Figure management system and figure modifying method by using figure management system

• US 6,728,730 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwamura, Kazuaki, Muro, Keiro, Ishimaru, Nobuhiro, Tsutsui, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/634,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/6, 707/100-104, 707/10, 707/5, 345/619, 345/423, 345/441
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A figure management system in which plural kinds of figures concerning the same part to be managed are modified. The figure management system includes a figure DB for storing data of figures including topological figures, an attribute DB for storing object attribute data, input and output devices, and a computer for managing figure and object attribute data. An ID code common to features indicating the same object is assigned. On input of a new figure, feature-attribute matching is performed between a feature having no ID code on the new figure and existent object attribute data. If any inconsistency is found the feature is indicated as a discrepant feature or a renewed feature.

Claims

1. A figure modifying method for use in a figure management system including topological figures, each indicating connection relationships between objects, concerning the same part to be managed are stored, said figure modifying method comprising:

a first step wherein, on input of a new topological figure concerning the same part to be managed into said figure management system, connection-association relationships between a first object and other objects thereon are compared with existent object attribute data indicating connection-association relationships with other objects, which have been stored in said figure management system, to perform examination for matching between each feature and object, and wherein an ID code common to said existent object attribute data is assigned to each matched feature on said new figure for establishing a relationship; and

a second step wherein any feature not matched with said existent object attribute data in said first step is displayed as a discrepant point or a point to be renewed on display means, and then correction is performed on the discrepant point or the point to be renewed,

wherein connection-association relationships indicates for each object which objects are connected to said object and for each object which objects are included in said object, and for which objects said object is included.

2. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first step includes input of an absolute position of said first object represented by a feature on said new figure.

3. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, under condition that a previous version of said new figure has already been stored in said figure management system, examination for matching in said first step is carried out in a fashion that a position of an object represented by a feature on said new figure and connection-association relationships with other objects thereon are compared with existent data indicating a position of an object represented by each feature on said previous figure version and connection-association relationships with other objects thereon.

4. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a third step wherein, for modified features on a modified figure, a class of an object represented by each feature is extracted from a layer number thereof on an input figure, an absolute coordinate position of an object is extracted from an on-figure position of each feature, and a connection relationship with other objects is extracted from a connection relationship with other features for automatically generating, modifying and storing object attribute data.

5. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a third step wherein, for all the features on a newly prepared figure, a class of an object represented by each feature is extracted from a layer number thereof on an input figure, an absolute coordinate value of an object is extracted from an on-figure position of each feature, and a connection relationship with other objects is extracted from a connection relationship with other features for automatically generating, modifying and storing object attribute data.

6. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a fourth step wherein attribute data of an object having a connection relationship with any object corresponding to attribute data attained in said third step and attribute data of an object having an association relationship therewith are generated and modified correspondingly through automatic operation.

7. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third step is followed by a fourth step in which a topological figure is generated using object connection-association relationships and object attribute data corresponding to manually prepared object attribute data.

8. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third step is followed by a fourth step in which a topological figure is generated using object connection-association relationships and object attribute data corresponding to manually prepared object attribute data.

9. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said figure management system is provided with a class list of objects represented on each related figure as attribute data of each related figure corresponding to an object modified using an input figure, and

wherein there is provided a fourth step in which, after completion of said second step, an ID code included in said class list is extracted using an ID list of modified objects, the ID code thus extracted is compared with ID codes stored for features on each related figure, a mark of temporary change is added to each changed feature having the same ID code as that of a modified object, a mark of temporary deletion is added to each deleted feature having the same ID code of that of a modified object, a newly added feature which does not have the same ID code as that of any feature on each related figure is registered as a temporary feature maintaining an object connection relationship, and a feature to be modified correspondingly is output for display.

10. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in said fourth step, under condition that both of said input figure and each said related figure are geographic maps, a newly added feature is registered at an accurate position through reference point conversion, scale conversion and projection method conversion, and then each said related figure is modified correspondingly in automatic operation.

11. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said first step, under condition that a plurality of input figures are given, a position of an object represented by a feature on a part of said input figures and connection relationships with other features thereon are compared with a position of an object represented by a feature on another part of said input figures, connection relationships with other features thereon, and connection relationships with objects having an association relationship with an object represented by a feature thereon, thereby detecting any possible discrepancy among a plurality of said input figures.

12. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said figure management system is provided with a class list of objects represented on each related figure as attribute data of each related figure corresponding to an object modified using an input figure, and

wherein there is provided a fourth step in which, after completion of said second step, an ID code included in said class list is extracted using an ID list of modified objects, the ID code thus extracted is compared with ID codes stored for features on each related figure, a mark of temporary change is added to each changed feature having the same ID code as that of a modified object, a mark of temporary deletion is added to each deleted feature having the same ID code of that of a modified object, a newly added feature which does not have the same ID code as that of any feature on each related figure is registered as a temporary feature maintaining an object connection relationship, and a feature to be modified correspondingly is output for display.

13. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, under condition that a previous version of said new figure has already been stored in said figure management system, examination for matching in said first step is carried out in a fashion that a position of an object represented by a feature on said new figure and connection-association relationships with other objects thereon are compared with existent data indicating a position of an object represented by each feature on said previous figure version and connection-association relationships with other objects thereon.

14. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a third step wherein, for modified features on a modified figure, a class of an object represented by each feature is extracted from a layer number thereof on an input figure, an absolute coordinate position of an object is extracted from an on-figure position of each feature, and a connection relationship with other objects is extracted from a connection relationship with other features for automatically generating, modifying and storing object attribute data.

15. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a third step wherein, for all the features on a newly prepared figure, a class of an object represented by each feature is extracted from a layer number thereof on an input figure, an absolute coordinate value of an object is extracted from an on-figure position of each feature, and a connection relationship with other objects is extracted from a connection relationship with other features for automatically generating, modifying and storing object attribute data.

16. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a fourth step wherein attribute data of an object having a connection relationship with any object corresponding to attribute data attained in said third step and attribute data of an object having an association relationship therewith are generated and modified correspondingly through automatic operation.

17. A figure modifying method for use in said figure management system as claimed in claim 12, wherein, in said fourth step, under condition

that both of said input figure and each said related figure are geographic maps, a newly added feature is registered at an accurate position through reference point conversion, scale conversion and projection method conversion, and then each said related figure is modified correspondingly in automatic operation.

18. A figure management system, comprising:

a figure database for storing data of plural kinds of figures including topological figures, each indicating connection relationships between objects, concerning the same part to be managed;

an attribute database for storing attribute data of objects represented by features on said figures;

input and output devices for inputting and outputting figure data and attribute data; and

signal processing means for managing figure data and attribute data through use of said figure database, said attribute database, and said input and output devices;

wherein said signal processing means is arranged to include;

a first processing section for carrying out a feature-attribute matching function in which, on entry of an input topological figure into said figure management system, connection-association relationships with other objects are compared with existent object attribute data indicating connection-association relationships with other objects, which have been stored in said figure management system, to automatically perform examination for matching between each feature and object;

a second processing section for carrying out an attribute automatic modifying function in which object attribute data of any feature that has been judged to be a renewed feature by said first processing section is modified automatically; and

a third processing section for carrying out a figure automatic modifying function in which, using a feature and object attribute data on a figure modified through said first and second processing sections, object attribute data represented by each feature on plural kinds of figures concerning the same part to be managed in relation to said modified figure are modified correspondingly through automatic operation;

wherein connection-association relationships indicates for each object which objects are connected to said object and for each object which objects are included in said object, and for which objects said object is included.

19. A figure management system as claimed in claim 18, wherein there is further provided a figure automatic generating section for generating a topological figure using data of object positions and connection relationships with other objects stored in said figure database and said attribute database.

20. A figure management system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said signal processing means comprises a computer, and

wherein said first, second and third processing sections are driven by an application program stored in data storage means connected with said computer.

21. A data storage medium containing an application program to be run on a computer, said application program controls a figure database for storing topological figures, each indicating connection relationships between objects, concerning the same part to be managed, and an attribute database for storing attribute data of objects represented by features on said figures, using input and output devices for inputting and outputting figure data and attribute data, wherein said application program is arranged to include:

a first step in which, on input of a new topological figure concerning the same part to be managed into said figure management system, connection-association relationships with other objects thereon are compared with existent object attribute data indicating object absolute positions and connection-association relationships with other objects, which have been stored in said figure management system, to perform examination for matching between each feature and object, and in which an ID code common to said existent object attribute data is assigned to each matched feature on said new figure;

a second step in which any feature not matched with said existent object attribute data in said first step is displayed as a discrepant point or a point to be renewed on display means provided by said input and output devices;

a third step in which attribute data of each object corresponding to a renewed feature on said input figure and attribute data of objects in relation to each said object are modified; and

a fourth step in which features in relation to each object corresponding to said renewed feature are stored for related figures;

wherein connection-association relationships indicates for each object which objects are connected to said object and for each object which objects are included in said object, and for which objects said object is included.

22. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first step includes input of an absolute position of said first object represented by a feature on said new figure.

23. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 22,

wherein said first step of said application program comprises:

a first sub-step in which a judgment is formed to check whether an input figure is a map or a topological figure; and

a second sub-step in which, if said input figure is judged to be a map, a representative point coordinate value of a feature is determined from a position thereof on said input figure, and said representative point coordinate value thus determined is converted to an absolute coordinate value using metadata of said input figure according to a reference point coordinate value, scale and projection method taken for said input figure;

whereby comparison is then carried out to perform feature-attribute matching.

24. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first step of said application program comprises:

a first sub-step in which a judgment is formed to check whether an input figure is a map or a topological figure; and

a second sub-step, if said input figure is judged to be a topological figure, a connection relationship of each feature on said input figure is attained using said input figure, and said connection relationship thus attained is stored into a table;

whereby, using said connection relationship stored in said table, comparison is then carried out to perform feature-attribute matching.

25. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 21,

wherein said first step of said application program comprises:

a first sub-step in which a judgment is formed to check whether an input figure is a map or a topological figure; and

a second sub-step in which, if said input figure is judged to be a map, a representative point coordinate value of a feature is determined from a position thereof on said input figure, and said representative point coordinate value thus determined is converted to an absolute coordinate value using metadata of said input figure according to a reference point coordinate value, scale and projection method taken for said input figure;

whereby comparison is then carried out to perform feature-attribute matching.

26. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first step of said application program comprises:

a first sub-step in which a judgment is formed to check whether an input figure is a map or a topological figure; and

a second sub-step, if said input figure is judged to be a topological figure, a connection relationship of each feature on said input figure is attained using said input figure, and said connection relationship thus attained is stored into a table;

whereby, using said connection relationship stored in said table, comparison is then carried out to perform feature-attribute matching.