Server, user terminal, information providing service system and information providing service method for providing information in conjunction with a geographical mapping application Number:7,096,233 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent An information providing service method comprising the steps of selecting an object displayed on a map in a user terminal, transmitting coordinate information relating to an object selected in the terminal and display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by the object to a server connected to the terminal over a network, transmitting spatial range information, attribute information and a URL based on the transmitted coordinate information and display object attribute information from the server to the terminal, and displaying an information bubble along with the object at a position indicated by the transmitted spatial range information on a display unit of the terminal, whereby the service information is provided such that the service information is linked with map information of the terminal to the user, and the information bubble is displayed in an appropriate size on the map information.<H geographical, application, Server, user, ter, 7096233.html, Patent, pto, 7096233

Title: Server, user terminal, information providing service system and information providing service method for providing information in conjunction with a geographical mapping application

Abstract: An information providing service method comprising the steps of selecting an object displayed on a map in a user terminal, transmitting coordinate information relating to an object selected in the terminal and display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by the object to a server connected to the terminal over a network, transmitting spatial range information, attribute information and a URL based on the transmitted coordinate information and display object attribute information from the server to the terminal, and displaying an information bubble along with the object at a position indicated by the transmitted spatial range information on a display unit of the terminal, whereby the service information is provided such that the service information is linked with map information of the terminal to the user, and the information bubble is displayed in an appropriate size on the map information.

Patent Number: 7,096,233 Issued on 08/22/2006 to Mori, et al.

Inventors: Mori; Shinichiro (Kawasaki, JP), Hirokawa; Yukio (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignee: Fujitsu Limited (Kawasaki, JP)

Appl. No.: 09/892,721

Filed: June 27, 2001

Foreign Application Priority Data


Jan 31, 2001 [JP]			2001-024852

Current U.S. Class: 707/104.1 ; 707/10

Current International Class: G06F 17/00 (20060101)

Field of Search: 707/1,3,4,104.1 701/200,201,206,208

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


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Foreign Patent Documents


99/42946	Aug., 1999	WO

Other References

Imielinski et al. "GPS-Based Geographic Addressing, Routing, and Resource Discovery." Communications of the ACM. vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 86-92. Apr. 1999. ACM Press. cited by examiner .
Leichsenring et al. "A Location-Aware Graphical BBS for Mobile Environments." Proceedings of the Eight ACM International Symposium on Advances in Geographic Information Systems. pp. 141-146. Nov. 2000. ACM Press. cited by examiner .
H. Tarumi, et al. "Space Tag: An Overland Virtual System and its Applications" IEEE International Conference on Multimedia Computing & Systems (ICMCS'99), vol. 1, Italy, pp. 207-212, Jun. 1999. cited by other .
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Primary Examiner: Gaffin; Jeffrey
Assistant Examiner: Goddard; Brian
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising: a database for holding a specific information document as bubble data, being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object, the specific information document (a) having index information composed of a plurality of elements, (b) being from out of information documents having attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided, (c) in which spatial range information in three-dimensional space is associated with retrieval information for obtaining said service information; a retrieving unit for retrieving, by using the index information of the specific information document, (d) specific bubble data including (d1) coordinate information, and (d2) display object attribute information (e) on the basis of a mapping request including an address, a range desired to be displayed, an altitude, an angle of a viewpoint, (e1) having said coordinate information on an object displayed on said map and said display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by said object, (e2) said mapping request being transmitted from said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space; and a notifying unit for notifying said user terminal of a mapping response having (f) said spatial range information, (g) said attribute information, and (h) said retrieval information, wherein (f) said spatial range information, (g) said attribute information and (h) said retrieval information being included in said specific bubble data which is retrieved in said retrieving unit.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein said notifying unit notifies of said mapping response having spatial range information including a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on said user terminal and address information.

3. The server according to claim 1, wherein said database correlates said bubble data with a unique number by which contents of service information of said bubble data can be identified, and holds said bubble data and said unique number.

4. A server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising: a database for holding a specific information page as bubble data, the bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object. the specific information page (a) having index information, as a DTD (Document Type Definition) information for robot retrieving, which includes a complement data that holds data relating to an access management or an access limitation of the user who complements the index information, which is written with a markup language, composed of a plurality of elements relating to attribute information, (b) being from out of information pages having attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to an object or service information relating to said various information, and (c) in which spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, altitude and a bubble diameter of said object in a three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining said service information; a retrieving unit for retrieving, by using the index information of the specific home page, (d) specific bubble data including (d1) coordinate information, and (d2) display object attribute information (e) on the basis of a mapping request including an address, a range desired to be displayed, an altitude, an angle of a viewpoint, (e1) having said coordinate information in the three-dimensional spare composed of latitude, longitude and altitude of an object displayed on said map and said display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object, (e2) said mapping request being transmitted from said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space; and a notifying unit for notifying said user terminal of a mapping response having (f) said spatial range information, (g) said attribute information and (h) said address information, wherein (f) said spatial range information, (g) said attribute information and (h) said retrieval information being included in said specific bubble data which is retrieved in said retrieving unit.

5. The server according to claim 4, wherein said notifying unit notifies of said mapping response having spatial range information including a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on said user terminal and address information.

6. The server according to claim 4, wherein said retrieving unit retrieves said specific bubble data in another database connected to a network on the basis of said mapping request.

7. The server according to claim 4 further comprising: a Web information outputting unit for holding user information; and an address generating unit for generating an address at which said user information held in said Web information outputting unit is held.

8. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds an animation element to be displayed on said user terminal in document type definition information.

9. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds an application program element for displaying said map in document type definition information.

10. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds a communication partner information element relating to a specific communication partner in document type definition information.

11. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database classifies document type definition information according to a plurality of elements, and holds said document type definition information.

12. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database correlates said bubble data with a unique number by which contents of service information of said bubble data can be identified, and holds said bubble data and said unique number.

13. The server according to claim 12, wherein said database holds monitoring bubble data for detecting a moving object and a bubble diameter of said monitoring bubble data based on position information on said moving object, and records a moving object element by which said moving object can be specified in a file held in said database.

14. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database records data relating to a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on said user terminal in a file.

15. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds at least either one of history information of address information caused by an access of said user terminal and identifier information by which said user terminal can be identified in a file.

16. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds data relating to a counter whose count value can be changed in a file.

17. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds data relating to an accessible time in a file.

18. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database holds data relating to an application program for displaying a map on said user terminal in a file.

19. The server according to claim 4, wherein said database handles address information based on said spatial range information as an electronic mail address, and holds said spatial range information correspondingly to said electronic mail address.

20. A server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising: a database for holding a specific home page as bubble data, the bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object, the specific home page (a) having DTD (document type definition) information, for robot retrieving, which includes a complement data that holds data relating to an access management or an access limitation of the user who complements the DTD information, which is written with a markup language, composed of a plurality of tags relating to attribute information. (b) being from out of home pages having said attribute information representing attributes of facility information relating to a building or service information of said facility information, and (c) in which spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, and altitude and a bubble diameter of said building in a three-dimensional space is associated with a uniform resource locator for obtaining said service information; a retrieving unit for retrieving, by using the index information of the specific information document. (d) specific bubble data including (d1) coordinate information, and (d2) display object attribute information (e) on the basis of a mapping request including an address, a range desired to be displayed, an altitude, an angle of a viewpoint. (e1) having said coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of latitude, longitude and altitude of a building displayed on said map and said display object attribute information representing attributes of facility information relating to a building displayed on said map or service information of said facility information, (e2) said mapping request being transmitted from said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the building in the three-dimensional space; and a notifying unit for notifying said user terminal of a mapping response having (f) said spatial range information, (g) said attribute information and (h) said uniform resource locator of said specific bubble data.

21. The server according to claim 20, wherein said notifying unit notifies of said mapping response having spatial range information including a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on said user terminal and address information based on said coordinate information included in said mapping request.

22. The server according to claim 20, wherein said database correlates said bubble data with a unique number by which contents of service information of said bubble data can be identified, and holds said bubble data and said unique number.

23. A user terminal in a system providing information to said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display a map, said user terminal comprising: a map information outputting unit for outputting map information installed beforehand; a display unit for displaying an image of an object on the basis of said map information outputted from said map information outputting unit; a transmitting unit for transmitting (i) a mapping request to a server connected to said user terminal over a network, said mapping request having (a) coordinate information in the three-dimensional space on said object displayed on said display unit, and (b) display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by said object; and (ii) data including an address, a range, an altitude of a viewpoint or an angle of the viewpoint, which is desired to be displayed on said display unit according to instructions; a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response having (c1) spatial range information in the three-dimensional space corresponding to said coordinate information, (c2) attribute information representing attribute information of service information to be provided by said object, and (c3) retrieval information for obtaining said service information notified from said server in response to said mapping request; a mapping unit for displaying (d1) an image geometry and (d2) said map, said image geometry overlapped on said map at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response on said display unit, said mapping unit representing the object in the three-dimensional space and displaying service information on said displaying unit, the service information being linked with the object; and a mapping data holding unit for holding (e1) said image geometry and (e2) said retrieval information, said image geometry displayed by said mapping unit being correlated with said retrieval information included in said mapping response, wherein said server holding a bubble data, being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object.

24. A user terminal in a system providing information to said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display a map, said user terminal comprising: a map information outputting unit for outputting map information on an object in the three-dimensional space installed beforehand; a display unit for displaying an image of said object on a screen on the basis of said map information outputted from said map information outputting unit; a transmitting unit for transmitting (i) a mapping request to a server connected to said user terminal over a network, said server holding a bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object, said mapping request having (a) coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of latitude, longitude and altitude of said object displayed on said display unit, and (b) display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information; and, (ii) data including an address, a range, an altitude of a viewpoint or an angle of the viewpoint, which is desired to be displayed on said display unit according to instructions to the server connected to said user terminal over a network; a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response having (c1) spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, (c2) altitude and a bubble diameter of said object in the three-dimensional space corresponding to said coordinate information, and (c3) address information for obtaining said service information notified from said server in response to said mapping request; a mapping unit for displaying (d1) an image geometry and (d2) an image of said object, at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response on said display unit, on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space, and displaying service information on said displaying unit, the service information being linked to the object; and a mapping data holding unit for holding (e1) said image geometry and (e2) said address information said image geometry displayed by said mapping unit being correlated with said address information included in said mapping response.

25. A user terminal in a system providing information to said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display a map, said user terminal comprising: a map information outputting unit for outputting map information on a building in the three-dimensional space installed beforehand; a display unit for displaying an image of said building on a screen on the basis of said map information outputted from said map information outputting unit; a transmitting unit for transmitting a mapping request to a server over a network, said server including bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object, said mapping request having (a) coordinate information composed of latitude, longitude, altitude and a bubble diameter in the three-dimensional space of said building displayed on said display unit, and (b) display object attribute information representing attributes of facility information relating to said building or service information of said facility information; (ii) data including an address, a range, an altitude of a viewpoint or an angle of the viewpoint, which is desired to be displayed on said display unit according to instructions to the server; a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response having (c1) spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, altitude and a bubble diameter of said building in the three-dimensional space corresponding to said coordinate information, and (c2) a uniform resource locator for obtaining said service information notified from said server in response to said mapping request; a mapping unit for displaying (d1) an image geometry and an image of said building, at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response, on said displaying unit, on said map which represents the object in three-dimensional space, and displaying service information, the service information being linked to the building on said display unit; and a mapping data holding unit for holding (e1) said image geometry and (e2) said uniform resource locator, said image geometry displayed by said mapping unit being correlated with said uniform resource locator included in said mapping response.

26. The user terminal according to claim 25, wherein said receiving unit receives said mapping response having spatial range information including a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of said map displayed on said display unit and address information based on said coordinate information included in said mapping request.

27. The user terminal according to claim 25 further comprising a detecting unit for detecting position information including a latitude of an object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof, a direction thereof, and an inclination angle thereof in the three dimensional space.

28. The user terminal according to claim 27, wherein said detecting unit comprises at least any one of a direction sensor being able to measure the direction, a satellite information receiving unit being able to receive satellite information through the use of a global positioning system, and an inclination sensor being able to measure an inclination angle of said user terminal with respect to the horizontal line.

29. The user terminal according to claim 25, wherein said transmitting unit transmits said mapping request using an electronic mail address generated on the basis of said coordinate information.

30. An information providing service system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising: a server for holding a specific information page as bubble data, the specific information page (a) having document type definition information, (b) being from out of information pages having attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to an object or service information relating to said various information and said document type definition information composed of a plurality of elements, and (c) in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in three-dimensional space is associated with address information far obtaining said service information, said bubble data being able to (i) change size or shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; said user terminal connected to said server over a network to display said various information retrieved using said bubble data; said server comprising: a database for holding said bubble data; a retrieving unit for retrieving, by using the index information of the specific information document, specific bubble data including coordinate information, and display object attribute information wherein said retrieving is performed on the basis of a mapping request transmitted from said user terminal, said mapping request having said coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, and an altitude thereof displayed on said map and having said display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space, viewpoint; and a notifying unit for notifying said user terminal of a mapping response, said mapping response having said space region information, said attribute information, and said address information, wherein said space region information, said attribute information, and said address information included in said specific bubble data which is retrieved by said retrieving unit; said user terminal comprising: a map information outputting unit for outputting map information on an object in the three-dimensional space; a display unit for displaying an image of an object on a screen on the basis of said map information outputted from said map information outputting unit; a transmitting unit for transmitting a mapping request to said server connected to said user terminal over a network, said mapping request having space region information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof, and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space of an image of said object displayed on said display unit, and attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information; a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response having spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof, and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space corresponding to said space region information, and address information for obtaining said service information notified from said server in response to said mapping request; a mapping unit for displaying an image geometry and an image of said object at a position indicated by said space region information included in said mapping response, on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space, and displaying service information on said displaying unit, the service information being linked to the object of said map; and a mapping data holding unit for holding said image geometry and said retrieval information, said image geometry displayed by said mapping unit being correlated with said address information included in said mapping response.

31. An information providing service system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising: a database for holding a specific information page as bubble data, the specific information page (a) having document type definition information, (b) being from out of information pages having attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to an object or service information relating to said various information and said document type definition information composed of a plurality of elements, and (c) in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining said service information, said bubble data being able to (i) change size or shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; a user terminal connected to said database over a network to display said various information retrieved using said bubble data; a retrieving unit for retrieving by using the index information of the specific information document, specific bubble data including coordinate information, and display object attribute information said retrieving performed on the basis of a mapping request, said mapping request having said coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof and an altitude thereof displayed on said map, and having said display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information transmitted from said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space, viewpoint; and a notifying unit for notifying said user terminal of a mapping response having said spatial range information, said attribute information and said address information of said specific bubble data; said user terminal comprising: a map information outputting unit for outputting map information on an object in the three-dimensional space; a display unit for displaying an image of said object on a screen on the basis of said map information outputted from said map information outputting unit; a transmitting unit for transmitting a mapping request to a server connected to said user terminal over a network, said mapping request having coordinate information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space displayed on said display unit and attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information to said server; a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response notified from said server in response to said mapping requests, said mapping response having spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space corresponding to said spatial range information, and having address information for obtaining said service information; a mapping unit for displaying an image geometry along with an image of said object at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response on said display unit, on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space, and displaying service information on said displaying unit, the service information being linked to the object of said map and said mapping request being transmitted from said user terminal; and a mapping data holding unit for holding said image geometry and said retrieval information, said image geometry displayed by said mapping unit being correlated with said address information included in said mapping response.

32. An information providing service method in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising the steps of: selecting an object displayed on a map, said map displayed by said user terminal; transmitting from said user terminal to a server connected to said user terminal over a network coordinate information relating to said selected object and display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by said object, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in three-dimensional space, the bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; transmitting spatial range information, attribute information, and address information to said user terminal from said server on the basis of said transmitted coordinate information and display object attribute information; and displaying, on a display unit of said user terminal, an image geometry along with said object at a position indicated by said transmitted spatial range information.

33. An information providing service method in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising the steps of: displaying a map on a display unit displaying an image in said user terminal; selecting an object from map information displayed at said displaying step in said user terminal; transmitting a mapping request to a server connected to said user terminal over a network, said mapping request having coordinate information in three-dimensional space relating to said selected object, and display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided from said user terminal, said mapping request including an address, a range desired to be displayed, an altitude, an angle of a viewpoint; retrieving by said server specific bubble data including coordinate information and display object attribute information, by using the index information of the specific information document, in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said selected object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining service information provided by said abject on the basis of said transmitted mapping request, the bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; notifying to said user terminal from said server a mapping response having said spatial range information and said address information of said retrieved specific bubble data; displaying an image geometry along with said object at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response on said display unit in said user terminal; and providing said image geometry and said map displayed to said user terminal.

34. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein at said map displaying step, said user terminal displays said map on said screen on the basis of at least either one of the latitude or the longitude obtained.

35. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein said notifying step comprises the steps of: a changing step of outputting a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of said map displayed on said display unit of said user terminal from said server an the basis of said coordinate information included in said mapping request transmitted at said transmitting step; and an inserting step of inserting said similar bubble diameter outputted at said changing step into said mapping response in said user terminal.

36. The information providing service method according to claim 35, wherein at said changing step, said server changes said similar bubble diameter on the basis of at least any one of the number of accesses, an accessible time and an accessible season.

37. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein at said notifying step, said server notifies of information relating to an application program for displaying a map on said user terminal.

38. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein at said retrieving step, said server retrieves using a counter whose count value can be changed by an access.

39. The information providing service method according to claim 38, wherein at said retrieving step, said server nullifies a predetermined file when said count is stopped.

40. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein at said retrieving step, retrieval is performed on the basis of the number of accesses that said server can receive concurrently.

41. The information providing service method according to claim 33, wherein at said retrieving step, retrieval is performed on the basis of communication partner information relating to a specific communication partner.

42. The information service providing method according to claim 33, wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of: a reading step of reading communication partner bubble data agreeing with information set beforehand relating to said communication partner in said server; a present position information receiving step of receiving present position information on said user terminal by said server; and an approach detecting step of detecting approach of said user terminal and said communication partner to each other by said server on the basis of said communication partner bubble data and said present position information.

43. An information service providing method in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising the steps of: displaying a map on a display unit displaying an image in said user terminal; selecting an object from map information displayed at said displaying step in said user terminal; transmitting a mapping request to a server connected to said user terminal over a network, said mapping request, including an address, a range desired to be displayed, an altitude, an angle of a viewpoint having (a) coordinate information of said selected object composed of a latitude, a longitude, an altitude and a bubble diameter in three-dimensional space, and (b) display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to said selected object or service information relating to said various information from said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in the three-dimensional space; retrieving by said server specific bubble data including said coordinate information and said display object attribute information, by using the index information of the specific information document, in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said selected object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining various information relating to said object or service information relating to said various information on the basis of said transmitted mapping request, the babble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; notifying to said user terminal from said server a mapping response having said spatial range information and said address information of said retrieved specific bubble data; and displaying an image geometry along with said object at a position indicated by said spatial range information included in said mapping response on said display unit of said user terminal on the basis of said notified specific bubble data.

44. An information providing service method in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising the steps of: recording a specific information page composed of a plurality of elements relating to attribute information, said specific information page from information pages having said attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to an object or service information relating to said various information in a database by said user terminal, said user terminal being able to display an information bubble which represents an image of spatial range information of the bubble data, overlapped on said map which represents the object in three-dimensional space, said bubble data being able to (i) change a size or a shape of itself, (ii) operate a generation, a disappearance and limit times of access, and (iii) detect a moving object; registering by a server, bubble data in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining said service information on the basis of said information page recorded at said information page recording step; and providing information generated from said registered bubble data from said server to said user terminal.

45. The information providing service method according to claim 44, wherein said bubble data registering step comprises the steps of; a specific document type definition information extracting step of extracting by said server plural pieces of specific document type definition information having a predetermined element out of said document type definition information of said information pages recorded at said information page recording step; and a first registering step of registering by said server said plural pieces of specific document type definition information as said bubble data.

46. The information providing service method according to claim 44, wherein said bubble data registering step comprises the steps of: a recording step of recording by said server said information page recorded at said information page recording step in another database; and a second registering step of registering by said server said information page recorded at said recording step as bubble data in which spatial range information composed of a latitude of said object, a longitude thereof, an altitude thereof and a bubble diameter thereof in the three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining said service information on said database.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a server, a user terminal, an information providing service system and an information providing service method suitable for use in a position information service using, for example, a portable terminal.

(2) Description of Related Art

When electronic data is stored, an user (company, individual) generally uses a processing apparatus such as a keyboard, a mouse or the like. In order to express his/her intention, the user converts the data into another hardware, direct the processing apparatus to retrieve or store the data in conformity with contents to be processed.

Recent spread of portable terminals allows the mobile environment to be well prepared, small-sized GPS (Global Positioning System) modules that can measure positions of person to be widely used, and various services to be provided. A part of them is used as a guidance service to measure a position of a user and notify the user of his/her position.

However, the user needs to temporarily convert his/her intention into data in another form when retrieving or storing the data. In such method, the data needs to be digitally processed. Accordingly, the user cannot directly process the data in such a way as the user puts things that come into his/her view in a shelf. Namely, the user cannot retrieve data in so-called analog way such as "advance in the north direction", "relatively right/left", or "a little rightward/forward/backward", which does not fit to human sensation, so that the user feels difficulty in use.

For this, the user needs to digitally process data when retrieving or storing the data, although it is more convenient for the user to operate in an analog way. Additionally, the digital processing requires special knowledge and experience.

The service using the portable terminal is mainly by means of voice, which is not adapted to display a position of the user since the display of the portable terminal is of a small size.

In a guidance (navigation) service by voice, the user can grasp his/her position using a GPS module internally or externally equipped to the portable terminal. The system can guide the user in such a way as "advance in the north direction" as an absolute expression in the navigation service.

However, the system cannot grasp a direction in which the user faces, so that the system cannot guide the user in such a way as "go straight" as a relative expression in consideration of the user's position. Therefore, the service has a disadvantage that the user has a difficulty in being guided when the user does not grasp the four cardinal points.

When a moving speed is high as a vehicle, it is possible to grasp a direction in which the user moves using Doppler effect generating between the GPS satellite and the portable terminal. When a moving speed is low as when the user is walking or stopping, it is impossible to grasp a direction in which the user or vehicle moves.

It is very difficult for the system administrator to actually invest money in expensive installations in order to grasp movement of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above problems, a first object of the present invention is to provide a server, a user terminal, an information providing service system and an information providing service method, by which information on a building falling within a predetermined range from a position of a user's terminal or service information or on a shop in a specific building that comes into user's view, can be obtained, or a direction in which the user moves can be appropriately grasped, when information service is provided.

When the system administrator provides the service information, it is necessary to improve the user interface. However, it is difficult to efficiently retrieve information including service contents that the user desires among a number of pieces of service information, and transmit the information to the user.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a server, a user terminal, an information providing service system and an information providing service method, by which service information is displayed in a form that the service information is linked to map information of a user terminal to the user, and an information bubble is displayed in an optimum size on the map information on the screen, when the service information is provided to the user terminal.

A service that the user is accurately guided to the destination when the user drives a vehicle becomes popular in recent years. In order to provide this service, the service administrator needs to dispose costly vehicle detectors and the like. In order to track movement of the vehicle, it is necessary to invest a lot of money, which is practically difficult.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a server, a user terminal, an information providing service system and an information providing service method, by which movement of a vehicle can be tracked without disposing costly vehicle detectors and the like by the system administrator.

The present invention therefore provides a server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising a database for holding a specific information document having index information composed of a plurality of elements out of information documents having attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided as bubble data in which spatial range information in the three-dimensional space is associated with retrieval information for obtaining the service information, a retrieving unit for retrieving specific bubble data including coordinate information and display object attribute information in the bubble data on the basis of a mapping request, transmitted from the user terminal, having the coordinate information on an object displayed on the map and the display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by the object, and a notifying unit for notifying the user terminal of a mapping response having the spatial range information, the attribute information and the retrieval information included in the specific bubble data.

Accordingly, information on a shop or a company is registered, so that the user can obtain the latest information in an excellent visualized state.

The present invention further provides A server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising a database for holding a specific information page having index information composed of a plurality of elements relating to attribute information out of information pages having attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to an object or service information relating to the various information as bubble data in which spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, altitude and a bubble diameter of the object in the three-dimensional space is associated with address information for obtaining the service information, a retrieving unit for retrieving specific bubble data including coordinate information and display object attribute information in the bubble data on the basis of a mapping request, transmitted from the user terminal, having the coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of latitude, longitude and altitude of an object displayed on the map and the display object attribute information representing attributes of various information relating to the object displayed on the map or service information relating to the various information, and a notifying unit for notifying the user terminal of a mapping response having the spatial range information, the attribute information and the address information of the specific bubble data.

As above, a company, for example, can provide the latest information of its own to the users using the map application.

The present invention still further provides a server in a system providing information to a user terminal being able to display a map comprising a database for holding a specific home page having document type definition information composed of a plurality of tags relating to attribute information out of home pages having the attribute information representing attributes of facility information relating to a building or service information of the facility information as bubble data in which spatial range information composed of latitude, longitude, and altitude and a bubble diameter of the building in the three-dimensional space is associated with a uniform resource locator for obtaining the service information, a retrieving unit for retrieving specific bubble data including coordinate information and display object attribute information in the bubble data on the basis of a mapping request, transmitted from the user terminal, having the coordinate information in the three-dimensional space composed of latitude, longitude and altitude of a building displayed on the map and the display object attribute information representing attributes of facility information relating to a building displayed on the map or service information of the facility information, and a notifying unit for notifying the user terminal of a mapping response having the spatial range information, the attribute information and the uniform resource locator of the specific bubble data. Accordingly, the system administrator can provide a high-quality service to the users, and can provide a great effectiveness of advertising to a customer such as a company or the like.

The notifying unit may notify of the mapping response having spatial range information including a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on the user terminal and address information.

Whereby, a position information/URL link database beforehand held is mapped on the map.

The retrieving unit may retrieve the specific bubble data in another database connected to a network on the basis of the mapping request. The user can thereby retrieve necessary information in a database created in each area or country, so that the user can receive a higher quality service.

The server may further comprise a Web information outputting unit for holding user information, and an address generating unit for generating an address at which the user information held in the Web information outputting unit is held. The service center can thereby manage a list of URLs to appropriately provide service information corresponding to an object of retrieval.

The database may hold an animation element to be displayed on the user terminal in document type definition information. The user can thereby obtain more visualized information.

The database may hold an application program element for displaying the map in document type definition information. The user can thereby obtain contents using a visualized map.

The database may hold a communication partner information element relating to a specific communication partner in document type definition information. Each user can thereby communicate with only partners whom the user desires.

The database may classify document type definition information according to a plurality of elements, and hold the document type definition information. Whereby, it becomes unnecessary to retrieve all the files in the directory in retrieval, so that desired information can be extracted efficiently and at a high speed.

The database may correlate the bubble data with a unique number by which contents of service information of the bubble data can be identified, and hold the bubble data and the unique number. It is thereby possible to specify spatial occupancy information, a URL and service information, separately and certainly.

The database may hold monitoring bubble data for detecting a moving object and a bubble diameter of the monitoring bubble data based on position information on the moving object, and record a moving object element by which the moving object can be specified in a file held in the database. The service center can thereby accurately track a vehicle, thus appropriately guide the driver.

The database may record data relating to a similar bubble diameter having a diameter according to a scale of a map displayed on the user terminal in a file. It is thereby possible to visualize information mapped on the map, so that the user can obtain an information bubble of a size according to a scale of the map displayed by him/her.

The database may hold at least either one of history information of address information caused by an access of the user terminal and identifier information by which the user terminal can be identified in a file. It is thereby possible to accurately track a moving object using a passage history, so that the user can be appropriately guided.

The database may hold data relating to a counter whose count value can be changed, or hold data relating to an accessible time in a file, thereby performing a process on the basis of data or the like transmitted from the user, and limiting an access according to a result of the process.

The database may hold data relating to an application program for displaying a map on the user terminal in a file, thereby executing the displaying process adapting to the user terminal. The user can thereby obtain visualized data.

The database may handle address information based on the spatial range information as an electronic mail address, and hold the spatial range information correspondingly to the electronic mail address. Whereby, registration becomes very simple, thus use of the service is promoted.

The present invention still further provides a user terminal in a system providing information to the user terminal being able to display a map comprising a map information outputting unit for outputting map information, a display unit for displaying an image of an object on the basis of the map information outputted from the map information outputting unit, a transmitting unit for transmitting a mapping request having coordinate information in the three-dimensional space on the object displayed on the display unit and display object attribute information representing attributes of service information to be provided by the object to a server connected to the user terminal over a network, a receiving unit for receiving a mapping response having spatial range information in the three-dimensional space corresponding to the coordinate information, attribute information representing attribute information of service information to be provided by the object, and retrieval information for obtaining the service information notifi