    The route generation section  103  obtains the current time and position, and the tour end time and position (in step S 60 ), and searches for a route such that the tour will end at the tour end position till the tour end time starting from the current time and position (in step S 61 ). 
         [0126]    If routes are retrieved in step S 61  (Yes in step S 62 ), an optimal route is selected on the basis of a condition from the retrieved routes (in step S 63 ). 
         [0127]    In the selecting of an optimal route, when there is point-of-interest information  115  that describes points of interest which have not been passed and that is selected on the basis of the route indicated by the tour history information  113  from the tour start position to the current position, a route such that the most points of interest in the point-of-interest information  115  which have not been passed will be passed may be selected. When the current time is the time to eat, a route along which many points of interest concerning restaurants are present may be selected with high priority. Alternatively, a user may select a route from displayed candidates. 
         [0128]    The route generation section  103  outputs the selected route as a route candidate (in step S 64 ), and the process proceeds to step S 33  in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0129]    If no routes are obtained through the search in step S 62  (No in step S 62 ), a change of one or both of the tour end time and the tour end position is accepted (in step S 65 ). 
         [0130]    If the user  3  changes one or both of the tour end time and the tour end position (Yes in step S 66 ), the process returns back to step S 61 , and routes are retrieved again. 
         [0131]    If the user  3  does not change one or both of the tour end time and the tour end position (No in step S 66 ), a route such that the tour will end at the tour end position at the earliest time is retrieved (in step S 67 ). 
         [0132]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  are diagrams for describing an operation of selecting the map information  114  and the point-of-interest information  115 . 
         [0133]    As illustrated in  FIG. 17A , “Kamakura station”, “Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine”, “Noodle shop in forest”, “Jufuku Temple”, “Museum of modern art”, “Kakumu”, and “Restaurant Shizuku” are registered in the point-of-interest information  115 . In this case, the map selection section  104  refers to the latitudes and the longitudes in the point-of-interest information  115  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and selects “Kamakura station” and “Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine” as points of interest which have been passed and which are present in a predetermined area with respect to the route, as illustrated in  FIG. 17B . 
         [0134]    The map selection section  104  selects the point-of-interest information  115  about points of interest which are present outside of the predetermined area with respect to the route, as points of interest which have not been passed. 
         [0135]    The map selection section  104  refers to the latitudes and the longitudes in the point-of-interest information  115  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and selects “Noodle shop in forest”, “Kakumu”, and “Restaurant Shizuku” as points of interest which have not been passed and which are present outside of the predetermined area with respect to the route, as illustrated in  FIG. 17B . 
         [0136]    The map selection section  104  selects one piece from pieces of the map information  114  in accordance with a condition on the basis of the route and the route candidate generated by the route generation section  103 , and on the basis of the selected point-of-interest information. A map-information selection operation is similar to that in the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0137]    A map-information editing operation is similar to that in the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0138]      FIG. 18  is a schematic view of another exemplary configuration of the edited map information  114 . 
         [0139]    Map information  114   b  includes a route  113   b   1  taken by the user  3 , a route candidate  113   b   2  recommended to the user  3 , a point of interest  115   b   1 , close to which the user  3  has not passed, a point of interest  115   b   2 , close to which the user  3  has passed, and an advertisement  115   b   3  corresponding to a point of interest. The advertisement  115   b   3  is one which will be used after the map information  114   b  is printed. Accordingly, the advertisement  115   b   3  is desirably for a point of interest  115   b   1  which has not been passed, but may be for a point of interest  115   b   2  which has been passed. 
       Effects of Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0140]    According to the above-described exemplary embodiment, in the middle of the tour, the user  3  selects the map information  114  on the basis of the route along which the user  3  has moved and the route candidate along which the user  3  will move, and the map information  114  is edited by superimposing the route, the route candidate, and the point-of-interest information  115  about points of interest, some of which have passed and some of which have not passed, on the map information  114 , enabling selection of the map information  114  suitable for the route along which the user  3  has moved and the route candidate along which the user  3  will move. As a secondary effect, the points of interest which the user  3  has passed are displayed as a record as well as a sightseeing target proposal which suggests that the user  3  visit the points of interest which have not been passed, till the tour end. 
       Other Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0141]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. 
         [0142]    For example, map information may be generated before a tour starts. In this case, a user needs to input a tour start time, a tour start position, a tour end time, and a tour end position as input information. A route candidate from the tour start position to the tour end position may be generated in a way similar to that of generating a route candidate from a current position to a tour end position, which is described in the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0143]    In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the sections  100  to  106  and  200  to  204  of the controller  10  are achieved by using programs. Some or all of the sections may be achieved through hardware such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The programs used in the above-described exemplary embodiments may be provided by storing them in a recording medium such as a compact disc-read-only memory (CD-ROM). In addition, as long as the gist of the present invention is not changed, steps described in the above-described exemplary embodiments may be switched, or a step may be, for example, deleted or added. 
         [0144]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.