Guiding server, guiding method and recording medium recording guiding program

• US 9,354,076 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Japan Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo Japan Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwasawa, Naoki, Hirai, Miki, Asai, Katsufumi, Itoh, Shinsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): ODEH, NADEEM N
• Application Number:
  US14/201,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 701/522
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A guiding server according to this application includes an image storing unit, a retrieving unit, and a generating unit. The image storing unit stores a signboard image of a signboard. The retrieving unit retrieves, from the image storing unit, a signboard image of a signboard on a way to a destination based on location information and destination information of a user terminal. The generating unit generates guiding information including the signboard image based on the retrieved signboard image, the location information and the destination information and transmits the guiding information to the user terminal.

Claims

1. A guiding server comprising:

a memory configured to store a first signboard image of a first signboard indicating a first business; and

a processor programmed to;

retrieve, from the memory, the stored first signboard image of the first signboard based on (i) a location information of a user terminal with respect to the location information of the first signboard, and (ii) a destination information of the user terminal received from the user terminal, which is different than the location information of the first signboard,

generate guiding information based on the retrieved first signboard image, the location information and the destination information, the generated guiding information including, when a way to a destination includes a turn to a one side at a crossing, (i) the stored first signboard image of the first signboard at the crossing on a right side of the user terminal and a second signboard image of a second signboard indicating a second business on a left side of the user terminal after the turn to the one side, and (ii) information indicating that the way to the destination is between the first signboard and the second signboard, wherein the first signboard image and the second signboard image are similar to the first signboard and the second signboard located at the crossing location, and

transmit and display the guiding information on the user terminal.

2. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits the generated guiding information to the user terminal when the processor determines that the user terminal is approaching the first signboard based on the location information.

3. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates guiding information in which a size of the first signboard image is changed according to a distance between the first signboard and the user terminal.

4. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates guiding information in which a plurality of signboard images of the first signboard is included and sizes of the plurality of signboard images are changed to different sizes according to a distance between the first signboard and the user terminal.

5. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein

the image memory stores a plurality of signboard images of the first signboard taken at different distances, and

the processor retrieves a signboard image of the plurality of signboard images according to the distance between the first signboard and the user terminal.

6. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein when the user terminal passes by the first signboard for which the guiding information on the way is generated, the processor transmits next guiding information on the way.

7. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates guiding information in which the first signboard image is a moving image.

8. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein

the memory stores a plurality of signboard image as associating with images taken from different directions and the directions of the respective images for the first signboard;

and

the processor retrieves one of the plurality of signboard images corresponding to the direction from which the user terminal approaches to the first signboard.

9. The guiding server according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates guiding information including the first signboard image by changing a display form of the first signboard image depending on a date that the first signboard image is retrieved.

10. A guiding method of a computer performing:

storing, in a memory, a first signboard image of a first signboard it indicating a first business;

retrieving, from the memory, the first signboard image of the first signboard based on;

(i) a location information of a user terminal with respect to the location information of the first signboard, and (ii) a destination information of the user terminal received from the user terminal, which is different than the location information of the first signboard;

generating guiding information based on the retrieved first signboard image, the location information and the destination information, the generated guiding information including, when a way to a destination includes a turn to a one side at a crossing, (i) the stored first signboard image of the first signboard at the crossing on a right side of the user terminal and a second signboard image of a second signboard indicating a second business on a left side of the user terminal after the turn to the one side, and (ii) information indicating that the way to the destination is between the first signboard and the second signboard, wherein the first signboard image and the second signboard image are similar to the first signboard and the second signboard located at the crossing location; and

transmitting and displaying the guiding information on the user terminal.

11. A non-transitory recording medium storing a guiding program causing a computer to perform:

storing, in a memory, a first signboard image of a first signboard indicating a first business;

retrieving, from the memory, the first signboard image of the first signboard based on;

(i) a location information of a user terminal with respect to the location information of the first signboard, and (ii) a destination information of the user terminal received from the user terminal, which is different than the location information of the first signboard;

generating guiding information based on the retrieved first signboard image, the location information and the destination information, the generated guiding information including, when a way to a destination includes a turn to a one side at a crossing, (i) the stored first signboard image of the first signboard at the crossing on a right side of the user terminal and a second signboard image of a second signboard indicating a second business on a left side of the user terminal after the turn to the one side, and (ii) information indicating that the way to the destination is between the first signboard and the second signboard, wherein the first signboard image and the second signboard image are similar to the first signboard and the second signboard located at the crossing location; and

transmitting and displaying the guiding information on the user terminal.