Information processing system providing a service using electronic map information

• US 20030078723A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kunigita, Hisayuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,836,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A server apparatus has an electronic map information database into which is stored electronic map data, and a spot information database into which is stored information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data sent from a terminal, the terminal apparatus being configured so as to enable viewing of information stored in the spot information database via an electronic network. By this configuration, it is possible for a user to store information with regard to an arbitrary location on the electronic map into the spot information database and to later verify the information stored by the user, thereby enabling the server apparatus to provide a service that suits the individual user'"'"'s style.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a terminal apparatus comprising a position detecting means that acquires position information; and

a server apparatus comprising;

an electronic map information database into which is stored electronic map data;

electronic map assignment means for referring to position information sent from the terminal apparatus, extracting from the electronic map information database electronic map data for a vicinity of a position at which the terminal apparatus exists, and sending the extracted electronic map data to the terminal apparatus;

a spot information database into which is stored information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data sent from the terminal apparatus; and

information extracting means for extracting from information stored in the spot information database information satisfying a search condition sent from the terminal apparatus, and sending the extracted information to the terminal apparatus.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the server apparatus, in determining that the terminal apparatus is within a prescribed range from an arbitrary location on the electronic map data stored in the spot information database, sends prescribed information to the terminal apparatus.

3. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

information stored in the spot information database can be transferred in accordance with an operation from the terminal apparatus.

4. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the terminal apparatus applies a different identification number for each location to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

5. An information processing system according to claim 4, wherein

the terminal apparatus inputs an identification number of information related to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

6. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the terminal apparatus includes at least one of audio data and image data with regard to a location corresponding to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

7. An information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information extracted by the information extracting means is readable through second terminal apparatus.

8. A terminal apparatus comprising:

position detecting means for acquiring position information;

displaying means for displaying electronic map data, including position information;

input means for specifying an arbitrary location in the electronic map data, and inputting information regarding the arbitrary location; and

extracting means for extracting information regarding the arbitrary location satisfying an input search condition.

9. A terminal apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

control means for controlling the displaying means when a distance between an acquired position information and an arbitrary location in the electronic map data is within a prescribed range, so that the displaying means displays a prescribed flag.

10. A terminal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data can be transferred.

11. A terminal apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for applying a different identification number for each location to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

12. A terminal apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for inputting an identification number of information related to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

13. A terminal apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for inputting at least one of audio data and image data with regard to a location corresponding to information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data.

14. A method for processing information, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position information of a terminal apparatus;

referring to the position information, extracting electronic map data for a vicinity in which the terminal apparatus exists, and sending the extracted electronic map data to the terminal;

storing information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data sent from the terminal apparatus; and

extracting information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data satisfying a search condition sent from the terminal apparatus, and sending the extracted information to the terminal apparatus.

15. A method for processing information according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

referring to the position information and, in determining that the terminal apparatus is within a prescribed range from an arbitrary location in the stored electronic map data, sending prescribed information to the terminal apparatus.

16. A method for processing information according to claim 14, wherein

information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data can be transferred.

17. A method for processing information according to claim 14, wherein

the information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data includes at least one of audio data and image data of the location.

18. An information processing program to be executed by a computer, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position information of a terminal apparatus;

referring to the position information, extracting electronic map data for a vicinity in which the terminal apparatus exists, and sending the extracted electronic map data to the terminal;

storing information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data sent from the terminal apparatus; and

extracting information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data satisfying a search condition sent from the terminal apparatus, and sending the extracted information to the terminal apparatus.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having recording therein an information processing program to be executed by a computer, wherein the information processing program comprises the steps of:

acquiring position information of a terminal apparatus;

referring to the position information, extracting electronic map data for a vicinity in which the terminal apparatus exists, and sending the extracted electronic map data to the terminal;

storing information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data sent from the terminal apparatus; and

extracting information regarding an arbitrary location in electronic map data satisfying a search condition sent from the terminal apparatus, and sending the extracted information to the terminal apparatus.

20. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the information processing further comprises the step of:

referring to the position information and, in determining that the terminal apparatus is within a prescribed range from an arbitrary location in the stored electronic map data, sending prescribed information to the terminal apparatus.

21. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein

information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data can be transferred.

22. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein

the information regarding an arbitrary location in the electronic map data includes at least one of audio data and image data of the location.