JP2008293102A - Information providing system, vehicle-side device, center-side device, user-side device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a highly convenient information providing system for providing information useful for a user. <P>SOLUTION: User information including identification information enabling identification of a user is stored in a user-side device 20 carried by the user, and the user information is transmitted from the user-side device 20 to an in-vehicle navigation device 10. The in-vehicle navigation device 10 transmits the user information and the location information of the vehicle to the center-side device 30. The center-side device 30 retrieves facilities information suitable for the attribute information of the user and the location information of the vehicle stored in the center-side device 30 from a facilities information DB33 based on information notified from the in-vehicle navigation device 10, and transmits this to the in-vehicle navigation device 10. The in-vehicle navigation device 10 presents the facilities information transmitted from the center-side device 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system that provides information about facilities, events, and the like to a vehicle user.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an information providing system that provides information such as a facility to a user of a vehicle, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. Specifically, facility information registered in the information center as a favorite by a user via a user terminal such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or an in-vehicle terminal is provided from the information center to the user terminal of the user. Also, in response to a facility information inquiry from a certain user, the facility information registered as a favorite for another user having the same attribute as the requested user is sent to the user terminal of the requested user. provide.
JP 2004-70773 A

  However, in the information providing system described in Patent Document 1, when a user requests provision of facility information, the information center side needs to input user identification information (ID number) and a password in order to specify the requesting user. There is. For example, when requesting the provision of facility information from any user terminal, such as a personal computer, a user terminal of a vehicle owned by a user, or a user terminal of a vehicle owned by another person such as a rental car, an ID number or password Therefore, it is very troublesome for the user.

  In addition, if you try to search for facility information that matches your preferences and interests from unknown facility information other than the facility information that you registered as a favorite, you can register it as a favorite by another user who has the same attributes as you Only the information on the facilities that have been provided can be obtained. In other words, since the unknown facility information that you have not registered as favorites is excluded from the search object except the facility information registered in favorites by other users, the facility information that users can obtain is limited Become. For this reason, it is disadvantageous for the user who receives the provision of facility information from the viewpoint of obtaining a lot of useful information because the selection range of information becomes very small. In addition, for those who provide facility information to the information center (for example, facility operators), there are fewer opportunities for the facility information provided by the user to be provided to the user. Disadvantageous.

  In addition, it may be necessary to go through a number of processes before receiving a favorite registration from the user for the facility information registered in the information center. For example, for facility information newly registered in the information center, after the user finds the facility information, the user reads this information or actually uses the facility, and the user selects the facility information or facility. Only when you like it, you go through the process of registering the facility information as your favorite. It may take a very long time for the facility information to be registered as a favorite by the user through such a process after the facility information is newly registered in the information center.

  In such a case, if the facility information is information related to an event for a limited time, when the facility information is registered as a favorite by a user, it can be provided to other users. There is a possibility that the period when you can use is over. If such a thing happens, the usefulness of the said facility information will be impaired and useful information for a user cannot be provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for realizing a highly convenient information providing system that can provide useful information for a user.

In order to achieve the above object, an information providing system according to claim 1 has the following characteristics.
User information including identification information capable of identifying the user is stored in the user side device carried by the user, and the user information is transmitted from the user side device to the vehicle side device. The vehicle side device transmits this user information and vehicle position information to the center side device. Based on the information notified from the vehicle-side device, the center-side device searches the facility-related information storage means for the facility-related information that matches the attribute information of the user stored in the center-side device and the vehicle position information. Then, this is transmitted to the vehicle side device. The vehicle side device presents the facility information transmitted from the center side device to the user. Specifically, among the plurality of facility information, only the facility information related to the facility or event that matches the attribute information of the requesting user and is within the predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle is searched for to the user. Operation such as providing is conceivable.

  According to the information providing system configured in this way, when requesting the center side device to transmit information about facilities and events related to events, the user himself / herself does not need to input an ID number, password, etc. It is convenient because you can easily obtain information about facilities. Furthermore, since the configuration in which the user manually inputs identification information to the vehicle side device is abolished, a third party who does not have the user side device, that is, is not a user, illegally inputs the identification information of another person. Access to the center side device is difficult, and the configuration is also in consideration of security.

  Further, the facility information provided to the user from the center side device is searched for as matching with the current position of the vehicle on which the user is boarded and the attribute information associated with the identification information of the user. Yes, it is useful information for the user.

  In addition, the facility information that can be provided by the center side device includes not only information on facilities such as restaurants, clothing stores, hospitals, and parking lots, but also events with timelines such as dates and times such as exhibitions and bargain sales ( Information on special events is also included. In the information providing system of the present invention, it is necessary to go through a round-off process (see Patent Document 1) such that a facility information can be provided to other users for the first time when specific facility information is registered as a favorite by a certain user. Absent. Therefore, the user can obtain useful information searched from information on all facilities regardless of the presence or absence of favorite registration from other users. Moreover, the time-limited information as described above can be acquired without delay. In addition, for a person who provides facility information to the center side device (for example, an operator of the facility, etc.), the facility information provided by himself / herself is widely provided to the user, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of advertising effectiveness. It is.

  In addition, about the specific contents of the facility information stored in the center side device, for example, for each facility or event, the name, location, date, genre, detailed information of the facility or event, the target of the facility or event Various information such as information indicating the age, sex, hobbies, preferences, interests, etc. of the person can be mentioned, but is not limited thereto. The specific content of each user's attribute information stored in the center side device includes various information related to the user such as the user's age, sex, hobbies, preferences, matters of interest, and past history. However, it is not limited to these.

  On the other hand, the configuration may be such that attribute information related to the user is stored in the user side device instead of the center side device, and is transmitted to the center side device via the vehicle side device. Specifically, a configuration as described in claim 2 is preferable.

  That is, user information including attribute information about the user is stored in the user side device carried by the user, and the user information is transmitted from the user side device to the vehicle side device. The vehicle side device transmits this user information and vehicle position information to the center side device. Based on the information notified from the vehicle-side device, the center-side device searches the facility-related information storage means for the facility-related information that matches the notified attribute information of the user and the position information of the vehicle. Send to the side device. The vehicle side device presents the facility information transmitted from the center side device to the user.

Also in the information providing system configured as described above, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the information providing system according to the first aspect.
Further, as in the information providing system according to claim 3, when the user side device stores only the user identification information, the user side device stores attribute information in addition to the user identification information. In any case, it is conceivable that the center side apparatus can provide information such as facilities suitable for the user.

  Specifically, the user information storage means provided in the user side device includes an aspect in which only the identification information is stored as user information, and an aspect in which the identification information and attribute information about the user indicated by the identification information are stored as user information. Either aspect is configured to be able to store data. When the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device includes the attribute information of the user, the search means included in the center side device uses the attribute information and the position information transmitted from the vehicle side device. The facility information storage unit that matches the predetermined condition is searched from the facility information storage means. On the other hand, when the attribute information corresponding to the user is not included in the user information, the attribute information corresponding to the user indicated by the identification information included in the user information is acquired from the attribute information storage unit, and the acquired attribute information and The facility etc. information storage means that matches the predetermined condition according to the position information transmitted from the vehicle side device is retrieved.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, the user side apparatus stores only the user identification information or the user identification information and the attribute information in association with each other. Useful information can be provided and useful.

  By the way, transmission / reception of user information between the user-side device and the vehicle-side device is performed when the user-side device and the vehicle-side device enter a predetermined communication area as described in claim 4. It is good to constitute so that Here, it is conceivable that the predetermined communication range is, for example, a range in which communication is possible by short-range wireless communication including at least the inside of the vehicle as a communication area.

  If it does in this way, when the user who possesses the user side apparatus approaches in order to board a vehicle, or boards a vehicle, transmission / reception of user information between a user side apparatus and a vehicle side apparatus will be performed automatically. As a result, the facility information can be efficiently acquired from the center side device.

  By the way, as a communication method used for communication between the center side device and the vehicle side device, for example, a communication method used in various communication such as a mobile phone network, a PHS network, and a narrow area wireless communication can be cited. These various communication methods have different characteristics in various aspects such as communication speed, communication range, communication cost, and the like.

  Therefore, it is preferable to configure as described in claim 5. Specifically, the vehicle side device and the center side device are configured to be communicable by two types of communication methods, a predetermined communication method for large-capacity communication and a predetermined communication method for small-capacity communication. When the center-side device and the vehicle-side device transmit and receive information such as facilities, a facility with a relatively small amount of information is used for information such as a relatively large amount of information using a communication system for large-capacity communication. For such information, a communication system for small-capacity communication is used.

  As for the communication method for small-capacity communication and the communication method for large-capacity communication, what kind of communication method should be adopted is intended for system operation considering the advantages and disadvantages of each communication method. What is appropriate for the above may be selected as appropriate. For example, a communication method for small-capacity communication adopts a communication method with a wide communication range and low communication cost even if the communication speed is relatively slow, and a communication method for communication with a relatively high communication speed for large-capacity communication. It is possible to adopt.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, since communication is performed with a communication method suitable for each amount of information of the facility information, the facility information can be efficiently transmitted and received.

  Further, as for the center side apparatus, as described in claim 6, the facility information with a relatively small amount of information is retrieved from the first facility information storage means, and this is used in a communication system for small capacity communication. The first center side device to be transmitted to the vehicle side device and the facility side information storage means which retrieves information such as the facility having a relatively large amount of information from the second facility etc. information storage means, and this is retrieved by the communication method for large capacity communication. And a second center side device that transmits to the network. In this way, for example, information on facilities such as facilities and events that have relatively little information such as headline information is managed by the first center side device, and detailed text data corresponding to the headline information or The facility such as the image data having a relatively large amount of information such as a facility can be managed by the second center side device.

  By the way, when acquiring facility information from the center side device, the user can specify a search range based on the current position of the vehicle, and can obtain information on facilities and events related to events limited to the specified search range. It is conceivable to configure as follows. Therefore, a configuration as described in claim 7 is preferable. Specifically, the vehicle-side device or the user-side device is configured so that the user can specify at least one of a distance search range and a time search range based on the current position of the vehicle. And the vehicle side transmission means transmits the search range information indicating the search range specified by the user to the center side device together with the position information and the user information. The search means provided in the center side device searches for facility information that meets a predetermined condition based on user attribute information, position information, and search range information.

  Here, examples of the search range designated by the user include a distance search range such as “within a radius of ○ km from the current position”, a temporal search range such as “reachable within ○ minutes from the current position”, and the like. . For example, if a search range “within a radius of ○ km from the current position” is designated by the user, the center-side device relates to a facility or event that matches the attribute information of the user and is located within the designated search range. It is conceivable to search for facility information and provide it to the user.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, the user can arbitrarily specify a search range based on the current position of the vehicle, so that it is possible to provide information more in line with the user's intention. is there.

  In addition, when acquiring facility information from the center side device, the user can specify the facility or event category (type) to be searched, and only the facility information related to the specified facility or event can be obtained. It is conceivable to configure. Therefore, it is preferable to configure as in the eighth aspect. Specifically, the vehicle side device or the user side device is configured so that the user can specify the facility or event category to be searched. And the vehicle side transmission means transmits the category information indicating the category designated by the user together with the position information and the user information to the center side device. The search means provided in the center side device searches for facility information that matches a predetermined condition based on attribute information, position information, and category information.

  Here, as a category which a user specifies, various categories, such as a restaurant, a clothing store, a sightseeing spot, a hospital, etc. are mentioned, for example. For example, if the category “restaurant” is designated by the user, the center side device searches for information such as the facility that matches the attribute information and location information of the user and that corresponds to the restaurant, and Operation such as providing to the user can be considered.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, it is preferable that information can be provided more in line with the user's intention when the user specifies the facility or event category to be searched.

  On the other hand, in a case where the user wants to obtain a lot of new information at a travel destination, for example, rather than narrowing down the information to be provided based on the attribute information such as the user's gender, age, hobby, and preference. Regardless of the attribute information, providing more information is considered to provide information more in line with the user's intention.

  Therefore, it is preferable to configure as described in claim 9. Specifically, the vehicle-side device or the user-side device is configured to be selectable by the user as to whether or not to consider the user's attribute information in the facility information search. When it is selected that the user attribute information is not considered, the vehicle side transmission means transmits only the position information to the center side device. And the search means with which the center side apparatus is equipped searches the facilities etc. information storage means for the facilities etc. which satisfy | fill the predetermined conditions according to only positional information.

  By doing so, the user can select the mode of searching for facility information by eliminating the attribute information of the user, and provide information in a flexible mode according to the circumstances of the user at that time Can do.

  Next, in the information providing system according to claim 10, an input unit capable of inputting an instruction to start a series of processes by the information providing system by a one-push operation is at least one of the user side device and the vehicle side device. A series of processes is started when a start instruction is input by the input means. The input means may be configured by a mechanical key switch, or may be configured by a touch panel formed on the surface of a display, a GUI that can be operated by a pointing device, or the like. Good. According to the information providing system configured as described above, it is convenient because the facility information can be easily acquired at any timing of the user.

  By the way, when there are a plurality of facility etc. information transmitted from the center side device to the vehicle side device, it is possible to avoid congestion of information presented by devising the presentation method of the facility etc. information, so that the user can It is important to make the contents easy to check. Therefore, it is preferable to configure as described in claim 11. Specifically, the information presenting means provided in the vehicle side device presents the headline information that is the facility information with a relatively small amount of information for each facility or event based on the facility information received from the center side device. Detailed information that is information such as a facility having a relatively large amount of information regarding the facility or event indicated by the heading information designated by the user from the presented heading information is presented.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, the detailed information is presented only for the facility or event that the user is interested in among the information on the plurality of facilities, etc., thereby avoiding congestion of the presented information. This makes it easier for the user to confirm the contents of the facility information.

  In addition, as described in claim 11, the center side device first transmits heading information, which is facility information with a relatively small amount of information, to the vehicle side device, and the vehicle side device is designated by the user. The configuration may be such that the center side apparatus is requested to transmit the detailed information, which is information such as the facility having a relatively large amount of information related to the facility or event indicated by the header information.

  By configuring in this way, for facilities and events that the user has not shown interest in, only the header information is transmitted and received, and the detailed information is not transmitted and received, so the communication cost can be reduced accordingly. .

  In addition, as described in claim 13, in the center side device, information indicating a facility or event designated by the user for presentation of the detailed information is stored as the user's presentation history information, and is searched by the search means. Of the received facility information, the facility information corresponding to the stored presentation history information may be configured to be transmitted to the vehicle-side device in a predetermined manner taking that effect into consideration. Specifically, for example, the facility indicated by the presentation history information or the facility information related to the event is transmitted in a manner that is highlighted on the vehicle side device, or information indicating that detailed information has been presented in the past. Operation such as transmission in an added mode is conceivable.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, when providing facility information to the user, an additional service can be provided based on the history of the user referring to the detailed information, which is convenient.

  In addition, as described in claim 14, in the center side device, information indicating that the user has actually stopped at the facility or event indicated by the facility information provided to the user is stored as the visit history information of the user. Of the facility information searched by the search means, the facility information corresponding to the stored visit history information of the user is transmitted to the vehicle-side device in a predetermined manner taking that into account. Such a configuration is also conceivable. Specifically, for example, the facility information related to the facility or event indicated by the visit history information has been transmitted in such a manner that it is highlighted on the vehicle side device, or has visited the facility or event in the past. For example, an operation may be considered in which information indicating this is added and transmitted.

  According to the information providing system configured as described above, when providing facility information to the user, an additional service can be provided based on the history of the user actually visiting the facility or event. It is.

  By the way, it is conceivable that the facility information stored in the center-side device can be registered to the center-side device by a person who operates each facility or event. Therefore, as described in claim 15, the center side device is communicably connected to a plurality of terminals via a network, and the facility etc. is provided from the terminal of the person who provides the facility side information to the center side device. It is preferable that information can be registered / updated. As a network for connecting the center side device and each terminal, for example, a worldwide network such as the Internet can be cited.

  According to the information providing system configured in this way, for example, facilities and event operators can receive information on facilities and the like from many facility and event operators via the Internet. Simple and effective advertising can be performed, and useful information retrieved from a large number of facilities and the like can be acquired for the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide a very useful service for both the facility and event operators and users.

  By the way, as described in claim 16, it is conceivable that the vehicle side device in the information providing system of the present invention is constituted by a so-called in-vehicle navigation device that performs route guidance based on map data. By doing in this way, the function as a vehicle side apparatus in this invention is realizable using the arithmetic processing function with which a navigation apparatus is provided, a communication function, an information display function, a position detection function, map data, etc. Further, it is possible to apply the facility information obtained from the center side device to the user in association with the map data or the position information.

  On the other hand, as described in claim 17, it is conceivable that the user side device in the information providing system of the present invention is configured by a mobile phone. By doing so, it is possible to realize the function as the user side device in the present invention by utilizing the arithmetic processing function, communication function, storage function, etc. provided in the mobile phone. In addition, the mobile phone is suitable as a medium for storing identification information, attribute information, and the like of the user, assuming that the user has a specified user.

  Alternatively, as described in claim 18, the user side device in the information providing system according to the present invention is used in an electronic key system that performs authentication for unlocking / locking of a vehicle door and engine operation by wireless communication. It is conceivable to use a machine (so-called smart key). By doing in this way, the function as a user side apparatus in this invention is realizable using the arithmetic processing function with which the portable device in an electronic key system is equipped, a communication function, a memory | storage function, etc. In addition, since the portable device in the electronic key system is always possessed by a user who drives the vehicle, it is suitable as a medium for storing identification information, attribute information, and the like of the user (that is, the driver).

Next, according to the vehicle side device of the nineteenth aspect, the information providing system according to any one of the first to eighteenth aspects can be constructed, and thereby the above-described effects can be obtained.
Next, according to the center side apparatus of Claim 20, the information provision system in any one of Claims 1-18 can be constructed | assembled, and, thereby, the effect mentioned above can be acquired.

Next, according to the user side apparatus of Claim 21, the information provision system in any one of Claims 1-18 can be constructed | assembled, and, thereby, the effect mentioned above can be acquired.
Next, according to the vehicle-side device program according to claim 22, the computer can function as the vehicle-side device in the information providing system according to claim 1, whereby the above-described effects can be obtained. .

  Next, according to the vehicle-side device program according to claim 23, the computer can function as the vehicle-side device in the information providing system according to claim 2, thereby obtaining the effects described above. .

  Next, according to the program for the center-side device described in claim 24, the computer can function as the center-side device in the information providing system according to claim 1, thereby obtaining the above-described effects. .

  Next, according to the program for the center side device described in claim 25, it is possible to cause the computer to function as the center side device in the information providing system according to claim 2, thereby obtaining the effects described above. .

  Next, according to the program for a user side device described in claim 26, the computer can be made to function as the user side device in the information providing system according to claim 1, thereby obtaining the above-described effects. .

  Next, according to the user-side device program according to claim 27, the computer can function as the user-side device in the information providing system according to claim 2, whereby the above-described effects can be obtained. .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. Explanation of the configuration of the information provision system]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment. This information providing system is installed in an in-vehicle navigation device 10 mounted on a vehicle, a user device 20 carried by a user driving the vehicle, and an information center that is a facility on the operator side of the information providing system. Center side device 30.

Next, a specific configuration of each of the devices 10, 20, and 30 constituting the information providing system will be described.
[1-1. Description of configuration of in-vehicle navigation device 10]
The in-vehicle navigation device 10 constitutes a so-called navigation system that searches for an optimum route to a destination, travels guidance, and the like, and is configured to function as a vehicle-side device in the claims. This in-vehicle navigation device 10 is used in a state where it is mounted on a vehicle. When there are a plurality of vehicles using the information providing system, one is mounted on each vehicle.

  The in-vehicle navigation device 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the entire in-vehicle navigation device 10, a position detection unit 12 that detects the current position of the vehicle, an operation unit 13 that receives an operation from a user, A storage unit 14 that stores data, a display unit 15 for displaying various types of information, and a communication unit 16 that performs wireless communication between the user side device 20 and the center side device 30 are provided.

  The control unit 11 is configured around a well-known computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O and a bus line connecting these, and performs various processes according to programs stored in the ROM, an external storage device, or the like. Execute. For example, as navigation-related processing, map display processing for displaying a map on the display unit 15 based on map data stored in the storage unit 14, route search processing for searching for an optimal route from the current position to the destination, For example, a travel guidance process for performing travel guidance along the searched optimum route.

  Further, as characteristic processing in the present invention, user information is acquired from the user-side device 20, and based on this, facilities and events that can be used by the user from the center-side device 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as facilities, etc.) The facility etc. information is acquired and the process for showing with respect to a user is performed. Details of this processing will be described later.

  The position detector 12 receives a radio wave transmitted from an artificial satellite for GPS (Global Positioning System) via a GPS antenna and detects the position of the vehicle and the angular velocity of the rotational motion applied to the vehicle. It is composed of a gyroscope that outputs a corresponding detection signal, a speed sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle, and the like. Since the GPS antenna and each sensor have errors of different properties, they are configured to be used while complementing each other.

  The operation unit 13 is for accepting an operation from the user. The operation unit 13 is configured to be integrated with the display unit 15 and integrated on the display screen, a mechanical key switch provided around the display unit 15, and the like. Is used.

  The storage unit 14 stores so-called map matching data for improving position detection accuracy, map data, route guidance data, a program for operating the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, and the like.

  The display unit 15 is a color display device having a display surface such as a liquid crystal display. The display unit 15 can display various images on the display surface according to the input of the video signal from the control unit 11. For example, when the vehicle is running, a mark indicating the current location identified from the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 12 as the navigation screen and the map data input from the storage unit 14, a guide route to the destination, Additional data such as names, landmarks, and symbols of various landmarks are displayed in an overlapping manner. In addition, various information such as facility information acquired from the external center side device 30 can also be displayed.

  The communication unit 16 performs wireless communication between the user side device 20 and the center side device 30. In the wireless communication with the user-side device 20, the communication unit 16 can communicate within a communication area (an area where short-range wireless communication is possible) that covers at least the entire interior of the vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 is mounted. It is configured. Note that, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), wireless LAN, or weak wireless communication may be used for wireless communication with the user-side device 20.

  On the other hand, in the wireless communication with the center side device 30, a communication area (an area much larger than the communication area with the user side device 20) covered by an external wireless base station or the like that relays communication with the center side device 30 ) To enable communication. The wireless communication with the center-side device 30 is, for example, wireless data communication via a mobile phone network (mobile phone communication network) or wireless data by a short-range communication system (DSRC: Dedicated Short Range Communication). It is conceivable to use communication or the like. Moreover, you may comprise so that these communication systems can be used together so that a communication system can be selected suitably according to a communication destination and the data amount transmitted / received.

[1-2. Description of configuration of user side device 20]
The user-side device 20 is a portable terminal that can be carried by a user on the vehicle, and is carried by a user who uses the information providing system. The user side device 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the operation of the user side device 20 as a whole, a user information storage unit 22 that stores user information, an operation unit 23 that receives operations from the user, and the in-vehicle navigation device 10. And a communication unit 24 that performs wireless communication with each other.

  The control unit 21 is mainly configured by a known computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, a bus line connecting these, and the like, and executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM or the like.

The user information storage unit 22 is configured to be able to store various types of information, and information (user information) related to authentication and the like of the user who owns the user device 20 is recorded in advance.
Here, specific contents of the user information stored in the user information storage unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of user information stored in the user information storage unit 22.

  The user information storage unit 22 stores either one of the user information shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but the user information is stored in the user information storage unit 22 in any mode. It is up to the user to make it happen. Among these, the user information shown in FIG. 2A is composed of only a user ID that is identification information unique to the user who owns the user device 20.

  On the other hand, the user information shown in FIG. 2B is added with attribute information indicating various attributes of the user in addition to the user ID which is identification information unique to the user. The attribute information includes information on items such as “name”, “sex”, “age”, “address” indicating personal information of the user, “attribute A”, “attribute” indicating characteristics such as the user's hobbies and preferences Various information corresponding to items such as “B”. Here, as specific examples of the contents indicated by the information of each item of “attribute A”, “attribute B”..., User's hobbies, cooking preferences (for example, Japanese food, Western food, Chinese food, etc.), clothing preferences (for example, casual , Trad, etc.), tourism preferences (eg museums, temples, zoos, etc.), past history (eg cardiovascular system, digestive system, etc.).

Returning to the description of FIG. The operation unit 23 is for accepting an operation from a user, and a mechanical key switch or the like provided in the main body of the user side device 20 is used.
The communication unit 24 is for performing short-range wireless communication with the in-vehicle navigation device 10, and in the communication area covering the entire interior of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle navigation device 10 is mounted. Wireless communication is possible.

In the information providing system of the present embodiment, the user side device 20 is configured using a mobile phone.
[1-3. Description of Configuration of Center Side Device 30]
The center-side device 30 is for centrally managing information on the user who uses the information providing system and information on facilities provided to the user, and is information on a facility on the operator side of the information providing system. Installed in the center. One center side device 30 is commonly used for the plurality of in-vehicle navigation devices 10.

  The center-side device 30 stores a control unit 31 that controls the operation of the center-side device 30 as a whole, a user registration database (DB) 32 that is a database that stores user attribute information, and information about facilities and facilities related to events. A facility information database (DB) 33 and a communication unit 34.

  The control unit 31 is configured around a well-known computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, a bus line connecting these, and the like. Various kinds of programs are stored in accordance with programs stored in a ROM or an external storage device (not shown). Execute the process.

  The user registration DB 32 is a database capable of storing various types of information. In the user registration DB 32, for a plurality of users, attribute information and history information indicating various attributes for each user are stored as registration information. The attribute information and history information for each user are registered in association with the user ID, which is identification information for each user, and the attribute information and history information of the user can be specified based on the user ID. . The registration information for each user stored in the user registration DB 32 is registered in advance by a report from each user via an external terminal for a plurality of users using the information providing system.

  The facility information DB 33 is a database capable of storing various types of information. In the facility etc. information DB 33, a record of facility etc. information is stored for each facility etc. for a plurality of facilities etc. The facility information stored in the facility information DB 33 is obtained from a plurality of information provider side terminals 40 (terminals on the operator side of each facility, etc.) connected to the center side device 30 via the Internet 100. The registration or update can be performed at any time with respect to the center side device 30.

  Here, the specific contents of the registration information for each user stored in the user registration DB 32 and the facility etc. information stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of registration information for each user stored in the user registration DB 32. FIG. 3B shows a facility stored in the facility information DB 33, etc. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of information.

In the registration information for each user shown in FIG. 3A, attribute information and history information indicating various attributes of the user are added in association with a user ID, which is identification information unique to each user.
The attribute information includes items such as “name”, “age”, “address” indicating personal information of the user, “attribute A”, “attribute B”, etc. indicating characteristics such as user's hobbies and preferences. Various information corresponding to is included. The contents of each item in this attribute information are the same as the attribute information (see FIG. 2B) stored as user information of the user-side device 20.

  On the other hand, the history information includes various information corresponding to items such as “history information 1” and “history information 2” indicating a visit history indicating the history of the facility etc. information of the user and a history of the facility actually visited. include. The contents of the item “history information 1, 2...” Are related to the description of various processes described later, and will be described in detail later.

  Each facility etc. information shown in FIG. 3B is associated with a facility etc. ID which is identification information unique to each facility etc., and various types of information regarding the facility etc. are added. This facility information includes “name”, “category”, “location”, “usage time”, “event information”, “attribute 1”, “attribute 2”..., “Heading information”, etc. Various information corresponding to items such as “detailed text” and “detailed image” are included.

  Among these items, the item “name” is information indicating the name of the facility or the like. The item “category” is information indicating a category to which the facility belongs. Specific examples of this category include restaurants, clothing stores, tourist spots, hospitals, public facilities, and others. The item “position” is information indicating a position where the facility is located. The item “use time” is information indicating a time during which the facility or the like can be used. For example, if the facility information is related to a restaurant or a store, business hours may be used, and if the information is related to an event, the schedule is held. The item “event information” is information indicating specific contents of an event performed at the facility or the like.

  Each item of “attributes 1, 2,...” Is information indicating attributes such as characteristics and properties of the facility, and is information for determining whether the facility or the like matches the user's attribute information. In this “attribute 1, 2...” Item, for example, a content for subdividing the content of the “category” item or a content for further subdividing the content of the higher-level attribute is described. For example, when the item “category” indicates a restaurant, the item “attribute 1” describes contents such as Japanese food, Western food, Chinese food, a bar, a coffee shop, and the like as subdivided contents of the restaurant. It is possible. In addition, when the item “Attribute 1” indicates Japanese food, the content of “Attribute 2” includes contents such as kaiseki cuisine, hot pot food, high-priced / value-priced, quiet / lively, etc. Can be considered.

  As described above, the item “attribute 1, 2...” Is not limited to information of a structure in which contents are hierarchically subdivided in the order of category → attribute 1 → attribute 2. Various information for matching with the target user may be described.

  The item of “Heading information” is information constituting a headline (heading), a title, etc. when presenting the facility information to the user, and for “detailed text” and “detailed image” described later. It consists of information with a relatively small amount of data. On the other hand, the item “detailed text” is information that constitutes detailed presentation contents when the facility information is presented to the user, and is configured mainly with character data and the like. The item “detailed image” is information constituting detailed presentation contents when the facility information is presented to the user, and is configured mainly with image data.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The communication unit 34 is for performing data communication with a plurality of in-vehicle navigation devices 10 by radio or DSRC via a mobile phone network. In addition, data communication is performed with a plurality of information provider side terminals 40 (terminals on the operator side of each facility or the like) via the Internet.

[1-4. Correspondence with Claims]
Although the configuration of the information providing system has been described above, the correspondence between the configuration of the information providing system in the embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows.

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 according to the embodiment corresponds to the vehicle-side device in the claims. Among these, the position detection unit 12 corresponds to a position detection unit, and the operation unit 13 corresponds to an input unit. In addition, the user information storage unit 22 of the user side device 20 in the embodiment corresponds to a user information storage unit. In addition, the user registration DB 32 of the center-side device 30 in the embodiment corresponds to attribute information storage means, and the facility information DB 33 corresponds to facility information storage means.

  The correspondence between the control units 11, 21 and 31 included in the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, the user-side device 20, and the center-side device 30 will be described later.

[2. Processing executed in the information providing system]
Next, processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user-side device 20, and the center-side device 30 configuring the information providing system will be described for each embodiment.

[2-1. First Embodiment]
First, a description will be given of a first embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user-side device 20, and the center-side device 30.

[2-1-1. Description of facility information provision processing (first embodiment)]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of “facility information provision processing (first embodiment)” executed by each control unit 11, 21, 31 of the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, the user-side device 20, and the center-side device 30. It is. For the sake of brevity, the processing executed by each of the control units 11, 21, and 31 is hereinafter described as being performed by the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 for the sake of convenience. To do.

This process is started when the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 detects a predetermined trigger for starting this process (S101a).
As a trigger for starting this process, first, when the user side device 20 is detected to enter the communication area of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 (an area where short-range wireless communication is possible) can be mentioned. For example, the in-vehicle navigation device 10 transmits a communication start request to the user-side device 20 at predetermined intervals as needed by short-range wireless communication. And when the user who possesses the user side device 20 enters the communication area with the in-vehicle navigation device 10 by boarding this vehicle, the user side device 20 that has received the communication start request from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 It responds to this communication start request. When the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives a response to the communication start request from the user-side device 20, it detects that the user-side device 20 has entered the communication area.

  Further, as another trigger for starting this process, an instruction for starting the process is input from the user via the operation unit 13 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or the operation unit 23 of the user-side device 20. Is detected. In the present embodiment, the input of an instruction for starting the process is configured to be performed with one touch.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, as an operation means for instructing the start of this process, a touch panel switch 131 displayed on the display of the display unit 15 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or a display periphery A mechanical switch 132 is provided. Then, this process is started by simply pressing the switches 131 and 132 by the user.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, as an operation means for starting the present invention, an icon 231 displayed on the display of the user side device 20 (mobile phone) or the main body of the user side device 20 is arranged. A mechanical switch 232 is provided. Then, this process is started simply by clicking on the icon 231 (referring to an operation of placing the cursor or pointer on the icon or the like and pressing the enter button) or pressing the mechanical switch 232. In this case, when the icon 231 or the mechanical switch 232 is operated on the user side device 20, an instruction to start processing is transmitted from the user side device 20 to the in-vehicle navigation device 10, and this is used as a trigger. This process is configured to start.

  Returning to the description of FIG. After detecting the start trigger in S101a in the processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the in-vehicle navigation device 10 instructs the user side device 20 to transmit user information via the communication unit 16 (S102a).

  The user side device 20 receives the transmission instruction of the user information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 in S102a (S201a). And the user information (refer FIG. 2) memorize | stored in the user information storage part 22 is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 via the communication part 24 (S202a). Note that the user information transmitted here is either user information including only a user ID (see FIG. 2A) or information including a user ID and user attribute information (see FIG. 2B). It is.

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives the user information transmitted from the user side device 20 in S202a (S103a). Subsequently, the current position of the vehicle is acquired based on the detection signal from the position detection unit 12 (S104a). And the user information received from the user side apparatus 20 and the positional information which shows the present position acquired by S104a are transmitted to the center side apparatus 30 via the communication part 16 (S105a).

  The center side device 30 receives the user information and the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S105a (S301a). And the facility etc. corresponding to the facility etc. located within the predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle indicated by the received location information from the facility etc. information (see FIG. 3B) stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 Information is extracted (S302a). Specifically, based on the location of the facility or the like indicated by the information of each facility or the like, the facility or the like corresponding to a facility or the like located within a radius of km from the current location of the vehicle is searched.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the received user information includes the attribute information of the user (S303a). If it is determined that the user information does not include attribute information (S303a: NO), the attribute information corresponding to the user is read from the user registration DB 32 based on the user ID included in the received user information (S304a). ). Then, the facility information that matches the read attribute information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S302a (S305a). Specifically, the contents of the items of “attributes 1, 2,...” In the facility information etc. are compared with the contents of each item in the user attribute information, and the facility etc. information with the items whose contents match is the user attribute information. Extracted as conforming to.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S303a that the user information includes attribute information (S303a: YES), attribute information that matches the attribute information in the user information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S302a (S305a). ).

In S306a, the facility information extracted in S305a is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that is the request source via the communication unit 34.
The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives the facility information transmitted from the center side device 30 in S306a (S106a). And based on the received facility etc. information, the content of the said facility etc. information is displayed on the display part 15 (S107a). Specifically, information based on various data such as headline information included in the facility information, detailed text, detailed image, etc. is displayed, name, category, position, usage time, event information, attributes 1, 2,... Various information may be displayed. Further, based on the location information of the facility information, the location of the facility is displayed on the map image displayed on the display unit 15, or the facility information itself is superimposed on the location of the facility on the map image. May be displayed.

[2-1-2. effect]
The information providing system that executes the “facility information providing process (first embodiment)” has the following effects.

  (1) When requesting transmission of facility information to the center side device 30, it is not necessary for the user to input an ID number, a password, etc., so it is convenient to easily acquire facility information.

  (2) Since the configuration in which the user manually inputs the user ID to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 is abolished, the third party who does not have the user side device 20, that is, is not a user, illegalizes the user ID of another person. It is difficult to access the center-side device 30 by inputting the information into the center side, and the configuration is also in consideration of security.

  (3) The facility information provided from the center-side device 30 to the user is searched for that matches the current position of the vehicle on which the user is boarded and the attribute information of the user. Thereby, the user can acquire useful information suitable for his / her circumstances.

  (4) A facility that matches the user's attributes in either the mode in which only the user ID is stored in the user-side device 20 or the mode in which the user ID and attribute information are stored in association with each other Information is searchable and convenient.

  (5) By starting this process with the in-vehicle navigation device 10 and the user-side device 20 entering the communication area as a trigger, the user can efficiently obtain information on facilities, etc. only by boarding the vehicle. can do.

  (6) By making it possible to input an instruction to start this processing by a one-push operation in the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or the user-side device 20, it is possible to easily acquire information such as facilities at any timing of the user. It is convenient because it can.

[2-1-3. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the first embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

The control unit 21 of the user-side device 20 that executes the process of S202a in the “facility information providing process (first embodiment)” (see FIG. 4) corresponds to a user-side transmission unit.
Moreover, the control part 11 of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 that executes the process of S105a corresponds to the vehicle-side transmission means, and the control part 11 of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 that executes the process of S107a corresponds to the information presenting means. .

  Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S302a to S305a corresponds to a search unit, and the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S306a corresponds to a center side transmission unit.

[2-2. Second Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-2-1. Description of facility information provision processing (second embodiment)]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of “facility information provision processing (second embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

  This “facility information provision process (second embodiment)” differs from the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) in the following points. First, in the process of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the processes of S102b and S103b are added, and the process of S107b is performed instead of S105a of FIG. Further, in the processing of the center side device 30, the processing of S301b and S302b is performed instead of the processing of S301a and S302a in FIG. The other processing contents are the same as the processing contents in FIG. 4, and thus the description of these processing contents is omitted.

  First, in S101b in the process of the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, a trigger for starting the process is detected as in S101a of FIG. Then, after detecting the start trigger in S101b, the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 accepts the specification of the search range of the facility etc. information from the user, and determines whether or not the search range is specified by the user accordingly (S102b). ). Examples of the search range that can be specified by the user include a distance search range such as “within radius ○ km from the current position”, a temporal search range such as “reachable within ○ minutes from the current position”, and the like. The search range may be specified via the operation unit 13 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or the operation unit 23 of the user side device 20. In the latter case, the designated search range is transmitted from the user side device 20 to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 by wireless communication.

  If it is determined in S102b that the user has not designated the search range (S102b: NO), the search range is set to a predetermined (default) search range (S103b), and the process proceeds to S104b. On the other hand, when it determines with the user having specified the search range (S102b: YES), it transfers to S104b.

The processes of S104b, S201b, S202b, S105b, and S106b are the same as the processes of S102a, S201a, S202a, S103a, and S104a in FIG.
In S107b, the user information received from the user-side device 20, the position information indicating the current position acquired in S106b, and the information indicating the search range (designated by the user or default setting) are transmitted via the communication unit 16. Transmit to the center side device 30.

  The center side device 30 receives the user information, the position information, and the search range transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S107b (S301b). And the facility etc. which are located in the received search range from the facility etc. information stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 (see FIG. 3B) with the current position of the vehicle indicated by the received location information as a reference The facility information corresponding to is extracted (S302b). For example, when the condition “within radius ○ km from the current position” is set as the search range, based on the location information of each facility, the facility located within the radius ○ km centered on the current position of the vehicle Search for the relevant facility information. Also, if the search range is set to “reachable within ○ minutes from the current position”, within the specified time based on the travel time calculated from the current position of the vehicle and the specified standard speed Search for facility information that corresponds to the facility that can be reached.

Each process of S303b-S306b, S108b, S109b is the same as each process of S303a-S306a, S106a, 107a of FIG.
[2-2-2. effect]
According to the information providing system that executes the “facility information providing process (second embodiment)”, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

(7) Since the user can arbitrarily specify a distance search range and a time search range based on the current position of the vehicle, information can be provided more in line with the user's intention.
[2-2-3. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the second embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

The control unit 21 of the user-side device 20 that executes the process of S202b in the “facility information providing process (second embodiment)” (see FIG. 6) corresponds to a user-side transmission unit.
Further, the control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S107b corresponds to the vehicle-side transmission unit, and the control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S109b corresponds to the information presentation unit. .

  Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processes of S302b to S305b corresponds to a search unit, and the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the process of S306b corresponds to a center side transmission unit.

[2-3. Third Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-3-1. Description of Facility Information Provision Processing (Third Embodiment)]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of “facility information providing process (third embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

  This “facility information provision process (third embodiment)” is different from the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) in the following points. First, in the process of the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, the processes of S102c and S103c are added, and the process of S107c is performed instead of S105a of FIG. Further, in the processing of the center side device 30, the processing of S301c and S305c is performed instead of the processing of S301a and S305a in FIG. The other processing contents are the same as the processing contents in FIG. 4, and thus the description of these processing contents is omitted.

  First, in S101c in the process of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, a trigger for starting the process is detected as in S101a of FIG. Then, after detecting the start trigger in S101c, the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 accepts designation of the category to be searched from the user, and determines whether or not the category has been designated by the user accordingly (S102c). In addition, as a category which a user designates, what shows classification | category, such as facilities, such as a restaurant, a clothing store, a sightseeing spot, a hospital, a public facility, and others, is mentioned, for example. The category specification may be configured to be input via the operation unit 13 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or input via the operation unit 23 of the user-side device 20. In the latter case, the designated category is transmitted from the user side device 20 to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 by wireless communication.

  In S102c, when it is determined that the user has not designated a category (S102c: NO), the category is set to “no designation” (S103c), and the process proceeds to S104c. On the other hand, when it determines with the user having specified the category (S102c: YES), it transfers to S104c.

The processes of S104c, S201c, S202c, S105c, and S106c are the same as the processes of S102a, S201a, S202a, S103a, and S104a in FIG.
In S107c, the user information received from the user-side device 20, the position information indicating the current position acquired in S106c, and the information indicating the category (specified by the user or “not specified” setting) are sent to the communication unit 16. To the center side device 30 via

  The center side device 30 receives the user information, the position information, and the category information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S107c (S301c). Each process of S302c-S304c is the same as each process of S302a-S304a of FIG.

  In S305c, attribute information matching the user's attribute information and the received category information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S302c (S305c). Whether or not the category is appropriate is determined by comparing the contents of the “category” item in the facility information (see FIG. 3B) with the content of the received category information, etc. The information is extracted as conforming to the category specified by the user. Further, if the received category information indicates “not specified”, it may be determined that the facility information of all categories is suitable.

Each process of S306c, S108c, and S109c is the same as each process of S306c, S106c, and 107c in FIG.
[2-3-2. effect]
According to the information providing system that executes the “facility information providing process (third embodiment)”, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

(8) By making it possible for the user to specify the facility to be searched and the category of the event, it is possible to provide information more in line with the user's intention.
[2-3-3. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the third embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

The control unit 21 of the user-side device 20 that executes the process of S202c in the “facility information providing process (third embodiment)” (see FIG. 7) corresponds to a user-side transmission unit.
Further, the control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S107c corresponds to the vehicle-side transmission unit, and the control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S109c corresponds to the information presentation unit. .

  Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processes of S302c to S305c corresponds to a search unit, and the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the process of S306c corresponds to a center side transmission unit.

[2-4. Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a fourth embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-4-1. Description of facility information provision processing (fourth embodiment)]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of “facility information provision processing (fourth embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

  This “facility information provision process (fourth embodiment)” differs from the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) in the following points. First, in the process of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the processes of S103d to S107d are added. Further, in the processing of the center side device 30, the processing of S301d to S303d is added. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, the processing newly added from the flowchart of FIG. 4 is mainly illustrated, and the illustration of most of the processes common to the flowchart of FIG. 4 is omitted. A description of the processing contents of the part not shown is omitted.

  First, in S101d in the process of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, a trigger for starting the process is detected as in S101a of FIG. Then, after detecting the start trigger in S101d, the in-vehicle navigation device 10 accepts whether or not to match the user's attribute information and information such as the facility from the user, and whether the user desires matching from the response to it. It is determined whether or not (S103d). An instruction for designating whether matching between the attribute information and the facility information is necessary may be input via the operation unit 13 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 or the operation unit 23 of the user side device 20. What is necessary is just to comprise. In the latter case, the input instruction is transmitted from the user side device 20 to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 by wireless communication.

  If it is determined in S103d that the user desires matching with the attribute information (S103: YES), the user information is transmitted to the user side device 20 via the communication unit 16 as in S102a of FIG. (S102d). Thereafter, the same processing as the processing after S103a in the flowchart of FIG. 4 (including processing of the user side device 20 and the center side device 30) is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S103d that the user does not desire matching with the attribute information (S103d: NO), the current position of the vehicle is acquired based on the detection signal from the position detection unit 12 (S104d). And the positional information which shows this acquired present position is transmitted to the center side apparatus 30 via the communication part 16 (S105d).

  The center-side device 30 receives the position information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 in S105d (S301d). And the facility etc. corresponding to the facility etc. located within the predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle indicated by the received location information from the facility etc. information (see FIG. 3B) stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 Information is extracted (S302d). Specifically, based on the location of the facility or the like indicated by the information of each facility or the like, the facility or the like corresponding to a facility or the like located within a radius of km from the current location of the vehicle is searched.

Then, the facility information extracted in S302a is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that is the request source via the communication unit 34 (S303d).
The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives the facility information transmitted from the center side device 30 in S303d (S106d). And based on the received facility etc. information, the content of the said facility etc. information is displayed on the display part 15 (S107d).

[2-4-2. effect]
According to the information providing system for executing the “facility information providing process (fourth embodiment)”, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

  (9) The user himself / herself can select a mode of searching for facility information without matching with the attribute information of the user, and can provide information according to the circumstances of the user at that time. For example, in a case where you want to obtain a lot of new information at a travel destination etc., rather than narrowing down the information to be provided based on the user's attribute information, more information is provided regardless of the attribute information. can do.

[2-4-3. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the fourth embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

  The control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S105d in the “facility information providing process (fourth embodiment)” (see FIG. 8) corresponds to the vehicle-side transmission unit, and executes the process of S107d. The control part 11 of the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 corresponds to information presentation means.

  Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the process of S302d corresponds to a search unit, and the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the process of S303d corresponds to a center side transmission unit.

[2-5. Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a fifth embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-5-1. Description of facility information provision processing (fifth embodiment)]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of “facility information provision processing (fifth embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

  This “facility information provision process (fifth embodiment)” is different from the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) in the following points. First, in the process of the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10, the processes of S106e and S107e are performed instead of the processes of S106a and S107a in FIG. 4, and the processes of S108e to S111e are added. Further, in the process of the center side device 30, the process of S306e is performed instead of the process of S306a of FIG. 4, and the process of S307e is further added. The other processing contents are the same as the processing contents in FIG. 4, and thus the description of these processing contents is omitted.

  First, S101e to S105e in the processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, S201e and S202e in the processing of the user-side device 20, and S301e to S305e in the processing of the center-side device 30 are shown in S101a to S105a and S201a of FIG. , S202a and S301a to S305a.

  In S306e, the center side apparatus 30 includes at least the “facility etc. ID” and “heading information” items from the respective facility etc. information extracted in S305a, and does not include the “detailed text” and “detailed image” items. Then, a part of information (hereinafter referred to as a small amount of information) having a relatively small amount of information is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source.

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives the facility information (small amount information) transmitted from the center side device 30 in S306e (S106e). Based on the received small amount information, the display unit 15 displays the contents of the header information included in the small amount information (S107e).

  Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction for displaying detailed information corresponding to any of the heading information from the heading information displayed on the display unit 15 is input by the user (S108e). Here, when it is determined that an instruction for displaying detailed information has been input for certain headline information (S108e: YES), the facility or the like indicated by the headline information is based on the facility ID corresponding to the headline information. The center side device 30 is requested to transmit detailed information (S109e).

  The center-side device 30 is based on the facility ID requested from the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 in S109e, and includes at least “detail text” and “detail image” items from the facility information corresponding to the facility ID. Including a large amount of information (hereinafter, abundant information) is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source (S307e).

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 receives the facility information (a large amount of information) transmitted from the center side device 30 in S307e (S110e). Then, based on the received large amount of information, the display unit 15 displays the detailed text and the content of the detailed image included in the large amount of information (S111e). On the other hand, if it is determined in S108e that an instruction for displaying detailed information has not been input (S108e: NO), this process ends.

  Here, a specific example of the display mode of the facility etc. information in the “facility etc. information providing process (fifth embodiment)” will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of the display mode of facility information (heading information) in S107e described above, and FIG. 10B shows the facility information (detailed text) in S111e described above. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a display mode of (detailed image).

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the display unit 15 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 includes a plurality of heading information A to E on a map centering on a current position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle. It is displayed at the position corresponding to the location of the facility. Each heading information A to E displayed on the display unit 15 functions as an icon linked to the touch panel, and corresponds to the heading information when the user presses desired heading information on the display. An instruction for displaying detailed information can be input.

  When the user presses the icon of the heading information A in the situation shown in FIG. 10A, the detailed text and the detailed image corresponding to the heading information A are displayed on the map image of the display unit 15 as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

[2-5-2. effect]
According to the information providing system for executing the “facility information providing process (fifth embodiment)”, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

  (10) Since the detailed information is displayed only for the facility or the like in which the user has shown interest among the plurality of displayed heading information, congestion of the displayed information can be avoided, and the user can view the content of the facility or the like information It becomes easy to confirm.

  (11) For facilities and the like that the user has not shown interest in, only a small amount of information including headline information is transmitted and received, and a large amount of information including detailed text and detailed images is not transmitted and received. Cost can be reduced.

[2-5-3. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the fifth embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

  The control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the process of S105e in the “facility information providing process (fifth embodiment)” (see FIG. 9) corresponds to the vehicle-side transmission means, and performs the processes of S107e and S111e. The control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 to be executed corresponds to the information presentation unit.

  Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S302e to S305e corresponds to a search unit, and the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S306e and S307e corresponds to a center side transmission unit. To do.

[2-5-4. Modification of Fifth Embodiment]
Here, the modification of 5th Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of an information providing system which is a modification of the fifth embodiment, and a processing procedure executed by the information providing system.

  In the modification of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, as a facility for providing facility information to the user, the central information center that plays a central role and specialized provision of detailed information for each region The regional information centers are provided with center-side devices 30a and 30b, respectively. The configuration of the center side devices 30a and 30b is the same as the configuration of the center side device 30 shown in FIG. The following description will focus on the parts that are different from the fifth embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are used for the common parts and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the facility information DB 33 of the center side device 30a installed in the central information center, the “detailed text” and “detailed image” items are removed from the contents of the facility information shown in FIG. A small amount of information with a small amount of information is stored as facility information. The center side device 30a is configured to communicate with the in-vehicle navigation device 10 mounted on each vehicle by wireless data communication via a mobile phone network.

  On the other hand, in the facility information DB 33 of the center side device 30b installed in the regional information center, a relative information amount including items of “detailed text” and “detailed image” in the facility information shown in FIG. A large amount of information is stored as facility information. Moreover, the center side apparatus 30b is comprised so that it may communicate with the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 mounted in each vehicle by the radio | wireless data communication via a narrow region communication system (DSRC).

  The center-side devices 30a and 30b are connected so as to communicate with each other via an appropriate communication line. Further, the center-side device 30a installed in the central information center corresponds to the first center-side device in the claims, and the center-side device 30b installed in the regional information center serves as the second center-side device. Equivalent to.

Subsequently, a procedure of processing executed by the information providing system which is a modified example of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the in-vehicle navigation device 10 transmits user information and position information acquired in the same manner as the processing of S101e to S104e in FIG. 9 to the center side device 30a by wireless data communication via the mobile phone network (S101f). ).

  Based on the user information and position information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 in S101f, the center side device 30a is a facility that matches the user attribute information and position information in the same manner as the processing in S302e to S305e in FIG. Information (small amount information) is extracted from the facility information DB 33, and the extracted facility information (small amount information) is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as a request source by wireless data communication via the mobile phone network (S301f). .

  The vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 displays headline information in the same manner as 107e to 108e in FIG. 9 based on the facility information (small amount information) received from the center side device 30a, and accepts a detailed information display instruction from the user. . Here, when a detailed information display instruction is input from the user for a certain heading information, the center side transmits the detailed information regarding the facility corresponding to the heading information by wireless data communication via the mobile phone network. A request is made to the device 30a (S102f).

  The center side device 30a instructs the center side device 30b arranged in the regional information center to transmit the facility information (a large amount of information) corresponding to the facility requested from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S102f (S302f). ).

  The center side device 30b extracts the facility etc. information (large amount information) corresponding to the instruction from the center side device 30a from the facility etc. information DB 33, and the extracted facility etc. information (large amount information) is sent to the narrow area communication system (DSRC). ) Is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as a request source by wireless data communication via S) (S303f).

The in-vehicle navigation device 10 displays the detailed text and the detailed image in the same manner as S111e in FIG. 9 based on the facility information (a large amount of information) received from the center side device 30b.
[2-6. Sixth Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a sixth embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-6-1. Explanation of visit history registration process]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of “visit history registration processing” executed by the in-vehicle navigation device 10 and the center side device 30. This drop-in history registration process is started when the in-vehicle navigation device 10 acquires facility information from the center side device 30 in the “facility information provision process”.

  First, in S101g in the processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, a point where the user is estimated to have stopped is detected from the detection result of the current position based on the detection signal from the position detection unit 12. Specifically, when the vehicle stops at the same point for a predetermined time or more, it may be determined that the vehicle has stopped at that point.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the user's stop point detected in S101g matches the location of the facility or the like indicated by the already acquired facility or the like information (S102g). Here, when it is determined that the user's stop point coincides with the location of the facility or the like (S102g: YES), a stop indicating that the user has stopped at the facility based on the facility ID of the corresponding facility and the user ID The history information is transmitted to the center side device 30 (S103g). On the other hand, when it is determined that the user's stop point is not the location of the facility or the like (S102g: NO), this process ends.

  The center side device 30 receives the stop history information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S103g (S301g). The received visit history information is stored as history information in the registration information of the corresponding user in the user registration DB 32 (see FIG. 3A) (S302g).

[2-6-2. Description of facility information provision processing (sixth embodiment)]
Next, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of “facility information provision processing (sixth embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

  This “facility etc. information providing process (sixth embodiment)” is different from the process of the center side apparatus 30 in the process of the center side device 30 in comparison with the process of S303a to S305a of FIG. The point which performs the process of S313g-S316g differs. In addition, since the process of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 and the user side apparatus 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 4), only the process of the center side apparatus 30 is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. The processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 and the user side device 20 is not shown. A description of the processing contents of the part not shown is omitted.

  The center side device 30 receives the user information and the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 (S311g). And the facility etc. corresponding to the facility etc. located within the predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle indicated by the received location information from the facility etc. information (see FIG. 3B) stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 Information is extracted (S312g). Specifically, based on the location of the facility or the like indicated by the information of each facility or the like, the facility or the like corresponding to a facility or the like located within a radius of km from the current location of the vehicle is searched.

  Next, based on the user ID included in the received user information, attribute information and history information corresponding to the user are read from the user registration DB 32 (S313g). Then, the facility information that matches the read attribute information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S312g (S314g). Specifically, the contents of the items of “attributes 1, 2,...” In the facility information etc. are compared with the contents of each item in the user attribute information, and the facility etc. information with the items whose contents match is the user attribute information. Extracted as conforming to.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the history information read in S313g includes the visit history information of the user (S315g). This drop-in history information is registered in the aforementioned “drop-in history registration process” (see FIG. 12).

  Here, when it is determined that the history information includes the visit history information of the user (S315g: YES), the information corresponding to the facility indicated by the visit history information is predetermined emphasis among the facility information extracted in S314g. Processing to display specifications (S316g). Specifically, information to be displayed in a color or character size different from other facility information is added to the facility information corresponding to the facility indicated by the visit history information, etc. It is conceivable to add information for displaying a message that the user has visited in the past.

Next, in S317g, the facility information extracted in S314g (including the facility information processed in S316g) is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source.
On the other hand, if it is determined in S315g that the history information does not include the user's visit history information (S315g: NO), the facility information extracted in S314g is transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that is the request source (S317g). ).

[2-6-3. effect]
According to the information providing system that executes each process in the sixth embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

(13) When providing information such as facilities to the user, an additional service can be provided based on historical information that the user actually visited the facility or event.
[2-6-4. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the sixth embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

  The control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the processing of S101g to S103g in the “stopping history registration processing” (see FIG. 12) corresponds to a stopping history transmission unit. Further, the control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S302g corresponds to a stop history information recording unit.

  The control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S312g to S314g in the “facility etc. information provision processing (sixth embodiment)” (see FIG. 13) corresponds to the search means and executes the processing of S315g to S317g. The control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that corresponds to the center side transmission means.

[2-7. Seventh Embodiment]
Next, a description will be given of a seventh embodiment of processing executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30.

[2-7-1. Detailed request history registration process]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the “detailed request history registration process” executed by the in-vehicle navigation device 10 and the center side device 30. This “detailed request history registration process” is executed in parallel with the “facility information provision process”. Note that the “facility information provision process” referred to here is performed by the user selecting the headline information displayed on the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as in the above-described fifth embodiment (see FIG. 9). It is assumed that the center side device 30 is requested to transmit detailed information corresponding to the information.

  First, in S101h in the processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the facility etc. information instructed to display the detailed information from the user in the “facility etc. information provision processing” (that is, the heading information is selected on the screen) Is detected. Then, based on the facility ID and user ID in the detected facility information, detailed request history information indicating that the user has requested transmission of detailed information related to the facility is transmitted to the center side device 30 (S102h).

  The center side device 30 receives the detailed request history information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 in S102h (S301h). The received detailed request history information is stored as history information in the registration information of the corresponding user in the user registration DB 32 (see FIG. 3A) (S302h).

[2-7-2. Description of facility information provision processing (seventh embodiment)]
Next, FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of “facility information provision processing (seventh embodiment)” executed by each of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user-side device 20, and the center-side device 30.

  This “facility information providing process (seventh embodiment)” is performed by the user selecting the heading information displayed on the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as in the fifth embodiment (see FIG. 9). Although it is assumed that the center side device 30 is requested to transmit detailed information corresponding to the information, the following points are different from those of the fifth embodiment (see FIG. 9). In the seventh embodiment, in the processing of the center side device 30, the processing of S313h to S317h is executed instead of the processing of S303e to S306e in FIG.

  In addition, since the process of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10 and the user side apparatus 20 is the same as that of 5th Embodiment (refer FIG. 9), only the process of the center side apparatus 30 is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. The processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 and the user side device 20 is not shown. A description of the processing contents of the part not shown is omitted.

  The center side device 30 receives the user information and the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle navigation device 10 (S311h). And the facility etc. corresponding to the facility etc. located within the predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle indicated by the received location information from the facility etc. information (see FIG. 3B) stored in the facility etc. information DB 33 Information is extracted (S312h). Specifically, based on the location of the facility or the like indicated by the information of each facility or the like, the facility or the like corresponding to a facility or the like located within a radius of km from the current location of the vehicle is searched.

  Next, based on the user ID included in the received user information, attribute information and history information corresponding to the user are read from the user registration DB 32 (S313h). Then, the facility information that matches the read attribute information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S312h (S314h). Specifically, the contents of the items of “attributes 1, 2,...” In the facility information etc. are compared with the contents of each item in the user attribute information, and the facility etc. information with the items whose contents match is the user attribute information. Extracted as conforming to.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the user's detailed request history information is included in the history information read in S313h (S315h). The detailed request history information is registered in the above-described “detailed request history registration process” (see FIG. 14).

  Here, when it is determined that the detailed request history information of the user is included in the history information (S315h: YES), information corresponding to the facility indicated by the detailed request history information is predetermined from the facility information extracted in S314h. (S316h). Specifically, information to be displayed in a color or a character size different from other facility information is added to the facility information corresponding to the facility indicated by the detailed request history information, or the user It may be possible to add information for displaying a message indicating that detailed information has been requested in the past.

  Next, in S317h, from the facility information extracted in S314h (including the facility information processed in S316h), at least items of “facility ID” and “heading information” are included, and “detailed text” and “details” A small amount of information with a relatively small amount of information that does not include the “image” item is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S315h that the detailed request history information of the user is not included in the history information (S315h: NO), a small amount of information with a relatively small amount of information is extracted from the facility information extracted in S314g. This is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source (S317g).

  Next, in S318h, based on the facility etc. ID requested from the in-vehicle navigation device 10, at least items of “detailed text” and “detailed image” are included from the facility etc. information corresponding to this facility etc. ID. Then, a large amount of information having a relatively large amount of information is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 10 as the request source.

[2-7-3. effect]
According to the information providing system that executes each process in the seventh embodiment, in addition to the effects of the fifth embodiment, the following effects are further obtained.

(14) When providing facility etc. information to the user, an additional service can be provided based on the history information requested by the user to send detailed information on the facility etc.
[2-7-4. Correspondence with Claims]
The correspondence between the processing executed by the control units 11, 21, 31 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10, the user side device 20, and the center side device 30 in the seventh embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. It is as follows.

  The control unit 11 of the in-vehicle navigation device 10 that executes the processing of S101h and S102h in the “detailed request history registration process” (see FIG. 14) corresponds to a detailed request history transmission unit. The control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the process of S302h corresponds to a detailed history information recording unit.

  The control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that executes the processing of S312h to S314h in the “facility information provision processing (seventh embodiment)” (see FIG. 17) corresponds to the search means and executes the processing of S315h to S318h. The control unit 31 of the center side device 30 that corresponds to the center side transmission means.

[3. Other Embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In the configuration of the information providing system of each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which a mobile phone is used as the user-side device 20 has been described. / A portable device (so-called smart key) used in an electronic key system that performs authentication for locking and engine operation may be used. By doing in this way, the function as the user side apparatus 20 is realizable using the arithmetic processing function with which a smart key is provided, a communication function, a memory | storage function, etc. In addition to the smart key, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having a communication function, a portable game machine, an RFID tag, or the like may be used.

  (2) In each of the above-described embodiments, when the user information stored in the user information storage unit 22 of the user-side device 20 includes only the user ID (see FIG. 2A), the center-side device 30 The facility information that matches the attribute information (see FIG. 3A) stored in the user registration DB 32 is searched, and the user information stored in the user information storage unit 22 includes a user ID and attribute information. In the case (see FIG. 2B), the facility information that matches the attribute information included in the user information is searched.

  On the other hand, at least attribute information may be stored as user information in the user information storage unit 22 of the user side device 20 and the user registration DB 32 of the center side device 30 may not be provided. That is, in such a configuration, the attribute information of each user is stored only in the user device 20 possessed by each user without storing the attribute information of each user as a database in the center device 30. Become.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the information provision system of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the user information memorize | stored in the user information storage part. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the registration information for each user, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of information, such as facilities. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (1st Embodiment). (A) is explanatory drawing which shows typically an example of the switch provided in the display part 15 of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 10, (b) is an example of the icon and switch provided in the user side apparatus 20. FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown typically. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (2nd Embodiment). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (3rd Embodiment). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (4th Embodiment). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (5th Embodiment). (A) is explanatory drawing which shows typically an example of the display mode of information, such as facilities (heading information), (b) is a schematic example of the display mode of information, such as facilities (detailed text, detailed image). It is explanatory drawing shown in. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the schematic structure of the information provision system which is a modification of 5th Embodiment, and the procedure of the process which the said information provision system performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a visit history registration process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (6th Embodiment). It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a detailed request | requirement log | history registration process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a facility etc. information provision process (7th Embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Position detection part, 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Memory | storage part, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Communication part, 20 ... User side apparatus, 21 ... Control part, 22 User information storage unit 23 Operation unit 24 Communication unit 30 Center device 31 Control unit 32 User registration database 33 Facility information database 34 Communication unit 40 Information provider Side terminal, 100 ... Internet.

Claims (27)

A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a user-side device carried by a user driving the vehicle, and a center-side device provided in an external information center, the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center An information providing system configured to be able to communicate with a side device,
The user side device is:
User information storage means for storing user information including at least identification information capable of identifying a user carrying the user side device;
User-side transmission means for transmitting user information stored in the user information storage means to the vehicle-side device;
The vehicle side device is:
Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Vehicle side transmission means for transmitting position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection means and user information transmitted from the user side device to the center side device;
Based on the facility information transmitted from the center side device, information presenting means for presenting information to the user,
The center side device is:
For a plurality of facilities or events, information storage means such as facilities for storing information such as facilities related to each facility or event, and
For a plurality of users, attribute information storage means for storing identification information that can identify each user and attribute information about the user indicated by each identification information in association with each other;
The attribute information corresponding to the user indicated by the identification information included in the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device is acquired from the attribute information storage means, and the acquired attribute information and the position transmitted from the vehicle side device A search means for searching the facility etc. information storage means for information such as a facility that meets a predetermined condition according to the information;
An information providing system comprising: a center-side transmitting unit that transmits the facility information retrieved by the retrieving unit to the vehicle-side device. A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a user-side device carried by a user driving the vehicle, and a center-side device provided in an external information center, the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center An information providing system configured to be able to communicate with a side device,
The user side device is:
User information storage means for storing user information including at least attribute information relating to a user carrying the user side device;
User-side transmission means for transmitting user information stored in the user information storage means to the vehicle-side device;
The vehicle side device is:
Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Vehicle side transmission means for transmitting position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection means and user information transmitted from the user side device to the center side device;
Based on the facility information transmitted from the center side device, information presenting means for presenting information to the user,
The center side device is:
For a plurality of facilities or events, information storage means such as facilities for storing information such as facilities related to each facility or event, and
Search means for searching for facility information that matches a predetermined condition according to attribute information and position information included in user information transmitted from the vehicle side device from the facility information storage means;
An information providing system comprising: a center-side transmitting unit that transmits the facility information retrieved by the retrieving unit to the vehicle-side device. In the information provision system of Claim 1,
The user information storage means provided in the user side device includes an aspect of storing only the identification information as the user information, and an aspect of storing the identification information and attribute information about the user indicated by the identification information as the user information. It is configured to be memorable in any aspect,
When the user information transmitted from the vehicle-side device includes the attribute information of the user, the search means included in the center-side device includes the attribute information and the position information transmitted from the vehicle-side device. If the facility information storage unit is searched for facility information that matches a predetermined condition according to the user information, and the attribute information corresponding to the user is not included in the user information, the identification information included in the user information is The attribute information corresponding to the user to be shown is acquired from the attribute information storage unit, and the facility information that matches a predetermined condition according to the acquired attribute information and the position information transmitted from the vehicle side device An information providing system characterized by searching from an equal information storage means. In the information provision system of Claim 1 or Claim 3,
The user side device and the vehicle side device are configured to be able to communicate with each other by wireless communication,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle side device receives the user information from the user side device when the user side device and the vehicle side device enter a predetermined communication range. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1, Claim 3, or Claim 4,
The vehicle-side device and the center-side device are configured to be communicable in two types of communication methods, a predetermined communication method for large-capacity communication and a predetermined communication method for small-capacity communication,
When the center-side device and the vehicle-side device transmit and receive information on the facility, etc., for the facility-related information having a relatively large amount of information, the communication method for large-capacity communication is used. An information providing system characterized by using the communication method for small-capacity communication for information on a small number of facilities. In the information provision system of Claim 5,
The center-side device searches the first facility information storage unit for information such as a facility with a relatively small amount of information that matches the attribute information and the position information, and uses this information as a communication method for the small-capacity communication. The first center side device that transmits to the vehicle side device and the facility information indicated by the facility information retrieved by the first center side device or the facility information that has a relatively large amount of information about the second information. An information providing system comprising: a second center side device that retrieves information from the facility information storage means and transmits it to the vehicle side device using the communication method for large-capacity communication. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-6,
The vehicle-side device or the user-side device is configured such that a user can specify a search range of at least one of a distance search range or a time search range based on the current position of the vehicle,
The vehicle side transmission means transmits search range information indicating a search range designated by a user together with the position information and the user information to the center side device,
The search means provided in the center side device searches the facility etc. information storage means for information such as facilities that meet a predetermined condition based on the attribute information, the position information, and the search range indicated by the search range information. An information provision system characterized by In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-7,
The vehicle-side device or the user-side device is configured such that the user can specify the facility or event category to be searched,
The vehicle side transmission means transmits category information indicating a category designated by a user together with the position information and the user information to the center side device,
The information providing system characterized in that the search means provided in the center side device searches the facility etc. information storage means for information such as facilities that meet a predetermined condition based on the attribute information, the position information, and the category information. . In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-8,
The vehicle-side device or the user-side device is configured so that the user can select whether or not to consider the user's attribute information in the facility information search,
When the vehicle-side transmission means is selected not to consider user attribute information, only the position information is transmitted to the center-side device,
The information providing system characterized in that the search means provided in the center side apparatus searches the facility etc. information storage means for information such as facilities that meet a predetermined condition corresponding to only the position information. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-9,
An input means capable of inputting an instruction to start a series of processes by the information providing system by a one-push operation is provided in at least one of the user side device or the vehicle side device,
The series of processes is started when a start instruction is input by the input unit. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-10,
The information presenting means included in the vehicle side device presents heading information that is facility information having a relatively small amount of information for each facility or event based on the facility information received from the center side device. An information providing system that presents detailed information that is information such as a facility having a relatively large amount of information related to the facility or event indicated by the heading information designated by the user from the heading information. The information providing system according to claim 11,
The center side transmission means provided in the center side device first transmits the header information to the vehicle side device,
The vehicle side device requests the center side device to transmit the detailed information related to the facility or event indicated by the heading information specified by the user from the heading information presented by the information presenting means,
The center side transmission means provided in the center side device transmits the detailed information corresponding to the facility or the event corresponding to the request to the vehicle side device in response to the request for the detailed information from the vehicle side device. An information provision system characterized by In the information provision system according to claim 11 or 12,
The vehicle-side device further includes a presentation history transmission unit that transmits information indicating a facility or an event designated to be presented by the user as detailed information to the center-side device as presentation history information.
The center side device is:
Further comprising presentation history information recording means for recording the presentation history information transmitted from the vehicle side device in association with the record of the user in the attribute information storage means,
The center-side transmission means includes the facility etc. information searched by the search means.
Information about facilities, etc., corresponding to the user's presentation history information stored in the attribute information storage means, is transmitted in a predetermined manner taking that into account. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-13,
The vehicle side device is:
Based on the detection result by the position detecting means, a stop to the facility or event indicated by the facility information obtained from the center side device is detected, and information indicating that the user has stopped by the stop history information of the user Further comprising a stop history transmission means for transmitting to the center side device as
The center side device is:
A stop history information recording means for recording the stop history information transmitted from the vehicle side device in association with the record of the user in the attribute information storage means,
The center-side transmission means includes the facility etc. information searched by the search means.
Information about facilities and the like corresponding to the visit history information of the user stored in the attribute information storage means is transmitted in a predetermined manner in consideration of the fact. In the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 or Claims 3-13,
The center side device is communicably connected to a plurality of terminals via a network, and registers the facility information from a terminal of a person who provides the facility information to the center side device. An information provision system characterized by being configured to be updatable. In the information provision system of any one of Claims 1-15,
The vehicle-side device is an in-vehicle navigation device that performs route guidance based on map data. In the information provision system of any one of Claims 1-16,
The information providing system, wherein the user side device is a mobile phone. In the information provision system of any one of Claims 1-17,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the user side device is a portable device used in an electronic key system that performs authentication for unlocking / locking a door of a vehicle and engine operation by wireless communication.   The vehicle side apparatus provided with the structure described about the vehicle side apparatus which comprises the information provision system of any one of Claims 1-18.   A center side apparatus comprising the configuration described for the center side apparatus constituting the information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 18.   The user side apparatus provided with the structure described about the user side apparatus which comprises the information provision system of any one of Claims 1-18. A vehicle-side device mounted on the vehicle;
A user-side device carried by a user who drives the vehicle, user information storage means for storing user information including at least identification information that can identify the user carrying the user-side device, and stored in the user information storage means A user side device comprising user side transmission means for transmitting user information being transmitted to the vehicle side device;
A center-side device provided in an external information center that can identify facility information storage means for storing information on each facility or facility for a plurality of facilities or events, and each user for a plurality of users Attribute information storage means for storing the identification information and attribute information about the user indicated by each identification information in association with each other, and an attribute corresponding to the user indicated by the identification information included in the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device Information is acquired from the attribute information storage means, and the facility information storage means that matches a predetermined condition according to the acquired attribute information and the position information transmitted from the vehicle-side device is searched from the facility information storage means. And a center side transmitting means for transmitting the facility information searched by the searching means to the vehicle side device. And a location,
A vehicle-side device program for causing a computer to function as the vehicle-side device used in an information providing system configured to allow the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device to communicate with each other,
Vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and user information transmitted from the user-side device to the center-side device;
A program for a vehicle-side device, which causes a computer to function as information presenting means for presenting information to a user based on facility information transmitted from the center-side device. A vehicle-side device mounted on the vehicle;
A user-side device that is carried by a user who drives the vehicle and that stores user information that includes at least attribute information relating to the user who carries the user-side device, and is stored in the user information storage unit. A user side device comprising user side transmission means for transmitting user information to the vehicle side device;
A center-side device provided in an external information center, for a plurality of facilities or events, facility information storage means for storing information about each facility or event, and user information transmitted from the vehicle-side device Search means for searching for facility information that meets a predetermined condition according to attribute information and position information included in the facility information storage means, and the vehicle side device for searching for the facility information searched by the search means A center side device comprising a center side transmission means for transmitting to
A vehicle-side device program for causing a computer to function as the vehicle-side device used in an information providing system configured to allow the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device to communicate with each other,
Vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and user information transmitted from the user-side device to the center-side device;
A program for a vehicle-side device, which causes a computer to function as information presenting means for presenting information to a user based on facility information transmitted from the center-side device. A user-side device carried by a user who drives the vehicle, user information storage means for storing user information including at least identification information that can identify the user carrying the user-side device, and stored in the user information storage means A user side device comprising user side transmission means for transmitting user information being transmitted to the vehicle side device;
A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle, position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection unit, and a user transmitted from the user-side device Vehicle-side apparatus comprising vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting information to the center-side apparatus, and information presentation means for presenting information to the user based on the facility information transmitted from the center-side apparatus;
A center side device provided in an external information center,
A program for a center-side device for causing a computer to function as the center-side device used in an information providing system configured such that the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device can communicate with each other,
The attribute information corresponding to the user indicated by the identification information included in the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device is acquired from the attribute information storage means provided in the center side device, and the acquired attribute information and the vehicle side device are acquired. Searching means for searching for facility information that matches a predetermined condition according to the transmitted position information from the facility information storage means provided in the center side device, and the facility etc. information searched by the searching means A program for a center-side device, which causes a computer to function as center-side transmission means for transmitting to a vehicle-side device. A user-side device that is carried by a user who drives the vehicle and that stores user information that includes at least attribute information relating to the user who carries the user-side device, and is stored in the user information storage unit. A user side device comprising user side transmission means for transmitting user information to the vehicle side device;
A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle, position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection unit, and a user transmitted from the user-side device Vehicle-side apparatus comprising vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting information to the center-side apparatus, and information presentation means for presenting information to the user based on the facility information transmitted from the center-side apparatus;
A center side device provided in an external information center,
A program for a center-side device for causing a computer to function as the center-side device used in an information providing system configured such that the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device can communicate with each other,
Search means for searching for facility etc. information that meets a predetermined condition according to attribute information and position information included in the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device from the facility information storage means provided in the center side device; A computer program for causing a computer to function as center-side transmission means for transmitting facility information searched by the search means to the vehicle-side apparatus. A user-side device carried by a user driving the vehicle;
A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle, position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection unit, and a user transmitted from the user-side device Vehicle-side apparatus comprising vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting information to the center-side apparatus, and information presentation means for presenting information to the user based on the facility information transmitted from the center-side apparatus;
A center-side device provided in an external information center that can identify facility information storage means for storing information on each facility or facility for a plurality of facilities or events, and each user for a plurality of users Attribute information storage means for storing the identification information and attribute information about the user indicated by each identification information in association with each other, and an attribute corresponding to the user indicated by the identification information included in the user information transmitted from the vehicle side device Information is acquired from the attribute information storage means, and the facility information storage means that matches a predetermined condition according to the acquired attribute information and the position information transmitted from the vehicle-side device is searched from the facility information storage means. And a center side transmitting means for transmitting the facility information searched by the searching means to the vehicle side device. And a location,
A program for a user-side device for causing a computer to function as the user-side device used in an information providing system configured such that the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device can communicate with each other,
A computer serving as user-side transmission means for transmitting user information including at least identification information for identifying a user carrying the user-side apparatus, stored in user information storage means included in the user-side apparatus, to the vehicle-side apparatus. A program for a user side device characterized by functioning. A user-side device carried by a user driving the vehicle;
A vehicle-side device mounted on a vehicle, a position detection unit for detecting a current position of the vehicle, position information indicating the current position detected by the position detection unit, and a user transmitted from the user-side device Vehicle-side apparatus comprising vehicle-side transmission means for transmitting information to the center-side apparatus, and information presentation means for presenting information to the user based on the facility information transmitted from the center-side apparatus;
A center-side device provided in an external information center, for a plurality of facilities or events, facility information storage means for storing information about each facility or event, and user information transmitted from the vehicle-side device Search means for searching for facility information that meets a predetermined condition according to attribute information and position information included in the facility information storage means, and the vehicle side device for searching for the facility information searched by the search means A center side device comprising a center side transmission means for transmitting to
A program for a user-side device for causing a computer to function as the user-side device used in an information providing system configured such that the vehicle-side device, the user-side device, and the center-side device can communicate with each other,
Causing the computer to function as user-side transmission means for transmitting to the vehicle-side apparatus user information including at least attribute information relating to a user carrying the user-side apparatus, stored in a user information storage means included in the user-side apparatus. A program for a user device.