JP2010049295A - Information providing device and information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information on which the behavior range of a user is reflected based on a current location. <P>SOLUTION: The priority (priority order in reference) of a behavior cluster is calculated by using the behavior cluster information calculated by carrying out the cluster processing of the behavior history of a user, designated dates, and location information (step S502). Then, the minimum area for providing information is calculated by using the M pieces of behavior cluster information with high order priority, designated dates and current location information, and a command to call a service is created (steps S506 to S507). Then, information corresponding to the minimum area is acquired from a service site 19 for providing the called service, and the information is provided to the user (step S510). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing method for providing service information corresponding to position information of a user terminal to a user terminal such as a mobile phone or a car navigation device.

In recent years, a service has been provided that makes it possible to search for service information such as stores within a certain range from a location based on the location information acquired by a user terminal (such as a mobile phone or a car navigation device) having a GPS function. Has been.
For example, in Patent Document 1, when “Ginza” and “Hibiya” are registered as different districts, even if there is a user in “Ginza” adjacent to “Hibiya”, There is no need to enter “Hibiya” separately. That is, by specifying a specific position on the map and specifying a search target range (distance or time), it is possible to search for restaurants that are within the search target range from the specified position.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-167971 (paragraphs 0051 to 0052)

However, the method described in Patent Literature 1 does not consider the action range for each user as the search target range.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), if a user tends to eat and drink around A station, which is the nearest station of the company, and around B station, which is a transfer station, the user's behavior A range (hereinafter also referred to as an action cluster) is indicated by two solid circles. However, the method described in Patent Document 1 is limited to searching around the A station as indicated by the broken-line circle. That is, there is a problem that the search position needs to be input again for the vicinity of station B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, it is assumed that the user's action range (action cluster) is around the C station, and the current user position is between the C station and the D station. In that case, in Patent Document 1, service information in a range indicated by a broken circle centered on the current position is provided. For this reason, there is a problem that not only the unnecessary service information other than the user's action range (solid circle) will be presented, but also the area (the action cluster range) to be searched cannot be browsed directly. is there.

  Further, when service information in the same area is obtained from a plurality of information providing services such as weather information, traffic information, and restaurant information, the areas provided from the service side may differ. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the user's action cluster is straddling each area classification designation A town to D town, so each town (service area) is specified and service is performed. There is also the problem of having to receive information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing method and an information providing apparatus that provide service information according to position information.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information providing apparatus according to the present invention provides service information corresponding to position information instructed from a user terminal with reference to a service apparatus that stores the service information. The service device accumulates the service information for each subdivision of the region, or accumulates the center position of the service and its area size so that it can be specified, and the information providing device controls And a storage unit that stores a user's behavior history, and the control unit performs a clustering process on the distance about the position information included in the user's behavior history, and calculates the center position of the cluster When the cluster size is associated and stored in the storage unit, and the service device accumulates the service information for each subdivision, If the service device stores the service information by designating the center position of the service and its area size, the entire area of the regional sub-category that overlaps the data is calculated as a minimum area. The center position of the service is set as the center position of the service, an area that is equal to or larger than the cluster size and is the minimum area size provided by the service device is calculated as the minimum area, and the service related to the calculated minimum area The information is acquired, and the service information related to the acquired minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the service information which reflected the user's action range based on the present position can be provided.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

A configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The information providing system 1 includes a car navigation device in which an information providing device 10 that determines a display for search based on a user's current position and action cluster is mounted on a vehicle via a network 15 and a base station 16. 17 and the GPS function mobile phone 18 are communicably connected. The service site 19 is a server that distributes service information (hereinafter simply referred to as information) such as a weather forecast information service, a traffic information service, and a restaurant guide information service, and provides information via the network 15. The apparatus 10 is communicably connected. In addition, the number of the base station 16, the car navigation apparatus 17, and the mobile phone with GPS function 18 described in FIG. 1 is not limited to one.

The information providing apparatus 10 includes a main control unit 11, an input / output unit 12, a communication control unit 13, and a storage unit 14.
The main control unit 11 (control unit) includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) that executes arithmetic processing, and a main memory (not shown) that is a main storage device used by the CPU for arithmetic processing. The main memory is realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like. Then, an application program stored in the storage unit 14 constituted by a hard disk (not shown) is developed in the RAM, and the CPU implements various functions by executing it. Moreover, the main control part 11 controls each part (12-14) in the information provision apparatus 10, and manages transmission of the information between each part (12-14).

The input / output unit 12 includes an input unit and a display unit (not shown). The display unit is configured by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like, and displays a screen on which an operator operating the information providing apparatus 10 confirms input data, processing results, and the like. The input unit includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and receives information input by an operator.
The communication control unit 13 controls transmission / reception of information via the network 15 by the main control unit 11.

The storage unit 14 has a function of accumulating application programs executed by the main control unit 11, data necessary for execution, calculation processing results, and various information received by the units (12 to 13).
In addition, the storage unit 14 includes an action history DB (141) that holds an action history for each user, a service location information DB (142) that holds variables used when receiving information provided from the information providing service, and the like. A geographic information DB (143) that stores the prefecture name and city name and their position data is stored. Details of the action history DB (141) and the service location information DB (142) will be described later.

The network 15 includes a mobile phone network and the Internet. The base station 16 is connected to a mobile phone network and has a function of converting between a mobile phone network protocol and a mobile phone wireless protocol. Further, the network 15 is provided with an exchange (not shown) that converts between a cellular phone network protocol and Internet TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). Therefore, communication is possible between the information providing device 10, the car navigation device 17, and the mobile phone 18 with a GPS function.
The information providing apparatus 10 and the service site 19 can communicate with each other by TCP / IP.

  The car navigation device 17 includes a control unit, a display unit, an input unit, a storage unit, and a communication control unit (not shown). The control unit corresponds to a CPU and controls the display unit, the input unit, the storage unit, and the communication control unit. The display unit is configured by an LCD or the like, and displays received information, processing results, and the like. The input unit includes buttons for inputting characters, input keys used for cursor operation, and the like, and receives information input. And the car navigation apparatus 17 has memorize | stored map information in the memory | storage part, and displays the present position acquired by the GPS function on a map. It is also possible to obtain weather information, traffic information, and the like at the current position by communicating with the service site 19 via the network 15.

  The mobile phone 18 with GPS function includes at least a control unit, an input unit, a display unit, and a camera (not shown). The control unit corresponds to a CPU and controls the input unit, the display unit, and the camera. The display unit is configured by an LCD or the like, and displays received information, processing results, and the like. The input unit includes buttons for inputting characters, input keys used for cursor operation, and the like, and receives information input. Further, the GPS function mobile phone 18 can acquire the weather information, the traffic information, and the like at the current position by communicating with the service site 19 via the network 15.

Next, the function of the main control unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
The main control unit 11 includes a behavior history receiving unit 111, a behavior history clustering unit 112, a behavior cluster evaluation unit 113, a service mapping unit 114, and a service providing unit 115 as functions.
The action history receiving unit 111 acquires a user's action history and position information from the GPS function mobile phone 18 and the car navigation device 17. Then, the behavior history receiving unit 111 stores the acquired behavior history and position information of the user in the behavior history DB (141).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the behavior history clustering unit 112 classifies the behavior history into several behavior clusters using the position information as a variable.
The behavior cluster evaluation unit 113 evaluates the priority of the behavior cluster reference order.
The service mapping unit 114 calculates a service range (information providing area) including an action cluster for the range of services to be provided, and acquires information related to the service range from the service site 19.
The service providing unit 115 sends information related to the service range acquired by the service mapping unit 114 to a user terminal such as the mobile phone with GPS function 18 or the car navigation device 17 via the communication control unit 13 via the Web or e-mail. To deliver.

Next, the action history DB (141) and the service location information DB (142) stored in the storage unit 14 will be described.
The action history DB (141) includes an action history table 1411 and an action cluster table 1412. The service location information DB (142) includes a service location information table 1421.
The action history table 1411, the action cluster table 1412, and the service location information table 1421 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate). 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of an action history table, FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of an action cluster table, and FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of a service location information table. is there.

  First, the action history DB (141) stores an action history for each user. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the action history table 1411 stores a user ID, date and time, position information, history information, history contents, and the like. The user ID is a code for identifying the user, the date and time is the year and month date and time, the position information is the latitude and longitude, the history information is the action type, and the history content is the details of the action. These information are registered when the user operates, when designated by the user, or at a predetermined cycle, the cellular phone with GPS function 18 held by the user or the action history of the user. It is acquired by the action history receiving unit 111 from a server (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the behavior cluster table 1412 stores a user ID, a cluster ID, a cluster name, a cluster center position, a cluster size, and the like. The user ID is a code for identifying the user, the cluster ID is a code for identifying the action cluster, the cluster name is a name related to the position information, the cluster center position is the latitude and longitude of the center position of the cluster, The cluster size is the radius of the cluster range. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the cluster name is clustered based on the position information, and therefore a place name that is easy to understand is used.

Note that the latitude / longitude of the center point of the action cluster is converted into a landmark by the action history clustering unit 112 to create a cluster name. For example, if the cluster center position is (latitude, longitude) = (35,691253, 139.699651), it is converted to “Shinjuku Station”. This conversion is executed by using a conversion table (not shown) held in the storage unit 14 of the information providing apparatus 10 or by using an external conversion service (not shown).
The cluster size is determined by the distance between the data in the action cluster and the cluster center position. That is, the distance may be the maximum distance between the cluster center position and the data farthest from the cluster center position, or it may be some percentage of the maximum distance. In this embodiment, the action cluster is described as a perfect circle. However, the action cluster can be expressed as a combination of a plurality of perfect circles. In this case, the cluster center position is the center of the smallest perfect circle including a plurality of perfect circles.

  Next, the service location information DB 142 (see FIG. 1) stores information related to each service provided by the service site 19 (see FIG. 1) in the service location information table 1421. As shown in FIG. 2C, the service location information table 1421 stores a service ID, a service name, a service URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), a center location designation, a distance range designation, and a regional subcategory designation. The service ID is a code identifying the service, the service name is a name given to the service, and the service URI is an identifier corresponding to an address given to an access destination on the Internet. The center position designation is a parameter of the center position of the service area when the center of the service area can be designated. The distance range designation is a distance range designation parameter, a radius of the service area range, and an identification code thereof when the center of the service area can be designated. The regional subcategory designation is a parameter, a regional subcategory name and its identification code.

Here, a specific example of specifying the regional fine classification in the service location information table 1421 will be described below.
For example, in the weather forecast service, when the service is performed on a municipal basis, “area, {(Sapporo, Hokkaido, 01001), (Ebetsu, Hokkaido, 1002),. Registered in the category designation column. These pieces of information are used in such a manner that the parameter for specifying the regional subcategory is “area”, “01001” when specifying Sapporo city in Hokkaido, “01002” when specifying Ebetsu city in Hokkaido, and so on. However, since the expression format of this area subdivision designation column needs to be adapted to the reception format of the service site 19, it is not limited to the expression format of FIG.

Next, a specific example of distance range designation in the service location information table 1421 will be described below.
For example, in the restaurant information service, when the service can specify the center position, “r, {(500 m, r 1), (1000 m, r 2),...” ”Is registered in the distance range specification column. These pieces of information are used as “r” when the distance range specification parameter is “r”, “r1” when 500 m is specified, “r2” when 1000 m is specified, and so on. However, the expression format of this distance range designation column needs to be adapted to the reception format of the service site 19, and is not limited to the expression format of FIG.

Next, a flow of clustering processing for classifying user behavior history into clusters using position information as a variable will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of clustering processing.
The flow of the clustering process shown in FIG. 3 is “Toshihiro Kamisu,“ A clustering method in the data mining field (1) —Let's use clustering! -", Journal of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, Japan Society for Artificial Intelligence, Vol.18, No.1, p.59-65, (2003)" or "Non-Patent Document 2: Toshihiro Kamisu," Clustering method in the field of data mining (2 )-Challenges to large-scale data and overcoming the curse of dimension-", the method described in the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence Society, Vol.18, No.2, p.170-176, (2003)" It is.
First, when N pieces of data are given, N clusters including only one piece of data are set as an initial state (step S301). From this initial state, the clusters having the shortest distance between the data are merged (step S302). Then, it is determined whether or not a condition for ending cluster merging is satisfied (step S303). If the condition for ending the cluster merge is not satisfied (No in step S303), the process returns to step S302. If the condition for ending the cluster merge is satisfied (Yes in step S303), the clustering is ended. Then, an action cluster (also referred to as a cluster) is calculated.

In the embodiment of the present invention, this clustering process is executed by the action history clustering unit 112 (see FIG. 1) reading out the user action history stored in the action history table 1411. Then, the position information (see FIG. 2A) is used for calculating the distance in the clustering process shown in FIG. The condition for ending the clustering merge is that the minimum value of the distance between the centers of clusters (the average of the data included in the clusters) is a predetermined value or more. The predetermined value is empirically 2 km.
The clustering process may be performed at a predetermined cycle or when the number of user action histories is accumulated up to a predetermined number.

Here, a specific example of the action history will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of an action history.
FIG. 4 is a plot of the location of the store where the item was purchased on a map based on the credit card usage history. The usage history can be acquired by using the credit card payment function provided in the mobile phone 18 with GPS function. However, for the sake of space, only the suburbs of Tokyo are shown, but history may exist in other prefectures.

  Next, the flow of processing in the information providing apparatus 10 when a service provision request is received from a user will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in the information providing apparatus. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu selection screen displayed on the screen of the user terminal, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of a weather forecast screen displayed on the screen of the user terminal. (C) is a figure which shows an example of the restaurant guide displayed on the screen of a user terminal.

First, the service providing unit 115 of the information providing apparatus 10 receives a service information provision request from a user terminal (such as the car navigation device 17 and the mobile phone with GPS function 18). At this time, the screen of the user terminal displays a screen that enables selection of the type of information service to be provided, as shown in FIG. When “weather forecast” is selected, service ID = “S0123” (see FIG. 2C), user ID, designated date and time, and current position information (latitude, east longitude) = (35.686917, 139.702309) Is sent.
When the service providing unit 115 receives the service ID, the user ID, and the current location information, the service providing unit 115 reads the behavior cluster information corresponding to the user ID from the behavior cluster table 1412. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), {CL0123, around Shinjuku Station, (35.691253, 139.699651), 1200m}, {CL0124, around Urawa Station, (35.860738, 139.651629), 1500m}, {CL0125, around Aoyama, ( 35.671337, 139.724848), 100m}.
Then, the service providing unit 115 transmits the designated date and time, current position information, and behavior cluster information to the behavior cluster evaluation unit 113 (step S501).

In step S502, the behavior cluster evaluation unit 113 calculates a priority (priority order) to be referred to when providing information for the received behavior cluster. Here, action clusters are referred to in descending order of priority.
There are two methods for calculating the priority.
In the first method, the distance between the current position and the center position of each action cluster is calculated, and the priority is assumed to be higher in the order of the closer distance.
In the second method, not only the distance calculated by the first method but also the percentage of the behavior history included in each behavior cluster that is the same for either the time zone of the specified date and / or the day of the week (conformity Rate), and using the distance and the relevance rate, the priority is calculated by, for example, distance × (1 / relevance rate).
However, if the current position information is not included in any action cluster, a cluster constituted by a predetermined cluster size determined in advance with the current position information as the cluster center position is created as the highest priority.
Note that it is selected whether the priority is calculated by the first method or the second method.
Then, the behavior cluster evaluation unit 113 transmits information associating the behavior cluster with the priority to the service providing unit 115 (step S502).

  Next, the service providing unit 115 transmits the service ID to the service mapping unit 114 (step S503).

  The service mapping unit 114 refers to the service location information table 1421 (see FIG. 2C) and acquires information related to the service corresponding to the received service ID (step S504). For example, in the service location information table 1421, if the service ID = “S0123”, information related to “ABC weather forecast service” is acquired.

Next, the service providing unit 115 transmits the top M priority action cluster information, the designated date and time, and the current position information to the service mapping unit 114 (step S505).
The service mapping unit 114 calculates the minimum area of the service provided to the user using the received behavior cluster information, the designated date and time, and the current position information (step S506).

Here, the flow of calculating the minimum area will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of calculation of the minimum area.
First, it is determined whether or not the information service provided on the service site 19 can be designated as a center position (step S701). It is assumed that the service site 19 stores service information for each regional sub-category or stores the service information by designating the center position of the service and its area size.
If the center position can be specified (Yes in step S701), the center position of the action cluster is set as the center position of the service (step S702). Then, the minimum service provision range is set to the minimum area that is equal to or larger than the cluster size (step S703), and the process ends.
If the center position cannot be designated (No in step S701), the regional fine classification designation having a common area (overlapping area) with the action cluster is selected (step S704). Then, the selected regional subclassification designation is added to the minimum area (step S705). Next, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed regional fine classification designation (step S706). If there is an unprocessed regional subclassification designation (Yes in step S706), the process returns to step S704. If there is no unprocessed regional fine classification designation (No in step S706), the process ends. Then, the minimum area is calculated.

Here, FIG. 8 shows the difference in the calculated minimum area when the service center position can be specified (steps S702 to S703) and when the service center position cannot be specified (steps S704 to S706). It explains using. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the minimum area when the center position of the service can be specified, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the minimum area when the center position of the service cannot be specified.
As shown in FIG. 8A, when the center position of the service can be specified, first, the center position of the action cluster is set as the center position of the service. And the minimum provision range of the service provided by the service site 19 which is larger than the action cluster is set as the minimum area.
In FIG. 8 (b), since it is not possible to specify the center position of the service, the regional subclasses 03 to 06 having areas (common areas) overlapping with the action clusters are set as the minimum areas with respect to the regional subclasses 01 to 08. Is set.

Returning to FIG. 5, the service mapping unit 114 transmits a command for calling a service to the service site 19 (step S507).
For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a specific example of calling the ABC weather forecast service when the center position of the service cannot be specified will be described below.
For the behavior cluster around Shinjuku Station, the behavior cluster near Urawa Station, and the behavior cluster around Aoyama, (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 13003) and (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 13005), (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, respectively) , 12001), (Minato-ku, Tokyo, 13002) and (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 13003) and (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 13005) are the minimum areas. In this case, in order to call the service, the service URI and the regional subcategory designation are concatenated and a command is created as “http://www.abcweather.com?area=12001+13002+13003+13005”.

Then, the service site 19 returns a result corresponding to the command (step S508). Next, the service mapping unit 114 returns the received result to the service providing unit 115 (step S509).
And the service provision part 115 transmits the result corresponding to the request | requirement of service provision to a user terminal (step S510).

Display examples of the screen of the user terminal that has received the result in step S510 are shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C.
FIG. 6B is an example of a weather forecast, and displays an area corresponding to an action cluster. Clicking on details will display the probability of precipitation, wind direction, temperature, etc. for each hour in the behavior cluster.
FIG. 6C is a restaurant guide that displays an area corresponding to an action cluster. Click on the list to see more store names. When a store name is clicked, a menu provided by the store, profit information, and the like are displayed.

(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the user terminal transmits its current position information has been described. In this modification, the user terminal designates the date and time after the current date and the position information at the date and time and transmits the designated date and time to the information providing apparatus 10.
For example, when a business trip schedule described in the schedule is selected in conjunction with the scheduler of the user terminal, the date and time and location information (business trip destination, etc.) may be transmitted.

In the embodiment and the modification of the present invention, not only the current position information but also information related to the area reflecting the range of the action cluster is provided, so that it is possible to save time and effort for inputting the position.
Further, the user terminal is not limited to the GPS function mobile phone 18 or the car navigation device 17 and may be a personal computer.
Further, the service site 19 may be a storage device provided in the information providing apparatus 10 instead of the Web site shown in FIG.
Further, since the service mapping unit 114 automatically calculates the minimum area of the service, it is possible to provide accurate service information including the behavior cluster.
Further, since the service mapping unit 114 automatically calculates the minimum area of the service, weather information, traffic information, and restaurant information can be provided simultaneously.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the information provision system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows an example of an action history table, (b) is a figure which shows an example of an action cluster table, (c) is a figure which shows an example of a service location information table. It is a figure which shows the flow of a clustering process. It is a figure which shows the specific example of action history. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process in an information provision apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the menu selection screen displayed on the screen of a user terminal, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the weather forecast screen displayed on the screen of a user terminal, (C) is a figure which shows an example of the restaurant guide displayed on the screen of a user terminal. It is a figure which shows the flow of calculation of the minimum area. (A) is a figure which shows the minimum area in case the center position specification of a service is possible, (b) is a figure which shows the minimum area in case the center position specification of a service is not possible. It is a figure explaining the subject of this application.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information provision system 10 Information provision apparatus 11 Main control part 12 Input / output part 13 Communication control part 14 Memory | storage part 15 Network 16 Base station 17 Car navigation apparatus 18 Cellular phone with GPS function 19 Service site (service apparatus)
111 Behavior History Receiving Unit 112 Behavior History Clustering Unit 113 Behavior Cluster Evaluation Unit 114 Service Mapping Unit 115 Service Providing Unit 141 Behavior History DB
142 Service location information DB
143 Geographic Information DB
1411 Action history table 1412 Action cluster table 1421 Service location information table

Claims (12)

An information providing apparatus that provides service information corresponding to position information instructed from a user terminal with reference to a service apparatus that stores the service information,
The service device accumulates the service information for each subdivision of the area, or accumulates the center position of the service and its area size so that it can be designated,
The information providing apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit that stores a user's action history,
The controller is
Clustering processing is performed on the location information included in the user's behavior history,
Storing the calculated cluster center position and its cluster size in association with each other,
When the service device accumulates the service information for each regional subclass, the entire area of the regional subclass that the cluster overlaps is calculated as a minimum area,
When the service device stores the service information by designating the service center position and its area size, the center position of the cluster is set to the center position of the service, and the cluster size or more, And the area which becomes the minimum area size provided by the service device is calculated as the minimum area,
Obtain service information related to the calculated minimum area,
The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service information relating to the acquired minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service apparatus is a storage unit provided in the information providing apparatus. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service apparatus is a Web site that is communicably connected to the information providing apparatus. The controller is
For the cluster calculated by the clustering process, calculate the distance between the position information and the center position of the cluster, and set the priority according to the distance,
The information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the minimum area is calculated in the order of priority, and service information related to the minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal. Providing device. The controller is
Receiving a specified date and time from the user terminal;
For the cluster calculated by the clustering process, calculate a ratio that includes the same time zone and / or day of the week as the specified date and time, set the ratio as a priority,
The information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the minimum area is calculated in the order of priority, and service information related to the minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal. Providing device. If the position instructed from the user terminal is not included in any of the clusters, a new cluster set with a predetermined cluster size is created with the position as the center position, and the highest priority is given to the cluster. The information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information providing apparatus is provided. An information providing method used in an information providing apparatus for providing service information corresponding to position information instructed from a user terminal with reference to a service apparatus that stores the service information,
The service device accumulates the service information for each subdivision of the area, or accumulates the center position of the service and its area size so that it can be designated,
The information providing apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit that stores a user's action history,
The controller is
Clustering is performed for the distance about the position information included in the user's action history,
Storing the calculated cluster center position and its cluster size in association with each other,
When the service device accumulates the service information for each regional subclass, the entire area of the regional subclass that the cluster overlaps is calculated as a minimum area,
When the service device stores the service information by designating the service center position and its area size, the center position of the cluster is set to the center position of the service, and the cluster size or more, And the area which becomes the minimum area size provided by the service device is calculated as the minimum area,
Obtain service information related to the calculated minimum area,
The information provision method characterized by transmitting the acquired service information concerning the minimum area to the user terminal. The information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the service device is a storage unit provided in the information providing device. The information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the service device is a Web site that is communicably connected to the information providing device. The controller is
For the cluster calculated by the clustering process, calculate the distance between the position information and the center position of the cluster, and set the priority according to the distance,
The information according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the minimum area is calculated in the order of priority, and service information related to the minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal. How to provide. The controller is
Receiving a specified date and time from the user terminal;
For the cluster calculated by the clustering process, calculate a ratio that includes the same time zone and / or day of the week as the specified date and time, set the ratio as a priority,
The information according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the minimum area is calculated in the order of priority, and service information related to the minimum area is transmitted to the user terminal. How to provide. If the position instructed from the user terminal is not included in any of the clusters, a new cluster set with a predetermined cluster size is created with the position as the center position, and the highest priority is given to the cluster. The information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the information providing method is provided.

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