Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8090533?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=5,838,906
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 13:07:10
Document Index: 768666626

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2002', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'Application No. 2008']

Patent US8090533 - Map display system, method of inputting conditions for searching for POI ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA map display system has a terminal device having display means for displaying a map image and also has a route search server having a POI database. The map display system has operation/input means for performing predetermined operation on an object image including a POI category or POI information,...http://www.google.com/patents/US8090533?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8090533 - Map display system, method of inputting conditions for searching for POI, method of displaying guidance to POI, and terminal deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8090533 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/280,626Publication dateJan 3, 2012Filing dateFeb 27, 2006Priority dateFeb 27, 2006Also published asCN101390140A, EP1990789A1, US20090037101, WO2007097037A1Publication number12280626, 280626, US 8090533 B2, US 8090533B2, US-B2-8090533, US8090533 B2, US8090533B2InventorsTadanori Koike, Hiroshi SakamotoOriginal AssigneeNavitime Japan Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (14), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (6), Classifications (15), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMap display system, method of inputting conditions for searching for POI, method of displaying guidance to POI, and terminal deviceUS 8090533 B2Abstract A map display system has a terminal device having display means for displaying a map image and also has a route search server having a POI database. The map display system has operation/input means for performing predetermined operation on an object image including a POI category or POI information, object image operation detection means for detecting operation on the object image, and POI search means for extracting the POI category or the POI information from the operated object image and searching for a POI while referring to the POI database. The display means displays on a map image the POI searched by the POI search means.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a navigation system that can search for a desired point of interest (POI) and provide route guidance to the point of interest thus searched. The present invention particularly relates to a navigation system that displays an object image for displaying a POI category for which searching is desired in the area of the map displayed on display means, and searches for a POI specified by the object image by using drag-and-drop on the map that has the object image displayed. The present invention also relates to a method of inputting search conditions in which a navigation system, a portable terminal device, and an object image are used, and to a method of displaying guidance so that route guidance to the position of the POI obtained by the search described above is displayed while the object image is continuously or intermittently moved.
BACKGROUND ART Mobile phones and other portable terminals currently include a browser and are capable of accessing the Internet and receiving desired information. In such systems, the user operates a portable terminal, uses a search engine or the like provided to a server to find a desired website, downloads content of the website, and peruses content using the browser. The content includes information belonging to various categories, including shop and event information, train route timetables, railroad transfer guidance, and the like.
Various types of such POI information systems have been proposed. For example, a system disclosed as an �information distribution method� is known in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2003-132483) described below.
Also known is a system disclosed as an �information providing system and method� in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2003-150475) described below. The information providing system disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a system composed of a portable terminal and a web application server.
There are also information distribution server systems in which distribution conditions that a user desires to have provided as information can be registered by the user in advance. Such a system is disclosed as an, e.g., �information distribution server, mobile terminal, and information distribution system� in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2002-99816) described below.
Also known is a system for searching a POI that is open for business in accordance with a time frame on the basis of the time at which a POI search request was made from the mobile terminal with consideration given to the business hours of each POI when information related to the POI is provided to the mobile device. For example, a �navigation device� is disclosed in Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent No. 3354851).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems the Invention is Intended to Solve As described above, the POI extends across many categories. Therefore, in an information distribution system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user must specify a POI category, an area to be searched, and other parameters that the user desires to search by inputting text from the search screen in order to search for a desired POI. Accordingly, there is a problem in that laborious operation involving text input is required for the POI categories that the user desires to search.
Means for Solving the Abovementioned Problems In order to solve the problems described above, part 1 of the present invention is a map display system composed of a terminal device having display means for displaying a map image, and a route search server having a POI database, the map display system characterized in that:
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION In part 1 of the present invention, the map display system has operation and input means for performing a predetermined operation on an object image that includes a POI category or POI information; object image operation detection means for detecting operation on the object image; and POI search means for extracting the POI category or POI information from the operated object image, referencing the POI database, and searching for a POI; and the display means displays the POI searched by the POI search means on the map image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the configuration of the map display system according to embodiments of the present invention;
KEY TO SYMBOLS 10 navigation system (map display system)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and diagrams. However, the embodiments described below are used to exemplify a map display system for implementing the technical concepts of the present invention, are not intended to limit the present invention to this map display system, and may also be equally applied to map display systems of other embodiments within the scope of the claims.
EMBODIMENT 1 FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the configuration of a navigation system, which is the map display system according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a navigation system 10 is composed of a portable terminal device 20 connected via a network 12; a route search server 30 having a navigation function; a POI information distribution server 50 for providing POI location, service content, and other POI information that belong to various categories; an information distribution server 51 for providing music, images, and other contents; and other components. The portable terminal device 20 is a user terminal, and a mobile phone is preferably used as the portable terminal device 20.
FIG. 7 is a diagram describing the change the number of POI searches produced by the number of right clicks of the object image. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the object image OBJ6 has been right-clicked twice. The image changes to one in which a number obtained by adding �1� to the number of clicks is included in the object image. This number shows that it has been specified that three nearby convenience stores from search starting point (current location or the like) be searched in the order of the nearest in terms of distance. When a right click has not been made, it is specified that the nearest single POI be searched, and when a single right click has been made, it is specified that two POI be searched in the order of the nearest in terms of distance.
When a plurality of POIs is searched in the manner shown in FIG. 8, a number from �1� to �3� is added to the image display in sequence to the nearest, in terms of distance, object images 81 to 83 indicating each POI, and the object images 81 to 83 move at equal speeds to the POI. Therefore, at a midway point of the route guidance display, the earliest object image 81 moves and stops at the nearest POI position from the starting point of the search, as shown in FIG. 8A.
In the case that the portable terminal device 20 is a navigation device, an instruction to start guidance can be given when an object image dropped on the map is clicked. The configuration may be one in which a �hand palm image� in which the palm of a hand is open is displayed, and no operation can be performed, immediately after an object image is dropped on the map. When the movement of the object image stops, the �hand palm image� changes to an index finger, and a click operation can be received.
EMBODIMENT 2 In embodiment 1 described above, an example was shown in which a desired POI is searched by operating an object image that shows a POI category, but the object dropped on the map image is not limited to the object images (icon images) such as those of embodiment 1. It is desirable that all images can be construed to be associated with the position information of a POI for which a search is desired.
In the present specification, such POI information is referred to as �characteristic information.� Therefore, applicable POI can be searched from the characteristic information.
In the case that there is no characteristic information in the POI information in the process of step S24, a determination is made as to whether there is information corresponding to the POI category in the process of step S25. Examples of such information include pictographs used in an email to a mobile phone and information associated with a category. There are many pictographs that can be associated with POI categories, e.g., a drawing of a coffee cup for a �caf�,� a knife and fork for a �restaurant,� as well as drawings for a �noodle shop,� �restroom,� and �bank.�
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a simple user interface (UI) whereby a POI can be searched for by using a mouse operation with which anyone is familiar in a PC (personal computer), and by dropping on a map image an object image containing POI information and a POI category for which a search is desired. A UI can be implemented not only in a PC, but also in an email function of a mobile phone as well, in which text or a pictograph included in the text is dropped as an object on the map image.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7715981 *Sep 27, 2005May 11, 2010Travelocity.Com LpSystem, method and computer program product for searching and retrieving ranked points of interest within a polygonal area of interestUS7840345 *May 10, 2007Nov 23, 2010Denso CorporationPositional information use apparatusUS20020047787 *Oct 21, 1999Apr 25, 2002Markus MikkolaInformation retrieval systemUS20020130906 *Mar 16, 2001Sep 19, 2002Ken MiyakiPoint-of interest icon and point-of- interest mark display methodUS20080288545 *Aug 5, 2008Nov 20, 2008Navteq North America, LlcMethod and System for Forming a Keyword Database for Referencing Physical LocationsJP3354851B2 Title not availableJP2001165681A Title not availableJP2002099816A Title not availableJP2002236696A Title not availableJP2002340588A Title not availableJP2003132483A Title not availableJP2003150475A Title not availableJP2003227722A Title not availableJPH11184882A Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1International Search Report of PCT/JP2006/303650, date of mailing May 23, 2006.2Japanese Office Action dated Mar. 17, 2011, issued in corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-501587.3Notification of Transmittal of Translation of the International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Form PCT/IB/338) of International Application No. PCT/JP2006/303650 mailed Sep. 12, 2008 with Forms PCT/IB/373, PCT/ISA/237, and PCT/IB/326.4S. Izumi et al.; "Visualizing Barrier-free Accessibility in Facilities with 3D Spatial Map"; IPSJ SIG Technical Report, No. 121, pp. 97-102, Nov. 27, 2004.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8326524 *Jul 18, 2008Dec 4, 2012Clarion Co., Ltd.Navigation deviceUS8607167 *Jan 3, 2008Dec 10, 2013Apple Inc.Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for providing maps and directionsUS20080168396 *Jan 3, 2008Jul 10, 2008Michael MatasPortable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Maps and DirectionsUS20100223003 *Jul 18, 2008Sep 2, 2010Tomohiro HaradaNavigation deviceUS20110218831 *Mar 7, 2011Sep 8, 2011Bolling Deanna NicoleInformational Kiosk System and Method of Using SameUS20120159371 *Dec 15, 2010Jun 21, 2012Haley ThrappRelative-location maps based on personalized points of reference* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification701/410, 715/810, 701/438, 701/467International ClassificationG09B29/00, G06F17/30, G01C21/00Cooperative ClassificationG06F3/0486, G01C21/3682, G09B29/106, G01C21/3664European ClassificationG09B29/10C, G01C21/36P1, G01C21/36K, G06F3/0486Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 15, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: NAVITIME JAPAN CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KOIKE, TADANORI;SAKAMOTO, HIROSHI;REEL/FRAME:021532/0176Effective date: 20080703RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google