Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a scheme for distributing spatial information between information providers and information users. To achieve this object, the present invention creates a corresponding index for each spatial information. The index includes information related to a position included in spatial information, and data related to a storage location of the spatial information. This index also includes (1) a source ID for uniquely identifying spatial information; (2) coordinate translation values which are parameters used to correspond certain spatial information to other spatial information; and (3) when the spatial information including this index was created by referencing other spatial information, an underlay diagram specifying ID represented by the source ID possessed by the referenced spatial information, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a map application system that employs an automatic stroll method of strolling through a virtual space into the route and distribution information change according to the interests of a user and the time of day (ie. daytime vs. nighttime, etc.). In the present invention, an article contributed to a contribution server from a contribution terminal is stored temporarily in a contribution DB. Each article is converted to information related to a spatial position by a spatial information structure process and is stored in a spatial information DB. The contribution server returns an article with the relation to the position of the neighborhood according to the input of a region name on a stroll terminal. The stroll terminal starts a stroll on the basis of a region name inputted as an initial value, and automatically sets a route on the basis of the interest information of a user. Information about the route is provided from contribution server and is appropriately displayed.