System for managing objects based on position data

A retrieval system, comprising:

• a host computer including a database, which database is output by the host computer on request, in which retrieval information and position information of objects to be managed are held in relation to each other;
• and
• a portable terminal machine for receiving and storing the database output by the host computer;
• wherein the portable terminal machine includes:
• a searching unit for searching the retrieval information in the database according to a condition specified by a user to identify a match between the retrieval information and the condition and consequently to identify position information of a particular object;
• and a map display unit for displaying a position where the particular object is managed on a map according to the position information.

A portable position display apparatus for displaying a position of an object to be managed, comprising:

• a data storing unit for storing a database that includes map data used to display a map of an area in which the object is positioned, position data used to locate the object on the map, and attribute data used to identify the object, wherein the position data is stored in relation to the attribute data;
• a condition input unit for enabling a user to enter a retrieval condition;
• a searching unit for searching the database stored in the data storing unit according to the retrieval condition to identify a match between the attribute data and the retrieval condition and consequently to identify position data of the object;
• and
• a map display unit for displaying a position of the object on the map according to the map data and the position data in the database when a match is identified by the searching unit.

Apparatus for managing data of an object to be managed;

• comprising:
• a database storing unit for storing a database that includes map data used to display a map of an area in which an object to be managed is positioned, position data of a display mark that denotes the position of the object on the map, and attribute data used to identify the object;
• and
• a database outputting unit for outputting the database to a portable terminal machine in response to a request from the portable terminal machine.

A position display method, comprising the steps of:

• storing a database that includes map data used to display an area in which a plurality of objects to be managed are placed as a map, position data used to display a position of each of the plurality of objects in the area on the map, and attribute data used to identify each object in a locally unique way;
• prompting a user to specify a specific object among the plurality of objects;
• reading the map data and the position data of the specific object from the database;
• and
• displaying the position of the specific object in the area on the map according to the map data and the position data read from the database.

A computer readable storage medium that stores a program to be executed by a computer, the program enabling the computer to execute:

• a first process for displaying a map based on map data and on position data of an object that is positioned and managed in a specific area, wherein the map data and the position data are stored in a database;
• a second process for drawing a display mark of the object to be managed according to an input from a user on the map;
• a third process for obtaining coordinate data of the drawn display mark on the map;
• and
• a fourth process for storing the coordinate data in the database in relation to entered data of the object.