Patent ID: 8326530

Claim:
An information processing apparatus, comprising: a computer comprising: a drawing unit for receiving three-dimensional map data from a three-dimensional map data storage unit; and a placement position setting unit for receiving location information corresponding to points spaced at predetermined intervals on a map from a location information storage unit, the location information including types of geographical objects at the points; receiving geographical object information from a geographical object information storage unit, the geographical object information including a position of a geographical object on the map and display information relating to the geographical object; and setting a display-information-placement position for placing a sign on the map, wherein: the sign indicates the display information relating to the geographical object, and the display-information-placement position is set based on the location information at the points within a predetermined area surrounding the position of the geographical object, wherein the types of the geographical objects include a road type or a building type, and wherein the placement position setting unit sets the display-information-placement position by: setting the position of the geographical object as a base point; setting a point having the road type within a first predetermined area centered at the base point as a reference point: determining whether: all the points within a second predetermined area centered at the reference point have the road type, and no point on a line connecting the reference point and the base point corresponds to a building other than the geographical object; and setting, when a result of the determining step is positive, the reference point as the display-information-placement position.