Background Art Recently, due to the provision of services through communication networks, the ability to search information in a wireless communication environment such as a portable computer or mobile phone has increased. Thus, a user can request a search for desired information to a predetermined server and obtain the desired services anywhere.

Navigation systems are being increasingly used as a kind of information search service in such a wireless communication environment. A user can search a map and receive a route using a navigation system while driving a car. The navigation system is a system for providing information on vehicle traffic using artificial satellites, and is also called an automatic navigation system. Such a navigation system receives predetermined data from global positioning system (GPS) satellites orbiting the earth using a GPS receiver and calculates its own position based on the received data. The navigation system provides a user with a variety of information including current position information of a vehicle, route information from a current position to the destination of a vehicle, map information related to the position and routing information, traffic information and the like.

Since the map information allows a user to easily recognize information on their current position, route and the like when the user receives information on their current position, route and the like from the navigation system, the map information is preferably provided to the user together with information on current position, route and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram shown to explain a method for providing a map data search

service in the related art.

In the conventional method for providing a map data search service, the location within a predetermined radius from the location of a mobile communication device is searched as shown in FIG. 1. That is, if coordinates of locations spaced apart from a specific central point 111 by a predetermined distance are connected with one another, a region within a circle as designated by reference numeral 112 is set.

If the location of a gas station for which a user wishes to search while driving a car is a point designated by reference numeral 113, the desired gas station 113 can be displayed in the set region 112 within the circle because the gas station is included within the region 112.

However, in a case where the user has moved toward the lower left direction along the predetermined route and arrived at a specific point 121 and gas stations 123 and 124 are then searched through a search with respect to the point 121, the user should either turn back to go to the gas station 123 or deviate farther from the route to go to the gas station 124. To locate a gas station at which the user can easily arrive, the user should select a new central point and request a system for providing a map data service to search a desired gas station once more. Again, the system that received the request receives information on the central point and searches a region within a predetermined distance for the desired gas station based on the received information.

However, there is inconvenience in that the aforementioned process should be repeatedly performed until a region within a predetermined radius from the moved central point has been searched for a desired gas station. Thus, according to the prior art in which a certain region around a specific central point is searched, since either the gas station 124 which exists within the certain region but is far from the traveling route or the gas station 123 which is not far from the route but is located behind on the route may be searched, the user should return to the route after visiting the gas station 124 or turn back to the road that the user has already passed. Therefore, there is a problem in that an inconvenient search result is provided to the user.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, since information on points of interest within a predetermined radius from a current point is hitherto searched, there is a problem in that a user should make a request for the search several times until the user obtains a desired search result.

Although the region within the predetermined radius from the position of the mobile communication device has been described as an example in the prior art, the foregoing can be applied to a case where a predetermined polygon region such as a rectangular region is set around the position serving as a central point.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for providing a map data search service, by which facilities located around a route along which a user moves can be searched.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for providing a map data search service, by which a desired specific facility can be searched from a region in the vicinity of a route along which a user moves.

According to the present invention for achieving the objects and solving the problems in the prior art, there is provided a method for providing a map data search service using a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of maintaining map data in a predetermined map database, wherein the map data include point of interest (POI) data having POI positional data associated with POIs and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data; receiving position data associated with a position on a route from the mobile communication device; setting a region range including a predetermined section on the route by using the map data and the position data; searching the map database for POI positional data included in the region range; and transmitting POI data including the searched POI positional data to the mobile communication device.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a map data search service using a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of maintaining map data in a storage unit, wherein the map data include POI data having POI positional data associated with POIs and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data; receiving a map search request from a user; determining a predetermined position on the route as a reference position; setting a region range including a predetermined section on the route by using the map data and reference position data associated with the reference position; searching POI positional data

included in the region range among the map data; and controlling the POI data, which include the searched POI positional data, to be displayed on a display unit of the mobile communication device.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram shown to explain a method for providing a map data search service in the related art.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the network connection relationship of a system for providing a map data search service, which can perform a method for providing a map data search service according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the method for providing the map data search service according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the POI data that is maintained in the map database of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are diagrams illustrating a method of setting a range of the region including a predetermined section on the route in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the map image displayed on the display unit of a mobile communication device in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a map data search service according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a system for providing a map data search service according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the network connection relationship of a system for providing a map data search service, which can perform a method for providing a map data search service according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The system for providing the map data search service 230 provides the map data search

service to a mobile communication device 210 such as a mobile phone, a PCS phone, a smart phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), which are connected via a communication network 220 thereto.

A user sends selected source and destination to the system 230 and requests a route search. The system 230 has a map database (not shown) for maintaining map data therein and generates route data associated with a route from the source to the destination based on the map data.

The system 230 for providing the map data search service sends the route data and the map data associated with the route data to the mobile communication device 210. The mobile communication device 210 generates a map image based on the route data and map data so as to visually provide the user with the generated map image. At this time, the current position of the mobile communication device 210, which has been obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, is represented on the map image.

Through such a process, the user can receive the map image on which the route and the current position are indicated, and it is not required that a large amount of map data such as map data of the whole nation be stored in the mobile communication device 210. This makes it possible to provide a user with a map image by use of a mobile communication device having a limited storage capacity such as mobile phones and PCSs.

The present invention further provides a user with a search service for searching point of interest ("POI") in a region around the route in addition to the map image.

The method for providing such a search service will be hereinafter described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the method for providing the map data search service according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The system for providing the map data search service 230 receives positional information on a predetermined position from the mobile communication device 210 (S310). The predetermined position is a position on the route but may be either the current position of the mobile communication device or a position selected by the user.

When the user either requests a search after selecting the current position or requests a search without selecting the position, a predetermined application program in the mobile communication device 210 sends the current position of the mobile

communication device 210 to the system 230 for providing the map data search service.

At this time, it is possible to know the current position of the mobile communication device 210 from information that a GPS receiver has received from GPS satellites.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the user selects a predetermined position to request a specific search, the application program sends the selected position to the system 230 to request the specific search. For example, a user who wants to visit a gas station in about 30 minutes can select a position on a route along which the user will pass rather than the current position and then request a specific search.

The system 230 for providing the map data search service causes map data to be maintained in the map database (S320). The map data include POI data that contain POI positional data associated with the POI and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data. For example, the map database maintains the POI data therein as shown in FIG. 4. The POI means a major facility and includes places of interest such as gas stations, banks and parks. Further, the POI includes POIs selected by each user and can be stored in such a manner as classified according to the user. For instance, the user can set his/her house, company, school, etc. as POIs related to the user. The system 230 can store the set POI information therein according to the user, so that a POI search service by users can be provided.

FIG. 4 (a) shows an example of the POI data that are generally used to provide a user with a search service, and FIG. 4 (b) shows an example of the POI data for use in a search service provided every user. For example, if the search service is provided to a user"wisjjang", a search is performed using the POI data shown in FIG. 4 (a) and (b).

The system 230 for providing the map data search service determines a region range including a predetermined section on the route, based on the received positional information (S330). The user can receive the search result associated with the route because the region range is decided to include the route. This allows the user to easily visit the searched position, while driving a car.

A process of determining the region range in step S330 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a range of the region. The system 230 for providing the map data search service sets a predetermined section based

on the route data sent to the mobile communication device 210 and the positional information received form the user. This section is a section between places 510 and 520 spaced apart by first and second distances dl and d2, respectively, from a position 530 associated with the positional information on the route. The first distance dl corresponds to a distance in a direction opposite to the forward direction of the user from the position 530. The second distance d2 corresponds to a distance in the forward direction of the user.

The system 230 for providing the map data search service can decide the section by using the positional information 530 and the first and second distances dl and d2 received from the user. Further, the system 230 can receive only positional information 530 from the user and can determine the section using the set first and second distances. At this time, it is convenient for the user to receive POI information near the route in a forward direction. Thus, it is preferred that in the section, the second distance d2 be set greater than the first distance dl in consideration of the user's forward direction. The reason is that if the searched POI is positioned rearward, the user should turn back, which will cause inconvenience to the user.

The system 230 for providing the map data search service determines a region within a certain distance from the section as a region range including the section, as shown in FIG. 5.

Furthermore, another exemplary method for setting the region range will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The system for providing the map data search service 230 determines the section in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 5, searches the uppermost point 611, the lowermost point 612, the leftmost point 613 and the rightmost point 614 among nodes or interpolation points, which constitute the section, and uses the searched points to set a region range 610 of a rectangle as shown in FIG. 6. The region range 610 is a rectangular region including all the points 611,612, 613 and 614. The rectangular region covers the section.

Another method of setting the region range will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the whole map data can be classified into a plurality of areas (cells) having a predetermined size. In this context, each cell will be referred to as a map segment. The system for providing the map data search service 230 sets a

section (a section between points 710 and 720) in which positional information of the mobile communication device 210 is included on the route in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 5. The system 230 for providing the map data search service sets map segments (map segments indicated by hatched lines, including map segments 701) in which the section is included in the route as the region range, as shown in FIG. 7.

If the region range is decided in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the amount of computation, which has to be carried out by the system 230 to decide the region, is reduced. However, since POI data are searched within the region, as will be described layer, it is inevitable that the consistency of the correlation between the search result and the route is reduced. For this reason, so long as the computation ability of the system 230 permits, it is preferred that the region is decided in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 5.

As such, although it is preferred that the region within a predetermined distance from the section is decided as the region range including the section, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a region range associated with a route can be decided in a variety of methods and what the region range associated with the route is decided by methods other than the methods disclosed in the present invention will fall within the scope of the present invention.

The system 230 for providing the map data search service searches the map database for POI positional data included in the region range (S340) and then transmits POI data including the searched POI positional data to the mobile communication device 210 (S350).

The POI data include POI identifier for identifying POIs and the POI positional data, as shown in FIG. 4.

If only positional information is received in step S310, the system 230 for providing the map data search service sends all the searched POI data within the region range to the mobile communication device 210. In other words, the user receives all the POI data, which are set as the POIs such as banks, gas stations, hospitals and convenience stores.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the system 230 for providing the map data search service receives information on the type of POI,

which is selected by the user, as well as the positional information from the mobile communication device 210 (S310). If the user selects only a"gas station"as the kind of POI, the system 230 searches only POI data corresponding to gas stations within the region range and sends the search result to the mobile communication device 210. In other words, the system 230 searches the map database for only POI within the region range by using POI positional data, and also searches only POI data corresponding to gas stations by using the POI identifier among the POI within the region range.

The mobile communication device 210 generates a map image including the POI based on the POI data received from the system 230 for providing the map data search service (S360). The mobile communication device 210 determines the position of the map image on which the POI should be represented on the basis of the POI positional data of the POI data and how the POI will be represented using the POI identifier. The generated map image is displayed on a display unit of the mobile communication device 210 (S370). FIG. 8 shows an example of the map image displayed on the display unit.

Reference numeral 801 designates a searched POI. As the user can obtain the search result associated with the route and the current position, the user can easily search a desired place such as a gas station compared to the prior art and can easily visit the place based on the search result. In other words, the user can easily visit a desired place while minimizing deviation from the route.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 802 designates a route and reference numeral 803 designates the boundary line of the region range associated with the route. Meanwhile, whether to display the region range on the map image can be different depending on the embodiments.

[Second Embodiment] A method for providing a map data search service according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is performed by a system for providing a map data search service disposed on the part of a mobile communication device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a map data search service according to this embodiment.

If a mobile communication device used in this embodiment has a marginal storage space like a PDA or a smart phone compared to a mobile communication device

such as a mobile phone, map data are stored in a storage device of the mobile communication device (S910). The map data include POI data having POI positional data associated with POIs and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data.

If a route search request is received from a user, a route providing system provided on the part of the mobile communication device generates route data for the route using the map data, generates a map image using the route data and map data associated with the route data and then displays the generated map image on a display unit of the mobile communication device. At this time, the map image is a map image including the display of the route.

If a map search request is received from a user, the system for providing the map data search service decides a predetermined position on the route as a reference position (S920 and S930). The predetermined position is a position selected by the user and the user's current position. The current position is a value obtained based on information inputted from a GPS receiver connected to the mobile communication device.

The system for providing the map data search service uses reference position data associated with the reference position and the map data to set a region range including a predetermined section on the route (S940). In the above, it is preferred that the region range is set to include the reference position. The method for determining the region range has been described in the aforementioned first embodiment, and description on it will not be given for simplicity.

The system for providing the map data search service searches the map data for POI positional data that are included in the region range (S950), and further searches POI data including the searched POI positional data (S960).

A map image is generated based on the POI data and is then displayed on the display unit (S970 and S980). The map image provided thus is the same as one shown in FIG. 8.

In other words, it is determined whether the map data of the mobile communication device must be stored on the mobile communication device according to the storage capacity of the mobile communication device. The first embodiment corresponds to the method for providing the map data search service when the map data are stored on an additional server, and the second embodiment correspond to the method for providing the map data search service when the map data are stored on the

mobile communication device.

Furthermore, the present invention includes a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for implementing a method for providing a map data search service according to the aforementioned embodiments is recorded. The computer-readable medium may include a program command, a data file, a data structure or the like, or a combination thereof. A program command of the medium may be specially designed or adapted for the present invention, or may be one known to those having a skill in computer software fields.

[Third Embodiment] A system for providing a map data search service according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The system for providing the map data search service according to this embodiment corresponds to a case where map data are stored an additional server that is not the mobile communication device. FIG.

10 is a block diagram illustrating a system 1000 for providing a map data search service according to this embodiment. The system 1000 is connected to a mobile communication device 1010 via a communication network 1020 and includes a map database 1001, a receiving unit 1002, a region decision unit 1003, a search unit 1004 and a transmission unit 1005.

The map database 1001 maintains map data therein, which include POI data having POI positional data associated with POIs and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data. Generally, the map data are numerical data and are composed of nodes, interpolation points and links for representing points of interest, roads, water streams and the like.

The map providing service system 1000 generates route data corresponding to source information and destination information that are received from the mobile communication device 1010 based on the map data and then sends the generated route data and map data associated with the route data to the mobile communication device 1010. Accordingly, the user of the mobile communication device 1010 can receive a route from the source to the destination together with a surrounding map.

If the user wants to receive POI information associated with the route, the user requests a map search to the mobile communication device 1010, and the receiving unit 1002 receives the map search request and a predetermined position data from the mobile

communication device 1010 via the communication network 1020.

The position data are data associated with a predetermined position and is for searching a map associated with the predetermined position on the route. For instance, the predetermined position may be either the current position of the mobile communication device 1010 or a predetermined position on the route, which is selected by the user.

The region decision unit 1003 decides a region range including a predetermined section on the route by using the map data and the position data. A method of deciding the region range has been described in the aforementioned first embodiment and the description thereof will be omitted.

If the region range associated with the route is determined, the search unit 1004 searches the map database 1001 for POI positional data included in the region range and also searches POI data including the searched POI positional data.

The transmission unit 1005 sends the searched POI data to the mobile communication device 1010.

The mobile communication device 1010 generates a map image on which the POI is represented using map data, which have been received in association with the POI data and the route data. The map image is displayed on the display unit of the mobile communication device 1010.

Therefore, the user can receive a map search result associated with a route.

Thus, the user can visit a desired place such as a gas station and a bank without turning back to the route through which the user passed or deviating farther from the route.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, if the user wants to perform a map search for a specific POI rather than all POIs around the route, for example, a gas station, the user further inputs the type of POI to the mobile communication device 1010 as well as a map search request. Information on the type of POI is thus sent to the system for providing the map data search service 1000.

The search unit 1004 searches only the POI corresponding to the type of POI among the POIs within the region range, and the transmission unit 1005 sends the search result to the mobile communication device 1010, so that a search for a specific POI is made possible.

[Fourth Embodiment]

Meanwhile, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the system for providing the map data search service is installed in the mobile communication device and performs a map search. According to this embodiment, the system for providing the map data search service includes a storage unit, an input unit, a region decision unit, a search unit, and a display control unit.

The storage unit maintains map data having POI data therein, which include POI positional data associated with the POI and POI identifiers corresponding to the POI positional data. The input unit receives a map search request from a user.

In response to the map search request, the region decision unit determines a predetermined position on the route as a reference position, and decides a region range including a predetermined section on the route by using the map data and reference position data associated with the reference position. The region range can be determined in the same manner as the aforementioned first embodiment, and a region range associated with the route can be decided in such a manner.

The predetermined position is the current position of the mobile communication device or a position selected by the user.

The search unit searches POI positional data included in the region range among the map data and also searches POI data including the searched POI positional data.

The display control unit controls the POI data to be displayed on the display unit of the mobile communication device. At this time, the POI data are displayed in a state where they are included in the map image generated using the map data, and the map image also includes the route.

According to this embodiment, map data are maintained on the part of a mobile communication device. Therefore, there is an advantage in that a map associated with a route can be searched on the part of the mobile communication device even without performing data communication with an additional server.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for providing a map data search service, by which facilities located around a route along which a user moves can be searched.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for providing a map data search service, by which a desired specific facility can be searched from a region in the vicinity of a route along which a user moves.