Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Takenaka Corporation

Tamotsu Hasegawa

Hiroaki Kubota

Mieko Matsuda

Miwako Doi

Hiroshi Sugiyama

Akira Fujishima

Kazuhito Hashimoto

Toshio Saito

Takatoshi Ogawa

Yasuhiko Yoshioka

Nobuo Tsubouchi

A database stores map data including road network data and landmark data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in the database. A road pattern analysis unit analyzes a route pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and obtains road pattern data as the analysis result. A landmark selection area decision unit determines a landmark selection area for route guidance along the route based on the road network data and the road pattern data. A landmark selection unit selects landmark data included in the landmark selection area from said database. A route guidance information generation unit generates route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data selected by the landmark selection unit. A presentation unit presents the route guidance information.

Route guidance apparatus and method

A database stores map data including road network data and landmark data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database. A road pattern analysis unit analyzes a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and obtains road pattern data as the analysis result. A route guidance information generation unit generates route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route. A presentation unit presents the route guidance information.

A pedestrian route guide apparatus includes an input section which inputs a departure place and destination, a route data storage section for storing route data, a landmark storage section which stores a landmark, a route computation section which computes a route from the departure place to the destination on the basis of route data, a route editing section which edits the route, a landmark selector section which selects a landmark at each point on the route on the basis of the route obtained by the route editing section, a route guide text generator section which generates a route guide text on the basis of the route obtained by the route editing section and the landmark information selected by the landmark selector section, and a route text output section which presents the route guide text.

Method and apparatus for automatically generating pedestrian route guide text and recording medium

A route guidance system for a pedestrian. An input unit inputs a departure point and a destination point of the pedestrian. A route data memory stores route data representing position and connection of each route comprising a road network. A route calculation unit calculates a route from the departure point to the destination point by referring to the route data in said route data memory. A landmark memory stores landmark data for the pedestrian's confirmation; a landmark represents a signpost of the departure point, the destination point, and the route. A landmark selection unit selects the landmark data corresponding to the route calculated by said route calculation unit from said landmark memory. A presentation unit presents a route guidance to the pedestrian using the calculated route and the selected landmark data.

Route guidance system and method for a pedestrian

Architectural material using metal oxide exhibiting photocatalytic

A metal-oxide layer exhibiting a photocatalytic activity function is formed on the surface of an inorganic architectural material, such as external wall material, roofing material, internal wall material, flooring material, and ceiling material, including glass, tile, concrete, stone, metal, and the like, so as to provide the property of deodorizing a space coming in contact with the architectural material, and antimold, antisoiling properties, and ultraviolet-ray absorbency of the surface of the architectural material, as well as the long-term maintenance of these properties. Preferably, the metal-oxide layer is formed by fixing a metal-oxide thin film on the surface of the architectural material. Alternatively, the metal-oxide layer is formed as an architectural material in which the surface region includes an outer portion mainly formed of a metal mixture including a metal oxide, such as titanium oxide, and palladium for improving photocatalytic activity, or a metal mixture including a metal constituting the metal oxide, such as titanium, and a composite of a second metal, and an inner portion substantially formed of a metal mixture including titanium or a composite of titanium and palladium, the outer portion as well as the inner portion being formed continuously. As a method of manufacturing the latter architectural material, a metal mixture, i.e., an alloy, of titanium and a metal for improving photocatalytic activity, such as palladium, is fabricated, and after the alloy is processed into a desired shape, the processed alloy is subjected to oxidation treatment.

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Tokyo, Japan

Tamotsu Hasegawa