DE102017203431A1 - Device, method and system for determining and displaying a current position on a map - Google Patents

Abstract

Device 2 for determining a position and for indicating a position correspondence 35 on a map display 3, comprising
a position determination module 23, configured to determine a current position, an image sensor 21, configured to receive a map map 3 external to the device 2,
an evaluation module 24, configured to determine a position corresponding to the current position equivalent position 35 within the map display 3,
a display module 22, configured to display the position correspondence 35 on the map display 3 and
Method, system and computer program product for this.

Description

State of the art

There are mobile, portable terminals are known, which have the ability to determine a current position based on received satellite positioning signals, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and / or GLONASS. The particular position can be output in the form of geo-coordinates, that is, for example, according to latitude and longitude, on a display of the terminal.

Furthermore, mobile terminals are known with tracking function, which also have a digital card, which is stored in the device or, if necessary, can be loaded into the device via a communication link, so that the particular current position as a marker in a displayed on a display of the device Map display can be displayed. This technology is typically found in car navigation devices or so-called smartphones with navigation or route guidance application (App).

Finally, maps are known in print.

Core and advantages of the invention

Determining one's own or another position on a map is an everyday task, both in the private sphere, such as in the context of city tours or hikes, as well as in many professional areas. For example, a mobile device, in particular for example a so-called smartphone, can be used for this purpose. A smartphone is typically a mobile phone or mobile device with extended functionality compared to pure telephone devices, in particular by subsequent installation of software applications, so-called apps, additionally expandable and continue on a customized and advanced user interface with large and high-resolution display and custom input options such a touch-sensitive display, also touch screen, has. Typically, such smartphones also have a camera for taking pictures and / or video films.

With the aid of such a mobile device, which has an intrinsic location function based, for example, on received satellite location signals of a satellite location system such as GPS, GLONASS and / or GALILEO, a current position can be determined and displayed to the user in the form of a marker on a display on the device digital map or in the form of latitude or longitude. However, the mark-up indicator on a map requires the availability of the particular location-related map material on the mobile device, either by pre-storage or retrieval via a mobile data connection. However, both are not always given.

However, map material is often available in other forms, such as a physical map printed on a support such as paper or foil. For example, city maps are available in many touristy or heavily frequented places such as tourist information or hotels.

If a mobile device with location tracking capability and a physical map or other map is available outside the mobile device, the requirements for determining your own location on the map are met. In practice, however, there is the problem of inferring background knowledge from the GPS coordinates to the position on the map.

The invention with the features of the independent claims allows a user-friendly determination of one's own current position and the display of a certain position corresponding position correspondence on a map or map representation, collectively referred to as a map representation. Preferably, this function can be realized by means of a mobile device, preferably a portable mobile device, in particular for example by means of a smartphone. It is particularly advantageous that this function is also available if the required map section is not stored in the mobile device or can be accessed, if the card is present in another form, for example as a printed, physical map.

For this purpose, a device, in particular a mobile device, for determining a position and displaying a position correspondence on a map display, comprising a position determination module, configured to determine a current position, comprising an image sensor, configured for receiving a device with respect to the external map display, comprising an evaluation module adapted to determine a position corresponding to the current position position within the map display and comprising a display module, arranged for displaying the position correspondence on the map display, proposed. The position determination module can in a conventional manner a receiver for satellite positioning signals of the GPS, the GLONASS and / or the GALILEO satellite positioning system and on the basis of the received satellite signals to perform an own location, ie the determination of its current position or its location. The image recorder may preferably comprise a known per se digital camera, for example with a CMOS sensor and downstream signal processing. The display module is preferably designed in the form of a display known per se. These components are typically present on a standard smartphone. The evaluation module may preferably be in the form of software which is executed by a processor of the device or of the mobile device.

Furthermore, a method for determining a position and for indicating a position correspondence on a map display is proposed, in particular for carrying out the device or mobile device sketched above, whereby a current position is determined, wherein an image of an external map representation relative to the device or the mobile device is recorded is determined, wherein one of the current position corresponding position correspondence within the map display and wherein the position correspondence is displayed on the map display. The external map display can be a printed, physical map. For example, the external map display may also be a map displayed on a display of another device.

In a preferred embodiment, the display module of the device or of the mobile device comprises a display device and is configured to display the map display recorded with the image recorder as well as the position correspondence within the map display on the display device. Thus, the recorded map display and the position correspondence within the map display are displayed on a display device.

In a further embodiment, the display module alternatively or additionally comprises a marking device and is configured to project a light mark generated by the marking device to the position equivalent of the map display. The display of the current position corresponding position correspondence is thus on the physical map or external map display by a light mark is projected thereon.

The evaluation module of the device or of the mobile device is preferably set up to determine the position correspondence based on the current position on the one hand and metadata included in the recorded map representation on the other hand, a region represented in the map display. This metadata includes information about a geographical location and coverage as well as orientation of the map display.

The invention is particularly useful for tourists, for example. Mobile phone contracts often contain no data connections abroad. However, physical maps are often available free of charge at tourist information or in hotels and guesthouses or, for example, the Alpine Club, partially free of charge. These cards typically already contain machine-readable data identifying the areas covered by the cards. Typically, these machine-readable data are map scale, latitude and longitude, or other information that enables geographic mapping of the area being displayed. Typically, such maps are created north-facing, a label for example for special points is usually created in the west-east direction. In addition, these, as well as other, the presented area characteristic data, below also metadata, for example, in coded form, such as a bar code or QR code, printed on the card.

Another scenario is remote areas where there is no mobile phone coverage, such as research expeditions in remote areas, on the high seas, or the like.

Furthermore, the construction of a mobile device is especially for the invention possible, which contains only or at least the essential components such as a positioning module, for example, based on satellite positioning, an image sensor and a laser pointer, but no display, and thus is particularly favorable and energy efficient.

The device or mobile device-side implementation of the invention can be carried out using hardware known per se, such as, in particular, a smartphone or tablet PC or the like by adapting the device or mobile device software, in particular in the form of a so-called app to be loaded onto the device that is a software application. The required software can be distributed via a data medium on which the program code is stored. However, the required software can also be made available for download via a portal or via the Internet by a software provider, for example.

list of figures

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and are explained in more detail below. The same reference numerals in the figures designate the same or equivalent elements.

• 1 eine Anordnung umfassend eine Landkarte und eine Einrichtung zur Bestimmung einer Position und zur Anzeige einer der bestimmten Position entsprechenden Positionsentsprechung auf einer Landkarte bzw. auf einer Landkartendarstellung und
• 2 einen Ablaufplan für ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung einer Position und zur Anzeige einer der bestimmten Position entsprechenden Positionsentsprechung auf einer Landkarte bzw. auf einer Landkartendarstellung.

Show it

• 1 an arrangement comprising a map and a device for determining a position and displaying a position corresponding to the position corresponding position on a map or on a map display and
• 2 a flowchart for a method for determining a position and displaying a position corresponding to the position corresponding position on a map or on a map display.

Description of the embodiments

In the 1 illustrated arrangement or the system shown there 1 To determine a current position or a current location and to display the current position or the current location as a marker on a map or a map display on the one hand includes a map 3 and second, a facility 2 for determining the position and for generating and outputting the mark.

At the map 3 it may be a map display displayed on a display or display of an electronic device. At the map 3 it can also be a printed, physical map. In the following description, without limiting the invention to this embodiment, it is assumed that a printed paper map, here, for example, a map issued by a tourist office.

The map 3 includes a variety of information, which serve in particular the orientation and position determination as well as for finding targets. On the one hand are traffic routes, like the streets 311 and 312 located. Further, trails 315, 316, 317 and 318 are drawn. Further, information on potentially interesting destinations, so-called POIs (points of interests), here as an example, the Feldberg tower 320 located. Next to the marker for the potentially interesting target 320 is also its name, here "Feldberg tower" indicated, whereby the lettering 321 in a conventional manner from left to right and thus in the case of here present north-facing map from west to east. Further, the map provides information about the geographical location of the potentially interesting destination 320 , in the form of geographical latitude 325 , here 8 ° 2'13 "east and latitude 326 , here 47 ° 51'32 "North indicated and the progressions of the longitude and latitude are drawn as lines.Furthermore you find in the lower left corner 31 the map 3 a benchmark 330 for example, a length of 2 cm, as 0.02 meters, which corresponds to a length of 2 km, so 2000 m, in reality.

The information in the map 3 , which allow a machine evaluation of the map in terms of alignment, location allocation and size of the mapped area are referred to as metadata in the context of the present invention. In the case of the previously described map 3 this is the comparative scale 330, as well as the coordinates of the place 325 and 326 of the potentially interesting objective 320 , Feldberg tower. For full-surface recording of the map 3 Obviously, the location and size of the area represented by the map can be determined in reality.

In an advantageous development, these or other equally suitable metadata can be printed on the map, for example, also in coded form, for example in the form of a bar or bar code or also a QR code. In the figure is an example of a bar code 340 intended. In it are, for example, the geo coordinates, ie the geographical position, the lower left corner 31 the map 3 , the scale of the map display, here for example 1: 100,000, the orientation of the map display, so for example north-facing and the dimensions of the map 3 , ie their edge lengths, included.

Maps that contain the required metadata can be disseminated by various means. Physical maps, such as, for example, can be tagged with your marker in your production.

It is also possible to establish an online map service, from which maps including the coding can be downloaded. This would allow, for example, hotel operators or tourist information to download maps for their environment and distribute them to guests in print.

In the description of the device 2 is here and below, again without limitation to this embodiment, from a portable mobile device, in particular a smartphone, assumed. The mobile device 2 includes an imager 21 , which in a conventional manner part of a digital camera function 21 is which is set up and suitable for taking pictures of the environment of the mobile device 3 take. In the context of the present invention, the digital camera function is used 21 or the image recorder 21 to a picture of the map 3 take. To facilitate the recording in the sense of a suitable selection of the image section for the widest possible coverage of the map 3 this will be done by the imager 21 currently captured image 221 or the currently captured image section on a display device 22 So a display 22 of the mobile device 2 shown.

The mobile device 2 also has an intrinsic location function. The mobile device has it 2 via a location or position determination module 23 , The position determination module is adapted to a current location of the mobile device 2 to determine and output in the form of location coordinates. For this purpose, the locating or positioning module in a conventional manner via a receiver for satellite positioning signals of the GPS, the GLONASS and / or the GALILEO satellite positioning system. Preferably, the position determination module 23 capable of selectively or simultaneously evaluating the satellite location signals from multiple satellite positioning systems. The position determination module is further configured to evaluate the received satellite positioning signals and to determine therefrom the position or location information.

The mobile device also has an evaluation module 24 on. The evaluation module 24 is in the present case of a smartphone as a mobile device 2 in the form of a software application, in short "App" formed by the not shown separately processor of the mobile device 2 is processed. The evaluation module determines from the means of the position determination module 23 specific location or location of the mobile device 2 and further based on that with the imager 21 recorded map representation 3 a point 35 within the recorded map representation 3 which corresponds to the current position. This point is here and below as position correspondence 35 designated.

This position correspondence 35 is in one embodiment on the display 22 of the mobile device in the correct place on the image displayed there 221 the recorded map 3, so the map display 221 , by means of a marker 36 displayed.

In one embodiment of the invention, this position correspondence is alternatively or additionally by means of a marking device 25 of the mobile device as a light mark on the map 3 projected. The marking device 25 can be advantageously designed as a laser pointer or comparable Lichtstrahl-Markierungsvorrlchtung.

The operation of the invention is described below with reference to the flowchart according to 2 briefly sketched.

The mobile device 2 determined by means of its position determination module 23 its current location or position P (step 400 ). The terms position and location are used synonymously here.

• - Geografische Koordinaten des von der Landkarte 3 abgedeckten Gebiets, vorliegend beispielsweise in Form der Koordinaten O der linken unteren Ecke 31 der Landkarte,
• - Einen Maßstab M der Landkarte 3,
• - Eine physische Größe der Landkarte in Form der Breite B und Höhe H der Landkarte 3,
• - eine Orientierung der Landkarte 3, also beispielsweise nordweisend, welche genutzt wird, um das kartesische Koordinatensystem korrekt auszurichten, also „oben“, „unten“, „links“ und „rechts“ auf der physischen Landkarte den Himmelrichtungen korrekt zuzuordnen.

The mobile device 2 captured with the imager 21 an image of the map 3 or a map display, for example, from a display of a map 3 performing electronic device (step 410 ). As part of the map display is also the barcode 340 with recorded. The barcode includes, for example, the information

• - Geographical coordinates of the map 3 covered area, in the present example in the form of the coordinates O of the lower left corner 31 the map,
• - A scale M of the map 3 .
• A physical size of the map in the form of the width B and height H of the map 3,
• - an orientation of the map 3 For example, north pointing, which is used to align the Cartesian coordinate system correctly, ie "top", "bottom", "left" and "right" on the physical map correctly assign the sky directions.

1. a. Wenn die aktuelle Position P südlich oder westlich von O, also den Koordinaten der linken unteren Ecke 31 der Landkarte 3 liegt, findet die aktuelle Position P keine Entsprechung in der Landkarte 3, das heißt, die Position P ist in dem durch den von der Landkarte 3 abgedeckten Gebietsabschnitt nicht enthalten. In diesem Fall bricht das Verfahren mit Ausgabe einer entsprechenden Meldung, vorzugsweise in Form einer Textmeldung auf dem Display 22, ab.
2. b. Berechne die Entfernung zwischen O und P, aufgeteilt in eine x- bzw. LängenKomponente dx und eine y- bzw. Breitenkomponente dy.. Dazu erfolgt eine Überführung der polaren GPS-Koordinaten in kartesische Koordinaten. Diese Transformation ist als Kartenprojektion oder Kartenabbildung bekannt.
3. c. Wenn das Produkt aus Längenkomponente dx und Maßstab M größer als die Breite B der Landkarte 3 ist, also dx × M > B oder das Produkt aus Breiten-Komponente dy und Maßstab M größer als die Länge H der Landkarte ist, also dy × M > H, liegt die Position P nicht auf der physischen Landkarte 3. In diesem Fall bricht das Verfahren mit Ausgabe einer entsprechenden Meldung, vorzugsweise in Form einer Textmeldung auf dem Display 22, ab.
4. d. Die ermittelte Position P', also die der bestimmten aktuellen Position P entsprechende Positionsentsprechung 35 auf der physischen Landkarte 3 hat die Koordinaten dx × M, dy × M, also das Produkt aus dx und Kartenmaßstab M in Ost-West-Richtung und das Produkt aus dy und Kartenmaßstab M in Nord-Süd-Richtung, jeweils ausgehend vom Kartenursprung O, also der linken unteren Ecke 31 der Landkarte 3.

On the basis of the collected data, on the one hand the determined current position P and that of the map 3 or map information collected metadata determines the evaluation module 24 of the mobile device 2 the relative position on the detected map, that is the correspondence of the current position P on the map display as follows (step 420 ).

1. a. If the current position P south or west of O, so the coordinates of the lower left corner 31 the map 3 is the current position P no match in the map 3 that is, the position P is in the by the map 3 Covered area not included. In this case, the method breaks with the output of a corresponding message, preferably in the form of a text message on the display 22 , from.
2. b. Calculate the distance between O and P, divided into an x- or length component dx and a y- or width component dy .. For this purpose, the polar GPS coordinates are converted into Cartesian coordinates. This transformation is known as map projection or map mapping.
3. c. If the product of length component dx and scale M is greater than the width B of the map 3 is, ie dx × M> B or the product of width component dy and scale M is greater than the length H of the map, that is dy × M> H, the position P is not on the physical map 3 , In this case, the method breaks with the output of a corresponding message, preferably in the form of a text message on the display 22 , from.
4. d. The determined position P ' , that is, the position corresponding to the current position P. 35 on the physical map 3 has the coordinates dx × M, dy × M, ie the product of dx and map scale M in east-west direction and the product of dy and map scale M in north-south direction, respectively starting from the map origin O, ie the lower left corner 31 the map 3 ,

The mobile device 2 visualizes P ', ie the position correspondence 35 on the map 3 or the map display (step 430 ).

It is considered that the map display may be scaled on the display relative to the physical maps, i. the map display has deviating dimensions from the physical map. The above-described calculation of the coordinates relates to the original size of the physical map. The coordinates are adjusted according to the scaling when scaling the map display.

The visualization of the position correspondence P ' respectively. 35 is done by using the camera or the imager 21 recorded map 3 on the display 22 as a map display 221 displayed and in it the position correspondence 35 with a marker 36 , here in the form of a cross, is marked.

In one embodiment, the mobile device may 2 a mark 37 on the physical map 3 Project, for example by means of a laser pointer 25 ,

Optionally, the orientation (viewing direction) of the user can be visualized if the mobile device has a compass.

Claims (12)

Device (2) for determining a position and for indicating a position correspondence (35) on a map display (3, 221) a position determination module (23) configured to determine a current position, an image recorder (21) configured to receive an external map representation (3) that is external to the device (2), an evaluation module (24) configured to determine a position corresponding to the current position (35) within the map display (3, 221) and a display module (22) arranged to display the position correspondence (35) on the map display (3, 221). Setup after Claim 1 in that the display module comprises a display device (22) of the device (2) and is adapted to display the map display (3, 221) taken with the image recorder (21) and the position correspondence (35) within the map display (221) on the display device (22). 21). Setup after Claim 1 in that the display module comprises a marking device (25) and is adapted to project a light mark (37) generated by the marking device (25) onto the position equivalent (35) of the map display (3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is designed in the form of a smartphone with an app. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation module (24) is adapted to determine the position correspondence (35) based on the current position and contained in the recorded map representation (3), a characteristic in the map display (3) characteristic metadata , Setup after Claim 5 , characterized in that the metadata include information about a geographical location and coverage and orientation of the map display (3). A method for determining a position and for indicating a position correspondence on a map display, in particular for implementation with a device according to one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein a current position is determined, wherein an image of an external map representation is taken, wherein a position corresponding to the current position position is determined within the map display and wherein the position correspondence is displayed on the map display. Method according to Claim 7 , wherein the recorded map display and the position correspondence within the map display are displayed on a display device. Method according to Claim 7 wherein a light mark is projected onto the position equivalent of the external map display. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein the position correspondence is determined based on the current position and metadata included in the captured map display of the area represented in the map display. A system for determining a position and indicating a position correspondence on a map display, comprising means according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 and a map with a map representation that is external to the mobile device and with metadata that identifies an area represented in the map display. Computer program product comprising program code for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 7 to 10 , stored on a disk or accessible through software vendors.

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