Apparatus and method for coordinate coding, and method and apparatus for distance calculation

A coordinate coding method comprising:

• causing a computer to execute processes including dividing a target process region into blocks each of which having a predetermined bit length;
• generating mask data having the predetermined bit length corresponding to input coordinate data indicating the blocks of the target process region with a first unit;
• storing storage data including the input coordinate data and having the predetermined bit length with a second unit;
• generating composite bit string data that is twice the length of the predetermined bit length by connecting the mask data to the storage data with a third unit;
• storing the composite bit string data with the third unit;
• and
• repeating an operation of designating a bit length of the composite bit string data stored by the third unit as the predetermined bit length, instructing the first unit to generate the mask data, and instructing the third unit to generate and store the composite bit string data;
• wherein the number of different bits between a bit string of a location corresponding to the input coordinate data and a bit string of a reference location generated by the first unit increases as a distance between the location corresponding to the input coordinate data and the reference location increases.

A non-transitory computer-readable recoding medium on which a program is recorded for causing a computer to execute a coordinate coding method, the coordinate coding method comprising:

• dividing a target process region into blocks each of which having a predetermined bit length;
• generating mask data having the predetermined bit length corresponding to input coordinate data indicating the blocks of the target process region with a first unit;
• storing storage data including the input coordinate data and having the predetermined bit length with a second unit;
• generating composite bit string data that is twice the length of the predetermined bit length by connecting the mask data to the storage data with a third unit;
• storing the composite bit string data with the third unit;
• and
• repeating an operation of designating a bit length of the composite bit string data stored by the third unit as the predetermined bit length, instructing the first unit to generate the mask data, and instructing the third unit to generate and store the composite bit string data;
• wherein the number of different bits between a bit string of a location corresponding to the input coordinate data and a bit string of a reference location generated by the first unit increases as a distance between the location corresponding to the input coordinate data and the reference location increases.

A distance calculation apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to implement
• a storage unit that stores map data including a geographical coordinate associated to a code satisfying distance retention;
• a data search unit that searches for the map data by using a plurality of input coordinate data and obtains a plurality of codes corresponding to the plural input coordinate data;
• and
• a distance calculation unit that compares the plural codes and calculates distances between the plural input coordinate data;
• wherein in a case where a target process region is divided into blocks each of which being assigned with a composite bit string, the distance retention of the code is satisfied when a first distance between two blocks in the target process region matches a second distance between the two blocks in the target process region,
• wherein the first distance indicates the number of inverted bits between the composite bit strings of the two blocks, and
• wherein the second distance indicates how many blocks the two blocks are separated.

A distance calculation method comprising:

• causing a computer to execute processes including
• searching for map data including a geographical coordinate associated to a code satisfying distance retention by using a plurality of input coordinate data,
• obtaining a plurality of codes corresponding to the plural input coordinate data,
• comparing the plural codes, and
• calculating distances between the plural input coordinate data;
• wherein in a case where a target process region is divided into blocks each of which being assigned with a composite bit string, the distance retention of the code is satisfied when a first distance between two blocks in the target process region matches a second distance between the two blocks in the target process region,
• wherein the first distance indicates the number of inverted bits between the composite bit strings of the two blocks, and
• wherein the second distance indicates how many blocks the two blocks are separated.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded for causing a computer to execute a distance calculation method, the distance calculation method including:

• causing the computer to execute processes including
• searching for map data including a geographical coordinate associated to a code satisfying distance retention by using a plurality of input coordinate data,
• obtaining a plurality of codes corresponding to the plural input coordinate data,
• comparing the plural codes, and
• calculating distances between the plural input coordinate data;
• wherein in a case where a target process region is divided into blocks each of which being assigned with a composite bit string, the distance retention of the code is satisfied when a first distance between two blocks in the target process region matches a second distance between the two blocks in the target process region,
• wherein the first distance indicates the number of inverted bits between the composite bit strings of the two blocks, and
• wherein the second distance indicates how many blocks the two blocks are separated.

A code map generation apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to implement
• a first map data generation unit that generates a first map data of a target process location including first data to which blank data is connected, and expand the first map data;
• a second map data generation unit that generates a second map data of the target process location including second data that increases as a distance between a location corresponding to an input coordinate data indicating a coordinate in the target process location of the first map data and a reference location of the first map data increases;
• and
• a composite bit string map generating unit that repeats generation of a map satisfying distance retention by substituting the blank data of the first map data expanded by the first map generation unit with the second map data.

A code map generation method comprising:

• causing a computer to execute processes including
• generating a first map data including first data to which blank data is connected, and expand the first map data by a first map generation unit;
• generating a second map data including second data that increases as a distance between a location corresponding to an input coordinate data of the first map data and a reference location of the first map data increases;
• and
• repeating generation of a map satisfying distance retention by substituting the blank data of the first map data expanded by the first map generation unit with the second map data.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded for causing a computer to execute a code map generation method, the code map generation method including:

• causing the computer to execute processes including
• generating a first map data including first data to which blank data is connected, and expand the first map data by a first map generation unit;
• generating a second map data including second data that increases as a distance between a location corresponding to an input coordinate data of the first map data and a reference location of the first map data increases;
• and
• repeating generation of a map satisfying distance retention by substituting the blank data of the first map data expanded by the first map generation unit with the second map data.

A coordinate coding apparatus comprising:

• a storage unit that stores map data satisfying distance retention;
• and
• a data search unit that searches for the map data by using input coordinate data and obtains a code corresponding to the input coordinate data;
• wherein in a case where a target process region is divided into blocks each of which being assigned with a composite bit string, the distance retention of the code is satisfied when a first distance between two blocks in the target process region matches a second distance between the two blocks in the target process region,
• wherein the first distance indicates the number of inverted bits between the composite bit strings of the two blocks, and
• wherein the second distance indicates how many blocks the two blocks are separated.

A distance calculation apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to implement
• an input unit into which coordinate data is input and
• a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between the input coordinate data when a plurality of geographical coordinate data and codes satisfying distance retention are input;
• wherein in a case where a target process region is divided into blocks each of which being assigned with a composite bit string, the distance retention of the code is satisfied when a first distance between two blocks in the target process region matches a second distance between the two blocks in the target process region,
• wherein the first distance indicates the number of inverted bits between the composite bit strings of the two blocks, and
• wherein the second distance indicates how many blocks the two blocks are separated.