JP2006134069A - System and method for providing information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information provision system and an information providing method capable of easily providing congestion information to be momentarily changed to users. <P>SOLUTION: A grasping apparatus 3 grasps the number-of-terminals information indicating the number of mobile terminal apparatuses 2 on the basis of terminal ID information transmitted from the mobile terminal apparatuses 2 owned by customers in a fixed area, e.g. a restaurant. A server apparatus 4 finds out congestion information expressing a rate of the number of customers to the number of persons allowed to be stored at maximum on the basis of the number-of-terminals information grasped by the grasping apparatus 3 and maximum number-of-persons expressing the number of persons allowed to be stored in the restaurant at maximum, and when a user of a user terminal apparatus 5 inputs a command for displaying the congestion information and specific information on a user terminal display part 44 to a user terminal input part 43, the congestion information and the specific information are acquired from the server apparatus 4 on the basis of the command and the acquired specific information and congestion information are displayed on the user terminal display part 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system and an information providing method for providing information to a user.

  As a technique for providing vacant information such as vacant seat information of aircraft and trains, vacancy information of accommodation facilities, and vacant vehicle information of a parking lot to the user using the Internet or the like, there is a technique as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Are known.

  In the reservation management apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in response to a request from the user terminal, a reservation acceptance screen is displayed on the user terminal to accept a reservation application and a registration waiting for cancellation, and a reservation cancellation occurs. When there is a cancellation vacancy, it is determined whether or not a cancellation queue is registered in the cancellation queue. When the cancellation waiting is registered, the reservation information indicating that the cancellation vacancy has occurred is notified to the user terminal of the user at the head of the cancellation queue by e-mail, for example.

JP 2002-92440 A

  In the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1, the reservation management device transmits reservation information and the like to the user terminal via the Internet, and the user terminal receives the reservation information transmitted from the reservation management device. Thus, the user grasps the vacancy status based on the reservation information received at the user terminal. Therefore, the operator of the reservation management apparatus, who is the information provider, must update the reservation information to be provided to the user every time the reservation status changes due to the reservation application and the occurrence of cancellation vacancy. There is a problem that the burden on the operator of the management apparatus is large. Further, if the information update operation by the operator of the reservation management apparatus, which is an information provider, is delayed, there is a problem that erroneous information may be provided to the user.

  Furthermore, the reservation management device is, for example, information indicating the number of seats that increase and decrease in time and the number of parked vehicles that increase and decrease in time in a parking lot in which the number of vehicles entering and leaving changes. Hereinafter, it may not be expressed as “congestion information”) in real time, and is not configured to provide the congestion information to the user in response to the user's request. Therefore, in the reservation management apparatus, it is difficult for the user to acquire congestion information that changes with time, and there is a problem that convenience is low.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and an information providing method capable of easily providing a user with congestion information that changes with time.

The present invention is an individual number information grasping means for grasping terminal number information representing the number of individuals of the mobile terminal device based on the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device within a certain area;
Based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the individual number information grasping means and the maximum individual number information indicating the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the certain area, the number of individuals accepted in this certain area is determined. Computing means for obtaining congestion information to be represented;
Input means capable of inputting a command for outputting the specific information for specifying the certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means;
An information providing system comprising: output means for outputting the specific information and congestion information based on a command input by the input means.

  According to the present invention, the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device within a certain area by the individual number information grasping means, for example, the terminal device ID (for each mobile terminal device assigned to identify the mobile terminal device ( Based on (Identification), terminal number information indicating the number of mobile terminal devices is obtained. Congestion information representing the number of individuals accepted in this fixed area based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the individual number information grasping means and the maximum allowable number of individuals in the fixed area by the computing means Is required. Here, the maximum number of individuals to be allowed within a certain area is, for example, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant where the number of people going in and out changes, and the maximum number in a parking lot where the number of vehicles going in and out changes. The number of vehicles that can be accommodated. The congestion information is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, for example, in a restaurant.

  When a command for outputting the specific information specifying the certain area and the congestion information is input by the input unit, the specific information and the congestion information obtained by the calculation unit are output by the output unit based on the command. The Here, the specific information is, for example, position information indicating the position of a certain area, store name information indicating a store name such as a restaurant, and facility name information indicating a facility name such as a parking lot.

  Since the congestion information can be obtained by the calculation means based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the individual number information grasping means in this way, the user can respond to the input command to output the congestion information by the user. It is possible to easily provide congestion information. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  Further, the user simply inputs a command to output the specific information and the congestion information by the input means, and the output means outputs the specific information for specifying a certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time. As a result, the user can easily grasp the congestion information in a certain area from the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

Further, the present invention grasps terminal individual number information representing the number of individuals of the mobile terminal device based on individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device within a certain region, and the terminal individual number information Based on the maximum number of individuals representing the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the region, computing means for obtaining congestion information representing the number of individuals accepted in the certain region;
Input means capable of inputting a command for outputting the specific information for specifying the certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means;
An information providing system comprising: output means for outputting the specific information and congestion information based on a command input by the input means.

  According to the present invention, individual information transmitted from a mobile terminal device in a certain area, for example, a terminal device ID (Identification) assigned to each mobile terminal device in order to identify the mobile terminal device, is calculated by the calculation means. Based on this, terminal number information representing the number of mobile terminal devices is obtained. Further, the calculation means obtains congestion information indicating the number of individuals accepted in the fixed area based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the fixed area. Here, the maximum number of individuals to be allowed within a certain area is, for example, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant where the number of people going in and out changes, and the maximum number in a parking lot where the number of vehicles going in and out changes. The number of vehicles that can be accommodated. The congestion information is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, for example, in a restaurant.

  When a command for outputting the specific information specifying the certain area and the congestion information is input by the input unit, the specific information and the congestion information obtained by the calculation unit are output by the output unit based on the command. The Here, the specific information is, for example, position information indicating the position of a certain area, store name information indicating a store name such as a restaurant, and facility name information indicating a facility name such as a parking lot.

  As described above, since the terminal unit number information is grasped by the calculation means and the congestion information can be obtained based on the terminal individual number information, in response to an input instruction to output the congestion information by the user, Congestion information can be easily provided. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  Further, the user simply inputs a command to output the specific information and the congestion information by the input means, and the output means outputs the specific information for specifying a certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time. As a result, the user can easily grasp the congestion information in a certain area from the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

According to the present invention, the input means and the output means are portable electronic devices.
According to the invention, the input means and the output means are portable electronic devices. Therefore, the user of the portable electronic device can easily carry the portable electronic device and carry the specific information and the congestion information when the user wants to acquire the specific information and the congestion information. The specific information and the congestion information can be acquired simply by inputting the above command using the input means. As a result, the user can quickly and easily grasp the specific information and the congestion information, and can further improve convenience.

The present invention also includes an individual number information grasping step for grasping terminal individual number information representing the number of individuals of the mobile terminal device based on individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device within a certain area;
Based on the terminal individual number information grasped in the individual number information grasping step and the maximum individual number information representing the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the certain area, the number of individuals accepted in the certain area is determined. A calculation process for obtaining congestion information to be represented;
And an output step for outputting the specific information and the congestion information based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information for specifying the certain area.

  According to the present invention, in the individual number information grasping step, individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device in a certain area, for example, a terminal device ID (for each mobile terminal device assigned to identify the mobile terminal device ( Based on (Identification), terminal number information indicating the number of mobile terminal devices is obtained.

  In the calculation step, congestion information indicating the number of individuals accepted in the certain area is obtained based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum number of individuals that should be allowed in the certain area. Here, the maximum number of individuals that should be allowed within a certain area is, for example, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant and the maximum number of vehicles that can be accommodated in a parking lot. The congestion information is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, for example, in a restaurant.

  In the output step, the specific information and the congestion information obtained in the calculation step are output based on a command to output the specific information specifying the certain area and the congestion information. Here, the specific information is, for example, position information indicating the position of a certain area, store name information indicating a store name such as a restaurant, and facility name information indicating a facility name such as a parking lot.

  As described above, the congestion information can be obtained in the calculation process based on the terminal individual number information grasped in the individual number information grasping step, so that the user is instructed to output the specific information and the congestion information. Specific information and congestion information can be easily provided. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  In addition, since the specific information and the congestion information are output by the output unit based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information, the user can easily acquire the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time. be able to. As a result, the user can easily grasp the congestion information in a certain area from the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

Further, the present invention grasps terminal individual number information representing the number of individuals of the mobile terminal based on individual information transmitted from a mobile terminal device within a certain area, and the terminal individual number information and the certain area A calculation step for obtaining congestion information representing the number of individuals accepted in the certain area based on the maximum number of individuals representing the maximum number of individuals to be allowed within,
And an output step for outputting the specific information and the congestion information based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information for specifying the certain area.

  According to the present invention, in the calculation step, individual information transmitted from a mobile terminal device within a certain area, for example, a terminal device ID (Identification) assigned to each mobile terminal device to identify the mobile terminal device is used. Based on this, terminal number information representing the number of mobile terminal devices is obtained.

  Also, in the calculation step, congestion information indicating the number of individuals accepted in the certain area is obtained based on the terminal number information and the maximum number of individuals that should be allowed in the certain area. Here, the number of individuals accepted within a certain area is, for example, the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant and the maximum number of vehicles that can be accommodated in a parking lot. The congestion information is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, for example, in a restaurant.

  In the output step, the specific information and the congestion information obtained in the calculation step are output based on a command to output the specific information specifying the certain area and the congestion information. Here, the specific information is, for example, position information indicating the position of a certain area, store name information indicating a store name such as a restaurant, and facility name information indicating a facility name such as a parking lot.

  In this way, it is possible to grasp the terminal individual number information in the calculation process and obtain congestion information based on the terminal individual number information. Therefore, the specific information is specified to the user in accordance with the instruction to output the congestion information. Information and congestion information can be provided easily. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  In addition, since the specific information and the congestion information are output by the output unit based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information, the user can easily acquire the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time. be able to. As a result, the user can easily grasp the congestion information in a certain area from the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

  According to the present invention, since the congestion information can be obtained by the calculation means based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the individual number information grasping means, in response to an input instruction to output the congestion information by the user. , Congestion information can be easily provided to users. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  Further, the user simply inputs a command to output the specific information and the congestion information by the input means, and the output means outputs the specific information for specifying a certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time. As a result, the user can easily grasp the congestion information in a certain area from the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the terminal unit number information is grasped by the calculation means and the congestion information can be obtained based on the terminal individual number information, in response to the input instruction to output the congestion information by the user , Congestion information can be easily provided to users. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  According to the present invention, the user of the portable electronic device can easily carry the portable electronic device and carry the specific information and the congestion information when the user wants to acquire the specific information and the congestion information. The specific information and the congestion information can be acquired simply by inputting a command for outputting the congestion information by the input means. As a result, the user can quickly and easily grasp the specific information and the congestion information, and can further improve convenience.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, portions corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described in the preceding section. Not only the combination of the parts specifically described in each embodiment, but also the embodiments can be partially combined as long as the combination does not hinder.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an information providing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and an information providing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention by the information providing system 1. Is implemented.

  The information providing system 1 includes an individual number information grasping device (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “grasping device”) 3, a congestion information management server device (hereinafter sometimes simply denoted as “server device”) 4, and A user mobile terminal device (hereinafter simply referred to as a “user terminal device”) 5 is included. The grasping device 3 is configured to be able to perform wireless communication with each of the plurality of mobile terminal devices 2 by using a wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth. The grasping device 3 is connected to the Internet 6 and is configured to be communicable with the server device 4 connected to the Internet 6. The server device 4 is configured to be able to communicate with a user terminal 5 connected to the Internet 6.

  The mobile terminal device 2 can be carried around and may be a mobile phone, for example. The mobile terminal device 2 includes a terminal wireless communication unit 11, a terminal input unit 12, a terminal display unit 13, a terminal storage unit 14, and a terminal control unit 15. The terminal wireless communication unit 11 modulates and amplifies a signal representing information including character information, and wirelessly transmits the modulated and amplified signal to the grasping device 3 using a radio wave.

  The terminal input unit 12 includes a plurality of operation pieces such as keys operated by the operator. The terminal input unit 12 generates a signal representing information according to the operation, such as predetermined information such as numeric information, character information, and instruction information to the mobile terminal device 2 by operating each operation piece. This is given to the terminal control unit 15. Therefore, the operator can input information to the mobile terminal device 2 by operating each operation piece of the terminal input unit 12.

  The terminal display unit 13 displays an image including a still image and a moving image. The image may be an image representing characters such as letters and numbers, or an image representing photographs and illustrations. The terminal display unit 13 is realized by using at least one of a transmissive liquid crystal display element, a reflective liquid crystal display element, an electroluminescence (abbreviation: EL) element, and a transflective liquid crystal display element. Also good. Further, color display may be possible, and monochrome display may be possible.

  The terminal storage unit 14 stores information input by the terminal input unit 12, for example. The terminal storage unit 14 is realized by a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, for example. The terminal storage unit 14 stores information given from the terminal control unit 15, reads information stored in response to a request from the terminal control unit 15, and gives the information to the terminal control unit 15.

  The terminal control unit 15 is realized by including a central processing unit (abbreviation: CPU), and the terminal wireless communication constituting the mobile terminal device 2 based on a control program stored therein. The hardware resources including the unit 11, the terminal input unit 12, the terminal display unit 13, and the terminal storage unit 14 (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as “each unit 11 to 14”) are comprehensively controlled.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of mobile terminal devices 2 use terminal devices IDs (Identification) assigned to each mobile terminal device to identify each mobile terminal device to the grasping device 3 using radio waves, for example. ) Wirelessly.

  The grasping device 3 includes a grasping wireless communication unit 21, a grasping communication unit 22, a grasping storage unit 23, and a grasping control unit 24. In this Embodiment, the grasping | ascertainment apparatus 3 is installed in the restaurant where the number of people who go in and out changes. The grasp wireless communication unit 21 receives information (hereinafter, may be referred to as “terminal ID information”) indicating the terminal device ID transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 possessed by the customer who entered the restaurant. The received terminal ID information is demodulated and given to the grasp control unit 24. The grasp communication unit 22 transmits the terminal ID information given from the grasp control unit 24 to the server device 4 via the Internet 6.

  The grasp storage unit 23 is realized by a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example. In the grasp storage unit 23, information given from the grasp control unit 24, for example, individual number information of the mobile terminal device 2 described later, is stored, and for example, specific information for specifying a restaurant is stored. Here, the specific information specifying the restaurant includes, for example, position information indicating the position of the restaurant and store name information indicating the store name of the restaurant. Here, the position information is represented by coordinates indicated by the latitude and longitude of the earth surface. In response to a request from the grasp control unit 24, the grasp storage unit 23 reads information to be stored, specifically individual number information and specific information, and gives the read information to the grasp control unit 24.

  The grasp control unit 24 is realized including a CPU, and includes the grasp wireless communication unit 21, the grasp communication unit 22, and the grasp storage unit 23 that constitute the grasping device 3 based on a control program stored therein. Centrally control hardware resources.

  In the present embodiment, the grasp control unit 24 grasps terminal individual number information representing the individual number of the mobile terminal device 2 based on the terminal ID information given from the grasp wireless communication unit 21. The grasp control unit 24 stores the grasped terminal number information in the grasp storage unit 23.

  The grasp control unit 24 gives the terminal individual number information and the specific information given from the grasp storage unit 23 to the grasp communication unit 22. The grasp communication unit 22 transmits the terminal individual number information and the specific information given from the grasp control unit 24 to the server device 4 via the Internet 6.

  In the present embodiment, each time the grasping control unit 24 grasps the terminal population information, the server device 4 is provided with the location information representing the restaurant location and the store name information representing the restaurant name along with the terminal population information. In another embodiment of the present invention, the store name information and the position information are transmitted to the server device 4 together with the terminal number information only for the first time, and after the second time, the store name information and the location information are transmitted. Any one of the position information and the terminal number information may be transmitted to the server device 4.

  The server device 4 includes a server communication unit 31, a server storage unit 32, a server calculation unit 33, and a server control unit 34. The server communication unit 31 receives the terminal number information and the specific information transmitted from the grasping device 2 via the Internet 6 and gives the received terminal number information and the specific information to the server control unit 34. The server control unit 34 gives the terminal number information and the specific information given from the server communication unit 31 to the server storage unit 32.

  The server communication unit 31 receives congestion information and a transmission request for specific information transmitted from the user terminal device 5 to be described later, and position information indicating the position of the user terminal device 5, and receives the received transmission request and position information. Is given to the server control unit 34. The server communication unit 31 transmits the congestion information and the specific information requested from the user terminal device 5 to the user terminal device 5 via the Internet 6.

  The server storage unit 32 is realized by a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example. The server storage unit 32 stores maximum individual number information representing the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant. Further, the server storage unit 32 stores the terminal individual number information and the specific information given from the server control unit 34 in association with the maximum individual number information. The specific information is information including location information indicating the location of the restaurant and store name information indicating the store name of the restaurant. Table 1 is an example of specific information including terminal individual number information, maximum individual number information, restaurant name information, and location information stored in the server storage unit 32. In the server storage unit 32, as shown in Table 1, for example, the store name “McDo Chicken” represented by the store name information, the position “(A, a)” represented by the location information, and the terminal population “80” represented by the terminal population information. And the maximum individual number “100” represented by the maximum individual number information is stored in association with each other. Here, the position information shown in Table 1 is represented by coordinates indicated by the latitude and longitude of the earth surface. The character “A” of the position “(A, a)” represented by the position information shown in Table 1 represents longitude, and the character “a” represents latitude. Similarly, the letter “B” and the letter “M” shown in Table 1 represent longitude, and the letter “b” and the letter “m” represent latitude.

  The server calculation unit 33 is read from the server storage unit 32 in response to a command from the server control unit 34, and based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information given from the server control unit 34, for example, in a restaurant, Congestion information, which is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, is calculated. In this embodiment, when calculating the congestion information, the number of mobile terminal devices 2 represented by the terminal number information grasped by the grasping device 3 is, for example, in a restaurant where the number of people entering and exiting changes. It is regarded as the number of customers. The server calculation unit 32 gives the calculated congestion information to the server communication unit 31 via the server control unit 34.

  The server control unit 34 is realized including a CPU, and hardware including the server communication unit 31, the server storage unit 32, and the server calculation unit 33 constituting the server device 4 based on a control program stored therein. Centrally control hardware resources.

  In the present embodiment, the server control unit 34 receives from the server communication unit 31 the transmission request for the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the user terminal device 5 to be described later, and the location information of the user terminal device 5. If given, the position represented by the position information of the user terminal device 5 (hereinafter may be referred to as “user position”) and the position information stored in the server storage unit 32, for example, restaurant Is compared with the position represented by (hereinafter, referred to as “restaurant position” in some cases), and the restaurant position closest to the user position is searched. Then, the server control unit 34 provides the server computing unit 33 with the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information associated with the restaurant position closest to the user position. The server calculation unit 33 calculates congestion information based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information associated with the restaurant position closest to the user position given from the server control unit 34.

  The server control unit 34 reads out the specific information including the position information indicating the location of the restaurant related to the congestion information obtained by the server calculation unit 33 from the server storage unit 32, and reads the congestion information obtained by the server calculation unit 33. The specific information is given to the server communication unit 31. The server communication unit 31 transmits the congestion information and the specific information given from the server control unit 34 to the user terminal device 5 via the Internet 6.

The user terminal device 5 which is a portable electronic device can be carried and carried. For example, the user terminal device 5 may be a mobile phone, or a portable information terminal configured to be able to communicate with other devices (
Personal Digital Assistance (abbreviation: PDA). The user terminal device 5 includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiving unit 41, a user terminal communication unit 42, a user terminal input unit 43, a user terminal display unit 44, and a user terminal storage unit. 45 and a user terminal control unit 46.

  The GPS receiver 41 receives radio signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites via a GPS antenna (not shown), and determines the exact position of the user terminal device 5 based on the contents of each radio signal. taking measurement. The position information representing the position of the user terminal device 5 measured based on the radio signal transmitted from the GPS satellite is represented by coordinates indicated by the latitude and longitude of the earth surface. The position information measured by the GPS receiver 41 is given to the user terminal controller 46.

  The user terminal communication unit 42 receives the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the server device 4 via the Internet 6 and gives the received congestion information and the specific information to the user terminal control unit 46. The user terminal control unit 46 gives the congestion information and the specific information given from the user terminal communication unit 42 to the user terminal storage unit 45. In addition, the user terminal communication unit 42 transmits a request for transmitting congestion information and specific information to the server device 4 via the Internet 6.

  The user terminal input unit 43 has a plurality of operation pieces such as keys operated by the operator. The user terminal input unit 43 generates a signal representing information according to the operation, such as predetermined information such as numeric information, character information, and instruction information to the user terminal device 5 by operating each operation piece. To the user terminal control unit 46. Therefore, the operator can input information to the user terminal device 5 by operating each operation piece of the user terminal input unit 43. In the present embodiment, an instruction to output congestion information and specific information to the user terminal device 5, specifically, an instruction to display congestion information and specific information on the user terminal display unit 44 described later is input. When operating, each operation piece of the user terminal input unit 43 is operated by the user.

  The user terminal display unit 44 displays an image including a still image and a moving image. The image may be an image representing characters such as letters and numbers, or an image representing photographs and illustrations. The display unit 13 may be realized using at least one of a transmissive liquid crystal display element, a reflective liquid crystal display element, an EL element, and a transflective liquid crystal display element. Further, color display may be possible, and monochrome display may be possible. In the present embodiment, a map near the restaurant location associated with the congestion information is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44 together with the congestion information and specific information transmitted and received from the server device 4.

  The user terminal storage unit 45 is realized by a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example. The user terminal storage unit 45 stores map information representing a road map. The user terminal storage unit 45 stores congestion information and specific information given from the user terminal control unit 46. The road information, the specific information, and the map information stored in the user terminal storage unit 45 are read in response to a command from the user terminal control unit 46 and are provided to the user terminal display unit 44, for example.

  The user terminal control unit 46 is realized including a CPU, and based on a control program stored in the user terminal, the GPS reception unit 41, the user terminal communication unit 42, and the use constituting the user terminal device 5 are used. The hardware resources including the user terminal input unit 43, the user terminal display unit 44, and the user terminal storage unit 45 are comprehensively controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the individual number information grasping means is constituted by the individual number information grasping device 3. The computing means is constituted by the congestion information management server device 4. The input means and output means are constituted by the user mobile terminal device 5.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the grasping device 3 and the server device 4 in the information providing system 1. Here, it is assumed that the grasping device 3 is installed in a restaurant where the number of people going in and out changes. The operation of the grasping device 3 starts at step a0 when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, and proceeds to step a1. The start condition is, for example, that the power of the grasping device 3 is switched on (ON), and information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 can be received.

  In step a1, the grasping communication unit 22 of the grasping device 3 receives the terminal ID information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 possessed by the customer who entered the restaurant, and proceeds to step a2. In step a2, the grasp control unit 24 of the grasping device 3 grasps the terminal individual number information indicating the individual number of the mobile terminal device 2 based on the received terminal ID information, and proceeds to step a3.

  In step a3, the grasp communication unit 22 of the grasping device 3 obtains the terminal number information grasped in step a2 and the specific information identifying the restaurant where the grasping device 3 is installed via the Internet 6 as a server device. 4 to send. Here, the specific information is, for example, location information indicating the location of the restaurant and store name information indicating the store name of the restaurant. If terminal individual number information and specific information are transmitted, it will progress to step a4.

  In step a4, the server communication unit 31 of the server device 4 receives the terminal number information and the specific information transmitted from the grasping device 3 via the Internet 6, and proceeds to step a5. In step a5, the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 stores the terminal number information and the specific information received in step a4 in association with each other in the server storage unit 32, and proceeds to step a6.

  In step a6, whether or not the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 has requested transmission of congestion information and specific information from the user terminal device 5, in other words, transmission of congestion information and specific information from the user terminal device 5. Determine whether a request has been received. In step a6, if the server apparatus 4 receives the congestion information and specific information transmission request, the process proceeds to step a7. If not received, the process returns to step a1, and the same processing as described above is performed.

  In step a7, the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 includes the user position represented by the position information of the user terminal device 5 transmitted from the user terminal device 5 and the restaurant stored in the server storage unit 32. The restaurant position represented by the position information is compared, the restaurant position closest to the user position is searched, and the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information associated with the restaurant position closest to the user position are read out. . The terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information read from the server storage unit 32 are given to the server calculation unit 33. When the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information are read, the process proceeds to step a8.

  In step a8, the server calculation unit 33 of the server device 4 calculates congestion information based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information read in step a7. The congestion information is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, for example, in a restaurant. The congestion information Z when the terminal individual number information is X and the maximum individual number information is Y can be obtained by Z = (X / Y) × 100, and it is considered that at least Z% of seats are used. be able to. In the present embodiment, for example, the congestion information in a restaurant whose shop name information shown in Table 1 is “McChicken” is represented by the terminal individual number “80” represented by the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information. Based on the maximum number of individuals “100”, it is 80%, and it can be considered that 80% of seats are used. When the congestion information is calculated, the process proceeds to step a9.

  In step a9, the server communication unit 31 of the server device 4 transmits the specific information and the congestion information obtained in step a8 to the user terminal device 5 via the Internet 6. If congestion information and specific information are transmitted, it will progress to step a10. In step a10, all operation procedures of the grasping device 3 and the server device 4 in the information providing system 1 are finished. In the present embodiment, step a2 corresponds to an individual number information grasping step, and step a8 corresponds to a calculation step.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the user terminal device 5 in the information providing system 1. The operation of the user terminal device 5 starts at step b0 when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, and proceeds to step b1. The start condition is that, for example, an instruction to output congestion information and specific information is input by the user terminal input unit 43 of the user terminal device 5.

  In step b1, the user terminal communication unit 42 transmits a congestion information and specific information transmission request to the server device 4 via the Internet 6, and the process proceeds to step b2. In step b <b> 2, the user terminal communication unit 42 transmits position information indicating the position of the user terminal 5 measured by the GPS receiver 41 to the server device 4. When the position information is transmitted, the process proceeds to step b3. In step b3, the user terminal communication unit 42 receives the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the server device 4 via the Internet 6. The received congestion information and specific information are given to the user terminal control unit 46. If congestion information and specific information are received, it will progress to step b4.

  In step b4, the user terminal control unit 46 causes the user terminal display unit 44 to display map information representing a map near the restaurant location associated with the congestion information together with the received congestion information and specific information. The process proceeds to step b5. In step b5, all operation procedures of the user terminal device 5 in the information providing system 1 are completed. In the present embodiment, step b4 corresponds to an output process.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the route guidance image 60 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the route guidance image 60 and the congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the route guidance image 60 and the reception standby image 62 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the route guidance image 60 and the provided image 63 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44.

  In the present embodiment, the position information measured by the GPS receiver 41 of the user terminal device 5 and the road map information stored in the user terminal storage unit 45 so that the user can grasp the route to the destination. Assume that the route guidance image 60 representing the route guidance map information generated based on is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44 as shown in FIG. In this case, in a part of the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44, command input enable information 50 indicating that a predetermined command can be input is displayed. In the present embodiment, command input enable information 50 is displayed indicating that it is possible to input a congestion information acquisition command.

  When the congestion information key of the user terminal input unit 43 is operated by the user, the congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61 is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44 together with the route guidance image 60 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61 is a character image such as “Do you want to acquire congestion information?”, For example. The user can input an instruction as to whether or not to acquire congestion information by operating each operation piece of the user terminal input unit 43.

  When an instruction to acquire congestion information is input, a transmission request for congestion information and specific information is transmitted from the user terminal device 5 to the server device 4 via the Internet 6, and a position indicating the position of the user terminal device 5 Information is also transmitted to the server device 4. When the transmission request and the position information are transmitted to the server device 4 and waiting for the reception of the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the server device 4, as shown in FIG. The reception standby image 62 is displayed together with the route guidance image 60 on the display screen. The reception standby image 62 is a character image indicating that congestion information and specific information are being received, and is a character image such as “Loading”, for example.

  When the user terminal device 5 receives the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the server device 4, as shown in FIG. 7, the received congestion is received together with the route guidance image 60 on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44. A provided image 63 representing information and specific information is displayed. In the present embodiment, the congestion information calculated based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information associated with the restaurant position closest to the position of the user terminal device 5, and the specific information related to the congestion information Is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44 together with the route guidance image 60.

  In the present embodiment, when the congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61, the reception standby image 62 and the provided image 63 are displayed together with the route guidance image 60 on the display screen of the user terminal display unit 44, the route guidance image 60 is displayed. The congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61, the reception standby image 62, and the provision image 63 are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the grasping device 3 uses the mobile terminal device 2 based on the terminal ID information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 possessed by a customer in a certain area, for example, a restaurant. The terminal individual number information indicating the number of individual persons is grasped. Further, the server device 4 can accommodate the maximum number of persons in this restaurant based on the terminal number information grasped by the grasping device 3 and the maximum number of individuals information representing the maximum number of persons that can be accommodated in the restaurant, for example. Congestion information indicating the ratio of the number of customers to the number of people is required. The user of the user terminal device 5 outputs the specific information for identifying the restaurant and the congestion information obtained by the server device 4 to the user terminal input unit 43, in other words, displayed on the user terminal display unit 44. When the instruction to do so is input, the congestion information and the specific information are acquired from the server device 4 based on the instruction, and the provision image 63 representing the specific information and the congestion information is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44. The

  As described above, the congestion information can be obtained by the server device 4 based on the terminal number information grasped by the grasping device 3, so that the user can respond to the input instruction to output the congestion information by the user. It is possible to easily provide congestion information. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  Further, the user simply outputs an instruction to output specific information and congestion information by the user terminal input unit 43 of the user terminal device 5, in other words, an instruction to display on the user terminal display unit 44. Since the providing image 63 representing the specific information and the congestion information obtained by the server device 4 is displayed on the display unit 44, the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time can be easily acquired. Accordingly, the user can easily grasp congestion information in a certain area, for example, a restaurant, based on the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the user terminal device 5 is a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone and a PDA having a communication function. Therefore, since the user of the user terminal device 5 can carry the user terminal device 5 easily, the user terminal device 5 outputs the specific information and the congestion information when the user wants to acquire the specific information and the congestion information. The specific information and the congestion information can be acquired simply by inputting a command to the effect to the user terminal input unit 43. As a result, the user can quickly and easily grasp the specific information and the congestion information, and can further improve convenience.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an information providing system 70 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and an information providing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention by the information providing system 70. Is implemented. The information providing system 70 according to the present embodiment is similar to the configuration of the information providing system 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore only the differences will be described. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Description is omitted.

  The grasping device 3 of the information providing system 70 is configured by further adding a grasping calculation unit 25 to the configuration of the grasping device 3 of the information providing system 1. The grasp storage unit 23 of the grasping device 3 of the information providing system 70 further stores maximum individual number information representing the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a restaurant. The grasp calculation unit 25 is read from the grasp storage unit 23 in response to an instruction from the grasp control unit 24, and based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information given from the grasp control unit 24, for example, in a restaurant, Congestion information, which is information representing the ratio of the number of customers to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated, is calculated. In this embodiment, when calculating the congestion information, the number of mobile terminal devices 2 represented by the terminal number information grasped by the grasping device 3 is, for example, in a restaurant where the number of people entering and exiting changes. It is regarded as the number of customers. The grasp calculation unit 25 gives the calculated congestion information to the grasp communication unit 22 via the grasp control unit 24.

  The grasping communication unit 22 transmits the congestion information given from the grasping control unit 24 to the server device 4 via the Internet 6, and the specific information given from the grasping control unit 24 is sent to the Internet as in the information providing system 1. 6 to the server device 4 via

  The server device 4 of the information providing system 70 is configured by omitting the server calculation unit 33 from the configuration of the server device 4 of the information providing system 1. The server storage unit 32 of the server device 4 of the information providing system 70 stores the specific information and congestion information given from the server control unit 34 in association with each other. Table 2 is an example of specific information including congestion information and restaurant name information and location information stored in the server storage unit 32. As shown in Table 2, the server storage unit 32 is associated with, for example, the store name “McDick Chicken” represented by the store name information, the position “(A, a)” represented by the position information, and the congestion information “80%”. Remembered.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the grasping device 3 and the server device 4 in the information providing system 70. Here, it is assumed that the grasping device 3 is installed in a restaurant where the number of people going in and out changes. The operation of the grasping device 3 starts in step c0 when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, and proceeds to step c1. The start condition is, for example, that the power of the grasping device 3 is switched on (ON), and information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 can be received.

  In step c1, the grasp communication unit 22 of the grasping device 3 receives the terminal ID information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 possessed by the customer who entered the restaurant, and proceeds to step c2. In step c2, the grasp control unit 24 of the grasping device 3 grasps the terminal individual number information indicating the individual number of the mobile terminal device 2 based on the received terminal ID information, and proceeds to step c3. The terminal number information is given to the grasp storage unit 23 and stored in the grasp storage unit 23.

  In step c <b> 3, the grasp control unit 24 of the grasping device 3 reads the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information stored in the grasp storage unit 22 and gives them to the grasp calculating unit 25. If terminal individual number information and maximum individual number information are read, it will progress to step c4.

  In step c4, the grasp calculation unit 25 of the grasping device 3 calculates congestion information based on the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information read in step c3. When the congestion information is calculated, the process proceeds to step c5.

  In step c5, the grasping communication unit 22 of the grasping device 3 obtains the congestion information obtained in step c4 and specific information including, for example, location information indicating the location of the restaurant and store name information indicating the store name of the restaurant. Is transmitted to the server device 4 via. If congestion information and specific information are transmitted, it will progress to step c6.

  In step c6, the server communication unit 31 of the server device 4 receives the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the grasping device 3 via the Internet 6, and proceeds to step c7. In step c7, the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 stores the received congestion information and specific information in the server storage unit 32 in association with each other, and proceeds to step c8.

  In step c8, whether or not the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 has requested transmission of the congestion information and specific information from the user terminal device 5, in other words, transmission of the congestion information and specific information from the user terminal device 5. Determine whether a request has been received. In step c8, if the server apparatus 4 receives the congestion information and specific information transmission request, the process proceeds to step c9. If not received, the process returns to step c1 and performs the same processing as described above.

  In step c <b> 9, the server control unit 34 of the server device 4 includes the user location represented by the location information of the user terminal device 5 transmitted from the user terminal device 5 and the restaurant stored in the server storage unit 32. The restaurant position represented by the position information is compared to search for the restaurant position closest to the user position, and the server communication unit 31 obtains the congestion information and the specific information associated with the restaurant position closest to the user position. To give. The server communication unit 31 transmits the congestion information and the specific information given from the server control unit 34 to the user terminal device 5 via the Internet 6. If congestion information and specific information are transmitted, it will progress to step c10. In step c10, all operation procedures of the grasping device 3 and the server device 4 in the information providing system 70 are finished.

  In the present embodiment, step c2 corresponds to an individual number information grasping step, and step c4 corresponds to a calculation step.

  The operation of the user terminal device 5 in the information providing system 70 operates according to the operation procedure of the user terminal device 5 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the user of the user terminal device 5 inputs an instruction to display the provided image 63 representing the congestion information and the specific information on the user terminal display unit 44 by the user terminal input unit 43, first, as shown in FIG. As described above, the congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61 is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the reception standby image 62 is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44. When the user terminal device 5 receives the congestion information and the specific information transmitted from the server device 4, the provided image 63 is displayed on the user terminal display unit 44 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the terminal ID information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 possessed by a customer in a certain area, for example, by a customer in the restaurant, by the grasp control unit 24 of the grasp device 3. Terminal individual number information indicating the number of individual mobile terminal devices 2 is grasped. Further, the grasp calculation unit 25 of the grasping device 3 uses the terminal individual number information and the maximum individual number information indicating the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in the restaurant, for example, to the maximum number of people that can be accommodated in this restaurant. Congestion information representing the percentage of customers is required. The congestion information obtained by the grasping device 3 and the specific information are transmitted to the server device 4 and stored in the server storage unit 32.

  The user of the user terminal device 5 outputs the specific information for identifying the restaurant and the congestion information stored in the server device 4 to the user terminal input unit 43, in other words, displayed on the user terminal display unit 44. When a command to this effect is input, the congestion information and the specific information are acquired from the server device 4 based on the command, and the specific information and the congestion information are displayed on the user terminal display unit 44.

  As described above, the congestion information can be obtained by the grasp calculation unit 25 of the grasping device 3 based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the grasp control unit 24 of the grasping device 3, and the congestion information obtained by the grasping device 3. Is stored in the server storage unit 32 of the server device 4, the server device 4 can easily provide the user with the congestion information in response to an input command to output the congestion information by the user. As a result, the congestion information provider does not need to update the congestion information that changes from time to time as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the burden of updating the congestion information on the provider of the congestion information, and it is possible to prevent erroneous congestion information from being provided to the user due to the delay of the update operation.

  Further, the user simply outputs an instruction to output specific information and congestion information by the user terminal input unit 43 of the user terminal device 5, in other words, an instruction to display on the user terminal display unit 44. Since the specific information and the congestion information obtained by the server device 4 are displayed on the display unit 44, the specific information and the congestion information that changes with time can be easily acquired as in the first embodiment. can do. Accordingly, the user can easily grasp congestion information in a certain area, for example, a restaurant, based on the acquired specific information and congestion information, and can improve convenience.

  Further, since the user of the user terminal device 5 can carry the user terminal device 5 easily and carry it, the user can specify the specific information and the congestion information as in the first embodiment. When the user wants to acquire the information, the user can input the specific information and the congestion information only by inputting a command for outputting the specific information and the congestion information to the user terminal input unit 43. As a result, the user can quickly and easily grasp the specific information and the congestion information, and can further improve convenience.

  Each of the embodiments described above is merely an example of the present invention, and the configuration of the invention can be changed within the scope of the present invention. In each of the above-described embodiments, the user terminal device 5 transmits the congestion information and specific information transmission request to the server device 4 and the position information indicating the position of the user terminal device 5 to the user terminal device 5. For example, it is configured to acquire congestion information and specific information of a restaurant at a position closest to the location, but is not limited to such a configuration.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the user of the user terminal device 5 inputs type information representing the type of restaurant desired, for example, and congestion information and specific information of the type of restaurant represented by the type information. By transmitting to the server device 4 the location information indicating the location of the user terminal device 5 and the location information indicating the location of the user terminal device 5. You may be comprised so that the congestion information and specific information of a restaurant may be acquired from the server apparatus 4. FIG. When comprised in this way, the server memory | storage part 32 of the server apparatus 4 should just memorize | store the area information showing the area where the said type information and a restaurant are located as specific information with store name information and position information. . Here, in the case of a restaurant, the type information is, for example, “fast food”, “family restaurant”, and “coffee shop”.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, the user of the user terminal device 5 inputs specific information about a desired restaurant, and the server device 4 sends a congestion information of the restaurant and a transmission request for specific information. It may be configured to acquire the congestion information and the specific information of the restaurant desired by the user from the server device 4 by transmitting to the server device 4.

  Even when configured as described above, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained. Further, as described above, when the user of the user terminal device 5 is configured to input the type information of the desired restaurant or the specific information about the desired restaurant, the type of food represented by the desired type information Since the congestion information and specific information of the store or the congestion information and specific information of the desired restaurant can be acquired from the server device 4, the convenience can be further improved.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the grasping device 3 is installed in a restaurant where the number of people going in and out changes to grasp the number of customers in the restaurant, and the congestion information in the restaurant is obtained from the user terminal device 5. Although the structure of the information providing systems 1 and 70 to be provided has been described, the information providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a restaurant. It may be configured to grasp a parked vehicle in the parking lot by installing it in a parking lot where the vehicle changes and to provide the user terminal device 5 with congestion information in the parking lot.

It is a figure showing roughly the composition of information service system 1 which is a 1st embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing operation procedures of a grasping device 3 and a server device 4 in the information providing system 1. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the user terminal device 5 in the information provision system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route guidance image 60 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display part 44. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route guidance image 60 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display part 44, and the congestion information acquisition confirmation image 61. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route guidance image 60 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display part 44, and the reception standby image 62. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route guidance image 60 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal display part 44, and the provision image 63. FIG. It is a figure which shows schematically the structure of the information provision system 70 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the grasping device 3 and the server device 4 in the information providing system 70.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,70 Information provision system 2 Mobile terminal device 3 Population information grasping device 4 Congestion information management server device 5 User mobile terminal device 21 Grasping wireless communication unit 22 Grasping communication unit 23 Grasping storage unit 24 Grasping control unit 25 Grasping control unit 25 Unit 31 Server communication unit 32 Server storage unit 33 Server operation unit 34 Server control unit 41 GPS receiver 42 User terminal communication unit 43 User terminal input unit 44 User terminal display unit 45 User terminal storage unit 46 User terminal control Part

Claims (5)

Based on the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device in a certain area, the individual number information grasping means for grasping the terminal individual number information representing the individual number of the mobile terminal device,
Based on the terminal individual number information grasped by the individual number information grasping means and the maximum individual number information indicating the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the certain area, the number of individuals accepted in this certain area is determined. Computing means for obtaining congestion information to be represented;
Input means capable of inputting a command for outputting the specific information for specifying the certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means;
An information providing system comprising: output means for outputting the specific information and congestion information based on a command input by the input means. Based on the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device within a certain area, the terminal individual number information indicating the number of individuals of the mobile terminal device is grasped, and the terminal individual number information and the maximum within the certain area are obtained. Based on the maximum number of individuals information representing the number of individuals to be allowed, computing means for obtaining congestion information representing the number of individuals accepted in this fixed area,
Input means capable of inputting a command for outputting the specific information for specifying the certain area and the congestion information obtained by the calculation means;
An information providing system comprising: output means for outputting the specific information and congestion information based on a command input by the input means.   3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit and the output unit are portable electronic devices. Based on the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device in a certain area, the individual number information grasping step for grasping the terminal individual number information representing the individual number of the mobile terminal device,
Based on the terminal individual number information grasped in the individual number information grasping step and the maximum individual number information representing the maximum number of individuals to be allowed in the certain area, the number of individuals accepted in the certain area is determined. A calculation process for obtaining congestion information to be represented;
An information providing method comprising: an output step for outputting the specific information and the congestion information based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information for specifying the certain area. Based on the individual information transmitted from the mobile terminal device in a certain area, the terminal individual number information indicating the number of individuals of the mobile terminal is grasped, and the terminal individual number information and the maximum allowable in the certain area are allowed. Based on the maximum number of individuals information representing the number of individuals to be calculated, a calculation step for obtaining congestion information representing the number of individuals accepted in this fixed region;
An information providing method comprising: an output step for outputting the specific information and the congestion information based on a command to output the specific information and the congestion information for specifying the certain area.

Images