JPH09146529A - Character display method and image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide a character display method for automatically searching for a position that is easy to see and understand when a character attached to a figure cannot be displayed at its original position. SOLUTION: Character data is read out after displaying a figure (symbol) (s105), and in the case of a character attached to a symbol or a character having a specific positional relationship, a display position matching degree is calculated and the matching degree becomes the highest. Determine the display position (s108),
Display the character. The display position compatibility is obtained by dividing the display area including the symbol to which the character belongs or the reference position of the character into a mesh of the size of one character, and setting the azimuth of the line connecting the symbol and the attached character and the distance from the symbol. The display position conformity of each mesh is calculated according to the set conformity function. Furthermore, the correction is performed by the influence of the azimuth and the overlap of other symbols and characters being displayed, and the position where the sum of the conformity of the mesh string corresponding to the finally displayed character string is maximized is determined.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system for creating and displaying an image, and more particularly to a method for displaying a character that is optimally arranged for a character attached to a figure or a character meaningful for displaying at a specific place. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional character display method, display pixels of a character area to be displayed are calculated and stored as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-160479. When a new character is displayed, the pixel of the display area of the character is calculated, the part that overlaps with the pixel of the character area that is already displayed is stored, and the new character is displayed at the position where the pixel of this overlap part is the minimum. Move position.

[0003]

The overlap of the characters to be displayed is not limited to the case where the reference position of the character data does not consider the avoidance of the overlap with other characters. This occurs when enlarging / reducing a figure or background with a constant height, or when changing the scale of a map to be displayed.

In the above-mentioned prior art, when the characters are moved so as not to overlap, the positional relationship between the character and the graphic attached to the character is considered only as a limitation of the moving range. Also, regarding the moving direction of characters, only the direction in which the overlapping of characters is minimized is considered.

For this reason, in the conventional display of characters, there is a case where the relation with the attached graphic is unclear as a result of the character attached to the graphic being moved to a position where there is no overlap. . In the case of a character such as a place name on a map, which originally has a geographical positional relationship as an attribute, the meaning of the displayed character may become unclear due to movement, or a different position may be displayed. There were problems such as being misidentified as place names.

It is possible to create character data in accordance with various cases so as not to cause these problems, but it is not only troublesome to create the character data, but also it cannot be dealt with when the system or design standard changes. . Of course, this is not realistic because the amount of data increases, which causes problems in the memory capacity and processability of the system.

An object of the present invention is to add characters attached to a graphic,
When displaying a character that makes sense to display in a specific place, not only the visibility without overlapping, but also the meaning of the character that maintains the positional relationship with the attached figure and the positional relationship with the specific display position It is to provide a method of displaying characters that can ensure the intelligibility of.

An object of the present invention is to store character data having reference coordinates given only from a design standard that does not consider overlapping with other figures or characters, prevent overlapping of displayed characters, and make them easy to see. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device which can provide an easy-to-understand high-quality screen and can flexibly cope with changes in data design standards and a wide range of systems.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention described above to display a character attached to a figure or a character arranged at a specific position and having a meaningful meaning based on character data having reference coordinates. In the method, it is achieved by obtaining the evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character according to the positional relationship from the reference coordinates for each mesh obtained by dividing the predetermined range on the screen, and determining the display position of the character from the evaluation value. To be done.

Alternatively, for each mesh obtained by dividing a predetermined range on the screen, the reference coordinates of the characters to be displayed and the reference coordinates of other characters being displayed in the predetermined range on the screen and other figures not attached to the characters to be displayed are set. Based on the above, the evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character is comprehensively obtained by an evaluation function having the orientation and distance of the mesh as parameters, and the display position of the character having the highest evaluation value is determined.

Further, in principle, the graphic displayed on the screen is displayed at its reference position, and when the reference coordinates of the character attached to the predetermined graphic overlaps with the reference position of another graphic being displayed, or When the display position of the character attached to the predetermined graphic overlaps with the reference position of the other graphic to be displayed, the attached character is displayed by moving it from the reference position to the display position determined by the evaluation value. It is achieved by

By applying the character display method of the present invention, a graphic display for displaying characters and figures is provided,
As a device for arranging a graphic at its reference coordinates and displaying characters by arranging them at their reference coordinates or at other optimum positions, graphic data including the graphic code and its reference coordinates and ancillary numbers when there are attached characters, A storage device for storing character data including a character code and its reference coordinates and an attachment number indicating an attachment destination when attached to a figure, and the predetermined figure on the screen when the displayed character is attached to the predetermined figure being displayed. For each area obtained by dividing the predetermined range including, the evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character is obtained according to the positional relationship with the display position of the predetermined figure, and the optimum position that does not overlap with other figures being displayed is displayed. An image display device can be realized which is provided with display processing means for determining.

The operation of the above-described configuration of the present invention will be described.

In order to prevent overlapping with a figure or the like being displayed, when a character is moved from its reference position and displayed, there are cases where the character is easy to understand depending on the location and cases where it is not. Not only is there no overlap, but the intelligibility of the characters depends on the positional relationship between the characters and other figures that are being displayed. Further, even in the case of a character that is meaningful to be displayed at a specific position such as a place name displayed on a map, the intelligibility of the character varies depending on the positional relationship with the specific position.

The present invention has been made paying attention to this point, and by moving the character from the reference position by quantitatively grasping the degree of ease of understanding of the character in the divided areas on the screen. Enabled to determine the optimum position for display.

According to the character display method of the present invention, with respect to a character attached to a figure such as a symbol or a character meaningful to be displayed in a specific positional relationship, the reference coordinates as the character data or the attached symbol position is used as a basis. In addition, since the display position is determined by obtaining the display position conformance of the divided region in the display region with the direction and distance as parameters, it is possible to display it at the reference coordinates so that it overlaps or approaches other characters or figures on the screen. Even if it is too much, it can be displayed at an appropriate position that maintains the comprehension of the attachment relation and the meaning of the character.

Further, the display position compatibility is corrected according to the orientation and the degree of overlap with other symbols or characters, so that the display position can be displayed at the optimum position which is easy to understand and easy to see.

Further, according to the character display method of the present invention,
When the size of the characters to be displayed is fixed and the background diagram and figures other than the characters are enlarged / reduced on the screen, or the scale of the map to be displayed is changed, the incidental relationship with the figure or a specific positional relationship Since it can be displayed in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-see position while maintaining, it is possible to provide a high-quality screen in which a character display of a certain size is maintained.

According to the image display system of the present invention, the size or the reference coordinates of the character data can be set only by a predesigned reference without considering other graphic positions on the screen, and therefore the system stores the data. It becomes easy to create, edit or change image data such as map data.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a geographical information display for displaying a predetermined range on the screen based on map data by line graphics such as roads and topography for each scale and symbol / character data such as symbols and characters written on the map. System.

FIG. 2 is a schematic hardware configuration of the geographic information display system and its functional block diagram. The system comprises a graphic display 1, a processing unit 2, a main storage unit 3, an auxiliary storage unit 4, a keyboard 5 and a mouse 6.

The main memory 3 has a display data position area 3
1, a mesh information management area 32, a basic display position suitability area 33, a suitability function area 34, a display position candidate area 35,
It has a display management data area 36, and the auxiliary storage device 4 has a map data storage area 41, a symbol / character data storage area 42, and a management data storage area 43.

The display processing unit 47 manages the display processing operation of the system and superimposes the map data read from the map data area 41 and the symbols and characters read from the symbol / character data area 42 on the designated map range. Edit and display.

FIG. 1 shows a processing flow of the geographical information display system according to this embodiment. The operation of the display processing unit 47 is
It is started by a display request from the keyboard 5 or the mouse 6.

The map data is read from the map data area 41 of the auxiliary storage device 4 and displayed on the graphic display 1 (s101). The map data to be displayed is set by selecting from the keyboard 5 the map name, scale, and map range accumulated in the management data area 43. These management data and the coordinates of the map range being displayed on the display 1 (upper right and lower left of the screen) are stored in the display management data area 36.

Next, the data in the symbol / character data area 42 is read (s102). FIG. 3 shows a storage format of the symbol / character data area 42. The area 42 is the graphic data section 4
21 and attached character portion 422. Graphic data section 421
Develops data for each identification code indicating the type of graphic to be displayed, such as symbols and characters. When the figure identification code is a symbol, it includes a unique symbol code for each symbol, reference coordinates, a color code, and attribute No. data. When the figure identification is a character, it includes a character code, reference coordinates, a color code and the like.
The attached character portion 422 includes data such as attribute No., character code, reference coordinates, color code and the like. Attribute number of attached character
Is associated with the attribute No. of the graphic data section 57.

Next, it is judged from the figure identification code of the read data whether or not it is a character (s103). In the case of a symbol, it is displayed on the display 41, the display range of the figure is calculated, and it is stored in the display data position area 31 together with the identification code and the color code (s104). The above-described processing of steps s103 and s104 is performed for all symbols in the map range.

In the following, a circle will be displayed as a symbol. As shown in FIG. 3B, the yen symbol data includes an identification code (graphic identification code + symbol code), reference coordinates, and color code data. The display range of the yen symbol on the display 1 is based on the reference coordinates, and the coordinates (X1, Y1) (X2, Y2) of the square area circumscribing the circle.
Is calculated as

Next, the character data is read from the symbol / character data area 42 (s105), it is determined whether the character attached to the symbol is the attached number or not (s106), and if it is the attached character, the process proceeds to s108. On the other hand, if it is not an attached character, it is determined whether the character has a specific positional relationship (s107), and if it is, the display position compatibility is calculated and the optimum display position is determined (s108). .

Finally, the character is displayed at the determined optimum display position (s109). Similar to the case of the graphic display, the display range is calculated from the reference coordinates of the displayed character string and stored in the display data position area 31 to prepare for the next display processing. The above processing from s105 to s109 is performed for all symbols within the map range.

Before the calculation of the display position compatibility, the overlapping relationship between the display area based on the reference coordinates of the read character and the display areas of the other symbols and characters stored in the display data position area 31 is checked, and the overlap is checked. If it does not exist, it may be displayed immediately. In this case, it is possible to reduce the number of processes for determining the display position by calculating the compatibility.

Further, in the above, the character arrangement process is performed after displaying all the symbols, but the symbols and characters may be displayed in the order of reading. In this case, the display position of the symbol is preferentially arranged at the reference coordinate. If the symbol does not overlap with the already displayed character or if it adversely affects the recognition of the character, the display position compatibility of the character is calculated and rearranged in consideration of the influence of the arrangement of the symbol. To do.

Next, based on a specific display example, a method of calculating the display position compatibility and the processing method of the optimum arrangement of the characters (s)
108) will be described in detail. First, description will be made with reference to display examples of characters attached to symbols.

FIG. 4 shows a display example of characters attached to symbols. The symbols 50, 51, 52, and the character string 60 "Aaaaaaa" not attached to any of the symbols and the character string 61 "Good" attached to the symbol 51 are being displayed on the display. The optimum display position of the character string 62 "Uuuuu" attached to the symbol 52 is determined and displayed here.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow for calculating the display position compatibility of characters and determining the optimum display position based on the calculation. First, the display area of a predetermined range on the graphic display 1 is divided into a mesh of a predetermined size (here, one character) centering on the display range of the symbol to which the character string to be displayed is attached (s201). Here, the predetermined range 70 may be the entire area of the window, but normally, when the distance between the characters is about 4 characters, the adjunct relationship between the characters becomes unclear, so the range where the beginning of the symbol and its attached character is about 4 characters is targeted. do it.

FIG. 6 shows a mesh division area. The thick frame in the drawing shows a part of the predetermined range 70 including the symbol position 72. Mesh number 7 for each divided mesh
1 is assigned, its center position (x, y) 72, and the in-range ratio 7 that indicates the ratio of the mesh within the predetermined range 70.
3 is calculated.

FIG. 7 shows a mesh information management table. The table 321 is provided in the mesh information management area 32, and manages the center position 72, the in-range ratio 73, and the display position compatibility 74 calculated below in the order of the mesh number 71.

Next, the display position compatibility 74 based on the azimuth is calculated and set in the mesh information management table 321 (s202).

The display position of the character attached to the symbol includes a position that is easy to understand and a position that is not so depending on the direction. In general, the optimum display position of the attached character is set right below or to the right (right next to) the symbol, and the reference position is determined by the reference for each system. Then, as it deviates from the reference position, the degree of easiness of understanding, that is, the display position adaptability decreases. In the present embodiment, the display is made based on the reference that the position just below the symbol is the optimum position.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting the display position compatibility according to the azimuth. FIG. 10A schematically shows the azimuth of 360 degrees around the symbol 52 and the optimum position of the attached character 62. FIG. 11B is a graph showing the relationship between the orientation of the character (the first character in the case of a character string) and the display position compatibility with respect to the symbol. The azimuth angle is shown clockwise, with 12 o'clock being 0 degrees.

As shown in the figure, the display suitability according to the azimuth of the attached character increases from about 0.5 at the azimuth of 0 degrees to increase with the azimuth and reaches the maximum of 1.0 near the azimuth of 180 degrees, and reaches 180 degrees. When the azimuth exceeds 50 degrees and enters the left side of the symbol, it drops sharply to a minimum of 0.15 in the range of 250 degrees to 300 degrees.
It started to rise again in the range of around 300 degrees to 360 degrees. Incidentally, FIG. 6C shows the fitness function when the right side of the symbol is the optimum position.

Therefore, the mesh display position adaptability is calculated from the graph shown by using the orientation of the straight line connecting the center of the symbol display position and the coordinates of the center point of each mesh as a parameter. The graph of FIG. 8B or 8C is set in the fitness function area 34. The goodness-of-fit function is based on an empirical rule, and is set so that it can be appropriately corrected based on the visibility of the display result.

FIG. 10 shows the display position adaptability of each mesh in the mesh division area. The table 322 in which the degree of conformity is entered in each mesh is a virtual diagram for facilitating understanding and need not be provided in actual processing.

FIG. 7A shows an example of calculating the degree of conformance based on the above-mentioned azimuth. The display mesh of the symbol 52 indicated by a thick frame is included, and the distribution status of the display position conformance within the area is shown. The adaptability of the thick-framed mesh is uncertain from the function depending on the azimuth, but the adaptability is set to 1.0 in consideration of the correction based on the distance.

Next, the display position adaptability based on the distance from the symbol is obtained, and the display position adaptability of each mesh in which the azimuth is set as a parameter is corrected (s203).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting the display position compatibility according to the distance. FIG. 10A shows a display example of characters arranged at the distance L1 or L2 in the optimum azimuth (directly below) from the symbol 52, and FIG. 18B shows a fitness function having the distance as a parameter. When the character and the symbol overlap each other, the degree of conformity is set to about 0.3, and the distance from the half character where the character does not overlap becomes 1.5, which is 1.0, and thereafter decreases according to the distance. When the distance is a fixed distance, that is, a distance of 3.5 characters or more in this case, the relationship with the symbol becomes unknown, and thus the matching degree becomes zero.

FIG. 10B shows an example of calculation of the display position adaptability using the distance as a parameter. This goodness of fit is calculated by a goodness of fit function using the distance as a parameter by obtaining the distance from the center coordinate of the mesh at the symbol position to the center coordinate of each mesh.

FIG. 10C shows the correction result of the display position compatibility of each mesh. The display position adaptability shown in the figure is a value obtained by multiplying the adaptability (a) by the azimuth and the adaptability (b) by the distance for each mesh. The conformity stored in the mesh information management table 321 is updated with the corrected display position conformity. Since the reference position of the attached character is determined in a predetermined relationship with the symbol based on the design standard, the fitness function having the azimuth and distance as parameters can be set by the reference position of the attached character.

Next, the display position adaptability calculated from the azimuth and distance (FIG. 10C) is copied and temporarily stored in the basic display position adaptability region 33 (s204). After that, the display position compatibility is corrected according to the positional relationship with other figures as follows (s205). The correction based on the positional relationship with other similar characters will be described later.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how to obtain a fitness correction value due to the influence of another figure. In FIG. 5A, a main symbol 5 having a symbol 51 which is another figure and an attached character 62
An azimuth relation centered on an arrow line connecting 2 is shown. FIG.
[Fig. 4] is a graph showing the fitness function by the influence of other figures, with the orientation of each mesh with respect to the arrow in (a) as a parameter. This fitness function is also set in the fitness function area 34 with a predetermined condition selectable from the others.

As shown in FIG. 11A, when the main symbol 52 and another symbol 51 are arranged, the azimuth of the range a to the right of the other symbol 51 (approximately ± 45 degrees on a straight line) is 62
Since it is erroneously recognized that is attached to the symbol 51, the matching degree is 0. The range b (generally ± 45 degrees to ± 90 degrees) outside the range, and the range c (generally ± 90 degrees to ± 135 degrees) outside the range, the fitness increases linearly as the azimuth increases. The conformity is 1.0 in the azimuth.

FIG. 12 shows an example of calculation of the display position compatibility using the orientation with another symbol as a parameter. FIG.
Is an example of calculating the display position adaptability due to the influence of another symbol 51. Azimuth (intersection angle) of the straight line connecting the center coordinates of each mesh and the center coordinates of the other symbols 51 with respect to the straight line (horizontal line in the figure) connecting the main symbols 52 and the mesh centers of the other symbols 51
Is used as a parameter and is calculated from the fitness function of FIG.

When there are a plurality of other symbols that affect the display of characters, the degree of conformity due to the influence is calculated for each symbol. (B) of the figure is an example of calculation of the display position adaptability which is similarly obtained by the influence of another symbol 50.

FIG. 13A shows the display position adaptability due to the influence of a plurality of symbols. It is a value obtained by multiplying the value under the influence of the symbol 51 in the previous figure (a) and the value under the influence of the symbol 50 in the previous figure (b) for each mesh.

FIG. 13B shows the result of correcting the display position adaptability by multiplying the display position adaptability of each mesh set in step s204 by the adaptability due to the influence of other symbols. This value is reflected in the mesh information management area 32, and the mesh table 321 is updated.

Next, the display position compatibility is corrected by the degree of overlapping with other characters or figures (s206). When the symbol or character being displayed and the character to be displayed this time overlap with each other, the display position adaptability is calculated based on the degree of overlap, and the adaptability of the mesh table 321 is corrected and updated.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of calculating the fitness correction value based on the degree of overlap with other characters or figures. The distribution of the symbol or character display range 140 calculated in steps s104 and s109 is calculated as an area ratio (%) for each mesh. This area ratio is the degree of overlap. FIG.
Shows the fitness function with the degree of overlap as a parameter.

FIG. 15 shows an example of calculation of the display position compatibility based on the degree of overlap with other characters and figures. In the mesh division area, the symbols 50, 51, 52 and the character string 6 shown in FIG.
Each mesh corresponding to 0 and 61 is shown by a thick line frame and a dotted line frame. The mesh of the divided area is 7
When occupied by 5% or more, the goodness of fit is 0.02. This value does not become indistinguishable at all when this figure or character is overwritten. On the other hand, when the overlap of characters and figures in the mesh is 0 to 25%, the compatibility is 1.0. The middle value is a value proportional to the degree of overlap.

As shown in FIG. 6, the in-range ratio 73 of the mesh is 100% or less around the mesh division area. In this case, the degree of overlap of the corresponding mesh is
It is corrected by multiplying by the in-range ratio 73.

Next, the display position compatibility is corrected by the display color of overlapping characters and characters or characters and figures. This correction is performed only for meshes on which characters and graphics have already been displayed, in other words, for meshes whose display position conformity due to the degree of overlap is less than 1.0. Of course, it is omitted for monochrome.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing how to obtain the display position adaptability based on the difference in display color. The color displayed on the screen can be represented by the composition ratio of each of red, green, and blue. Even if the same character overlaps, the legibility of the character differs between the case of the same color and the case of a different color.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the conformity shown in the graph is obtained by using the degree of difference in display color obtained by differentiating the level of each color of the character being displayed and the level of each color of the displayed character for each color. From the degree function, the degree of visibility (correction value) is calculated for each color. The degree of difference in display color is from minimum value 0 to maximum value 1
When changing from 6 to 6, the degree of readability is 0.5 to 1.
In the range of 0, it changes into a square curve. For the color level of the character or figure, the color code of the display data position area 31 is read.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the average value of the visibility (correction value) of red, green, and blue is the display position adaptability based on the display color difference. This value is corrected by multiplying the display position adaptability by the degree of overlap shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows an example of calculating the display position conformance based on the degree of overlap and the degree of difference in display color. The correction of the display position value conformity by the display color is particularly effective when the filled figure and the character overlap. The display position adaptability based on the degree of overlap including the display color calculated in this way is reflected in the display position adaptability of the mesh information management area 32. FIG. 18 shows the display position adaptability that reflects all the adaptability described above.

Next, the maximum area of the display position compatibility is selected based on the display position compatibility shown in FIG. 18 (s20).
7). That is, in the mesh string for the character string to be displayed this time, the region with the largest cumulative total of display position compatibility is selected as the character display position.

In the present embodiment, since the character 62 "Uuuuuuu" is displayed, an area for 5 meshes is required in the horizontal direction. Therefore, in order from the mesh number 1, the cumulative value of the display position suitability of five horizontally continuous mesh columns is calculated, and the mesh column having the maximum cumulative value is stored in the display position candidate region 35 as a candidate region. . When there are a plurality of candidate areas having the maximum cumulative value, the plurality of mesh areas are stored in the display position candidate area 35.

As a result, in the example of FIG. 18, the mesh row 180 shown by the dotted frame is a display position candidate. In this example,
It is directly above the symbol 52. If the number of selected candidates is one in the determination of step s208, the candidate area is the optimum display position.

On the other hand, when there are a plurality of candidate areas, s20
The basic display position conformance region 33 temporarily stored in 4 is referred to, the total of the display position conformance of the mesh columns corresponding to each candidate is calculated (s209), and the mesh column having the maximum accumulated value is set to the optimum display position. (S210).

FIG. 19 shows an image on the screen of a character displayed according to the above series of processing results. The attached character string 62 “Uuuuu” of the symbol 52 is displayed at the position shown in the figure such that it does not overlap with the symbol or character being displayed and that it can be identified as the attached character of the symbol 52.

According to the present embodiment, the predetermined range of the screen area is divided into meshes each having a size of one character, and the display position compatibility when displaying characters is calculated for each mesh, and a character string to be displayed is displayed. The optimum display area is determined to be the mesh area in which the sum of the matching degrees of the same mesh row is the maximum. The display position suitability at that time is calculated by a predetermined suitability function that indicates the degree of intelligibility of the meaning of the character, using the orientation and distance of the symbol and the mesh to which the character is attached as parameters, It is possible to determine the optimum position where the adjunct relationship can be recognized.

Further, the display position suitability uses a suitability function showing the degree of comprehension due to the directional influence and the degree of visibility due to overlap when there are already displayed symbols or characters. Will be corrected. Therefore, it is possible to move from the original reference position and display it at a position where the visibility and comprehension can be optimally maintained.

When the background map or symbol is enlarged / reduced on the screen, or when the scale of the map or the like is changed, if the size of the displayed character is kept constant and displayed at the reference position, the character and the symbol are displayed. May be duplicated on the display.

In such a case, in the present embodiment, the character can be moved and displayed while maintaining the adjunct relation with the symbol.
Secure a certain size of character display, easy to see and understand,
It can provide high quality screens.

Further, since the coordinates of the character data can be set only by a predetermined design standard of visibility and comprehension without considering other graphic positions on the screen, it is possible to set the coordinates of hierarchical data such as map data. Easy to create, edit or change.

Next, an embodiment according to another character display example will be described. The characters displayed here do not have ancillary relations with symbols, etc., but it is meaningful to display them at a predetermined position due to geographical relations, system promises, etc., and this is the case where the predetermined position is the easiest to understand. . In terms of geographical relationship, the names of countries, prefectures, cities, towns, or even mountains, seas, rivers, etc. on the map and the address display of the area correspond to this.

FIG. 20 shows a display example of the target characters of this example. In the address display on the map, while the character string 201 "AA chome" is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, the character string 202 "BB chome" is displayed in the vicinity thereof. As shown in the figure, when the character 202 overlaps the character 201, the legibility of both is significantly reduced. However, if the character 202 deviates from the geographical position of the address indicated by the character 202, the comprehensibility is reduced, and displaying the character may even cause an error. In such a case, in this embodiment, the optimum arrangement is made as follows.

The character display processing of this display example is a flow in which there is "a specific positional relationship for the display of characters" in step s108 of FIG. The subsequent calculation of the display position suitability is basically the same as the processing procedure of FIG.

First, in s201 and 202, the mesh area is divided corresponding to the character string 202 to be displayed, and the display position compatibility is set according to the azimuth. Setting of the goodness of fit by the direction can be performed by the same goodness of fit function as the case of the character attached to the symbol.

FIG. 21A shows an example of calculation of the display position compatibility of the character 202 with the azimuth as a parameter. As shown, the initial planned display position (called the character display reference position)
The best matching value (=
1.0).

Next, in step s203, the display position compatibility is set based on the distance. As in this example, when it is necessary to consider the geographical positional relationship, the display position adaptability using the distance as a parameter is not the distance based on the display position on the screen,
It is necessary to judge the suitability based on geographical distance.

For example, the characters displayed on the map are generally constant regardless of the scale of the map, but in this case, the geographical position of the characters on the screen changes depending on the scale of the map. For this reason, in this embodiment, a fitness function based on the distance corresponding to the scale of the map is prepared. The fitness function having the geographical distance as a parameter is stored in the fitness function area 34 by scale, separately from that of the character attached to the symbol.

In FIG. 22, according to the type of characters to be displayed,
7 shows a flow of selection processing of a fitness function having a distance as a parameter. Based on the determination in step s106, it is selected whether or not the displayed character is an adjunct character of the symbol (s301), and a fitness function for adjunct character is selected (s302), or a fitness function for geographical relation is selected. (S303). In the latter case, conversion into a display position fitness function is performed (s30).
4).

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing how to obtain the display position adaptability using the geographical distance as a parameter. An example of a fitness function corresponding to a scale of 1/25000 is shown in FIG. The scale value is a value read from the display management data area 36. The goodness of fit at a scale of 1/25000 is
It decreases from the maximum value of 1.0 according to the distance, and becomes 0 at about 500 m.

FIG. 11B shows a fitness function obtained by converting the horizontal axis of FIG. The conversion of the horizontal axis is performed by fetching the display range currently being displayed in the graphic display 1 stored in the display management data area 36. For example, when the distance is 250 meters on the graph of (a), the latitude and longitude of the position 250 meters downward (south) from the character display reference position is calculated, and the coordinate position of this latitude and longitude on the screen is obtained. Further, the on-screen distance between this coordinate position and the display reference position is obtained. Repeat this in sequence,
The distance on the horizontal axis of (a) is converted into a distance on the screen, and the corresponding fitness is plotted on the vertical axis to generate the graph of (b). In this example, the coordinate system of the map being displayed is the normalized coordinate system, and the distance of 250 meters in (a) is about one character (1 mesh) on the screen.

FIG. 21B shows an example of calculation in which the display position suitability (a) according to the orientation of each mesh is corrected by the suitability function according to the distance shown in FIG. This display position adaptability is temporarily stored in the area 33 as the basic display position adaptability in step s204, as in the case described above.

Next, in step s205, the display position compatibility is corrected by the positional relationship with other similar character strings. For example, if you want to avoid overlapping the letters "Tokyo" and "Saitama", "Tokyo" on the upper (north) and lower (south) sides of the screen.
If "Saitama Prefecture" is displayed on, it would be an error due to the geographical relationship.

Therefore, the display position compatibility is corrected using the influence of other similar characters as a parameter. This correction can be performed by the same method as the above-described correction by the influence of the same type of figure (symbol). An example of the fitness function is the graph shown in FIG. Thus, the fitness function representing the influence of other similar characters can be shared with that of the influence of other figures. Therefore, a plurality of patterns are prepared in the goodness-of-fit function area 34 under the condition of the layout relationship with the influential figure, and are selectively used according to the conditions.

FIG. 24A shows an example of calculating the display position adaptability using the influence of another similar character string as a parameter. That is, with respect to a straight line connecting another character string 201 being displayed of the same type and the main character string 202 to be displayed, the azimuth of each mesh based on the other character string 201 is calculated, and the matching degree that parameterizes this azimuth is calculated. It is obtained from the function.

Finally, the display position compatibility is obtained by correcting the overlapping of the characters (the display colors are the same color) in the same manner as in the above case, and the display position compatibility is obtained from the result as shown in FIG. 24 (b). Determine the optimal display position that maximizes the total fitness.

FIG. 25 shows a screen image of this display example optimally arranged according to the above processing result. With respect to the character string 201 "AA chome" being displayed, a character string 202 representing "BB chome" geographically on the north side of "AA chome" is moved to the upper side of the screen and arranged without overlapping.

According to the present embodiment, when the characters to be displayed have a geographical specific positional relationship or the like rather than the adjunct relationship, the display position compatibility is based on the original reference position of the character. The azimuth and distance of each mesh are calculated as parameters, and are further corrected by the influence of the azimuth and overlap with other characters. Therefore, the character can be displayed in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-see position that maintains the specific positional relationship that it has as an attribute, and the position where the character means and is displayed is inappropriate, resulting in meaninglessness or error. Can be prevented.

[0092]

EXAMPLE An example of another character display example will be described.
There is a window as a target for overlapping with the displayed characters. When the window is set above the character, if the character to be displayed is in the vicinity of the window frame, the character can be displayed outside the window frame in an easy-to-see position by the same method as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a display example in which the characters attached to the symbols are optimally arranged so as to avoid overlapping with the window. When a character attached to the symbol 252 is displayed in the window 250, if another window 251 is set on the character, the character display reference position 253 is hidden and the character cannot be seen, and the meaning of the symbol 252 cannot be understood.

Therefore, the window 25 is displayed on the display.
When 1 is set, the coordinates (X1, Y1) (X2, Y2) of the window area separately managed by the system are also stored in the display data position area 31. The storage format is the same as that for figures and characters, and the figure identification code indicating the window, the coordinates of the display area, and the color code are set. The background color is set in the color code.

As a result, in the same procedure as described in step s207, the display position conformity that reflects the overlapping of windows is obtained, and the optimum display position 253 that is not hidden by the window 251 and maintains the relationship with the symbol 252 is obtained. 'Can be determined. If the symbol 252 is also hidden by the window 251, the symbol that serves as a reference for the azimuth and the distance is not displayed, so this process is not performed.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the display position adaptability of windows and areas where windows overlap each other in the same manner as when characters and graphics overlap each other. To
It can be displayed in a position that is easy to see.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the display examples of the characters attached to the symbols and the characters having a meaning in the geographical positional relationship have been described. However, in the case of the characters which are almost fixed at a predetermined position such as a title. Also, it can be applied by preparing a fitness function suitable for it.

[0098]

According to the character display method of the present invention, with respect to a character attached to a figure such as a symbol or a character meaningful to be displayed in a specific positional relationship, reference coordinates which are character data or an attached symbol position. Based on, the display position is determined by obtaining the display position conformance of the divided area in the display area with the direction and distance as parameters, so that the display position is determined to be the same as the reference coordinates. Even when they are too close to each other, there is an effect that they can be displayed at an appropriate position that maintains the intelligibility of the auxiliary relationships and the meaning of the characters.

Furthermore, the display position compatibility is corrected according to the degree of azimuth and overlap with other symbols or characters, so that there is an effect that the display position can be displayed at the optimum position which is both easy to understand and easy to see. is there.

According to the character display method of the present invention, the size of the characters to be displayed is made constant, the background figure and figures other than the characters are enlarged / reduced on the screen, and the scale of the map to be displayed is changed. In this case, since it can be displayed at a position that is easy to see and understand while maintaining the auxiliary relationship with the figure and the specific positional relationship, it is possible to provide a high-quality screen in which the character display of a certain size is maintained.

According to the image display system of the present invention, the size or the reference coordinates of the character data can be set only in accordance with the design standard in advance without considering the other graphic positions on the screen, so that the data is stored in the system. This has the effect of facilitating the creation, editing or modification of image data such as map data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a character display method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a geographical information display system to which the character display system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a data format diagram of stored symbol / character data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example referred to in a display process of a character attached to a symbol.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing method of calculating a display position compatibility of a character and determining an optimum display position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing mesh division of a display area.

FIG. 7 is a data format diagram of a mesh information management table.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting a display position conformance degree according to the directions of symbols and characters.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting method based on the distance between a symbol and a character.

FIG. 10 is a table showing the calculation result of the display position suitability based on the azimuth and the distance for the mesh division region.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting the display position conformance due to the influence of another symbol.

FIG. 12 is a table showing the calculation result of the display position compatibility according to the orientations of other symbols and characters.

FIG. 13 is a table showing the display position conformity and its correction result due to the influence of other plural symbols.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting the display position conformance when it overlaps with a symbol or character being displayed.

FIG. 15 is a table showing a calculation result of display position conformance based on the degree of overlap with symbols and characters.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of setting a display position conformance degree based on a color difference when overlapping a symbol or a character.

FIG. 17 is a table showing a result of correcting the display position conformity based on the overlapping degree with the conformity based on the color difference.

FIG. 18 is a table showing a final result obtained by calculating a series of display position conformance degrees based on azimuth, distance, influence of other symbols and characters, overlapping degree, and color difference.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example in which the target character is displayed at the optimum display position determined based on the final display position compatibility.

FIG. 20 is a display example diagram referred to in a display process of characters having a specific positional relationship in the second display example.

FIG. 21 is a table showing the calculation result of the display position conformance according to the azimuth and the distance in the second display example.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for determining a fitness function based on distance according to a character to be displayed.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a fitness function for each scale having a geographical distance as a parameter and a fitness function converted into a distance on the display.

FIG. 24 is a table showing, in the second display example, the calculation result of the display position conformance due to the influence of other symbols and the overlapping of characters.

FIG. 25 is a display example diagram in which a target character is displayed at the determined optimum display position in the second display example.

FIG. 26 is a display example diagram showing a moving display position when a character attached to a symbol and another window overlap in the third display example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Graphic display, 2 ... Processing device (CP
U), 3 ... Main storage device, 4 ... Auxiliary storage device, 5 ... Keyboard, 6 ... Mouse, 21 ... Display processing unit, 31 ... Display data position area, 32 ... Mesh information management area, 321 ... Mesh information management table, 33 ... Basic display position fitness area, 34 ... Fitness function area, 35 ... Display position candidate area,
36 ... Display management data area, 41 ... Map data storage area, 42 ... Symbol / character data storage area, 421 ... Graphic data section, 422 ... Attached character section, 43 ... Management data storage area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09G 5/30 610 G06F 15/60 602L 5/40 15/62 335

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method of displaying a character attached to a figure or a character arranged in a specific position and having a meaning based on character data having reference coordinates, and for each mesh obtained by dividing a predetermined range on a screen, A character display method, wherein an evaluation value of the intelligibility of a character is obtained according to a positional relationship from the reference coordinates, and the display position of the character is determined from the evaluation value. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the figure of the attached character has a closed area such as a symbol, and the relationship between the position of the figure and the reference coordinates of the attached character is determined from design criteria or the like. Further, the character display method is characterized in that the evaluation value is obtained by an evaluation function having parameters of the orientation and distance of the mesh based on the graphic position. 3. The evaluation function according to claim 1, wherein when the specific position of the character to be displayed is set by the reference coordinates, the orientation and distance of the mesh with reference to the reference coordinates are used as parameters. A method of displaying a character, characterized in that the evaluation value is obtained. 4. The character display method according to claim 3, wherein the displayed character represents the name of the specific position on the map. 5. The evaluation value according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the evaluation value is corrected by an evaluation function having a direction and an overlapping degree with another graphic or another character on the screen or a display position of another window as a parameter. A method of displaying characters characterized by being displayed. 6. The character display method according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation value is corrected by an evaluation function having a parameter of a display color difference from a figure or a character on which the character overlaps. 7. A method of displaying a character attached to a figure or a character arranged in a specific position and having a meaning based on character data having reference coordinates, and for each mesh obtained by dividing a predetermined range on the screen, Based on the reference coordinates of the characters to be displayed and the reference coordinates of other characters that are being displayed in a predetermined range on the screen or other figures that are not attached to the characters to be displayed, an evaluation function that uses the orientation and distance of the mesh as parameters A character display method characterized by comprehensively obtaining an evaluation value of the intelligibility of a character and determining a display position of the character having the highest evaluation value. 8. The mesh string according to claim 1, wherein the mesh is composed of a region having a size of one character, and a sum of evaluation values of each mesh is a mesh string corresponding to a character string of a character to be displayed. A method for displaying characters, characterized in that the maximum mesh string is determined as the display position. 9. A method of displaying a character, wherein a character having a closed area such as a symbol is displayed at a reference position included in the graphic data, and a character attached to the graphic is displayed based on the reference coordinates included in the character data. In the case where the relationship between the reference position of the figure and the reference coordinates of the characters attached to the figure is predetermined from design criteria or the like, the predetermined range on the screen is divided into a mesh of a size of one character, and the figure The orientation and distance of the mesh are calculated based on the reference position of, and the evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character is obtained for each mesh by the evaluation function using these orientation and distance as parameters. The positional relationship of the mesh is calculated on the basis of the display position of the figure and the reference position of the figure, and the character relationship is calculated by the evaluation function of the influence of other figures using this positional relationship as a parameter. The evaluation value of easiness of correction is corrected for each mesh, and the mesh string corresponding to the character string of the character to be displayed has the maximum sum of the corrected evaluation values for each mesh is set to the display position of the character. Character display method characterized by determining. 10. The figure displayed on the screen according to claim 9, in principle, is displayed at its reference position, and the reference coordinates of the character attached to the predetermined figure are set at the reference positions of other figures being displayed. When overlapping, or when the display position of the character attached to the predetermined graphic overlaps with the reference position of the other graphic to be displayed, the attached character is moved from the reference position to the display position determined from the evaluation value. Character display method characterized by moving and displaying. 11. An image display device, comprising a graphic display for displaying characters and figures, arranging figures at their reference coordinates and displaying characters by arranging them at their reference coordinates or at other optimum positions. Figure data containing the reference number and the attached number if there is an attached character, and a storage device that stores the character code and the reference coordinate and the letter data containing the attached number indicating the attachment destination when attached to the figure, and the character to be displayed. Is attached to the predetermined figure being displayed, the evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character according to the positional relationship with the display position of the predetermined figure, for each area obtained by dividing the predetermined range including the predetermined figure on the screen. And a display processing unit that determines an optimum position that does not overlap with another figure or the like being displayed. 12. The display processing means according to claim 11, when displaying a character that is not attached to a graphic, the display processing means provides an evaluation value of the intelligibility of the character according to the positional relationship with the reference coordinate of the character in the area. An image display device comprising a function required for each. 13. The image according to claim 11, wherein the display processing means includes a function of correcting the evaluation value according to a positional relationship with a display position of another figure or the like on the screen. Display device. 14. The storage device according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the storage device stores an evaluation function for calculating the evaluation value of the intelligibility for each of the positional relationship parameters. Image display device. 15. The image display device according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the display processing unit includes a function of displaying characters of a constant size regardless of whether the screen is enlarged or reduced.