JP2009077041A - Regional information providing method, server device, and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a regional information providing method, a server device, and a program for the same protecting privacy of a person who answers questions. <P>SOLUTION: According to the regional information providing method, the server device, and the program for the same, in transmitting and receiving a question related to a desired region and an answer to it to and from terminal devices via a server device connected to a communication network, the server device acquires information about the location of the respective terminal devices and determines, on the basis of the information, regions where the respective terminal devices are located. When the server device receives a question about a desired region from a first terminal device, the device determines other terminal devices for limiting transmission of the question on the basis of the location of the first terminal device and/or the number of other terminal devices among the other terminal devices located in the region, transmits the question to other terminal devices where the transmission of questions is not limited, and transmits an answer to the first terminal device from the terminal devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an area information providing method, a server apparatus, and a program therefor, and in particular, a question about a desired area and transmission / reception of a response between a plurality of terminal apparatuses are transmitted via a server apparatus connected to a communication network. The present invention relates to a regional information providing method, a server device, and a program.

  There are many requests to get current information on a specific area. For example, you often want to know information about local facilities and stores at your travel destination.

  As an information providing system that can meet such a demand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of transmitting and receiving a question about a desired region and a response between a plurality of terminal devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). A technique performed via a system server connected to a communication network is disclosed.

  The information providing system includes a plurality of terminal devices, a base station, and a system server. When the system server receives a question content regarding a desired region from a certain terminal device via the base station, the information providing system receives the question content. The terminal device that can communicate with the base station in the desired region is transmitted via the base station, and the answer to the question is transmitted to the terminal device of the questioner via the base station.

  For example, when a user of this information providing system wants information on a certain area, the user specifies the position information of the area and transmits a question mail from the terminal device to the system server.

  When the system server receives the question mail from the user, the system server transmits the received question mail to the terminal device of the user that can communicate with the base station in the designated area.

  When the answer mail for the question mail is returned from the user who has received the question mail, the system server sends the answer mail to the terminal device of the user who sent the question mail.

As described above, the information providing system described in Patent Document 1 responds to a user's desire to know current information regarding a specific area by transmitting an answer mail to the user who transmitted the question mail. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-191911

  However, in the conventional information providing system, there is a possibility that the privacy of the side answering the question cannot be sufficiently protected.

  For example, when a user uses this information providing system at a destination or the like, it may be possible to designate a place where the user is in a specific area and send a question mail regarding information on the area.

  In this case, if the user who answers the question is within the reach of the user who asks the question, the user who answers the question uses this information provision system, Whether the user who answered the question email and the appearance of the user who answered the question email may be known to the user who asked the question, and protect the privacy of the user answering the question sufficiently I can't.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a local information providing method, a server device, and a program thereof that can protect the privacy of a user answering a question.

  Accordingly, in the present invention according to claim 1, in the regional information providing method in which a question about a desired region and transmission / reception of a response between a plurality of terminal devices are performed via a server device connected to a communication network, the server device A first step of acquiring location information from each of the terminal devices, and a second step in which the server device determines a region where each of the terminal devices is located based on the acquired location information. When the server apparatus receives a question about a desired area from one terminal apparatus, the position of the one terminal apparatus and / or the other terminal among the other terminal apparatuses located in the desired area A third step of determining the other terminal device that restricts the transmission of the question based on the number of devices, and the server device to the other terminal device that is not restricted to transmit the question, A fourth step of transmitting a question, and a fifth step of the other terminal device transmitting an answer to the received question to the one terminal device through or without the server device. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the regional information providing method according to the first aspect, in the third step, the server device restricts transmission of the question based on a position of the one terminal device. The other terminal device is the other terminal device within a predetermined range from the position of the one terminal device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the regional information providing method according to the first aspect, in the third step, the server device restricts transmission of the question based on the number of the other terminal devices. When the number of other terminal devices located in the desired area is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the terminal devices to be used are all the other terminal devices located in the desired area.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the regional information providing method according to the first aspect, the server device in the third step is the one in the other terminal device located in the desired region. The other terminal device that restricts transmission of the question is determined according to the distance from the position of the terminal device and the number thereof.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, in the area information providing method according to claim 2 or claim 3, the server device acquires the predetermined range and / or the predetermined number from the terminal device. 6th step which memorize | stores in a memory | storage means in association with a terminal device, In the said 3rd step, the said server apparatus is based on the said predetermined range and / or the said predetermined number memorize | stored in the said memory | storage means. The determination is performed.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 6, in a server device that mediates transmission and reception of a question about a desired area and a response between a plurality of terminal devices via a communication network, information on the position of each terminal device is stored in the server device. Acquisition means for periodically acquiring from each of the terminal devices via a communication network, first determination means for determining an area where each of the terminal devices is located based on information on the position acquired by the acquisition means; When a question about a desired area is received from one terminal apparatus, based on the position of the one terminal apparatus and / or the number of other terminal apparatuses among the other terminal apparatuses located in the desired area A second determination unit that determines the other terminal device that restricts transmission of the question, and the other terminal device that is not restricted from transmitting the question among the other terminal devices located in a desired region. To said quality And Query Processing means for transmitting, when receiving a reply from the other terminals for the question, it is characterized in that a reply processing means for transmitting the answer to the one terminal device.

  The present invention according to claim 7 provides a program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the server device according to claim 6.

  According to the first, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the server device transmits the question based on the position of the terminal device that transmits the question and the number of other terminal devices in the area corresponding to the question. Therefore, the server device can transmit the question only to the terminal device that can protect the privacy of the user even if the question is received, and the privacy of the user answering the question can be protected.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the server device transmits the question to the terminal device in a range where it is not known that the question has been received, the privacy of the user who receives the question can be protected. .

  According to the present invention of claim 3, even if there is another terminal device that receives the question at a position relatively close to the terminal device that transmitted the question, the number of terminal devices that receive the question is If the number is larger than the predetermined number, it is difficult to specify which terminal device has received the question, and thus the privacy of the user who receives the question can be more reliably protected.

  In the present invention according to claim 4, the server device considers the number of terminal devices in the area corresponding to the question and the distance from the question transmission source terminal device to the question transmission destination terminal device. Thus, other terminal devices that are candidates for the question transmission destination are determined, so that the candidate of the question transmission destination can be easily secured while securely protecting the privacy of the user receiving the question. .

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, for each user of the terminal device, as information regarding whether or not to receive the question on the user side of the terminal device that receives the question, another terminal device in the area where the terminal is located Since the number and the distance from the terminal device that sent the question can be set, the terminal device to which the question is sent is selected according to the privacy awareness of the user receiving the question Therefore, it is possible to easily meet the user's request.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, an arbitrary user transmits a question about a desired region from his / her terminal device to another terminal device in the desired region via a server device connected to the communication network, and receives the question. The terminal device of the present invention transmits the answer to the question to the terminal device that transmitted the question via the server device, thereby providing the present invention to a region information providing system that provides information regarding a desired region to the user who transmitted the question. The case where it is applied will be described as an example.

[1. Schematic configuration of regional information provision system]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a regional information providing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the area information providing system S according to the present embodiment includes a server device 1 and a plurality of users a, b, and c (hereinafter, not specific users) that use the area information providing system S. When referring to an arbitrary user who uses the regional information providing system S, the terminal devices 2a, 2b, and 2c (hereinafter referred to as specific user devices, not the specific terminal devices) respectively owned by the “user A”). When referring to an arbitrary terminal device in the providing system S, it is simply referred to as “terminal device 2”).

  Each terminal device 2 is configured to be connectable to a communication network such as the Internet via the nearest radio base station. The server device 1 is configured to be connectable to a communication network such as the Internet.

  And in this area information provision system S, the question regarding a desired area and the reply of the reply are performed between the some terminal devices 2 via the server apparatus 1 connected to the communication network.

  Each terminal device 2 has a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and transmits information on its own position (hereinafter referred to as “position information”) to the server device 1 at predetermined time intervals. It is configured (see FIG. 2). Here, the position information transmitted to the server device 1 is information on the latitude and longitude at which each terminal device 2 is calculated using radio waves received by each terminal device 2 from a plurality of GPS satellites.

  On the other hand, the server apparatus 1 receives and acquires the position information transmitted from each terminal apparatus 2, determines the area where each of the terminal apparatuses 2 is located based on the acquired position information, The terminal device 2 is configured to manage where it is located.

  In the area information providing system S configured as described above, the server device 1 transmits a question transmitted from one terminal device 2a to the other terminal devices 2b and 2c and receives the question as follows. The answer to the question is transmitted from the terminal devices 2b and 2c to the terminal device 2a that is the source of the question. Here, the user a who asks the question is the questioner a, the terminal device 2a that sends the question is the questioner terminal 2a, the users b and c who answer are the answerers b and c, and the terminal devices 2b and 2c that send the answer. Are referred to as respondent terminals 2b and 2c.

[2. Basic operation of regional information provision system]
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing transmission / reception of information between terminal devices via the server device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a mail screen.

  Each terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment has a mail function. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the questioner a wants to know information about a specific area, first, the questioner terminal 2 a The mail function is activated to create a mail (hereinafter referred to as “question mail M1”) describing a question regarding a desired area (hereinafter referred to as “question area 3”) to the server apparatus 1. Send.

  At this time, the interrogator a operates the interrogator terminal 2a to input the e-mail address of the server device 1 in the address field on the mail screen as shown in FIG. The identification information of the own device is input, and in the text field, the location information of the question destination area 3 to be informed and the information to be known in the question destination area 3 (here, the current congestion status of the restaurant R). Is entered with a slash (/) between them to create a question mail M1, and then this question mail M1 is sent to the server apparatus 1. Here, the identification information of each terminal device 2 is an identification number assigned by the server device 1 when each user A first uses the area information providing system S.

  In the present embodiment, the server device 1 assigns an identification number to each terminal device 2 in order for the server device 1 to identify each terminal device 2, but the server device 1 is information that can identify each terminal device 2. If there is, arbitrary identification information may be assigned. For example, a character string or a nickname determined by each user may be registered in the server device 1, and the character string or nickname may be used as identification information for each terminal device 2.

  Instead of assigning identification information to each terminal device 2, the server device 1 may be configured to identify each terminal device 2 based on the e-mail address of each terminal device 2. If comprised in this way, since the server apparatus 1 does not need to perform the process which allocates identification information, the processing load of the part can be reduced.

  As described above, the server device 1 manages the position information of all the terminal devices 2 using the area information providing system S, and receives the question mail M1 transmitted from the questioner terminal 2a. The respondent terminals 2b and 2c located in the question destination area 3 are selected from the plurality of terminal devices 2 based on the position information of the terminal device 2 that is currently operating, and the question mail M1 is sent to the respondent terminals 2b and 2c. Transfer the contents of.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the server device 1 does not write the e-mail address of the interrogator “a” and asks “Question from Mr. XXX (the identification number of the interrogator a)” in the subject field. Is created, and a question mail M1a in which the question content of the questioner a “Please tell us the current congestion status of the restaurant R” is created in the column of the text, and the question mail M1a is sent to the respondent terminal 2b, Send to 2c.

  When the respondent terminals 2b and 2c receive the question mail M1, the respondents b and c know the current congestion status of the restaurant R. When they want to answer the question mail M1, the respondent terminals 2b and 2c provide information on the congestion status of the restaurant R. The described reply mail M2 is created and transmitted to the server device 1.

  At this time, the respondents b and c operate their own respondent terminals 2b and 2c, respectively, and as shown in FIG. Enter the e-mail address of the device 1, enter the identification number of the device in the subject field, enter the answer to the question in the body field, create an answer mail M2, and then enter the answer mail M2 It transmits to the server device 1.

  When the server apparatus 1 receives the answer mail M2 transmitted from the answerer terminals 2b and 2c, the server apparatus 1 transfers the content of the answer mail M2 to the questioner terminal 2a that is the transmission source of the question mail M1.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the server device 1 displays “YYY (identifiers of respondents b and c) in the subject field without describing the email addresses of the respondent terminals 2b and 2c. ) From the respondent terminals 2b and 2c in the text column, the reply mail M2a is written in which the content of the reply of the respondent terminals 2b and 2c “12:30 is currently the number of customers waiting for the restaurant R is five sets” The response mail M2a is created and transmitted to the questioner terminal 2a.

  In this way, in this area information providing system S, the server apparatus 1 answers from the questioner terminal 2a by intermediating the transmission and reception of the question about the desired area and the response between the plurality of terminal apparatuses 2 via the communication network. The question mail M1 (M1a) is transmitted to the answerer terminals 2b and 2c, and the answer mail M2 (M2a) is transmitted from the answerer terminals 2b and 2c to the questioner terminal 2a as the answer.

[3. Privacy protection in local information system]
The regional information providing system S in the present embodiment has a mechanism for protecting the respondent's privacy. The privacy protection mechanism will be specifically described below.

[3.1. Overview of privacy protection operations]
In this area information providing system S, when the server apparatus 1 receives the question mail M1 regarding the question destination area 3 transmitted from the questioner terminal 2a which is one terminal apparatus 2 in order to protect the privacy of the respondent. Among the other terminal devices 2 located in the question destination area 3, the terminal device that can protect the privacy of the user A even if the question mail M1a is transmitted, and the privacy of the user A cannot be protected if the question mail M1a is transmitted. The terminal device 2 that has a fear is determined, and the transmission of the question mail M1a is restricted to the terminal device 2 that may not protect the privacy.

  In particular, the server device 1 determines the terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a based on the position of the questioner terminal 2a and the number of other terminal devices 2 in the question destination area. More specifically, the terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of the question mail M1a is determined by any one of the three terminal device determination methods (1) to (3) described below.

  When the server device 1 transmits a question mail M1a other than the terminal device 2 determined to limit the transmission of the question mail M1a among the terminal devices 2 in the question destination area 3, the server device 1 displays the question mail M1a. The privacy of the respondent is protected by transmitting the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2 other than the terminal device 2 that may not be able to protect the privacy of the user of the receiving terminal device 2.

[3.2. Specific method of privacy protection operation]
Here, the terminal device determination methods (1) to (3) in which the server device 1 of the present embodiment determines the terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of the question mail M1a will be described with reference to FIGS. . FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the terminal device determination method (1) and an explanatory diagram showing the privacy information table, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the terminal device determination method (2) and an explanatory diagram showing the privacy information table. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a privacy information table used in the terminal device determination method (3). In FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B, the server device 1 indicates the terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a by (×) below the user A, and the question The terminal device 2 that does not restrict the transmission of the mail M1a is indicated by (◯) under the user A.

[3.2.1 Terminal Device Determination Method (1)]
First, the terminal device (1) will be described. Here, there are six other users a to f who use this area information providing system S in the question destination area 3, and the user a transmits a question mail M1 related to the question destination area 3 to the server device 1. A case will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, in the terminal device determination method (1), when the server device 1 first receives the question mail M1 from the questioner terminal 2a, the server device 1 determines the question destination region 3 from the question mail M1. Then, the other terminal devices 2b to 2f currently in the question destination area 3 are specified.

  Thereafter, the server device 1 determines the other terminal devices 2b and 2c within the predetermined range 4 from the position information of the questioner terminal 2a as the terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a, and the question destination region 3, the other terminal devices 2d to 2f outside the predetermined range 4 from the questioner terminal 2a are determined as the terminal devices 2 that do not restrict the transmission of the question mail M1a, and the terminal devices 2d to 2f are asked questions. The mail M1a is transmitted.

  When there is no terminal device 2 that can use the area information providing system S within the predetermined range 4, the server device 1 transmits an error notification indicating that fact to the interrogator terminal 2a.

  In the terminal device determination method (1), in order to determine the terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a in this way, the server device 1 is located relatively close to the questioner a and has received the question mail M1a. The terminal device 2b, 2c, which may be understood by the questioner a, does not transmit the question mail M1a, is located relatively far from the questioner a, and the questioner a does not know that the question mail M1a has been received. Since the question mail M1a can be transmitted to the terminal devices 2d to 2f in the range, the privacy of the users b and c of the terminal devices 2b and 2c located relatively close to the questioner a can be suitably protected. .

  Further, the predetermined range 4 in which the server device 1 restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a is stored and set in advance in a predetermined region of the storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7) described later by the server device 1. Each terminal device 2 may be configured to arbitrarily determine the predetermined range 4 as privacy information, transmit the privacy information to the server device 1, and manage it by the server device 1.

  When comprised in this way, the server apparatus 1 acquires the information L of the said predetermined range 4 arbitrarily determined by the user of the terminal apparatus 2 from each terminal apparatus 2 as privacy information (1), and the said terminal apparatus 2 is stored in a storage unit composed of a storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7) described later, and a privacy information table as shown in FIG. 4B is created.

  And the server apparatus 1 determines the terminal device 2 which restrict | limits transmission of the question mail M1a based on the privacy information (1) in this privacy information table.

  For example, when the server apparatus 1 holds the privacy information table shown in FIG. 4B, when there is a terminal apparatus 2 that transmits the question mail M1 within a radius of 20 m from the terminal apparatuses 2a and 2b, the terminal apparatus When there is a terminal device 2 that limits the transmission of the question mail M1a to 2a and 2b and transmits the question mail M1 within a radius of 50 m from the terminal devices 2c and 2d, the question mail M1a is transmitted to the terminal devices 2c and 2d. When there is a terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1 within a radius of 100 m from the terminal devices 2e and 2f, the transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal devices 2e and 2f is restricted.

  As described above, if the predetermined range 4 can be arbitrarily set on each terminal device 2 side, the server device 1 can respond to the privacy awareness of the user A on the side receiving the question mail M1a. The terminal device 2 that is the transmission destination of the question mail M1a can be selected, and the user's request can be easily handled.

[3.2.2 Terminal Device Determination Method (2)]
Next, the terminal device determination method (2) will be described. Here, in question destination area 3, there are questioner a and two other users b and c who are using this area information providing system S, and questioner a sends a question mail M1 regarding question destination area 3. Referring to FIG. 5A regarding the case of transmission to the server device 1, there are a questioner a and five other users b to f who use this area information providing system S in the question destination area 3. A case where the questioner a transmits the question mail M1 regarding the question destination area 3 to the server device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in this terminal device determination method (2), the server device 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a based on the number of other terminal devices 2. 2, when the number of other terminal devices 2 other than the questioner terminal 2 a located in the question destination area 3 is equal to or less than a predetermined number (here, “3”), all of the terminal devices 2 located in the question destination area 3 Other terminal apparatuses 2b and 2c (see FIG. 5A). The predetermined number “3” is stored and set in advance in a predetermined area of the storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7) described later by the server apparatus 1.

  Here, since there are only two terminal devices 2 (terminal devices 2b and 2c) within the questionable region 3 that can use the region information providing system S, which is smaller than the predetermined number “3” set in advance, the server The device 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a to all these two terminal devices 2b and 2c, and does not transmit the question mail M1a.

  Instead, the server device 1 notifies the interrogator terminal 2a of an error indicating that there is no terminal device 2 that transmits the reply mail M2.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, the terminal device 2 that can use the region information providing system S in the question destination region 3 is more than the predetermined number “3” set in advance (five devices (terminal devices 2b to 2f). Therefore, the server device 1 transmits the question mail M1a to all the five terminal devices 2b to 2f without restricting the transmission of the question mail M1a.

  Thus, in the terminal device determination method (2), since the server device 1 determines the terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of the question mail M1a, the server device 1 is in the question destination area 3 where the questioner a is. When there is a possibility that the questioner a may know that the question mail M1a has been received because the number of certain other terminal devices 2 is equal to or less than the predetermined number, the question mail M1a is transmitted to the terminal devices 2b and 2c. If the number of the other terminal devices 2 in the question destination area 3 is larger than the predetermined number and it is difficult for the questioner a to identify the terminal devices 2b to 2f that have received the question mail M1a, those terminal devices 2b Since the question mail M1a is transmitted to ˜2f, the privacy of the users b and c of the terminal devices 2b and 2c that restrict the transmission of the question mail M1a can be suitably protected.

  Here, the server apparatus 1 previously sets the predetermined number that the server apparatus 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a. However, each terminal apparatus 2 arbitrarily determines the predetermined number as privacy information. The privacy information may be transmitted to the server device 1 and managed by the server device 1.

  When configured in this way, the server device 1 acquires the predetermined number of information arbitrarily determined by the user of the terminal device 2 from each terminal device 2 as privacy information (2), and sends the information to the terminal device 2. The information is stored in a storage unit associated with the storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7) described later, and a privacy information table as shown in FIG. 5C is created.

  And the server apparatus 1 determines the terminal device 2 which restrict | limits transmission of the question mail M1a based on the privacy information (2) in this privacy information table.

  For example, when the server device 1 determines that there are six terminal devices 2a to 2f in the question destination area 3, the server device 1 refers to the privacy information table shown in FIG. The terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of M1a is determined. FIG. 5C shows a privacy information table in which only six terminal devices 2 in the question destination area 3 are extracted and rearranged in ascending order of a predetermined number M for the sake of simplicity.

  That is, the server device 1 refers to the privacy information table shown in FIG. 5C and first determines the terminal device 2f having the largest predetermined number M in order.

  Here, the server device 1 compares the predetermined number M of the terminal devices 2f with the number of terminal devices that have not yet been determined by the terminal devices 2 in the questioned area 3 (hereinafter referred to as “undecided number”). Then, when the undetermined number is larger than the predetermined number M, it is determined that transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2f thereafter is not restricted. On the other hand, when the undetermined number is equal to or less than the predetermined number M, it is determined that transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2f is restricted.

  Here, since the determination of the terminal devices 2a to 2f is not yet made, the number of undetermined units is 6, and the predetermined number M of the terminal devices 2f is 6. Therefore, the server device 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2f. judge.

  Next, the server device 1 determines the terminal device 2e having the largest predetermined number M among the undetermined terminal devices 2a to 2e. At this time, since the terminal devices 2a to 2e are not yet determined, the number of undecided units is 5, and the predetermined number M of the terminal devices 2e is 5. Therefore, the server device 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2e. Judge that.

  Next, the server device 1 determines the terminal device 2d having the largest predetermined number M among the undetermined terminal devices 2a to 2d. At this time, since the terminal devices 2a to 2d have not yet been determined, the number of undetermined units is 4, and the predetermined number M of the terminal devices 2d is 3. Therefore, the server device 1 restricts transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2d. Judge that not. And it determines with not restrict | limiting transmission also about the terminal devices 2a-2c after it.

  As a result, the server device 1 transmits the question mail M1a to the terminal devices 2a to 2d, and does not transmit the question mail M1a to the terminal devices 2e and 2f.

  In this way, if each terminal device 2 has a configuration in which the predetermined number can be arbitrarily set, the server device 1 can ask questions according to the privacy awareness of the user who receives the question mail M1a. The terminal device 2 that is the transmission destination of the mail M1a can be selected, and the user's request can be easily handled.

[3.2.3 Terminal Device Determination Method (3)]
In the terminal device determination method (3), the server device 1 responds to the distance from the position of the questioner terminal 2a in the other terminal device 2 other than the questioner terminal 2a located in the questionee area 3 and the number thereof. The other terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of the question mail M1a is determined.

  That is, the server device 1 uses the condition “terminal device 2 within a predetermined range from the questioner terminal 2a as a condition for determining the terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of the question mail M1a in the terminal device determination method (1). And “the terminal device 2 in the question area 3 when the number of terminal devices 2 in the question area 3 is equal to or less than a predetermined number” in the terminal device determination method (2). The transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2 that satisfies both of the above is restricted.

  In other words, the server device 1 has a predetermined range 4 (see FIG. 4 (a) when there are more than a predetermined number of terminal devices 2 of the user A of the regional information providing system S in the question destination region 3. The inquiry mail M1a is transmitted to the terminal device 2 outside the reference). Here again, the predetermined range 4 and the predetermined number are set by the server apparatus 1 in advance in a predetermined area of the storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7) described later.

  In the terminal device determination method (3), since the terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a is determined in this way, the server device 1 can easily determine that the questioner a has received the question mail M1a. Since the question mail M1a is not transmitted from the terminal 2a to another terminal device 2 within the predetermined range, the privacy of the user who receives the question mail M1a can be reliably protected.

  In addition, in the terminal device determination method (3), the server device 1 transmits the question mail M1a to the other terminal devices 2 only when there are more terminal devices 2 in the question destination area 3. When the answer mail M2 is received, a relatively large number of answer mails M2 are received.

  Therefore, since the questioner a can acquire more information regarding the question destination area 3, the usefulness of the area information providing system S can be improved.

  In addition, the server device 1 previously sets the predetermined range and the predetermined number that the server device 1 restricts the transmission of the question mail M1a. However, each terminal device 2 side sets the predetermined range as privacy information. 4 and the predetermined number may be arbitrarily determined, and the privacy information may be transmitted to the server device 1 and managed by the server device 1.

  When configured in this way, the server device 1 uses the information L of the predetermined range 4 and the predetermined number of information M determined arbitrarily by the user of the terminal device 2 from each terminal device 2 as privacy information (3). The data is acquired and stored in a storage unit including a storage unit 102 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, in association with the terminal device 2, and a privacy information table as shown in FIG. 6 is created.

  And the server apparatus 1 determines the terminal device 2 which restrict | limits transmission of the question mail M1a based on the privacy information (3) in this privacy information table.

  That is, when the server device 1 holds the privacy information table shown in FIG. 6, even if the terminal devices 2 a and 2 b of the users a and b exist in the question destination area 3, these terminal devices 2 a and 2 b 2b is outside the range of a radius of 30 m from the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1, and has three or more terminals within the radius of 30 m from the terminal device 2 that is within the question area 3 and has transmitted the question mail M1. If there is no device 2, the transmission of the question mail M1a to these terminal devices 2a and 2b is restricted, and even if there are the terminal devices 2c and 2d of the users c and d in the question destination area 3, these terminals Four devices 2c and 2d are outside the range of a radius of 50 m from the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1, and are within the target area 3 and outside the range of the radius of 50 m from the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1. more than Without the terminal device 2, the transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal devices 2c and 2d is restricted, and even if the terminal devices 2e and 2f of the users e and f exist in the question destination area 3, The terminal devices 2e and 2f are outside the radius of 100 m from the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1, and are within the radius of 100 m from the terminal device 2 that is within the question area 3 and has transmitted the question mail M1. If there are no more terminal devices 2, the transmission of the question mail M1a to these terminal devices 2e and 2f is restricted.

  In this way, the server device 1 according to the present embodiment allows the question mail M1a to be transmitted according to the distance from the position of the questioner terminal 2a and the number of the terminal devices 2 other than the questioner terminal 2a located in the questionee area 3. Another terminal device 2 that restricts transmission is determined.

  As described above, when the predetermined number can be arbitrarily set on each terminal device 2 side, the server device 1 allows the question mail M1a according to the privacy awareness of the user A on the side receiving the question mail M1a. The terminal device 2 as the transmission destination can be selected, and the user's request can be easily handled.

  In this terminal device determination method (3), the server device 1 sends a question mail to the terminal device 2 that satisfies both the conditions in the terminal device determination method (1) and the conditions in the terminal device determination method (2) as described above. Although the transmission of M1a is limited, if the privacy information table storing both the information L on the predetermined range and the information M on the predetermined number as shown in FIG. 6 is provided, the terminal device determination method (1 ) And the condition in the terminal device determination method (2), the transmission of the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2 that satisfies one of the conditions can also be limited.

  If comprised in this way, it will become easy to ensure the terminal device 2 used as the transmission destination of the question mail M1a, and the privacy of the user A of the terminal device 2 that receives the question mail M1a can be reliably protected.

[4. Server device electrical configuration, etc.]
Next, an electrical configuration and the like of the server device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The server device 1 can be a general-purpose server computer in addition to a dedicated computer. As shown in FIG. 7, the server device 1 can rewrite the control unit 101 and the above-described privacy information table and the like. A storage unit 102, a hard disk (HDD) 103 that stores location information and the like of each terminal device 2 acquired from the terminal device 2, a current location information of each terminal device 2 and contents of a privacy information table, etc., which will be described later A video processing unit 106 that performs conversion processing into information that can be displayed in 107, a display unit 107 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays video based on an output from the video processing unit 106, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like. An input unit 110 and a communication unit 113 for communicating with the terminal device 2 are provided. Note that the control unit 101, the storage unit 102, the hard disk 103, the communication unit 113, and the video processing unit 106 are connected to each other via the system bus 120.

  The control unit 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a nonvolatile memory, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). In this nonvolatile memory, a question mail transfer process for receiving the question mail M1 from the terminal device 2 and transmitting the question mail M1a to another terminal device 2 in the question destination area 3 corresponding to the question mail M1 is performed. An information processing program to be stored is stored, and the CPU reads and executes the information processing program stored in the non-volatile memory, thereby obtaining an acquisition unit, a first determination unit, a second determination unit, which will be described later, It functions as question processing means, answer processing means, and the like.

  This information processing program may be downloaded to a non-volatile memory inside the control unit 101 from another server connected to the server device 1 via the communication unit 113, for example. -After being recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM, it may be read into a non-volatile memory inside the control unit 101 via a recording medium drive (not shown).

[5. Processing executed by the control unit of the server device]
The operation of the server device 1 configured as described above will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 are flowcharts illustrating processing executed by the control unit 101 of the server device 1. The following processes are executed by the control unit 101 of the server device 1 functioning as the above-described units.

  Here, only the question mail transfer process, which is the main part of the present invention, will be described, and the other processes are the same as known processes executed by a conventional general server device, and thus description thereof is omitted. To do.

  Here, a case where the above-described privacy information is set in advance by the server device 1 will be described.

[5.1 Question mail forwarding process (1)]
First, the question mail transfer process (1) in which the server device 1 determines the transmission destination of the question mail M1a by the terminal device determination method (1) will be described.

  When the power is turned on, the control unit 101 of the server device 1 executes a main process (not shown), and executes the question mail transfer process (1) as a process repeatedly executed in the main process.

  In this question mail transfer process (1), as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 101 first determines whether or not the question mail M1 has been received from the terminal device 2 (step S01), and determines that it has been received. If it is determined (step S01: Yes), the process proceeds to step S02. If it is determined that it has not been received (step S01: No), the process proceeds to step S09.

  In step S02, the control unit 101 performs a questioner position acquisition process, and then moves the process to step S03. In this interrogator position acquisition process, the control unit 101 acquires the latitude and longitude information of the terminal device 2 as the position information of the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1, and stores it in a predetermined area of the storage unit 102. To do.

  Next, in step S03, the control unit 101 performs question destination area acquisition processing, and then moves the processing to step S04. In this question destination area acquisition process, the control unit 101 acquires the question destination area 3 from the place name described in the question mail M1.

  Next, in step S04, the control unit 101 performs a privacy information (1) acquisition process that is acquired with reference to the privacy information (1) stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 102, and then the process proceeds to step S05. Transfer. Here, the server apparatus 1 acquires the information L related to the predetermined range 4 as the privacy information (1).

  Next, in step S05, the control unit 101 refers to the location information of each terminal device 2 stored in the HDD 103, and selects the respondent terminal (other information that uses the area information providing system S) in the question destination area 3. It is determined whether or not there is a terminal device 2). When it is determined that there is (Step S05: Yes), the process proceeds to Step S06, and when it is determined that there is no (Step S05: No), the process is performed. Move to S08.

  As described above, the control unit 101 functions as a first determination unit that determines an area in which each terminal device 2 is located based on the position information of the terminal device 2.

  In step S06, the control unit 101 refers to the privacy information table, and privacy information (1) in which the distance from the questioner terminal (the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1) to the respondent terminal corresponds to the respondent terminal. ), It is determined whether or not it is larger than a numerical value L (L is an arbitrary natural number) indicating the predetermined range 4 described in the column.

  When the control unit 101 determines that the distance from the questioner terminal to the respondent terminal is greater than L (step S06: Yes), the control unit 101 moves the process to step S07, from the questioner terminal to the respondent terminal. If it is determined that the distance is L or less (step S06: No), the process proceeds to step S08.

  Here, when there are a plurality of respondent terminals in the question destination area 3, the control unit 101 executes the process of step S06 on all the respondent terminals.

  As described above, when the control unit 101 receives a question (question mail M1) regarding a desired region (question destination region 3) from one terminal device (questioner terminal), the other terminal device located in the desired region. Of the (candidates of the respondent terminal), it functions as a second determination unit that determines another terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of a question based on the position of one terminal device.

  Next, in step S07, the control unit 101 transmits the question mail M1a to the respondent terminal, and then returns the process to step S01.

  As described above, the control unit 101 transmits to another terminal device (respondent terminal) that is not restricted from transmitting the question (question mail M1a) among the other terminal devices 2 located in the desired region (question destination region 3). It functions as a question processing means for sending a question (question mail M1a).

  In step S08, the control unit 101 notifies the questioner terminal that there is no terminal device 2 capable of transmitting the question mail M1a in the question destination area 3, and then returns the process to step 01.

  Further, in step S09, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the position information of each terminal device 2 periodically transmitted from each terminal device 2 has been received, and determines that it has been received (step S09). : Yes), the process proceeds to step S10, and if it is determined that no reception has been received (step S09: No), the process proceeds to step S11.

  Next, in step S10, the control unit 101 performs position information update processing for updating the position information of each terminal device 2 stored in the HDD 103, and then returns the processing to step S01.

  As described above, the control unit 101 functions as an acquisition unit that periodically acquires the position information of each terminal device 2 from each terminal device 2 via the communication network.

  In step S11, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the reply mail M2 has been received from the respondent terminal. If the control unit 101 determines that the reply mail M2 has been received (step S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12. If it is determined that it has not been made (step S11: No), the question mail transfer process (1) is terminated.

  In step S12, the control unit 101 transmits an answer mail M2a to the questioner terminal, and then ends the question mail transfer process (1).

  Thus, when the control unit 101 receives an answer (answer mail M2) from another terminal device (answerer terminal) to the question (question mail M1), the control unit 101 receives the answer (answer mail M2a) as one terminal device. It functions as an answer processing means to be transmitted to the (questioner terminal).

[5.2 Question mail forwarding process (2)]
Next, the question mail transfer process (2) in which the server device 1 determines the transmission destination of the question mail M1a by the terminal device determination method (2) will be described.

  When the power is turned on, the control unit 101 of the server device 1 executes a main process (not shown), and executes the question mail transfer process (2) as a process repeatedly executed in the main process.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 9 and FIG. 8, this question mail transfer process (2) is changed between step S03 and step S05 of the question mail transfer process (1) instead of step S04 (privacy). It is the same as the question mail transfer process (1) except that the process of information (2) acquisition is entered and the judgment process of step S26 is entered instead of step S06 between step S05 and step S07. For this reason, descriptions of steps S24 and S26, and processes other than those before and after that are omitted.

  In this question mail transfer process (2), the control unit 101 of the server apparatus 1 performs the processing from step S01 to step S03, as in the question mail transfer process (1), as shown in FIG. To step S24.

  In step S24, the control unit 101 performs a privacy information (2) acquisition process that is acquired by referring to the privacy information (2) stored in the predetermined area of the storage unit 102, and then moves the process to step S05. Here, the server apparatus 1 acquires the information M regarding the predetermined number as the privacy information (2).

  Thereafter, when the control unit 101 determines in step S05 that there is a respondent terminal in the question destination area 3 (step S05: Yes), the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, the control unit 101 refers to the privacy information (2) corresponding to each respondent terminal in the privacy information table, and the predetermined information described in the privacy information (2) column of the respondent terminal. It is determined whether or not the number of respondent terminals in the question area 3 is larger than the information M regarding the number (M is an arbitrary natural number), and if it is determined that there are more than M (step S26: Yes), the processing Is transferred to step S07 and the question mail M1a is transmitted to the respondent terminal. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is equal to or less than M (step S26: No), the process proceeds to step S08 to notify the respondent terminal of an error.

  As described above, when the control unit 101 receives a question (question mail M1) regarding a desired region (question destination region 3) from one terminal device (questioner terminal), the other terminal device located in the desired region. Among the (respondent terminals), as a second determination unit that determines other terminal apparatuses 2 that restrict the transmission of the question (question mail M1a) based on the number of other terminal apparatuses (candidates of the respondent terminals). Function.

[5.3 Question mail forwarding process (3)]
Next, the question mail transfer process (3) in which the server device 1 determines the transmission destination of the question mail M1a by the terminal device determination method (3) will be described.

  When the power is turned on, the control unit 101 of the server device 1 executes a main process (not shown), and executes the question mail transfer process (3) as a process repeatedly executed in the main process.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 10 and FIG. 8, this question mail transfer process (3) is replaced with step S44 (privacy) between step S03 and step S05 of the question mail transfer process (1). The question mail transfer process (except that the process of information (3) acquisition) and the two determination processes of steps S46 and S47 are performed instead of step S06 between steps S05 and S07. Since this is the same as 1), the description is omitted except for the processes of Step S44, Steps S46 and S47, and the processes before and after that.

  In this question mail transfer process (3), as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 101 of the server apparatus 1 performs the processes from step S01 to step S03 in the same manner as the question mail transfer process (1). To step S44.

  In step S44, the control unit 101 performs a privacy information (3) acquisition process that is acquired with reference to the privacy information (3) stored in the predetermined area of the storage unit 102, and then moves the process to step S05. Here, the server apparatus 1 acquires the information L about the predetermined range 4 and the information M about the predetermined number as the privacy information (3).

  Thereafter, when the control unit 101 determines in step S05 that there is an answerer terminal in the question destination area 3 (step S05: Yes), the process proceeds to step S46.

  In step S46, the control unit 101 refers to the privacy information (3) corresponding to each respondent terminal in the privacy information table, and the predetermined information described in the privacy information (3) column of the respondent terminal. It is determined whether or not the number of respondent terminals in the question area 3 is larger than the information M regarding the number (M is an arbitrary natural number), and if it is determined that there are more than M (step S46: Yes), the processing Is transferred to step S07 and the question mail M1a is transmitted to the respondent terminal. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is equal to or less than M (step S46: No), the process proceeds to step S08 to notify the respondent terminal of an error.

  In step S47, the control unit 101 refers to the column of privacy information (3) corresponding to each respondent terminal, and from the questioner terminal (the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the question mail M1) to the respondent terminal. It is determined whether or not the distance is larger than information L (L is an arbitrary natural number) indicating the predetermined range 4 described in the privacy information (3) column corresponding to the respondent terminal.

  If the control unit 101 determines that the distance from the questioner terminal to the respondent terminal is greater than L (step S47: Yes), the control unit 101 moves the process to step S07 and transmits the question mail M1a to the respondent terminal. On the other hand, if it is determined that the distance from the questioner terminal to the answerer terminal is L or less (step S47: No), the process proceeds to step S08 to notify the answerer terminal of an error.

  Here, when there are a plurality of respondent terminals in the question destination area 3, the control unit 101 executes the process of step S47 on all the respondent terminals.

  As described above, when the control unit 101 receives a question regarding a desired region (question destination region 3) from one terminal device (questioner terminal), the control unit 101 selects one of the other terminal devices 2 located in the desired region. It functions as a second determination means for determining the other terminal device 2 that restricts the transmission of the question (question mail M1a) based on the position of the terminal device and the number of other terminal devices.

  In the question mail transfer process (3), the server device 1 sends the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2 that satisfies both the conditions in the terminal device determination method (1) and the conditions in the terminal device determination method (2). Although the process for restricting transmission has been described, the question mail M1a to the terminal device 2 that satisfies one of the conditions in the terminal device determination method (1) and the conditions in the terminal device determination method (2) is described. You may change into the process which restrict | limits transmission.

  When processing is changed in this way, the control unit 101 of the server device 1 is located in a desired region when receiving a question regarding a desired region (question destination region 3) from one terminal device (questioner terminal). Among other terminal devices 2, as a second determination means for determining another terminal device 2 that restricts transmission of a question (question mail M1a) based on the position of one terminal device or the number of other terminal devices. Function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a regional information providing method, a server device, and a program for the device that can protect the privacy of the side answering the question.

  In the present embodiment, the reply mail M2 (M2a) is transmitted from the respondent terminal 2b to the questioner terminal 2a via the server apparatus 1, but from the respondent terminal 2b without passing through the server apparatus 1. You may comprise so that the reply mail M2 (M2a) may be directly transmitted to the questioner terminal 2a. If comprised in this way, the processing load of the server apparatus 1 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the question / answer exchange between the questioner terminal 2a and the server apparatus 1 and between the server apparatus 1 and the respondent terminal 2 is performed by e-mail. The method of answering is not limited to this.

  For example, if a bulletin board managed by the server device 1 is provided on the Internet and the questioner wants to know information on a specific area, the bulletin board is accessed and the desired area (question destination area 3) is accessed. ) And information desired to be known in the area may be written.

  When configured in this way, when the questioner writes on the bulletin board, the server apparatus 1 writes the question regarding the area in which the terminal device 2 is located on the bulletin board to the terminal device 2 in the questioned area 3. And the URL of the bulletin board.

  At this time, the server device 1 notifies the URL of the bulletin board or the like from the plurality of terminal devices 2 in the questioned area 3 using any one of the terminal device determination methods (1) to (3). The terminal device 2 to be determined is determined.

  When the user of the terminal device 2 notified of the URL of the bulletin board responds to the question, the user accesses the bulletin board of the notified URL and writes the answer.

  If comprised in this way, since a questioner and an answerer can exchange a question and an answer via a bulletin board, without transmitting / receiving E-mail, the processing load of the server apparatus 1 can be reduced.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the area information provision system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows transmission / reception of the information performed between terminal devices via the server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mail screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows a terminal device determination method (1), and explanatory drawing which shows a privacy information table. It is explanatory drawing which shows a terminal device determination method (2), and explanatory drawing which shows a privacy information table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the privacy information table used for a terminal device determination method (3). It is explanatory drawing which shows the electrical structure of a server apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the control part of the server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the control part of the server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the control part of the server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server apparatus 2, 2a-2f Terminal apparatus 3 Question destination area 4 Predetermined range A, af User 101 Control part 102 Storage part 103 Hard disk (HDD)
106 Video processing unit 107 Display unit 110 Input unit 113 Communication unit 120 System bus M1, M1a Question mail M2, M2a Answer mail

Claims (7)

In a region information providing method for transmitting and receiving a question about a desired region and a response between a plurality of terminal devices via a server device connected to a communication network,
A first step in which the server device acquires location information from each of the terminal devices;
A second step in which the server device determines an area where each of the terminal devices is located based on the acquired position information;
When the server apparatus receives a question regarding a desired area from one terminal apparatus, the position of the one terminal apparatus and / or the other terminal apparatus among the other terminal apparatuses located in the desired area. A third step of determining the other terminal device that restricts transmission of the question based on the number of
A fourth step in which the server device transmits the question to the other terminal device to which transmission of the question is not restricted;
A fifth step in which the other terminal device transmits an answer to the received question to the one terminal device via or without the server device;
A local information provision method.   In the third step, the other terminal device in which the server device restricts transmission of the question based on the position of the one terminal device is within the predetermined range from the position of the one terminal device. The region information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the region information providing method is a terminal device.   In the third step, the terminal device for which the server device restricts the transmission of the question based on the number of the other terminal devices has a number of other terminal devices located in the desired area equal to or less than a predetermined number. The region information providing method according to claim 1, wherein all the other terminal devices located in the desired region are used. In the third step, the server device
The other terminal device that restricts transmission of the question is determined according to the distance from the position of the one terminal device and the number of the other terminal devices located in the desired area. The regional information providing method according to claim 1. The server device has a sixth step of acquiring the predetermined range and / or the predetermined number from the terminal device and storing the predetermined range and / or the predetermined number in a storage unit in association with the terminal device;
4. The server device according to claim 2, wherein in the third step, the server device performs the determination based on the predetermined range and / or the predetermined number stored in the storage unit. How to provide local information. In a server device that mediates the transmission and reception of a question about a desired area and a response between a plurality of terminal devices via a communication network,
Acquisition means for periodically acquiring information on the position of each terminal device from each terminal device via the communication network;
First determination means for determining an area where each of the terminal devices is located based on the position information acquired by the acquisition means;
When a question about a desired area is received from one terminal apparatus, based on the position of the one terminal apparatus and / or the number of other terminal apparatuses among the other terminal apparatuses located in the desired area Second determination means for determining the other terminal device that restricts transmission of the question,
Of the other terminal devices located in the desired area, question processing means for transmitting the question to the other terminal device in which transmission of the question is not restricted;
A server apparatus comprising: an answer processing unit that transmits an answer to the one terminal device when an answer to the question from the other terminal device is received.   The program which functions a computer as each means of the server apparatus of Claim 6.

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