JP2016045678A - Price display system, price determination apparatus, display device, price determination method, and price determination program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide price information in accordance with purchase conditions of a user, more precisely.SOLUTION: A price display system identifies a first price and a second price, on the basis of a peripheral image obtained by an imaging section when a moving body moves. At least one of the identified first and second prices is displayed. A lower one of the first and second prices is determined to be a purchase price for a commodity when a user satisfies a first condition. One of the first and second prices is displayed, according to whether the user satisfies the first condition or not.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for determining the price of a product based on a photographed image.

  A method has been proposed in which the price of gasoline is obtained from an image taken at a gas station and provided to the user. For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the navigation device detects a gas station in the traveling direction of the host vehicle from map data, and photographs the gas station when approaching the gas station. The price of gasoline is recognized from the image obtained by photographing, and the price information is transmitted to the information center together with the position of the gas station. The information center provides price information to other navigation devices. The navigation device that has obtained price information from the information center displays the gasoline price in a form that emphasizes the lowest price at the position of the gas station on the map.

  In addition, the navigation device described in Patent Document 2 captures roadside information with a camera. When a signboard or the like is included in an image obtained by the photographing, information on fee information, contents of products or services, and information on a period are displayed. Extract. The extracted information is used when searching for a destination in the navigation device.

Japanese Patent No. 4994028 JP 2007-78632 A

  Gasoline prices vary depending on purchase conditions such as “member price” and “cash price”, and a plurality of price signs are often installed for each purchase condition. However, in the above prior art, when there are a plurality of signboards, the member price and the cash price (non-member price, for example, because only the price is written on the signboard or the signboard characters are thin) ) And price information according to the purchase conditions of the user may not be provided.

  Examples of the problem to be solved by the present invention include the above. An object of this invention is to provide the price information according to a user's purchase conditions more correctly.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a price display system, based on an acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves with a moving body, and the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit, An identification unit for identifying the first price and the second price, a display unit for displaying at least one of the first price and the second price identified by the identification unit, and the first unit identified by the identification unit. A determination unit that compares the first price with the second price and determines that the lower price is a price at which the user can purchase the product when the first condition is satisfied. .

  The invention according to claim 4 is a price determination device, based on an acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves with a moving body, and the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit, The identification unit for identifying the first price and the second price, the first price identified by the identification unit and the second price are compared, and the user satisfies the first condition with the lower price And a determination unit that determines that the price of the product is sometimes available for purchase.

The invention according to claim 5 is a display device, wherein an acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by an imaging unit that moves with a moving body, and a peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit, When the user satisfies the first condition by comparing the first price identified by the identification unit with the identification unit for identifying one price and the second price, and comparing the first price and the second price. A receiving unit for receiving at least one of the first price and the second price from a determination device comprising:
And a display unit that displays at least one of the first price and the second price received by the receiving unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a price determination method executed by the price determination device, the acquisition step of acquiring a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit moving with a moving body, and the acquisition unit Based on the peripheral image, the identification step for identifying the first price and the second price, the first price identified by the identification unit and the second price are compared, and the lower price is used. And a determination step of determining that the price is such that the product can be purchased when the first condition is satisfied.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a price determination program executed by a price determination apparatus including a computer, an acquisition means for acquiring a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit moving with a moving body, and acquired by the acquisition unit Identification means for identifying the first price and the second price based on the peripheral image, the first price identified by the identification unit is compared with the second price, the lower price, The computer is caused to function as a determination unit that determines that the price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the user satisfies the first condition.

1 shows a configuration of a price display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the onboard equipment in 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server in 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client in 1st Example. This is an example of a gasoline price sign. The example of a gasoline price display is shown. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the onboard equipment in 2nd Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server in 2nd Example.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the price display system includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves with a moving body; and a first unit based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit. An identification unit for identifying a price and a second price, a display unit for displaying at least one of the first price and the second price identified by the identification unit, and the first price identified by the identification unit And a determination unit that determines that the lower price is a price at which the user can purchase the product when the first condition is satisfied.

  In the price display system described above, the first price and the second price are identified based on the peripheral image obtained by the imaging unit while the moving body is moving. At least one of the identified first price and second price is displayed. Further, the lower one of the first price and the second price is determined to be a price at which the user can purchase the product when the first condition is satisfied. Thus, either the first price or the second price is displayed depending on whether the user satisfies the first condition.

  In one aspect of the price display system, the first price and the second price are prices attached to the same product in a predetermined store, and the determination unit is identified by the identification unit. One price is compared with the second price, and the higher price is determined to be a price at which the user can purchase the product when the user does not satisfy the first condition. In this aspect, when the user does not satisfy the first condition, the higher price of the first price and the second price is displayed.

  Another aspect of the above price display system further includes an input unit for the user to specify a store that satisfies the first condition among the predetermined stores, and the display unit is specified by the input unit. The store, the price at which the user can purchase the product when the user satisfies the first condition, and the price determined by the determination unit are displayed in association with each other. In this aspect, when the user designates a store that satisfies the first condition, the price when the first condition is satisfied is displayed at the store.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the price determination device is based on an acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves with a moving body, and the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit. The identification unit for identifying the first price and the second price, the first price identified by the identification unit and the second price are compared, and the user satisfies the first condition with the lower price A determination unit that determines that the price is sometimes available for purchase.

  In the price determination device described above, the first price and the second price are identified based on the peripheral image obtained by the imaging unit during the movement of the moving body. Further, the lower one of the first price and the second price is determined to be a price at which the user can purchase the product when the first condition is satisfied. Thereby, the price at which the user can purchase the product is determined from the first price and the second price depending on whether or not the user satisfies the first condition.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display device is configured to acquire a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves together with a moving body, and based on the peripheral image obtained by the acquisition unit. When the user satisfies the first condition by comparing the first price identified by the identification unit with the identification unit for identifying one price and the second price, and comparing the first price and the second price. A receiving unit that receives at least one of the first price and the second price, and the first received by the receiving unit. A display unit for displaying at least one of the price and the second price. In this display device, either the first price or the second price is displayed depending on whether the user satisfies the first condition.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the price determination method executed by the price determination device includes an acquisition step of acquiring a peripheral image obtained by an imaging unit that moves with a moving body, and the acquisition unit acquired by the acquisition unit. Based on the peripheral image, the identification step for identifying the first price and the second price, the first price identified by the identification unit and the second price are compared, and the lower price is used. And a determination step of determining that the price is a price at which the product can be purchased when the person satisfies the first condition. This method also displays either the first price or the second price depending on whether the user satisfies the first condition.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a price determination program executed by a price determination device including a computer is acquired by the acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by a photographing unit that moves with a moving body. Identification means for identifying the first price and the second price based on the peripheral image, the first price identified by the identification unit is compared with the second price, the lower price, The computer is caused to function as a determination unit that determines that the price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the user satisfies the first condition. The above price determination device can be realized by executing this program on a computer. This program can be stored in a storage medium.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a price display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The price display system collects a gasoline price based on an image photographed by a photographing unit such as a camera mounted on a vehicle and provides it to a user. Specifically, the price display system includes an in-vehicle device 10, a server 20, and a client 30. The vehicle-mounted device 10, the server 20, and the client 30 are connected through the network 5. A typical example of the network 5 is the Internet. The communication through the network 5 may be wireless communication. In FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the client 30 are illustrated one by one, but actually, a plurality of the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the client 30 are included.

  The vehicle-mounted device 10 is mounted on a vehicle, collects gasoline price information, and transmits it to the server 20. A typical example of the vehicle-mounted device 10 is a navigation device, but it may be a smartphone mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle-mounted device 10 recognizes the gasoline price based on the image taken by the camera or the like, and transmits the gasoline price data to the server 20.

  The server 20 collects and stores gasoline price information from the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices 10. When requested by the client 30, the gasoline price data that matches the purchase conditions of the user is provided to the client 30.

  The client 30 is a terminal device that displays a gasoline price provided from the server 20, and includes a user's PC, a smartphone, and the like in addition to the navigation device.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 10. The vehicle-mounted device 10 includes a map storage unit 11, a position detection unit 12, a vehicle position determination unit 13, a photographing unit 14, an image recognition unit 15, and a transmission unit 16.

  The map storage unit 11 stores map data including the position data of the gas station, and outputs the gas station position data D1 to the vehicle position determination unit 13 and the transmission unit 16. The position detection unit 12 specifies the position of the vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device 10 is mounted using GPS, a vehicle speed pulse, a gyro sensor, and the like, and outputs vehicle position data D2.

  Based on the vehicle position data D2 output from the position detection unit 12 and the gas station position data D1 output from the map storage unit 11, the vehicle position determination unit 13 determines whether the vehicle is traveling near the gas station. Determine whether. When the vehicle is traveling near the gas station, the vehicle position determination unit 13 outputs the shooting instruction data D3. The imaging unit 14 is configured by a camera or the like. When the imaging instruction data D3 is received from the vehicle position determination unit 13, the imaging unit 14 images the periphery of the vehicle and outputs a vehicle periphery image D4.

  The image recognition unit 15 performs image recognition processing on the vehicle periphery image received from the imaging unit 14 and extracts a gasoline price signboard. An example of a gasoline price sign is shown in FIG. The gasoline price sign displays the price for each type of oil such as regular, high-octane, and light oil, and for each purchase condition. Here, the purchase conditions include a cash price and a member price. The member price is a price for a member who has registered as a member in the gas station or a chain that operates the gas station. On the other hand, the cash price is a non-member price, that is, a price for a user other than a member. In general, for the same oil type, the member price is lower than the cash price.

  The image recognition unit 15 extracts a gasoline price sign as illustrated in FIG. 5 from the vehicle peripheral image, and recognizes the gasoline price for each oil type and each purchase condition. There are two specific methods for recognizing gasoline prices.

  The first method is a method of detecting a character string indicating oil type and purchase conditions by character recognition. That is, it recognizes character strings such as “Regular”, “High-octane”, and “Diesel” for the oil type, and character strings such as “Cash Price”, “Cash”, “Member Price”, and “Member” for the purchase conditions. By recognizing, the gasoline price for each oil type and each purchase condition is determined.

  The second method is a method of recognizing only numbers. As mentioned earlier, member prices are generally lower than cash prices. Moreover, although there is a slight difference for each store, the difference between the cash price and the member price is usually within 10 yen. Therefore, when there are two prices with a difference within 10 yen, it can be determined that the higher one is the cash price and the lower one is the member price. Moreover, although there are some differences between stores, the price difference of oil types is usually 10 yen or more. That is, regular is more than 10 yen higher than light oil, and high-octane is more than 10 yen higher than regular. Using the above relationship, the gasoline price for each oil type and for each purchase condition can be determined even when only the numbers are recognized.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 5, six prices “159”, “170”, “133”, “151”, “162”, and “129” are detected by recognizing only numbers. Here, if the oil types are “regular”, “high-octane”, and “light oil”, and the purchase conditions are “cash price” and “member price”, the cheapest “129” yen is It is a member price of light oil, and “133” yen, which is more expensive by less than 10 yen, is understood to be the cash price of light oil. Also, the most expensive “170” yen is a high-octane cash price, and the “162” yen, which is less expensive than that amount, is a high-octane member price. The remaining “159” yen and “151” yen are regular prices, so the higher “159” yen is the regular cash price, and the cheaper “151” yen is the regular member price. . In this way, the price for each oil type and each purchase condition can be determined based on only the price number without performing character recognition of the character string indicating the oil type and the purchase price. Note that the above-described price difference for each oil type / purchase condition is merely an example, and in practice, the price difference for each oil type / purchase condition may be corrected according to the situation.

  In this manner, the image recognition unit 15 outputs gasoline price data (hereinafter simply referred to as “gasoline price data”) D5 for each oil type and purchase condition to the transmission unit 16. The transmission unit 16 transmits the gasoline price data D6 for each store including the gasoline price data D5 obtained from the image recognition unit 15 and the gas station position data D1 acquired from the map storage unit 11 to the server 20 via the network 5. To do.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the server 20. The server 20 includes a reception unit 21, a price storage unit 22, and a transmission unit 23.

  The receiving unit 21 receives the gasoline price data D6 for each store from the vehicle-mounted device 10 through the network 5. The received store-specific gasoline price data D6 is stored in the price storage unit 22. Therefore, the price storage unit 22 stores the gasoline price data D6 for each store, that is, the gas station position data D1 and the gasoline price data D5 for a plurality of gas stations.

  When the server 20 receives the price request from the client 30, the transmitting unit 23 transmits the price data D7 to the requesting client 30. Specifically, the client 30 transmits a price request including a reference position such as its own vehicle position to the server 20. The server 20 transmits the gasoline price data D7 including the gasoline price data D6 for each store for the gas station existing within a predetermined distance from the reference position included in the price request to the requesting client 30. Therefore, the price data D7 transmitted from the server 20 to the client 30 includes gas station position data and gasoline price data for one or more gas stations. The gas station position data is used for displaying the gasoline price in the client 30 as will be described later.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the client 30. The client 30 includes a receiving unit 31, an instruction input unit 32, a display data selection unit 33, a map storage unit 34, and a display unit 35.

  The receiving unit 31 receives the price data D7 transmitted from the server 22 and outputs it to the display data selecting unit 33. The instruction input unit 32 is an input unit operated by a user, and receives, for example, button operation, touch input to a touch panel display panel, voice input, and the like. Specifically, the instruction input unit 32 receives a user's input regarding a reference position such as a petrol station to display a price or a reference position such as a current position, an oil type to be displayed, and purchase conditions to be displayed. The data D9 is output to the display data selection unit 33. In addition, regarding the oil type and purchase conditions, the user may perform necessary input to the instruction input unit 32 at a timing when the user wants to display the gasoline price, or may perform necessary settings in advance. For example, specific oil types and / or purchase conditions may be set for all gas stations. In addition, a gas station or the like in which a user is a member may be set in advance, a member price may be displayed for the gas station, and a cash price may be displayed for other gas stations.

  The display data selection unit 33 selects data to be displayed from the price data D7 received from the server 20. That is, the display data selection unit 33 selects the gasoline price that matches the oil type and purchase conditions indicated by the instruction data D9 output from the instruction input unit 32 from the price data D7 received by the reception unit 31, and displays the display data D8. To the display unit 35. The display data D8 includes the position data of the gas station to be displayed and the price of the gasoline to be displayed at the gas station.

  The display unit 35 receives the display data D8 from the display data selection unit 33, obtains the map data D10 from the map storage unit 34, and displays the gas station position and the gasoline price on the map. A display example by the display unit 35 is shown in FIG. In this example, the positions of three gas stations are indicated on the map by gas station marks 70, and the price of high-octane gasoline at each gas station is displayed. The display of the gasoline price includes information on purchase conditions (“member”, “cash”). That is, the member price is displayed for a gas station for which the user is a member, and the cash price is displayed for a gas station for which the user is not a member.

  In this way, in this embodiment, the gasoline price is provided in consideration of the purchase conditions in accordance with the user's instruction, so the price that can be actually purchased by each user is presented. Thus, the user can search for the real cheapest gas station. In addition, as described above, if the gas station for which the user is a member is set to present the membership fee, the cheapest store that is different for each user can be automatically displayed. It becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the image recognition unit provided in the vehicle-mounted device recognizes the gasoline price from the surrounding image by image processing. Instead, in the second embodiment, an image recognition unit is provided in the server, and the gasoline price is recognized on the server side.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 10x according to the second embodiment. As understood from comparison with FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted device 10 x does not include the image recognition unit 15. The imaging unit 14 outputs the captured vehicle surrounding image data D4 to the transmission unit 16 as it is. The transmission unit 16 transmits data D20 including the vehicle periphery image D4 and the gas station position data D1 acquired from the map storage unit 11 to the server 20x. In other respects, the vehicle-mounted device 10x of the second embodiment is the same as the vehicle-mounted device 10 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the server 20x according to the second embodiment. As understood from comparison with FIG. 3, the server 20 x includes an image recognition unit 24. The receiving unit 21 outputs the gas station position data D1 included in the data D20 received from the server 20x to the price storage unit 22, and outputs the vehicle peripheral image D4 to the image recognition unit 24. The image recognizing unit 24 performs the image recognizing process of the vehicle surrounding image D4 by the same method as the image recognizing unit 15 of the first embodiment, generates the gasoline price data D5, and supplies it to the price storage unit 22. Thus, the price storage unit 22 stores the gas station position data D1 and the gasoline price data D5 for a plurality of gas stations. In other respects, the server 20x of the second embodiment is the same as the server 20 of the first embodiment.

  The client 30 of the second embodiment is the same as the client 30 of the first embodiment, and the gasoline price data obtained by the client 30 is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, since the image processing of the vehicle periphery image is performed on the server side, there is an advantage that the hardware scale on the vehicle-mounted device side can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment. However, since it is necessary to transmit not the gasoline price data, which is the image recognition result, but the vehicle peripheral image itself to the server, the amount of data communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the server increases compared to the first embodiment.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the price request transmitted from the client 30 to the server 20 includes only the reference position such as the current position of the client 30, but may further include designation of oil type, purchase conditions, and the like. When the price request includes the oil type and purchase conditions, the server 20 may transmit price data D7 indicating the gasoline price that matches the designation to the requesting client 30. In addition, when the conditions are not included in the price request, the server 20 may transmit the price data D7 indicating all the oil types in the gas station existing within a predetermined distance from the reference position and the gasoline price of all the purchase conditions. However, the client 30 may be requested to specify the oil type and / or purchase conditions.

  The price request from the client 30 may include designation of a target gas station instead of the reference position. In this case, the server 20 may transmit price data D7 for the designated gas station.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10x Onboard equipment 14 Image pick-up part 15, 24 Image recognition part 20, 20x Server 22 Price memory | storage part 30 Client 32 Instruction input part 33 Display data selection part

Claims (8)

An acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by the imaging unit that moves with the moving body;
An identification unit for identifying a first price and a second price based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit;
A display unit for displaying at least one of the first price and the second price identified by the identifying unit;
The determination unit that compares the first price identified by the identification unit with the second price and determines that the lower price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the first condition is satisfied. When,
A price display system characterized by comprising: The first price and the second price are prices attached to the same product in a predetermined store,
The determination unit compares the first price and the second price identified by the identification unit, and can purchase the product with a higher price when the user does not satisfy the first condition. The price display system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the price is low. An input unit for designating a store that satisfies the first condition among the predetermined stores;
The display unit displays the store specified by the input unit, the price at which the user can purchase the product when the user satisfies the first condition, and the price determined by the determination unit in association with each other. The price display system according to claim 2, wherein: An acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by the imaging unit that moves with the moving body;
An identification unit for identifying a first price and a second price based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit;
The determination unit that compares the first price identified by the identification unit with the second price and determines that the lower price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the first condition is satisfied. When,
A price determination device comprising: An acquisition unit that acquires a peripheral image obtained by an imaging unit that moves together with a moving body, an identification unit that identifies a first price and a second price based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit, and A determination unit that compares the first price identified by the identification unit with the second price and determines that the lower price is a price at which the user can purchase the product when the first condition is satisfied; A receiving unit that receives at least one of the first price and the second price from a determination device comprising:
A display unit for displaying at least one of the first price and the second price received by the receiving unit;
A display device comprising: A price determination method executed by a price determination device,
An acquisition step of acquiring a peripheral image obtained by an imaging unit that moves with the moving body;
An identification step for identifying a first price and a second price based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit;
A determination step of comparing the first price identified by the identification unit with the second price, and determining that the lower price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the first condition is satisfied. When,
The price determination method characterized by having. A price determination program executed by a price determination apparatus including a computer,
An acquisition means for acquiring a peripheral image obtained by an imaging unit that moves together with the moving body;
Identification means for identifying a first price and a second price based on the peripheral image acquired by the acquisition unit;
A determination unit that compares the first price and the second price identified by the identification unit, and determines that the lower price is a price at which a user can purchase a product when the first condition is satisfied. ,
A price determination program for causing the computer to function as:   A storage medium storing the price determination program according to claim 7.

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