JPH05191504A - Map retrieval service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily obtain a necessary map with the telephone number of a destination as a key. CONSTITUTION:When a subscriber 11 informs a service offering company 15 of the telephone number of the destination and the transmission destination of the map, the service offering company 15 searches an address add a name, which correspond to the telephone number, by a first data base in a retrieval system 22, and retrieves map information on a place corresponding to it by a second data base. Retrieved map information is transmitted to a facsimile equipment and a display at the designated transmission destination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map search service system capable of obtaining necessary map information using a telephone.

[0002]

[Background Art] To go to a place you have never visited,
It is common to call the destination and ask them for directions, or to confirm the destination on a regional map that details the individual homes and shops around the destination.

[0003]

Among the above, the former method cannot receive an explanation when the intended individual's home is called but is absent. Further, even if the explanation can be received, it takes a considerable amount of time to take a memo when the explanation such as complicated directions is received. Also, if you cannot receive an appropriate explanation, you will get lost in the middle. According to the latter method, the destination can be accurately confirmed on the map. However, even if it is possible to own and use the map of the area where one lives, it is virtually impossible to own and use the map of all areas. Therefore, we will use maps owned by public institutions, but such maps are difficult to use because they are located only in limited places such as public offices.
It often takes a considerable amount of time to use.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a map search service system which can quickly obtain a necessary map.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a database in which map information is associated with each telephone number and a search means for searching the database based on the telephone number sent from the subscriber. And a map information transmitting means for transmitting the map information retrieved by the retrieval means to the terminal designated by the subscriber in the map retrieval service system.

That is, in the invention described in claim 1, when the telephone number of the place to be searched is received, the map information corresponding to the telephone number is extracted from the database and transmitted to the designated terminal such as a facsimile machine. I am able to get a map of the necessary place easily and quickly.

In the invention described in claim 2, the database in the invention described in claim 1 is composed of two databases, a first database and a second database. Then, the first database searches the address from the telephone number, and the second database obtains the map information of the address.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the database according to the first aspect of the invention is composed of two databases, a first database and a second database. In the first database, a telephone number is searched for an address and a name, and a second database is searched. In our database, we try to obtain map information that matches these.

[0009]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a map search service system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The subscriber 11 also has an information receiving terminal 12 such as a facsimile machine or a data terminal, which is connected to a telephone exchange 14 in which a telephone exchange controller (CC) 13 is arranged. The telephone exchange 14 is also connected to a service providing company 15 for map search.

The service providing company 15 includes a control device 16 connected to a telephone line and the telephone line and control device 1.
6, an automatic response device 17 for sending a message to a subscriber, a telephone number receiving device (REC) 18 for receiving a dial code from a subscriber, and screen data for accumulating screen data and sending it to the subscriber. Storage device 1
9 and a communication control device (TC) connected to the control device 16
21 is provided. The communication control device 21 is the search system 2
It is connected to another communication control device (TC) 23 connected to No. 2 via a data communication line 24. Both communication control devices are devices for performing data communication control. In the search system 22, a first database (DB) 26 in which names (names) and address data of telephone subscribers are registered, and a second database 2 in which map information of service areas is registered.
7 and are provided. The map information stored in the second database 27 is searched using the dial code from the subscriber and transmitted to the information receiving terminal 12.

In the map search service system having such a configuration, the subscriber 11 who requests the map information service makes a call to the service providing company 15 by a well-known exchange operation. When the call arrives at the service providing company 15, it is connected to the automatic response device 17, and the automatic response device 17 notifies the subscriber 11 that the service reception preparation is completed. This notification is given by a voice synthesizer (not shown) arranged in the automatic response device 17.
"This is a map search service. Thank you for using it. Please dial the telephone number of the place you want to know."

When the subscriber 11 receives such an announcement, he / she operates a dial button (not shown) to input a telephone number of a place he / she wants to know. This dial code (for example, PB signal) is received by the telephone number receiving device 18.
When receiving the dial code, the automatic response device 1
7 notifies the subscriber 11 of the end of reception. The announcement in the synthesized voice at this time is as follows.

"The reception of the telephone number is completed. Next,
Please dial your fax number. "

When this announcement is made, the subscriber 11 similarly dials the telephone number of the facsimile machine (information receiving terminal 12) which wants to receive the map information. The number (for example, PB signal) of the information receiving terminal 12 transmitted from the subscriber 11 in this way is similarly received by the telephone number receiving device 18. When this reception is completed, the automatic response device 17 notifies the subscriber 11 of the completion of service reception. The announcement in the synthesized voice at this time is as follows.

"Reception has been completed. X seconds later, XX
We will send you a map around XX-XX-XXXX. This will disconnect the line. "

After this announcement, the control unit 16 disconnects the line connected to the subscriber 11, and the automatic response unit 17
Disconnect. Further, the dial code received by the telephone number receiving device 18 and the number of the information receiving terminal 12 are sent to the search system 22 via the communication control device 21 to make a search request.

The search system 22 extracts the dial code requesting the service from the transferred data. Then, based on this, the first database 26
Information such as subscriber name and address data is extracted from the
The database 27 is searched for map information and collated.
When the matching is completed, the search system 22 sends the number of the information receiving terminal 12 requested by the subscriber 11 as a destination and the searched map information from the communication control device 23 to the control device 16 via another communication control device 21. Data can be transferred without error.

The control device 16 stores screen information (map information) to be transmitted to the information receiving terminal 12 in the received data in the screen data storage device 19. Then, an incoming operation is performed on the information receiving terminal 12 by a known exchange operation. When the information receiving terminal 12 receives a call, the screen data storage device 19 starts transmitting the stored map information. When the transmission of the map information is completed, the control device 16 disconnects the line with the information receiving terminal 12. This ends a series of search service operations.

In the first embodiment described above, the subscriber 11 and the information receiving terminal 12 such as a facsimile machine are described as separate units, but they are the same terminal such as a facsimile machine with a telephone. It may be. Further, the data terminal subscriber may connect the line and transfer the data by a known switching operation in the data network, and the communication with the subscriber may be performed by a message on the display of the data terminal.

Second embodiment

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which a main search service is provided on the exchange side of a telephone exchange. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

In the second embodiment, the screen data storage trunk (VDTRK) 31 for storing screen data in the telephone exchange control device 13 and the telephone exchange 14 and sending it to the subscriber, and the subscriber. Auto answer trunk 32 for sending messages and dialing from subscribers
Telephone number receiving device (RE
C) 18 is connected. Also, the search system 22
The communication control device 21 connected to the communication control device 23 on the side through the data communication line 24 is the control device 13 for the telephone exchange.
Is directly connected to.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, when the telephone exchange control unit 13 determines that the number dialed by the subscriber 11 is the number of the map search service, the subscriber 11 sends an automatic response trunk. It is connected to 32 and the message as described in the first embodiment is sent out. Further, the screen data storage trunk 31 stores the map information searched by the search system 22 as screen data, and connects the information receiving terminal 12 by a well-known exchange operation to transmit the screen data. In this embodiment, the search control of the search system is performed by the telephone exchange controller 13.

Third embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a map search service system using a common line signaling network as a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted. In the third embodiment, the telephone exchange controller 13 and the search system 22 are connected via a common line signaling network 41. That is,
The third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except that the data transfer method is different.

[0027]

As described above, according to the invention as set forth in claim 1, only by knowing the telephone number installed in the house or building of the place to visit, the location of the place without dialing the telephone number. It is possible to easily obtain map information around and around it. Therefore, there is an effect that the target map information can be quickly obtained even on a holiday, when the other party is an elderly person or a foreigner, or in an emergency situation at night.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, since the database is separated into two, there is no need to change the database of the map information when the telephone number is changed or a new one is installed.
There is an advantage that it enables up-to-date information retrieval.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the house or building in question can be marked and displayed as map information on a detailed map in which even the names of residents are described. This has the effect of being extremely convenient when, for example, reaching the intended home.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a map search service system in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a map search service system in a second example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a map search service system in a third example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Subscriber 12 Information Receiving Terminal 13 Telephone Switch Controller 14 Telephone Switch 15 Service Provider 17 Auto Answering Device 18 Telephone Number Receiving Device 19 Screen Data Storage Device 22 Search System 26 First Database 27 Second Database 31 Screen Data Storage Trunk 32 Auto Answer Trunk

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A database in which map information is associated with respective telephone numbers, search means for searching the database based on telephone numbers sent from subscribers, and map information searched by the search means. And a map information transmitting means for transmitting to the terminal designated by the subscriber. 2. The database comprises a first database in which a telephone number and an address are associated with each other, and a second database for searching map information corresponding to the address. The map search service system described in 1. 3. The database comprises a first database in which telephone numbers are associated with addresses and names, and a second database for searching map information corresponding to addresses and names. The map search service system according to claim 1.