Patent Publication Number: US-2007118277-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for providing and processing location information

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0098074, filed on Oct. 18, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to providing location information and processing the location information.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
      Location information is indispensable to traffic information and its related service information, which are both provided to digital broadcasting receivers. Conventional location information includes a large amount of data and requires large data transmission bandwidths. To address this problem, a node link system has been introduced to identify locations of roads, thereby easily transmitting location information on roads and intersections.  
      However, such a system cannot provide information on locations beside roads or specific locations. That is, conventional methods of providing location information cannot identify information on every location. Also, using conventional methods, it is impossible to update information on new buildings or facilities in real-time.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An aspect of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for easily providing and processing location information having a small amount of data in real-time.  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing location information, comprising: obtaining one of a node identifier and a link identifier relating to a target location; and providing location information regarding the target location using at least one of the node identifier, the link identifier, and a relative location of the target location based on a node and/or a link.  
      The location information regarding the target location may be provided using the link identifier and the relative location of the target location from a start of the link or an end of the link.  
      The location information regarding the target location may be provided using the link identifier, a first angle between a line connecting the start of the link and the target location and a line connecting the start of the link and the end of the link, and a second angle between a line connecting the end of the link and the target location and the line connecting the start of the link and the end of the link.  
      The location information regarding the target location may be provided using the link identifier, the node identifier, and the relative location of the target location in a straight line between the start of the link or the end of the link and the node.  
      The relative location of the target location may be indicated as a percentage of a distance from the start of the link or the end of the link to the target location, or a distance from the node to the target location along the straight line.  
      The location information regarding the target location may be provided using an identifier of a first node, an identifier of a second node, and the relative location of the target location in a straight line connecting the first node and the second node.  
      The relative location of the target location may be indicated as a percentage of a distance from the first node to the target location, or a distance from the second node to the target location along the straight line.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing location information, comprising: receiving target location information comprising at least one of an identifier of a node relating to a target location, an identifier of a link relating to the target location, and a relative location of the target location based on the node and/or the link; searching for information bn the node or the link based on the identifiers of the node and link included in the target location information; and obtaining the target location using the information on the node or the link and the relative location of the target location.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing location information, comprising: a node link storing unit storing node information relating to a place on a map and link information connecting places; and a processing unit searching for an identifier of a node or a link relating to a target location from the node link storing unit and providing target location information using at least one of the searched node identifier, the searched link identifier, and a relative location of the target location based on the node and/or the link.  
      The apparatus may further comprise an outputting unit generating a message comprising the target location information and outputting the message.  
      The apparatus may further comprise a request receiving unit receiving a request for the target location information, wherein the processing unit provides the target location information if the request receiving unit receives the request for the target location information.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing location information, comprising: an information receiving unit receiving target location information comprising at least one of an identifier of a node relating to a target location, an identifier of a link relating to the target location, and a relative location of the target location based on the node and/or the link; a node link storing unit storing node information relating to a place on a map and link information connecting places; and a processing unit searching for the node information or the link information from the node link storing unit based on the identifier of the node or the identifier on the link included in the target location information and obtaining the target location using the node information or the link information and the relative location of the target location. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for providing location information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an operation of the exemplary apparatus for providing location information that is illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3C  is a block diagram of a location information profile using the exemplary link of  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link and angles according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4C  is a block diagram of a location information profile using the exemplary link and angles of  FIG. 4A ;  
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link and node according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5C  is a block diagram of a location information profile using the exemplary link and node of  FIG. 5A ;  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate examples of providing location information using first and second nodes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6C  is a block diagram of a location information profile using the exemplary first and second nodes of  FIG. 6A ;  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an apparatus for providing location information according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an operation of the exemplary apparatus for providing the location information illustrated in  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an apparatus for processing location information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an operation of the exemplary apparatus for processing the location information illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus  100  for providing location information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  for providing location information comprises a processing unit  110  and a node link storing unit  120 . The node link storing unit  120  stores information on nodes and links. Nodes are places on a map. Node information is data which identifies nodes such as roads and intersections, and node information is sometimes referred to as a node link system. A service provider provides identifications of nodes to users without map coordinates so that users can be informed of locations. The node information may include, for example, a node identifier, a node name, longitude information, latitude information, an area (a zip code) of a node, an existence of a main intersection, etc. Links indicate connection lines linking places on a map and may comprise, for example, roads, etc. Link information may include, for example, an area code, a start node, an end node, a link identifier, a kind of roads, a link name, a length of a road, an administrative area code, etc. Consistent with various aspects of the present invention, the node and link information can be used as previously provided information, or can be newly generated.  
      The processing unit  110  receives a target location for which location information is provided, and searches for node and link information relating to the target location in the node link storing unit  120 . For instance, the processing unit  110  searches for nodes and links located around the target location. The processing unit  110  also generates location information regarding the target location using an identifier of the searched node or link and a relative location of the target location from the searched node or link, and provides the generated location information to users.  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an operation of the apparatus  100  for providing location information illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the processing unit  110  searches for a node and link corresponding to a target location in the node link storing unit  120  (Operation  210 ), and provides the location information using the searched node or link and a relative location of the target location (Operation  220 ).  
      The apparatus  100  for providing location information can easily provide the location information using the previously provided node or link and the relative location of the target location.  
      Examples of providing location information using node information or a link and a relative location of the target location will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  3 C,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  5 A,  5 B,  5 C,  6 A,  6 B and  6 C.  
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the location information is provided using the link and a relative location of the target location from a start of the link, or an end of the link, to a target location. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the target location is 48% away from the start of the link.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3B , a target location “Living Plaza” is 48% away from a start of a link “Court Crossroads,” and the end of the link is “Chundung Temple.” 
       FIG. 3C  is a block diagram of a location information profile  300  using the exemplary link of  FIG. 3A . Referring to  FIG. 3C , the location information profile  300  includes a profile identifier  310 , a link identifier  320 , and a location  330 . The profile identifier  310  identifies that the location information profile  300  using the link has, for example, a value of 0x01, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The link identifier  320  identifies the link and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The location  330  indicates a relative location of the target location from a start or end of the link to a target location, and, for example, can be expressed as a percentage of a distance from the start or the end of the link to the target location, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The location information profile  300  using the link can be represented by 5 bytes.  
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link and angles according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the location information is provided using a link, a first angle between a line connecting a start and end of the link and a line connecting the start of the link and a target location, and a second angle between the line connecting the start and end of the link and a line connecting the end of the link and the target location. However, such a method of determining an angle between the link and the target location is not limited to the exemplary method shown in  FIG. 4A .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4B , a first angle between a line connecting a target location “Suwon Refrigeration Company” and a link start “Court Crossroads” and a line connecting the link start “Court Crossroads” and a link end “Chundung Temple” is 20 degrees, and a second angle between a line connecting the target location “Suwon Refrigeration” and the link end “Chundung Temple” and the line connecting the link start “Court Crossroads” and the link end “Chundung Temple” is 34 degrees.  
       FIG. 4C  is a block diagram of a location information profile  400  using the exemplary link and angles of  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIG. 4C , the location information profile  400  includes a profile identifier  410 , a link identifier  420 , and first and second angles  430 .  
      The profile identifier  410  identifies that the location information profile  400  using the link and angles, has, for example, a value of 0x02, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The link identifier  420  identifies the link and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The first and second angles  430  indicate a first angle between a line connecting the link start and the target location and a line connecting the link start and the link end, and a second angle between a line connecting the link end and the target location and the line connecting the link start and the link end, respectively, and can be represented by 1 byte.  
      The location information profile  400  using the link and angles can be represented by 5 bytes.  
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate examples of providing location information using a link and node according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5A , the location information is provided using the link, the node, and a relative location of a target location which is located along a straight line between a start or end of the link and the node. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the target location is 33% away from the start of the link in the straight line between the start of the link and the node. The relative location of the target location from the node can be expressed, for example, as a percentage of a distance from the start of the link to the target location.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5B , a target location “Samsung 2 nd  Apartment” is 60% away from a link start “Court Crossroads” along a straight line between the link start “Court Crossroads” and a node “Emart Crossroads.” As shown in  FIG. 5B , a link end is “Chundung Temple.” 
       FIG. 5C  is a block diagram of a location information profile  500  using the exemplary link and node of  FIG. 5A . Referring to  FIG. 5C , the location information profile  500  includes a profile identifier  510 , a link identifier  520 , a node identifier  530 , and a location  540 .  
      The profile identifier  510  identifies that the location information profile  500  using the link and node, has, for example, a value of 0x03, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The link identifier  520  identifies the link and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The node identifier  530  identifies the node and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The location  540  indicates a relative location of a target location along a straight line between a start or end of the link and the node. The location  540 , for example, can be expressed as a percentage of a distance from the start or the end of the link to the target location, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The location information profile  500  using the link and node can be represented by 8 bytes.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate examples of providing location information using first and second nodes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6A , the location information is provided using the first and second nodes, and a relative location of a target location along a straight line between the first and second nodes. The target location is 33% of a distance from the first node to the second node away from the first node.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6B , a target location “Samsung 2 nd  Apartment” is located at a distance which is 60% of a distance from the first node to the second node away from a first node “Court Crossroads” along a straight line between the first node “Court Crossroads” and a second node “Emart Crossroads.” 
       FIG. 6C  is a block diagram of a location information profile  600  using the exemplary first and second nodes of  FIG. 6A . Referring to  FIG. 6C , the location information profile  600  includes a profile identifier  610 , a first node identifier  620 , a second node identifier  630 , and a location  640 .  
      The profile identifier  610  identifies that the location information profile  600  using the first and second nodes, has, for example, a value of 0x04, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The first node  620  identifies the first node and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The second node identifier  630  identifies the second node and is represented by 3 bytes.  
      The location  640  indicates a relative location of a target location along a straight line between the first and second nodes, and, for example, can be expressed as a percentage, and is represented by 1 byte.  
      The location information profile  600  using the first and second nodes can be represented by 8 bytes.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  3 C,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  5 A,  5 B,  5 C,  6 A,  6 B and  6 C, the location information profile  300  using a link, the location information profile  400  using a link and angles, the location information profile  500  using a node and a link, and the location information profile  600  using two nodes can be represented by 5, 5, 8, and 8 bytes, respectively. However, according to TPEG-Noc Container which is a European traffic information standard, the location information needs at least 15 bytes including Language Code (1 byte), ID+length+location Type (3 bytes), WGS84ID+length (3 bytes), and Longitude-Latitude (8 bytes). Therefore, the methods of providing location information according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention do not require as many bytes as conventional methods of providing location information.  
      Four methods of providing location information using nodes, links, and relative locations according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been provided above but the present invention is not limited thereto. The location information can be provided using at least one of nodes, links, and relative locations consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an apparatus  700  for providing location information according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the apparatus  700  for providing location information comprises a request receiving unit  710 , a database  720 , a processing unit  730 , a map data storing unit  740 , a node link storing unit  750 , a message generating unit  760 , a multiplexing unit  770 , and a transmitting unit  780 .  
      The map data storing unit  740  stores map data. Such map data may include, for example, information on the latitude and longitude of each of a plurality of places on a map, nodes, and links.  
      The node link storing unit  750  stores information regarding nodes and links, such as those illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      The processing unit  730  receives a target location providing location information, searches for node and link information relating to the target location stored in the node link storing unit  750 , generates the location information regarding the target location using an identifier of the searched node or link and a relative location of the target location from the searched node and link, and provides the generated location information to the message generating unit  760 . Since the location information regarding the target location is stored in the map data storing unit  740 , when the processing unit  730  receives a request for the target location, the processing unit  730  does not process the location information on the target location but searches for the location information regarding the target location in the map data storing unit  740 .  
      The message generating unit  760  generates a message in the shape of a profile as illustrated in  FIGS. 3C, 4C ,  5 C, and  6 C based on the received location information.  
      The multiplexing unit  770  multiplexes the generated message data with other data and transmits the data to the transmitting unit  780 .  
      The transmitting unit  780  transmits the data received from the multiplexing unit  770 . The message generating unit  760 , the multiplexing unit  770 , and the transmitting unit  780  together constitute an outputting unit  790 .  
      A location information provider such as a broadcasting station provides unidirectional location information using the processing unit  730 , the map data storing unit  740 , the node link storing unit  750 , the message generating unit  760 , the multiplexing unit  770 , and the transmitting unit  780 .  
      The location information can be provided, for instance, after a request for the location information is received via a terminal. The request receiving unit  710  and the database  720  are additionally used to receive the request for the location information from the terminal.  
      The request receiving unit  710  receives the request for the location information from a user terminal over a back-channel of digital broadcasting or other channels. Examples of such a back-channel include, but are not limited to, code division multiple access (CDMA), wireless broadband (WIBRO), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX), etc.  
      The database  720  includes information provided by an information provider, for example, data such as menu information provided by good restaurants.  
      For example, when the request receiving unit  710  receives a request for menu information provided by a good restaurant located at a distance from the user terminal, the request receiving unit  710  searches for the menu information in the database  720 , if it is determined that the database  720  includes the requested menu information, and transmits a signal to the processing unit  730  to provide location information on the good restaurant. The constitution of the menu information is beyond the scope of the present invention and a description thereof is omitted.  
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an operation of the exemplary apparatus  700  for providing the location information illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , the processing unit  730  receives a request for information on a target location (Operation  810 ).  
      The processing unit  730  searches for a node and link corresponding to the target location from the node link storing unit  750  (Operation  820 ).  
      The processing unit  730  outputs the target location using the searched node, link, and a relative location of the target location (Operation  830 ).  
      The message generating unit  760  generates a message using the searched node, link, and the relative location of target location (Operation  840 ). The multiplexing unit  770  and the transmitting unit  780  transmit the generated message (Operation  850 ).  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an apparatus  900  for processing location information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the apparatus  900  for processing location information comprises an information receiving unit  910 , a map data storing unit  920 , a processing unit  930 , a node link storing unit  940 , and a displaying unit  950 .  
      The information receiving unit  910  receives location information including a node identifier or a link identifier and a relative location of a node and link from outside of the apparatus  900 .  
      The map data storing unit  920  stores map data. The map data includes, for example, information regarding a latitude and a longitude of each of a plurality of places on a map in the form of a bitmap.  
      The node link storing unit  940  stores node and link information, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      The processing unit  930  extracts the node identifier and the link identifier from the location information, searches for the node and link identifiers from the node link storing unit  940 , and retrieves node information and link information corresponding to the node identifier and the link identifier, respectively. The processing unit  930  searches for latitude and longitude information of the node or link from the retrieved node information and the retrieved link information, and calculates a latitude and longitude of a target location using the latitude and longitude information and the relative location of the node and link.  
      The processing unit  930  searches for the target location from within the map data storing unit  920  using the calculated latitude and longitude of the target location and transmits the target location to the displaying unit  950 .  
      The displaying unit  950  displays location information provided by the processing unit  930 .  
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an operation of the exemplary apparatus  900  for processing the location information which is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , the information receiving unit  910  receives location information including a node, link, and relative location (Operation  1010 ).  
      The processing unit  930  searches for the node and link corresponding to the location information received by the information receiving unit  910  from within the node link storing unit  940  (Operation  1020 ).  
      The processing unit  930  identifies a location from map data using the searched node and link and the relative location (Operation  1030 ). The processing unit  930  provides the identified location to other applications or provides the identified location to the displaying unit  950 , and the displaying unit  950  displays the identified location (Operation  1040 ).  
      The present invention can also be embodied, for instance, as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. Such a computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of such computer readable recording media include, but are not limited to, read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. Such a computer readable recording medium can also be distributed network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs, codes and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easily construed by a programmer skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.  
      The method of providing location information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can, among other things, reduce an amount of data and can update locations in real-time.  
      In particular, program related location information can be viewed when a user watches a video digital broadcasting program. Since conventional electronic program guide (EPG) information does not include the program related location information, the video digital broadcasting program is provided only via a terminal. However, if EPG includes the program related location information, a user can be provided with the program location information. Also, the user can access a place relating to the program using location and traffic information.  
      A traffic information service attempts to provide various services relating to road traffic. For example, a traffic information service may provide information on current traffic conditions and parking lots, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. that are located near roads. However, a large amount of data is required to present a location using conventional coordinate systems. A node link system can transmit data using a small amount of data but it can present roads, crossroads, and relatively large buildings. Therefore, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, locations of roads and nodes (crossroads, etc.) and other places near roads and nodes can be provided to a user using a small amount of data.  
      While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.